The Angry Arab News Service/وكالة أنباء العربي الغاضب

Syrian National Council Flash news

2012-01-30T12:41:00.000-08:00

Flash. Syrian National Council issued a statement in which they expressed gratitude for the safe arrival of Prince Sattam to Riyahd last night. Civil state and democracy and House of Saud and Wahhabiyyah will spread under their rule. The Syrian people deserve better. Neither the Asad regime nor the Syrian National Council.

Iran's battle

2012-01-30T12:39:00.001-08:00

Comrade Amer writes about Iran's battle and "our battle".

National Potato Council

2012-01-30T04:58:00.000-08:00

""The National Potato Council, which had opposed the attempts to limit the serving of potatoes, said that it was pleased with the new rules but that it still had some concerns."

Rewarding the loyal Moroccan potentate

2012-01-30T04:51:00.000-08:00

"The European Parliament's committee for International Trade last week gave the green light to a new agriculture agreement that will ease restrictions on the importation of fruit and vegetables from Morocco.

But it has emerged that the single biggest beneficiary of the deal will be the King of Morocco, who is head of one of the three largest agricultural producers in the north African country and lays claim to 12,000 hectares of the nation's most fertile farmland. Human rights groups have warned that royal estates covered with polytunnels stretch across swathes of the Dahkla region of the Western Sahara, the former Spanish colony annexed by Morocco in 1975." (thanks Laleh)

From the cruel and racist state of Lebanon

2012-01-30T04:43:00.000-08:00

"Two Sudanese men who survived this weekend’s building collapse in Ashrafieh are in General Security custody because of their immigration status." (thanks Marc)

Thomas Friedman on average

2012-01-30T04:41:00.001-08:00

"In the past, workers with average skills, doing an average job, could earn an average lifestyle. But, today, average is officially over. Being average just won’t earn you what it used to." And how do you categorize yourself, Mr. Friedman? Because we see you as well below average. (thanks Nikolai)

Uncovered Jordan

2012-01-30T04:39:00.001-08:00

Uncovered protests in Jordan.

Adonis in the Guardian

2012-01-30T04:33:00.000-08:00

There are problems in the articles. She said that he "embraced" colloquial Arabic in his journal, which is patently untrue. He clashed with Yusuf Al-Khal over this and he writes in classical Arabic, always. I don't know where she got this from. Also, his position against the Syrian regime are not as categorical as he claims in the interview: I have not read any clear call for the resignation of Bashshar Al-Asad. Thirdly, it is not true that he has not been in Syria in two years because it is "dangerous". He has been going to Syria since 1976 and edited the cultural supplement of the regime's mouthpiece AFTER the Syrian army sent its troops to Lebanon in 1976 to crush the PLO and its ally, the Lebanese National Movement. But here is an excerpt from his interview: "Yet he is against both armed uprising and foreign intervention. "Guns can't resolve these problems. If everyone took up arms, there'd be civil war." Outside military intervention has "destroyed Arab countries, from Iraq to Libya". As for its humanitarian rationale, "it's not true – it's to colonise. If westerners really want to defend Arab human rights, they have to start by defending the rights of the Palestinians." Calls for intervention from within Arab countries "are wrong; it doesn't make sense. How can you build the foundations of the state with the help of the same people who colonised these countries before?" At a talk this month in the House of Poetry in Paris, he held up a photograph published in al-Quds of some US soldiers in Iraq apparently desecrating the dead. "American soldiers pissed on Iraqi corpses," he says indignantly. "So these are the same people they want to call in to liberate Arabs, and piss on the living?""

Lebanonese Hotel

2012-01-30T03:53:00.000-08:00

"Complications in Lebanon are no less than in any other country, you just think your country is special, and complicated in a special way. The problem is square and simple: Lebanon is a racist, sectarian, selfish, hypocrite, fake, and pretentious country..." (thanks Niqula)

Syrian National Council

2012-01-30T03:51:00.000-08:00

The utterly pathetic Syrian National Council places an ad of its official poster of gratitude to Saudi King in the mouthpiece of Prince Khalid bin Sultan, Al-Hayat. The fact that this comes a week after a meeting between Ghalyun and Saud Al-Faysal, and week after news in the British press that both Qatar and Saudi Arabia funds the lousy Syrian National Council is a mere coincidence.

Nepalese maid in Lebanon

2012-01-30T03:44:00.001-08:00

A Nepalese maid in Lebanon kills herself by hanging. (thanks Raed)

Syrian National Council issues an official letter of gratitude to the Saudi King

2012-01-29T11:25:00.000-08:00

A real revolution or a real revolutionary group does not express gratitude to Saudi King. You expect me to support those? Are you really kidding me? Look at the language and look at the clerical organizations who also signed this lousy document. (thanks E.)

A different perspective on the problem of Boko Haram

2012-01-29T10:54:00.000-08:00

"All of this seems well beyond the capabilities of a small cult known mainly for its views on secular education. Boko Haram in Hausa, the main language of the north, means “Western learning is forbidden”. The frequency and sophistication of the violence has led many, especially in America, to suggest that the group is getting support from international terrorist networks. Algeria’s branch of al-Qaeda and, more improbably, Somalia’s Shabab have been mentioned. Nigeria’s government, keen to win lucrative grants as a front-line ally in the West’s “global war on terror”, has encouraged such explanations. Religious and political leaders in the mainly Muslim north, however, see things differently. To them, the internationally connected, ferociously active Islamist fringe group described by officials is largely an imaginary bogeyman. They say there are some genuine religious fanatics in the north but suggest Boko Haram has been co-opted into a murky mix of criminal opportunists and disgruntled political operators. “It’s something like a Bermuda triangle.” says Kashim Shettima, the governor of Borno State, where the group originates. “Boko Haram has become a franchise that anyone can buy into.” Goodluck Jonathan, Nigeria’s president, seems in two minds. He has claimed that Boko Haram and its sympathisers have infiltrated all branches of the government, including the army and police. “Some continue to dip their hands and eat with you, and you won’t even know the person who will point a gun at you or plant a bomb behind your house,” he told a church congregation in Abuja.

The president, a Christian who is unpopular in the Muslim north, is following the advice of his top security men baying for blood. He has put much of the north under a state of emergency. He appears ready to give the armed forces and police a free hand to run large-scale operations. And he is set to spend an astonishing 20% of the federal budget on security this year. Some fear that such measures may make matters worse. Already deployed in parts of the north, troops are seen by locals as occupiers. Their high-handed, sometimes violent behaviour stokes rebellious feelings. A backlash is already happening."

And this from a British conservative

2012-01-29T09:31:00.000-08:00

"Consider these stark facts.

Adjusted for inflation, the income of the average American male has essentially flatlined since the 1970s, according to figures from the Census Bureau. The income of the bottom quarter of U.S. families has actually fallen. It’s been a different story for the rich. According to recent work by Berkeley economist Emmanuel Saez, the share of total income going to the top 1 percent of families has more than doubled since 1979, from below 10 percent to a peak of nearly 24 percent in 2007. (It has since fallen, but not by much.) The share going to the super-rich—the top 0.01 percent—has risen by a factor of seven. Americans used to be proud of their country’s reputation as a meritocracy, where anyone could aspire to get to the top with the right combination of inspiration and perspiration. It’s no longer true. Social mobility has been sliding in the United States. A poor kid in America now has about the same chance of becoming a rich grown-up as in socially rigid England. It looks like Downton Abbey has come to downtown U.S.A. Left-of-center economists like Paul Krugman and Jeffrey Sachs explain this phenomenon with the following story. Financial deregulation by Ronald Reagan ushered in an era of rampant greed in finance; meanwhile, Republicans ruthlessly hacked back New Deal and Great Society social programs to finance tax cuts for their Wall Street cronies. To make their point, liberals point to European countries like Denmark, Sweden, and the Netherlands, where the rich have not been getting richer and social mobility remains high. Conclusion? America needs European-style policies like the ones listed by Krugman in a recent column: “more nutritional aid for low-income mothers-to-be and young children…[improved]?public schools…aid to low-income college students…[and] a universal health care system.” And how would that all be paid for? You guessed right: higher taxes on the rich."

armed with the ideas of Gene Sharp only (and weapons)

2012-01-29T09:27:00.001-08:00

Free Syrian Saudi pro-Salafite Army

Inequality is good

2012-01-29T07:54:00.000-08:00

BBC News held a debate on capitalism, from Davos I think. They invited three experts (all of whom are enthusiastic supporters of capitalism, of course) and one of them said: that inequality is good. That it is a good motivator.

Lobbyists of principle

2012-01-29T07:24:00.001-08:00

"Lobbyists for the Egyptian government in Washington have ended their contracts with the country because of growing tensions after a raid by Egyptian authorities on several American nonprofit organizations." Those are lobbyists of principle indeed. All their years of service to the dictatorial regime of Mubarak did not bother them or cause them a crisis of "conscience."

House of Saud's columnist finds a hero in Tunisia

2012-01-29T07:18:00.001-08:00

"During the visit made by the author of this article to Tunisia at the beginning of the week, it was truly striking to hear what Tunisians were saying about the man whom Davos had warmly welcomed last year, the highly qualified Governor of the Central Bank and former economic expert at the World Bank, Mustapha Nabli. They were saying that a fierce campaign was being waged against him because he is the only non-Islamist in government." No, there is a campaign against him because was the architect of Bin `Ali's economic policies which led to the uprising. How convenient. (thanks Ahmet)

Prince Turki on "Jewish wealth"

2012-01-29T07:09:00.000-08:00

""With our brain power, and Jewish wealth,” he says, “we can do wonders."" (thanks Basim)

Herzilya festival to celebrate Israeli war crimes

2012-01-29T07:06:00.000-08:00

"The Palestinian Boycotts, Divestment and Sanctions National Committee (BNC) condemned on Thursday the participation of Arab figures from Egypt, Jordan and Qatar in the 12th annual Herzliya conference.

The Herzliya conference is considered the most important annual event for Israel's military intelligence as it is concerned mainly with the promotion of Israeli "national security," and thus forms a major threat to the Palestinian cause, the committee said in a statement Thursday. The Herzliya conference will be held between 31 January and 2 February under the name “In the Eye of Storms: Israel and the Middle East." Al-Quds Al-Arabi, a London-based Arabic daily, reported on Thursday that among participants in the conference are Riad al-Khoury, a Jordanian economist, Salman al-Sheikh of the Doha-based Brookings Institute, Sherif al-Diwany, chairman of Marsad (Observatory) Inc. in Egypt, and Saeb Erekat, former chief Palestinian negotiator. The BNC called on Arab figures participating in the conference to withdraw." And there is a Lebanese Zionist likudnik but no one has ever heard of him. (thanks Khalid)

Bullshit PhD

2012-01-29T07:04:00.000-08:00

Jordanian media are ecstatic: a Jordanian specializes in the speeches of King PlayStation of Jordan. (thanks Jasser)

Berlitz is training Israelis in hacking: can you imagine if they were doing that for Arab hackers?

2012-01-29T07:01:00.001-08:00

"The Berlitz class, a sort of Arabic-for-hackers 101, includes the alphabet and recognition of key words such as “Ministry of Interior Affairs,” “national bank” and “government,” one teacher told Maariv. "This will save us time locating government companies, banks and enemy country government bodies," the student said. Mira Mines, a top Berlitz executive, was quoted in the report as saying that the school was glad to take part in the national effort and "help hackers deter anti-Israeli elements from attacking Israel in the future.""

Can you imagine the uproar if he were a Muslim cleric?

2012-01-29T06:57:00.001-08:00

"Soon after he began running for Congress in 2009, Michael G. Grimm, a Staten Island Republican, needed to convince party leaders in Washington that he could raise enough money to become a viable candidate. Seeking help, he turned to an unlikely source: followers of an Orthodox rabbi and mystic from Israel." (thanks Shadi)

Rami Abdur-Rahman

2012-01-29T06:56:00.000-08:00

Even after it was revealed that there was no person by the name of Rami Adbur-Rahman at the Syrian Observatory of Human Rights, Western media continue to quote him widely. Just google his name. Western media (like in Iraq in 2003) are intent on being part of a propaganda campaign and journalistic standards are first to go.

The casino in Jordan

2012-01-29T06:53:00.000-08:00

"The trip to Jordan by a group of United States congressmen was supposed to be a chance for them to meet the newly crowned King Abdullah II. But their tour guide had a more complicated agenda. The guide was Sheldon Adelson, a Las Vegas casino magnate who helped underwrite trips to the Middle East to win support for Israel in Congress. On this occasion in 1999, as the lawmakers enjoyed a reception at the Royal Palace in Amman, Mr. Adelson and an aide retreated to a private room with the king. There, the king listened politely as Mr. Adelson sat on a sofa and paged through his proposal for a gambling resort on the Jordan-Israel border to be called the Red Sea Kingdom. “This was shortly after his father, King Hussein, died, and he was grateful to me,” Mr. Adelson explained later in court testimony, recalling that he had lent his plane when the ailing monarch sought treatment in the United States. “So they remembered.” The proposal never went anywhere..." Oh, no. It got somewhere. There was a casino scandal later and many in Jordan suspect the royal family and mysterious investors of being involved.

Partners in crime in Yemen

2012-01-29T06:50:00.001-08:00

"The State Department has announced that Yemen's embattled president, Ali Abdullah Saleh, will have diplomatic immunity while he visits the United States this week for medical treatment. The immunity is being granted to Saleh as it would to any foreign head of state, the State Department said in a statement, and will last "until a new Yemeni president is sworn in following elections on February 21." Saleh is due to arrive in the country any day to seek treatment at a New York hospital for injuries suffered during a June attack on his presidential compound by anti-regime forces." The US Department of State added that Saleh would also be fighting terrorists while in the US. (thanks Mariela)

End of UK university tour

2012-01-27T23:18:00.001-08:00

So I return today to the US after finishing my UK university tour. I wish to thank my local hosts in all of the cities that I visited. You have all made the tour easier and less stressful. Regards to all.

Flash. Stop the presses.

2012-01-27T23:16:00.000-08:00

This is an actual headline in Ash-Sharq Al-Awsat (mouthpiece of Prince Salman): "Prince Sattam arrives in Riyadh today."

daily crimes of Israel

2012-01-27T22:32:00.000-08:00

"An injured Palestinian construction worker screams in pain after an Israeli army driver drove a trailer hooked to a tractor over his legs, as he tried to block him when Israeli forces stopped workers on January 25, 2012 from building a house in al-Dirat village, south of Yatta in the southern Bank town Hebron region. The Israeli forces were seizing the equipment and trailer from the construction workers as the site falls in the occupied zone C in which Israel prevents Palestinians from building on their land. AFP PHOTO / HAZEM BADER". (thanks AK)

racist justifications in Israel

2012-01-27T22:30:00.001-08:00

"Recently, Israel's railway officials attributed the absence of announcements in Arabic to a desire to keep rides as quiet as possible and minimize the nuisance to passengers, inconvenienced enough by Hebrew and English announcements."

The tricks and lies of MEMRI

2012-01-27T22:27:00.000-08:00

The lies and tricks of this lousy propaganda outfit have been exposed before. It goes well beyond lousy and inaccurate translations. Look at this clip (I normally don't like to this Israeli propaganda shop). This salute is quite common in Lebanese political rallies (including by Jumblat's Progressive Socialist Party and most famously by the Phalanges). Yet, this propaganda outfit would not air clip of the Phalanges--the true Nazis in salute and in ideology. (thanks "Ibn Rushd")

Jordan

2012-01-27T22:23:00.001-08:00

Al-Quds Al-Arabi has at least two articles daily covering protests and turmoil in Jordan and yet Western media barely write anything on Jordan because they subscribe to the myth according to which Jordanian King should be treated like an elected democrat simply because he and his ancestors have been such loyal clients to the West.

The lowest standards for Al-Arabiyyah

2012-01-27T22:14:00.000-08:00

This is another low for one of the most unprofessional and politically sleazy channels in the Arab world. Al-Arabiyyah, the news channel of King Fahd's brother-in-law, airs an interview with a Bahraini citizens when he is being held and forced to talk to the correspond of the station by surrounding Bahraini police. (thanks B.)

Michel Sulayman

2012-01-27T12:19:00.001-08:00

My weekly article in Al-Akhbar: "Michel Sulayman and Sovereignty".

Exclusive in Al-Akhbar: sexual harassment in Lebanese parliament

2012-01-27T09:29:00.001-08:00

Ghassan Saud writes in Al-Akhbar about sexual harassment by Lebanese MPs. This is a first in the Arabic press.

Exclusive from Al-Akhbar English: Syrian Observatory for Human Rights

2012-01-27T01:06:00.000-08:00

"In November, rumours emerged that Rami Abdulrahman was a pseudonym of SOHR’s founder. Many who doubted SOHR’s credibility cried “smoking gun.” When a professional-looking letter published last week by a rival group, claiming to speak on behalf of SOHR, accused Abdulrahman of falsifying his name and hijacking SOHR’s identity, suspicions turned into certainty. The politically motivated debate about SOHR clouded a much needed examination of all the facts involved. A closer look at these facts suggests that the pseudonym issue is the least significant element of the controversy. More than anything else, the row between the two rival groups laying claim over SOHR seems to reflect a wider political feud brewing between the two main Syrian opposition camps: the Syrian National Council (SNC) and the National Coordination Body for Democratic Change in Syria (NCB), both increasingly at odds with each other over the call for foreign intervention....The moving force behind the rival group (www.syriahr.org) who issued a letter attacking Abdulrahman’s group (www.syriahr.com) is a London-based Syrian exile and medical doctor named Mousab Azzawi. The smear campaign launched by Azzawi seemed to have undertones of classism. Abudlrahman was depicted in the letter as someone who is “unable to communicate professionally in English language [sic.],” has a “very modest level of education,” and whose “primary profession is installing satellite dishes” but happened to help out with posting Arabic articles for the Azzawi-led site. Despite these “humble” credentials, Abdulrahman was linked to Rifaat Assad, exiled uncle of Syrian President Bashar Assad and a current dissident widely resented by pro- and anti-regime forces alike. Most damaging in the letter, perhaps, was the revelation of Abdulrahman’s real name – Ossama Suleiman. But, apart from using a pseudonym, Abdulrahman denied these charges well before the letter surfaced. As far as his name was concerned, Abdulrahman appeared last November on a London-based Arabic satellite channel al-Hiwar showing what he said was his British passport and Syrian ID papers with his real name, Ossama Suleiman, to the cameras. He did so after a critical article on an opposition website had disclosed the name. He also denied any links to Rifaat. Abdulrahman says that as a longtime opposition activist who organized emonstrations at the Syrian Embassy in London, he has always preferred to use a nom-de-guerre, something he points out is common among political leaders...In a phone interview with Al-Akhbar, Azzawi said he is a consultant pathologist who lectures at two universities, though he preferred not to name them. The General Medical Council (GMC) register shows that although a Mousab Azzawi with an MD from a Syrian university is licensed to practice medicine in the UK as of 2009, he is not on the specialist register. The GMC press office told Al-Akhbar that while the National Health Service (NHS) requires all its consultants to be on the specialist register apart from locum work: “the term ‘consultant’ isn’t in itself protected, and could, hypothetically, be used differently by private providers.” Azzawi said he practiced as a consultant pathologist privately, and did some locum work for the NHS. While disputing the personal identity and political connections of Abdulrahman, Azzawi himself seems to have offered misleading information about his credentials. While he identifies himself in the English version of the letter as a medical doctor and human rights activist, he signed an earlier Arabic version of the letter as a member of Amnesty International. Amnesty membership is open to anyone, and being a member is a far cry from being an active persona grata in the human rights organization, something most English readers are likely aware of." Asa did an excellent investigative work here.

UAE and Human Rights: it is cute when US clients violate them

2012-01-27T00:41:00.001-08:00

"Human Rights Watch accused the United Arab Emirates of cracking down on freedom of expression, during a news conference on Wednesday which was disrupted by men who claimed to be UAE officials and demanded the rights group end its presentation."

Bastions of human rights

2012-01-27T00:39:00.000-08:00

"The countries have put the issue on the agenda of the next meeting of the organization’s Executive Board, from Feb. 27 to March 10, the diplomats said. They include Qatar, which currently holds the rotating presidency of the Arab League; Kuwait; the United Arab Emirates; Djibouti; Chile; South Korea; Japan; the United States; and European countries including France, Britain, Germany and Austria." Yeah. I mean who can better defend human rights than Qatar and UAE and Kuwait. They sure offer lessons on human rights and democracy.

The Muslim Brotherhood practices discrimination against women. No way. Really? How could that be? The Brotherhood of all people?

2012-01-27T00:31:00.000-08:00

"As the Muslim Brotherhood strives to project the image of a moderate and democratic political organization, a book featuring the angry account of a former member has hit the market. "The Memoirs of a Former Sister: My Story with the Muslim Brotherhood" is the testimony of Intissar Abdel Moneim, an Alexandria-based novelist and author. With a compelling style and sharp language, the book takes the reader on a journey exploring the internal politics of the 83-year-old organization, placing special emphasis on discrimination against female members. Throughout her work, Abdel Moneim decries the sisters’ internalization of oppression as women are socialized in a way that compels them to accept male dominance within the organization — and the household.

Early in the book, Abdel Moneim condemns what could be interpreted as the Brotherhood’s exploitation of the permissibility of polygamy in Islam. “One of the areas where the Brothers have exploited the idea of blind obedience and submission is polygamy,” she writes, adding that a brother would take second and third wives for no valid reason. “When the [first] wife complains, a session is held for her where other sisters would remind her of the importance of obedience, patience and submission to God’s will and to [the husband]’s will,” she writes. To understand the roots of the subjugation of women, Abdel Moneim unpacks the writings of Hassan al-Banna, the group’s late founder. Here, the author summons her courage and puts forth a vehement critique of the group’s canonized leader, who is rarely questioned, even by the most vocal ex-brothers. Banna's teachings sought to limit women to "catering to their husbands' desires and to reproduction," Abdel Moneim writes. The book dismisses Banna's dictum that there is no need to invest heavily in girls' education and that women should be trained only to serve as housewives and mothers. Abdel Moneim feels that this sentiment is contradictory to true Islam." (thanks Ahmet)

They do the dying AND the killing

2012-01-27T00:04:00.000-08:00

""More aggressive robotry development could lead to deploying far fewer U.S. military personnel to other countries, achieving greater national security at a much lower cost and most importantly, greatly reduced casualties," aerospace pioneer Simon Ramo, who helped develop the intercontinental ballistic missile, wrote in his new book, "Let Robots Do the Dying.""

I can see Israel sinking and an Israeli military official saying: this is really is strategically beneficial for Israel

2012-01-27T00:02:00.000-08:00

""The changes in Syria bear strategic benefits for Israel," former Military Intelligence Chief and Head of the Institute for National Security Studies Amos Yadlin said Thursday, at a seminar held at Tel Aviv University. Yadlin said that "For many years defense and political officials recommended that Israel strike a peace deal with Syria, even if it entailed paying a heavy price. The justification was to pull it out of the radical Syria-Iran axis."

Muslim Brotherhood wants to do business

2012-01-26T23:59:00.001-08:00

""Over the last few months the Egyptian investment bank EFG-Hermes organized sit-downs between Al-Shater and 14 major investment managers from Europe, the United States and Africa. Al-Shater used the opportunity to reassure investors that the new government shares their goals. “I believe the meeting dismissed some investors’ concerns about an extreme economic policy,” said Wael Ziada, an official with EFG. The Brotherhood wants continuity. Al-Shater’s relationship with EFG-Hermes has raised some eyebrows, since the investment bank was partially owned by deposed President Hosni Mubarak’s son Gamal. But the businessmen in the Brotherhood do not seem concerned by this connection, and they are not at all hasty to jettison the Mubaraks’ economic legacy...."" (thanks Nu`man)

NATO regime in Syria

2012-01-26T23:57:00.000-08:00

"The moral authority of Libya's new government was called into question by two international aid groups yesterday as confidence begins to falter that the National Transitional Council, backed by Western governments in last year's civil war, can deliver on its promises to deliver freedom and democracy. Médecins sans Frontières (MSF) brought an abrupt halt to its operations in the Libyan town of Misrata after being asked by officials to treat torture victims, in some cases to allow members of the country's new leadership to abuse the prisoners again. The move came as Amnesty International said it has collected evidence that Gaddafi supporters had been tortured to death in makeshift detention centres."

Ja`ja` (Ga`ga` in Egyptian accent)

2012-01-26T23:54:00.000-08:00

So I mentioned yesterday the lousy statement on Lebanon by the lousy Syrian National Council. Samir Ja`ja` (Ga`ga` in Egyptian accent) expressed strong support for the statement. Burhan Ghalyun is now officially an ally of Saudi Arabia and Ja`ja` (Ga`ga` in Egyptian accent). And you wonder why I would not make peace with the Syrian National Council?

Cowardice of Bashshar

2012-01-26T23:53:00.000-08:00

Finally, Syrian media has received orders to start attacking Saudi Arabia. I can report to you this: the criticisms are rather mild which only proves my theory: that the regime still hopes for a deal under the table.

When the GCC visits an Uprising: lessons for Arab opposition

2012-01-26T23:48:00.000-08:00

Look at the Arab League (GCC) proposal for Syria: it is a typical GCC initiative that seeks to preserve a regime but only change its face. They did the same in Yemen and wished to do the same in Egypt. It is a lesson for dumb (or worse) Arab opposition groups who throw their lots with Saudi Arabia and Gulf countries. We now know from British press that the Syrian National Council is now officially receiving Saudi funding. You expect progressives to support clients of GCC countries and refer to them as revolutionaries? Are you kidding me? Does that not vindicate all our suspicions about the lousy outfit known as the Syrian National Council?

Memory lane

2012-01-26T11:15:00.000-08:00

One of the students at University of Nottingham tonight, Husayn Khalidi, is the grandson of Walid Khalidi who was my teacher at the American University of Beirut. I am delighted that Husayn's politics are closer to my politics than to his grandfather's.

PS Husayn: please make Hamzah contact me via email tonight regarding arrangements of travel for tomorrow.

Flash. Exclusive. The King of Jordan has dignity.

2012-01-26T08:40:00.001-08:00

"A Jordanian political activist was sentenced on Thursday to two years in prison for undermining King Abdullah II's dignity, after he set alight a picture of the monarch this month. "The [military] state security court sentenced Uday Abu Issa, 18, to two years in jail. He has been found guilty of undermining the king's dignity," a judicial official said."

That lousy Wifaq opposition group in Bahrain

2012-01-26T08:29:00.000-08:00

The Bahraini people are suffering from oppression, and this lousy group is relying on the services of Ahmad Chalabi: "Jawad Fairooz, secretary general of Wefaq and a former member of Parliament in Bahrain, acknowledged that there had been contacts with Mr. Chalabi. “Mr Chalabi has helped us with contacts in Washington like other people have done and we thank them,” Mr. Fairooz said. "

Zionist logic about Arab monarchist dictatorships

2012-01-26T08:25:00.001-08:00

"Of the possible sources of legitimacy -- such as democracy, religion, monarchic succession, or the creation of great prosperity -- they had none. " He forgot to add Israel. Their alliance with Israel gives them great legitimacy, right? (thanks Nabeel)

GCC alliance

2012-01-26T07:19:00.001-08:00

"Certain regional pressures may also apply against states wishing to reform, as the US political science professor As'ad AbuKhalil noted. AbuKhalil, who was invited to meet the emir of Qatar, subsequently wrotethat the latter informed him that political advances in one Gulf state couldn't exceed political advances in another. Today, Bahrain's parliament is almost devoid of opposition voices after the main opposition party decided to boycott post-crackdown elections, bringing the once-vibrant parliament in line with its Gulf peers." (thanks Sultan)

Dumb and Dumber

2012-01-26T07:01:00.002-08:00

"controversial"

2012-01-26T07:01:00.000-08:00

It was explained to me that the reason why University of Leeds required security is that I was considered a "controversial speaker". What is controversial about me, damn it?

Women wearing Hijabs

2012-01-26T06:58:00.001-08:00

You notice it. Women wearing Hijabs in the UK walk much more confidently than women wearing Hijabs in the US.

The Lebanese Upper class: a reason for having a bloody revolution in Lebanon

2012-01-26T06:57:00.000-08:00

Tell that bar owner: your idea of fun, is so disgusting like all your ideas of fun. "A bar in the neighborhood of Gemmayzeh has canceled an event, originally scheduled for this Friday, which invited guests to dress up as migrant domestic workers for the chance to win $100. Event details encouraged bar-goers to, “this Friday night, be Sinkara or Milenga ... be Soumatra or Domma ... create your own maid costume, speak like them and look like a Philippino [sic], Bengladish [sic], Sri Lanka [sic] or any maid you want and definitely win 100 U.S. dollars in cash.” The details of the event were originally posted late Tuesday evening on the bar’s Facebook group. A Lebanese organization, the Anti-Racism Movement, then reposted the event on its blog, which soon drew much online criticism. The owner of the bar then removed all details of the event. Speaking to The Daily Star Wednesday, the owner denied that the event was in any way racist. “You just put on a costume, it was supposed to be for fun. Some people misunderstood it and thought it was racist.” (thanks Raed)

The US/Israeli conspiracy

2012-01-26T00:18:00.000-08:00

Comrade Bassam Haddad is right: it is not a conspiracy anymore because it is out in the open. But just notice: the comprehensive systems of sanctions and isolation being simultaneously imposed on Syria and Iran. I mean, are there fools out there who really believe that US motives are about democracy and respect for the Syrian and Iranian populations? There is a whole plot out there by US/Israel and some fools even think that the plot is about their "liberation."

Lousy Syrian National Council

2012-01-26T00:13:00.001-08:00

The lousy Syrian National Council issued a silly proclamation to the Lebanese people. In it, it said not one word about the abuse of Syrian workers in Lebanon. Who wrote this silly piece? Propagandists of Mini-Hariri? It has their tone and language.

The spoiled brats of Arab rulers

2012-01-26T00:08:00.001-08:00

So the son of the Mauritanian president shot his Moroccan girlfriend.

Plagiarism on Al-Manar TV

2012-01-26T00:03:00.001-08:00

Al-Manar had to admit that it aired and published plagiarized reports on CIA operations in Lebanon.

Press freedoms around the world

2012-01-25T23:59:00.000-08:00

Something is wrong with some of the ranking: when it comes to the Middle East, you can always expect major screw ups. I mean, who can agree with them that press "freedoms" in Saudi Arabia are better than in Egypt? Even under Mubarak, for potato's sake. Were those who did the classification smoking something illegal? And was the chart brought to you by Saudi Airlines?

PS US ranked 47.

Greenwald on American injustice

2012-01-25T23:57:00.000-08:00

"The Rules of American Justice are quite clear:

(1) If you are a high-ranking government official who commits war crimes, you will receive full-scale immunity, both civil and criminal, and will have the American President demand that all citizens Look Forward, Not Backward.

(2) If you are a low-ranking member of the military, you will receiverelatively trivial punishments in order to protect higher-ranking officials and cast the appearance of accountability.

(3) If you are a victim of American war crimes, you are a non-person with no legal rights or even any entitlement to see the inside of a courtroom.

(4) If you talk publicly about any of these war crimes, you have committed the Gravest Crime — you are guilty of espionage – and will have the full weight of the American criminal justice system come crashing down upon you." (thanks Robert)

Armed gangs of the Syrian National Council

2012-01-25T23:48:00.000-08:00

In condemning violence in Syria, the report of the Arab League monitors make it clear: that there are Shabbihah (armed thugs) belonging to the regime and to the Syrian National Council, under different names. Of course, primary responsibility of the violence falls on the regime itself because it has the primary legal responsibility to protect citizens--from itself or from others.

Salutations to my comrades at the University of Edinburgh

2012-01-25T23:47:00.000-08:00

"After public pressure from students and campaigners The University of Edinburgh has decided to end a proposed a deal with Bahrain’s Ministry of Education. The deal was announced by The Bahrain News Agency at the beginning of January but The University of Edinburgh came under immediate pressure for going into partnership with an oppressive Government." (thanks Fawzi)

Adelson and Gingrich

2012-01-25T23:45:00.000-08:00

"He's a Zionist/neocon/right-wing Israel hawk. Much of Adelson's political activity is devoted to boosting the right-wing Israeli line, both in Israel and the U.S. He donated a posh new headquarters to AIPAC, the Israel lobby in Washington, though he reportedly feuded with the organization over activities he saw as unduly pro-Palestinian. He has given $25 million to Yad Vashem, the Israeli Holocaust memorial organization, and $100 million to Birthright, the organization that takes young American Jews on free trips to Israel to bolster their loyalty to the Jewish state. Adelson opposes a two-state solution or any accommodation of Palestinians. When Gingrich recently stirred controversy by referring to the Palestinians as "an invented people," Adelson praised the remark to a Birthright group, according to the Israeli newspaper Haaretz. In Israel, Adelson started a free daily newspaper known for its relentless drumbeat of support for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other right-wing politicians. The paper, Israel Hayom, has been called "the Fox News of Israel." Adelson's millions of dollars in contributions have purchased access to the highest reaches of the GOP -- during the Bush administration, for example, he hosted both President Bush and Vice President Cheney in his home -- and he has used it principally to push for a hard line on Israel." (thanks Basim)

The new Speaker of the Egyptian parliament responds to the speaker of the Israeli occupation Knesset

2012-01-25T23:43:00.000-08:00

The new Egyptian speaker wrote this on Twitter:

د/ محمد سعد الكتاتنى (@SaadElKatatny)
1/25/12 10:37 PM
رفضت اليوم تسلم خطاب تهنئة أرسل إلى من "رؤوفين ريفلين" رئيس الكنيست الإسرائيلى يدعونى لزيارة الكيان الصهيونى "إسرائيل"وإلقاء خطبة فى الكنيست
(Today, I refused to receive a letter of congratulation from the speaker of the Israeli knesset,

Reuven Rivlin, in which she asked me to visit the Zionist entity and to deliver a speech in the Knesset.) (thanks Farah)

Bhutto cult

2012-01-25T23:30:00.001-08:00

So the Bhutto cult is now full-fledged, like the Hariri cult in Lebanon. The Bhuttos wanted a special tribunal for the assassination but the US said no: it did not serve the interests of Israel. (thanks Sultan)

Court of the occupation

2012-01-25T23:26:00.000-08:00

This is hilarious: "Israel’s Supreme Court is the body that provides checks and balances to the country’s executive and legislative powers, upholding constitutional standards. Over the years the court has gained a reputation as one of the most judicially active, human rights-oriented courts in the world." "Gained a reputation" where? In Zionist circles? (thanks "Ibn Rushd")

Bob Bashshar Al-Asad

2012-01-25T23:17:00.001-08:00

Hafidh Al-Asad junior must be furious with his parents. His name is now so uncool and will for sure want to change it soon. I won't be surprised if Hafidh Al-Asad henceforth is known as Bob Al-Asad--anything to distract attention from the legacy of the name.

Syrian regime and Saudi Arabia

2012-01-25T23:16:00.000-08:00

Today, Al-Watan and Tishrin carried criticisms (rather mild) of Saudi Arabia. This is a first, if my memory serves me correctly. But it is still very little for a situation when the Syrian regime blames all of its problems on a conspiracy that we all know is led by Saudi Arabia. The reason remains the same: the Asad regime still hopes for a last minute deal (under the table) with the House of Saud. Typical.

Syrian National Council

2012-01-25T23:12:00.000-08:00

Syrian National Council (just like the NATO transitional council in Libya) were too transparent about their service to GCC-US agendas before they even had the chance to get to power. In other words, in both cases, we did not have to wait for them to get to power to criticize them and to call for their overthrow. They created the conditions and justifications for their overthrow already. Down with the Ba`thist regime in Syria and down with a potential regime run by the Syrian National Council. My favorite part is this: the Syrian National Council fully adhere to the Syrian Asad regime's policies on the Golan: which has accomplished zero liberation of the territory.

analogy with Israel

2012-01-25T23:09:00.000-08:00

I reject any analogy between whatever the repressive Arab governments do against their own population with Israeli war crimes. What is the purpose of the comparison or the creation of an artificial scale of repression? It is irrelevant and invoking only aims at preparing the stage for normalization with Israel--to imply that just as Arab governments kill their own people, so does Israel. Analogy of this sort is rather sinister and should be seen as such. Israeli crimes against Palestinians and Arabs are unrelated to what Arab governments do: they are only related in that the US and Western governments helped set up oppressive rule in the region to preserve Israeli interests. This reminds me when the spoiled brats of Sabbah royal family in Kuwait dared to compare the occupation of Kuwait by Saddam's forces (lasting for a few months) to the plight of the Palestinians (of course, the Kuwaiti princes waited out the occupation in the fancy brothels of Europe. Arab regimes crimes can end with the overthrow of the regime, while the crimes of Israel don't end unless we achieve the dismantlement of Zionism in Palestine and the accomplishment of the demise of Israel. But enough of those analogies for potato's sake.

Qasim Sulaymani

2012-01-25T13:53:00.000-08:00

So Al-Arabiyyah (the news station of King Fahd's brother-in-law), invented a statement by the commander of the Quds Brigade of the Revolutionary Guards, Qasim Sulaymani. Within a day after the station invented the statement, there were several denials. Yet, Saudi and Hariri media are full of denunciations of the Sulaymani's invented statements. So Saudi media invent a story, and then asks Saudi propagandists and tools to respond. Welcome to the age of Saudi media. Even the new lousy Aljazeera Arabic does not stoop to this level.

Arab League monitors

2012-01-25T13:46:00.001-08:00

My latest post for Al-Akhbar English.

Zionism is racism, always

2012-01-25T13:42:00.001-08:00

"The Israeli “satire” show Latma TV produces an animated cartoon that depicts African people as apes. Latma TV – a tax-exempt project of the US-based Center for Security Policy – has become notorious for its racist videos, including one which spread a libel that Muslim men were responsible for a “rape epidemic” in Norway. The main character of the Latma TV cartoons is a baboon called “Professor Na’or Lobongelo” who is described as a “lecturer in political science at the University of Tel-Zanav, a small corner of light and intelligence in the jungle that surrounds us.” He gives lectures to other dancing, screaming apes. In the episode above, he describes himself and his audience as “enlightened baboons” as he caricatures the position of Israeli liberals who oppose the deportation of non-Jewish children, born to migrants, many from Africa." (thanks Electronic Ali)

The people want economic uprisings

2012-01-25T13:38:00.001-08:00

"For this reason, the coming period is extremely sensitive in countries that experienced revolutions. Today, working class and poor people in Tunis and Egypt find themselves for the first time confronting Muslim Brotherhood governments, draped in the cloth of revolutionary legitimacy. Yet, these governments are, to some extent, products of the dominant classes and fully represent their interests. It may be more difficult now for workers to fight for their rights than when the “Muslim Brothers” were among the opposition. However, they will be spared the mirage of a “religious solution” as they watch the Islamists attempt to distract them with proclamations to uphold their “identity.” They will in fact be trying to divert workers’ attention from the “public interest” that Islamist claims to defend. In reality, these are the “interests of the rich” – those with or without beards."

Sample of Scottish Accent

2012-01-25T13:28:00.001-08:00

Of course, people are invited to mock my Arabic accent. I like the Scottish accent but it is not easy to decipher. Today, I had to ask a comrade to repeat his sentence three times to understand that he was saying "birthday" but it was pronounced Barthdaaay.

The lies of Saudi media

2012-01-25T13:26:00.000-08:00

Have people noticed how the lousy site of the lousy news station of King Fahd's brother-in-law is getting worse and worse? They have been regularly inventing stories and posting lies and fabrications as news. Look at this story about Egyptian writer, Muhammad Hasanyn Haykal: the headline says that "Haykal is accused of trickery and plagiarism", but when you read the article there is no evidence of that whatsoever. The story merely reports two reviews of his new book and neither had any serious charge of plagiarism or trickery. House of Saud has not gotten over their humiliation at the hands of Nasser. If only he lived longer (and if only he was not defeated in 1967): if only, if only, if only, if only etc.

University of Leeds

2012-01-25T13:22:00.000-08:00

For the first time on my tour, the University of Leeds was scared of my presence on campus. Security was put on alert, and guards with special vests were assigned around the building into the entrance to the hall. I, of course, expressed surprised. I explained that the "Angry Arab" title was intended ironically--especially that British people accuse Americans of not having an appetite for irony. I had to reassure people that I am not unnice. I was told that University of Leeds has the biggest Zionist presence of any other British campus, so that could be the reason. There was one disruptive Zionist in the audience but I am a big boy.

Anthony Shadid on Abu Dhabi

2012-01-25T04:06:00.001-08:00

I am on a train to Leeds so I can't provide link. But Shadid wrote in his article on Abu Dhabi in the Times: "Taken together, they suggest that the region’s cultural axis could decisively shift from the capitals of Arab antiquity — Cairo, Baghdad and Damascus, Syria — to the improbable capitals of the arid Persian Gulf.". Are u serious? Are u not woefully overstating your case here?

Palestinian home demolitions

2012-01-24T23:58:00.000-08:00

"The Abu Omar and Shawamreh families’ land is situated in the Occupied West Bank town of Anata, in what is known as “Area C”, meaning it is under complete Israeli military control. Palestinians are almost never granted building permits by the Israeli authorities, and therefore are forced to build or expand their homes “illegally”. This is the most common reason given by the Israeli authorities for house demolitions. However, as an occupying force, Israel doesn’t have the legal right to grant nor deny permits as it is not entitled under International Law to conduct civil planning." (thanks Reem)

Who is dumb?

2012-01-24T23:55:00.000-08:00

The Jordanian potentate is regularly asked in the Western media to pontificate about the "Arab spring". Who is dumber in this equation? The potentate who is facing growing protests against his rule or the Western media who regard him as if he is a freely elected ruler?

Obama on Israel

2012-01-24T23:48:00.001-08:00

"Our iron-clad commitment to Israel’s security has meant the closest military cooperation between our two countries in history." (thanks Nikolai)

There are two non-democracies in the Middle East, only

2012-01-24T23:45:00.001-08:00

Read the full text of Obama's speech. What do you conclude: that there are only two regimes, Syria and Iran, which are not democracies. Those who wrote the speech really leave the impression that the rest of the regimes (US clients) are full fledgling democracies.

What is the life of 24 Iraqis worth in a US court?

2012-01-24T23:41:00.001-08:00

"Marine Staff Sgt. Frank Wuterich will not serve a jail sentence following his guilty plea in the killing of 24 Iraqis in 2005, a military judge said Tuesday."

Somebody needs to tell Amnesty International that colonial times are behind us--at least in name

2012-01-24T23:38:00.000-08:00

This is colonial feminism. Amnesty International has asked--look at their audacity--Egyptian political parties to sign a political declaration on women's right. Now my views on this are known, but what business does Amnesty have and who do they think they are? Would Amnesty dare ask, say, the Republican Party in the US to sign a political document to commit to women's right? Not in a million years. "Most of the biggest Egyptian political parties have committed to delivering ambitious human right reform in the country’s transition, but have either given mixed signals or have flatly refused to sign up to ending discrimination, protecting women’s rights and to abolishing the death penalty, Amnesty International said today. Ahead of parliamentary elections which began in November, Amnesty asked political parties running in Egypt’s elections to sign a “human rights manifesto” containing ten key measures to signal that they were serious about delivering meaningful human rights reform."

New Rulers

2012-01-24T23:35:00.000-08:00

The "new" rulers in Arab countries are worried about protests--just like the old rulers. Even the Tunisian president, Munsif Al-Marzuqi, spoke against protesters and strikes and "the far left". In Egypt, the Egyptian military ruler said that he ends the state of emergency except in those cases that the council thinks they should apply to them. Mustafa Abdul-NATO keeps warning against protests in Libya. Arab Uprisings are far from being concluded: they have just begun.

W.M. Watt Collection at the University of Edinburgh

2012-01-24T23:15:00.000-08:00

So after trying to complete the forms necessary for obtaining permission to check the private collection of W.M. Watt at the University of Edinburgh, I was able to secure the necessary permission. My host escorted me to the library where we were allowed to go through the various doors and barriers. We then asked the reference librarian to guide us to the collection. We were then told that they are not available because they are in the process of being moved from one place to another and that a special hard hat would be required to go there, but that it requires an advance notice.

Having said that, I really really enjoyed the crowd of students at University of Edinburgh. I really liked the chemistry of the students there. They were most informed and most engaged. I had fun. And the Edinburgh Castle is a must see--I really don't like to say "must see" and this may be the first time I ever use that term.

Who is covering Libya?

2012-01-24T23:12:00.001-08:00

Where is Libya in Western media coverage? Who will report the nightly clashes between the NATO war militias? Who has reported on the demonstration at the main university against the deputy to Mustafa Abdul-NATO who was forced to resign? The students there remember him as an advocate of the Qadhdhafi regime and they bravely insisted on his removal. Abdul-NATO is now scared for his own safety but he does not answer to himself: he answers to those powers that put him in place.

Arab League plan for Syria

2012-01-24T23:03:00.000-08:00

The situation has officially become crazy. GCC plans for change in Arab countries guarantee that popular demands of the opposition are not met. How could Haytham Al-Manna` who I respect support such a plan when it basically preserves the regime and merely removes Bashshar? The Ba`thist regime would basically stay in power. GCC countries and those powers behind them just want to bring in a more dependable potentate. GCC AND US aborted the Yemen uprising--which was one of the most courageous and daring movement in the region. Let us hear people say it again: they want the overthrow of the regime, and not some half measures or some games that people with foreign agendas want to play at the expense of people's aspirations. Remember that US plan for Iraq was originally for one of Saddam's colleagues to take over power. They prefer in all cases to keep the regimes in power. But for any Syrian opposition group to agree to such a plan is merely another proof that they can't claim to represent the Syrian people: they are no more than tools of GCC.

Arab monitors' report

2012-01-24T08:33:00.000-08:00

Has the New York Times reported on the findings of the Arab League monitors' report? Because the Arab (Saudi and Qatari) report on the criticisms of the report and less on the report itself, which has not been published in full, I am told. I am asking because I have been traveling in trains across UK.

The comedy thickens

2012-01-24T08:31:00.000-08:00

"The past year has seen people take to the streets across the Middle East and North Africa to demand an end to tyranny and oppression and as a result, unprecedented regime change has taken place across the region. Less known is the extent to which the protesters were influenced by the 83-year-old political scientist, Dr Gene Sharp. His book From Dictatorship to Democracy has previously been utilised as a blueprint by democratic movements from Serbia, to the Ukraine, Guatemala to Indonesia, in their fight to overthrow oppressive regimes " How dumb do you have to be to really believe that Gene Sharp actually inspired the Arab uprisings? The answer: very dumb indeed. (thanks Nir)

PS Nir has also been inspired by Gene Sharp in his personal revolts.

Hamah massacre: 30 years later

2012-01-24T01:06:00.001-08:00

A reader sent me this: "I see on facebook that many Syrian are ready to commemorate the memory of the hama massacre after 30 years ... I wonder why they forget to commemorate the 29 previous anniversaries."

T E Lawrence

2012-01-24T00:47:00.001-08:00

A Syrian comrade sent me this: "About the most contemptible character in my youth was T. E. Lawrence, and time did not mellow my dislike of this 'clever dick' even after I learnt that he really was psychologically very disturbed from a thoroughly researched book published by Philip Knightly and a colleague I cannot remember his name. I believe both were on the staff of the Sunday Times, when reading the Sunday Times was not self immolation for the sake of the Murdoch! Recently, I cam across a book by صبحي العمري. This Iraqi person joined the Arab revolt in its early phases. He was even mistaken in the UK press for being Lawrence - and of course, Lawrence did not oblige with a correction! Later in life he did sell his sole, and was sentenced by the Syrian Military Tribunal in the famous Stone Plot - for a long prison sentence. I am not sure he served all of it, or any of it. He wrote a book about this Lawrence character. If you are so inclined, I would be happy to email it. I have it on my home machine and I am at work at the moment. Lawrence was a relative of G B Shaw - probably through his mother. He made quite an entry in the literary salons with his Seven Pillars. But the book made him really quite famous in England when its Empire began giving way to the richer and more powerful US. The book was received in exactly this sense, and its literary value was a validating 'bonus' - just as that by Winston Churchill about his exploits in the Boer War which catapulted him into the political limelight for the next half a century."

Meet the new Egyptian MPs

2012-01-23T23:16:00.000-08:00

This picture is circulating widely among Arabs. (Reuters)

PS I refuse to concede that the fat cats of the corrupt Mubarak regime looked any better in parliament. At least those have better legitimate credentials than the Mubarak MPs.

Less than 3 months for killing 24 unarmed Iraqis

2012-01-23T22:56:00.000-08:00

"Prosecutors and defense attorneys in the court-martial of Staff Sgt. Frank Wuterich, accused in the killing of 24 unarmed Iraqis in 2005, announced an agreement Monday to settle the case. Wuterich will plead guilty to a single count of negligent dereliction of duty. Other charges were dropped. No announcement was made on what kind of discharge Wuterich would receive. The maximum sentence is three months in the brig. That decision will be made by the judge."

Mubarak: the anti-Semite (like all Arab friends of Israel)

2012-01-23T22:47:00.000-08:00

This is the fifth part of the serialized book by Muhammad Hasanayn Haykal on Husni Mubarak. It has the best insights about the dumb personality of the man. In this part, Mubarak explains his views of Israel and Jews and says that he is compelled to have relations with Israel because "the Jews run the entire world." This should not be surprising: I have pointed out before that almost all of the few Arab friends of Israel are anti-Semites. Anwar Sadat was an unrepentant Nazi anti-Semite. But Zionists never really care about anti-Semitism from friends of Israel. Their standards on the subject are purely political. They disregard anti-Semitism of supporters of friends of Israel, and they falsely attribute anti-Semitism to opponents of the state of Israel.

The Case Against Israel

2012-01-23T22:23:00.001-08:00

Here is a video of my talk at Oxford University.

Syrian Council: cheering the Saudi king

2012-01-23T14:17:00.001-08:00

Syrian National Council thanks Saudi government and tells Saudi foreign minister that its masses are chanting for the Saudi King in Syria. And you want me to support those clowns in the council? Are you kidding me? Those are to revolution what Sa`d Hariri is to science (or to social science) or what House of Saud are to feminism or what Walid Jumblat is to principles--any principles.

Freedom of Speech: US versus UK

2012-01-23T14:15:00.000-08:00

My latest blog post for Al-Akhbar English.

Seven Pillars of Wisdom

2012-01-23T13:56:00.000-08:00

I do recommend reading that book. It is so well--written. I reread it on the plane to UK: I read it mostly for its literary quality. The man is often racist but with a flare: he insults but in such a flowery language.