Mere errors of "liberation": "U.S. soldiers fired on a civilian vehicle Monday because they feared it might hold a suicide bomber, killing at least two adults and a child northeast of the capital, American and Iraqi officials said."

I was (re)reading Ibn Khaldun's Volume One of Kitab Al-`Ibar.....on the plane. Two passages in particular got my attention: "...the circumstances, habits, and factions of the world and nations do not stick to one pattern and stable course; but are differences over days and times, and transitions from status to status..." and "thus you see the conquered always emulating the conqueror in his clothing, vehicles, and weapons, in carrying them and their styles, and in the rest of his affairs..." (This reminds me that we now need a new translation of Al-Muqaddimah--and I don't like Ibn Khaldun for many reasons--racism, classism, prejudice, etc, but his analysis is insightful at times--. Yes, we have that classic one by Frank Rosenthal. I thought that it was adequate until I read the critique of the translation by `Abdul-Latif Tibawi (collected in his collection of book reviews).

Ignorance About Islam in Ash-Sharq Al-Awsat. Amir Taheri does not mind switching allegiances. From a fan of the Shah to a fan of the House of Saud. There are people who write on the Middle East and who--I can tell--has only read Bernard Lewis. Taheri is one: "The idea of religion as a private affair is abhorrent to most Muslims. For Islam aims to rule every single aspect of individual and collective life, from the most mundane to the most sublime." It is NOT amazing his ignorance is carried in Ash-Sharq Al-Awsat. House of Saud would do anything these days to please US. I would not be surprised if the House of Saud appoints Ann Coulter as Mufti of Saudi Arabia.

"How U.S. Fell Under the Spell of 'Curveball'" (thanks Fadi)

"Thatcher 'threatened to nuke Argentina'"

Feudal landlord/civil warlord, Walid Jumblat has received an invitation to visit the US in February. This after having his visa revoked two years ago when he called for the assassination of Paul Wolfowitz. Two years is a long time in Lebanese politics. Since then, he has become friends with crackpot Lebanese presidential candidate, Shibli Mallat, who wrote a piece for An-Nahar titled, My Friend Wolfowitz, in which he argued that the latter is a supporter of the Palestinians. Since Jumblat has received the official invitation a few days ago, he has changed his political rhetoric (yet again), and started repeating what he said right after the assassination of Hariri. Jumblat has emerged as the most unprincipled Lebanese politician, and this in a country known for very high standards of unprincipleness among its politicians. If you don't pin hope on anybody in Lebanon, you will never get disappointed.

"The Mirror Sage"

"CIA interrogators use "a variety of unique and innovative ways" to collect "vital" information from prisoners"

This is the difference between a stupid media (the Washington Post), and intelligent media (the Economist, the best magazine there is). Both are talking about Jordan's king Abdullah. Post says: "The king, who was educated in the West, promotes democracy and has championed Muslims to stand together against extremism." Economist says: "For all the talk of modernisation and political pluralism, Jordan is still a politely authoritarian state run by a king whose near-absolute power is underpinned by a ruthless and watchful security service. His reforms are being imposed from the top down. The press, though it breathes a bit more freely, is co-opted and still occasionally muzzled. A recent poll by the Centre for Strategic Studies at the University of Jordan found that 77% of respondents felt they could not “criticise the government without fearing punishment”, against only 16% who thought they could."

On the Iraqi "army": Iraq has no army. No, it does, but it is Saddam's army. No, it will have one in 2 years.

"Why Iraq war support fell so fast: US public support has dropped faster than during the Vietnam and Korean wars, polls show."

Lebanese singer Hayfa Wahbi was invited by the American University of Beirut to give a lecture on "Class formation in South Lebanon: the case of tobacco farmers." Here, she signed autographs after her talk. Thanks to the anonymous AUB student who sent me this picture. (My college friend and comrade, Rami, can be seen to the right).

Lebanonese Mussolini-wanna-be, Michel `Awn, at a Lebanonese HummusShop in Georgetown (thanks Fadi).

Such a fluff piece on Michael Doran, the new Middle East "expert" at the NSC. Oh, and he is qualified because he looks at "Islamic websites." That is now expertise? Go read books instead. And Robin: what on earth does this bizarre phrase mean? "the pro-Arab "orientalism" of the late Palestinian-born Columbia University scholar Edward W. Said". The Orientalism of Edward Said? How could anybody who read, not the book but, about the book? This is like saying the "leftism of George W. Bush" or the "socialism of Rafiq Hariri" or the "McNuggets of a vegetarian."

I arrived early for my talk at the Jerusalem Center in DC. I sat in the audience for some minutes. This college students from DC was sitting next to me. He leaned over, and whispered in my ear: "So, I hear the Angry Arab is speaking." I was amused. When I told him that Angry Arab is me, he was amused. After my talk at MESA, my friend Zeina overheard a Lebanese woman tell a friend about me: "I hate this guy." I was amused. Gen `Awn, who continues his excellent adventure in DC, has not secured meetings with high officials, but that does not matter in a silly country like Lebanon, where a meeting with the barber of a staff person of Bush can be seen as high-level endorsement by the US government--not meaning any disrespect of barbers of course. `Awn did not meet with Hasan Nasrallah before his trip; I knew that he would not. Not before the US visit because he did not want his fanatical Zionist benefactors in the US House of Representatives to be angry with him. I expect him to meet with him upon his return, especially if he finds US endorsement of his candidacy lacking. And I don't understand why Hizbullah is so keen on pleasing `Awn. But then again: I don't understand Hizbullah's conduct in Lebanon anymore, and will not be surprised if they join Hariri's bloc some day. I can confirm that `Awn met in secret with Emile Lahhud before his visit to US, despite a vehement denial by `Awn to news to that effect in An-Nahar newspaper. Nayla Mu`awwad also is begging the US to endorse her candidacy, and I hear that Amin Gemayyel also wants to be president. Of that I am certain: he will NEVER make it. Gemayyel left a bitter taste with everybody he dealt with when he was president, including in the US government, not to mention his own population. Lebanon is celebrating today is Day of Independence. How could a country that never was independent celebrates its Day of Independence? That, I don't understand. What was with Prince Bandar's mission in Damascus? Why the sudden Saudi softening of its stance with Syria? Could this be related to the interview that Na`im Qasim (deputy secretary general of Hizbullah) gave 10 days ago to AlJazeera, in which he stated that any instability in Syria spill over to neighboring countries, including Saudi Arabia? Arab governments may be worried about the expansion of instability that was generated by the Iraq war. Apparently, US officials have been meeting with Rif`at Al-Asad in Spain, but I could not confirm whether National Security Advisor has met with him. But Saudi Arabia is working very closely with Rif`at in its campaign against Syria. Rif`at, as you may remember, is brother-in-law of King `Abdullah of Saudi Arabia. But then again, King `Abdulalh is half-brother with half of the Arab male population. Hassan Fattah of the New York Times wondered to somebody in the Middle East why Angry Arab has not been criticizing him as of late. Well, his last interview with King `Abdullah of Jordan should have carried the royal seal of the King. He merely takes dictation from the king. That is his role. No more. New Yorker's Jeffrey Goldberg, I hear, is expressing his political divorce from the neo-cons. His last piece on Scowcroft was the certificate in that regard. I am not impressed. Neo-con or no neo-con, Goldberg is one of the most ill-informed reporters on the Middle East, and his service in the Israeli army does not amount to Middle East expertise. In his trip to Washington, DC, Lebanese prime minister Fu'ad Sanyurah, insisted that Lebanese ambassador not attend any of his meetings. Hariri Inc wants to send of their own as a new ambassador. Israel today just dropped 150 bombs on South Lebanon. Kofi Annan will not even notice, and Security Council will NOT convene, and Mehlis will NOT investigate, and Sa`d Hariri will NOT seek the truth, and Hummus will NOT be spilled, and Bush will NOT shed tears. Oh, and Rafiq Hariri's cash payments to presidential candidate Chirac may have (reportedly) amounted to something like $7 million or more a month at one point.

Last meeting between George W. Bush and Rafiq Hariri (a witness account): Prior to the ineffective useless Paris II meeting in Paris, France (which Hariri had set up to show "empty" economic support for Lebanon, but was a mere empty gesture in the silly war between Hariri and Lahhud), Rafiq Hariri and his entourage met with George W. Bush in the oval office at the White House. Hariri brought current prime minister Fu'ad Sanyurah with him too, along with other advisors and members of his family. Bush was not nice to Hariri in the meeting, despite the daily tears that Bush has been shedding over Hariri's assassination over the last year. Hariri felt humiliated after the meeting. Hariri asked Bush to send Colin Powell to the meeting, and asked for US financial support. Bush snapped at him: "You have tons of money. Why don't you share your money with Lebanon?" Hariri was embarrassed and answered that he was not asking for grants from the US, but for loans at reduced rates. Bush then asked him: "Why don't you ask your friend King Fahd? I hear he spends $200 million in Spain every year." Hariri was more embarrassed, and said something to the effect that this is not his country's money, but that it was Fahd's private money." Bush looked at him with disbelief. Bush then attacked Syria, and said some words about Lebanon's "independence" and "freedom" and "potatoes." Hariri put a strong defense of Syria, and how Lebanon needs Syrian troops. Bush then bluntly said that he will not send Colin Powell to Paris II meeting, and that Nicholas Burns will be sent instead. The meeting ended. During that visit, Hariri met with many US officials, but only in one meeting he went alone, and asked his entire delegation to wait outside for him. It was his meeting with Cheney. It is noteworthy that since Hariri's death, Cheney's office is the one that closely coordinates with Sa`d Hariri on regular basis.

Thanks for the inquiries. I am still in DC; flying later tonight. Realized that I have to travel from now on with computer technology. I compared notes about blogging with Juan Cole and he made me feel guilty. He says that he makes it a point to blog daily; for that, he travels with gadgets, including a highly gadgety phone from which he can blog. Realized that he was the first blogger on Middle East affairs. I had assumed that it was Michael Kramer, but he corrected me. Cole started a year and a half before I started. So much to tell. I usually like to travel light, and did not want to add materials to my traveling equipments, especially that I carry a sack of potatoes wherever I travel, not to mention that potato brushes that I need to carry with that. Could you imagine carrying or eating potatoes without carefully brushing them? What did people do before potato brushes were invented. So much news: some I am not at liberty to disclose. Michel `Awn continues his excellent adventure in DC. He made a loud speech at Neyla's (one of my favorite restaurants in Georgetown; try the lentil soup, but I the Lebanonese ambiance there). `Awn said (according to those who were present) that he would not allow to turn Lebanon into a Saudi-Hariri sheikhdom. Ya. Leave it to him and he will turn it into a neo-con Sheikhdom. Fat chance on that one too. Another presidential aspirant from Lebanon was in town: Nayla Mu`awwad who collected a cool $ 2 million for her empty foundation. Guess who attended the event? The most politically unsavory characters from the world of the neocons in DC, including Paul Wolfowitz. Is it not sweet how much Wolfowitz cares about Lebanon these days, in addition to his daily attention to poor people around the world? How does he find the time? She now says that Syria killed her husband; I knew her when she used to accuse Michel `Awn of that crime. Only a few years ago she pulled the Syrian ambassador in DC from his elbow to tell him that she is "eternally indebted to Hafidh Al-Asad." She had excellent ties with the unsavory symbols of Syrian mukhabarat, in Lebanon and in Syria. Those were the days. I was surprised to find that Seymour Hersh is so closely following developments in Syria and in Lebanon. He knows so much about the Hariri corruption; I just hope that he gets to publish that soon. Very soon. I can confirm this: Sa`d Hariri pressured As-Safir to ban Ibrahim Al-Amin from writing ANYTHING on the Mehlis report. This is the new Lebanon. More later.

So what is going on? There is a great picture in this week's issue of Washington Jewish Week of the new Jordanian national security chief and acting director of the king's office, Ma`ruf Al-Bakhit, who proved his usefulness as King's ambassador in Israel. If you see his picture (it is not available in the on-line edition) with Sharon you will understand why he was appointed to the new important position. He all but prostrated himself before Sharon. Don't you like it when the US government (and Thomas Friedman) relies on King `Abdullah of Jordan to lead the fight for the "reform" of Islam? This has as much credibility as me leading the fight for the reform of Southern Baptism. And the King does not dare address such topics except in English, with the Financial Times and NYT, only to deny saying what he had said in English in Arabic, which has become a predictable habit of his. Did you read the article on Rice's new "breakthrough" in the Middle East in Wed's NYT? First, do you notice the hype when in reality the Israeli occupation apparatus will continue to exercise control over Palestinian entry points? The New York Times mentioned in passing that Rice wanted an agreement to boost the sagging political fortunes of Abu Mazen before the January elections-under-occupations. And CNN has been airing exclusive reports from North Korea in which executions took place. Executions, I kid you not. CNN anchorperson, Wolf Blitzer, who started his career writing for the publication of the Israeli lobby, Near East Report, before becoming the correspondent of the Israeli daily Jerusalem Post, before becoming a CNN star, was shocked. He interviewed a British producer of the North Korean documentary, who told him that "while we in the West can't understand the practice of executions...." I kid you not. She and he did not notice. But then again. I think that they are subscribing to the view that there are civilized executions versus barbaric executions. Executions that use modern technology (electricity or chemicals) are civilized executions, versus the uncivilized ones used in North Korea. Fox News interviewed "foreign policy expert" Michael E. O'Hanlon of Brookings on the news of torture dungeon in Iraq. He said: "the numbers cannot compare to Saddam's era, etc." This dude has been commenting on Middle East affairs since Sep. 11 although he has never been trained in Middle East studies. OK, he may have had a falafil sandwich or two, but come on. He needs to eat at least 4 or 5 to qualify as an American specialist of the Middle East. The news of torture chambers in Iraq only underlines this: there are NO Iraqi security forces in Iraq. There are militias in Iraq. The Kurdish militias in the North, and what passes as Iraqi security forces in Center and South are but the sectarian Shi`ite militias of Badr which were founded by the most fanatical elements of the Iranian revolution. But Ahmad Chalabi is in town. Enjoy him. Michel `Awn is also in town. In the interview with ANB TV, Walid Jumblat continued his nostalgia for the "golden age" of Syria: he is still fond of the Syria of Hafidh Al-Asad, of the Hamah massacres, of the crushing of the PLO-LNM, of the shooting at prisoners from the air by Rif`at Al-Asad forces. He is the star of the Lebanonese revolution, lest you forget. And crackpot Lebanonese presidential candidate Shibli Mallat submitted his candidacy for the presidency of Lebanon with the...UN, whatever that means. He said that it is not safe to do so from Lebanon. Hizbullah continues its highly unintelligent political dance, disguised as a very intelligent dance--not the other way round. It warns of a sinister conspiracy, but does not dare displease the Hariri Inc, for some reason. And Hariri Political Inc is now really managed by the US Vice-President's office along with Prince Salman's office, I am told. And you have to read the interview with `Asim Qansu (Syria's long-time operative in Lebanon, who is reportedly responsible for the murder of anti-Syrian Ba`thists in Lebanon in the 1970s) in Ar-Ra'y Al-`Am yesterday. He denied saying what he said, until he was reminded that he was taped. Where do I go? No, I am not searching for the truth. I assumed that Plato wanted the truth, until the Hariri's vulgarization of the "truth." But: can they "handle the truth?"

The Cedar (farce) Revolution continues: "Racisme ordinaire : Les mésaventures d’une étudiante sénégalaise au Liban" (Part II) (thanks Ziad)

I watched an interview on AlJazeera with the Iraqi prisoner from Abu Ghraib whose picture (dragged like a dog) appeared around the world. He talked about his ordeal. US captors as soon as they held him were asking him about the whereabouts of Bin Laden and Ayman Dhawahiri. This is not even about the insurgency in Iraq, of which he was not a member, he kept stressing. They just felt that they can use and abuse those cheap Arabs in Iraq and maybe they will get some information. He also mentioned that was one of his worst tormentors was a...Lebanonese. He also said that the irony was that he was constantly searched while in prison when he was kept fully naked. US soldiers apparently were regularly holding mock executions of prisoners. Yet, liberals and conservatives alike in the US never miss an opportunity to cheer the troops. Cheer the troops, NOW. Patriotism requires it.

Prince Muhammad bin Zayid of UAE was speaking about the recent bombings in Jordan. He called for Muslim clerics to begin propagating takfir of those who engage in such acts. That is right: so now, we will have takfir versus takfir, Zarqawis versus Zarqawis, Bin Ladens versus Bin Ladens. In other words, use the weapons of religious fanaticism against religious fanaticism. Wait. Is that not what Thomas Friedman, secretary-general of the Arab League, wants for the Arab world?

...off to Washington, DC. I will be speaking on Friday morning (10:00AM) at the Palestine Center on Middle East regional issues, and will speak on Syrian-Lebanese issues at MESA's Annual Meeting on Sunday morning at 8:30AM. I of course will be taking this with me. I shall return on Monday evening.

The Mountain, 1933. Emily Carr.

Let's face it. The Iraqi conference that the Arab League will be holding in Cairo, is a Saudi plan intended to please the US. It is intended to bring in Sunni participation in the next elections-under-occupation. Saddam's Ba`thists will be attending too. Arabic press has reported that the Secretary-general of the Arab League has met with the US ambassador in Cairo to clear the names of the invitees.

"Egyptian parliamentary elections turn violent" (US government will soon offer praise, I am sure)

I agree with Donald Rumsfeld on this: the buildup for war, and the construction of lies about Iraq, began in the Clinton Administration. Thus, Democrats and Republicans are responsible; and the Clinton and the Bush administration are responsible, although the primary responsibility for war resides with the one who launched it.

Will anybody care about this revelation? Of course not. The nation is busy looking for a juicy turkey. "The Pentagon has confirmed that US troops used white phosphorus during last year's offensive in the northern Iraqi city of Falluja."

Now this is really what Zionism is all about. "An Israeli army officer who fired the entire magazine of his automatic rifle into a 13-year-old Palestinian girl and then said he would have done the same even if she had been three years old was acquitted on all charges by a military court yesterday."

"173 prisoners found beaten and starved in Iraq government bunker"

"Ministry official: Saudi Arabia to lift economic embargo on Israel" (Arab governments' formula for reform: No reform. Just please Israel instead.) Now this will make Saudi dictatorship more attractive to US government.

"The Association for Civil Rights in Israel and I'lam (the center for Arab-Palestinian communications) submitted a joint request on Tuesday to Attorney General Menachem Mazuz calling on him to order the Shin Bet domestic security service to cease harassment of Arab journalists."

"Raid on torture dungeon exposes Iraq's secret war"

Those Palestinians. No walls, no barriers, and no armies will be able to stop their march toward independence AND return.

"Liberated" Iraq: Iraqis looking for food in a garbage dump in Najaf.

The limitless wisdom of the Dalai Lama. The other night, I felt sleepy. I did not know what to do. But then I remembered that the wisdom of the Dalai Lama must have answers. Sure enough, I found a pearl of wisdom from him. He said: "if you are sleepy, go to sleep." I did, and the next day I felt better. Oh, the wisdom of the Dalai Lama.

And Gaza is supposed to be "free" now? A Palestinian woman is made to wait before entering her homeland. As Mahmud Darwish said: "My homeland is NOT a suitcase."

Apparently, a US embassy staff member in Lebanon has been arrested at Beirut Airport while carrying a gun without a permit. The US embassy intervened, and the man was released. If he were a Palestinians, Hummus demonstrators would be in the streets.

I have received word that the horrible Daily Star columnist has been fired from her job. Apparently, the paper received an avalanche of angry letters and calls. Thanks to you all.

The Tunisian government is hosting the Israeli foreign minister. Mark my words, the US government will suddenly shower praise on "political reforms" in that police state, and the US Congress will increase its aid to Tunisia.

I need to be consoled. Who will produce Halloween movies now?

Without any protests, and with little media references, Lebanonese police, which never dares even to look at Israeli jets when they fly and bomb Lebanon, have arrested Palestinians in Lebanon, and is holding them without charges. The "international community" is very impressed, I am sure.

I am most angry at Ghassan `Abdullah of the Palestinian Human Rights Organization in Lebanon. Not only did he visit Samir Ja`ja` yesterday, but he praised his political statements.

Colonial Feminism: so Liz Cheney, one of those Americans who are anti-Feminists at home but pro-feminists abroad, was visiting Saudi Arabia. She made this patronizing statement: "Saudi women have become capable of mixing with people and acquiring experience."

I heard Amin Gemayyel say that Lebanon is "a laboratory of civilizations." Laboratory? Does that explain all the explosions in Lebanonese history? Too many combustible chemicals in that laboratory?

I read that 90 prisoners in Damascus central prison went on a hunger strike to protest the international pressures on Syria. Shame on a regime that keeps them in jail.