Monday, December 07, 2009
Alcohol is now banned in Basrah
The people of Iraq has a long history of enjoying food and alcohol. Now, new rules apply. In the Ayatullah republic, the governorate of Basrah has banned alcohol. But to be fair: drinking water is still permitted. And for that, Kanan Makiya said: thank you, Mr. Bush.
Prince Sultan: to be officailly buried
Saudi media are reporting that the kingdom is being decorated in anticipation of the return of Prince Sultan. I am traveling this week until Thursday night, but will do my best to provide minute-by-minute coverage of the arrival of the dead body of Prince Sultan. I will provide you with live reports from the burial site. (thanks George)
...off to Massachusetts
...off to Massachusetts. Will be speaking at the University of Massachusetts at Dartmouth.
Saudi jets bomb Saudi Arabia--kid you not
" According to the newspaper, the Saudi fighter jets hit over the past three days several buildings in Saudi villages in the southern part of the kingdom, suspected to be used by Houthis in attacking Saudi troops." (thanks Hassan)
Dubai and Abu Dhabi
Christopher Davidson writes for Al-Akhbar on the relationship between Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
Debate on campus
"Ultimately, Hillel of Greater Philadelphia -- which oversees Hillel at Temple -- opted not to offer its space, and Halper wound up speaking to about 30 students in another building. Hillel had also recently declined to sponsor a talk by Geert Wilders, a far-right Dutch politician who has called the Koran an "evil book." Wilders was also redirected to a different venue on campus, where he drew more than 100 protesters. Meanwhile, Hillel officials agreed to hold a Nov. 3 talk by Effi Eitam, a retired brigadier general and former Knesset member from the Israeli right who currently opposes the creation of a Palestinian state. According to a 2004 New Yorker article, Eitam said of the Palestinians: "We will have to kill them all. I know it's not very diplomatic. I don't mean all the Palestinians, but the ones with evil in their heads." The article discussed religiously motivated settlers who equate the Palestinians to the Amalekites, whom the Torah describes as an eternal enemy of the Jewish people." (thanks Shadi)
Isabel Kershner: an Israeli. Like we are shocked.
"The [New York] Times correspondent who wrote that article, Isabel Kershner, immigrated to Israel from her native England as a young woman and spent a couple of decades in Israeli journalism and Jewish education before joining the Times a few years ago. By now she’s thoroughly Israeli (and, for full disclosure, a friend)." (thanks WA)
Israel: disgrace unto the nations
"Israeli security agents held a Palestinian patient for three weeks without charge, interrogated him repeatedly and offered access to hospital care if he agreed to become an informant, the Guardian has learned."
This is Israel
"Israeli authorities have detained Othman without charge for more than two months on what appear to be politically motivated grounds. On the basis of secret evidence that Othman and his lawyers were not allowed to see, a military court confirmed a military order that consigned Othman to three months administrative detention without charging him with any crime. Othman has no criminal record and, to the knowledge of Human Rights Watch, has never advocated or participated in violence. His detention period, which may be renewed, ends on December 22."
When the Jordanian monarchy worries about Palestinians
Look at this. Palestinians are being shot like pigeons and their lands stolen, and homes confiscated and the Jordanian monarchy is worried about deteriorating education: "Jordan on Sunday warned against the fallout of the deterioration of the education sector in the occupied territories, especially in the Gaza Strip and the city of Jerusalem, as a result of Israeli violations." (thanks anonymous)
American Muslims
"In contrast, American Muslims are wealthier, better educated and better integrated because the United States does a good job of absorbing immigrants and fostering tolerance, experts said." That is no tribute to the US, as I have explained to you many times. The reason why American Muslims are better educated and wealthier is because the US does not allow immigrants from the Middle East unless they have seven degrees and prospects for prosperous conditions. It has to do with classism/ethno-centrism in immigration. (thanks Nabeel)
Hizbullah and foreign policy
By the way, this year Hizbullah has clearly developed a new policy: to never ever criticize any Arab government no matter what they do.
Beirut Marathon
OK, I get it now. I received several emails to the effect that the Beirut Marathon comes in different sizes: 10 yards, 20 yards, and the maximum one in 50 yards. I stand corrected.
Elaheh Khayyat: you stand up to Riyadh
"Once again, the spotlight is on Saudi Arabia for all the wrong reasons. This time, the kingdom is attracting criticism for condemning a self-styled psychic to death on the vague charge of "witchcraft". Ali Sibat, who is Lebanese, was arrested by Saudi Arabia's notorious moral police at his hotel room in Medina on May 7 last year, while in town for a pilgrimage. After languishing in jail for a year and a half, he was sentenced to death in November for reportedly practising witchcraft. His lawyer has said Sibat was told that if he confessed to witchcraft, he would be released and allowed to return home." But what bothered me about this piece is that the writer is asking Lebanon to stand up to Riyadh and yet he calls himself a human rights activist (and journalist) and yet is hiding behind a pen name. Consistency, Mr. Khayyat. Consistency. (thanks Sarah)
Lebanese expert of the US
Riyad Tabbarah: is Hariri family's favorite expert on the US. In fact, Rafiq Hariri hired him to serve as Lebanon's ambassador in the US for years. He was interviewed on LBC-TV yesterday to explain the inner working of Congress. He began by explaining to viewers that there are 553 members of Congress. At that point, I made a note to note on the blog.
Is there any Arab country that will stay out of the Yemeni conflict?
"Saudi media sources revealed on Saturday that Jordanian commandos are backing the Saudi army in its operations against Houthis at the Dukhan Mountain." (thansk Marcy)
Sunday, December 06, 2009
Just ask yourselves
Would US newspapers open their pages to anti-Semites who express hostility to Judaism? "Is it accurate to equate political symbols like those used by Communists and Nazis with a religious symbol like the minaret and its accessories of crescent and star; the uniforms of the Third Reich with the burqa and beards of current Islamists?" (thanks Nader)
The worst Palestinian speaks (to the mouthpiece of Prince Salman)
"Fatah Central Committee member and spokesman Mohammed Dahlan said that the Fatah movement is capable under any circumstances of finding an alternative to President Mahmoud Abbas if he continues to refuse to run for a second term in office. Asked about the extent to which he believes this, Dahlan answered, "Yes…must Fatah be incapable of managing [without Mahmoud Abbas]? Should Fatah commit mass suicide?""
This is the Ayatullah republic that the US constructed in Iraq
"Authorities have ordered the closure of all Baghdad nightclubs and dozens of shops selling alcohol, concerned the venues were undermining "public morals," the city's governor said on Sunday."
Israel in brief
""You are allowed to demonstrate as long as you don't shout anything irritating. You can mark memorial days, as long as it's not for the Nakba. You have a right to education, unless you're from the wrong sector. You should maintain good health on condition you have money for medication. And, you are welcome to purchase a house, on condition that the admissions committee authorizes it.""
The Quality of Western Press
"On one side is the fashionably dressed Queen Rania of Jordan, an elegant symbol of progressive values for Arab women." Just as Marie Antoinette was a symbol of French women. (thanks Olivia)
A bar in the southern suburbs of Beirut
For the first time in decades, Hizbullah allows for an opening of a pub in the southern suburbs of Beirut. (thansk Raed)
For you, Jamal Mubarak
"Egyptian security services raided a tunnel and two storehouses holding goods to be smuggled through tunnels into the Gaza Strip, following a security operation on the Egyptian border with Rafah on Saturday."
Firefox
Lately, Firefox slows down and I have to close it and relaunch. If anybody knows of a solution email me NOW.
Learning from the Shah
"Dozens of individuals in the U.S. and Europe who criticized Iran on Facebook or Twitter said their relatives back in Iran were questioned or temporarily detained because of their postings. About three dozen individuals interviewed said that, when traveling this summer back to Iran, they were questioned about whether they hold a foreign passport, whether they possess Facebook accounts and why they were visiting Iran. The questioning, they said, took place at passport control upon their arrival at Tehran's Imam Khomeini International Airport. Five interviewees who traveled to Iran in recent months said they were forced by police at Tehran's airport to log in to their Facebook accounts. Several reported having their passports confiscated because of harsh criticism they had posted online about the way the Iranian government had handled its controversial elections earlier this year." (thanks Ali)
Don't quote this man on the Palestinians in Lebanon please
""The situation in the camps is beyond what is humanly acceptable," said Khalil Mekkawi, former head of the Lebanese Palestinian Dialogue Committee that was set up in 2005 to improve living conditions for the refugees. "There is no hope whatsoever for people living in such misery."" Oh, please. Makkawi is the last person to speak. He is a mere tool of the Hariri family who was brought in to pacify angry Palestinians after the brutal and savage destruction of the refugee camp in Nahr Al-Barid. Most importantly, what has he done to the camps? (thanks Sarah)
Obama's foreign policy on Qat
"But non-military U.S. aid to Yemen has remained modest; this year totaling $24 million, up from $9.3 million the previous year. The Obama administration has requested about $65 million in counter-terrorism and military assistance. It's a discomfiting task to choose Yemen's most pressing problem. Corruption is rampant, unemployment is 35%, child malnutrition is rising, water shortages are severe and oil reserves are shrinking. It says something about a country's priorities that most of its dwindling water supply goes to irrigating khat, whose bitter-tasting leaves have for generations kept Yemenis in a sedated haze." (thans Dina)
Zionism is Racism
"The Ministerial Committee for Legislation will vote Sunday on a bill regulating the status of asylum-seekers in Israel. The vote comes after many years without a policy, shirking the international convention on refugees and asylum-seekers." Of course, the racist state of Israel's policy on refugees deals only with non-Jewish refugees because the Law of Return applies only to Jews. (thanks Marcy)
This is Obama's strategy: Save Karzai
"After one revelatory discussion about the mission's goals, administration officials changed their chief objective from trying to eliminate the Taliban to making sure insurgents could no longer threaten the Afghan government's survival."
Daniel Pipes: "There are positive examples. The ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Muhammad Bin Rashed Al Maktoum"
"Behind this jolt was one of the world's most concentrated property bubbles. Some $430 billion worth of construction projects have been scrapped across the United Arab Emirates, a desert country with a population of just 4.5 million and an area smaller than South Carolina. The majority were slated for the emirate of Dubai, according to estimates by the Middle East Economic Digest, a regional projects tracker. The boom was fueled by easy credit, a poorly regulated market overrun by speculators, and cheerleading from Dubai officials -- including the hereditary ruler, Sheik Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum." (thanks Nabeel)
Wahhabi taste
"According to reports during this year’s Hajj, now that the pilgrims have left, the portico around the Kaabah, designed by legendary Ottoman architect Mimar Sinan in the late 1500s, is to be torn down." But why should that be surprising? The Wahhabis have committed crimes against all sort of archeology in Arabia. Hell, they destroyed houses belonging to the times of the Prophet. Old Medina is almost gone by now. (thanks Carlos)
Why is Sheikh Mo not spending?
"“It was the first time that anybody can remember that we didn’t see him buy anything,” said Ms Rausing, one of the leading breeders in the UK. There is acute nervousness in racing at events in Dubai and whether they will force Sheikh Mohammed, the sport’s biggest benefactor, to curb his spending." (thanks Hani)
US plans to upgrade the Lebanese military
"The Lebanese Air Force — which is due to receive ten Russian MiG-29 jets early next year — will also be the beneficiary of American largesse. In a game of one upmanship reminiscent of the Cold War, the U.S. has promised to supply Lebanon with ten RC Firefly X2R’s. The Firefly, Mr. Sheriff explained, is a remote control aircraft with a range of 200 meters that can fly continuously for four minutes on a single charge. It was originally developed to be used for target practice by U.S. Special Forces sharpshooters." (thanke Elias)
The Arabs
I just ordered Eugene Rogan's The Arabs. I love those sweeping history books on the history of the Arabs. But I am critical, as you know by now. I remember when Albert Hourani was spending time at Dartmouth one semester, and he came down to Georgetown and told us about his plans for an upcoming book on the history of the Arabs. I was most excited: especially that he told us about the failings--in his eyes--of Philip Hitti's History of the Arabs. He was right in pointing out that Hitti merely considered the Ottoman Empire to be the "dark ages", unworthy of investigation for Hitti. But when Hourani's book came out, I was most disappointed. It is probably the least impressive book by Hourani. He has nothing new and it is not as well-written as Hitti's, for sure. The book seems rushed and even casually assembled together. Even the bibliography was hastily collected together, I felt, and the massive work of Abu Al-Faraj Al-Asfahani was not correctly identified, I remember. Personally, I prefer Ira Lapidus's A History of Islamic Societies. It is more like an encyclopedia and I realized that it is considered torturous by students but there is so much work in that book, and I enjoy reading it. But it does not cohere thematically, I admit. There is a short book on the Arabs by my favorite Orientalist, Maxime Rodinson, and another one (larger) by Jacques Berque (the Arabs: their history and future). And don't forget the book by Carl Brockelmann, History of the Islamic Peoples. I remember that the man who introduced the book to me when I was in college (it was the intensely eccentric Palestinian anarchist, George Jad`, who had an influence on our small radical group back then) told me about it: it is historical materialism without the knowledge of the author. But personally, I really like Philip Hitti's, with all its flaws, methodologically and politically. I love reading and re-reading that book. I recommend that book to everyone. I mean the combination of details and sweeping conclusion reminds one of Braudel. There is a scene in that book about life during the Abbasid time and he descibes what they served in those lavish dinner. I remember when dinner guests once wondered why the fish on their plates seemed small, unlike the lavishness of food in those banquets, only to be told that they were being served the tongues of rare fish. I can go on and on. Let me confess to an unPC hobby: I really enjoy reading the works of classical Orientalists. The erudition, knowledge, language skills, meticulousness, originality, and scope of research are a delight to the reader. Of course, this is no place to go over the obvious political and methodological problems of Orientalists. But between reading, say Fouad Ajami or post-1970 Bernard Lewis or Elie Kedourie or Efraim Karsh and any classical Orientalist, I take a classical Orientalist ANY DAY of the week.
Professor Richard Antoun
Professor Richard Antoun was killed by his graduate student. Horrific. I never met him but heard good things about his personality. People who worked with him liked him. As for his scholarship, I was not a fan: I felt that his anthropological work did not deviate from the conventional "traditional-to-modern" approach which was prevalent at the time.
Saturday, December 05, 2009
US propaganda film: about Lebanon in 1958
This is an amusing US propaganda film about the 1958 mini-civil war in Lebanon, and US intervention. (thanks David)
"Greater Jerusalem Municipality"
"The issue of a settlement freeze in Jerusalem is complicated by Israeli operational definitions: in 1967, Israel unilaterally expanded East Jerusalem, which was about 6 square kilometers under Jordanian rule from May 1948, by some 65 square kilometers, adding areas of the surrounding West Bank on three sides around the Old City. This, plus West Jerusalem, became known as the “Greater Jerusalem municipality”. It extends primarily to the north, to include Qalandia airport and what became the adjacent Atarot industrial zone, but also to the south, to include Jebal Abu Ghneim which has now been deforested and the large Har Homa settlement is still being expanded there. Har Homa and Gilo, like other large Jewish settlements such as Pisgat Ze’ev and Ramot in “Greater Jerusalem” north, actually look much more like the “neighborhoods” they are called rather than the “gated communities” that exist in the West Bank, guarded by their own volunteer militias as well as by the Israeli military...And Jimmy Carter, who as U.S. president was so protective of the Camp David process that he had invested so much in, visited the Hanoun and Ghawi families living on the sidewalks in front of their homes in Sheikh Jarrah on 27 August, as part of a delegation of The Elders – a group of former statesmen and women – and brought them a “gift of food”. Did he remember that in 1980, he instructed officials in his administration just before he faced re-election in what became the final year of his presidency, to be “noticeably quiet” on the subject of Jerusalem? "
Explaining a vote
"But she raised the ire of some Jewish leaders with just one vote -- her decision to vote "present" on a resolution last January during the Gaza war which backed Israel's right to defend itself and reaffirmed U.S. support for the Jewish state, while also encouraging a "sustainable" cease-fire in Gaza. (Edwards said she voted present because she didn't feel it was appropriate for the U.S. Congress to weigh in on the issue the morning after the United States had voted to abstain on a U.N. resolution calling for a cease-fire, but that she “did not want to send a signal to anyone that it was appropriate to send rockets into Israel.”)" (thanks Ryan)
Moroccan troops in Yemen?II
Carlos sent me this (and I cite with his permission): "Regarding the alleged Moroccan troops in Yemen I'd like to point out who has run the story in the first place here in Spain. The Spanish media that al-Quds quotes as its source is a right-wing tabloid called "El Imparcial" published and written by a bunch of Fascistic supporters of Francisco Franco. This newspaper is notoriously unreliable and fond of conspiracy theories (for instance, it was one of the staunchest defenders of the theory that purported that the Basque separatist group ETA was behind the bombings of Madrid in March 11 2004, something completely ridiculous which never had any basis). In this case, the correspondent in Morocco does his best to present the war in Yemen as a conflict between Shiism and Sunnism and a proxy war between Iran and Saudi Arabia (described as "the custodian of the two holy sites of Islam"). He also presents the Houthis as the aggressors (following the orders of Iran, of course) and sates that the Yemeni Government didn't have any option but asking Saudi Arabia for military help. This distorted narrative fits into its agenda of criminalizing Iran at all costs, the country that they consider the biggest threat of the world. I don't know wether the story is true but I haven't seen anything about it in any other newspaper, Spanish (all of them have at least a correspondent in Morocco) or not. If El Imparcial" is the only one source of this story, it is likely that it is completely false."
Racism in Bahrain
"A FIVE-year plan to reclaim Manama for Bahrainis by wooing them back to the capital was launched yesterday . A coalition, comprising Manama MPs and municipal councillors, has already met the ministers and government officials to present them with the idea..."We want Manama to restore its identity after it got turned into what some people dub as Kerala," Mr Al Marzooq said at meeting held by the coalition yesterday." (thanks Rasha)
UAE record
"According to the World Health Organisation, the UAE is 18th on the list of countries with the highest proportion of overweight and obese people."
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