Hariri Dirty Tricks

"Lebanese officials had lobbied to have the decision delayed until after the election, but tribunal judicial figures refused, saying they could not take political considerations into account, said a senior court official who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the court’s inner workings."

The Daily Star is excited: it is jumping up and down

It headlines: "UK queen voices 'deep respect' for Lebanese." Why is it that only in Lebanon words of diplomatic courtesy are taken "literally" (as Joe Biden would say)? Like she does not say that when she meets with the head of state form other countries? Does the Daily Star really believe that the Queen of England really has "deep respect" for Lebanese? And who cares what the Queen of England think on any subject? I mean, I care about the views of Helen Mirren, but the Queen?

Report

"The vast majority of Iraqi women face domestic violence on a regular basis and many commit suicide because of it, the United Nations said on Wednesday." Can somebody find me the full text of this report? Oh, and I want it NOW because I have a cold and I am grumpy.

Liberated...to death

"Then-Prime Minister Tony Blair rejected the figure, but one official warned the government would be "ripped apart" if it questioned the Lancet's methodology. The government tried to stop publication, but was over-ruled. A subsequent Lancet article claimed that the number of deaths caused by the conflict up to 2006 was more than 650,000."

Robert Fisk on Lebanon

When Robert Fisk writes on Lebanon, his articles should end with "Long Live Hariri and Long Live Jumblat. This article was approved by the press office of the Hariri family." And the article should mention that Abed Fisk's driver) loves the Cedars.

AngryArab.net

The AngryArab.net is still going strong.

Libyan TV affair

More details on the "nationalization" by Qadhdhafi of the TV station owned by his son. Apparently, Mubarak threatened Qadhdhafi to unleash the Egyptian press on him if the TV station aired criticisms of Mubarak. This does not prove the influence of the Egyptian secret police over Egyptian official media. Not at all. Ask Mubarak and his son. (thanks Dina)

Your Prince Nayif

Saudi human rights monitor has received a threat from a Saudi security source. (thanks Haifaa)

SSNP and anti-Semitism

Since my high school days, I would express my disagreements with SSNP's ideology and the writings of its founder, Antun Sa`adah. One of the complaint that I expressed early on is the blatant anti-Semitic language in the literature in which the enemy is presented as "Jews" and even "internal enemies" are referred to as "Jews of the interior." Yet, I have been told that the SSNP is trying to move away from the anti-Semitic language of the past. Yet, this article by an official of the SSNP speaks about a "Judeo-American" conspiracy. What gives?

Reports

""We compile reports on their activities, generals' and military units' movements, and their corruption, the positions they are taking in the government and the contracts they are obtaining. But we don't know what to do with these reports because we don't trust the government.""

Caught up

"Controversy has erupted at UC Santa Barbara over a professor's decision to send his students an e-mail in which he compared graphic images of Jews in the Holocaust to pictures of Palestinians caught up in Israel's recent Gaza offensive." Somebody needs to study the propaganda language of US press on the Arab-Israeli conflict. Look at the simple expression "caught up." It means that they were in a bad situation for which no one is to blame.

Zionist crime scene tour

"Briefings by Mossad officials and commanders of the Shin Bet.

• Briefing by officers in the IDF Intelligence and Operations branches.
• Inside tour of the IAF unit who carries out targeted killings.
• Live exhibition of penetration raids in Arab territory.
• Observe a trial of Hamas terrorists in an IDF military court.
• First hand tours of the Lebanese front-line military positions and the Gaza border check-points."

This is an actual ad for a tour of Israel but I will not supply the link lest I give a free advertisement to a criminal organization. (thanks Molly)

Drones

"Russia has purchased its first unmanned drones from Israel after its own manufacturers turned out to be ineffective at making the high-tech reconnaissance aircraft, a newspaper reported April 7." (thanks Marcy)

A Palestinian teen

"A Palestinian teen was injured when an Israeli settler rammed her with his car near the southern West bank city of Hebron on Thursday morning."

Irate

"Irate Israeli passengers have complained to British BMI airline that the Jewish state was wiped off the inflight map which showed flights bound for Israel were instead heading to Mecca. But the airline denied any anti-Israel agenda and insisted there was a simple explanation: the planes were recently bought from a bankrupt charter company that flew mainly to Muslim countries."

Worst for bloggers

The Committee to Protect Journalists released its list of the 10 worst countries for bloggers. Several Middle East countries are on the list: Iran, Syria, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, and Egypt. I contacted Prince Sultan to get his reaction but he told me that he is too dead to respond. (thanks Mariwan)

A poll that will not be featured in the New York Times

A few years ago, a poll with questionable methodology and dubious purposes was ostensibly conducted in some Palestinian refugee camps. It was received with fanfare (the word is from Arabic, from Al-Farfarah, by the way) and enthusiasm in the American press. Columnists were citing that poll twice a day: before and after meals. So this is a comprehensive survey in the refugee camps in Lebanon was conducted by the Beirut Center and it revealed that 89% of respondents believe they will return. Around 90% affirmed their belief in the Right of Return. But to rely on the New York Times to learn about Middle East politics is like relying on MEMRI to learn about the Arab press.

Polls

"Three-quarters of Americans think that Israel should not build settlements on occupied Palestinian land, according to an opinion poll released on Wednesday." But 90% of those polled said that they don't know what Palestine is and they don't know what "the occupied territories refer to. (thanks Olivia)

Chutzpah

"Israel has told the European Union to stop criticising Benjamin Netanyahu's government or risk being excluded from future Middle East peace negotiations." (thanks Ali)

The hand of RAND

"In fact, at least a few Islamists seem to see the hand of the RAND Corporation, an American policy organization that produces reports on terrorism and other subjects, in many plots. This year a hard-line Saudi cleric told this reporter during an interview that “RAND-ites” were seeking to de-Islamize Saudi Arabia." Worth misses the point here. People see the hand of RAND not because it is a policy organization that "produces reports on terrorism and other subjects" but because RAND has contracts with many Arab goverments in the Gulf to "reform" their curricula.

Fabrications of MEMRI

So there is a House of Saud columnist (and advocate of eternal rule by House of Saud) who wrote in a Saudi newspaper something favorable to the deeds of the White Man in history. So MEMRI of course produces that in a special bulletin and then labels the man "a reformer." Are you aware how much propaganda humor MEMRI provides for Middle East specialists who laugh at its really dumb tricks? (Oh, the answer to the latter question is: A lot. A whole lot).

Syrian-Lebanese relations

Comrade Samah provides here an excellent and fair review of Syrian-Lebanese relations and its treatment by Arab intellectuals. (thanks As`ad--not me)

The health of the dead Prince

So Prince Sultan arrived in Morocco from New York City. You know what that means, don't you? It means that the dead body of Prince Sultan arrived in Morocco. In fact, he was met at the airport with Moroccan dignitaries carrying shovels: they started to dig already. It is all over. (thanks Michele)

The Four Lebanese Generals are released: who cares?

The Four Lebanese Generals.

This was a powerful team which ruled Lebanon on behalf of the Syrian regime for more than a decade, but in full cooperation with the symbols of the so-called Cedar and Potato Revolution, like Rafiq Hariri and Walid Jumblat. Jamil As-Sayyid was one of the most powerful men in the country for a while: and that pitted him again Nibih Birri who suspected (with justification) that the Syrian regime was grooming him to succeed him as speaker for parliament. The plan was for Sayyid to run in 2005. The generals were finally released today and the spectacle was beyond the expectations: it was well orchestrated and choreographed—to mobilize and inspire the opposition and to tweak and antagonize the March 14 camp. And Jamil As-Sayyid is one tough and shrewd man, and he is one of the best in propaganda in the lousy republic of Lebanon. I strongly believe that the Hariri family (which ruled Lebanon after 2005 on behalf of the American and Saudi regimes just as it ruled prior on behalf of the Syrian regime) put them in jail because they feared their formidable political and intelligence skills, especially the skills and network of Jamil As-Sayyid. And the March 8 camp does not have intelligent figures (except, Nasarallah, Birri and `Awn but their rank is not unified) and As-Sayyid can fill a void, especially in tactical matters where March 8 is pretty dumb while the other side employs a variety of PR and advertising firms in its service. The Lebanese military-intelligence apparatus is of such low caliber that those four represented (and maybe still represent) the elite and the best of the military-intelligence establishment. One of them, `Ali Al-Hajj, was a personal bodyguard of Rafiq Hariri before a conflict arose between them—not on principles, never on principles with the trader Hariri. But I was cautioning friends: you should not assume that this propaganda victory for the opposition will necessarily translate into an electoral victory. No event—no matter how big—will change the basic sectarian stance of the Sunnis and Shi`ites in Lebanon. There are no undecided in Lebanon to speak of, except among a section of the Christians. We know exactly how Sunnis and Shi`ites will vote but the question is the Christians: and the choice there is not between candidates as much as it is between a Christian alliance with Sunnis versus a Christian alliance with Shi`ites. We can speak of only a fraction of the Christian community (let us say some 20 or 25% of the population) who may not be solidly behind `Awn or the Lebanese Forces. So the ability of one event to change basic political realities is very small, if not negligible. And the second factor is money: Hariri family rules not only by virtue of its representation of strong and powerful patron, or by virtue of its skills in acute sectarian agitation and mobilization, but also by its dispense of financial rewards. But this release yesterday is a big event: Jamil As-Sayyid could easily become the brain behind the opposition. This is a very formidable opponent that Hariri family has to contend with. The speech of Sayyid (and of the rest, including the low key Raymond `Azar) was quite strong and impressive, as was his demeanor, if measures by the standards of Lebanese politics. They all sounded strong and unvanquished, and determined to go after their enemies. They now operate with the full knowledge that they will not be arrested again, no matter what. Now let us not go too far in estimation of their skills lest my assessment be misunderstood as praise: these are not some rosy angels: they were part of a government structure that was corrupt and repressive, but so is the present-day government in Lebanon. I can criticize both because I oppose both, but for Walid Jumblat or Hariri to speak from a standpoint of liberty and democracy is like Dahlan speaking about virtue. It can be said that the repression of Hariri government after 2005 exceeded the repression of the Sayyid rule before 2005—you can measure it by the number of people killed on the streets (by government fire) or by the numbers of people killed in Lebanese jails—but Human Rights Watch is busy with the health and welfare of Israeli collaborators and spies to notice. But As-Sayyid and `Azar ruled on behalf of the Syrian regime (with Jumblat and Rafiq Hariri) and they implemented Syrian orders in Lebanon, and helped impose its order. Politically, As-Sayyid is not grateful to the lack of support (until a few months ago) from Hizbullah and its allies who remained silent for more than 2 years after the arrest of the four generals. But As-Sayyid needs Hizbullah and the March 8 opposition needs a leader who is not Birri and who is not Hizbullah (and who is Shi`ite). The Hariri machine must be in tears or in great embarrassment: mini-Hariri, who always appears fumbled and tattering and hesitant and incompetent and clumsy and inarticulate and illiterate, appeared more so today in his statement that he read (he always reads, and very badly and very erroneously). He looked as if he was announcing death in the family. Of course, this comes as a great blow to the prestige and standing of the Lebanese judiciary: as if it was ever credible in the history of Lebanon. I remember when growing up when Lebanese politicians would call individual judges to free murderers and rapists if they happened to belong to the supporters of this Za`im or that Za`im. The Hariri family went too far in its accusation and charges without evidence, and in fabricating evidence: the International Court did not yet deal with the manipulation of two witnesses by individual who work directly for Mini-Hariri. Personally, I don’t believe that there is such a thing as international justice in the age of US domination. No court is immune from US influences and interferences, and those fools in Lebanon and Syria will now rush to praise the court will be disappointed soon. After the release of the four generals, for example, the court issued a special statement in which it said that it could re-arrest the generals if evidence is found against them. There was no need for that statement, and it merely stated basic facts and axioms but it was clearly designed to help the sagging fortunes of the Hariri coalition in Lebanon, as was the silly statement that came from Washington, DC. It was clearly a response to the propaganda blow that its camp suffered in Lebanon. The TV images were quite vivid and the generals were smart in talking about “the innocent poor prisoners” in jail—a clear reference to Sunni fundamentalist prisoners. Hariri family is lucky in inheriting billions: but the family is quite unlucky to have somebody of the caliber of mini-Hariri (I really can’t think of a more incompetent and more unqualified person) to head the family and manage its political affairs. But to be incompetent and have the charisma of a potato is a double misfortune. Personally, I don’t care to know who killed Rafiq Hariri—that is the least of my concern. I care more about finding the identity of the person who planted the potato that now sits in my fridge. The question is a political one, first and foremost just as the Bush administration acted as if it really cared about Hariri and as if it really grieved over his death when Bush humiliated Hariri back in 2002 (I think) when Rafiq met with him to ask for US financial help (for one of the Paris conferences for Lebanon). A person who was present in the Oval Office in that meeting told me that it was embarrassing how much Bush humiliated Hariri. He bluntly told him: why not use your own money, or why not ask your friend King Fahd. But I am told that Rafiq Hariri defended the Syrian regime and Hizbullah in that meeting, just as this duplicitious person did all his life in public. In private, he always played game and lied. It is all a matter of political exploitation. I am not sure that we will know who killed Hariri. The chief of Internal Security in Lebanon (a Hariri man, Ashraf Rifi) never believed that the four generals were guilty, but he was not a decision maker. He did not even think that Syria’s intelligence chief in Lebanon, Rustum Ghazalah, was involved. He was convinced that the Syrian regime (at the highest level) dispatched a special team for the assassination and that it did not even consult with or inform the Syrian intelligence or military apparatus in Lebanon at the time. It could still be a fanatical fundamentalist network of some sorts. That is possible too. It is not clear what will happen: the electoral prospects remain largely unchanged but the credibility of the Hariri family remains weak especially among the Christians and it is more uncredible now. The Hariri family has mortgaged the future of Lebanon and Lebanon will continue to pay the price for intrigues and conspiracies that Rafiq Hariri (politically and economically and militarily) imposed on Lebanon. Oh, and lest I forget: there were other developments in the Hariri tribunal yesterday: blah blah blah blah, and blah.

Mubarak Rule

"The Palestinian Ministry of Health of the dissolved Hamas government in Gaza reported Monday evening that a 70-year old man died of kidney failure after the Egyptian Health Ministry refused to recognize transfer papers to an Egyptian hospital."

My least concern

Of all the questions in Middle East politics, I care least about the question of who killed Rafiq Hariri. I could not care less. (Although I did read that he did not take good care of his health and indulged in bad food.)

Gaza: never forget, never forgive

"U.S. corporate media coverage of the Israeli military attacks launched December 27 that, as of January 13, had reportedly killed over 900 and injured thousands more—many of them civilians—has overwhelmingly failed to mention that indiscriminate attacks on civilian targets are illegal under international humanitarian law. "

Philosopher

MEMRI is promoting some Egyptian dude for remarks he made that they liked regarding Israel. So they decided to label him as a "philosopher". This is like referring to Husni Mubarak as thinker.

UAE shame

"The United Arab Emirates is also shamefully equivocating after a year-long campaign against Leviev selling his diamonds in the emirate of Dubai. Dubai's government, despite repeated assurances that Leviev would not be allowed to open two diamond boutiques in the emirate, has allowed Leviev to open stores under another name while his website advertises a Leviev store-in-store at one of the "Levant" shops of his Dubai partner, Arif bin Khadra. A second Levant store in Dubai's Atlantis hotel boldly touts the Leviev brand." (thanks Bill)

Political prisoner

"On Friday, 1 May, Palestinian Nael Barghouthi will become the world’s record-holder as the longest-held political prisoner." (thanks Marcy)

Mubarak and pigs

The Mubarak regime executes people and now they want to execute all pigs in Egypt. The Egyptian ineffective parliament ordered a mass execution of pigs. Pigs were accused of trying to overthrow the Mubarak dictatorship. Cronies of Mubarak will, however, be spared.

UAE and torture

"One of the few notes of condemnation inside the Middle East came from the Iranian Press TV which said Sheikh Issa "has reaffirmed all the behaviours stereotyped in western films, media and literature about the basic and cruel nature of desert dwellers" – a fair point, except that the Iranian regime itself is no angel in these matters and has its own axe to grind against the UAE." Before Brian Whitaker dispenses praise on Iranian TV, he should know that in fact this is a big story in the Middle East and I am receiving links to the tape and criticisms of it probably hourly, and from Arabs around the Arab world. I like and respect Whitaker (and I still recommend his critique of MEMRI and of Arab Development reports) although I did not like his book on gays in the Arab world but he should make more of an effort to destinguish between regime and people.

Zionist swine

So the only swine infected in the Middle East are cases of Zionist swine.

Mukhabarat and media

Egyptian columnist, Fahmi Huwaydi, notes that the recent crisis between Egyptian regime and Hizbullah reveals the extent of control over Egyptian media by the intelligence services.

Revolution

""No one knows when the trigger of revolution will be pulled. The state is oppressive, but ordinary Egyptians from all over sympathize with us," said Aziz, who likes to recall the passions that roused his countrymen's 1919 revolution against the British." (thanks Olivia)

Lebanese presence in the North Pole

A very funny piece by comrade Khalid about Lebanese presence in the North Pole.

Damascus ahead of Beirut

I am thrilled to announce that Damascus is ahead of Beirut in the international survey of "quality of living." The website does not contain the whole list but I am referring to the whole list that I received. (thanks Rime)

Lebanese Minister of Health

Lebanon's Minister of Health, Muhammad Khalifah, is one of the very best ministers in Lebanon (although he is part of the share of the corrupt sectarian movement, Amal). He yesterday gave general comments about precautions and prevention regarding the swine flu. He said among other things that people should avoid close contact and the traditional Lebanese greeting with kisses. Common sensical approach. Yet, some are presenting this as "Lebanese Minister bans kissing." This should be viewed as part of Lebanon's internal bickering.

Hariri Tribunal

I need to update you about the Hariri tribunal. Blah blah blah and blah. Oh, and the four generals were released.

Qadhdhafi and his son

More on the nationalization by Qadhdhafi of the TV station (Al-Libiyyah) owned by his son because it aired criticisms of Husni Mubarak. (thanks Dina)

Cowardly clerics

`Abdul-Bari `Atwan (with whom I am in disagreement over many issues especially his admiration of Saddam and Bin Laden) here castigates Arab Muslim clerics for their cowardice. Yusuf Al-Qardawi (the fulminating and demagogic tele-cleric) has been banned from UAE and he would not say a word on the matter.

His doctors were stunned

According to the Saudi sleaze website, Elaph, the doctors of Prince Sultan in New York City were "stunned" with his response to medication. You know what that means? The mad is dead. Very dead.

Abu `Umar Al-Baghdadi

So the Iraqi puppet government announced the capture of Abu `Umar Al-Baghdadi. Now we remember that the same government previously announced the death of Al-Baghdadi. He must have risen from the dead. Also, the sneaky (pro-US/pro-Iran) Muwaffaq Ar-Rubay`i who was appointed by Bremer as the National Security Adviser was sacked. What gives?

Husayn Musawi

Husayn Musawi is now heading the Hizbullah list in Ba`albak. He was leader of Islamic Amal and later merged with Hizbullah. This story about him from the archives: "In the late 1980s, when Husayn Musawi (then leader of Islamic Amal and now Executive Assistant to the Secretary-general of the Party of God (Hizbullah) was a “big name” in Western media, linked by US to series of bombings, hijackings, and kidnappings, I went as a graduate student to interview him in Ba`albak in the Biqa` valley. During the interview, he asked me if I had eaten. I said: No. He asked his son Hisham to bring me some food. There came Hisham with a delicious tray of Arabic breakfast food that I love. I immediately began to eat. Musawi looked at me fiercely and intensely, and asked: “Have you not forgotten something?” I said: “What?” He said: “Don’t you know that food is more delicious when you precede it by saying In the Name of God, the merciful, the compassionate?” I paused but then continued to eat.)"

US Ambassador in Lebanon (II)

New TV added more details about the failed visit by the US ambassador in Lebanon to South Lebanon. It showed a group of angry female demonstrators making threats against the ambassador, and there were shoes hailed in the air. When the ambassador made it to the school, she was asked by angry residents about the value of US aid when Israel destroys South Lebanon.

Dahlan army

"The United States plans to expand a programme to bolster Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas's security forces in the occupied West Bank, the general in charge of training and equipping them said on Monday. "We have plans to train at least three more battalions before this time next year," Lieutenant General Keith Dayton told Reuters. Each battalion has about 500 members." A picture of one of the graduating classes is above.

US Ambassador in Lebanon

US ambassador in Lebanon was inaugurating some theater in some schools in `Aba in South Lebanon earlier today. As soon as she arrived, reporters gathered and showered her with questions about American support for Israeli war crimes in Lebanon. Suddenly, a crowd gathered outside with makeshift signs against American embrace of Israeli war crimes and the use of American weapons in South Lebanon. She hurried and left. This is based on a report with footage on NBN TV.

Wahhabi standards

"Many women-only sports clubs and gyms in Saudi Arabia face closure under a government clampdown on unlicensed premises, Saudi media have reported."

Numbers

"Today, 66 percent of Jerusalem's residents are Jews and 34 percent are Arabs. By 2020, the Jews are expected to comprise 60 percent of the city's population, while the Arabs are expected to reach 40 percent." What would it be in 2050 or 2080, I wonder. (thanks Sana)

To wear or not to wear...the abayah

"Although many Western women do choose to wear an abaya while traveling in Saudi Arabia, and the Foreign Office recommends "conservative dress," the airline's requirement that female flight attendants consider the abaya "part of the uniform" upon arrival in Saudi Arabia seems excessive. (In 2002, legal action over a similar issue with the U.S. military resulted in the U.S. Senate passing "legislation that prohibited defense officials from requiring female personnel to wear abayas.") Yet the employment tribunal looking into Ashton's complaint "ruled that BMI was justified in imposing 'rules of a different culture' on staff and cleared it of sexual discrimination."" But the article assumes that wearing or not wearing the abayah determines whether one is a feminist or not. (thanks Molly)

Sons of.....................Abbas

"Reuters’ recent review of U.S. aid programs in the Palestinian territories uncovered two USAID

contracts made with the sons of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas that are involved with the agency’s attempts to promote a better public image of the U.S., winning over the hearts and minds of the Palestinians through advertising and infrastructure. Sky Advertising, managed by Abbas’ son Tarek, was awarded a $659,600 contract in May 2006, to take part in a USAID’s campaign to “reduce the negative attitudes and skepticism held by many Palestinians towards economic assistance from the American people.” The other contract of $1.89 million was awarded in May 2005 to a firm owned by Yasser Abbas, Falcon Electro Mechanical Contracting Company, to build a sewage treatment facility in the West Bank."

Dahlan

A group with Fath insists on the exclusion of Dahlan gang from the Fath conference. Mahmud Darwish's closest friend, Akram Haniyyah, is a Dahlanist. (thanks Mirvat)

What?

" An anti-Israel student event was planned, and then canceled Monday, at New York University (NYU). The student, who has asked to hold an event unrelated to Israel, was actually planning an event to explore Israeli "brutality" against the Palestinians. After receiving permission to host an event at NYU on May 4, based on a proposal for a forum on climate change, the student responsible then hung flyers for a conference on "The Hidden History of Zionism: The Road to Gaza's Killing Fields," (thanks Sophie)

Swine

"One Monday, Israel's deputy Health Minister Yakov Litzman, who belongs to an ultra-Orthodox Jewish sect, said the outbreak should be renamed "Mexican flu" in deference to Jewish and Muslim sensitivities over pork." (thanks Sarah)

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

"Israeli settlers destroyed Palestinian farmers’ crops and took over land that belongs to farmers near the southern West Bank city of Hebron, while soldiers searched homes in the old city part on Tuesday."

Tunnels

"Once a profitable business, Abu Abdallah's tunnel under the border between Egypt and the Gaza Strip has been out of work for three weeks due to an Egyptian security crackdown on smuggling." Bullshit. For $10 I can still arrange for the body of Prince Sultan to be smuggled to Gaza.

Israel's demise: or the demise of the usurping entity

"Israel's current policy is leading toward the country's demise, journalist and head of the WorldNetDaily Jerusalem bureau claims in his newly-released book..." News? This is news? I was a toddler when I first predicted Israel's demise.

Saudi-US conspiracy?

US-Saudi conspiracy? What US-Saudi conspiracy? I have noticed that all pro-US occupation media (Saudi and Hariri) now consistently publish pictures of US occupation soldiers playing with Iraqi children. It has become a standard picture that accompany all articles dealing with Iraq in those dirty media.

Mubarak rule

Egyptian authorities arrest a Saudi physician in Egypt because he had a picture of Hasan Nasrallah. He was later released. Human Rights Watch and Freedom House both considered the arrest a sure sign of democratic reform and progress under Mubarak. In other news, Mubarak denied that he was the source of the swine flu. He blamed others.

Ready for burial

"Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Sultan bin Abdul-Aziz, who had surgery in New York in February, will return home soon, one of his sons said in remarks carried by the official SPA news agency on Tuesday." You know what that means, don't you? It only means one thing and one thing only. The man is dead. The prince is dead: down with the prince. It is over. He will be returned for burial. We know how much he likes to stay at the Waldorf Astoria, so for him to leave and go home is a sure sign of death. Deep death. (thanks Olivia)

Corporate Swine

"The boy’s hometown, La Gloria, is also close to a pig farm that raises almost 1 million animals a year. The facility, Granjas Carroll de Mexico, is partly owned by Smithfield Foods, a Virginia-based US company and the world’s largest producer and processor of pork products. Residents of La Gloria have long complained about the clouds of flies that are drawn the so-called “manure lagoons” created by such mega-farms, known in the agriculture business as Confined Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs)." (thanks Matthew)

Dahlan, O Dahlan

"This can be best illustrated by a non-event, namely the sixth Fatah general conference, which some 20 years on since the last such meeting, continues to be bereft of a firm date or location. Rumours come and go about when – or even if – the conference will be held; in public, the official line is that the inordinate delay is a result of the necessary preparations. There is some sense in the claim that a degree of unity among delegates must be achieved beforehand so that the conference is not a complete failure. However, there are many who see the foot-dragging as a sign that those in power fear the results of internal elections." (thanks Ben)

Supreme Media Censor for Lebanon

Saja kindly translated this article of mine which appeared in Al-Akhbar.

Tariq Metri, Lebanon's Supreme Media Censor

As’ad Abu Khalil
http://www.al-akhbar.com/ar/node/109340

Information Minister Tariq Metri's eagerness to announce his media principles occurs in somewhat curious timing. Against the backdrop of political clampdown, there seems to be a dire need to critique all political sides, not to gag speech. So what led to Metri's involvement in an announcement like this? Political partisanship or merely naiveté?

Much can be said about Tariq Metri as an undistinguished phenomenon of an educated politician in Lebanon. You can revisit his leftist history in the Lebanese Nationalist Movement and expediently analyze yet another ex-leftist. You can revisit his ascension to power by nomination and endorsement of Emil Lahoud, only to switch gears in less than two years and somehow turn into a permanent Fouad Seniora nominee. You can impute innocent reasons to the radical shift in his discourse (in less than two years): for instance, you can try believing that he changed his perspective based on conviction. Minister Metri was possibly influenced by Sa'ad or Nader Al-Hariri's power of persuasion. You may remind him of his futile speech before the UN Security Council during the peak of Israeli aggression towards Lebanon. But that is not our topic. We're concerned about the "Statement of Principles" draft Minister Metri presented to media representatives in Lebanon (in spite Saudi ambassador Abdul Aziz Khoja's absence due to extenuating circumstances).

The statement started under the rubric of "concern for the freedom of media outlets." Before proceeding any further, you realize when you read the preamble that it's a prelude for latent intentions of repression that will appear in the rest of the statement. The minister reiterates his emphasis on "the profession's principles and ethics." He didn't explain what he meant by "principles" or ethics or who defines them. Will he take the initiative of recruiting his esteemed ministry for the task of framing those principles and ethics? The minister goes on to reverberate agreeable discussion of "the values of tolerance and dialogue", which is troubling especially since the he belongs to the Saudi axis (which, in fairness, places all Salafi sides in Lebanon on the same footing without bias). Are the values of tolerance and dialogue a prologue for bringing Lebanon to a warm meeting with Shimon Peres, like the Saudi king had done with the excuse of dialogue and tolerance? Furthermore, if the Minister is truly concerned about tolerance, will he join us to condemn beheadings and the stoning of lovers in the Wahhabi kingdom, which represent an extremist example of religious fundamentalists in the world even by the Department of State's standards? This discourse per se contradicts media liberties in democratic countries to which everyone in the miserable homeland claims membership. The Al-Hariri family is preparing to impose restrictions and repression on journalistic liberties in Lebanon using different names, and on behalf of the Saudi Kingdom, which has many outlets in Lebanon (like "misery to the heart" - whoever coined that phrase must have been very depressed) to finally condemn the "media campaign" against it, as if Lebanese media doesn't include vehement criticism of other regimes including Syria and Iran. Criticism of the two axes must continue if Lebanon's journalistic liberties actually mean anything. However, the Hariri group's intentions to repress journalistic freedoms came early, in a memorandum it prepared for the Ta'if conference (this was proven in a book about Ta'if by George Bacasini himself). This approach has become quite clear in the Lebanese ruling family's discourse - that is, almost-ruling family were it not for the objection of at least half of Lebanon. What is this equality between speech (no matter how stern, assertive or vile) and violence? Speech is speech, violence is violence, and they are conflated only in totalitarian regimes. However, this concept has become the ruling elite's official policy in order to gag people, suffocate voices and repress liberties. One senses frustration in Saudi media from one newspaper that dares to criticize Saudi Arabia, albeit the House of Saud's media (and its adherents among Al-Hariri media) freely criticize regimes with which it disagrees, while it is notable that Al-Saud's media (and its adherents among Al-Hariri media) forgives any regime which buries the hatchet with the Saudi government and immediately cease to criticize it.

Equating speech and violence is an Orwellian trick that won’t pass. Allow me to enlighten the ruling elite's Media Minister about freedom of speech in democratic countries, although he has lived for a long time in one of them. For example, in America the jurisprudential interpretation of the First Amendment regarding freedom of speech distinguishes true speech and false speech. The standard for constitutional review of freedom of speech also entertains the standard of protected and unprotected speech. Here freedom of speech guarantees the freedom of opinion even to false speech, while true speech is not subject to censorship. Restriction of speech may expose the government (or the President) to a legislative and judicial lawsuit (for the history of freedom of speech in America, see the new book by Anthony Lewis titled Freedom for the Thought That We Hate: A Biography of the First Amendment, in which he explains the evolution of freedom of expression, which was not always protected since the establishment of the Republic, as the American government criminalized the "defamation" of government officials in the late eighteenth century, similar to Anwar Al-Sadat's "vice" law, the law of "Verbal Transgression" in Jordan, or the law of "Weakening National Spirit" in Syria, etc.) A victim of false defamation cannot sue someone who publishes a lie except in limited situations in which the plaintiff can prove not the falsehood, but the intent of falsification in addition to proving the truth. This is a very high bar in constitutional law which makes proving unprotected defamation nearly impossible. Of course, the standard differs among countries, and Britain for example has a lower bar than that. The law there also distinguishes between the purpose of defamatory speech and writings; the law protects the right to lie about someone in "the public eye", meaning a public official or a celebrity.

Metri would say there are instances when governments may restrict freedoms if the written or verbal speech constitutes, according to the interpretation of the Supreme Court, which does not answer to the authority of the President or Congress, "clear and present danger" to public safety. The point of the text of the statement to reserve the responsibility of defining what constitutes danger in the hands of the government itself. Hence, criticizing the situation of women in Saudi Arabia, for example, constitutes a "threat" to public safety in Lebanon. This doesn't pass legal or constitutional muster, Mr. Minister of Information.

The minister appeals to "the spirit of the Doha agreement" when he announces his authoritative intents. First, let's note that nobody notices absence of a "spirit". What in the world is a spirit? Do you know what a spirit is, Minister Metri? Are you trying to call on spirits today? You’re akin to someone who tries to put out flames with fire. As for the Doha agreement, like many agreements and kisses between politicians in Lebanon, it has no constitutional or legal legitimacy. Who decides the "spirit" of the Doha agreement (besides fortune tellers)? Pierre Al-Gemayyel led the country to civil war and collaborated with the Israeli enemy in the name of the National [Pact]’s spirit. Keep us away from spirits, Minister. Metri then repeatedly speaks about "prohibiting declaring others traitors, and political and sectarian instigation." This is certainly hypocritical and cannot be negated by affirmations. Again, who besides your excellency decides the standard for declaring someone a traitor. There is obscurity here because this description is easily used in Lebanon to silence dissident voices. And where were you, Minister Metri, when your partner Ahmad Fatfat (who else?) of the previous government accused me personally of treason on the pages of this newspaper for no other reason than that I had criticized (or "trespassed upon" per Fatfat's expression) Rafiq Al-Hariri. Did you, as someone who discourages resorting to a judgment of treason, rush to condemn Fatfat's speech? Did you utter a single word at the time? Because it is not easy to agree upon a clear definition of treason, especially since Solanj Al-Gemayyil, who prepared dishes of appetizers for Ariel Sharon (as he wrote in his memoirs), sits under the Parliament's dome and since the Maronites’ patriarch does not cease to apologize for the murderers, collaborators and butchers in the South Lebanon Army, the definition of treason has become obscure, and this is bad. When there is no agreement among the Lebanese people, not even on that Israel is an enemy, then all vulgar polemics are merely hogwash and part of political bickering.

There are more dangerous matters, Tariq Metri. When the ruling elite denounces declaring others as traitors (even though it practices it towards its adversaries), does it prepare Lebanon for a phase in which deeming others as treason is entirely excluded from Lebanese law? What about treason itself? What about dealing, communicating and collaborating with the Israeli enemy, which current Lebanese law penalizes? Is this what the Patriarch meant when he highlighted in a recent sermon the importance of overruling laws and concepts that pertain to the era of occupation (he uses occupation to refer only to Syrian reign in Lebanon. We can't say here that the Patriarch spoke against the Israeli occupation, because he wants Lebanon to get along with "all its neighbors"). Deeming one guilty of treason is part of criticism in all democratic countries. It is widespread in this country. Right-wing author Ann Coulter has written an entire book titled Treason in which she deemed Liberals in America traitors. The danger here does not lie in parties' use of the treasonous label or the ease of using names and descriptions in organizations, but rather when it is used by governments (and all Arab governments use the definitions and laws for political reasons, which makes true pursuit of the treasonous virtually impossible. How can you pursue Israel's agents in Lebanon if Rustum Ghazala imprisons Tahseen Khayyat under charges of agency for Israel if he doesn't succumb to him, for example?). Governments may repress under both treason laws and prohibition thereof. Tariq Metri's team plans to limit liberties in Lebanon under the rubric of disallowing media outlets to deem individuals traitors. Considering others traitors is a part of free speech in a country, exactly like the freedom to exchange insults and name-calling between political rivals.

Tariq Metri shouldn't try passing legislation that gives politicians more freedoms than those afforded (or reserved) to the media. Politicians are exchanging treasonous labels and insults in Parliament, which is their right a universal right. However, placing violence and verbal speech on the same footing is a petty trick that lacks constitutional muster. It's as ironic as Fouad Seniora's talk about "merits democracy" while he's a part of a group headed by Sa'd Al-Hariri, as if the latter had gained his position due to merit. Democracies, not the Wahhabi regimes that embrace you, Tariq Metri, do not limit free speech and do not deem speech as violent unless it involves threat of bodily harm. Otherwise, you're attempting to erode free speech regardless of your use of words that equate speech and violence. It is rather funny (or sad) that the Seniora government considers criticism of a particular political tract violent speech (or verbal violence) while one of its leaders called for the assassination of the president of a neighboring country (not Israel) and called on the US to send booby-trapped cars to Damascus. This does not constitute violent speech in your definition but you do object to naming someone "an ex-leftist" and consider it a threat to his safety. From where do you get these standards, Minister Metri?

Tariq Metri resorts in another section of his emergency draft (which is similar to emergency proclamations in Arab countries that claimed to work on the liberation of Palestine and restricted freedoms in the name of the liberation of Palestine) to stating he intends to "secure balanced coverage". Balanced? Again, who decides? Has nobody brought to your attention the fact that balanced coverage has become an international joke because right-wing Fox News, which is the most biased here, presents itself as "fair and balanced"? Will the balance you're calling for be similar to that of Fox News'? Minister Metri expresses naiveté, or deception, when he calls for the separation of news and opinion. How will that happen, Minister Metri? It is possible to separate the two? See Pierre Bourdieu's book About Television which describes a reality created by the media, not reflected by it, even without intervention by the state elite. He warns of a new kind of indirect censorship. There are limitations and restrictions on speech under capitalism that follow from capital's tyranny, especially since expensive television dwarves other media outlets. Media independent of the Saud and Hariri families' monopoly can be counted on the fingers of one hand.

In his discussion of "the common good", Metri reminds us of the Baath Party's statements in the 1960's. Which common good is this, Information Minister, when blood has become as cheap as water (as Amal Danqul says) on the streets of Beirut and Tripoli? If the Lebanese can't agree on the identity of the enemy, do you want them to agree on the common good? You're detached in your ivory tower. Metri reaches the peak of orwellianism in the fifth section of his ominous draft when he shamelessly addresses the "purification" of media of "assault" and "mockery". What's wrong with mockery, esteemed Minister? Mockery and satire are literary devices. If you really want to purify media and school curricula, you might as well omit the books of Al-Jahiz, Ahmad Faris Al-Shidiaq and Maroon Abood for consistency with your information philosophy. Will this article be subject to your purification process? What happened to you, Minister Metri? How can an educated person, or a citizen, call for the purification of speech of mockery? Do you have any idea what the repercussions of your proposal are? Will you prohibit the satire of Al-Hutai'a and Al-Mutanabbi too? What will you leave for us? What will happen to our liberties if we allow you the freedom of repression? Whether you know it or not, you've become an enemy to culture and liberties, and moreover you discourage "excess" of criticism. Are you kidding, Mr. Minister? Did you import this legislation from a repressive Arab regime? Are you going to prescribe for us doses of criticism like a physician prescribes medicine? Have you become a pharmacist, Mr. Minister? Is this like Fakhri Karim's thesis about "permitted speech"? You've gone so far in your statement as to prohibit agitation and political discourse. How can there be politics without agitation? This is part of the political process without which democracy can't survive in this miserable homeland.

No, Mr. Minister. Your project is very dangerous and hints of destroying the last venues of free expression in Lebanon. We don't know why one independent newspaper that has no connection to your abundant wealth disturbed you, agents and allies of Al-Hariri. Your intentions were clear when Sa'd Al-Hariri entered the political arena: he didn't only accept and legislate Syrian restriction of Lebanese liberties, but he went farther than Ghazi Kan'an and Rustum Ghazala. There are numerous stations and newspapers that were sued, shut down or threatened with closing by the "Salafi Future" current. This flows with Saudi official disapproval of criticism in Lebanon. Ibrahim Salama discusses this in his valuable book "Tomorrow We Will Enter The City"; voices can be silenced, opinions may be sold out, consciences may be rented, biographies may be transformed, but absolute rule is not possible.

You've changed dramatically, Minister Metri. Those who knew you in college say you're now an entirely different person. We won't discuss your choices; those are your business. However, you're subject to democratic accountability by any citizen. You're free to change, and that's up to you, but you have no right to change us or to change public opinion.

Walid Jumblat: the (former?) ally of the US

Here, Walid Jumblat calls on Jihadi groups to send car bombs to "the [American] occupation" in Iraq instead of civilian targets. This one phrase in his long weekly article for Al-Anba' has not received much attention in the Arabic press.

PS This will not be translated by MEMRI which only translates Jumblat's anti-Syrian statements, which have been diminishing.

Dubai miracle

"A recovery in the property market in Dubai is unlikely this year with some analysts predicting further steep falls in real estate prices."

Oranges

"The Sweeties were brought to Iran from China, where faking the origin of goods is a common practice. The discovery of apparent Israeli origin caused a stir in Iran." (thanks Saeed)

Race in the US

"Like the time at a Pocono Mountains flea market when Riding scolded Katie, attracting so many sharp glares that he and his wife, Terri, 37, and also African-American, thought "we might be lynched." And the time when well-intentioned shoppers followed Mark and Katie out of the mall to make sure she wasn't being kidnapped. Or when would-be heroes come up to Katie in the cereal aisle and ask, "Are you OK?"—even though Terri is standing right there." (thanks Ali)

kindness

"Palestinian security forces on Sunday gave the IDF an explosive belt found in the West Bank town of Salfit." Dahlan and Abu Mazen would give their wives and kids to Israel, if asked.

This is Zionism

"Rapoport also noted that Israeli historian Meron Benvenisti has written of the 160 mosques in Palestinian "villages" incorporated into Israel under the 1949 Armistice Agreements, "fewer than 40 are still standing."" (thanks Olivia)

Qadhdhafi TV

Qadhdhafi nationalizes the TV station of his son. (thanks Ashraf)

Reading and writing

"Afghan President Hamid Karzai told women activists Sunday he had signed a law that caused an international outcry over its effect on women's rights because he had not read it properly, the activists said."

Anti-Semitism: Redefined (again) by Israel

"The demand for the establishment of a Palestinian state, speaking of the recent Durban II conference, is another type of anti-Semitic trick against us." (thanks David)

no compulsion

"The state minister said the prime minister had an extensive discussion with the Saudi King and the Saudi foreign minister when they assured her that the restriction will go on Bangladeshi workers who will now be able to change their 'iqama' (work permit) and will not lose jobs if the company owners are changed. He said previously there was compulsion on Bangladeshi girls to return home from Saudi Arabia after attaining 18 years of age, but now that restriction will not be in place, thus allowing girls of 18 years to continue to stay over there." (thanks anonymous)

Swine Flu in Lebanon

Jad sent me this from Lebanon: "Rumor mill in Lebanon: swine flu invented by Muslims (I'm guessing in Bin Laden's sophisticated cave-labs) to reduce global Christian population, while leaving Muslim children safe... "

An Arab wife

"He depended on her for so long. Even when Mum wasn’t speaking to him — which was about a third of the time — she looked after him: packing his bags, making sure he had everything he needed. “I’m just an Arab wife,” she was known to say. “When Bill says, ‘Strike the tent,’ I do.”"

When the New York Times writes history

"Hezbollah, which waged a 34-day war against Israel in 2006..." (thanks Leila)

Ticking bomb

"In his compelling book How to Break a Terrorist, Major Alexander explains that prisoners subjected to abuse usually clam up, say nothing, or provide misleading information. In an interview he was particularly dismissive of the "ticking bomb" argument often used in the justification of torture. This supposes that there is a bomb timed to explode on a bus or in the street which will kill many civilians. The authorities hold a prisoner who knows where the bomb is. Should they not torture him to find out in time where the bomb is before it explodes?" (thanks Suha)

Street fights

"Bars and nightclubs in Umm al Qaiwain will soon go dark in what officials say is a drive to stop street fights and road accidents attributed to consumption of alcohol."

Porn and fundamentalism

"The prosecutors call him "Hezbollah's man in New York City," because he offered this channel, which is apparently TERRORISM. He also sold porn, so you know he's basically an Islamic fundamentalist and an amoral big city commie." (thanks Julie)

Oman fine

"The moderator of an Internet forum in the Gulf Arab state of Oman said on Tuesday he was sentenced to one month in jail and fined 200 rials ($519) for publishing a cabinet directive on the Web." (thanks Ali)

Dahlan, O Dahlan

"Just released from a PA lockup ostensibly in connection with his outspoken criticisms of the Palestinian Authority, Abdul Sattar Qassem has accused his incarcerators of mistreating and humiliating him. “They kept me in the company of criminals and murderers all these days.”"

American Exceptionalism

"The high number of its prison inmates is exceptional. The quality of its health care is exceptionally bad. The degree of its social inequality is exceptionally acute. Public education has gone into exceptional decline. The Americanization of the Holocaust and uncritical support for Israel have demonstrated an exceptional ability to gloss over uncomfortable truths, including broad American indifference to Hitler’s genocide as it happened."

Good news from Rafah

A Western reporter sent me this (she does not want to be identified): "i visited the rafah tunnels today.. they were mainly getting repaired while i was there (daylight hours) but i can happily report that only a few hundred metres away at the rafah market, there are hundreds of sheep, goats, donkeys and even a few cows that are making it through on a daily basis!"

PS As you know, the person who sends me the first picture of a cow in the tunnel, will receive Angry Arab super duper blender.

Defamation

This former Lebanese general asked me to apologize or he would sue me. Why? Because I criticized his TV appearance and said that he was lousy on TV.

Reprimanded

"The official probe of her death would later note that earlier she had been "reprimanded" for showing "empathy" for the prisoners. One of the most moving parts of the report, in fact, is this: "She said that she did not know how to be two people; she ... could not be one person in the cage and another outside the wire."" (thanks Carlos)

Form of slavery

The plight of foreign maids in Syria. (thanks Dina)

How dare they

"Hundreds of Iraqis protested against U.S. forces on Sunday after U.S. soldiers killed a man and a woman in an overnight raid that was condemned by the provincial governor. The U.S. military said it targeted "special groups" fighters."

Mistakes...mere mistakes

"A pre-dawn raid by U.S. forces that killed a woman in southern Iraq on Sunday drew sharp fallout from Iraqi authorities who demanded an investigation and ordered the arrest of two high-ranking Iraqi military officers for allegedly allowing the operation to happen." (thanks Olivia)

Learning from AIPAC

"Mayor Bill Bell plans to visit Saudi Arabia next month. Its government will pick up his expenses. Bell will travel with 10 other mayors May 7-14, the city of Durham announced Monday. The mayors were invited by the Saudi Arabian embassy in Washington. Bell said he was not sure how he was chosen for the trip, but he had spoken with representatives of the Saudi embassy during a trip to Washington for a mayors' conference." And we know that for a free trip and a free meal, American politicians are willing to praise the North Korean Zu Che theory. (thanks Linda)

A Polish Spy: a record of lies

I read A Secret Life: The Polish Officer, His Covert Mission, and the Price He Paid to Save His Country, by Benjamin Weiser. It is really a lousy book: badly written. A former metro reporter of the Washington Post decides to write about a foreign policy story only because the former Polish spy lived in the metro area of DC. I have mentioned this before: I knew the eldest son of Kuklinki because I knew his girlfriend in the 1980s although I was not told about the true identity of the father of the family. The son was an extreme right-winger with whom I clashed as I saw them socially and his girlfriend was best friends with my 1st ex-wife (not to be confused with my 2nd ex-wife). The book here can't be trusted: it is entirely and uncritically based on the US government's account. And the portrayal of the Polish spy is so unaccurate: he is potrayed as a doting and loving father when I knew that he was a cruel and cold tryant who made everybody in his family miserable. The book does not mention that the eldest son later shot himself although the father told the press that he died in an accident. The spy was a liar all his life, and I dont think he ever was capable of telling the truth on anything.

Ahmadinajad

Does Ahmadinajad think that his awful anti-Semitic discourse on the Holocaust helps the Palestinian people? I saw him today on ABC News: he so contradicts himself. On the one hand, he insists that Arabs had nothing to do with the holocaust and that it happened in Europe. And then in the same paragraph, he calls for rexamination of the records regarding the holocaust. What is his point really, except to rehash classical anti-Semitic jargon? But he made one good point (the first in his life as far as I am concerned). In response to a question about the Iranian position if the Palestinians select on their own to support the two-state solution. He answered by asking whether the West would support the Palestinian free choice if it was around the one-state solution.

Sudanese dictator

Sudanese dictator, `Umar Hasan Bashir, is really dumb. I mean, among many dumb Arab leaders (you think of Saudi King, Moroccan King, UAE Shaykh, Kuwaiti Emir, etc), Bashir is really dumb. To deal with the Dharfur issue, he has been resorting to the last refuge of Arab dictators: to pose as a champion of the Palestinian cause. He told AlJazeera yesterday that there can be no peace with Israel and yet when pressed by the host, Ghassan Bin Jiddu, he would not say that he would abandon support for the Thomas Friedman Arab peace initative. That lousy plan was supported unanmiously by all Arab leaders.

Spies, collaborators, and terrorists:

"Lebanese authorities arrested three people on suspicion of spying for Israel on Saturday, the latest in a series of such arrests, a security official said." (thanks Marcy)

Abbas Family Empire

"US aid in the form of loan guarantees meant for Palestinian farmers and other small to mid-sized businesses has been given to a mobile-phone firm backed by President Mahmoud Abbas and Gulf investors. The shift in US taxpayer support to Wataniya Palestine, a joint venture between a Kuwaiti and Qatari telecoms group and a holding company for public assets, the Palestine Investment Fund (PIF), has dismayed sponsors of small private enterprise." (thanks Olivia)

Chutzpah

The King of torture in Jordan is concerned about torture in..the US. (thanks David)

Lebanonesia

"this small, almost comically turbulent country." (thanks Sam)

Free potatoes for all

"In the past, Ahmadinejad has been accused of distributing free potatoes to gain people’s vote ahead of the June presidential election." (thanks Molly)

House of Obama and House of Saud

"A source in the White House has shared with me that there is a lot underway right now with Saudi Arabia -- and things are "sensitive." I have no idea what is sensitive -- but I do know that the US-Saudi relationship lies at the nexus of many key issues in the region -- from the solvency of King Abdullah's Arab Peace Initiative given trends in Israel and Palestine, to potential opportunities with Syria, to dealing with Iran's transnational meddling in the affairs inside other countries in the region, to Iraq's stability, and perhaps most vital at the moment -- to figuring out a stabilization scheme for Pakistan and Afghanistan, where Saudi Arabia has significant influence." (thanks FLC)

I told you so, damn it

"But they can all take heart from one development in the nation's capital. Good old K Street, where the big tea party never stopped, has all but halted organized labor's effort to make it easier for workers to unionize." (thanks Shawna)

Palestinian kids versus...Israeli terrorist soldiers

How can you not admire those Palestinians. Look at this: Palestinian children facing Israeli terrorist soldiers. (AFP) (thanks Christopher)

A Lebanonese at Harvard

Lebanese writer, Abbas Baydun, was so excited to be visiting Harvard, that he published a picture of himself near the statue of the founder of Harvard.

Pigs Often Infect Farmers, Meatpackers

"Pigs have their own versions of influenza, and studies of farmers and meatpackers suggest that the animals fairly regularly infect people."

Bin Laden on the Hariri Ticket in Lebanon

The Bin Laden factor remains an element in the Hariri political coalition in Lebanon. In north Lebanon, Bin Ladenite, Khalid Ad-Dahir, is running on the Hariri ticket in `Akkar. In the Biqa`, Sa`d Hariri attended the inaguration of the Hariri ticket while seated next to Mufti of Biqa`, Khalil Al-Mays, who was quite active in recruting fanatical Jihadis for Zarqawi. And the uncle of Ziyad Jarrah (one of the 19 hijackers) is running on the Hariri ticket and he is now an MP but he does not endorse the Bin Laden agenda--he says. And on the other side (in March 8), Fathi Yakan and his Islamic Action Front have Bin Ladenite tendencies.

An Arab leader

How can anyone rely on US media. Look how NBC News describes King PlayStation: "In a video after the interview, Gregory described Abudullah as “no doubt the most important Arab leader that will deal with the United States as an ally in the region, the first Arab leader to meet with the president in the White House.”" (thanks Nir)

The Dangerous Man

My weekly article in Al-Akhbar: "The Dangerous Man: When Lebanese History Changed (forever)"

World Leaders...

On facebook. (thanks Amer)

Foreign maids in Lebanon

Rape of an Ethiopian maid in Lebanon.

Shiny

"Did Libya's National Security Advisor, Mutassim Qaddafi, son of Muammar Qaddafi, of course, really wear a shiny brown suit to the State Dept. to meet with Secretary Clinton?" (thanks Maryam)

Zionist deeds

"Testimony: Settlers assault pregnant woman with sticks and stones, April '09"

This is Zionism

"Israeli soldiers attacked the teachers and children returning from a school trip in the West Bank town of Beit Ummar on Thursday afternoon. Upon returning from a trip to Ramallah and Jericho, Israeli soldiers halted the busses at the entrance to the town, ordering the children and teachers off the busses. The children were held for three hours before international human rights activists stationed in the village intervened. The presence of teachers and the children’s’ families also prevented the army from holding them longer. Witnesses said the soldiers “abused and intimidated” their detainees."

87,215 Iraqis

"At least 87,215 Iraqis have been killed in violence since 2005, according to a previously undisclosed Iraqi government tally obtained by the Associated Press." (thanks Olivia)

All the news that fit...the ideology of AIPAC

"A Pakistani immigrant described by prosecutors as "Hezbollah's man in New York City" was sentenced Thursday to nearly six years in prison for airing the militant group's television station."

Dubai miracle

"The city-state, however, is still straining under a short-term debt load. Dubai's real-estate market has dropped, and prospects are dim this year for tourism, transportation and financial sectors. That means persuading investors to lend more, or seeking more federal funds, is key to staving off a hard landing." (thanks Nabeel)

Nakbah Denial

"The Israeli museum Yad Vashem has fired an employee who compared the trauma of Jewish Holocaust survivors to that of Palestinians who were expelled in 1948 from their land in what is now Israel, the newspaper Haaretz reported on Thursday. Jerusalem resident Itamar Shapira, 29, was relieved of his position as a teacher after a group of Jewish students from the settlement of Efrat made a complaint to the museum." (thanks Marcy)

When the criminals investigate themselves

"Maj. Gen. Dan Harel, the Israeli military’s deputy chief of staff, told reporters on Wednesday that the army “discovered a small number of mistakes, not many, among the dozens of incidents we investigated, and we have already examined them and learned lessons from them.”"

From the foreign editors of the New York Times

"A reference to the reality television program in relation to an Islamic school may come as a surprise." Surprise? Huge surprise. In fact, as I was reading that I was shocked. Very shocked. I mean, when you think of Islamic schools you think of bombs and prayers but never of television. In fact, Muslims don't even know that television exists. But let me ask this: who writes this stuff? I mean, really. I want to meet those people who write this stuff. It is stunning to me.

Sami Sharaf's memoirs

I read the second volume (840 pages long) of Sami Sharaf's memoirs. It is probably one of the best portraits of Nasser in any language and it has the best description of the Nasserist regime. The memoirs needed better editing and organizations: a few ancedotes in the second volume were also told in the first volume. I wish that there was more on his experience in Sadat's jails and about the trumped up charges against Sharaf and his comrades in what was to be called "Center of Power's Conspiracy."

The Economist

It is undoubtedly the best magazine there is. How rich: its political biases and obsessions with governments that Western governments don't like notwithstanding. I met somebody from Newsweek in New York and I of course began to rave about The Economist. Did not think that he shared my enthusiasm.

Jumblat's outburst in English

A translation of Walid Jumblat's outburst. (thanks Nicholas)

It is all clear now

"The U.S. government may abandon espionage-law charges against two former lobbyists for a pro-Israel advocacy group, officials said yesterday, as a prominent House lawmaker denied new allegations that she offered to use her influence in their behalf."

Robert Worth on Lebanon

The problem with foreign correspondents--East and West--is that sometimes they don't have enough knowledge to have perspective. I sometimes read in the Arabic press articles on Lyndon LaRouche--LaRouche for potato's sake. Today, there is an article in the New York Times by Worth on the Lebanese election. But it lacks perspective. I mean, there are 700 candidates in the election, and Worth features two: Ahmad Al-As`ad and Walid Ma`luf. He does not even know how insifnificant these two are. The former is a remnant of a dead Shi`ite fedual family (who had complained to me back in the 1980s that his dad killed his education although Worth made him "American-educated"), and Ma`luf is a third-rate tool of American neo-cons. The Lebanese press these days is full of articles and rich analysis of the Lebanese elections, and I am yet to read one word about Ma`luf who is seen as a right-wing Likudnik kook--which he is. But Worth made him appear as a prophet of integrity and honesty. (thanks Arun)

Review of my talk last night

"The Angry Arab addresses an overflow crowd on Wall Street" (thanks A.)

My talk in Alwan

My talk at Alwan last night was videotaped. I shall post when it is available.

Omar Charif

This guy fluctuates between anti-Semitism (in Arabic interviews only) and advocacy of peace with Israel--although the two don't necessarily clash. (thanks Brian)

EU standards

So the European delegates are more offended by the rhetoric of Ahmadinajad than by the Israeli butchery in Gaza. OK. Just making sure I understand the standards.

Rhetoric versus actions

"A day after Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad took center stage as a critic of Israel at a UN conference in Geneva, the Palestinian Campaign for Boycotts, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) criticized Iran for business ties with Veolia Environment and Alstrom."

Zionism and pets

" In the Second Lebanon War two contrasting phenomena were noted. On the one hand, families and individuals refused to evacuate without their pets. On the other hand, however, there were many people who abandoned their pets without providing a proper solution for them in order to save themselves. The war thereby emphasized the huge difference in attitudes - both positive and negative - of people towards their pets." Zionists and pets remind me of Hitler and his love for animals. When Hitler visited a slaughterhouse in the Ukraine (I believe it was there), he was horrified. Now Zionists show their humanity toward pet...while butching children. (thanks Asa)

lying for Israel

""We don't know if there was a phone call," Harman said, backtracking on her previous statements. Pressed on the specifics of the call, Harman said she couldn't "recall with any specificity a conversation I may have had four years ago." Harman also appeared on numerous news networks, including CNN and MSNBC, to press her case of denial -- before beginning to backtrack on her answers." (thanks Sellam)

I told you so, damn it

"“Congressman, the crossings are no longer completely closed. There are many items that are being transported through the crossings. There are, as you know, some items that the Israeli government does not permit to cross,” Clinton responded. “The best way for us to help the people of Gaza is for Hamas to cease its rocket firing on Israel, to abide by the quartet principles, and the same principles that were adopted by the Arab peace initiative, which I have reiterated several times here today.”" (thanks Olivia)

Armed historian

This armed Israeli soldier has been cited in US media as an "independent observer of Arab-Israeli issues." "Michael Oren, a senior research fellow at the Shalem Center in Jerusalem and an expert on the Middle East, says that despite some media reports he has not been asked to serve as Israel's next ambassador to the United States. "I heard the rumors and the press reports but I have not received an offer," Oren said this week. "If I am called I will serve, just as I serve when I am called up for military reserve duty," he added." (thanks May)

For you O Jamal Mubarak

"Lieberman held "an important and constructive meeting" with Suleiman "in a friendly atmosphere," the Foreign Ministry said in a statement. Suleiman invited Lieberman to visit Cairo, according to Israel Radio." (thanks Laleh)

Where is Abu Mazen?

A reader in the UAE sent me this message and picture: "You wanted to know where is Abu Mazen and his lot (specially that they disappeared from the Durban Summit). Well, he was yesterday in Abu Dhabi, visiting the real estate and property investment exhibition, City Scape 2009. I’m sure that following up his investments (along with his mob, which included Nabeel Abu Rdaineh, Saaib Oraiqat, and others) as seen attached. Sorry for the hazy picture!" (thanks Haitham)

UAE's royal torturers

In a statement to ABC News, the UAE Ministry of the Interior said it had reviewed the tape and acknowledged the involvement of Sheikh Issa bin Zayed al Nahyan, brother of the country's crown prince, Sheikh Mohammed. "The incidents depicted in the video tapes were not part of a pattern of behavior," the Interior Ministry's statement declared." (thanks Robin)

`Abd-us-Sattar Qasim

I had a post yesterday about the Fath's arrest of Palestinian professor `Abd-us-Sattar Qasim. I identified him as an independent leftist. I never met the guy and I had a hard time figuring out his political position but I sensed general leftist orientations. Yesterday, an informed reader informed me that he is close to Hamas (although his writings never had Islamist leanings) and sent me an email written by Qasim that was in my judgement anti-Semitic. I am not judging him as such, and will look further into this before I render a judgement. Having said all that, there is no reason why Dahlan armed gangs should be arresting professors.

Ahmad Dallal: Provost of AUB

I am thrilled and delighted to report that dear Ahmad Dallal ha been appointed as provost of AUB. Ahmad has accepted. I could not report on this until the official announcement has been made. I've known Ahmad since I was in high school and he was in college. I think the world of him but I'll be restrained in my praise lest it embarrasses him. Ahmad my appear reserved and low key but you should know he has a spine of steel. I wish him the best.

How the sons of...Abu Mazen "won" US contracts

"Firms run by sons of President Mahmoud Abbas won U.S. government aid contracts to repair roads -- and America's image -- in the Palestinian territories, previously undisclosed documents show. A review by Reuters of internal U.S. government records about aid programmes in the West Bank and Gaza Strip found that construction and public relations firms managed by Tarek Abbas and Yasser Mahmoud Abbas received over $2 million in contracts and subcontracts since 2005, when their father became president...Family ties were not a consideration, the U.S. agency said. Likewise, Kareem Shehadeh, a lawyer for Abbas's sons, told Reuters their ties to the president were not a factor, calling any suggestion of favouritism "unethical and baseless...In doing so, USAID, which says it is a leader in promoting transparency, cited confidentiality and security concerns. Dozens of other documents obtained by Reuters detailed how USAID, ahead of the 2006 election, funded projects to promote Abbas's administration without disclosing its role. A 2007 U.S. "fact sheet" described a post-election strategy of providing "targeted, discreet support to emerging leaders, independent media, and selected civil society efforts." Watchdog groups questioned USAID's level of transparency. "When we're supposed to be promoting democratic ideals and restoring trust and faith in the American system of government, it's ridiculous that the American government isn't releasing complete and accurate contract information," said Scott Amey, general counsel for the Project on Government Oversight in Washington. He called the USAID redactions "disingenuous." According to USAID documents obtained by Reuters, Falcon signed a 2005 prime contract for a sewage project in the southern West Bank, while Sky launched a PR campaign in 2006 to improve America's image in the Palestinian territories."

Mubarak's sectarian policies

On Mubarak's sectarian campaign.

Nothing

""Dalia Mogahed is the best example of a successful Muslim woman. She proves that the Muslim should be successful in all fields, at least in [her] area of specialization," a commentator wrote on the website of the independent daily Al Masry al Youm." How dumb and patronizing. No: it only proves one thing. That token appointments are alive and well in every administration. I mean I am sure that some Muslims worked in torture in the Bush administration. Should that be celebrated too? (thanks Olivia)

Dahlan o Dahlan

"The security forces arrested professor Abdul-Sattar Qasem, an author and lecturer in the Political Science Department of Al Najah University in Nablus, and reporter Murad Abu Al Baha’, from Betunia, West of Nablus." Qasem is an independent leftist professor with no ties to any political group. But Human Rights Watch did not notice his arrest because HRW staff is busy monitoring the plight of Israeli collaborators and spies in Palestine. I hope that Middle East Studies Association will protest the Dahlan forces' arrest of Qasem. (thanks Dina)

One house (or more) at a time

"What is significant about the Jaber family's battle for their home is the way this fight is emblematic of the twin processes Israel has been using to Judaize the land: creeping annexation and delaying negotiations. Since Israel occupied the West Bank and Gaza Strip (as well as other Arab territories), the ethnic cleansing has been steady but slow, unlike the uprooting of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians in both 1948 and 1967. One house or neighborhood at a time, Palestinians are removed from their land. And just as the Jaber family finds the court continually delaying its decision about their home, for the last 16 years Palestinians have experienced the realities of the Oslo process as a delay process." (thanks Marcy)

Talking about Blogging

I spent two hours yesterday with the seminar at the Graduate Center at CUNY. They invited me to discuss my blog with the members of the seminar: faculty members and graduate students. It was most interesting and useful for me as it forced me to think and talk about blogging itself. I avoid doing that on my own lest I descend into taking seriously what I do: but it made me think about many things regarding blogging and such. Of course, I characteristically encountered people telling me that I come across differently in person than through my blog. I told them I get that often: people often tell me that I seem less angry in person. And some people say that as a compliment, and others (often Middle Easterners) say it as a criticism. I was asked whether I will always blog. That was scary.

Hariri tribunal update

Two people yesterday separately asked me to provide an update regarding recent major developments in the Hariri tribunal. Here it goes: blah blah blah, and blah. OH, and blah blah blah.

Boycott calls in Canada

"“Our understanding is there will be a motion brought forward by someone who is obviously concerned by our sourcing from Israel,” he said.It's not clear who will introduce the resolution, but such a move is supported by one small peace association, BC Teachers for Peace and Global Education, which pushed for such a move in February." (thanks Hana)

Another Lebanese genius: who "discovers" a cure for cancer

What will you do with Lebanese geniuses who discover cures for cancer regularly? (thanks Firas)

Deposit him away from me

"Several meeting attendees said that Abdullah staked out the concept of an "Arab deposit," Deposit? I really would like to desposit King PlayStation in Tel Aviv. (thanks Sellam).

Zionism-IS-Racism

"Meanwhile, proper, high culture is maintained as a European preserve. That's why former Jewish musical legends of the Arab world – feted performers, whose names still inspire adoration in the Middle East – ended up selling pots in the city slums of Israel. That's also why there are over 20 European classical music ensembles in the Jewish state, and just one Mizrahi outfit – currently on the verge of extinction." (thanks Asa)

I never liked elections anyway

"Most important, he shows unambiguously what observers of elections in poor countries have long suspected: that on their own, unless they are held in the context of a functioning democracy, elections can retard rather than advance a country’s progress. “If democracy means little more than elections, it is damaging to the reform process,” he writes."

Israeli terrorist activities

"Israeli occupation forces at dawn Monday rounded up ten Palestinian citizens in various West Bank areas including a 15-year-old boy from Arub refugee camp north of Al-Khalil, local sources reported." (thanks Sana)

Boo hoo hoo

"New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman didn't have a column in yesterday's paper. Was it because the company that his wife's fortune is invested in went bankrupt last week, and he's too sad to type?" (thanks Ali)

I mean, come on

Aside from the hoop la la, is there any sane person out there who can deny that Israel is a racist state? (I say this while maintaining that the Iranian president has been a clown whose rhetoric on Palestine has done more damage than good).

Mubarak and Gas

"The government has so far blocked their implementation, arguing that it does not sell gas to Israel but rather to a private Egyptian-Israeli firm that just happens to be largely owned by businessmen linked to both countries’ intelligence services. But pressure is mounting for a fuller accounting."

And the New York TImes is part of this scandal

"In return, the caller promised her that a wealthy California donor — the media mogul Haim Saban — would threaten to withhold campaign contributions to Representative Nancy Pelosi, the California Democrat who was expected to become House speaker after the 2006 election, if she did not select Ms. Harman for the intelligence post...The CQ article, citing unnamed present and former national security officials, said a preliminary review was halted by Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales because he wanted Ms. Harman’s support in dissuading The New York Times from running an article disclosing a program of wiretapping without warrants conducted by the National Security Agency." Although I have been critical of the thesis of Mersheimer and Walt, but I have to admit that this article and the story only validate some of their claim of the power of the pro-Israel lobby. And by the way, do you know that this Saban guy is the one who funds the Martin Indyk shop at Brookings? And do you know that this Saban guy met with Emir of Qatar and tried to buy AlJazeera to make it pro-Israeli? I am not making this up.

1967 war

I have been preoccupied as of late (OK, since 1967 when I was 7) with the 1967 war. I am furious that Arab countries waited for Israel to strike instead of striking first. So I asked 2 weeks ago, Sami Sharaf (Nasser's senior adviser). He suggested that I read the section on 67 in his memoirs, and then we can discuss: so I finished the 600 pages of the first volume of his memoirs. Sharaf is an honest and sincere man who tells it as it is: without any self-serving accounts. It it an essential reading on the era and must be read because it brings into perspective accounts and opinions that are lacking from Western chronicles of the war especially that lousy one-sided volume by Israeli soldier, Michael Oren. My conclusion: `Abdul-Hakim `Amir should have been fired and put on trial as far back as 1956. I will say more about the book later.

University Degree...and Lebanon

Lebanese Forces MP, Antoine Zahra, holds a BA from a university that does not exit. (thanks Ihab) (Emily added this and this).

Lies and fabrications of MEMRI

I mean I feel sorry for those who rely on MEMRI for their knowledge of Arab affairs. MEMRI today put out a bulletin saying that "Arab media" published a list of Arab blacklisted writers who--he said--are pro-Israeli. Well, a blogger--A BLOGGER for potato's sake--made his own list. It was one damn list by one damn blogger. But then again: I should equate my blogging with "Arab media" from this point on. I can say "Arab medida think" in instead of "Angry Arab thinks"...

Israeli Orientalism

I mean the quality of Israeli Orientalism and press knowledge--or ignorance--of the Arab world is just staggering. I still read footnotes in Israeli scholars referring to Al-Hawadith magainze because they don't know it ceased to have any role since the mid-1970s. Look at this one (and this about the mouthpiece of Prince Salman bin `Abdul-`Aziz): "Alhomayed, the editor of one of the most influential newspapers in the Arab world, that is considered to hold relatively liberal opinions..." (thanks David)

Prince Sulstan and I

So upon arriving very late last night to New York City, I asked the cab driver to take me to the Waldorf Astoria. I have heard for weeks that Prince Sulstan has taken over some two floors at the Hotel, where he is "recovering" although Saudi royal family insists that he is in "excellent health." So I entered his suite, and yelled: Hey, you MF Prince Sustan. How are you doing? He said: well, I am dead. I have been dead for a while now. I said: are you sure? He said: very sure. I am very dead. So I went over and kicked him in the shin (it is not offensive in Arab culture--unlike in Western culture) and then punched him in the face. He assured me that he did not feel a thing because he is dead. I then said: do you still like bribes? He said: indeed. Very much, sir. So I threw a quarter at him and he went on his knees to fetch it. I then went back to my hotel where I--along with my entourage--occupy three floors.

A fistful of dollars for dead Afghans

"“Apologies are not sufficient, so we do try to compensate families and communities where we’ve made mistakes. But that’s not sufficient either. In fact, there is nothing I could do or say that would replace the loss of a loved one,” the four-star general said. “There’s not enough money in the world to replace the loss of a family member.”" But he added that $20 per one dead Afghan is more than enough.

He is not happy

"The president of the European Jewish Congress on Monday waged a verbal attack against members of Hollywood, specifically the makers of Oscar-winning film Slumdog Millionaire. "I have seen two movies recently made by Jews in Hollywood," said Dr. Moshe Kantor. "One was Valkyrie, which is a pro-Nazi film. The other is Slumdog Millionaire, which deals with the Muslim population in India, and in which one of the characters says, 'Allahu Akhbar' before dying."

Signs of liberation

These are the signs of liberation according to the New York Times: "The female workers in the nightclub wore rather less clothing, but nothing that would be considered risqué on a street in Europe — in August."

Zionist puppet

"Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman has named Bedouin diplomat Ismail Khaldi his Middle East advisor, Yedioth Ahronoth reported Sunday." He is the same guy that I debated two years ago at UC, Berkeley. He pathetically complained to the audience that I did not shake his hands. But the good news is this: the puppets of Zionism--if this guy is any indication--are just incompetent, unqualified, and just not very bright. Is it me or the calibre of US and Israel's puppets in the region is going down--way down. (thanks Asa)

Arabs

"A social studies textbook was attacked because a full-page photograph showed a large family gathered around a dinner table. The objection? They looked like Arabs. Did we rise up indignantly at this un-American display of bias? We did not. Instead, we said that the family was Armenian. It worked." (thanks Ibrahim)

Prevention

"The Israeli occupation authority on Saturday prevented Palestinian Christians from entering the Church of holy Sepulcher in the Old City of occupied Jerusalem, local sources reported." (thanks Sana)

Puppets of Zionism

"A UN-sponsored racism conference will begin Monday, but the plight of the Palestinians will not be on the agenda, partly because Palestine's own diplomats have buckled to US pressure, civil society organizations have alleged." (thanks David)

Friends of AIPAC

"Rep. Jane Harman , the California Democrat with a longtime involvement in intelligence issues, was overheard on an NSA wiretap telling a suspected Israeli agent that she would lobby the Justice Department to reduce espionage-related charges against two officials of the American Israeli Public Affairs Committee, the most powerful pro-Israel organization in Washington." (thanks Ali)

Zionist water

"The water-supply regime used by Israel and the Palestinians must be changed, according to a World Bank report that is to be published today. The report notes that an average Israeli gets four times as much water as the average Palestinian, and warns that the Palestinian Authority water system is "nearing catastrophe.""

Six months for killing an Arab (he will be out in two)

"The Supreme Court rejected an appeal by Haim Castro, a former Border Guard officer, who was convicted of shooting dead an Israeli Arab in Kfar Qassem six years ago, without there being any immediate threat to his life. Castro was sentenced to six months community service by a district court."

Israel displeased

"Israël a rappelé lundi pour consultations son ambassadeur à Berne, pour protester contre la rencontre organisée dimanche entre le conseiller fédéral Hans-Rudolf Merz et Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. L'Etat hébreu entend ainsi protester contre la rencontre dimanche entre le président xcce la Confédération Hans- Rudolf Merz et son homologuie iranien en marge de la conférence «Durban II»." (thanks Michele)

Model UN

So I am with my students at the Model UN here in Burlingame. They are reporting to me that many delegates have been expressing strong views against Israel and its crimes. One of our members proposed yesterday to observe a moment of silence for the children of Gaza who were butchered by Israeli terrorist soldiers. The chair of her committee refused and said that this honor only extends to dead "dignitaries." Every year, we have been noticing, the organizers (as if they are the US congress) get very nervous when criticisms of Israel are voiced.

Zionist propaganda

"The new campaign, to be overseen by the Foreign Ministry, aims to appeal to people who are less concerned with Iran's nuclear aspirations and more fearful of its human rights abuses and mistreatment of minorities, including the gay and lesbian community. The campaign plans to recruit the international gay community, which Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad dismissed in 2007 when he said there were no homosexuals living in his country." (thanks Sherene)

Insulting the Emir

"Kuwait's criminal court sentenced an Australian mother of Arab origin to two years in jail on Monday for allegedly insulting the emir, her lawyer said." (thanks Olivia)

With shoes

"Earlier Monday, federal agents in Geneva on Sunday escorted Harvard law professor Alan Dershowitz away from the Geneva hotel where Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Swiss President Hans-Rudolf Merz were meeting, after he declared plans to challenge the Iranian leader about his views on the Holocaust and Israel." (thanks Marcy)

Egypt's role

Egyptian political scientist, Hasan Naf`ah, reviews the declining role of Egypt.

Adonis in Sulaymaniyyah

Adonis is visiting US-occupied Iraq. He said that he never met with an Arab head of state before but that he is proud to be meeting with Jalal Talbani. He said that he wanted to meet with a head of state who was a real puppet installed by US troops and that Talbani fit the criterion. As for his past criticisms of Arab poets and writers who had met with Saddam Husayn, he said it was different becasue Talbani is blessd and endorsed by the US occupation. The news bulletin from Talbani's office said that the puppet president discussed the "achievements" of Iraq in different fields including in death squads, sectarian killings, car bombs, foreign occupation, bombing of neighborhoods from the air, regression of women's rights, and the rise of Ayatullah power. The press release indicated that Adonis was mightily impressed and urged the puppet government to show more obedience and subservience to the US. (thanks Amer)

Colonial Power

"Moreover, outside the narrow sphere of the Caribbean and the Philippines, it was never a colonial power in the classical sense." This is like saying I am a virgin because I only had intercourse twice before.

Collaborators Watch: Serving Israeli collaborators and spies

This just in. Human Rights Watch is setting up a special branch to monitor the health and plight of Israeli collaborators and spies in the Arab world. This special organization will enjoy the support and funding from what the director of Human Rights Watch had called in a private email "Pro-Israel" donors. Human Rights Watch considers Israeli collaborators and spies to be important because--unlike regular cheap Arabs--they render important services to the Israeli state. Human Rights Watch will assign a special specialist to monitor the welfare and health of every Israeli collaborator and spy in the Middle East.

Israel's dirty hands

"One of the Liberal Democrats' most generous donors has been accused of accepting tens of millions of pounds in kickbacks from an arms deal between an Israeli company and the Indian government." (thanks Sellam)

Dumb Zionism

"The Beirut-based Arab language newspapers Al-Akhbar and A-Safir reported that the officer, who goes by the code name "Adib", was suspected of heading a spy ring that passed along information to Israeli intelligence." Israeli newspapers are so dumb sometimes, just like Israeli intelligence services. I mean look at the reference to the name Adib. No, it was not a code name. The man's name was Adib `Alam, get it?

This is Zionism

Israeli terrorist soldiers killing a demonstrator. (thanks Brian)

Radical Leftists

"In the space between the radical ideologists on the right end of the political spectrum here and the radical leftists who desire equality for all, this clearly must be the solution." I mean how awful. How horrible. Can you imagine those radical leftists who desire equality for all? (thanks Joe)

He is Fired

"Denis Rancourt was recently fired from the University of Ottawa for granting all of his advanced students an A+. In a recent turn of events, Rancourt posted a statement on April 10 arguing that his forceful dismissal from tenure was caused by his critical stance against Israeli’s bloody suppression of the Palestinians." I don't know anything about this case, I must say. (thanks Ali)

Chaos and Revolution in Egypt? No way.

"On Saturday, the state-sponsored daily al-Ahran blamed al-Jazeera for collaborating with Arab sources attempting to "create chaos within Egypt to push forth a revolution."" Since when is a Revolution a bad thing? (thanks Marcy)

Ads

If you see any offensive google ads on this blog, you need to send me the url of the ad and I can easily block it.

Tarsh Al-Bahr

"Many traditional Arabs from Nejd, the central Saudi heartland, used to refer to all outsiders as “tarsh al bahr” — vomit from the sea. People of African descent still face some discrimination, as do most immigrants, even from other Arab countries." Tarsh Al-Bahr does not mean "vomit from the sea." It is an old Saudi expression that referred to those "from behind the seas" who come to perform pilgrimage in Mecca and who wind up staying in Saudi Arabia. It can sometimes be used by Najdis to refer to people from Southern Arabia. Also, do you notice how uncritical Robert Worth is about Saudi Arabia? I mean, reports about slaves held by royal family members continued to surface until the 1980s. Also, Worth should have added that immigrants in Saudi Arabia face discrimination unlike immigrants in Western countries where everybody is free and equal.

The piano tune of normalization

"Unfortunately, not all Egyptians believe that Barenboim’s visit to Egypt is a good idea. On the Angry Arab blog, the writer tells of his “distrust” of a man who worked for many years with Said in order to build bridges between Israeli and Palestinians. “I never liked or trusted this man, and his friendship with Edward Said meant nothing to me. I never felt that I need to befriend an Israeli to complete my humanity or to prove my civility,” the posting reads.

Iraq:free, sovereign, and democratic

"“Every time we said to the government, ‘You have to let this guy go,’ they do it, which they wouldn’t if they thought he was really dangerous,” the American said." What is "dangerous"? Dangerous to Iraq or to US? Also, is it not nice how the independent Iraqi judiciary always complies with US requests? How friendly is that?

Good killers versus bad killers

"First Lt. Jobie Siemer, of the First Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry, who has worked closely with Sheik Maher in Hawr Jab, said, “There are a lot of good people around here who I know killed a bunch of people, but they were defending their land and they were helping us and that was a good thing." OK, Lt. Siemer. Let me get this straight. So you are saying that there are good killers and bad killers. Good killers are those people who kill but who also help the US, and that would be a "good thing"? Did I get that right? But what if people kill and don't help the US and yet defend their land? Would that be a good thing or a bad thing? Please help me out here, Lt. Siemer. These distinctions can be confusing sometimes.

The Mummified President

Karim kindly and quickly translated my latest article from Al-Akhbar.

The Mummified President: Or the Follower of the Follower.

The crisis between Hezbollah and the regime in Egypt has been branching out leading the Al-Arabiya channel to give the matter its own segment during its daily news slash propaganda a few days ago. The channel hosted the editor-in-chief of Rose-Ul-Yusuf along with the retired Lebanese colonel Hesham Jaber. To add a bit of “objectivity”, Saleh Al-Qellab was also invited, or perhaps to conciliate the opposing points of view.

Rose-Ul-Yusuf magazine, like all government aligned and (beloved) official Egyptian magazines and newspapers lost the attractiveness which it hasn’t known for decades now. For instance, it’s enough to compare Al-Ahram before the revolution and during the era of Nasser and the same Al-Ahram during the eras of Sadat and Mubarak. Who reads Al-Ahram these days at all, except those who want to find out who died from the obituaries section? The current Rose-Ul-Yusuf represents a familiar pattern found today in official Arab media outlets (or electronic media sites such as Elaph): A media that is in liberal disguise while it has in fact allied itself to autocratic and tyrannical regimes in return for many benefits. A media that uses sleaze and women as objects as well as rousing those repressed urges to attract readership. This magazine is an official outlet for the ruling party no matter what the latter does and no matter how many or who it murders. What’s also ironic is that both Sadat’s media and Saudi media are incessantly attacking Nasser for his role in oppressing the press, as if the current media either in Egypt or Saudi Arabia or Jordan is free and uncensored. Those in these medias mentioned above forget that Egyptian newspapers and publications in the days of Nasser were actually read and circulated: Al-Ahram had writers of such caliber as Mahfouz, Al-Hakim, Edris, Louis ‘Awaad, Ghali Shukri and many other talented writers. But who can point to even one talent in Mubarak’s media today? It is enough to show the mediocrity of such media by noting that Oussama Saraya is the current editor in chief of Al-Ahram. Any comparison in this regard between Mohammad Hasanein Haykal, for instance, and no matter what could be said about the man, and Oussama Saraya does not have a favorable outcome to Mubarak or Sadat….or Saraya himself. Al-Ahram used to employ a multitude of intellectuals and writers, while it’s crammed today with Jamal’s [Mubarak] gang as he relentlessly inflame sectarian and religious feelings. What this means is that the Egyptian media condemns in practice any sectarian agitation unless it is endorsed by its own institutions, be they governmental or media institutions. In the same manner, this media promotes a narrow form of country-wide nationalism and doesn’t invoke pan-Arab nationalism except in the context of countering the Safavid-Qajarid grand scheme.

In any case, the episode referred to, started with violent bashing coming from the editor in chief of Rose-Ul-Yusuf – the magazine that praises America and criticizes it in the same issue according to the needs of Hosni Mubarak and whether a report on human rights status in Egypt has been issued by an American official. But the Egyptian’s regime interest has been concurrent with that of the U.S and Israel for the past years; ever since the regime in Egypt discovered that it had made a mistake in thinking that the American administration – any administration – gives any weight to the status of human rights under any Arab regime. The Egyptian regime then settled down and dismissed its unfounded fears! Al-Qellab, who was supposed to be representing the neutral point of view in the discussion, was rather angered, indignant, threatening, furious and abusive! The little darling – as they would call him in the Levant – was previously the minister of information under the Jordanian regime. Usually, working for the Arab regimes of oppression is a lousy profession, but it becomes even lousier and more despicable if it’s a profession in the domains of either media or intelligence (with permission from Samir ‘Atalla the professional writer of praises to prince Muqrin and Jihad El-Khazen the professional writer of praises to prince Nayef). The sole function of the media under the Hashemite regime is to defend the financial and political collaboration with Israel, and to defend the massacres committed by the Jordanian army against the Palestinian people. ‘Adnan Abou ‘Odeh was for example, trained in Britain on the fundamentals of psychological warfare (as mentioned by Avi Shalim in his hagiographic biography of King Hussein) before taking up the task of defending the September massacres in the Jordanian media.

Al-Qellab appeared as an expert, yet even a Faqih in Shi’ite Jurispendence, who issued a fatwa in favour of Tyre’s expelled mufti Ali Al-Amin (a darling of prince Muqrin), and who volunteers in Egyptian and Saudi medias to adopt the stances of both governments – in addition to that of a third government in the region – including the policies of humiliating the Shi’ites and sectarian agitation against them. But counting on the expelled mufti of Tyre to win over the Shi’ite public opinion is like the American’s counting on Ahmad Al Shalabi in 2003 to lead Iraq and to sign a peace treaty between the “new” Iraq and Israel. Meanwhile, and as for Hesham Jaber, he is reminiscent of the token liberal guest in the right-wing Fox news network. It is widely known that Fox invites eloquent and staunch right-wingers while it invites a timid inhibited liberal guest. Saudi & Hariri-aligned media thus similarly invite someone like Hesham Jaber to defend the opposed point of view. Jaber expressed his deep respect for the profanity of Qellab and the Rose-Ul-Yusuf guest before also expressing his respect for the expelled mufti of Tyre. Jaber also mumbled some talk about his disagreement with Hezbollah when the viewer had assumed that Jaber was invited to represent the other point of view! But these are the criteria of diversity according to the media of the house of Saud.

The Egyptian campaign against Hezbollah is becoming fiercer as we speak, and is widening to encompass the media of Prince Salman bin Abdul-Aziz. The latter is anxious to be crowned king of Saudi Arabia, as I was told years ago by the former American ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Chas Freeman. This prince Salman is hasting to get more intimate with Zionists so maybe America would help him become King, as any reader can notice from reading his London-based newspaper.

Meanwhile, the Egyptian campaign in the media is not countered by Hezbollah’s media, which thinks that its silence is an intelligent outmaneuvering on its part. Nasrallah’s most recent speech was clear in explaining the party’s position towards the various Arab regimes. The party explained by saying that it is not against any of the Arab regimes, and declared that it will not wage any campaigns against any Arab regime. The guests of Al-Manar TV know that in the past few months all guests were asked to refrain from criticizing Saudi Arabia. But it seems that the party is unaware that it is the Arab regimes themselves that seek adversity and war with Hezbollah, even if the latter chooses the path of peace and reconciliation. The plot is already in place whether Hezbollah wants to acknowledge it or not, in the same manner in which the Jordanian regime discovered in a suitable moment (suitable to Israel of course) plots by Hamas to carry out bombings in Jordan.

Who said that it is only Ba’athist regimes that foil infernal plots in their countries? But Hezbollah did not attain the truth that George Habash and Wadi’ Haddad previously attained following the events of 1967: That the goal of liberating Palestine contradicts in both words and actions with remaining at peace with the Arab regimes (but the PFLP later abandoned this deduction). But Hezbollah can be excused in preferring not to go to arms with these regimes, because the card of sectarian embattlement being officially used by the Saudi camp, weakens Hezbollah. This is because the latter is easy to criticize as a result of its divisive ideological nature and sectarian constitution. For instance, the party can be blamed for not being interested in building a pro-resistance front similar to the pro-Palestinian revolution front established by Kamal Jumblat. The party can also be blamed for not being comfortable in allying itself with the secular-leftist branch of the resistance in Lebanon and outside of Lebanon. However it cannot be blamed for not wanting or not being capable of adopting a different ideology.

But the Egyptian regime is clueless in all matters. The whole issue – all of the issue – is the bequeathal of the presidency that the mummified president is working on with diligence and perseverance. Hosni Mubarak is the quintessential president of hazard just like his mentor Anwar Sadat was. If Sadat was a follower of Nasser (the pillars of power agreed on Sadat because he was the least dangerous follower, and was the living example of “Yes Sir!” in the era of Nasser, then Mubarak was raised as a follower of Sadat: He was the perfect follower of the follower. It was ironic that both Mubarak and Sadat named their firstborns “Jamal” after Nasser. Mubarak’s loyalty to Sadat was absolute, while many of Sadat’s foreign ministers abandoned their president because of his peace accord with Israel, including the Cigar puffer Ismail Fahmi, who was taken by “Dear Henri” [Kissinger]. Colleague Robert Springborg in his book about Mubarak’s Egypt nailed it in his analysis about Mubarak’s rule being a regime that depends on the domination by both military and intelligence institutions, with their involvement in different sectors of the “engorged” national economy. In addition, Mubarak, the veteran follower did not trust any follower and still refuses to appoint a vice president. When Abdul-Halim Abou Ghazaleh became too strong, he ousted him, and when Sh’eban Abdul-Rahim expressed his love for Amro Mousa, he isolated the latter in his post in the Arab league. Like Gilgamesh, Arab leaders suffer from the complex of immortality: They cannot comprehend why they are not immortal. Old age disturbs them so you see the octogenarian among them such as Mubarak or Abdullah entering their ninth decade with pitch black hair. Grey hair only happens to others from among the masses and not to the hair to rulers (Saddam insisted on dying his hair even under captivity). But Mubarak found a magical recipe that guarantees the bequeathal of his presidency: He discovered and much to his satisfaction that the American administration does not care about democracy or human rights, and that both issues are usually used to achieve further concessions for the interest of Israel, and further cooperation with America’s current global warfare. The black-haired man – the mummified president who competes with Pharaohs – that normalization with Israel can reduce any American (and European) criticism of his oppressive regime, and while also increasing Western support for his prodigal inheritor. What joy for Egypt, the “mother of all of the world”: Jamal Mubarak speaks fluent English, and secretly cooperated with Bush and supported the American invasion of Iraq. History will reveal once written that Arab countries formed secret parts of the coalition forces allied with America in its invasion of Iraq, specially that recent American reports described Jordan as “a secret” member in the coalition of occupation in Iraq. It is thus that Mubarak accelerated the pace of normalization, and it was thus that Egypt’s participation faltered in raising the (whispering) voice against Israel’s aggression and terrorism. It’s truly funny that Egypt’s official media is now hiding behind a repeated crisis threatening Egypt’s “national security”. But is there no one to tell these people that Egypt’s national security was over the day the first Sinai accord was signed? Are they jesting when talking about Egypt’s national security when Israel is besieging Gaza and bombing positions on the border with Egypt? Where was this so-called national security when the Israel government was in an emergency session to look into Egypt’s request for permission to send more Egyptian policemen on the Egyptian side of the border to protect Israel’s security no less? The truth is that Camp David treaty that included both public and secret items have dissolved the concept of an Egyptian national security and raised the matters of Israeli security above everything else. But the Egyptian government is following Sadat’s example: A racist chauvinistic mobilization of the people of Egypt in order for the latter to abandon the Palestinian cause (and making the latter seem like a burden on Egyptian interests) and that hides behind a sectarian mobilization, damaging the national unity in Egypt and unleashing violent Jihadist movements in the Sadat era, even if it satisfied the Arab liberals working for the Saud and (Shakhbout) families.

The media in Egypt does not mention the threat of the state of Israel, which invades, bombs and murders around the clock, to Egypt’s national security. This is while one member from Hezbollah in Egypt became a certain threat to Egyptian national security. The propagandists of Hosni Mubarak did not notice the humiliation incurred by the regime’s allegation about a conspiracy of Hezbollah’s sole member in Egypt. What country is that that is shaken by one man’s conspiracy (whether real or fictional)? The one man conspiracy would have made an excellent title for an Egyptian movie in the 70s. But the Egyptian government does what it must do in order to secure Jamal Mubarak’s succession of his father, and to garner American, Israeli and European support for this succession before any grey hairs appear in Hosni Mubarak’s scalp. Putting his house in order seems to be the priority of “Si Hosni” but he has one problem: his son lacks any legitimacy of any kind even if he is surrounded by fat cats. Jamal Mubarak cannot take any credit for the alleged October victory. The increasing intimacy between the Egyptian regime and Israel threaten the foundations of the legacy that will be handed by Mubarak to his son. The Egyptian media is aware of this, and is thus creating virtual deeds of heroism for Hosni Mubarak. While the Egyptian media was crammed with the news of the dangerous conspiracy planned and carried out by one member of Hezbollah, the Ahram newspaper and others carried headlines about Egyptian pressures and campaigns to resist the judaization of Jerusalem and opposing the building of settlements. Indeed, these are heroic acts by Mohammed Hosni Mubarak. But we heard nowhere about these Egyptian campaigns. Mubarak’s conmen are trying to remind us of the sacrifices by the Egyptian people for Palestine, but the people (in all Arab countries) are one matter and the regimes are another matter. In any case, if Arab regimes had well defended Palestine in 1948 and prevented the establishment of the usurping state, it would have saved its people many sacrifices be it dear or cheap, and many poems! But no doubt that the regimes of Sadat and Mubarak succeeded in building a narrow nationalist identity that previously withered under Nasser, with the latter having succeeded in mobilizing his people with slogans of a quasi-secular pan-Arab identity. Nasser did not separate between the fate of his people and the fate of Palestine, but he damaged both by handing over his army’s capabilities of the King of Drug-induced euphoria, the happy field-marshal. Nasser’s ability to promote a nationalist identity came from self-confidence and awareness of the true nature of his popularity, while both of his successors sought to strengthen their rule with narrow-minded foundations to capture the support of a hungry, tired, overpopulated, irritated and defeated country. It is for this reason that Sadat created the game of the crossing of the canal and the October victory. But of course, one cannot reduce the Egyptian people to the slogans of an unelected regime, but one cannot deny either the ability of regimes – all regimes – to promote countrywide nationalistic slogans such as “Jordan First” and “Lebanon First” or “Wahhabism First”. Even the Azhar’s religious authority was historically a pliable tool of even the British rule, issuing fatwas that urge sacrifices for the sake of Palestine a night before issuing a fatwa permitting the greeting of Shemon Peres as a form of respect. Inflating this narrow countrywide nationalist is an attempt by the regimes which have the support of 100% of all voters (even reaching numbers above 100% as declared by a Syrian interior minister from the fifties) to merge the regime with the dignity of the people, making any attack against the regime by anyone whether inside and especially if outside of the country, an attack against the pride and the dignity of the people. It is for this reason that the Egyptian regime insisted on making the criticisms against it and its declared collaboration, cooperation and even alliance with Israel during the past years, seem like an attack on Egypt itself. Sadat was proficient in playing such tricks, when he turned any opposition against his humiliating peace with Israel into a racist campaign against Egyptians, describing any Egyptians opposed to Camp David as spies and agents of a foreign country. In a similar context, Oussama Saraya is bellowing in a style that makes the Ahmad Sa’id’s remarks seem polite in comparison that “People far and wide know what Egypt does for the sake of Palestinians”.

First of all, notice how Hosni Mubarak becomes a personification of the whole of Egypt. Secondly, it is true that people far and wide know that the Egyptian regime turned the Palestinian cause, previously the corner stone of Egyptian foreign policy, into a marginal issue that falls under the jurisdiction of Egyptian intelligence. People far and wide also know that the Egyptian regime has become a collaborator (in the same manner in which the Jordanian regime was since its inception by British colonialism before being handed over to American colonialism when both the sun and the moon set on British colonialism) with the Israeli scheme to strike at the heart of the Palestinian cause by killing as many Palestinians as possible. People far and wide know that the suffocating siege on Gaza could not have taken place without the complete cooperation with the Egyptian government. But Saray’s pen slipped in his article where he yelled and denounced Hezbollah’s plot to antagonize Israel against Egypt. This is the true nature of the threat against the so-called Egyptian national security. Who would have imagined that a day will come where an Arab regime – especially in Egypt – would accuse Arab opponents of trying to ruin its relations with Israel? What can this ruin mean between an Arab regime and Israel? How is it possible to conciliate even a verbal defense of the bare minimum of the Palestinian people’s rights and the fear of ruined relations with Israel? Did Israel in its history ruin its relations with Arab countries when it invaded or bombed Lebanon, Egypt, Tunisia, Sudan, Iraq, Palestine, Jordan and Syria? The Israeli media is participating in Mubarak’s parade for the bequeathal of his presidency: Shemon Peres now issues decrees in Sunni and Shi’ite jurispendence armed with a Saudi and Azhari sponsorship. Israel respects the Egyptian’s caution not to ruin its relations with the Zionist occupations-state. This is while the Saudi media differs between one prince and another, but Hazim Saghiya (who considered the racism of Sa’id ‘Akl and his alliance with Israel and his invitation to kill Palestinians in Lebanon during the civil war some sort of entertainment) objected to the threats against Egyptian sovereignty, even if he had previously considered the American invasion of Iraq as not violating Iraqi sovereignty. This effectively means that to him, a Hezbollah’s member’s violation of Egyptian sovereignty is more dangerous than the violation of Iraqi sovereignty by the entire American army. Fuad Sanyyra happens to visit Egypt during the crisis: But his visit was private and not connected to the crisis at all. The phone call between Mubarak and Sanyura is not connected to the conspiracy of inducing the ruin of Egypt’s relations with Israel. Sanyura showed his understanding because he too did the impossible before Israel’s war on Lebanon and afterwards to not induce a severance between Lebanon and Israel. His famous tears were in grief over this. The official Arab regime is in consensus that the quarrel between itself and Israel is renounceable and must be avoided, but as for the regime’s bid to agitate sectarian warring and provoking a Palestinian civil war, that is condemnable. You have entered the era of peace and harmony, so lower your heads or bow them all together, lest they bump into the ceiling of National-Countrywide security.

Freedom and sovereigny in Iraq

I can't think of a country with more sovereignty or freedom than Iraq-under-occupation. I really mean that, and I am not joking. I mean look at this: "The military is determined to intervene if necessary, Colonel Kulmayer said, and has already in the case of a prominent council leader in Baghdad, Col. Raad Ali of the Ghazaliya neighborhood, a one-time stronghold of Al Qaeda. “It turns out the charges were trumped up,” Colonel Kulmayer said. Officials persuaded a judge to dismiss the case and release him, the colonel said." Don't you like the reference to "Officials persuaded the judge"? What kind of persuasion was that? If this is not a blossoming democracy that the US has so generously constructed in our lands, nothing is.

Birth of the Clinic: Discipline, Punish, and Torture

"During the extraordinary weeks that followed, it was the psychologist who apparently played the more critical role. According to newly released Justice Department documents, the psychologist provided ideas, practical advice and even legal justification for interrogation methods that would break Abu Zubaida, physically and mentally. Extreme sleep deprivation, waterboarding, the use of insects to provoke fear -- all were deemed acceptable, in part because the psychologist said so."

Email

"We are outraged to learn that on April 6, Sana Javed, a leading activist, member of the Muslim Students' Association and a candidate with the Student Power Party, received a threatening e-mail from a classmate urging her to "withdraw from Middle Eastern Politics class" because of the role Javed played in helping to organize last month's Palestinian Solidarity Week. The e-mail stated that "if you don't withdraw, things could potentially get nasty" as the classmate is "loosing [sic] my ability to control myself in relations to you."" (thanks anonymous)

The torturers agonized and suffered: Poor torturers

"Instead, watching his torment caused great distress to his captors, the official said.Even for those who believed that brutal treatment could produce results, the official said, “seeing these depths of human misery and degradation has a traumatic effect.”" (thanks Sylvain)

Prisoners in Iraq

There are 41,000 prisoners in Iraq: 15,000 of whom are in US custody. Of course, as we all remember, the US had surrendered sovereignty of Iraq to the Iraqis. Oh, yeah.

Torture in Iraq

"Published this week in the New England Journal of Medicine, the report examined the causes of death for 60,481 Iraqi civilians killed violently during the first five years of the war, using statistics compiled by Iraq Body Count. The findings are surprising to anyone familiar with the regular headlines from Iraq blaring explosions around the country. Executions with firearms, not bomb blasts, have killed most civilians in Iraq. Researchers say 33% of the victims examined in the study died by execution after abduction or capture. And 29% of those victims had signs of torture on their bodies such as bruises, drill holes or burns. Suicide bombers in cars or on foot were responsible for 14% of the victims in the study, while U.S. airstrikes killed 4%." (thanks Olivia)

Women and sexual violence of war

"Between 2006 and 2008, some 40 women who served in the Iraq War spoke to me of their experiences at war. Twenty-eight of them had been sexually harassed, assaulted or raped while serving. They were not exceptions. According to several studies of the US military funded by the Department of Veteran Affairs, 30% of military women are raped while serving, 71% are sexually assaulted, and 90% are sexually harassed." (thanks Blaire)

Walid Jumblat--unplugged

This is the explosive Walid Jumblat's phone-video from New TV (thanks As`ad--not me and Alain)

Now Hariri

An informed Western source in Lebanon sent me this (he/she does not want to be identified): "Knowing your affinity for these Lebanese patriots, I thought you might find this particularly humorous () not for the content of the author-it is always awful anyways-but for the addendum on the bottom of the page: "Michael Young is the opinion editor of the Daily Star newspaper. The views of the author do not necessarily reflect those of NOW Lebanon." It's funny for two reasons. Firstly, why would NOW Lebanon post (and pay generously for) anything that wasn't in lock-step with their absurd rhetoric? Secondly, I know a lot of "reporters" who have worked and are working there and it is absolutely not true. Michael Young's opinions are exactly the same as those of NOW. Not only has Michael Young been working with NOW since it was founded and continues to help pen their editorials without attaching his name to them and not only does he sit in on weekly editorial meetings to determine what needs to be written but apparently is also very abusive to the foreign journalists and calls their story ideas stupid or ignorant and apparently rejects any stories that do not tow his crazy ideological line. Most importantly it seems that Michael Young and his insane ideas are sadly what pass for ALL English opinions coming out of Lebanon, given his other post as "opinion editor" at the Daily Star. I thought it was bad that he was employed but one media outlet but how is it acceptable that he remains on the payroll of both? At the same time? I mean really??? Who is going to hire him next? Al Manar?????" (The well-informed source is responsible for the information contained in this piece).

The Mummified President

My weekly article in Al-Akhbar: "The Mummified President: Or the Follower of the Follower."

...off to Burlingame and then to NYC

...off to Burlingame for the Model United Nations conference. I then leave to New York City on Monday. On Tuesday, I am speaking at a closed seminar at CUNY, and on Wednesday I am speaking at Alwan. Returning next Thursday.

My beloved Eggplant

"Eggplant, technically a fruit that we treat as a vegetable, is surrounded by superstition and old wives' tales. But why does it behave so badly? I think the explanation is much the same as for people: because it is misunderstood." (thanks Rami)

Diet

""While detainees subject to dietary manipulation are obviously situated differently from individuals who voluntarily engage in commercial weight-loss programs, we note that widely available commercial weight-loss programs in the United States employ diets of 1000 kcal/day for sustain periods of weeks or longer without requiring medical supervision," read the footnote. "While we do not equate commercial weight loss programs and this interrogation technique, the fact that these calorie levels are used in the weight-loss programs, in our view, is instructive in evaluating the medical safety of the interrogation technique.""

US military assistance to Lebanon

""...a U.S. Department of Defense official said that the United States does not provide assistance to Lebanon without “considering the concerns of Israel and Israel's qualitative edge,” adding that U.S. military aid to the LAF is designed to “strengthen the army domestically, not regionally” and that M60 tanks would be “no match” for Israel's Merkava 4 tanks."" Casey Addis, U.S. Security Assistance to Lebanon, Congressional Research Service, April 1, 2009. (thanks Andrew)

Flash: the real Walid Jumblat

In its evening news broadcast, New TV aired a video recording (taken by a cellphone) of Walid Jumblat meeting privately with Druze "clerical" leaders. He was very blunt about the status of the Druzes and why a conflict with the Shi`ites is to be avoided at all cost. He said that "the Christians" were eager to see the Shi`ites and Druzes engage in a war, and so are some of the Sunnis. He then said: look at the 1000 fighters that Hariri family imported from `Akkar into Beirut (to join the Hariri militia). He said: they did not last for fifteen minutes (on May 7th). He said that mini-Hariri is "new." He then talked about the Christians: that those who have "bad quality" will always be bad quality.

The real Lebanon

"Eighty Ethiopian women have been in Tripoli Women’s Prison in north Lebanon for over a year, accused of not having a passport which was either taken from them when they started as domestic workers, or which they never had in the first place. Most were arrested on the street after running away from their employers - usually because of abuses ranging from forced confinement and starvation to physical harm and rape. Some had fled after being accused of stealing."

No.

"Is Obama turning up the pressure on Israel?"

Women and children

"Air strikes and artillery barrages have taken a heavy toll among the most vulnerable of the Iraqi people, with children and women forming a disproportionate number of the dead." (thanks Julie)

Blocked

"3 weeks ago when Linkedin blocked all Syrian IPs users , but they were able to access the site by using IP changing programs (such as Tor), but in the last days, Linkedin blocked all Syrian users even if they changed their IPs, and when the users try to access the website this message appears to them: Access to this account has been suspended. Please contact Customer Service to resolve this problem" (thanks Salma)

Where is your shoe when you need it

"Israel's top judicial official sai the goal of her country's Supreme Court is to respect human rights while maintaining security during "a permanent state of emergency." Israeli Supreme Court President Dorit Beinisch spoke on Thursday night at Princeton University."

For Democracy

"Arab news channel Al-Jazeera on Tuesday published the first interview ever conducted with a current inmate of Guantanamo, the US prison camp. "They had a thick rubber or plastic baton they beat me with," said Mohammed el Gharani, a 21-year-old Chadian national who has been held in the camp for seven years." (thanks Sophie)

The Self-made Crook/collaborator: Abu Mazen's son

"Yasser Abbas, the son of Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, revealed this week that he's a self-made millionaire who started his own business shortly after the signing of the Oslo Accords. In an interview with the Dubai-based Al-Aswak.net economic magazine, Abbas's son, who was named after former PA leader Yasser Arafat, also declared that "a majority of Palestinians," including himself, "collaborate with Israel." Yasser Abbas's remarks raised many eyebrows in Ramallah, where one PA official described the interview as "scandalous and harmful."

An arrogant Piano player who thinks he can teach the natives

""It would be much better that Egyptians, and Syrians, and Palestinians, and Jordanians, and Lebanese, will go to Tel Aviv, and explain their point of view."" Let me explain to you my point of view: get the hell out of a land that does not belong to you. Did you get that, o piano player?

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

"According to the Palestinian Center for Human Rights, during the week of 09 - 16 April 2009, 3 Palestinian civilians were wounded by Israeli gunfire in the West Bank. Israeli forces abducted 23 Palestinians, including 3 children. 18 were abducted during military invasions in the West Bank, and 5 were abducted at Israeli checkpoints within the West Bank." (thanks Olivia)

You bet

"This conflict will go on for a generation or more." You bet it will and I have no doubts about the outcome. Also, can you imagine the Times printing a propaganda piece from the other side like this one? (thanks Sarah)

gifts

"Letters constitute a large segment of CO134 and consist of Dept of State replies to constituents regarding U.S. policy in the Middle East; correspondence between constituents and President Bush or White House staff regarding U.S. policy in the Middle East, invitations, gifts, meetings, exhibits, thanks, praise for the embassy in Saudi Arabia..." (thanks anonymous)

Lebanese...abroad

"London-based Mohammed Ajami, brother of the prominent Lebanese writer Fouad Ajami, helps companies looking for business in Libya, thanks to his close relationship with the country’s intelligence chief, Musa Kusa." (thanks FLC)

On the lies of the Zionist Entity

""We turned Kuntar into God-knows-what - the murderer of Danny Haran and his daughter, Einat. The man who smashed in the girl's head. That's nonsense. A story. A fairy tale. He told me he didn't do it and I believe him. I investigated the event within the framework of the next book I am writing, about hostage-taking incidents. As far as I am concerned, it was no more than a newspaper report. I sat with him; he was very intelligent. He was a squad commander at 17. He told me that his motive for infiltrating Nahariya was to take hostages. He said [his organization] knew that would both humiliate Israel and get them media publicity." (thanks Mick)

Oman-Saudi rift

"Oman attended, just one example of small Gulf Arab states spoiling the united stance over Iran that Riyadh so craves. Qatar and Saudi leaders have sought to mend the rift but diplomats and analysts says the divide is as deep as ever." Here atr Angry Arab, we celebrate every rift in Arab (official) ranks.

US Military Aid to Lebanon

Lebanese pro-US media, like the Hariri rag, Al-Mustaqbal, are hailing the arrival of what they are calling a "US military jet". It is a Cessna Caravan 208 B. According to US propaganda outlets in Lebanon, the entire Israeli Air Force is put on high alert upon the arrival of this "military jet."

Madawi Al-Rasheed

A Profile of courageous Saudi scholar, Madawi Al-Rasheed.

The Prince of TV Sleaze

"The Savoy, on London’s Strand, is owned by Fairmont Raffles Hotels International, in which the Prince’s Kingdom Holding Company (KHC) has a controlling stake. The values of the Prince’s stakes in companies such as Citigroup have fallen heavily recently. “If someone comes and makes an offer, I’m sure he will sell a lot of things. I do not think that anything has been formally put up for sale, but informally it is a different story,” said an executive close to the situation."

Corrupt royal families that you like

"Shahram Abdullah Zadeh accuses the brother-in-law of Dubai's emir illegally of taking over his real-estate firm and having him detained by police to help the swindle." (thanks Bill)

Hamas Repression

"Repressive actions are being carried out by de facto government forces in the Gaza Strip against Fatah Youth members preparing to mark Prisoners Day in Rafah, head of the youth council in the Gaza Strip Mahmoud Qanan said Thursday. " This only confirms my theory: neither Fath, nor Hamas. The Palestinian people deserve better--much better.

Killing civilians continue

"Western forces in Afghanistan acknowledged on Thursday they had killed six civilians in an air strike, just days after apologising for a similar incident that killed five."

War criminals can't be sued...if they are Israeli

"A federal appeals court says a former Israeli security chief cannot be sued in the United States for 15 deaths in a Gaza City bombing. The 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals issued the ruling Thursday in New York. The court said Avraham Dichter was immune under common law from being held responsible for the July 2002 bombing of an apartment complex. Dichter was director of the Israeli Security Agency at the time. A lower court rejected a 2005 lawsuit. It sought class action status for bombing survivors and victims' families."

The Mission of Killing Civlians

"The Weapons That Kill Civilians — Deaths of Children and Noncombatants in Iraq, 2003–2008". Full text. (thanks Khaled)

Take your piano and go

"Barenboim Urges Arabs to Visit Israel". Angry Arab Urges Barenboim to carry his piano on his back and leave Palestine.

Bush-Obama Doctrine

"Kuwaiti police on Thursday arrested a former Islamist opposition MP for saying a senior member of the ruling family was "not fit" to become the next prime minister, his lawyer and witnesses said." (thanks Olivia)

Abu Mazen's Son and his fortune

I posted yesterday about the self-made crook who happens to be the son of Abu Mazen. A veteran Fath source called me to add some information: he tells me that the story of the wealth of his uncle is fabricated. He says that Abu Mazen was the Financial Secretary of Fath in Damascus and during that time he awarded himself a $1 million which was used by his brother for business.

Killed by Israeli terrorists in Gaza

A list of the dead during the Israeli terrorist assault on Gaza. Oh, and...all that you have done to our people is registered in notebooks. (thanks Laleh)

FLASH: MEMRI is for Arab reforms

MEMRI (like the Saudi king and Shin Bet) wants reform in the Arab world: ""Reforms in the Muslim and Arab world constitute our flagship project," he said. "We are big on reforms. We have helped several reform initiatives..." (thanks Asa)

Only in Al-Akhbar

Two people sent me this article with the same subject line: that only Al-Akhbar would publish a brave article like this in the Arab world. A woman describes her first sexual experience and demolishes the hymen obsession. (thanks As`ad--not me, and Amer)

Saudi Prizes

"An American professor has become the first Jew to win the King Faisal International Prize in Medicine, popularly known as the "Arab Nobel Prize." Stanford professor Ronald Levy, who heads the university's Oncology department, told Haaretz that as an American Jew married to an Israeli it never crossed his mind that he might win the Saudi-financed competition." The Stanford Professor does not mind receiving a prize named after one of the most notorious anti-Semities in the 20th century. It must be the money, I guess. (thanks Ibn Rushd)

Terrorists and torturers from the Shin Bet in the US

Anonymous source sent me this from an email from the University of Massachusetts. "Good Morning. Today, Wednesday,...., immediately after the Democratic Caucus, Representative Michael A. Costello, House Chair of the Joint Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security will host Lt Col (res) Chaim Maoz and Major Ofer Bar (currently on active duty with the legendary Shin Bet (Israeli Security Services) and CEO of MLM Protection, the company to which the Israeli Government has outsourced its training in highly-specialized units of the Israel Defense Forces and the Israeli National Police. Please join Chairman Costello for what promises to be a revelation in protection (safety and security) services developed by the country that has the most successful counter-terrorism programs utilized on the planet. Lt Col Maoz and Major Bar were invited to the United States by the Massachusetts State Police and are in this country to speak with the explicit permission of the Israeli Ministry of Defense. Their presentation has been carefully examined and authorized for presentation to government agencies by the Ministry of Defense.""

Obsessions

Some people spend their lives reading or writing and some people spend their lives obsessing about their enemies. Martin Kramer is losing it--officially. Ever since he received the news about Joseph Massad's tenure, the man has been flipping out, non-stop. Martin Kramer can't sleep and can't eat and can't function: he wants to yell at the world because Joseph received tenure. Kramer wants all world Zionists to join him in a collective boo hoo hoo. He invents and (wrongly) assumes all in order to show his obsession with Joseph. What Zionist hoodlums* don't know is this: their obsession with their enemies please their enemies and provide them with gratification. I mean, does Kramer think that Joseph really gives a hoot about the obsessive ramblings by Kramer on him? In fact, the more the better. You want to know that your enemies are consumed with hate.

PS One of my readers guessed right regarding the origin of the term "Zionist hoodlums." It is of course borrowed from a famous speech by Vanessa Redgrave.

Unusual entries

""The Israeli government is sending the two of you to Moscow as part of its propaganda machine that is trying to create the appearance of Jewish-Arab 'coexistence' under which it carries out the daily massacre of Palestinian civilians," the letter said. "Israeli artists, authors and intellectuals that take part in this propaganda machine, instead of working for justice, equality and the upholding of human and civil rights, not to mention international law, are partners to the crime." Israel hasn't been shy about submitting unusual entries to Eurovision."" (thanks Sarah)

Rafah Crossing

"At least 700 Palestinian patients are waiting for the opening of the Rafah border crossing between Egypt and the Gaza Strip so they can access medical treatment, according to the department responsible for border crossings." (thanks Olivia)

Peres analyzes

"Once an ardent advocate of the Greater Israel scheme, Tel Aviv's President Shimon Peres accuses Iran of pursuing a colonialist agenda." (thanks Nu`man)

This Israeli political culture is more diseased than ever

"We Israelis have babies and cherish our children more than any other Western society." (thanks David)

Another victory for the Bush Doctrine

"Islamic Law Now Official for a Valley in Pakistan"

Pirates

"Pirates have never been quite who we think they are. In the "golden age of piracy" – from 1650 to 1730 – the idea of the pirate as the senseless, savage Bluebeard that lingers today was created by the British government in a great propaganda heave. Many ordinary people believed it was false: pirates were often saved from the gallows by supportive crowds." (thanks May)

High

"The Israeli Anti-Drug Authority launched an ad campaign linking smoking marijuana with support for Hizbullah leader Hassan Nasrallah." (thanks Marcy)

Bombing Civilians: An American Tradition

"Bombing Civilians: An American Tradition" (thanks Laleh)

Aphorisms of Thomas Friedman

I know that I make fun of Thomas Friedman and his style (there is not much original thought to mock there). But I do really like it when he strives to sound deep and abstract. I really like it when he offers a conclusion for History: "But history teaches that the middle ground can be a perilous place." I mean can you see how deep he is here? Let me offer this: History teaches us that you are not very bright, Mr. Friedman, but you have not noticed so it is OK.

He is proud

"Then he laid down a challenge: “I am so proud to be in the same room with the men who defeated the Soviet Union." Proud? Are you proud to be in the same room with those who were comrades-in-arm with Al-Qa`idah and other Bin Ladenites? Are you proud to be in the same room with the fanatical bigots who have repressed women? Are you proud to be in the same room with the druglords and warlords? Are you proud to be in the same room with the crooks and thieves who use religioun to justify their oppression and obscurantism?

Horrors-stan: Other side of Kurdistan

"Since 2000, thousands of people have been detained arbitrarily and held without charge or trial in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, in some cases for more than seven years. The vast majority were suspected members or supporters of local Islamist organizations, including both armed groups and legal political parties that do not use or advocate violence as part of their political platform. Some were tortured or otherwise ill-treated in detention.
Invariably, detentions were carried out by members of the Asayish , without producing an arrest warrant, and those detained were then denied access to legal representation or the opportunity to challenge their continuing detention before a court of law or an independent judicial body, throughout their incarceration. Some detainees were subjected to enforced disappearance, including some whose fate and whereabouts have yet to be disclosed – typically, following their arrest by the Asayish or the intelligence services of the two main Kurdish parties, their families were unaware of their fate and whereabouts and were unable toobtain information about them, or confirmation of their detention from the authorities. Dozens of other prisoners, meanwhile, are under sentence of death having been convicted in unfair trials."" Of course, given Arab prejudices against Kurds, I don't want this to be blamed on the Kurdish people themselves or to be used to justify the denial of their legitimate rights. (thanks Joel)

Abu Mazen's Son: A Self-made Crook

Abu Mazen's son, the well-known crook Yasir (named after Yasir `Arafat before he labeled Abu Mazen as the "Hamid Karzai of Palestine") talks to Al-Arabiyya TV. He said that he collaborates with Israel because everybody collabroates with Israel "except those who live "on rain". He admittd that he is a millionaire but denies that he is a crook ("I am not a crook" he almost said) and said that he collected his fortune with his "sweats." He said that 25% of his business goes to the Palestinian Authority. He said that he started his company with a "modest capital." He said that he hit it big with Falcon Tobacco which became the official distributor of American cigarettes. (thanks George)

An Israeli Spy in Lebanon

You will not read about this in the US press: Yet another Israeli spy/terrorism network was uncovered in Lebanon. And this time it was uncovered by the Jihaz Al-Ma`lumat which is armed and equipped by the US and is controlled by the Hariri family. The Lebanese newspapers like As-Safir which has been writing about the story have refrained from priting the name of the lousy and dirty Israeli spy: his name is Adib `Alam. An anonymous reader from Lebanon tells me in a confidential letter that `Alam is an uncle (on the mother side--"khal" in Arabic) of Gen. Francois Al-Hajj (the chief of operations of the Lebanese Army and who was assassinated last year). Al-Hajj had been known for being anti-Israeli. It will be known one day the extent to which Israeli terrorists were responsible for assassinations in Lebanon (and this is not to absolve the Syrian regime from responsibility for some of the assassinations in Lebanon, or the Jordanian regime for that matter).

Official Surrender

Karim kindly