test

test.  I am told that AngryArab news on twitter has not been working properly.  

Test 4

Test 4

Test 3

Test 3 

A new Zionist trick in Western media

There is a new Zionist media trick about the Middle East as of late.  Zionists plant a story in the Saudi and Hariri press.  And then they cite that planted story as fact and then it gets circulated. There was such a story weeks ago in the Saudi junk media about a supposed meeting between Iranian representatives and Syrian opposition figures.  So now, the reliable recipient of Hariri propaganda, Georges Malbrunot, recycles the story.  So now, the Hariri media are now re-publishing their own story but this time they are citing the authority of Le Figaro.

PS I just realized that I had written about this phenomenon before.

NATO rebels

""This is a bad time to be a black man in Libya," reported Alex Thomson on Channel 4 News on Sunday. Elsewhere, Kim Sengupta reported for the Independent on the 30 bodies lying decomposing in Tripoli. The majority of them, allegedly mercenaries for Muammar Gaddafi, were black. They had been killed at a makeshift hospital, some on stretchers, some in an ambulance. "Libyan people don't like people with dark skins," a militiaman explained in reference to the arrests of black men.  The basis of this is rumours, disseminated early in the rebellion, of African mercenaries being unleashed on the opposition. Amnesty International's Donatella Rivera was among researchers who examined this allegation and found no evidence for it. Peter Bouckaert of Human Rights Watch similarly had not "identified one mercenary" among the scores of men being arrested and falsely labelled by journalists as such.  Lurking behind this is racism. Libya is an African nation – however, the term "Africans" is used in Libya to reference the country's black minority. The Amnesty International researcher Diana Eltahawy says that the rebels taking control of Libya have tapped into "existing xenophobia". The New York Times refers to "racist overtones", but sometimes the racism is explicit. A rebel slogan painted in Misrata during the fighting salutes "the brigade for purging slaves, black skin". A consequence of this racism has been mass arrests of black men, and gruesome killings – just some of the various atrocities that human rights organisations blame rebels for. The racialisation of this conflict does not end with hatred of "Africans". Graffiti by rebels frequently depicted Gaddafi as a demonic Jew." (thanks Laleh)

The torturer is Lebanese, by the way: let An-Nahar brag about her

"The 30-year-old came to Libya from her native Ethiopia a year ago. At first, things seemed OK, but six months into her employment, she said, she was burned by Aline.  Three months later, the same thing happened again, this time much more seriously.  In soft tones, she said Aline lost her temper when her daughter wouldn't stop crying and Mullah refused to beat the child.  "She took me to a bathroom. She tied my hands behind my back, and tied my feet. She taped my mouth, and she started pouring the boiling water on my head like this," she said, imitating the vessel of scalding water being poured over her head.
She peeled back the garment draped carefully over her body. Her chest, torso and legs are all mottled with scars -- some old, some still red, raw and weeping. As she spoke, clear liquid oozed from an open wound on her head." (thanks Salim)

When the White Man/Woman teaches the savage natives about sex

Of course, you don't expect much from a Hariri media, especially Now Hariri website.  But this one is rather blatant.  This woman attempts to teach the natives about sex: you see, the natives never had sex before and they were really eager to know what this is about.  She starts her silly piece with this: "In Lebanon, like in most of the Arab world, sex is a taboo, and misconceptions about the forbidden topic abound."  I mean, with that opening line what do you expect to follow?  And notice the generalization: "sex is a taboo".  What does that mean, really?  She means the actual sex or the talk about sex?  And she does not think that there are misconception about sex in the US?  And she does not know that there are parents (and states) who are opposed to sex education here in the US?   And notice how basic and elementary her preachment is: and she talks to the natives like they are children.  OK, thanks o White Woman in the West.  Can the natives sit down now?

Egyptian-Israeli relations

Tamim Barghuti writes about Egyptian-Israeli relations.

If she was the wife of an Arab leader, this would be a front page story in the US press and Human Rights Watch would have issued reports on the case

"A Nepalese migrant worker has accused Sarah Netanyahu of assault in the latest allegation against the Israeli premier's wife of abusing her domestic staff, Channel Two television said on Tuesday."  American liberals must find abuse of maids by Israelis to be very adorable.

Woodrow Wilson "scholars" of the Middle East

I don't know who this guy is but look at this:  "His conservative and more assertive brother, Basil al-Assad, who was supposed to succeed his father, Hafez Al Assad, was assassinated before his father's death".  As is well-known, Basil died in a car accident on the way to the airport.  When there is a factual mistake in the first opening paragraph, how are you expected to proceed in reading?  (thanks Ansar)

Zionism is racist against all Arabs, damn it, including against agents of Israel

"Bedouin and Arab officers serving in the Israel Police who live in unauthorized buildings in southern Israel and East Jerusalem will be instructed to leave their homes. The decision is based on a response from the police legal department to a nonprofit organization that challenged a directive ordering a police officer to leave his home in an unauthorized Jewish settler outpost in the West Bank." (thanks Asa)

US support for Arab democracies

"The U.S. Defense Department is sending more than $25 million in military equipment, small boats and other support to Tunisia and Malta, two nations that flank Libya and are key U.S. allies in the tumultuous region, The Associated Press has learned."  That amount should be able to make Tunisia a regional power. 

The US and Muslim Brotherhood against Nasser

"Despite the CIA’s information blockade, it is clear from interviews with CIA operatives and other countries’ intelligence archives that the CIA was courting groups like the Brotherhood as allies in the US’s global battle against communism. In Egypt, the charge was often made by the government of Gamel Abdel Nasser that the Muslim Brotherhood was in the CIA’s pay. This was also a view of some Western intelligence agencies, which flatly declared that Said Ramadan, the Swiss-based son-in-law of the group’s founder, was a US agent. The agency may have—but for this we need access to its archives—colluded with Ramadan in attempting a coup against Nasser." (thanks "Ibn Rushd")

Arab League: as an instrument of Saudi foreign policy

Yemeni people outraged at the stance of the Arab League towards Yemen. (thanks Ahmet)

It is secure for the masses but not for the leaders

"The top civilian officials of the Libyan rebels’ Transitional National Council — now styling itself as a provisional government to be based in the capital — are yet to arrive, citing personal safety concerns even as they pronounce the city fully secure."

West Beirut in Libya: welcome to the NATO republic

"Fighters from the western mountain city of Zintan control the airport. The fighters from Misurata guard the central bank, the port and the prime minister’s office, where their graffiti has relabeled the historic plaza “Misurata Square.” Berbers from the mountain town Yafran took charge of the city’s central square, where they spray-painted “Yafran Revolutionaries.”

A week after rebels broke into Col. Muammar el-Qaddafi’s former stronghold, much of its territory remains divided into fiefs, each controlled by quasi-independent brigades representing different geographic areas of the country. And the spray paint they use to mark their territory tells the story of a looming leadership crisis in the capital, Tripoli."

Lies of the Times

"In what some here saw as a rehearsal for September, thousands of Palestinians and their supporters, some wielding firebombs and stones, tried to breach Israel’s northern border with Lebanon"...  That is the first I hear about "firebombs" during the border protests, not that they are not justified in defending themselves against Israeli aggression.  Against an Israeli state that uses fighter jets to kill civilians in their beds, all means by Palestinians are justified.

Look how the times justify the arming of Jewish settlers who habitually kill innocent Palestinians, just like their master in the Israeli occupation army

"The teams were established in 2000, amid the violence at the outbreak of the second intifada, in recognition of the fact that the army could not be in every place at all times. They are required to step back when soldiers arrive. Settler leaders note that the teams, like much of the Israeli population, are made up mostly of army reservists who receive regular training, and they say the teams know how to restrict their operations to defense."

How the New York Times spin the news and headlines for Israel

All Israeli media printed this story under a headline about Israeli training of Jewish settlers in the West Bank.  But I knew yesterday that the New York Times would put its own spin on the story.  Look at this headline: "Israel Intensifies Training of Settler Security Teams."  They make it sound as a professional operation involving two professional armies.

Arab liberals: or the right-wing reactionaries in disguise

I was thinking: poor Arab liberals.  They are so limited in what they write in the Saudi press.  Their sponsoring Saudi princes don't allow them to criticize or mock the tyrants of Morocco, Algeria, Egypt (under Mubarak), Tunisia (under Bin `Ali), Yemen, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar (after they made up with the ruler), Bahrain, Oman, Kuwait, and Jordan.  But Saudi princes permit them to criticize Syrian and Sudanese dictators.  That is it.  Can you imagine working under such constraints? No wonder they are so boring and they all sound alike.

Big Brother Hizbullah

An article in Al-Akhbar about the repressive puritanical behavior of Hizbullah.

To Western supporters of Kurdish rights

How come there is silence regarding Turkish murder of Kurds?

Brandeis University panels

I receive links to announcements of panels at Brandeis University about Arab politics.  They are hilarious.  They invite Zionists to analyze Arab political motives and behavior.  They really crack me up.  And the Arab Zionists they invite are more amusing: they tend to be more protective of Israel than non-Arab Zionists.

Saudi royal ignorance

I will argue this point: regarding that famous dispute between Saudi King and Qadhdhafi in an Arab summit a few years ago.  If you go back to the video footage, you will realize that it stemmed from a misunderstanding.  Qadhdhafi was rambling on and on, and the illiterate Saudi king misunderstood something that Qadhdhafi had said, so he attacked him, and then a feud ensued.  Qadhdhafi tried to clarify what he was saying but the King would not let him.  Later, Qadhdhafi tried to arrange for the assassination of the King because he felt humiliated.  What a bunch.

Political "terror"

Is there any act of violence by any Palestinian that Israel does not consider an act of "terror", or tewwoww, as pronounced by Shimon Peres.

removing the Israeli occupation flag

Look at this pathetic Zionist attempt.  The New York Times has a long article about a dispute between two Egyptian claiming the honor of removing the Israeli flag.  The real issue is that the flag was removed.  Zionists always like diversions.

NATO bombings in Libya

I heard Mustafa Abdul NATO assert yesterday that NATO bombs never killed Libyan civilians.  The clown did not know that NATO on at least two occasions admitted killing civilians, not to mention the scores of times that it lied about it.  

Bahrain rumor

Angry Arab chief correspondent on Bahrain:  "Just so that you are updated with the latest rumors going on in Bahrain: Apparently Saudi Arabia rejected a Qatari, Emarati and Iranian initiative which calls for the resignation of the Prime Minister from his post by the end of the year and replacing him with Matar Matar (from of AlWefaq) as interim Prime Minister until national elections are held. Prime Minister would become head of the royal council. King would still retain widespread power such as control over the army, etc. Crown Prince apparently accepted the deal. The reason I find this fishy (among other things) is why Matar Matar from AlWefaq out of all people? He's only 35 years old and isn't part of the AlWefaq leadership (though he was MP of the largest electoral district and very popular among even ppl who don't support AlWefaq). And why not someone who both the opposition and moderate pro-governments like such as Ali Fakhro (ex-minister of education)?"

Hariri tribunal

"The indictment of four men linked to Hezbollah in the 2005 assassination of Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri made public by the Special Tribunal on Lebanon Aug. 17 is questionable not because it is based on "circumstantial evidence", but because that evidence is based on a flawed premise.  The evidence depends on a convoluted theory involving what the indictment calls "co-location" of personal mobile phones associated with five distinct networks said to be somehow connected with the plot to murder Hariri.  The indictment, originally filed Jun. 10, says that, if there are "many instances" in which a phone is "active at the same location, on the same date, and within the same time frame as other phones", but the phones do not contact each other, then it is "reasonable to conclude from these instances that one person is using multiple phones together".  Based on that assumption the indictment asserts that "a person can ultimately be identified by co-location to be the user of a network phone."  On that reasoning, one of the four accused, Salim Jamil Ayyash, is said to have participated in a "red" network of phones that was activated on Jan. 5, 2005, only contacted each other, and ceased operations two minutes before the blast that killed Hariri. The "red" network is presumed to have been used by those who carried out surveillance as well as prepared the logistics for the bombing.  But Ayyash is also linked by "co-location" to a "green" network that had been initiated in October 2004 and ceased to operate one hour before the attack, and a "blue" network that was active between September 2004 and September 2005. The only basis for linking either of those two sets of mobile phones to the assassination appears to be the claim of frequent "co-location" of Ayyash's personal cell phone with one of the phones in those networks and one red phone." (thanks Sam)

What US troops do in Iraq, besides liberation

"I would like to draw the attention of your Government to information I have received regarding a raid conducted by the Multinational Forces (MNF) on 15 March 2006 in the house of Faiz Harrat Al-Majma'ee, a farmer living in the outskirts of Al-Iss Haqi District in Balad (Salah-El-Din Governorate). I have received various reports indicating that at least 10 persons, namely Mr. Faiz Hratt Khalaf, (aged 28), his wife Sumay'ya Abdul Razzaq Khuther (aged 24), their three children Hawra'a (aged 5) Aisha ( aged 3) and Husam (5 months old), Faiz's mother Ms. Turkiya Majeed Ali (aged 74), Faiz's sister (name unknown), Faiz's nieces Asma'a Yousif Ma'arouf (aged 5 years old), and Usama Yousif Ma'arouf (aged 3 years), and a visiting relative Ms. Iqtisad Hameed Mehdi (aged 23) were killed during the raid. According to the information received, American troops approached Mr. Faiz's home in the early hours of 15 March ¶2006. It would appear that when the MNF approached the house, shots were fired from it and a confrontation ensued for some 25 minutes. The MNF troops entered the house, handcuffed all residents and executed all of them. After the initial MNF intervention, a US air raid ensued that destroyed the house."

Meet NATO rebels: have we not seen this movie before?

"In an interview with the Italian newspaper Il Sole 24 Ore, Mr al-Hasidi admitted that he had recruited "around 25" men from the Derna area in eastern Libya to fight against coalition troops in Iraq. Some of them, he said, are "today are on the front lines in Adjabiya".  Mr al-Hasidi insisted his fighters "are patriots and good Muslims, not terrorists," but added that the "members of al-Qaeda are also good Muslims and are fighting against the invader".  His revelations came even as Idriss Deby Itno, Chad's president, said al-Qaeda had managed to pillage military arsenals in the Libyan rebel zone and acquired arms, "including surface-to-air missiles, which were then smuggled into their sanctuaries"."

It is official: Human Rights Watch now considers Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Bahrain models of democracy

"Outraged by these continuing acts of brutality, the governments of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Bahrain expressed their dismay at the Syrian government’s attacks against its own people by withdrawing their ambassadors and issuing strong statements of condemnation." (thanks Mouin)

viewing the Zionist usurping entity

"Asked whether Street View would be photographing streets in Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank, Solomon refused to comment. Nor would he say whether Street View was planning to launch the service in the Palestinian territories."

Spoils of war cartoon

Anindya sent me this:  "Hi, FYI the "Spoils of war" cartoon you published on your blog is by Dave Brown and was published in the UK's Independent newspaper on Friday 26 August - see here: http://ind.pn/cb8bK0".  

Training terrorists on terrorism

"The IDF has conducted detailed work to determine a “red line” for each settlement in the West Bank, which will determine when soldiers will be ordered to shoot at the feet of Palestinian protesters if the line is crossed. It is also planning to provide settlers with tear gas and stun grenades as part of the defense operation.  The IDF is currently in the process of finalizing its preparations for Operation Summer Seeds, whose purpose is to ready the army for September and the possibility of confrontations with Palestinians following the expected vote in favor of Palestinian statehood at the UN General Assembly." (thanks Osama)

Who will call for political reform in Qatar?

"

Article 8

The Rule of the State shall be hereditary within the Al Thani family and by the male successors of Hamad bin Khalifa bin Hamad bin Abdullah bin Jassim. The inheritance of the Rule shall go to the son to be named by the Emir as Heir Apparent. If there is no male offspring, the Rule shall be transferred to the one from the family whom the Emir names as Heir Apparent and, in this case, the Rule would then be inherited by his male successors. A special law shall organise all provisions related to the ruling of the State and its inheritance, to be issued within one year of the date of this Constitution coming into force, and should have a Constitutional validity.

Article 9

The Emir shall appoint the Heir Apparent with an Emiri Order after consulting the ruling family and other notables in the country. The Heir Apparent shall be a Muslim and from a Qatari Muslim mother.

Article 10

The Heir Apparent, when appointed, shall take the following oath before the Emir: “I swear by Almighty Allah to respect the Islamic Shariah, the Constitution and the law, and to protect the independence of the country, and preserve the sanctity of its territory, and protect the people’s freedom and interests, and shall be loyal to the Emir and the nation."

Arab League and Syria

All meetings of Arab League ministers and rulers are a sham.  Who can take those potentates seriously?  Even the representatives of the new Egypt: they are representative of the Egyptian military council.  The representative of the lousy Syrian regime addressed Saudi Arabia in the meeting and said: we are being urged to pursue reform by states with no constitutions.  (Yet, Syrian regime media are so afraid of Saudi Arabia and still refrain from airing criticisms).  

So is the "Arab spring" a good thing or a bad thing?

"The Arab spring has "delighted al-Qaida" and caused "an intelligence disaster" for the US and Britain, the former head of the CIA unit in charge of pursuing Osama bin Laden has warned.
Speaking at the Edinburgh international book festival, Michael Scheuer said: "The help we were getting from the Egyptian intelligence service, less so from the Tunisians but certainly from the Libyans and Lebanese, has dried up – either because of resentment at our governments stabbing their political leaders in the back, or because those who worked for the services have taken off in fear of being incarcerated or worse.
"The amount of work that has devolved on US and British services is enormous, and the result is blindness in our ability to watch what's going on among militants."   The Arab spring, he said, was "an intelligence disaster for the US and for Britain, and other European services"." (thanks Fady)

Field Marshal Tantawi

We now know where Field Marshal Tantawi had earned his medals and ribbons: at a pasta factory. (thanks Ahmet)

Washington Post and foreign intervention in Syria

The Washington Post seems to push the line that Syrian wants NATO intervention.  Their evidence?  They take you to a YouTube video in which one sign called for that, while other signs spoke of "monitors".  It is very amusing since colonial times that when colonial powers want to intervene they always locate a native or two--an Ahmad Chalabi or two--to justify their intervention.  (thanks Khaled)

Dangers to the Arab media

Comrade Amer is right: the Saudi-Qatari alliance posts the greatest danger to the Arab media.  They leave no media outside their control, if they wish--and they do.  But to their great misfortune, there is the internet.

Zionism is racism, always

""We are not opposed [to the scheme] because they are Arabs; they are good neighbors and we have no beef with them. But rerouting the coastal road would bring them closer to us, and our assets - both from the point of view of the value of the land and of our standard of living - would depreciate."

Syrian opposition council

I was reading the names of Syrian opposition council members.  It is a mess.  You read the name of a Marxist and then you read the name of the son of Shaykh `Adnan Al-`Ar`ur.  Of course, Burhan Ghalyun, is not the real leader of the Syrian opposition.  I wish it is true but it is not.  Also, many members announced that they were not consulted before their names were listed.  I detect the dirty hands of the Muslim Brotherhood at play, and I sense they are trying to hide behind "civic" names.

Spoils of war

Nu`man sent me this (I don't know where it was published). 

Hasan Nasrallah's speech

I so deeply and strongly disagree with this statement in Hasan Nasrallah's speech from last Friday:  "As for the establishment of a Palestinian state on the territories of 1967, it is a Palestinian affair that is decided by the Palestinian people."  Oh, no.  It is our business and we shall oppose any mini-entity on 22% of Palestine.

Pro-Saudi tools in the Syrian opposition

I will still insist on my stance: that support for the overthrow of the Syrian regime won't translate for a wholesale endorsement of Syrian opposition especially that several key elements in the opposition, like the lousy Muslim Brotherhood, are mere Saudi tools.  Even the Syrian Observatory of Human Rights, which is widely quoted in the press, is presumably impressed with human rights in...Saudi Arabia and had words of praise for the Saudi King.  

Syrian regime TV

I watched part of a political discussion on Syrian regime TV yesterday.  It was just crazy.  They hosted, among others, a Lebanese former ambassador, who traced the "conspiracy against Syria" to Napoleon because of his plan to found the state of Israel.  Kid you not.  The former Lebanese ambassador in Kazakhstan, a certain Asaf Nasir, related a story when he was on Kazakh TV.  He said that the director of the TV approached him off the air and told him that if two people had a fight on Mars, a "Jew is behind it." The guests nodded approvingly.  There is a clear anti-Jewish tone in the recent discussions on Syrian regime TV.  It seems to be the last refuge of Ba`thist scoundrels.  

NATO rebels' war on dark-skinned people in Libya

(Reuters)

test 3

test 3

BBC losing its marbles?

"Regarded in the Arab world as a supporter of wider Arab interests". (thanks Ben)

test 2

test 2

Arab libeals

An Arab liberal is a right-wing reactionary, but in disguise.

Al-Ba`th

Sami Al-Jundi's Al-Ba`th is one of the best books of political belles lettres in the contemporary history of the Arabs.  

Offending Al-Asad Family

A Syrian comrade, Dirar, sent me this (I cite with his permission):  "hi as'ad, i don't know if you ever came across this before, but i searched for and found this poem written by my mom's cousin in the early 80's. my uncle, whose name was also hasan al-khayyer, brought a stack of copies to the house, and i remember how everybody was so scared to have that in the house. few days later he (the author) was kidnapped and then killed by raf'at [Al-Asad] in the tidmur prison massacre. the story was that raf'at was particularly offended by the verse:
علا برتبته لص ورتبته من سوئه خجلت فانحطت الرتب

i remembered it because it's still true today.  it's at the bottom of the page with the story behind it.


the link above says they don't know who the author was, but this one does (though they don't have the whole poem)".

`Abdus-Salam Jallud

I saw him on Aljazeera. I understood why he was for years the second-in-command in Libya.  He is as crazy as his master.

Zionism verus Palestinian children

"This rarely seen footage seen by The Independent offers a glimpse into an Israeli interrogation, almost a rite of passage that hundreds of Palestinian children accused of throwing stones undergo every year.

Israel has robustly defended its record, arguing that the treatment of minors has vastly improved with the creation of a military juvenile court two years ago. But the children who have faced the rough justice of the occupation tell a very different story.

"The problems start long before the child is brought to court, it starts with their arrest," says Naomi Lalo, an activist with No Legal Frontiers, an Israeli group that monitors the military courts. It is during their interrogation where their "fate is doomed", she says.

Sameer Shilu, 12, was asleep when the soldiers smashed in the front door of his house one night. He and his older brother emerged bleary-eyed from their bedroom to find six masked soldiers in their living room.

Checking the boy's name on his father's identity card, the officer looked "shocked" when he saw he had to arrest a boy, says Sameer's father, Saher. "I said, 'He's too young; why do you want him?' 'I don't know,' he said". Blindfolded, and his hands tied painfully behind his back with plastic cords, Sameer was bundled into a Jeep, his father calling out to him not to be afraid. "We cried, all of us," his father says. "I know my sons; they don't throw stones."

In the hours before his interrogation, Sameer was kept blindfolded and handcuffed, and prevented from sleeping. Eventually taken for interrogation without a lawyer or parent present, a man accused him of being in a demonstration, and showed him footage of a boy throwing stones, claiming it was him.

"He said, 'This is you', and I said it wasn't me. Then he asked me, 'Who are they?' And I said that I didn't know," Sameer says. "At one point, the man started shouting at me, and grabbed me by the collar, and said, 'I'll throw you out of the window and beat you with a stick if you don't confess'."" (thanks Christina)

Unclassified Wikileaks

Abbas Al Lawati sent me this clarification regarding a post from yesterday:  "Just an update on the wikileaks issue. It turns out that there were about 133,800 leaks on Aug 26, most of which appear to be labelled as "unclassified" or "unclassified//for official use only". So this is indeed a single dump of the least confidential cables, not just confined to the Gulf, and is probably the biggest release so far. Sorry about the confusion."

NATO is still revolting: this time in Afghanistan

"At least ten Afghan civilians were killed and 24 others were wounded in separate incidents in Afghanistan on Friday, local officials said."

Ali Farzat

This is the cartoon that offended the armed goons of the lousy Syrian regime.  (thanks Ahmad)

How many Cairo heroes?

Another hero of downing the Israeli occupation flag in Cairo?  The competition rages.

Saudi Arabia and sectarian conflict

This sentence is hilarious, Vali:  "The Saudis are right to be worried about the outcome of sectarian fights in Lebanon and Bahrain".  You make it sound as if Saudi Arabia is an observer in both cases when the government is the chief sectarian agitator in both cases. 

Libya under NATO control

"“Some compare post-Qaddafi Libya to post-Saddam Iraq,” wrote Bashir al-Bakr in the leftist Lebanese newspaper Al-Akhbar. “The Libyans, according to that view, will not be in charge of their own decisions. They will find themselves shackled by heavy commitments, and they will lack the ability to escape them at the present.”  For many in the region, foreign intervention has deprived Libya’s revolt of the luster enjoyed by Egypt and Tunisia, inspiring suspicions, as in Iraq, that the West simply covets its oil. As Sateh Noureddine, a columnist, put it in another Lebanese newspaper, Al-Safir, NATO’s support “will not be for free, and Libya will pay for it.”"

Qatar and reforms

If the Emir of Qatar is so keen on political reforms in Syria, as he indicated after meeting with Iranian president, why does he not initiate political reforms in Qatar itself?  It is a logical question.

Aljazeera on Syria

I hate Aljazeera's coverage of Syria as much as I hate Syrian regime's repression.  The coverage is increasingly sectarian, unprofessional, inflammatory (in the Wahhabi sense of the word), unreliable, untruthful, wild, and extremely helpful to Syrian regime's propaganda.  The tone is become increasingly religious too: yesterday, they were openly holding a discussion with overt anti-`Alawite component.  Aljazeeera is to Arab democracy what Walid Jumblat is to principles--any principles. 

Baghdad

"But the project was halted in April for reasons that are unclear, and a month later, as the Arab Spring rolled on, the Arab League meeting was postponed until next year.  Now the workers — 27 Ukrainians (including a woman), 7 Bulgarians and 1 Nepalese — are marooned here, living in one of the world’s hottest and most inhospitable cities in an abandoned building next to the construction site and lacking the documents they need to leave the country."  Who made Baghdad the most inhospitable city?

Now please: stand in line and let the looting begin

"U.N. Releases $1.5 Billion in Frozen Qaddafi Assets to Aid Rebuilding of Libya"

From the History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire

I ran into this line from Gibbon's The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire while reading it on the plane (no, I don't carry the volumes on me, but I have them on my IPhone's Kindle):  "Of the various forms of government which have prevailed in the world, an hereditary monarchy seems to present the fairest scope for ridicule.  Is it possible to relate without an indignant smile, that, on the father's decease, the property of a nation, like that of a drove of oxen, descends to his infant son, as yet unknown to mankind and to himself".  (Location 5874 of 90382).

We dont have to wonder whether the Libyan NATO rulers will come human rights violations: they have started already

"A few categories of loyalists appear to be particularly vulnerable: pro-regime fighters believed by the rebels to be African mercenaries have been abused and possibly executed after capture. Similar treatment is said to have been received by some unfortunate dark-skinned immigrants.  In June and July, according to the New York-based Human Rights Watch, rebels in the western mountains reportedly burnt buildings and beat civilians in a region where one tribe had been settled by the regime in another tribe’s traditional territory. "

Mini-Hariri with Saudi King

Hariri media were in celebration this week: that after 8 months stranded in Saudi Arabia, mini-Hariri held "a meeting" with Saudi King.  But New TV found the video in which it is clear that mini-Hariri did not meet the King but was allowed with string of other followers to kiss his shoulder.

Tantawi serving Israel

"Israeli officials also say the Egyptian military is making sure that the attack on Israel, which received very limited coverage in Egypt at first, is now getting more public attention."

Zionists need not despair: they have friends in the Middle East, according to the New York Times

This statement is hilarious:  how hard Ethan Bronner is working to reassure Zionists--that he may be losing his mind, literally, as Joe Biden would add:  "Some officials say the concerns over Israel’s diplomatic difficulties are overstated, that Israel is stable and reliable and still has plenty of friends, for example, Greece, Cyprus, Romania and Bulgaria."  Romania has always been a key actor in the Middle East.

When Israel "suffers"

Notice at this propagandistic language:  the whole of Israel "suffers".  And notice how quickly the New York Times terms an attack on soldiers a "terrorist" attack.  I never ever read the New York Times writes that "Lebanon suffered an Israeli terrorist attack on its cities and towns".  

At a graveyard near Tajura where Colonel Qaddafi had not long ago staged burials of empty coffins in order to accuse NATO of killing civilians, gravediggers cursed at the unidentified, five-day-old bodies of four men they said were Qaddafi soldiers. They were mercenaries, the gravediggers said, offering no evidence and saying they were found near the colonel’s compound. They were given an incomplete Islamic rite, and then dumped in a single grave.   News reports have said there is evidence of at least one group execution of Qaddafi supporters."

NATO Libyan transitional council finally announces its secret members

As was suspected, it is revealed that Abraham Foxman is indeed a secret member of the Transitional Council.  But he uses an alias: Mustafa Foxman.

Israel's only friend in Egypt

`Ali Salim, the vulgar and crude (and plagiarizing playwright) is Israel's only friend in Egypt.  He, by definition, was a staunch supporter of Sadat and Mubarak's dictatorship.  I wrote about him before: he speaks well of Arab-Israeli peace at WINEP, but on Aljazeera he rails against Israel and even Jews (all of the handful of Israel's friends in the Arab world are rabid anti-Semitic).  Here, he attacks Ahmad Shahat in the mouthpiece of Prince Salman and his sons (Ash-Sharq Al-Awsat).

Green Book

I have written this on Twitter in Arabic and will say it here: the Green Book will never ever be printed.  Piles of them are being destroyed in Libya.  Your copy of the Green Book will be rare, very very soon.  It may become an oddity of sorts.

Committee structure=NATO

"Now that Gaddafi is in hiding, the former deputy secretary general of the United Nations, Lord Malloch-Brown, tells the BBC it is important that the Libyans quickly sort out how the country will be run: "At this point in pretty much every Arab revolt there's a call for a strong man, everybody looks for the new Nasser. Well, today's Nasser ends up usually being tomorrow's Gaddafi. It's really important that they resist that and govern in an inclusive way, which means some kind of committee structure."" (thanks Mouin)

Bahrain update

Angry Arab chief correspondent in Bahrain sent me this (her identity can't be revealed for the obvious GCC reasons):  "The February 14 Youth Movement have declared today as Youm Haq taqrir alma9eer (I guess the translation would be, the  day of the right to self determination).  There are protests everywhere, much bigger than usual. So far, I have heard of the following villages being attacked:  AlDaih, AlDair, AlBurhama, Bani Jamra, AlNuaam, and Salmabad.  AlDair, next to the airport and on the island of Muharraq was aggressively attacked. I am unclear as to whether they were attacked by the royal guard, the army the riot police or a combination of all three.  The slogans were directed at the King himself instead of the Prime Minister (as the slogans of the legal opposition are).  The rest of the villages went out in larger numbers to distract the regime and to remove their focus from AlDair. They are resisting bravely though they are not armed. They did manage to cause some disruption. Flights from the airport have been delayed/cancelled.  From what I am understanding, these are the biggest protests yet after the crackdown or at least during this month.  The protests are still dispersed and of course incomparable to the large protests that existed in february. But they are still extremely well coordinated. They are all happening and the same time and it seems like they are all in contact with one another. 

Another interesting thing that happened is the re-opening of Waads headquarters (remember it was destroyed during the crackdown). All the legal opposition groups were there and for a first time in a long time they all gave speeches stressing the unity of the opposition and the fact that they will not be backing away from their goals.  They seemed much stronger, more unified and more confident than they have been the past few months.  They are going back to the february days where they are speaking in a united strong voice.  Of course they reiterated their demands: A constitutional monarchy, an elected PM and parliament, the release of all prisoners, the reinstatement of the workers etc.  Ebrahim Sharif even managed to smuggle out a message to everyone from prison which the head of Waad read.  Their latest move is of course to boycott the elections which is driving the regime crazy.  I told you in my previous email that half of the districts have no candidates.  Well the government seemed to have scrambled and found a bunch of slaves to run now.  I wonder what the turnout will be.  I forgot to mention to you previously, there is now a religious shia pro-government political party:  I'm guessing they have some candidates.

I really got goose bumps when I read this

"“Italy is a country with a population which has a deep, reciprocated love for the Libyan people.”"  In other news, French people expressed a deep, reciprocated love for the Algerian people."  (thanks Moe)

Funding anti-Islam propaganda in the US

"Following a six-month long investigative research project, the Center for American Progress released a 130-page report today which reveals that more than $42 million from seven foundations over the past decade have helped fan the flames of anti-Muslim hate in America. The authors — Wajahat Ali, Eli Clifton, Matt Duss, Lee Fang, Scott Keyes, and myself — worked to expose the Islamophobia network in depth, name the major players, connect the dots, and trace the genesis of anti-Muslim propaganda." (thanks Suad)

Ethan Bronner: he confirms Israeli propaganda by citing...Israeli officials

This is a hilarious sentence: "Israeli officials say they are certain from detailed intelligence that the Aug. 18 infiltration that killed eight Israelis was planned and carried out from Gaza by Palestinians associated with a small radical group."  This is like saying: the recent claims by Hamas propaganda are accurate, according to...Hamas officials.  (thanks Sarah)

After Mubarak: Zionists are still freaking out

"“We are witnessing a paradigm shift in front of our eyes,” said a top Israeli official who spoke on the condition of anonymity. “Egypt was a major stabilizer in the region, and that may be over. Coordination with the Palestinian security officials could be lost. We are concerned about Turkey.”" 

Rafiq Hariri and Syrian intelligence thugs

Read this full transcript of the last meeting between Rafiq Hariri and the Syrian intelligence chief in Lebanon.  Notice that the relationship was so close and that Hariri--a posthumous hero of "independence"--viewed himself as no more than a tool of the Syrian regime.  Tell the March 14 clowns to fly a kite or play in the garden NOW. 

Fishy Wikileaks?

Journalist Abbas Al-Lawati sent me this (I cite with his permission):  "Not sure if anyone has noticed this yet but of the hundreds of new wikileaks cables released yesterday from Manama, Muscat, Dubai, Kuwait, Riyadh, Abu Dhabi and Doha, every single one is labelled as unclassified.  To be fair, 40% of the 250,000 cables are reported to not be secret, but keep in mind that more than half of the cables have already been released, and that the Gulf release from yesterday covers a period if 1989-2010 in one case (Riyadh) and 2003-2010 in the rest.  It's hard to believe that there were no classified cables in that period, and I don't know if wikileaks has ever done a single classification release in the past."

Israeli ambassador in DC hosts an Iftar

This is really hilarious.  Look at this news item in the Israeli propaganda newspaper.  Notice that they did not name one US Arab or Muslim who was in attendance, with the exception of a US official.  But I have it on good authority that Israel's favorite US Muslim did attend: indeed, Abraham Foxman made it to the Iftar.

PS Don't get me wrong.  I am sure that Muhammad Dahlan and Salam Fayyad advocates in DC were there.  

Israel and the Asad regime

"Israel has historically held concerns about the fall of the Assad regime, which has largely kept the Syria-Israel border quiet for the past 40 years."

American youth

"8 Reasons Young Americans Don't Fight Back: How the US Crushed Youth Resistance" (thanks Ema)

Repression in Morocco is called reform in the rhetoric of Western governments

" The Moroccan government should renew the passport of Abdelkrim Mouti’ and allow him and his family to end their political exile, Human Rights Watch said today in a letter to Interior Minister Taïeb Charkaoui. Moroccan officials have refused repeated requests to issue him a passport, as recently as in January 2011."

Lousy Hamas and Lousy Human Rights Watch

Hamas has established a lousy police (non)state in Gaza. It has managed the place horribly and made it clear that it is as bad as Fath--and that is really bad in Palestinian politics. But in a week when children and other Palestinians were murdered by Israeli jet fighters, Human Rights Watch found time to talk about harassment of activists in Gaza--as important as the topic is. But having been privy to internal documents leaked to me from Human Rights Watch's staff over the years, I know how much the director worry about "our pro-Israel donors". So I know the game. Human Rights my...potato. Maybe this press released would be sent to your pro-Israel donors and maybe you will get a few thousand dollars for it. Good luck. I know how hard you are trying to be...bad.

Zionism and the separation principle

"The men and women who set out to build a Jewish state in historic Palestine made little secret of their settler-colonial designs. Zionism’s intellectual author, Theodor Herzl, described the country he envisioned as “part of a wall of defense for Europe in Asia, an outpost of civilization against barbarism.” “All the means we need, we ourselves must create them, like Robinson Crusoe on his island,” Herzl told an interviewer in 1898. The Labor Zionist movement’s chief ideologue, Berl Katznelson, was more blunt than Herzl, declaring in 1928, “The Zionist enterprise is an enterprise of conquest.” More recently, and perhaps most crudely, former Prime Minister and current Defense Minister Ehud Barak described the goal of Zionism as maintaining “a villa in the jungle.”" (thanks Joseph)

An illiterate man with a doctorate: read all about it

"University of Indonesia (UI) has come under a storm of protests for awarding an honorary doctorate to King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia, a leader whose commitment to human rights has been seriously questioned by labor activists.  The award came just two months after the beheading of Ruyati binti Satubi, an Indonesian maid who was convicted for murdering her employer — a crime she allegedly committed in response to repeated torture." (thanks Abbas)

Mubarak in the cage

My weekly article in Al-Akhbar:  "Mubarak in the Cage". 

NATO transitional council

"But the facts are unavoidable.Without the 20,000 air sorties, arms supplies and logistical support of the most powerful states in the world, they would not be calling the shots in Tripoli today. The assault on the capital was supported by the heaviest Nato bombardment to date. Western intelligence and special forces have been on the ground for months – in mockery of the UN – training, planning and co-ordinating rebel operations.  It was the leading Nato states that championed and funded the Transitional National Council – including members with longstanding CIA and MI6 links – and officials from Nato states who drew up the stabilisation plan now being implemented on the ground." (thanks Raed)

Who is running Libya? Not the transitional council for sure

"The Central Intelligence Agency and other spy services are also putting their muscle behind the effort to safeguard mustard gas and other chemical-weapons agents that the colonel's regime had stockpiled at sites around the country, the officials said." (thanks Laleh)

US Congress and Israel

"Nevadans were treated to a look inside the campaign of congressional candidate Kate Marshall on Wednesday when her staff sent out a press release that contained internal notes detailing why it would be “useful” for the Democrat to support Israel.   Marshall, who is running in a special election for the seat in Nevada’s 2nd Congressional District, released a campaign statement supporting Israel as violence escalated in the Sinai Peninsula and Gaza Strip. However, her aides accidentally left in a “background” section at the bottom that explained why it would be “useful to express support for Israel.”    The section, which was first reported by the Las Vegas Sun’s Jon Ralston, explains that putting out the statement would “demonstrate some foreign policy prowess” during a time when “Israel has been in the news.”   The notes that were supposed to remain private also went on to say that a statement on Israel would be timely because of Glenn Beck’s recent Rally to Restore Courage event in Jerusalem. The section alludes to the fact that Republicans are generally supporters of Israel, noting that Marshall could gain by siding with Israel “in an R district.”  “I am proud to consider Israel a friend and I reiterate my unwavering support for its fundamental right to exist and the absolute necessity for Israel to secure its people from outside threats. I stand ready and willing to assist Israel in defending itself against all acts of terrorism,” Marshall said". (thanks Seham)

Ali Farzat

This is the book by the brilliant Syrian cartoonist, Ali Farzat, who was severely beaten up by armed goons of the Syrian regime yesterday. (thanks Stevy)

Fares Akram: At the service of the Zionist hoodlums at the Times

Look at this classic racist language of the Times.  And notice that, typically, the native token Arab writer at the paper, had to be held by the hand by the master Zionist (Ethan Bronner, who "contributed" reporting).  And notice that the article humanizes Israeli "victims" and talks about a baby, while it only focuses on victims who--according to Israel--were terrorists.  Fares Arkam is building a resume of shame and disgrace at the paper.  

It seems that US will ask Libya to ask US to send troops to Libya

Occupation by other names:  "Nuland said the council is “unlikely to request a formal peacekeeping force,” but may request international and United Nations help in support of its policing needs."

Qatar and normalization with Israel

The Qatari people were and are opposed to any normalization with Israel. (thanks Nabil)

Repression in Oman

"Charges against prominent Omani journalist and filmmaker Youssef al-Haj should be dropped immediately, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.  Al-Haj's trial over an article he wrote that allegedly accused the Ministry of Justice of corruption began on August 14 but was postponed until this Sunday. At the August 14 hearing, the judge ordered that the newspaper that published al-Haj's story, Al-Zaman, not print any details of the case, local human rights activists told CPJ."

Qatari government and Arab leftists

Aljazeera website is increasingly hosting criticisms of Arab leftists.  If the Qatari government wants a fight with Arab leftists, I will relish the fight.  Any day, any time.  And you may bring your puppet cleric, Yusuf Qaradawi, along with you too.

NATO revolution

"Wars kill people. Women and children are dying now in Libya, whatever the sanitised media tells you. The BBC have reported it will take a decade to repair Libya’s infrastructure from the damage of war. That in an underestimate. Iraq is still decades away from returning its utilities to their condition in 2000.  I strongly support the revolutions of the Arab Spring. But NATO intervention does not bring freedom, it brings destruction, degradation and permanent enslavement to the neo-colonial yoke. From now on, Libyans like us will be toiling to enrich western bankers. That, apparently, is worth to NATO the reduction of Sirte to rubble." (thanks Nu`man)

Al-Masri Al-Yawm and criticisms of Israel

Is Al-Masri Al-Yawm pushing away fierce opponents of Zionism in the paper? (thanks Ahmet)

Who is the real Ali Shibani?

I wrote about a news fabrication in Haaretz yesterday.  I wondered about the identify of a certain Ali Shibani.  Well, it seems that his identity has been revealed.  That is him.  

Tour of UK unversities

I may be doing a tour of UK universities this January.  More information to follow.

Khalid Saghiyyah

I wrote a brief tribute to comrade Khalid Saghiyyah, for Al-Akhbar. 

Libya: the ruined Revolution

My post in Al-Akhbar English:  "Libya: the Ruined Revolution."

Aljazeera: voice of NATO

"The Qatari TV station, Al Jazeera, which has acted for much of the uprising as the rebels’ propaganda arm..." Oh, no.  It is chiefly the propaganda arm of the Qatari government, and it so happens that Qatari foreign policy aims at supporting...NATO.

Justifying or downplaying war crimes by NATO rebels in Libya

"The rebels have certainly acted wrongfully against some civilians, though most human-rights groups say their abuses pale beside the attacks on civilians by the regime."  Why is it necessary to add that "most human rights groups say their abuses pales besides the attacks on civilians by the regime."  This is like reporting on human rights abuses by any present-day regime and then adding: but their abuses pale besides the attacks by Hitler's army.  How ridiculous.  (thanks Khelil)

Tantawi, the US, and the siege of Gaza

"The US administration of President Barack Obama was even more actively involved than previously known in enforcing the siege of Gaza along Egypt’s border with the territory. And the Pentagon provided direct assistance and technology for these efforts, a newly released official document reveals.  The US Embassy cable dated 8 April 2009 and released yesterday by Wikileaks is a briefing document for US Representative Nita Lowey (D-NY) – a hardline supporter of Israel – who was in Egypt to meet with officials. At the time, Lowey chaired an important congressional committee that oversees aid to Egypt, Israel and the Palestinian Authority.  Moreover, the cable shows that the Americans coordinated Egypt’s efforts to keep Gaza sealed from the outside world directly with Egyptian Army chief Field Marshal Muhammad Tantawi – who is currently Egypt’s military ruler. Tantawi heads the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF) that has ruled Egypt since the overthrow of President Hosni Mubarak last February." (thanks Electronic Ali)

Israel and the Muslim Brotherhood

The political party of the Muslim Brotherhood said that it wont participate in the massive demonstration in Cairo against Israel and which will call for the expulsion of the Israeli occupation ambassador in Egypt.    I mean, for much of the Cold War, Israel and the Muslim Brotherhood were in the same trench.  Nothing surprising at all.

The Israeli occupation flag in Cairo

According to Al-Masri Al-Yawm, the lousy Egyptian government has turned down a request by the Israeli occupation government to raise (again) the lousy Israeli occupation flag at the Israeli occupation embassy in Cairo.  The Egyptian government said that the Egyptian people won't allow it.  (thanks Joseph)

Al-Akhbar and House of Saud's critics

This is what I love: there are Arab liberals (or timid Wahhabi, as I refer to them) who works for the various publications and media for House of Saud and House of Hariri and they don't feel reluctant to offer criticisms of Al-Akhbar.  Some want Al-Akhbar to be more critical of the Syrian regime, although the paper has been banned from Syria, and not for its praise of the regime.  But that is not the point.  And I won't be defensive.  Sure, Al-Akhbar should be criticized by readers and the paper should be a platform for criticisms against all Arab regimes (and Iran and Turkey), but to be criticized by House of Saud's propagandists?? I will make a deal with you: if you publish 10% of the volume of our criticisms of the Syrian regime and Hizbullah against Saudi Arabia in your publication, maybe then you can earn the right to serve as critics of Al-Akhbar.  You--propagandists for House of Saud and House of Hariri--are prohibited from posting any criticisms of Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia (during Bin Ali), Egypt (during Mubarak), Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Bahrain, and Qatar (after it made up with House of Saud) and you think that you can serve as media critics?  You??  Are you being serious?  You think that you have any media credibility at all to do that?  I will tell more: you don't have credibility to even offer criticisms of the North Korean media.  Have you looked at the columns in your lousy newspapers??   Al-Akhbar is far from being perfect, but in comparison to Saudi and Hariri media, it is perfection multiplied.

Palestine, not only Eilat, belongs to Palestinians

"In exploring the 'claim,' which has been hotly debated in Egypt's parliament this week, Abed el-Aziz Sayef a-Nasser, an aide to the Egyptian foreign minister, was called as an expert witness. A-Nasser is the director of the Egyptian Foreign Ministry's legal department.  "Eilat, or by its former name Umm Rashrash, belongs to the Palestinians," he said on behalf of the Egyptian Foreign Ministry.  His predecessor, Dr. Nabil el-Arabi, was the head of the Foreign Ministry's legal department and headed the delegation for negotiations at Taba. He also emphatically maintained: "Eilat belongs to the Palestinians."

off to Boulder, Colorado.

Back on Saturday. 

Young `Ali Farzat

Son of Muhammad Zu`bi, the Minister of Information in the government of Salah Jadid, sent me this (I cite with his permission):  "A young teenager was brought to my father's office in the ministry of information and asked for a job as a cartoonist , father talked to him then asked him to draw something and the teenager did , dad was impressed and hired him.  This is a dark dark day and I hope this regime who has done nothing but benefit a corrupt elite is overthrown as soon as possible.

Haaretz lies and fabrications

The internet was abuzz yesterday with "news" from Haaretz reported that a "spokesperson" for the Libyan opposition, `Ali Shibani, expressed willingness to accept Israeli help, or silly words to that effect. The thing is that I looked for Shibani on the internet, in Arabic, English, or French and found nothing about him at all.  Those lies and fabrications are common in Zionist propaganda: Israeli media would find an Arab, say a terrorist for the South Lebanon Army, and attribute Zionist statements to him and then hail it as "unprecedented love for Israel from a well-known Arab leader".  The lies of Israel are too stupid these days.  They focus on one Arab who whispers acceptance of peace with Israel--always in a language other than Arabic--and then hail that person as a leader of a mass movement.  Don't feel sorry for Zionist propagandists: that they are now so desperate and so blatant and so deceptive and so dumb. What do you say about propaganda that is more dumb and more crude than Ba`thist propaganda? 

Egyptian Flagman

"An Egyptian provincial governor has rewarded a protester who tore down the flag from the Israeli embassy in Cairo with a job, new home and honorary shield, newspapers reported on Thursday.  Ahmad al-Shahat shot to fame after scaling the tall building, removing the Israeli flag and replacing it with Egypt's national colors as hundreds demonstrated outside the embassy on Saturday night.  Thousands cheered and encouraged Shahat as he climbed and jubilation broke out as he ripped the flag from the pole.  Video images of Shahat clambering up the building swept the Internet and set off a flurry of “Flagman” postings on social network Twitter." (thanks Karim)

Saudi beheading accomplishments

"The beheading of Ruyati binti Satubi —executed in June for the killing of an allegedly abusive Saudi employer — stirred such revulsion here that even the most strictly observant Indonesian Muslims now ask how the guardians of Islam’s most sacred sites can be so heedless of their faith’s call for compassion." (thanks Kanwal)

Amira Hass

"I don't understand why some activists are so fond of Amira Hass. She is opposed to #BDS, refers to attacks against IOF as terrorist, refers to the terrorist occupational forces as Israeli Defense Forces, calls Israeli massacres Israeli actions. What the fuck?"

Time news fabrications: some history

"Ibn Rushd" sent me this:  "I am not a fan of conspiracy theories but I was thinking about Time's anonymous interview :   If indeed it was a fake interview, it would not be the first time that Time magazine has rendered services to the CIA or to US Gov interests.
In an article about CIA & the Media, Carl Bernstein writes : "From the twenty‑five files he got back, according to Senate sources and CIA officials, an unavoidable conclusion emerged: that to a degree never widely suspected, the CIA in the 1950s, ‘60s and even early ‘70s had concentrated its relationships with journalists in the most prominent sectors of the American press corps, including four or five of the largest newspapers in the country, the broadcast networks and the two major newsweekly magazines. Despite the omission of names and affiliations from the twenty‑five detailed files each was between three and eleven inches thick), the information was usually sufficient to tentatively identify either the newsman, his affiliation or both—particularly because so many of them were prominent in the profession. “There is quite an incredible spread of relationships,” Bader reported to the senators. “You don’t need to manipulate Time magazine, for example, because there are Agency people at the management level.  and "In the Sixties, reporters were used extensively in the CIA offensive against Salvador Allende in Chile; they provided funds to Allende’s opponents and wrote anti‑Allende propaganda for CIA proprietary publications that were distributed in Chile. (CIA officials insist that they make no attempt to influence the content of American newspapers, but some fallout is inevitable: during the Chilean offensive, CIA‑generated black propaganda transmitted on the wire service out of Santiago often turned up in American publications.)"And more recently, there was the Afghan women cover story that might have been part of a psy-op 

 

 

 

Saudi reforms advance

"Saudi security forces arrested 164 Syrian expatriates who staged a rally in Riyadh in support of the five-month uprising in their homeland against the rule of President Bashar Assad, a Syrian human rights organization said Wednesday.  The 164 were arrested on Aug. 12 as they marched, spurred by a speech by King Abdullah days earlier during which he condemned Assad’s bloody crackdown, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said." (thanks Gregg)

Ali Farzat: the dreams of Syria

This most gifted of cartoonist, `Ali Farzat, was kidnapped by armed goons (Shabbihah) of the Syrian regime and severely beaten.  What do you call a lousy regime that is terrified of a talented cartoonist?  I have written extensively on this blog about this brilliant cartoonist.  I recommended a book published in the US containing some of his work.  I always credit Lisa Wedeen of the University of Chicago for introducing me to his work back in 1993.  He has a unique style and gifts.  During the short-lived, "Damascus Spring", he produced a publication "Dumari".  It did not last.  I still possess some of its issues.  Farzat has a website where some of work is displayed but it is now blocked.  This is Farzat in his hospital bed.  I woke up to the news and was most distressed.  The Ba`th Party in its history produced no talents and gifts: so I understand why they want to smash gifts and arts and talents.  This is a crucial moment for wavering progressive: a stance against the repressive regime is now badly needed.  No argument can be made in support of the regime.  And despite is verbal trickery, it does not fight Israel either.  It hides under the feet of Hizbullah hoping to reap the rewards of their fighting skills against Israel.  This is a regime that smashes hopes and dreams.  `Ali Farzat?  One of the best talents in Syria and the region?  Armed goons of the regime dare to damage his precious hands??  Which side are you on?  Ali Farzat or Bashshar Al-Asad?

Mini-Hariri in Saudi Arabia

Sa`d Hariri has been in Saudi Arabia for 8 months and did not manage to secure one meeting with the Saudi King.  Yesterday, Saudi and Hariri media, especially Now Hariri, were jubilant when they reported that Mini-Hariri met with Saudi king.  They produced one picture of that "meeting", which did not look like a meeting, as I pointed out yesterday.  New TV produced the video and said that he was in line during a royal Iftar and he kissed the shoulder of the king before moving to make room for other greeters.  Watch.  (thanks Bashar--the reader, not the butcher of Syria). 

The turns of history in the Middle East

This was taken outside of Bab Al-`Aziziyyah in Tripoli yesterday.  Call me to influenced by contemporary history, but I have a feeling that some of those folks will be on a US wanted list in a few years.  Mark my words.   (Reuters).

He is religious. Stop the presses please.

Mini-Hariri discovers religion.  How convenient.  

Al-Akhbar English:

Be patient.  Some technical issues. Website will be up and running momentarily.