The Arab summit

My weekly article in Al-Akhbar: "Who attended and who was absent, and why?"

Who rules Libya?

Libya is ruled by thuggish and Salafite militia (thuggish war criminal in Afghanistan and Syria are referred to in Western media as "secular" and moderate, thus the notorious war criminal of Afghanistan Abdul-Rashid Dustum and the hostage taker, Abu Ibrahim in Syria are referred to as secular and moderate).  Tipoli is not ruled by that lousy parliament that the media refers to but by three militia commanders who terrorize the city.  The head of state Libya after the embezzling prime minister (Western appointee, really) fled from the country, is now the speaker of the parliament (he represented Libya in the Arab summit).  Here is being interrogated by a militia about his receiving two women late at night in his home.

The Turkish plot in Syria

From Ali, the Angry Arab's chief correspondent in Turkey:  ""What you have missed if you read Syria leaks from main stream media:

Leaked records of the meeting on Syria, that Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu, his deputy Feridun Sinirlioğlu, Deputy Chief of Staff of Turkish Armed Forces Yaşar Güler and Chief of Turkish National Intelligence Hakan Fidan showing the warmonger Turkish government dirty plans on Syria as well as the amount of the intervention. But as usual MSM outlets snip the critical parts of the records.

I) You probably have missed, the desire of Fidan's for a false-flag attack to start a war:

Fidan: I’ll send 4 men from Syria, if that’s what it takes. I’ll make up a cause of war by ordering a missile
attack on Turkey; we can also prepare an attack on Suleiman Shah Tomb if necessary.

II) You probably have missed Davutoğlu&Erdoğan's plans to use Suleiman Shah Tomb as an excuse to intervene more in Syria:
Davutoğlu: (Erdoğan) said that in current conjuncture, this attack (on the Tomb) must be seen as an opportunity for us

III) You probably have missed, members of Turkish armed forces are already in Syria to command the armed groups:
Güler: In my view, there’s no need for weapons, ammunition is needed rather. Yes, sir. Mr. Hakan (Chief of MIT) here knows, we said we can give them a general. At first Hakan Bey himself requested it. We agreed to send a general. We chose the general. The general went ahead.

IV) You probably have missed Turkey is the biggest supporter of the terrorism in Syria:

Fidan: We’ve sent there about 2 thousand trucks load of weapons.

V) You probably have missed, the amount of the hypocrisy of warmonger officials sheding crocodile tears for Syrian people:

Davutoğlu: The year 2012, we didn’t do it 2011. If only we’d took serious action back then,
even in the summer of 2012.

Sinirlioğlu: They were at their lowest back in 2012.
Davutoğlu: Internally, they were just like Libya. Who comes in and goes from power is not of
any importance to us. But some things…

VI) You probably have missed that Turkey is governed by a bunch of ignorants: Just check out first, second, third and forth screens, they even don't know what would they do in diplomatic arena if Turkish tanks enter Syria.

VII) You probably have missed, how high ranking officials are aware that they have no popular support, for the intervention:

Güler: I mean, do even one of the opposition parties support you in such a high point of national security? Sir, is this a justifiable sense of national security?
Feridun Sinirlioğlu: I don’t even remember such a period.

VIII) You probably have missed, Turkey was informed by US about a possible no-flight zone plan:
Sinirlioğlu: No, but the Americans have handed out the plans for the “no fly zone” at this meeting. For the first time in this meeting. Did you know about that?

IX) You have probably have missed, how top officials are seeing the bloody war as an opportunity to gain money:
Güler: Look, sir, isn’t MKE (Mechanical and Chemical Industry Corporation) at minister’s bidding? Sir, I mean, Qatar is looking for ammo to buy in cash. “Ready cash”. So, why don’t they just
get it done? It’s at Mr. Minister’s command.

X) You have probably have missed, how “Neo-Ottomans” are afraiding of Syria:
Güler: Well, I agree with you. For one thing, we’re not even discussing that. But there are different things that Syria can do right now.
Davutoğlu: General, the reason we’re saying no this operation is because we know about the capacity of those men.

SEE full translations:
Part I:

Israel is opposed to occupation, period

Israel sternly opposed the occupation of Crimea and said that occupation is wrong, just very wrong. Kid you not.

The immortal Sisi

I am in favor or voting for Sisi as president of Egypt on one condition: that he pledges that his son Jamal Sisi (or his other son, Husni Sisi) succeeds him after he flees from earth. 

Vote for the 'pimp" for president

Egyptian leftists have launched a social media and graffiti campaign in Egypt to mock the election of Sisi.  It basically translates as "Vote for the Bastard" for president.

PS The word `Ars can also be translated as MotherFer in vernacular American English.

PPS Egyptian comrades tell me that in Egyptian `Ars can mean pimp or opportunist as well.

PPPS More than 66,000 people "liked" the page on FB.

Seal of the US presidency

Despite the dire financial problems of Lebanon (caused largely by the corrupt plans of the ill-cited Rafiq Hariri), Lebanese president, Mishel Sulayman (who will deny that the generous Saudi cash payments to him were behind his sudden political shifts) found the money to sign a contract with the company of Lebanese Forces partisan, Eli Khuri (Quantum) to design a new seal for the Lebanese president.  Please notice the Phonetician boat.

The Feminine Mystique in Arabic

After all those years, the Arabic translation of the Feminine Mystique by Betty Friedan has just appeared in Damascus (where else).  It made me think: do you think that feminist books will be allowed by the regime that NATO and Saudi Arabia are working to establish in Syria?   Also, the translation of the title is not accurate. Arabs (in translation) of conflate the meaning of mystique with the meaning of mystery, and the title of the Arabic edition is the translation for mystery, and not mystique.  For the Arabic translation of mystique, I propose سحر

Modestly speaking, I am the greatest

"With all modesty, I nominate myself for the presidency of Egypt." (thanks Basim)

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry repeatedly asked about and seemed to encourage a Turkish invasion of Syria

"Almost buried in a secret recording made of a meeting between Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu's office which included intelligence chief Hakan Fidan, army deputy chief of staff Yasar Guler, and Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Feridun Sinirlioglu was the revelation that U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry repeatedly asked about and seemed to encourage a Turkish invasion of Syria."

lies of Israeli terrorists

"An IDF soldier who claimed he was stabbed in the leg by three Arab assailants in Jerusalem told police Thursday that he had invented the story."

The UN cares deeply

"The UN has delivered a withering verdict on the US's human rights record, raising concerns on a series of issues including torture, drone strikes, the failure to close Guantánamo Bay and the NSA's bulk collection of personal data." "In its 11-page report, the committee also criticised the US for failing to prosecute senior members of its armed forces and private contractors involved in torture and targeted killings." (thanks Amir)

Gas cylinders bombs in Syria

Gas cylinder bombs have become a stable of the brutal techniques of the Syrian armed groups just as the barrel bombs used by the Syrian regime (and by the Lebanese Army against the Nahr Al-Barid camp when Western governments provided the explosives for the barrel bombs of the Army).  Yet, neither the Western media nor the lousy Western human rights organizations that serve as mere arms of US foreign policy have uttered a word about the gas cylinder bombs of the rebels groups. Yesterday, the gas cylinder bombs rained over Aleppo killing scores of people.  That won't produce on report or memo by Human Rights Watch which basically ensures that its reports are not offensive to Israeli foreign ministry (and its "pro-Israeli donors" as they were called by its director in internal memos leaked to me a few years ago).

when your alllies do it it is cute

""On Thursday morning, a recording was posted on YouTube in which the officials were heard discussing a plot to establish a justification for military strikes in Syria. One option that is said to have been discussed was orchestrating an attack on the Tomb of Suleyman Shah, the grandfather of the founder of the Ottoman Empire, which is in northern Syria and is considered by the government here to be Turkish territory." "

Media of Saudi princes

This is from the sleazy website of the news station of King Fahd's brother-in-law, Al-Arabiyya which is notorious for its vulgar and crude propaganda on behalf of House of Saud by its correspondents around the world. Here is a catalogue of praise by Saudi "journalists" for the wisdom of the King in appointing a Crown Prince for the Crown Prince--that is the official title, I swear.

David Kirkpatrick on US-Saudi relations

1) "“Their view of Mr. Obama is that his entire understanding is wrong,” said Mustafa Alani, an analyst at the Geneva-based Gulf Research Center who is close to the Saudi monarchy. " The center is funded by the House of Saud and the expert is an advocate of Saudi royal family.
2) "But the Saudi royal family, which draws its legitimacy from an ultraconservative Salafi branch of Islam, has long feared the Muslim Brotherhood because of its rival blend of religion and politics and its effectiveness at political organizing. Saudi officials often quote Prince Nayef bin Abdul Aziz al-Saud, the former long-serving interior minister: “All our problems come from the Muslim Brotherhood,” he once declared, arguing that the group “has destroyed the Arab world.”"  This account is utterly false.   The Saudis long funded, armed, and sponsored the Muslim Brotherhood and used them against their rivals in the region.  The statement by Prince Nayif came only after Sep. 11 when the relations with the Brotherhood soured.  Nevertheless, the Saudi regime still supports and funds the Muslim Brotherhood in at least Lebanon and Syria.
3) "At a private gathering of Arab security chiefs at the Four Seasons Hotel in Marrakesh, Morocco, two weeks ago, the Saudi interior minister asked every Arab country to outlaw the Muslim Brotherhood".  This was not a private meeting. This was not a meeting of security chiefs. This was a public regular meeting of Arab Interior Ministers. I have better things to do than to count the daily avalanche of errors and fallacies in New York Times dispatches from the Middle East.

The Turkish plot leaked

Can you imagine the international Western uproar if such a scenario of a plot of a fake provocation implicated a foe of the US? Can you imagine the sanctimonious statements by US officials? This reminds of the admission by Moshe Dayan later in his life that indeed the terrorist Israeli army provoked the Syrians along the Golan heights to provoke war.

Qatari justice?

First, notice that the US always assumes that Americans on trial overseas (if they are not Muslim that is), they always are innocent.  And notice the verdict: if these were Asians, they would have been sentenced to a life in prison.   Oh, and let me make a prediction: the Qatari potentate will order the release of the couple in a matter of months.

When the UN chides the US on human rights

Notice the language used. When the UN Human Rights committee chides the US on human rights, it reads like a love letter.  You can tell that the text was vetted by an official at the US Department of State.

Executions around the world

This passes as sophisticated analysis of international affairs in the US

"One thing I learned covering the Middle East for many years is that there is “the morning after” and there is “the morning after the morning after.” Never confuse the two."

Stanley L Cohen's theatrics

If he wants to defend Al-Qa`idah's Sulayman Abu Ghayth, it is his business but why on earth is he wearing the Kufuyyah as he goes to court to defend a terrorist from Al-Qa`idah? What kind of message is he trying to send? This is either a grotesque silly theatrics to attract attention, or worse, much worse.  Either case, Cohen should stop his gimmicks.  

poll of Syrians

"A recent survey results show clear-cut differences between the views of civilians and those of rebel fighters with regard to the war and the political future of Syria. Simply put, civilians want a negotiated peace as quickly as possible, while rebel fighters are determined to fight on for military victory. Moreover, civilians want a postwar government with limited religious influence, while rebel fighters want a religion-dominated postwar government. The survey results also contradict some existing theories as to the nature and origins of the war. Three researchers, Vera Miranova, Loubna Mrie and Sam Whitt conducted surveys of civilians in rebel held areas and rebel fighters in Aleppo during August-September 2013 and Idlib during November-December 2013. See the Voices of Syria project.

Civilians and rebel fighters were asked to select the best from several options with respect to negotiating with and fighting against Assad. “Continue fighting until Assad defeated” was selected by an overwhelming majority of 89.29% of rebel fighters but by only 36.36% of civilians. Conversely, “Immediate cease-fire to begin negotiations” was selected by 45.45% of civilians and by a mere 3.57% of rebel fighters. If the “civilians” could be represented in peace negotiations, then perhaps a result different from Geneva II could occur. However, while the views of rebel fighters and the external opposition are heard by Western and Gulf governments, the views of Syrian civilians apparently are heard by no one outside Syria." (thanks Dirar)

Saudi-Israeli relations

"It seems the Saudis are interested in keeping up the false impression – particularly before the greater Sunni world – that it has never stopped ostracizing Israel. They do this in a feeble attempt to cover up the cooperation between the two countries." "Indeed, there seems to be an inverse correlation between clandestine and formal relations"

Zionism is racism

"Israel, which offers citizenship to anyone who can prove Jewish heritage, has never considered itself "open to immigration on a broader scale," said Daniel Solomon, legal advisor to Israel's Population and Immigration Authority."

Henry Kissinger

"This is the permanent theater of Henry Kissinger — Nobel Peace laureate, engineer of proxy wars, accused acquiescent to genocide — and it has been running for nearly four decades: Establishment institutions at once venerate his great intellect and importance while their scholars and students simultaneously accuse him of the most heinous crimes. The pattern is schizophrenic. You wonder why Yale bothers at all."

If a Muslim preacher said this

"Televangelist and former GOP presidential candidate Pat Robertson was in fine form on Wednesday, explaining to viewers of his long-running TV show, "The 700 Club," why Jesus would have never baked a cake for a same-sex wedding and how Satan is to blame for the gay rights movement." (thanks Amir)

legacy of US bombs

"“...the secret air war is still claiming lives more than four decades after it ended.
More than 100 Laotians fall victim to unexploded cluster bombs annually…” (thanks Michael)

In one town in Syria

 I received information that the victims of the predominantly `Alawite twon, of Rabi`ah west of Hamah is 608 people.  One twon.

Syria: Erdogan's False Flag Invasion Plans Reveled?

"Syria: Erdogan's False Flag Invasion Plans Reveled"? (thanks Talal)

The Mayotte island

From Houari:  "please note that algerian gov during Boumediene era and libya of Qadhafi expressed strongly it's support to Commore on Mayotte

ps2 : did you know that the saoudi channel Iqraa is trying to put Algeria in fire. They published a fatwa of a algerian salafi calling to murder the kharadji (aka Ibadite).
They are trying to do the same think the french intelligence army during algerian revolution. At this time the french army published a fake "al moudjahid" (the official newspaper of the FLN) where a call to kill the ibadites was published. This was avoid with "brio" by Abane Ramdane & the prince of the poets (like algerians is calling him) and the writer of the algerian national anthem Moufdhi Zakaria an ibadite himself.
I am really thinking the project to divided the arab world in little tribes is in progress....

ps3: it seems no official comment from algerian gov. Algeria seems to have the badest gov since independance... (and I am a Boumedienist)

PS Houari asked me to add this:  "If you publish my previous mail, could you add this
this is a ibadi imam (and islahiste himself)  member of the "association of the oulema muslims" an islahi movement lead by the sunni islahi Abdelhamid Ben Badis"

 

UN GA votes

Those are silly votes that have no teeth.  The UN GA counted back in the Cold War: it genuinely reflected world opinion.  IT voted the famous Zionism-is-racism.  As soon as the Cold War was over, the US forced the GA to re-vote the same resolution to nullify it.

James Schlesinger

You have to admit when your enemies are smart or brilliant. This is was a man with a brilliant man.  I used to enjoy watching him speak in conferences on C-Span.  He is a smart advocate of Empire.

top countries in executions

"Excluding China, the Amnesty report said, the other top state executioners in 2013 were Iran, Iraq, Saudi Arabia and the United States." Notice that Western media and human rights organizations exclude Israel from its classification presumably because Israel executes Palestinians without trials. 

A Nazi that the West likes: Bandera

Notice the extent to which Western media go to justify, rationalize, and dismiss the Nazi streaks and history in Ukraine.  "An adherent of fascist ideology, he formed what some scholars describe as a “tactical” relationship with Nazi Germany, with which Bandera shared common enemies." Do you ever recall Western media referring Hajj Amin Husayni's alliance with Hitler as "tactical", which it was?

Human Rights Watch continues to avoid watching murder of `Alawites in Lebanon

Yet, another murder of an innocent of `Alawite in Lebanon.

The Washington Post is outraged: there is a VIP culture in the India

"Politicians and bureaucrats have privileges that civil servants in other countries can only dream of: private lounges and ticket counters at railways and airports and seats in roped-off sections at cricket matches and concerts. Political figures travel in motorcades of dozens of vehicles. For those who get in scrapes with the law — a  surprisingly high number — there are even VIP jail cells."  As if there is no such VIP culture in the US. VIP culture is a symptom of capitalism (and also of fake application of socialism).

He wishes he was a shoe

A Saudi journalists writes: " I wish I was a shoe in the foot of his highness, my lord Muhammad bin Nayif [so that he can] smash with it if he gets angry, and steps on it if he walks".  Kid you not. 

Prince Muqrin as second crown prince of Saudi Arabia

The appointment of Prince Muqrin as deputy Crown Prince is significant. Like `Abdullah, he does not have brothers (only half brothers), not belonging to a faction (like the Sudayris) he has formed an alliance (along with Faysal's sons) with `Abdullah in the face of the Sudayris.  What is significant in the royal decree is that it stresses that this decree can't be changed or amended at all, as if the King expects major changes when Salman takes over (if he lives that long (a matter of weeks--in fact I have shovels on the ready for both, `Abdullah and Salman).  But Saudi newspapers are already writing about the new deputy Crown Prince: they say that he is so modest that he one was seen stopping at a red light. Is that not a behavior fitting a Saudi King?

The lynching of an Arab (Syrian from Zahleh) man in Florida in 1929

This is from May 18, 1929, the New York Times.  I learned of this case of lynching from Sarah Gualtieri, Between Arab and White: Race and Ethnicity in the Early Syrian American Diaspora, (University of California Press, 2009).  The author devoted a chapter to the case and reported that the man, who had immigrated from Zahleh, was flogged by KKK thugs prior to the lynching.

Correction: Syrian regime restricts

The lousy Syrian regime yesterday decided to ban live reports from Syria even by friendly TV news station, like Hizbullah TV, Al-Manar.  No explanation was given.

PS Syrian government later denied the rule and Al-Mayadin and Al-Manar were airing live from Syria today.

Cartoon by the talented Sudanese artist, Khalid Wad Albaih

The official statement of the Arab Summit: the Mayotte Island

I actually (purely as homework and without a hint of enjoyment) have been reading the full texts of Arab summits for years (since my early youth).  I read the Kuwait summit statement, the press accounts won't tell you that this was part of the statement (my translation):  "We reaffirm our full concern for the the national unity of the United Comoros Republic and its territorial integrity and national sovereignty, and we we reaffirm the Comoros identity of the Mayotte islands, and our rejection for the French occupation of it.  We call on the French government to return the Mayotte island to Comoros sovereignty, and urge donor countries and the Arab and international funding institutions to provide aid to development programs in Comoros."  Word for word, I swear.  I would cut off my toe if any Arab leader ever discussed the plight of the occupied Mayotte island with French leaders.

Lebanese TV "news" gimmicks

"Asad AbuKhalil, a Lebanese-American professor, criticized the actions of Sadek and Bazzi on his Facebook page, describing what happened as "mere morning entertainment", referring to the name of the morning show "N'harkome Saeed" (Good day to you). He said that the problem is that Lebanese media outlets rarely show solidarity with one another. He continues to maintain that the programme itself never criticises the ruling class or corruption, and that their message revolves around attacking Hezbollah and its military wing, which Sadek and Bazzi said they could only talk about with "self censorship." AbuKhalil continues to say: "what is easier in the Lebanese media: criticising Hezbollah's arms or discussing the corruption under the rule of late prime minister of Rafiq Hariri?" -  the latter being a topic rarely covered in Lebanese media.

While AbuKhalil offers a valid criticism of the programme and Lebanese media in general, he overlooks the highly significant step that Sadek took in protesting against the crackdown on the press. On the other hand, Sadek and her guest, while trying to be objective and balanced, did fall into a contradiction when they referred to Hezbollah's arms as a taboo subject in Lebanon when in fact it is an ever-present topic on her show as on most Lebanese shows."

PS The station in question is both: reactionary and sleazy. It was founded at the initiative of the ill-cited Bashir Gemayyel. What do you expect?

Visa hypocrisy and the US

Narrima sent me this:  With respect to the Israeli' poodles inside the beltway, wonder what they would say about their own govt :

2002

• Abbas Kiarostami was denied a visa to enter the United States attempting to attend the New York Film Festival.^[1]

• Iran's most acclaimed musicians, Hossein Alizadeh was denied a US visa and did not attend the concert with Shajarian’s team.^[2]

2006

• More than 100 Iranian citizens traveling to Santa Clara for a reunion of graduates and professors from Sharif university were stopped at U.S. airports and told the visas they were carrying had been revoked.^[3]

• 15 Iranian journalists accompanying Iranian president to the United Nations General Assembly were not granted visa.^[4]

2007

• The U.S. denied a visa to Iran's United Nations ambassador who was scheduled to participate in UN General Assembly meeting.^[5]

2008

• Iranian Blind Powerlifting Team did not participate in the world championship in Miami due to visa denial.^[6]

2009

• Parviz Davoudi, the vice president of Iran was denied a visa to attend United Nations’ economic meeting.^[7]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Visa_Embargo_against_Iran

What is good for the goose must be good for the gander."