When you can't achieve victory, you seek "a successful conclusion"

"and the strategy that my administration will pursue to bring this war to a successful conclusion."

Reform Islam with atom bombs

"“I believe King Abdullah can change Islam overnight, but you need to put pressure on him to do it, and the same kind of pressure you put on Japan, you might need it“ at that moment someone from the audience interjects and asks, “atom bombs?” Wafa Sultan replies, “Yes. At some point the West will need to do it.”" (thanks "Ibn Rushd")

Dubai's judicial miracle

" The decisions of the Dubai courts, which are controlled by the emirate’s ruling family, can be fickle, say lawyers in the region. For example, in order to bring a court case against a government-owned or government-run entity, a corporation or individual needs to get permission — from the government. In the prospectus for Nakheel bonds, investors are warned that “judicial precedents in Dubai have no binding effect on subsequent decisions,” and that court decisions in Dubai are “generally not recorded.”"

Colonial effort

"This is highly similar to the methods of colonial administration through local "traditional" proxies deployed by the British throughout South Asia and Africa. It is also similar to American attempts to enlist "traditional" local power structures (churches, highland ethnic tribes, etc) in counterinsurgencies in Vietnam and elsewhere. There's a structural reason why such alliances are tempting: local tribes and traditional leaders rarely define their interests in ways that conflict with those of a faraway power like Britain or America. In contrast, state-building ideological movements like the Vietnamese Communists or the Taliban often do define interests that entail geopolitical conflict with other states. It's important to recognise that the Taliban are trying to build a state in Afghanistan—a bad state, one inimical to the values and interests of the free world, but a state nonetheless. To oppose a state-building movement by backing local power structures that maintain national fragmentation is a strategy that may run against the current of modernisation. There are a number of other disturbing elements in Major Gant's paper. On first meeting "Sitting Bull", he quickly decided to aid him in recovering territory the elder claimed had been seized by a rival tribe—a decision one critic called participating in "tribal cleansing". His description of his Afghan experience is shot through with an exoticist enjoyment of gazing at himself dressed up in local clothes, his arm flung around the shoulder of a tribal elder. But mostly, what the "tribal strategy" needs is a clearer sense of what exactly it is fighting for. In the age of empire, colonial support for tribal authorities gave the lie to the "white man's burden", "mission civilisatrice" fiction that European powers were running Nigeria and Vietnam for their own good. American and European state-building efforts in Afghanistan were initially sold as an effort to build a fairer, more modern, more prosperous, safer state for Afghans (especially Afghan women) to enjoy. If Afghanistan is instead to have a backward, traditional, patriarchal tribal society, should America be helping it to get there?" (thanks Laleh)

The French Philosopher likes Erbil's Yoghurt

He really does. (thanks Hassan)

Good question

"How many Muslims has the U.S. killed in the past 30 years?" (thanks Nader)

Leftist support for the Palestinians in Lebanon

There was a leftist rally for Palestine in Lebanon. Angry sister was there.

Women are supposed to celebrate here

"Simpson and Davidson are key figures in a loose but expanding circle of defense theorist-practitioners who study, advocate and implement counterinsurgency — a method of warfare that emphasizes economy of force, intimate knowledge of host populations and politico-economic incentives to win that population’s allegiance. At the risk of stating the obvious, they, and many of their colleagues, are women. While women are still underrepresented in the national-security apparatus — and at the Pentagon specifically — counterinsurgency, more than any other previous movement in defense circles, features women not just as equal partners, but leaders." (thanks Jobo)

EU: do they have a role in anything?

"A classified report drafted by European consuls in East Jerusalem and Ramallah slams Israeli policy in East Jerusalem and recommends that the European Union take steps to strengthen the Palestinian Authority's status in the city. It also advises taking various measures to protest Israeli policy in the city, as well as sanctions against people and groups involved in "settlement activity" in and around it."

Do you notice that sexism and misogyny in Israel don't receive Western coverage and condemnation?

"The latest storm to emerge from the office of Deputy Health Minister Yaakov Litzman stems from the plan being considered to separate the sexes in Jerusalem's psychiatric institutions. The idea is to transform the Kfar Shaul Psychiatric Hospital to men-only, and Eitanim to an all-women's facility. At a meeting Monday in Jerusalem, the deputy health minister confirmed his intention to evaluate the initiative of separating the sexes in psychiatric institutions. Litzman also said that as a first step, he would take action so that a women's only section would be set up at Eitanim." (thanks Olivia)

This is hilarious

I was watching the stuttering speech by the Saudi king at the Yemeni border. Saudi government attacks on Huthi rebels is treated like a heroic military confrontation.

Zionism is racism

"Last year set an all-time record for the number of Arab residents of East Jerusalem who were stripped of residency rights by the Interior Ministry. Altogether, the ministry revoked the residency of 4,577 East Jerusalemites in 2008 - 21 times the average of the previous 40 years. In the first 40 years of Israeli rule over East Jerusalem combined, from 1967 to 2007, the ministry deprived only 8,558 Arabs of their residency rights - less than double the number who lost their permits last year alone. Thus of all the East Jerusalem Arabs who have lost their residency rights since 1967, about 35 percent did so in 2008." (thanks Dina)

Israeli espionage against Hizbullah

Comrade Ibrahim Amin makes a good point. He says that Israeli agents in Lebanon all spy for money, while Hizbullah agents in "Israel" do it for ideology and political motives. Which one is better and safer?

Leftist critique of Hizbullah

Comrade Fawwaz provides a leftist critique of Hizbullah.

How original

So criticisms of Israel are anti-Semitic. How original. "Leaders of Canada's Jewish community are warning that anti-Semitism has a new face -- increasingly, it takes the form of the demonization of Israel." I like this formula. So by simply praising Israel or refraining from criticizing it, you prove to yourself and to the world that you are not anti-Semitic. Thus, when Patrick Buchanan was praising Israel when I first came to the US, he was never ever accused of anti-Semitism. But when he started to criticize Israel, he immediately became anti-Semitic in Zionist eyes. Of course, if you ask me, I would say that he was and is anti-Semitic, in both phases of his career. (thanks Sarah)

Ajami thinks that Israel goes too far for peace

"Israel has given up settlements before at the altar of peace..." I mean, does anybody take this man seriously? I can't even imagine that Likud's organization in the US taking him seriously. And why does his tone sound desperate as of late? As if he is seeking and craving relevance? (thanks FLC)

The Iraqi people don't seem to heart the US: I wonder why?

"Despite strong anti-American sentiments among the Iraqi public..."

The Afghan people don't heart the US: I wonder why

Now with such popularity for the US and for Karzai in Afghanistan, how can Obama war strategy fail, really?

Gen. Dayton: who do you visit?

""My team and I frequently visit Jordan and Egypt and we've even been granted permission to coordinate with the Gulf States"" (thanks Asa)

When a Global Thinker Hearts another Global Thinker

It turned out that Salam Fayyad (the man who received 1% of the support of his people in the last election-under-occupation) is a big fan of Thomas Friedman. Just as Friedman is a big fan of Fayyad. Is that not cute? (thanks "Ibn Rushd")

Peter Bergen

So I am now being told by CNN and other media that Peter Bergen is a Middle East expert. The man is not trained in Middle East studies and does not know one language of the Middle East region. But why--you may ask--is he treated as a Middle East expert and lectures on the Middle East at two of the least academic graduate institutions in the US (Kennedy School at Harvard and Johns Hopkins' SAIS)? The answer is simple. He netted a rare interview with Bin Laden before Sep. 11. So if I were to interview the Chinese President, you would treat me as a China expert? What gives?

Newsweek Iran correspondent

I heard an interview on CNN with the Newsweek correspondent in Iran who was recently released from jail by the insecure government of Ahmadinajad. What struck me is this: politics is more important than qualification when Western media hire local stringers and free lancers. I mean, let me be nice: the man is not--how to say--very bright. But then he said: that the "West" should stop Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons "by all means necessary." He spoke those words, I kid you not. I thought to myself: can you imagine if a local Middle East correspondent for Newsweek or New York Times said in an interview that the "West" should stop Israel nuclear weapons' program by "all means necessary". I mean, that person will never ever be hired for any job by those media. If Taghreed El-Khodary--who does what she is told with no questions asked--ever uttered those words, the New York Times would arrange for her to report form one of the tunnels of Gaza for a Russian magazine.

Hizbullah and Maurice Duverger

I was reading the Open Letter of Hizbullah from 1985 to compare to the new Political Document of the Party. It struck me that the distinction by Maurice Duverger in his study of political parties applies here. (Why is Duverger not more widely known in political science circles? Aside from his study of political parties, I find his 1964 introductory study of politics to be the best introductory text of political science there is. I also like how he writes.) So in his study of political parties, Duverger distinguishes between missionary parties and broker parties: to him, missionary parties care about winning hard core, members. While broker parties only care about winning elections and not care about having members at all (thus we don't talk about card carrying members of the two parties here in the US who have voters but not members). So using that distinction, we can say that Hizbullah went from being a missionary party to become a broker party. Hizbullah is no more looking for new members. If anything, it may suffer from having more members than it needs. Oh, good morning to you all.

Inside Iraq

For those who care, I will be appearing on the program Inside Iraq on Aljazeera English TV this Thursday. You may watch it live on the website of the network. It will be around 8:30AM Pacific Time Thursday. Wake up the children.

"Thank you, Servitor of the Two Holy Sites"

You may wonder why I always mock Saudi media. Well, here is a glimpse. It is from an editorial by the editor-in-chief of the mouthpiece of Prince Salman and his kids. He said, among other things: "The decision by the king is fairness and justice, and deserves all praise and thanks." Thus spoke a Saudi propagandist.

My mother on Switzerland

I asked my mother about her reactions to the ban on minarets in Switzerland. She was following it closely on the French channel, TV 5. She was upset but then added: but what about those crazy Muslim groups who are stigmatizing Muslims worldwide? What about those who are giving Islam such a bad image by their deeds? They are giving ammunition to the anti-Islam forces. She felt that Al-Qa`idah and other Bin Ladenite groups are at least partly responsible for the rise in Islamophobia.

This is Zionism

"A recent report from Israel’s National Insurance Institute showed that half of all Arab families in Israel are classified as poor compared with just 14 per cent of Jewish families."

In Lebanon, they criminalize the selling of sex, but not the buying (it is the other way round in Sweden)

"According to Abu Chakra, police often arrest women for possession of condoms and they can face up to six months in prison for prostitution if convicted. This makes carrying condoms risky for sex workers." (thanks Laure)

General Khalid Bin Sultan bin Bribes

You have to listen to the comments of Gen./Prince Khalid Bin Sultan. Listen to minute 0:25. He does not know the name of the Yemeni president. Also, read the comments that people left on the site: they are funny. (thanks L)

Press freedoms in UAE

"I have remarked in the past on the fragile understanding of press freedom in the United Arab Emirates. Further proof came at the weekend with the banning of the Sunday Times after it ran a reports on Dubai's debt dramas, The sinking of Dubai's dream."

won a Dubai prize but banned from Dubai

They were banned from entering Dubai to receive Dubai cultural prizes because they are Iraqis. (thanks Sinan)

According to the NYRB, mosques are nuclear sites

Just look the illustration. (thanks James)

Sheikh Mo, the poet

Sheikh Mo responds to news coverage of the Dubai crisis with (lousy) poetry: ""وللموج لما يثابر صبر عجيب عجيب.. يا ذا البعيد القريب الليل لازال عابر".
(And for waves when they persist, amazing amazing patience; and o you who are far and near, the night is only passing). (thanks Zainab)

Dubai: a miracle of failure and vulgar ostentation

"But Sajid and many of his colleagues from the north Indian city of Meerut would take issue with the comments of Vayalar Ravi, the minister of overseas Indian affairs. Having returned from Dubai to India for the Muslim holiday of Eid, dozens of them have received text messages abruptly telling them their jobs no longer exist and that they should not return to the Gulf." (thanks Dina)

Land ownership? Are you kidding me?

"An Israeli family backed by a large Israeli police force moved Tuesday into a Palestinian home in Sheikh Jarrah neighbourhood of East Jerusalem, eyewitnesses said. The takeover of the home came after the Israeli district court ruled that the home is owned by the Jewish family and ordered the Palestinian family evicted." And I rule that Israel is occupying homes owned by the Palestinian people.

So what are Israeli occupation soldiers up to?

"The same week as a senior IDF officer is suspected of committing attempted rape, it was cleared for publication that an officer serving in an elite intelligence unit is suspected of molesting children. The police arrested him some 10 days ago following a lead received by the IDF." (thanks Olivia)

Pathetically desperate

Look at the desperate propaganda of the Zionist usurping entity: "He said that from each group drafted to the Army Spokesman's Office, between eight to 10 young people who are experts in Web 2.0 - YouTube, Facebook and Twitter - to be identified before induction, would be assigned to the new department. The new recruits would be put to work in the new media unit after undergoing a general Army Spokesman's Unit training course." (thanks Ali)

Inisde the British Israeli lobby

This is the video of the report. (thanks Shadi)

Ziyad Ar-Rahbani

Yes, Ziyad Rahbani, suffered from an anti-Jewish outburst.

The American ambassador in Baghdad

Read this item. The American ambassador in Baghdad gives his interpretation of the Iraqi (puppet) constitution. (thanks Hassan)

When the New York Times feigns outrage

The New York Times has a piece on the ban of minarets in Switzerland. I dislike the New York Times when it is its usual insensitive newspaper, but I dislike it more when it feigns sensitivity. It has an editorial which said: "Switzerland’s 400,000 or so Muslims, most of whom come from Kosovo and Turkey..." You see what the New York Times is trying to say here, don't you? It is saying that those Muslims are not Arabs and thus should not be mistreated like one would want to mistreat Muslim Arabs.

Ilili in New York City

So I heard an interview with the new Minister-designate of Tourism in Lebanon, Fadi `Abbud. He is the guy behind the giant Hummus dish and the giant Tabbulah dish. He also is launching his new prepared Hummus. Capitalists care more about the buck than about the glory of Hummus dishes. So he was telling stories and said that there is a restaurant in New York City, Ilili, and that it is one of the fanciest restaurants in the world. He said the place is so prestigious that you need advance reservations weeks and months in advance. He said that he once called weeks in advance from London to reserve a table for an impending trip to New York. So I asked a friend in New York City about it. The friend went there yesterday and she/he reported to me that the place was empty and that the food is 4/10. Those Lebanese.

Hizbullah's Political Document

So I read carefully the new Political Document of Hizbullah which was read yesterday by Hasan Nasrallah. This was highly anticipated because this is the first open letter by the party to the world since that awful Open Letter addressed by the party to the world in 1985 which reflected the orientations of the party in what I call "the scary phase." So after reading it I reached the following conclusion: it reflects the style and thinking of Nawwaf Al-Musawi, who is very important in the party in terms of theory and ideology and their formulation. Secondly, it is not that important or significant. It is not that the political document will mark a new era in the life of the party, but that the past era of the party--the Nasrallah era--is being reflected on paper in this document. So it is telling us something that we have known: that Nasrallah took the party in a different direction. The document has annoying tributes to Lebanese nationalism although it stopped short of saying that Lebanon is a "final homeland" which has become a refrain for Lebanese political parties. Lebanon, should not be a final or temporary homeland, as far as I am concerned. Both Lebanon and Jordan were created as entities to protect Israel. Lebanon, in fact, is a far more dangerous and sinister political project but that is another topic. I was planning to write a long critique of the Political Document but I did not find enough material or news development to warrant that. The document has some general Third Worldism and that also reflects the thinking and readings of Nawwaf Musawi. I have only three points to make about the contents: 1) there is absolutely no clear position on social justice in Lebanon or beyond. In fact, on the question of social justice, the party seemed confused. On the one hand, there is some leftist jargon used about MNCs and about the cruelty of capitalism, but the language used makes it clear that the party is not opposed to capitalism in principle, but to extreme and cruel kinds of capitalism. In the 3rd part of the section on Lebanon, there are references to the economy in articles 9, 10, and 11 but they are very general and talk about "closing the gap" between regions in terms of development. Hardly revolutionary or leftist. 2) The Party takes a clear position against an anti-Semitic view of the Arab-Israeli conflict. This is important, I think, especially for any Islamic fundamentalist (Sunni or Shi`ite) political party. In fact, Nasrallah added a few lines while reading the text, and one of them dealt with this matter. He said clearly: "Our problem with them (Zionists) is not because they are Jewish." And the document said in the section on Zionism: "[The conflict] is not based on ethnic, religious, or racial confrontation on our part." (This is in the 3rd chapter). 3) The reference to women is not common for a religious party. It says in the section on Lebanon when it identifies the characteristics of the future state that it seeks: "The state that strengthens the role of women and develops its participation in all fields, in the context of benefiting from their uniqueness, impact and respect for its status." Of course, I don't like the last part because when men speak about "respecting" women's status they usually have in mind traditional roles for women. So in sum, the Political Document came to juridically enunciate and articulate the political development of the Party under the leadership of Hasan Nasrallah. No surprises. Of course, the Party Congress that produced and ratified this document must have also agreed on documents that you and I don't know about.

Israeli spies in Lebanon

Read the account of this accused Israeli spy in Lebanon. Notice that he said that he did work in Iraq for a French company up until 2002 but that this was not related to his work for Israel. Oh, yeah.

Carlos: the jackal

New TV has a daily feature called "Person of the Day." It has been silly thus far. Yesterday, they had one on Carlos, the Jackal. The information in it were most likely derived from various websites and had no connection to reality. They made him a leader of a revolutionary movement when in reality he was a braggart, a show-off and a gun for hire. Carlos was merely a lieutenant among many in the movement of Wadi` Haddad. To be sure, Haddad was impressed with his skills in guns and with his speed and with his language skills. But Haddad kept him on a short leach because he knew of his weaknesses. And after the Vienna operation, Haddad summoned Carlos and slapped him on the face because he improvised and because Haddad began to distrust him on financial matters. Carlos is a small footnote in the history of Palestinian struggle, or even in the history of world revolutionary struggle. The world needs a poster person, and braggarts always fill that role. The report yesterday mentioned that Carlos was linked to Black September attack in Munich when he had no role whatsoever. Abu Hasan Salamah was another case in point: he had a big mouth and he bragged about things that he had nothing to do with (like Munich), which led the Israeli Orientalists to believe that he was linked to Black September organization. The story will be told one day.