When Iran regime covers Syria

A Syrian reader sent me this:  "Iran reports on Syria same way NY Times and corporate western press reports on Israeli aggression against Palestinians.  Notice the use of words (clashes) , lies (armed groups) and fabrications (security forces are NOT responsible for the deaths of protesters) :

"Meanwhile, several people have been killed and many more injured after armed groups clashed with Syrian security forces in the southern city of Daraa.  According to Press TV, Syrian authorities say at least seven people, including four soldiers, were killed during the overnight clashes in the city. Some reports, however, put the death toll at 25. Damascus has repeatedly denied allegations that security forces are responsible for the death of protesters, saying they have been given clear instructions not to hurt civilians."

This is verbatim a formula I read countless times before , take Syria references out and put IDF and it is identical."

King PlayStation on Syria

""The King stressed the importance of focusing on Syria in the campaign to curtail Iranian influence. President Asad, he said, argued that the internal choice was "me or the Muslim Brothers." The King advocated concerted efforts to develop other options, perhaps by cultivating a coalition of Kurds, Druze, Sunni tribes, and the Sunni urban class."" (thanks Redouane)

The Syrian Muslim Brotherhood

I detest the Muslim Brotherhood all over the Arab world, nay all over the world.  This is a most reactionary and dangerous (for Arabs and Muslim) organization and I don't trust it one bit (they now support peace with Israel, by the way:  "Mr. Saleh of the Muslim Brotherhood, however, said he supported maintaining the treaty."  So people ask me: what if the Syrian Muslim Brotherhood takes over?  I worry about that especially that this mercenary and reactionary organization has served as a tool for many governments, especially Saudi Arabia.  It has served loyally as a Hariri tool and for a fistful of dollars they even aligned themselves with the despised (despised by the Syrian people) `Abdul-Halim Khaddam.    But I hope that the Syrian people would not opt for this lousy organization. I can only hope but I can't support the regime either.  I know many progressive and secular Syrian intellectuals in Syria and abroad and hope that those views would dominate in the future.

From a Syrian citizen

She wrote to me in response to "From Syria with Doubt Part I":
"الأستاذ أسعد،

أنا امرأة سورية، وأكتب لك حول رسالة ذلك الشخص اللبناني الذي كتب لك عن مشاهداته في سوريا، وأتمنى منك نشر رسالتي أو بعضاً منها.

1-      الشعب السوري غير طائفي بطبيعته، وهذا حقيقة واقعية، يثبتها التاريخ والتوزيع السكاني في سوريا. أنا شخصياً من أسرة مسلمة متدينة، وعندما ذهبت إلى دمشق للدراسة، أقمت مع أسرة مسيحية في باب توما. نشأت في المدرسة مع العلويين وكانوا أصدقاءنا وجيراننا. الشعب السوري متسامح جدا دينياً. ولعل أكبر دليل هو وصول "فارس الخوري" لمنصب رئيس الوزراء في سوريا، ووصول حافظ الأسد نفسه لمنصب وزير الدفاع.

2-      الذي يروج للنظرة الطائفية والتفكير الطائفي هو النظام نفسه، لأنه يعمل بمنطق "فرق تسد"، فهو يخيف الأقليات من حكم الأكثرية. ونحن ندعو لاختيار الرئيس من أية ديانة أو طائفة كانت وفق انتخابات وأن تكون المدة الرئاسية محددة المدة (لا رئاسة مدى الحياة!).

3-      نحن نثور في وجه الظلم والفساد والاستبداد وسلطة الحزب الواحد، وتسلط العائلة الأسدية وبطانتها على مقدرات البلد، ونثور على انعدام أي شكل من أشكال الحريات الإنسانية.  إن مجرد تصديق نضالنا النبيل في سبيل حريتنا إلى قصص خرافية غبية كتلك التي يروجها النظام، كمؤامرات خارجية وعصابات سلفيين وغير ذلك من الترهات، هي خيانة لدماء الشهداء الأبرار وهم يواجهون النظام الفاشي المصاب بسعار القتل، بصدورهم العارية.

4-      نحن ننشد دولة علمانية مدنية ديمقراطية تحترم كافة مواطنيها.

5-      إذا كان هناك بعض الجهل في أوساط بعض المتظاهرين، لنتساءل من عمل لمدة 48 سنة على تكريس الجهل فأنفق مئات الملايين على بناء فروع الأمن والمخابرات والأصنام والصور القبيحة؟ من أنزل مستوى التعليم إلى الحضيض فحرَّم التفكير والتعبير، أليس نظام حزب البعث؟ لا أذكر مرة واحدة تم فيها تحديث أو إضافة كتب جديدة للمركز الثقافي في مدينتي الصغيرة. ويتساءلون لماذا يقع الشباب فريسة لبعض السلفيين ولأناس يروجون الخطاب الانتحاري. ولكن حتى لو وجد بعض السلفيين، أو الاخوان المسلمين بين المتظاهرين، إلا أن ذلك لا يعني بأي حال أنهم سيصلون إلى السلطة، أو أن سوريا ستصبح دولة دينية. ثم من قال أن السلفيين أو الإخوان المسلمين سيكونون أكثر دموية وهمجية من النظام الحالي الذي يدعي العلمانية والاشتراكية؟!

6-      التعصب الديني أو الطائفي أو العرقي موجود في كافة المجتمعات، والحصانة ضد التعصب تأتي من العدالة والمساواة وسيادة القانون واستقلال القضاء. وهذا بالتحديد ما فشل النظام فيه السوري منذ اغتصب البعث السلطة وانقلب حافظ الأسد على أصدقاءه!

7-      لا أتفق مع فكرتك في أن العربية السعودية أو قطر لها أي مصلحة في نجاح الثورة السورية. فمصلحة السعودية وقطر الآن على الأقل، هي في بقاء النظام السوري لأنهم يدركون جيداً أن الدور قادم إليهم. هم يعرفون أن نجاح الثورة في سوريا سيقود إلى الإطاحة بهم عاجلاً أم آجلاً.  من سوء حظ الشعب السوري، أن تكون مصالح السعودية وإيران وحزب الله وأمريكا وإسرائيل وحماس جميعهم في استمرار النظام السوري. ولأجل ذلك نرى الصمت المخجل إزاء قتل المئات. وعلينا نحن السوريين أن نعول على أنفسنا وصبرنا وقوتنا في سبيل حريتنا.

8-       الثورة السورية هي ثورة شعبية نبيلة في سبيل إسقاط نظام أخرجنا من التاريخ وانتهك إنسانيتنا.

9-       هذا رأي شخصي جداً، لن يتحرر الشرق الأوسط إطلاقاً حتى تسقط كافة الأنظمة الدينية التي تتاجر بالله والدين مثل السعودية وإيران.  سوريا لن تكون دولة دينية وسيسقط النظام ... وشكراً.."

From Syria with doubt (Part II)

I told comrade Ziad that his message which I posted here infuriated many people especially in Syria.  He responded here:  "The beauty of what happened in Tunisia and Egypt is that the U.S, Israel and Saudi Arabia were caught unprepared they were taken off-guard; reactionary and colonial powers did not have the time to plan.

Yes I know my opinion on this matter is always received negatively, even in here among my friends, nobody wants to believe that sometimes a gun might fire backward. I have a question to all those who discredit the talk of the role of Islamists in the demonstrations, why was a law forbidding the burqa3 in schools issued few years ago if it was not becoming a widespread problem?

Now they will deaf our ears with talks about the national unity, and the “secular Syrian society”; as if we did not live those lies in Lebanon back in 2005.

We have seen this movie before haven’t we? Let me predict: the regime falls…a bomb is planted in a Sunni neighborhood…another one in an alawite neighborhood…tribes loyalty bought by Saudi\U.S intelligence (does anybody remember “Abou elrich” in iraq? we’ll have feathers all over)….ethnic massacres….foreign intervention….resistance under siege…sunni and shia massacring each other from Lebanon to Iraq….and the whole dream of a better future that saw light with the Egyptian revolution shattered into pieces.  

We don’t give colonial power any incentive to be creative….same plan…same trap…same result (we still brag about the Arab revolution against the ottoman empire…nobody broke it to us that we helped France and Britain to colonize the whole region – it was shareef Hussein and the familia no? all of our problems come from Mecca J)

Now, anyone who voices out those concerns will be categorized\labeled as a regime supporter and won’t be heard…..I know that voicing out those concerns will be received by many people as a support to the regime’s policies\corruption\dictatorship…yet it is not, it only intends to raise the question, will the total collapse of regime be beneficial to our aims and goals of a better future?

Same thing happened in 2005, many people tend to live in their own imaginary bubble thinking that a democratic society will emerge only to discover later on that they were fooled…once again.  

Today the Syrian people is drawing the future of the whole region for a long coming period…one can only hope they don’t give us a surreal one J 

Aljazeera in Arab hotels

Paul in the Middle East sent me this:  "A Saudi friend related this to me today which you may find of interest - and feel free to post. He checked into the Sheraton in Dubai a few days ago. When he discovered that Al Jazeera and AJ International were not available in his room he asked the management why. The desk clerk said the management didn't like Al Jazeera, and also that they had had complaints from Western guests about the channels. My friend responded that he didn't believe that and checked out in protest. He told me he had a similar experience a few years ago at the Marriott in Cairo, with the management saying Saudi princes asked to remove it ( a year later the policy was overturned). Forced censorship on hotel guests, whatever next?"

They miss the Yemeni tyrant already

"Classified documents from Guantanamo Bay that were released to news organizations by WikiLeaks indicate U.S. officials repeatedly returned detainees to their home countries in hopes they would be incarcerated or be rehabilitated into society. Detainees returned to Saudi Arabia and Yemen have proved the most problematic. Now, with Yemen roiled by street protests and political upheaval, U.S. intelligence officials worry that the former Guantanamo detainees will seek to capitalize on the turmoil to plot attacks against their former captors and other targets.  "It's just a big frickin' mess over there," said a U.S. intelligence official, who was not authorized to speak in public.  U.S. counter-terrorism officials have relied on cooperation from President Abdullah Ali Saleh's regime to battle Al Qaeda's presence. But with public pressure mounting daily for Saleh's swift ouster, the resultant chaos could produce an even larger opening for anti-Western militants.  Al Qaeda "will be more prolific in recruiting, and it could become easier to launch attacks from Yemen," said the official. "That unrest could have the most impact on our domestic security.""

Notice the favorable coverage of Morocco in Western press

You really like reactionary Arab monarchies. You really do.

Debate about Syria among Lebanese progressives: summing it up

Comrade Laure sent me this (I cite with her permission):  "Reading Al Alakhbar and your blog on Syria, I came to the conclusion that the uncertainty among people in the same camp, mainly leftists, about Syria is simply about whether the Salafists/ Islamists in the protests are the minority or the majority, and so for some they are a majority and hence who cares about democracy and for others they are a minority so the fight is worth it but those same leftists never cared about democracy anyway. It is so ironic. You for example are supporting the toppling of the regime for obvious reasons despite the Saudi counter revolution, others are against the toppling of the regime despite Israel sharing the same position for fear of the Muslim brotherhood. So Saudi and Israeli interests diverged on Syria? This is so confusing and I don't know what to think anymore. Now your theory of chaos is an interesting one but it is frightening!! I thought of sharing this with you because I don't know what to think anymore. Everyone here is only discussing Syria, some with genuine fear about its spillover on Lebanon."

Al-Qa`idah and British intelligence

"An alleged al-Qaeda militant suspected of bombing a luxury hotel and two churches in Pakistan in 2002 was an informer for MI6, it has been claimed." (thanks Nu`man)

Al-Ba`th

I was re-reading the massive book on the Ba`th by Syrian intellectual Muta` As-Safadi: Hizb Al-Ba`th: Tragedy of Birth, Tragedy of End.  The book was written in 1964 and the author then predicted that the party was nearing its last breath of life.

Pew Poll of Egypt and the New York Times

As I read about the poll yesterday (see the post below), I was thinking: I wonder how the Zionist media will twist this.  I could not wait.  And here it goes.  This is the headline of the New York Times about the matter:  "Poll Finds Egyptians Full of Hope About the Future".  Ha ha ha and Ha. Are you kidding me? This is the most interesting element in the poll for the Times? Are you kidding us.  We know what you care about, and it is not hope about future.  And then they report this about the most important finding for Zionist hoodlums:  "The poll also found that a majority of Egyptians, 54 percent, want to annul the 1979 peace treaty with Israel that has been a cornerstone of Egyptian foreign policy and the region’s stability. The finding squares with the overwhelming anecdotal evidence that Egyptians feel Israel has not lived up to its commitments in its treatment of the Palestinians."  What? The anecdotal evidence is that Egyptians don't feel that Israel lived up to its commitment?  The EGYPTIAN PEOPLE use language of French diplomats?  Who writes such dumb language here?   Anecdotal evidence point that Egyptian people hate, despise, and detest the state of Israel and want the full liberation of Palestine.   And then they say that the treaty brought "stability" to the region.  To whom in the region?  To Israel and its war crimes of course.  And then the foreign editor of the times adds this:  "But more than a third of respondents, 36 percent, favored keeping the treaty, and the poll did not ask the more controversial question of whether Egyptians wanted to sacrifice the three decades of peace they have enjoyed along the border."  This was humorous.  First, they take solace from the smaller figure in the poll, and then add disapprovingly that the Egyptians were not asked in the same questions about whether they want to sacrifice peace.  They basically want a better survey to ask the Egyptian in this manner: would you support the peace treaty with Israel KNOWING that bombs would fall on your heads if you say no?  Thanks for the polling experts of the Times.  Without them I would not have understood the demands and aspirations of the Egyptian people.  

Pew Poll of the Egyptian people

"No dividend emerges for the United States from the political changes that have occurred in Egypt. Favorable ratings of the U.S. remain as low as they have been in recent years, and many Egyptians say they want a less close relationship with America. Israel fares even more poorly. By a 54%-to-36% margin, Egyptians want the peace treaty with that country annulled." (thanks "Ibn Rushd")

List of Syrian dead

This is comprehensive list of Syrian victims of the regime since the uprising erupted. (thanks Yazan)

PS I am told that the list was prepared by the lousy Syrian Muslim Brotherhood in London and that it contains many errors and requires verification. My apologies.

A matter of language in the New York Times

Of course, the Syrian regime deserves to be toppled.  Strong language is needed to denounce its brutal crackdown.  But as I read this article today by Anthony Shadid, I thought this: if he were to use the same denunciatory language against, say, an Israel brutal attack of an Arab city or camp, he would be fired on the spot.  Shadid--a smart guy--knows this, no doubt.  Does that mean that he should not use this language here? No.  What am I saying then?  I am saying that the New York Times is not a credible place to work and cover the Middle East.   

House of Saud hearts Saddam

The chief propagandist for Prince Salman and his sons (editor of lousy Ash-Sharq Al-Awsat), says that Saddam's regime is better than the current Iraqi regime.  Funny given Saudi support for the American invasion of Iraq.  (Personally, I detest Saddam's regime and detest the current regime: puppet of Iran/US).

THE SYRIAN ENIGMA: WHAT IS THE BAATH?

I was re-reading this article from 1967 by Eric Rouleau (how we miss reporters like him now).

Cleric of the Syrian regime

On the lousy cleric/puppet of the Syrian regime, Shaykh Al-Buti.

Puppets of Western governments are permitted to perpetrate massacres: South Sudan

"At least 165 people have been killed in the past week in fighting between south Sudan's army and militia, the army said on Monday, part of a wave of violence in the territory ahead of its independence in July."  Can you imagine if this army is not supported and armed and financed by the West?  Can you imagine the festivals of feigning outrage?

This is the Egyptian revolution

"
Egyptians are demonstrating against the Israeli occupation embassy in Cairo. (AP)

Rami Makhluf

Comrade Ibrahim Amin calls on Bashshar to arrest his massively corrupt cousin, Rami Makhluf.  Makhluf is a tycoon who is involved through corruption in every facet of the Syrian economy.  He also owns the Syrian daily, Al-Watan.  Last summer, a reporter from Al-Watan contacted me and told me that they wish to publish an interview with me.  I said: I understand that you would like to have me go on against the enemies of Syria and I relish attacking Saudi Arabia, Israel, and March 14, but I said that I also wish to attack the Syrian regime and its allies.  Would you also print that, I asked?  She said: let me check with my boss, and I will get back to you.  I am still waiting.

Demonstrations turn into funerals

Comrade Khalid on Syrian repression.

The Saud Mufti has spoken

"وأشار إلى مايحدث في بعض الدول من إثارة للفتن والمظاهرات والقلاقل التي هي بسبب إفرازات الذنوب والمعاصي وعدم تطبيق أحكام الله تعالي , مفيداً أن هذا الدين عصمة لمن اعتصم بحبله القوي ونجاة لمن طبق أحكامه وتعاليمه .وأفاد سماحته أن الأمن والإستقرار الذي تعيشه المملكة العربية السعودية إنما هو بسبب تطبيق أحكام الشريعة الإسلامية ."
The Mufti has spoken and said that what is happening in some Arab countries in terms of "incitement of sedition and demonstrations and disturbances are due to the ramifications of guilts and sins and the non-application of the rules of God almighty...and said that the security and stability that is lived in Saudi Arabia is because of the application of the terms of Islamic Shari`ah."

Bruce Odell, the CIA, and Mustafa Amin: Nasser's regime did not lie on the matter

"The CIA trained Odell and sent him to run its operations in Tehran, Iran. He is reluctant to describe in detail the incidents of these three years, but in 1965 he was removed from active duty after being interrogated and beaten by the Egyptian secret police."  (In fact, he was removed from his post because his   recruitment of Mustafa Amin became a fiasco: Amin rented an expensive villa just right next to that of Odell).  Yet, at the time, the US government denied the Nasser's government story that Odell worked for the CIA.  In 1997, the New York Times was still insisting that Odell was a "diplomat."  Odell later admitted his work, and Legacy of Ashes later confirmed the allegation by Nasser's government against Amin:  "Amin had been close to Nasser; the CIA paid him for information and for publishing pro-American news reports. The Cairo station chief had lied to the ambassador about the agency's rela- tionship with Amin. "He had been on the U.S. payroll," Battle said. "Bruce Odell [the CIA case officer] had been meeting regularly with Mustapha Amin. I had been assured that no funds had been exchanged in Egypt, but a photograph of such a transaction was made when Mustapha Amin was arrested." The case made headlines around the world, prominently featuring Odell, who had worked under diplomatic cover."  The whole details were revealed in the interview with Asst. Sec. of State Battle:  "That story concerned a Mustapha Amin. It was similar to the Birdsall affair and very embarrassing and extremely unfortunate in a number of ways. Amin was the twin brother of Ali Amin. Both were newspaper editors. At various times, they had worked together. In the early days of the revolution, they had been close to Nasser, particularly Mustapha. He had been on the US payroll. When I went to Cairo, I was assured that there were no such cases at the time, but in fact, there were. The Amin case was the devastating one. I knew that Bruce Odell, a CIA man—who now gives interviews to newspapers, causing considerable embarrassment—had been meeting regularly with Mustapha Amin. I had been assured that no funds had been exchanged in Egypt, but a photograph of such transaction was made when Mustapha Amin was arrested. I was at a diplomatic luncheon, completely unaware, when the story broke. I was called to go immediately to the Foreign Office to see the Acting Foreign Minister. I did so and was presented with photographs showing the money being given to Amin in a garden in Alexandria. Bruce Odell had denied any wrong doing. My standing instructions were never to admit that such events ever took place. I did that and returned to the Embassy, called the CIA chief, the DCM and the Political Counselor for a meeting to decide what we should do. It was obviously going to be a major story and it was. The next day, it was front page material in all the newspapers. Despite his earlier connection with Nasser, Mustapha Amin's relationship with the President had cooled off in more recent years. He was one of the people who had been close to the leaders of the revolution, but whose relationships did not last. There were a number of people whose relationships with Nasser and his cohorts went up and down. Gustafa Amin was sent to prison, where he was tortured badly, according to the rumors I heard later. He was eventually released when Sadat came to power. There are a number of aspects of this story that are disturbing. First of all were our activities which relied on old regime types who had supported the revolution, but didn't really have a lasting relationship with Nasser and his group—this unfortunately happened too often in Egypt. Cairo was a particularly bad place for conducting intelligence activities—there were too many restraints on such activities, it was unsafe and most of the operations didn't amount to anything. For the risks we took, very little was gained through these intelligence operations. I was always meeting people who wanted to give me messages; I ignored all of them. Behind every palm, there was someone waiting to tell me something “vitally important”. At times, it was ridiculous."  Of course, for years and decades, Western and Israeli media and governments claimed that Nasser lied about the case and that Amin was innocent and a political prisoner.  Amin later published many books alleging torture in Nasser's jail.  I can tell you this: I read all those books, and can certifiably state that Amin's books' tales about his jail experiences were mostly made up: he was a movie buff and drew a lot in those books from Western movies.  There was a lot about police dogs: he must have gotten that from movies (he went to school at Georgetown back in the 1930s (I think) and later lied a book full of lies and fabrications about the American people.  (Read this funny item about him in Wikipedia).  He was not an intellectual figure: he was a sensational journalist who brought Hearst American-style tabloids to Egyptian press.  When Sadat took over power and moved toward prostration to Israel/US, he suddenly released Amin without any explanation except that he was unjustly prosecuted.  He went on to write--you guessed it--not only in the Sadat-Mubarak press but also in the press of the House of Saud: he was a columnist in the mouthpiece of Prince Salman and his sons, Ash-Sharq Al-Awsat.


PS One of the most informative accounts of the case has been written by Muhammad Hasanayn Haykal, and it was based on long hand written confessions by the liar, Mustafa Amin.

Bahrain

"QUESTION: Did Tom Donilon raise the Bahrain issue in his discussion with King Abdullah --
MR. TONER: I don’t know. You’ll have to ask the White House."

A new definition of freedom: it is security

This Syrian regime's propaganda sheet, Tishrin, offers a novel definition of freedom.  It says that "the most sublime forms of freedoms is the security of homeland."

Saudi propaganda sheet

You have to read this editorial by the propagandist for Prince Salman and his sons (editor of Ash-Sharq Al-Awsat): He says that Mubarak fell because he kept talking about the Palestinian problem.  I kid you not.

The New York Times/Noah Feldman's criteria for Democracy in the Middle East

"“In Iraq, Bottoms Up for Democracy” (Week in Review, April 17) seems to equate democracy with men getting drunk in bars and ogling women. The fact that “young women beckon men from the doorways of shiny nightclubs” is cited as a positive example of a more progressive, “free-spirited” Iraq."

Golan

The Syrian regime basically invaded the city of Dar`a.  One wishes that the regime has shown such bravery to recover the Golan Heights.  Regarding the Golan, as you know that Bashshar in Damascus summit last year, introduced a novel concept for their liberation.  He said that Syria waits for "the return of the Golan heights." I kid you not.  So the Golan may stroll back to Syria after all, ,while Bashshar waits patiently.

Armenian Genocide

Remembering the victims.

Imam of Dar`a

I just watched a clip by the Imam of Dar`a on Aljazeera.  I can testify that he clearly seems to be a religious nut. I can see why Saudi Arabia and Qaradawi would be in favor of this guy.  He spoke like St. Augustine (who used to swallow his food and not chew them because he did not want to indulge in any pleasures on earth: he wanted to save that for the hereafter.  Of course, before he dedicated himself to his god, he indulged in earthly pleasures and admitted in his confessions that he would call on god to save him but...not yet (then): he said there are two trends: those who want the rule of God, and those who want earthly matters.  

Iranian assistance to Syria

I have been reading in the Western Zionist press that Iran has been assisting Syria in repression.  I totally reject such news.  I just don't believe it and I feel strongly about this: the Syrian regime is fully qualified on its own to handle any repression inside the country.  Hell, Syrian Ba`thist regime is even qualified to teach Iran and Saudi Arabia lessons in repression.  

Don't forget Morocco

There has not been much in Western press about protests in Morocco.  (thanks Mirvat)

Saudi troops for Syria

I mean, after the success of Saudi troops in establishing democracy in Bahrain, why not dispatch Saudi troops to Syria to establish democracy?  Personally, I am in favor of dispatching Saudi troops to Lebanon to spread Saudi influence: if Hawthi troops had such fun in handling Saudi troops, can you imagine the fun that Lebanese would have with Saudi troops, especially if they dispatch Commander Khalid bin Sultan.

My Q and Q on Jammoul (the website of the communist resistance against Israel occupation)

Anonymous "crazy bear" recorded the whole thing.  

Israel, Saudi Arabia, and Mubarak's protege

It is refreshing to read things against Saudi Arabia in the Egyptian press these days. It is delightful.  I can't wait until the Egyptian press goes all out against the House of Saud.  So there is a brewing scandal which did not bring any attention in the US:  Mubarak's corrupt businessman (who was involved in the corrupt deal of gas sales to Israel and who was in the Egyptian mukhabarat and who bought a villa for Mubarak in Sharm Al-Shaykh) was caught (not personally as he fled) trying to smuggle precious items from Cairo airport headed to Saudi Arabia and addressed to son of Prince Muqrin (head of Saudi mukhabrat).

Saudi panic

Brave Egyptian journalist, `Abdul-Halim Qandil, writes about Saudi panic since the eruption of Arab uprisings.

Communist Action Party in Syria

I have always admired this radical communist opposition group in Syria.  It used to be named Communist Action League.  It launched armed struggle against the Syrian regime back in 1976 when the orthodox Stalinist Bakdash communist party sided with the regime at all costs.  The Communist Action Party was ruthlessly and brutally suppressed: the fact that the party was predominantly `Alawite in composition only incensed the regime more.  I met a few of party members who fled to Lebanon over the years.  I am getting information from comrades in Syria that the party has been active in the protests, especially in the sit-in in Homs.  So no, not all the protesters are Salafite nuts, but Salafite nuts are there too.  That can't be denied.

This is a puppet looking for some polite respect, damn it

""Abbas also criticized Washington's handling of the revolution in Egypt, saying the push that Obama gave President Hosni Mubarak was “impolite”"" (thanks "Ibn Rushd")

Why Western countries courted Bashshar Al-Asad:

So Robert Worth writes:  "Western leaders courted him, in hopes he would democratize his country, make peace with Israel and stop supporting the militant groups Hamas and Hezbollah."  Now, really Robert.  You believe those words?  You believe that Western leaders really cared about democratizing Syria?  When they court Moroccan, Egyptian, Libyan, Kuwait, Bahraini, Qatari, Saudi and Jordanian autocrats, you think that they also wanted them to democratize and urged them to democratize?  Don't you believe it was all about peace with Israel? Do you think if Bashshar signed a peace treaty with Israel, Western leaders would care if he were to massacre 10,000 Syrians per day?  And you also admit after all this:  "Yet Iran’s nemeses — including Israel, the United States and Saudi Arabia — are also deeply unsettled by the prospect of regime change in Syria, which could set off a messy Iraq-style civil conflict."  So which is which, Robert?  The first or the second contention?

Human Rights Watch: in tune with US foreign policy, always

"A major human rights organization took the unusual step Sunday of calling for international sanctions against Syrian officials in the killings of hundreds of peaceful protesters during weeks of antigovernment rallies."  I don't mind sanctions on the Syrian regime but wonder whether this organization has called for sanctions on the Bahraini regime?

Who is more qualified to liberate Arabs than the US? I mean, its record speaks for it

"A US drone strike targeting the Taliban in northwest Pakistan killed 23 people, including three civilians, today, officials said, after 16 security forces died in an insurgent attack."  Does that not make you thrilled to see the drones in action in Libya?

how nice and merfiful

"The lawyer for one of five Washington state soldiers charged with killing Afghan civilians for sport says his client is being released from custody pending his court martial.   Attorney Colby Vokey tells The News Tribune of Tacoma that an Army judge on Friday agreed to release Spc. Michael Wagnon, originally from Las Vegas. The other four defendants remain in custody."

The Letter from a leftist in Syria

I received many letters by people unhappy about the letter from a Lebanese leftist who works in Syria.  They took issue with his description of life in the country side.  Shihadeh asked me to print this corrective:
"قرأت اليوم ٢٤ أذار عن نص من رفيق لك في سوريا وهوا يتحدث عن الشعرات الطائفيه التي ينادي بها بعض الناس في بعض الشوارع والاحياء في سورية، ولكن في المقابل،  هذا المشهد المقتطف الذي وصفه، ليس الوحيد والحقيقي لما يجري في مدن سورية أو خارجها ، لقد زرت سورية عدة مرات وعندي الكثير من ألاقارب وأصدقاء وأكن لهم كل الاحترام والتقدير، الشعب السوري ليس شعب طائفي والاكثرية من هذا الشعب يؤمن بلعلمانية وفصل الذين عن الدولة ،نعم هناك أحباط وخيبة أمل لما يحصل وهذا شيئ طبيعي في ظل أجواء مرعبة لكل سوري أو سورية يقبع تحت نظام شمولي ، يجب أن أذكر جميع قراء مدونت العربي الغاضب ، أن أكثرية الشعب السوري ليسوا طائفيون على اقل هذا ما سمعته وكما رأيته من أصدقاء وأقارب. بلمناسبة يمكن أن تشر رسالتي وأسمي "

Sudden democrats

""North African and Middle Eastern countries must adopt democracy before the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development will consider lending in the region, said the bank’s President, Thomas Mirow."" (thanks Redouane)