Paris Hilton: the Middle East expert

"“I love the Middle Eastern culture and want to learn more about it. The women here are very beautiful and their dresses are certainly a lot more elegant than what women wear in Hollywood,” Hilton told a press conference held at the Inter Continental hotel." (thanks Olivia)

Racism as a compliment: from the ananls of Zionism

"On Wednesday the minister issued an apology, saying his remark was intended as a compliment for their work."

Sentenced for kissing

A Bahraini woman was sentenced to 20 days in jail for kissing a man in public. (Oh, and they threw in that she insulted police men). (thanks Omar)

Plagiarism?

Bashir sent me this passage with the title of plagiarism. "In many respects Hizbullah is a Leninist organization, a vanguard party focused on implementing a revolutionary ideology." I had written an article in Middle Eastern Studies back in the early 1990s with this title: "Ideology and Practice of Hizbullah in Lebanon: Islamization of Leninist Organizational Principles', Middle Eastern Studies, 27, July 1991. I will let readers judge although I can't see this author reading Lenin.

Potato flu

""Scientists from Russia’s Ministry of Health are warning in a secret report to Prime Minister Putin that they have discovered a ‘critical link’ between the H1N1 influenza (Swine Flu) virus and genetically modified amylopectin potatoes that are consumed in massive quantities nearly exclusively by Westerners and sold in fast food restaurants as French Fries." (thanks Ben)

New York Times Hearts Israel

"Mr. Amir says Iranian press reports, traveling Iranians and foreign diplomats indicate that the Israeli station enjoys wide popularity." Let me guess: this Amir guy also believes that Al-Hurra TV enjoys wide popularity among Arabs. In fact, Arabs always comment that Israeli TV and radio have such low quality to them, in look and in substance. (thanks Paul)

Thomas Friedman in Beirut

He said to NowHariri: "Friedman: Unfortunately, I was only in Beirut in this trip so I can’t say. I’ve been around, and certainly it feels like it’s on an upslope. I hope it is." He then said in the same interview: "Friedman: I was [in Lebanon] for three days, and I basically went out and travelled around and went to voting [stations] in Broummana and some other places, and just soaked it up with friends and contacts." Can somebody tell Friedman that Broummana is NOT in Beirut? Did you or did you not leave Beirut, or three-days-in-a-country expert. (thanks James)

Rift

When it comes to Iranian developments, I clearly always notice a rift between Iranian left and Arab left.

To the right of the IMF

"It needs to be emphasized that Ahmadinejad’s economic policies are to the right of the
IMF: cutting subsidies in a radical way, more privatization than any other post-79 government (by selling the country to the Revolutionary Guards) and an inflation and unemployment rate which have brought the low-income sections of the society to their knees."

This is Zionism

"Border Policemen have filmed themselves abusing and humiliating Palestinians in videos they have posted on YouTube over the past year." (thanks Christopher)

Lie of the elections

Comrade Raed writes on the lie of the Lebanese elections. (thanks Antoine)

On Sanyurah and election

Comrade Khalid analyzes Sanyurah politics

Zionists for Ahmadinajad

"In private, Israeli officials appeared to be hoping for an ­Ahmadinejad victory even before the polls opened, despite his vitriolic ­criticism of Israel, his denial of the ­Holocaust and his apparent eagerness for a nuclear weapons programme." (thanks May)

Zionist exploitation

"“The idea was partly inspired by reactions to Operation Cast Lead,” group leader Meir recalled — specifically, an incident in San Francisco that saw a gay organization of 20-somethings “identifying with the Palestinian cause and publicly calling to ‘free the gays in Israel.’”" Is there anything that the usurping entity does not do for propaganda purposes? (thanks Laleh)

They are begging Brazil to play with them

""I intend to make the Brazilians understand that if a similar game is not held in Israel, we will see it as an act of ostracism," he said. "It would be better off if they held two games, or better still – a joint game for the Israelis and Palestinians."" They don't want to play with you. They just don't. And you keep begging. Israel reminds me of those really annoying and unpopular kids in high schools who beg other kids to take them with them to movies and such. And Israel stinks which makes it even less popular. (thanks Marcy)

non-bearded

You can take this to the bank. Western media rules dictate that non-bearded demonstrators are always better than bearded demonstrators and that poorer demonstrators are always less preferable than more affluent demonstrators, especially if they are dressed in fashionable Western clothes.

Appearance of meddling

You need to read Obama's statements on Iran carefully. There is one particular statement in which he said that the US (for historical reasons) can't "appear to be meddling". The statement does not say that the US is not meddling, but that it does not want to appear to be meddling. Similarly, the US in 1953 meddled but it did not appear to be meddling.

Statistical evidence

"Statistical Report Purporting to Show Rigged Iranian Election Is Flawed" (thanks Amer)

A Palestinian girl

"A Palestinian girl plays next to Israel's controversial separation barrier in the Palestinian neighbourhood of Beit Hanina in east Jerusalem on June 17, 2009." (thanks Julie)
PS By the way, the word controversial is inserted by US foreign editors of the media to avoid casting any blame or judgment on Israeli wars, racism, and aggression.

Supreme Leader

The Iranian Supreme Leader has always bothers me. Aside from the obvious political and philosophical reason, something about him bothers me. He always likes to appear as if he is about to say something very profound and very wise, and he also says something very very lame, like: I like New Potatoes. I like them roasted, or something like that.

Champion of the masses

I heard somebody on Fox News describe Rafsanjani as "the champion of the masses". He forgot to add that he is also a champion of his own wealth and looting of public money.

In one day

I never travel to various destinations in one day. I usually stop for a night or two in Europe if I travel to the US. Today, I flew from Oslo to London and then to DC and then to Fort Lauderdale all in the same day. Never again. And Washington, DC is the worst place to make as a point of entry for your travel to the US. So many delays for passport inspection and custom. And worse: they bring these mean and vicious dogs and let them roam around the new arriving passengers. Luckily, I give my passport to the passport agent and (unlike the usual lengthy Q and A that I am subjected to about my childhood experiences and hobbies and travel patterns), the woman reads my name and exclaims excitedly: my boyfriend is Lebanese and also is AbuKhalil. I asked: is he from Tyre too? She said: I don't know. I said: how could you not know? Are you not curious to ask. So I arrive to watch and read American coverage of Iran. Quite pathetic indeed. The tool of Ayatullah Khumayni (Mousavi)--not to be confused with the tool of Khamenei (Ahmadinajad) was identified in the New York Times as "symbol of freedom and democracy." And would you not want to scream and yell when they are telling you that a movement headed by none other than the `Abdul-Halim Khaddam of Iran--the symbol of corruption, nepotism, opportunism, and favorotism--Rafsanajni, is a reform and democracy movement? Of course, some of the students and demonstrators can't be associated with either Mousavi or Rafsanjani and are just taking advantage of the protest room. But don't you want to see demonstrators all over the Middle East and toppling all regimes? What a fantasy. Also, I asked my audience i Oslo yesterday: would Western governments and media be as celebratory and favorable in coverage if people were demonstrating against one of the many pro-Western dictatorships in the region, like Saudi Arabia or Egypt? Just wondering.

Mousavi and..."the neoliberal bastard"

A colleague and friend sent me this (she/he does not want to be identified): "Mousavi was (along with a couple of other major "reformists") were hotheaded rightwing Islamists back in the 1980s, and Mousavi in particular was responsible for purging universities of lefties, Jews, and Bahaiis. the other two people most associated with this same move from being university purgers to radical reformists are Abdulkarim Sorush and MohsenKadviar. The former is a philosopher and the latter a cleric, both of whom have very sophisticated arguments (the former based on Gadamer's hermeneutics; the latter based on his extensive training and certification as a faqih) about separating the mosque from the state. All three were involved with the early purges and now face the same fate...the other thing is that although Ahmadinejad has very populist rhetoric he
is actually a neoliberal bastard economically, so...."

Another Lebanese genius

A Lebanese has landed on Mars: but nobody knows except Lebanese nationalists. His next project is to build cities on Mars and the moon. I wonder whether those cities will serve Hummus. (thanks Elie)

On Iran

Alexander sent me this (I cite with his permission): "As an Iranian and avid reader of your blog, I wanted to share my thoughts on your "Iranian developments" post with you. First of all, your point about Western coverage of Iranian democracy vis-a-vis other countries in the region is spot-on. I think you are right to criticize the impact of Ahmadinejad's rhetoric on Palestine, and I would like to explain a little about that. In the past, Palestinian liberation was a cause championed by the Iranian secular left, but nowadays it is strongly associated with the religious right. This is not due only to Ahmadinejad (every Iranian leader since Khomeini has expressed the idea that Palestine is a "Muslim issue" that Iranians should be concerned about) but it has gotten worse under Ahmadinejad. It's not just the statements he makes in international settings, but more importantly the way the issue is used domestically in order to distract people from their own issues. People are told not to protest economic stagnation, repressive government, etc. because they shouldn't complain when Palestinians have it so much worse. "Pray for Gaza" is shoved down their throats in the same breath as "fix your hijab." In addition, many people resent the fact that the Iranian state spends so much money on Palestinian and Lebanese affairs when there is such poverty and underdevelopment at home. Incidentally, one of the popular (and hyperbolic) chants at the protests that are going on right now is "mardom chera neshastin, Iran shode Felestin!" (People, why are you sitting down? Iran has become Palestine!").
Finally, I am glad that you are defending neither Ahmadinejad nor Mousavi. It is frustrating that everyone I talk to from Pakistan to Egypt loves Ahmadinejad and is shocked to hear that many Iranians think he is ineffective and embarrassing. Meanwhile every Westerner seems to think that Mousavi is a great reformist or revolutionary, and some kind of saintly figure beloved by all. He's an opportunist crook. That being said, I support the students and protesters in Iran, even the ones chanting Mousavi's name. I believe they are putting their lives on the line to fight for greater freedom, accountability, and democracy within the Islamic Republic, and they have to couch that in the language of Islam and presidential politics in order to avoid even greater repression than that which they already face. A friend who is in Iran right now confirms: "half the kids throwing rocks at the police didn't even vote." To me, that means that they are not fighting for a Mousavi presidency, but for more freedom, which they must hide under a green Mousavi banner in order to have legitimacy in the eyes of the state."

Let the Zionist propaganda begin now--not that it has ever stopped

""Nach Berichten des Senders "Voice of America" sollen bis zu 5000 libanesische Kämpfer der Hisbollah-Miliz dem Regime beim Showdown zur Hand gehen."" As if the regime in Iran has a shortage of armed goons who are willing to beat demonstrators. But the "reliable" Voice of America is reporting this. (thanks Emily)

Nice

I have to say this: the people of Oslo are very nice and kind.

My talk this afternoon

For those who care, and those who in Oslo, and those who don't mind the yellow Shawirma that I saw in Oslo, I will be speaking again this afternoon. Robert Fisk could not make it and my hosts asked me to fill in and talk about media and blogging in the Middle East. Being the nice person that I am, I accepted.

He is dead, very dead

An official of the Norwegian foreign ministry approached me yesterday after my talk and told me this. Knowing how I closely follow the news of the health of Prince Sultan, he said that Prince Salman was scheduled to be visiting Oslo this very week (along with an entourage of 45 people) but that the prince called at the last minute and canceled and said that he had to be with his brother Prince Sultan. You know what that means, right? It means that Prince Sultan is now more dead than ever. Dig deeper o grave digger, as the poet Khalil Hawi said.

The Guardians Council

I read that the Guardians Council insisted that it would only permit a partial recount. That unelected lousy body has proven that it is as undemocratic as the unelected lousy anti-democratic body called the US Supreme Court.

For sophisticated analysis on Iran, you may turn to the author of Lolita in the bazaar

"“Khamenei would always come and say, ‘Shut up; what I say goes,’ ” said Azar Nafisi, the author of two memoirs about Iran, including “Reading Lolita in Tehran.” “Everyone would say, ‘O.K., it is the word of the leader.’"

All the trash I know about the Middle East I get from MEMRI

That is where he gets his news and views about the Middle East.

Yellow Shawirma

I saw yellow shawirma in Oslo.

Nuits blanches

It does not help the sleep situation here when Oslo is in the nuits blancehes' season. It is bright outside at three in the morning. Kid you not.

Maryam's grandmother

"Conversation with Grandma after Iran’s elections"

Speaking in (and of) Oslo

I spoke on the first night in Oslo at the Palestinian House. I was hosted by a most principled Palestinian struggler that I have admired from afar. Typically, Palestinians that I met were immediately curious to know what village of Palestine I came from. I often am--to my pride--mistaken for a Palestinian (perhaps because of my passion for Palestinian struggle for liberation) but I tell Palestinians that I consider myself an honorary Palestinian. Many of the audience members came from refugee camps that I knew in Lebanon. They were as opposed to Oslo as I am (the agreement and not the city although the food in the city sucks big time): and we joked about the rumor spread by some person in DC that this academic conference (dealing with various aspects of the Middle East including literary aspects) is a political conference for normalization. I joked that if somebody wants to push for normalization with Israel they would not invite Joseph Massad and I--of all people--to encourage normalization (Electronic Ali could not make it due an emergency). In fact, in the opening speech by a Norwegian diplomat who spoke about Oslo, both Joseph and I fiercely attacked Oslo. The conference is open and some Palestinian comrades are attending. I will speak this morning and Joseph (who can serve as a tourist guide to a city hours after his arrival for the first time to that city) is speaking this afternoon.

Iranian developments

Have not had time for posting especially about Iran: I just woke up at 2:30AM Oslo time. Not fun if you value sleep as I do. Typically, I support neither side in the Iranian situation: but I support those Iranians who are struggling against both sides. I have worried before about the impact of Ahmadinajad's stupid rhetoric on the Iranian public attitudes toward the Palestinian question. I worried that in the long run it will move the public away from solidarity with the Palestinians. Of course, there is so much hypocrisy in the Western coverage and official reactions to the developments. Most glaring for me was the statement by the secretary-general of the UN who insisted on the respect of the will of the Iranian people. Would that US designate utter such words, say, about Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Morocco and other dictatorships that are approved by the US? The role of Faqih in Iran undermines any claim of democracy in that country: but I am in no way sympathetic to Moussavi. He is a man who suddenly discovered the virtues of democracy. When he was prime minister back in the 1980s, he presided over a regime far more oppressive than Ahmadinajad's. And why has no Western media really commented on his rhetoric during his own campaign: the man kept saying that he wants a "return" to the teachings of Khomeini. I in no way support a man who wants a "return" to the teachings of Khomeini. But Western media are always quick to pick villains and heroes: especially when one side is identified against Israel. I don't know whether the elections in Iran was stolen or not, and I would not be surprised if such a regime did that. But why do Western media express outrage over a stolen election in Iran but they don't even feign outrage over lack of elections in Saudi Arabia? So it is not about democracy or respecting the will of the people any way.

Mugabe

For those who inquired, I did not say the Mugabe regime is not corrupt: but that Mugabe himself was not personally corrupt (just as Arafat was not personally corrupt although he presided over a corrupt regime.)

AUB and the new Dean of the Medical School

So I posted before about an AUB press release about the new Dean of the Medical School at the university. So I heard from the Dean who attended medical school with my brother. We communicated and I heard about his view for a new vision of AUB. But I told him that my post was directed at AUB itself and its Lebanonese inclinations: he was a victim of the over-zealous PR person there. Yet, the second AUB press release was even worse: they insisted that some Lebanese had won the Nobel prize in medicine back in 1960 when the person in question never identified himself as a Lebanese and to my knowledge never stepped his foot in...hummus.

Oslo update

Jet-lagged, grumpy, and whiny. But I am monitoring the world round the clock. And if you were invited to pick up a Nobel prize for peace in Oslo, bring your favorite food with you. But have you noticed? Saudi propagandists are outraged about the Iranian election. Saudi propagandists insist that fair and free elections be held at once in Iran. Kid you not. Good night.

Zionist-Saudi conspiracy? What Zionist-Saudi conspiracy?

"There are rumors about large amounts of Saudi money floating in to support the victorious March 14 coalition, but so what?"

Officially lenient: how nice

"A former Pentagon analyst who pled guilty to passing secret information to two former AIPAC staffers had his sentence drastically reduced."

The Oslo conference

AlJazeera and Al-Akhbar were invited to cover the Oslo conference. I know that Al-Akhbar has accepted but was not sure of the latest AlJazeera decision.

Nestle: Zionist chocolate

"The global Nestle food company is, for the first time in its history, producing a new breakfast cereal in the southern Israeli town of Sderot." (thanks Marcy)

Arab Democrats and the praise for Saudi...democracy?

"Ibrahim said something pretty disturbing. In discussing the need to re-think the dichotomy between moderate regimes and radicals — a question put forward by the moderator, Yousef Munayyer, he said that the Arab “monarchies are more stable and more benevolent” than the radical secular regimes the leftist Arabs used to praise in the 1960s. He said, “some of the old radicals are still in power.” (unlike gulf royals who strictly adhere to democratic transition of power). (thanks Olivia)