My (very) inside source on the Somali peace talks (he/she does not want to be identified): "Finally, the fine and nice peoples of the Security Council arrived to Djibouti and they were immediately transfered to the Djibouti Palace Kempinski Hotel (I don't know why? Is it maybe because this Palace Kempinski features a plethora of entertainment amenities, including a fully equipped fitness center, Mountain Bikes, Outdoor swimming pool, Mini Club, Restaurants and Bars..... ? Now I understand why these prestigious people of the Security Council vetoed instead a stop in Somalia... There is no Kempinski in Mogadisho! Concerning the Pace process, the same circus continued today, both sides are still refusing to sit or even meet face to face (but this is only a show for the camera, all these people are in the same hotel althought not staying in the same hotel. For the whole day they were meeting in the halls, the rooms and restaurants and even in front of the beach...). But the Islamist courts movement refused to give the UNSC representatives their show (nices pictures and big smiles for the TV) and I can tell you that the UN people were very mad at them! Don't get me wrong, this is not a principled position from the Islamist courts movement but just a bargaining attitude, they are refusing to show up for the show until now... We will see what will happen tomorrow when the UNSC will present them the carrot as the South African envoy said it clearly (see the link below)... Thats for tonight, will tell you more tomorrow!"

"In 2007, 403 women were killed in Sindh province alone, including 26 young girls and 196 women condemned under karo-kari, according to the Aurat Foundation, a Pakistani non-governmental organisation."

"Several soldiers who have returned from combat zones talk with the American News Project about what they say is the widespread practice of using "drop weapons" to cover up the killing of innocent civilians in Iraq and Afghanistan." (thanks FLC)

The New York Times pretends that Venezuela, along with Syria and Iran, are the only non-democracies in the world.

Can you imagine if an enemy of the US did that? "A senior official for Physicians for Human Rights was questioned by the Shin Bet recently on the activities of the organization, its budget, the identity of its donors, and details about others employed by PHR."

I received this email (the author asked me to not use his name or the name of the Sen. for whom he/she works): "In December you gave a review of Michael Oren's Power, Faith, and Fantasy: America in the Middle East: 1776 to Present. You proclaimed it a love affair with Zion. Guess who's promoting the book? Our foreign policy staffer for Senator..., was recently given a copy (which she passed to me) from AIPAC. Their enclosed letter reads in part:
"we are pleased to provide you with a copy of Michael Oren's new book, Power, Faith, and Fantasy: American in the Middle East: 1776 to Present, a comprehensive look at America's involvement in the Middle East. Covering more than 230 years of history, Oren's work in an indispensable piece for those inteersted in understanding the roots of American's Middle East involvement today."
The education of the establishment, huh? Some good news: our staffer is too well-informed for such nonsense."

You can tell the new direction of the Michel Sulayman administration. He has just appointed Nadhim Al-Khuri (former MP) as his senior political adviser. He is a lackey of corrupt MP, Michel Al-Murr.

"Mugabe blames West for Zimbabwe's economic problems". And he is wrong?

"Haaretz.com, the website of the Israeli newspaper often cited as an example of Israel's liberal, critical media carries paid advertisements from a website openly advocating the total destruction of the Palestinian people, the murder of large numbers of Muslim civilians, the assassination of the family members of Arab rulers, and the use of chemical, biological and nuclear weapons against dozens of countries." (thanks Electronic Ali and John)

""I pour water into my baby's formula to make it last longer" - The daily struggle of an ordinary refugee family from Iraq." (thanks A.)

"More than a dozen rights groups sent a petition to Saudi King Abdullah on Tuesday urging him to release several prominent Saudi reformists, some of whom have been held for 16 months."

"(They skipped Saudi Arabia, where, their trip coordinator warned, they might need a male escort.)"

In talking about the Bush Doctrine and its instigation of civil wars in the Middle East and North Africa (Sudan, Somalia, Lebanon, Palestine, Iraq, Afghanistan), we need to add Yemen, of course.

"It has pushed its local allies toward civil wars — arming Fatah against Hamas; financing some Lebanese forces against Hezbollah — they could not and did not win. And it has failed to understand that its partners could achieve more in alliance than in conflict with their opposition."

Read the program of AIPAC and learn about US foreign policy in the Middle East. I wonder why Walid Jumblat was not invited.

The DahlanStan: "Israel gives PA permission to open 3 police stations in West Bank."

A tribute to Saudi political prisoner, Matruk Al-Falih, from Ma`n Bashshur. (thanks Kamal)

"During a videoconference with his national security team and generals, Sanchez writes, Bush launched into what he described as a "confused" pep talk:
"Kick ass!" he quotes the president as saying. "If somebody tries to stop the march to democracy, we will seek them out and kill them! We must be tougher than hell! This Vietnam stuff, this is not even close. It is a mind-set. We can't send that message. It's an excuse to prepare us for withdrawal." "There is a series of moments and this is one of them. Our will is being tested, but we are resolute. We have a better way. Stay strong! Stay the course! Kill them! Be confident! Prevail! We are going to wipe them out! We are not blinking!"
A White House spokesman had no comment." (thanks Emily)

"Drive south from Cairo, take a ferry over the river, past kids fishing with sticks and string, cross cornfields and follow the smokestacks, and you can find boys like Nasser. Hundreds of them baking, stacking, hauling bricks; some come from far away, some from just down the road. They live in company-built brick huts with straw roofs, sleep on plastic and couldn't tell you about the news or the latest music video. They have no TV. At the end of the day, there is shower, night and sleep."

In the last months of the Bush administration, US puppets around the Middle East are showing signs of disillusionment: "The peace process is "being trampled upon" with Israel's accelerated settlement construction, including the latest plans, disclosed Sunday, for 900 more apartments in disputed east Jerusalem, he said."

Rationality versus Irrationality: "“Hence the GCC countries are doing the rational thing by continuing to invest in American assets.”"

"Hobbies: preserving the beauty of nature and environment, photograph, Internet and reading." It also says: "June 4, 2003 : Granted the Medal of Strengthening Friendship from the Russian Defense Minister S. Evanov." But the Arabic version calls it the "Medal of Strengthening MILITARY Friendship". What gives?

Conspiracy? What conspiracy? Walid Jumblat's party has this news: "The international community confirms the achievement of progress in Iraq."

I am looking for this song by Sabah: (if you know a link, please send to me NOW):
أخدوا الريح وأخدوا الليل...

Aphorisms of Wahhabiyyah: ""Those who believe their claims have not realised the reality of the infidel bases of their faith ... It was the rejectionist Shi'ites who began the practice of visiting graves and building shrines," it said, citing a major concern of Saudi Arabia's particular brand of Islam, often termed Wahhabism."

"It's a profanity uttered countless times a day around the globe, but a barber in Saudi Arabia faces beheading for the crime of using God's name in vain. Sabri Bogday, a Turk who cuts hair in this Saudi port city, is awaiting appeal on his sentence."

"The United States is operating "floating prisons" to house those arrested in its war on terror, according to human rights lawyers, who claim there has been an attempt to conceal the numbers and whereabouts of detainees."

Samir `Atallah (a Lebanese columnist in the mouthpiece of Prince Salman) writes a tribute to Prince Salman.

I am told that Faris Sofiyyah (the former Lebanese military attache in Washington, DC who was summoned by Michel Sulayman to serve as his senior adviser) is very close to the Lebanese Forces (as is his wife).

Since MEMRI will not translate this (they never translate items that may disturb Israel and Zionism if it came form allies of the US or Saudi Arabia in the region) I will. Sa`d Hariri: "The effort, all the effort, was and will always be, directed agaisnt Zionism."

Terrorizing the Copts in Egypt: but the US and EU are silent out of respect for Mubarak's dictatorship.

Flash. "Celebrated French-Swiss moviemaker Jean-Luc Godard has dropped out of an annual student film festival in Tel Aviv, an event official said on Saturday. The cult film director had been due to arrive on Sunday but said he would not be attending for "reasons beyond his control," Morane Tal said. "We are very disappointed because he seems to have succumbed to pressure from pro-Palestinian groups who launched a campaign for people to boycott Israel," she added, without elaborating."" (thanks Joey)

Somalia update. A real"insider" who does not want to reveal his/her name sent me this: "Just a few notes about Somali and the peace process business going on for sometimes here in Djibouti. Contrary to what Al Jazeera is reporting (but also the BBC - see the link below), the UN-backed talks didn't really open today in Djibouti ... Both side (the TFG and the opposition) refused to show up for the meeting and the afternoon session has been just canceled. I was...) (please hide this underlined phrase if you will publish the note on your blog) and I can tell you that everyones else were there but the 2 parties refused again to meet in the same room. Meanwhile, the situation is getting more and more confusing because Sheik Sharif Sheik Ahmed the president of the Alliance for the Re-Liberation of Somalia was dismissed from his position because some of the most radicals elements (supported by Eritrea) are against his leadership and his position to negotiate for a political settlement (there are news that the Alliance break-up in two mvt). On the side of the TFG, the prime minister Nuur Hassan Hussein is more and more openly criticizing the president Abdillahi Youssouf.... And the president of the parlement of the TFG has moved from his hotel Kempinski where all the TFG people are staying and he is now staying at the Imperial Hotel where most of the Alliance delegation are hosted... Abdillahi Youssouf himslef just landed in Djibouti about an hour ago under a huge and very tight security protection (while leaving Mogadisho he just escaped another assassination attempt). While tomorrow a delegation from the Security Council representing all the 15 members will be also in Djibouti. And while this show is going on, the civilians mostly women, children and old people are dying by hundred every hour from displacement, hunger or killed by Ethiopian occupation troops (or their alike). Will keep you informed how things will move on..."

"I interviewed five Islamic scholars, at five American universities, recommended by a variety of sources as experts in the field. All of them said that Luttwak’s interpretation of Islamic law was wrong." But look at this: "Luttwak said the scholars with whom I spoke were guilty of “gross misrepresentation” of Islam, which he said they portrayed as “a tolerant religion of peace;” he called it “intolerant.”" So this right-wing ideologue who has never received any training in Middle Eastern or Islamic studies is a better expert simply because he is a...fanatic on the subject? (thanks Ashraf)

O Western man: please civilize me, oh please! "Except that it is traditional, not remotely eyebrow-raising, for adult Afghan males to clasp fingers when strolling about, even with weapons shouldered. "There's nothing wrong with it in their culture," says Capt. Scott Blake. "And we're not here to change the culture." But Blake is here to change the culture of corruption and ineptitude that has plagued the Afghan National Police, an institution widely reviled by the populace and resistant to professional elevation by Western mentors." (thanks Noaman)

Gore Vidal: "I can only answer in the negative: I want them not to read The New York Times, while subscribing to The Financial Times."

They even steal skeletons in Israel. (thanks A.)

The pioneers of terrorism in the Middle East: On March, 6, 1936, Zionist terrorists threw bombs in Haifa market, killing 18 Palestinians, and injuring 38. On December, 31, 1937, scores of Palestinians were killed and injured when Zionist terrorists threw grenades in the vegetables' market near Nablus gate in Jerusalem. On July, 6th, 1938, 21 Palestinians were killed and 52 were injured when Zionist terrorists detonated two car bombs in Haifa market. On July 15th, 1938, 10 Palestinians were killed and 3 were injured when Zionist terrorists threw grenades at mosques in Jerusalem when worshipers were leaving. On July 25th, 1938, 35 Palestinians were killed and 70 were injured when Zionist terrorists detonated a car bomb in the Arab market in Haifa. On July 26th, 1938, 47 Palestinians were killed and others injured when Zionist terrorists threw grenades in the market of Haifa. On August 26th, 1938, 34 Palestinians were killed and 35 were injured when Zionist terrorists detonated a car bomb in the suq of Jerusalem. On March 27th, 1939, 27 Palestinians were killed and 39 were injured when Zionists terrorists threw grenades in the middle of Haifa. On June 12, 1939, a Zionist terrorist gang attacked the village of Balad Ash-Shaykh and kidnapped five villagers and later killed them. On June 19, 1939 9 Palestinians were killed and 4 injured when Zionist terrorists threw grenades at a crowd of Palestinians. On June 20th, 1947 78 Palestinians were killed and 24 injured when Zionist terrorists put bombs in a crate of vegetables in the suq of Haifa. And on and on and on.
Source: Al-Hurriyyah magazine, no. 1183, April 26, 2008.
PS I was sent the full text: Part I, Part II, Part III, Part IV. (thanks Mohamed)

It would not be the first time that a killer has become the prime minister of Israel. In fact, all Israeli prime ministers (with one exception or two) have been killers, and I mean that literally. "Tzipi Livni, was a Paris agent for Mossad, Israel’s overseas intelligence agency, in the early 1980s when it ran a series of missions to kill Palestinian terrorists in European capitals, according to former colleagues. They say Livni, now foreign minister, was on active service when Mamoun Meraish, a senior official in the Palestine Liberation Organisation, was shot dead by a Mossad hit squad in Athens on August 21, 1983." (thanks Laleh)

I have been thinking about New York Times' article about Iraqi Jews today. The article does not seem to mention the obvious: that US invasion and occupation of Iraq has been worse for Iraqi Jews (and Christians) than Saddam Husayn--Saddam Husayn for potato's sake. Secondly, and since I came to this country, I have always been amazed--not really--at US media treatment of the plight of Arab Jews. When a Jewish community exists in the thousands, like in Syria in the 1980s, the New York Times and Zionist hoodlums start yelling: "They are holding them prisoners. They are hostages. Let them go. Free the Jews of Syria." And then when they are allowed to leave, the same media and the same Zionist hoodlums start yelling: "Look. They kicked them out. They have kicked out the Jews from Syria. And that only mean that we are now even. No need for Palestinian refugees to return." Zionist media, like Arab regimes, have on regard or concern for the plight of Arab Jews.

"...retired Arab statesmen..." You know who he is talking about here? Marwan Mu`ashshir. If this is not hilarious, nothing is. But this is typical: all US puppets in the Middle East are referred to in US mainstream media and government propagandists as "statesmen", like Sanyurah, King PlayStation III (and his father before him), Anwar Nazi Sadat, Abu Mazen, and Abus-Sattar Abu Risha.

That is the first time I hear that: "Others that have used them include Britain, France, Sudan, NATO, Israel and Hezbollah." Does Hizbullah have cluster bombs? I never heard that one before. Or does the New York Times mean that if you are hit with Israeli cluster bomb then you, and not Israel, are guilty of using them?
PS I am told that this NYT allegation is based on a Human Rights Watch report.

"Borrowing from Oprah Winfrey, Beyonce and even Hillary Rodham Clinton, they move between tribal and Islamic customs and media markets that are often layered in sexual innuendo." Oprah, Beyonce, and Clinton? These are feminist role models? Are you kidding me? And why would Middle East women need Hillary or Beyonce for their inspiration? What kind of bull... is that? And then this: "What she notices these days is an increasing number of Middle Eastern women educated in the West returning to their countries with a progressiveness that threatens tradition." Oh, yeah: they need to be Western-educated to be feminist? Nawal Saadawi went to college in Cairo before she started on women's issues, and feminist pioneers in Egypt, Lebanon, Iraq, and Syria were not Western-educated. But then again: American reporters can never get enough of American self-congratulations. And why do Western reporters who are not feminist think that they become feminist as soon as they land in Muslim countries. Is that "colonial feminism"?

The biggest victim of Saudi-Qatari reconciliation has been Faysal Al-Qasim (host of Al-Ittijah Al-Mu`akis on AlJazeera). He can't tackle the explosive issues anymore.

The Washington Post loves stories like that: "Of course, a minority of Iranians -- perhaps the 10 percent of society that sociologists estimate is hard-line -- still hate the Great Satan." Sociologists? This is now a scientific study of the extent of love for the US in Iran? I was expecting to read that a scientific study by this reporter has concluded that a US invasion of Iran would be a "cakewalk", and that Iranians would greet their American (and Mongolian) "liberators" with "sweets and flowers." Mark my words: she will soon come out with a book on admiration for Bush in Iran. But then again: she is the author of "Lipstick Jihad." Enough said.