What do you call the murder of civilians in war? Collateral damage

And what do you call a failed Army which never was an army but was a collection of warring gangs and factions which had nothing in common, and which answers to various paymasters? You call it: "a decentralized insurgent brand".  And what do you call US special forces when they appear--in violation of international laws and agreements governing wars--without their military uniforms and disguised as local natives? You call that: "relaxed grooming standards".

Fake news

Obama's fake news scares me far more than other fake news.  Obama's attempt to "correct" the news scare me far more than fake news.

Orthodox Jews versus "orthodox" Muslims in the US

In my years in the US, I have noticed this about American culture: when someone is known to be an Orthodox Jewish person, it is always a subject of admiration and praise, but when someone is known to be an observant Muslim, it is horrifying to people.  This reminds me that in my first teaching job at Tufts University, a colleague there once took me aside and said: are you a Lebanese Christian? I said: no, I am from a Muslim family.  He said: but you are not religious, right? I said: no, I am not. He was visibly relieved.

Obama's weapons to "moderate" Syrian rebels are in the hands of ISIS

"Evidence suggests that weapons intended for Syrian rebel groups backed by western governments are falling into the hands of the militants."

Just as Trump has chosen his son-in-law to achieve peace between Israel and Palestinians...

he wants this man to achieve peace between blacks and whites in South Africa. 

Trump's interview in the New York Times (2)

If you read the full transcript, you can't escape this conclusion: Thomas Friedman is by far the most obnoxious and most annoying and most egotistical member of the New York Times staff. By far.  

Under Trump

It is likely that Trump would sponsor a closer relations between Egyptian regime potentate and Syrian regime potentate.  And if ordered, Gulf potentates will follow behind.

Trump's interview in the New York Times

"ARTHUR SULZBERGER Jr., publisher of The New York Times: Thank you very much for joining us. And I want to reaffirm this is on the record. DONALD J. TRUMP, President-elect of the United States: O.K.SULZBERGER: All right, so we’re clear. We had a very nice meeting in the Churchill Room. You’re a Churchill fan, I hear?  TRUMP: I am, I am.  SULZBERGER: There’s a photo of the great man behind you.  TRUMP: There was a big thing about the bust that was removed out of the Oval Office.  SULZBERGER: I heard you’re thinking of putting it back.  TRUMP: I am, indeed. I am.  SULZBERGER: Wonderful."

PS I initially wrote the headline as "Putin's Interview in the New York Times".

Brutal sieges of cities in the Middle East

Talking about brutal sieges of cities in the Middle East: I remember how none of the sensitive Western reporters and writers shed a tear when US forces in Iraq imposed a savage siege on the city of Fallujah in Iraq (they put barriers all around the city to make sure that none goes in or out) and then followed with a savage attack. But let us face it: White Man's brutality is always kind and well-intentioned.

Bin Laden: an American agent but Obama would not reveal that

According to this Saudi regime columnist, US has documents showing that Ben Laden was actually an  Iranian agent but Obama refuses to release those documents.

Reconciling religion with this or that

Reconciling religion with science is as absurd as reconciling religion with feminism, or as reconciling the vapid utterances of Dalai Lama with wisdom.  

So the US Holocaust museum has not been alarmed over the last year over the anti-Islam rhetoric?

"U.S. Holocaust museum alarmed over 'hateful speech' by white nationalists"

Liberal embrace of John McCain

From liberal and media embrace of McCain you would forget that he is one of the most reactionary and war-mongering Senators out there. 

Modesto, CA is one of the most anti-Gay cities in the US

What Kissinger advised Trump on Syria

"Make peace in Syria as we made it in the former Yugoslavia 20 years ago, by “cantonizing” the country and giving President Bashar al-Assad a one-year “off-ramp,” or exit route."

Trump and Saudi Arabia

"President-elect Donald Trump registered eight companies during his presidential campaign that appear to be tied to hotel interests in Saudi Arabia, according to a report in The Washington Post."

Trump's Son-in-Law explains why Steve Bannon is a good anti-Semite

"“All I know about Steve is my experience working with him. He’s an incredible Zionist and loves Israel. He was one of the leaders in the anti-divestiture campaign."

After many long months of blatant anti-Islamic statements, Mr. Tapper only now has found the hateful rhetoric "unacceptable"

"'Furious' Jake Tapper Calls CNN's Display Of Anti-Semitic Comment 'Unacceptable'"

The staged White Helmet video

Regarding the staged White Helmets video from yesterday, it was quickly removed after it spread on social media.  It just did not fit with the propaganda narrative of the "revolution" and of course, none of the Western correspondents in Beirut would mention it.  Case closed.

Zionist embrace of Zionist anti-Semites

This Israeli and Zionist embrace of rabid anti-Semites is not new at all. Just remember Richard Nixon (the notorious anti-Semites) how he is still loved and praised by Israel and Zionists because of his support for Israel.  Notice that none of the American Zionists have ever made a big deal of his grotesque anti-Semitic rhetoric. 

How to use social media to spread "Islamic values": Saudi news which you won't read in the US press

There is an official conference in Saudi Arabia about the "constraints of social media in Islam" in which the Crown Prince called for spreading "Islamic values" in social media.  Basically, what ISIS is doing would be consistent with his advice.

This is funny: English language Arab journalists working in Saudi regime media

Just notice how all those Arab journalists who write in English for Saudi regime media received the new orders to go soft on Donald Trump.  Hilarious.  

Western journalists versus Middle East journalists

Brent Sandler (formerly of CNN and later of Hariri family media center) is an example that the boundaries between regime media of the Middle East and Western "free" media are very thin, and sometimes non-existent.  I mean there are Saudi regime journalists who are less unprofessional than Brent Sandler.  

Sabra Hummus has a new recipe

Sabra Hummus announced that they took public concerns about the safety of their lister-infected Hummus to heart.  They announced that they have a new recipe for their hummus brand: the new recipe calls for an equal amount of chick peas and cockroaches to maintain the old flavor.  

Syrian rebels and miracles

According to the media center of Syrian rebels, this one is the Revolutionary Forces of Syria, White Helmets can bring dead people to life.  The propaganda has been going insane as of late--more than usual.  

Why is there a Saudi envoy in Lebanon?

So the Saudi regime sent Prince Khalid Al-Faysal.  The Lebanese media have not reported on the real motive of the visit.  I will.  Whenever a new president is elected, the Saudi government sends an envoy and offer him $5 million as a gift (the gift to the prime minister is $20 million.  When it was offered to billionaire Najib Miqati, he told them: I don't need the money but instead I would be blessed if whenever I go on my annual Hajj I am met with the King or princes. They Saudi government agreed but then reneged (typically) on the promise when he headed a government after the collapse of the last Hariri government).  All Lebanese presidents have accepted the gift except Emile Lahhud, and that was one reason the Saudi government hated him. They took his refusal as an insult to the royal family.   So will Awn accept the $5 million? 

Drudge Report

I look at Drudge Report daily (along with Huffington Post).  Drudge report really operates according to the playbook of Goebbels as he developed the Nazi media techniques.  There is no attempt to respect the lowest standards of journalism and there are no racial or ethnic or religious barriers in agitation and mobilization.  It really is as dangerous as ISIS propaganda out there.

Liberal media are delusional: As if Hillary gave the media access during her lousy campaign

"As president-elect, he has given journalists limited access, including rejecting a “protective pool” of a few rotating reporters who cover his travels."

On the other hand

We don't have to hear about the unprincipled and boring Clintons anymore--I hope.

MESA and BDS

At the rate MESA is handling BDS, it may reach a decision to support BDS long after the demise of the occupation state of Israel.

The ethics of Obama

سلطان سعود القاسمي (@SultanAlQassemi) 11/20/16, 8:02 PM Obama's drone strikes killed 474 civilians (New America Foundation) or 116 according to US government numbers. twitter.com/usatoday/statu…

On why Israel endorses some currents of anti-Semitism

"To do the Netanyahu government justice, let me qualify my statement by saying that all forms of Zionism hold the perception that a certain extent of anti-Semitism benefits the Zionist enterprise. To put it more sharply, anti-Semitism is the generator and ally of Zionism. Masses of Jews leave their place of residence only when their economic situation and physical safety are undermined. Masses of Jews are shoved to this country rather than being attracted to it. The yearning for the land of Zion and Jerusalem is not strong enough to drive millions of Jews to the country they love and make them hold on to its clods." (thanks Yusuf)

Huffington Post franchise

Having seen the lousy Arabic version of Huffington Post which was franchised to Qatari regime and its Muslim Brothers, I think that the new South Africa Huffington Post will probably be franchised to some oil or gas interests.  

Democrats don't mind fake news if it is manufactured by them

Glenn Greenwald (@ggreenwald)

11/21/16, 5:04 AM This - just by the way - was a classic example of "fake news." twitter.com/HillaryClinton…

Yes, because those institutions were not corrupt before: American liberals are just weird sometimes

"We have 100 days to stop Donald Trump from systemically corrupting our institutions"

Hariri Center at the Atlantic Council

The Center, as you all know, is funded by Baha' Hariri, the eldest son of Rafiq Hariri.  King Salman (who was then prince) decided that Sa`d Hariri (and not Baha') should succeed Rafiq after he was killed because Baha' was said to not be diplomatic enough for Saudi royals.  But Baha's political ambitions have not subsided and he has been trying to find his away into Lebanese politics by ingratiating himself with DC Zionists.  But notice that his center deals with the Middle East but strictly avoids anything related to Lebanon.  He does not want to antagonize openly his brother or his sponsors in Riyadh.

Oh, what will happen to democracy and human rights under Trump?

I like when US media lament the plight of democracy and human rights in US foreign policy under Trump. Yes, because Obama worked hard to establish democracy in Morocco, Egypt, Algeria, Sudan, Jordan, UAE, Oman, Qatar, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, and Kuwait--among many other places--during his tenure. Thank you, Obama.  

Mainstream Media NOW

When it comes to foreign policy in the Middle East, Democracy Now should be renamed Mainstream Media now.  

Arabs in DC

Some Arabs in DC who parrot the conventional wisdom of DC punditry think that their exercise is brave and original.

The Choice: Trump consulted with him AFTER he was elected. Hillary consulted with him BEFORE she was elected.

A Public Health Note: what are the ingredients of Sabra Hummus

Here is everything you wanted to know about the ingredients of Sabra Hummus.

Hugh Naylor of the Washington Post wrote a piece on Arab Shi`ites; he cites two experts on Shi`ism

Expert number one: "Phillip Smyth, an expert on Shiite militias at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy."
Expert number two: "Avi Dichter, chair of Israel’s foreign affairs and defense committee".  Why not make things easier for himself? Why not end his articles by adding this note: for further information on my articles, please refer to the latest press releases of the nearest Israeli embassy.  

Hugh Naylor of the Washington Post explains why Syrian rebel's indiscriminate shelling of West Aleppo should be ignored

"Rebels have indiscriminately shelled government-held western Aleppo, but destruction there has not been as severe."  Can you believe the uproar of a Western journalist were to write such justification of war crimes by the Syrian regime? Can you imagine the hue and cry? 

Human Rights Watch officially endorses the Orwellian Obama campaign for "The Truth" news against what he calls "fake news"

Kenneth Roth (@KenRoth)

11/18/16, 5:07 PM Fake news spread on social media is a global problem, not just US one. We need a global attack of truth squads.

Since when Amal Clooney has become an authority on human rights?

How did she become an authority on human rights? Was that during her stint as advisor to Bahrain tyrant? Or was it when she advised the Hariri family on the Hariri court? Or was it when she worked on Israeli and her husband's project for the creation of the war criminal state of South Sudan? Or was it when she turned down the offer to investigate Israeli war crimes in Gaza?