Obama: the neo-cons' president

"But obituaries can be premature. At the moment, in fact, the neocons seem resurrected. One of their own, Frederick Kagan of AEI (Robert's younger brother), helped turn around the war in Iraq by devising and pushing for the surge there. More recent-ly, President Obama—whose foreign--policy pronouncements (nuanced, multi-lateral, interdependent) and style (low-key, self-critical, conciliatory, collegial) were a repudiation of neoconservative assertiveness—has swung their way, or so they believe. First, he's sending an additional 30,000 troops to Afghanistan, nearly as many as leading neocons had sought. Then came his Nobel Prize acceptance speech, which, with its acknowledgment of the need for force, its nod to dissidents in Iran and elsewhere, and its talk about good and evil, was surprisingly congenial." (thanks Laleh)

Saudi justice: or what is called "Saudi reforms" in the Western press

"Schoolchildren in Saudi Arabia might want to put those rubberbands back in their knapsacks, the spitballs back in their mouths and begin meekly raising their hands before asking questions following a harsh ruling against a 13-year-old who had a spat with her teacher. According to the Saudi newspaper Al-Watan, as cited by the Daily Mail of London, the adolescent got into a tussle with her teacher after she was caught with a cellphone camera, apparently forbidden in Saudi girls' schools. Instead of giving her a week of detention or making her write, "I won't bring my cellphone camera to school" on the chalkboard a hundred times, the kid was sentenced to 90 lashes with a cane." (thanks Dina)

J`accuse

I argue that Israel's propaganda is now officially (not accidentally) placed in Hariri and Saudi media in Lebanon. I accuse that there is an official Saudi-Israeli agreement to coordinate media and propaganda strategies. Look at this sample from NowHariri.

Al-Watan newspaper

When I was in Lebanon, my Lebanon's cellphone rang. A woman identifying herself as a reporter for the Syrian Al-Watan newspaper told me that they would like to conduct an interview with me. I told her but that I express myself freely. I said that I feel that you want to interview me only because I attack the rivals and enemies of Syria but that I also want to criticize the Syrian regime and its allies in Lebanon and the Iranian regime. I asked if she would be able to allow me to express myself freely in the interview. She said: I will consult with my editor and get back to you. Still waiting.

War criminals are popular street names in Lebanon

Lebanon has the worst names for its streets. There is a clear preference for colonial administrators, racist Europeans, and Lebanese war criminals. A street was named after Elie Hubayqah yesterday. The man was a puppet of Israel in Bashir Gemayyel's command of the Lebanese Forces, before he was co-opted by Rafiq Hariri and the lousy Syrian regime. Hubayqah played a role in the Sabra and Shatila massacre. (thanks Karim)

The lies and fabrications of Radio Sawa: the investigation continues

I wrote yesterday about the obvious lies and fabrications of Radio Sawa. And Osama did investigation of his own yesterday and he sent me this: "Lost, but definitely found. When radio sawa lie, they lie big time. This is good because when they fabricate, it is easy to for us to discover it. Here is the article to you referred to it on your blog. Of course the weather in the sky does not match that of the demonstration yesterday. Even the caption under the picture does not state when it was taken. But bellow (after you press the language) is the actual source of the picture taken 20 days before the demonstration. Enjoy."

At UC, Davis Law School

I am speaking today at noon at UC, Davis Law School in Wilkings Moot Courtroom. The advertised topic is the occupation of Palestine but I feel obligated to speak a bit about my horrible jet lag.

To Toronto

After reading the article by Nazila Fathi about how her reporting on Iran substantially improved after she relocated from Iran to Toronto, I am seriously considering a move to Toronto to cover Middle East and Indian affairs from there. According to Fathi, the view from Toronto is such that she was able to the streets of Tehran from the her window and was able to cover demonstrations from thousands of miles. O Ms. Fathi: if we only knew how wide and close the view from Toronto is. I only wish all reporters in Iran would relocate to Toronto to view what you are viewing.

Robert Fisk: an embarrassment to himself, first and foremost

I would not maintain that Robert Fisk has become an embarrassment to Western coverage of the Middle East; but I would maintain that he has become an embarrassment to himself. Don't let a reporter's views on Arab-Israeli issues cloud your judgement in evaluating and analyzing the Middle East. Fisk needs to spend more time learning Arabic, and less time schmoozing with Walid Jumblat and other friends of his in March 14. Look at this: "But wasn't it the largely Muslim Palestinians who in that same war claimed that the "road to Jerusalem" passed through Ayoun el-Siman, the very Christian heartland of Lebanon?" As usual: Fisk does not know what he is talking about. This was told to him by one of his anti-Palestinian friends in Lebanon. The statement is a distortion from a speech by Fath's Abu Iyad. Abu Iyad can't be accused of sectarianism and he never looked at himself as "Palestinian Muslim", whatever that means. Abu Iyad mentioned other towns in that speech but sectarian anti-Palestinian An-Nahar distorted the speech to make it sectarian. There was a war going on and Abu Iyad was talking about defeating the Phalanges, and Abu Iyad was very right then but the lousy Syrian regime prevented the decisive victory against the Phalanges--Israel's puppets in Lebanon. (thanks Ahmad)

Canada funds collaborationist PA militias

"Is Canada pulling the plug on the UN's Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), which provides education, health and other social services in 59 Palestinian refugee camps in the Middle East? Will UNRWA's Canadian funding be diverted instead to training Palestinian police forces and building courthouses and prisons? That's certainly what was suggested on Wednesday by Treasury Minister Vic Toews in both the Jerusalem Post and a news release from B'nai Brith Canada. Toews, who met on Monday with senior Palestinian Authority (PA) officials in the occupied West Bank, is quoted by the Post saying, "Canada is not reducing the amount of money given to the PA, but it is now being redirected in accordance with Canadian values." Yesterday, the Canada-Israel Committee also released a statement applauding the government's reallocation of UNRWA's funding to ``direct food aid to the Palestinians."" (thanks Sonia)

Foreign maids in Lebanon

""Durant mes deux premiers mois, ma patronne ne me donnait à manger qu'une tranche de pain par jour et parfois des restes. J'avais tout le temps faim", raconte-t-elle à l'AFP. "Elle me disait +tu es grosse, il ne faut pas que tu manges trop+", se rappelle cette brune de 22 ans, hébergée par l'association Caritas-Liban, dont le "Centre de migrants" s'occupe des domestiques victimes d'abus, des réfugiés et des demandeurs d'asile. Comme la plupart des quelque 200.000 domestiques étrangères employées au Liban, Nanda s'est vu confisquer son passeport pour travailler sept jours sur sept. "Je travaillais de 05H30 à minuit, sans rémunération", lâche-t-elle, alors que son contrat de travail stipulait huit heures de travail hebdomadaire et un salaire moyen mensuel de 180 dollars. "Je n'ai jamais pu appeler ma famille", ajoute cette mère d'une fillette de huit ans, laissée avec son mari soldat au Sri Lanka." (thanks "Ibn Rushd")

No contact? Are you kidding me?

"A year after Operation Cast Lead and the beginning of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's second term, Israel-Jordan relations are in a deep slump. In talks with Haaretz senior officials in Jerusalem and Amman characterized the situation as a genuine crisis, adding that there is virtually no contact between Netanyahu and King Abdullah." This is a piece of Israeli propaganda intended to shore up the sagging standing of King PlayStation. I don't believe it at all. The Hashemites never ever dare to sever contact with Israel. They occasionally switch channels of contact, but never end contact altogether. And notice the word "virtually". (thanks Olivia)

Those were the days, my comrades, in South Yemen

Now the Washington Post acknowledges the communist contribution to the liberation of women in the Arab world. Decades too late. "In contrast to the rest of the Arabian peninsula, the former socialist south Yemen enforced many reforms for women. Girls went to mixed schools with boys, women were encouraged to work and leave the headscarf at home, while polygamy was banned." (thanks Fawzi)

Khalid Mish`al magic formula for struggle against Israel

Khalid Misha`al develops a new strategy against Israel. He says that "Hamas does not want another war with Israel but will continue to attach itself to armed struggle as a means to liberate occupied land." Which is which, Khalid Misha`l? Can you speak in non-Arafat double speak? (thanks Pat)

Tell the queen to youtube and tweet about this

"Yesterday, Jordan’s high appeal court has decided to extend the reach of Jordan’s print and publications law to any electronic medium . The court’s decision, issued last week but published yesterday only today, empowers authorities to prosecute or impose fines on any electronic medium of Publishing from SMS to the Internet user from Twitter user, to facebook, to journalists, bloggers and editors for publishing online material that the law finds wrong." (thanks Ali)

Israeli embassy in Amman

When the Israeli occupying government was looking for land to buy for its embassy in Amman, all families in Amman refused to sell to Israel. Only one family came to the rescue: the family of Marwan Al-Mu`ashshar.

Alcohol in Iraq

"It started in the Green Zone, with Iraqi soldiers ordering restaurants to stop serving alcohol and confiscating bottles from politicians at checkpoints. Then, mysterious signs began appearing across the rest of Baghdad declaring alcohol sinful and warning of damnation for those who drink. Finally, the crackdown came. Phalanxes of soldiers and police officers descended on the nightclubs, cabarets and bars that had proliferated across the capital in the last two years and symbolized for many a return to normality." 1) Iraqi poets wrote the best poetry in praise of alcohol over time; 2) Alcohol bottles get more sympathetic coverage in the Western press than Iraqi civilians; 3) standards for normalcy of life in Western reporting are rather unique. 4) I hate jet lag very much.

Reintegrating the Taliban

"In London this week, Hamid Karzai, the Afghan president, will launch a British and American-backed plan for “reintegration” of the Taliban and call for international funding to offer jobs and bribes to bring insurgents in from the cold." (thanks Dina)

Making it all up as we go along: The Huffington Post, the Telegraph, and Indonesian fatwas

"Making it all up as we go along: The Huffington Post, the Telegraph, and Indonesian fatwas" (thanks Abu Turab)

Sudanese Communist Party

Do you know that the Sudanese Communist Party was by 1970 the largest political party in the Arab world? Its leader, Muhammad Ibrahim Naqd, is now running for president. I was thinking: this man should deserve an award for disguise. He has been in hiding in some form or another for much of his life.

Why all foreign correspondents should move to Toronto

Here, Nazila Fathi, the former Iran correspondent of the New York Times, offers her view that reporting on Iran from Toronto is super to reporting on Iran from Iran: "In fact, by following blogs and the cellphone videos seeping out of Iran, in some ways I could report more productively than when I had to fear and outwit the government." I found her arguments so convincing that I now call on all American correspondents around the world to relocate to Toronto.

The lies and fabrications of US propaganda outlets: the case of Radio Sawa

Yesterday, Lebanese leftists, communists, and anarchists gathered to demonstrate in front of the Egyptian embassy. The featured speaker was the secretary-general of the Lebanese Communist Party. Radio Sawa website "found" this picture of those two religious dudes to falsely brand a movement that is at heart leftist. So leftist was the movement that Hizbullah did not participate. Of course, those two could have easily been conveniently placed to suit Radio Sawa propaganda. The picture (taken by one of the participants) on top captures the essence of the movement and it features flags of the LCP. (thanks Layal)

PS I checked with some of the demonstrators yesterday and they don't recall spotting those dudes or their green flag. One of the leader of the demonstration believes that this picture was taken from an earlier demonstration by the Al-Jama`ah Al-Islamiyyah. But to expect Sawa and Al-Hurra to stop lying and fabricating is like expecting Muhammad Dahlan to stop collaborating.

Fear and Hate: how the New York Times found ways to justify hostility to Muslims

Notice that the New York Times has a new policy. It refers to anti-Semitism as hate and prejudice (which it is), while it now refers to anti-Islam as fear. To attribute fear to sentiments and ideologies of hate is to rationalize the hate and cover up the prejudice. Nazi anti-Semites often attributed anti-Semitism to fears, and that notion should of course be rejected. Yet, the New York Times now is referring to blatant expression of hate against Arabs and Muslims as mere fears.

almost no mention of civilian casualties

"Beginning the day after the attack on a C.I.A. base in Khost, Afghanistan, the agency has carried out 11 strikes that have killed about 90 people suspected of being militants, according to Pakistani news reports, which make almost no mention of civilian casualties."

Ginger drink recipes

Comrade F. sent me this recipe: "As for ginger drink, it is a standard in Africa. It is done similar to the way all these "milks" from soy to rice are made. Prepare the sludge (extraction)

1- All you need is break the cells (macerate): a blender will do. Cube/dice as much as you want (start with 1/2 pound), add water to cover to help with the grinding process. 2- Transfer to a glass jar (1/2 gallon is good), top off with water, put the lid on, and let this sit overnight at room temperature. Prepare the drink

1- By trial and error, mix a decanted cup of ginger with lemon juice, sugar, and water. 2- You can flavor with rose water now, or experiment with nutmeg in step 2 above etc."

And Dale sent me this Trinidadian recipe: "Came across your blog-post on ginger and your acknowledged lack of success in replicating at home the ginger drink you had tasted in Lebanon. Perhaps the taste differs not so much due to the method as to the variety of ginger that you use - I am a great fan and consumer of ginger (which is not a typically Puerto Rican custom, but it is a West Indian custom). We make something down here called Ginger Beer. There are a variety of recipes, but I like this one best (please don't post this recipe as it isn't mine*) Recipe - Ginger beer Ingredients

8 cups water
1lb of freh ginger, washed and grated (use the large side of a box grater)
1 large cinnamon stick
10 - 12 whole cloves
Sugar to taste (start with 2 cups)
Method
1. In a glass bottle, jar or any non-reactive container, combine all the
ingredients, stirring to dissolve the sugar 2. Cover tightly and let ripe for 3 days and 2 nights
3. Open jar/bottle/container, stir with a wooden spoon and taste. Adjust
sugar to suit your taste. 4. Strain and chill in the fridge"

And Hisham sent me this recipe for ginger tea:

"Get a fresh ginger root (it looks like a potatoe), wash it, peel it and shred it.

- For one cup, heat a cup of water in a boiler (better not to be electric). - Just before it boils, turn the boiler off. In case it bioled, leave it until it cools down a little bit. Boiling temprature kills all the good nutrients (and germs alike). Same for tea, do not boil it. - Put 1/2 teaspoon in the cup or the boiler and cover it for like 5 minutes - Then drink (do not add anything to it (such as sugar, honey, ....) If it was not strong enough, you can try 3/4 teaspoon next time. Ginger is full of health benefits. It is thought to be a good remedy for inflammations, nausea, arithritis etc..."

* He later permitted me to post provided I mention it is Trinidadian.

UAE injustice

"Three men who were found guilty of burning their Pakistani driver to death have been released from Al Wathba Prison after an appeals court reduced their three-year sentence to one year, which was in fact time served." If the victim was a White European, they would have been executed. (thanks May)

Sri Lankan helper in Jordan

"Ishara Hemanthi, the Sri Lankan domestic helper who was admitted to Al Bashir Hospital last week for injuries allegedly inflicted by her employer, is currently being looked after at the Family Protection Department (FPD), the police said on Monday." (thanks Electronic Ali)

Sari Nusseibeh: the second worst Palestinian

Here, he solves the Palestinian problem:

"Quelle perspective reste-t-il aux Palestiniens ?

Ma prochaine proposition sera de demander à Israël de nous annexer, en nous acceptant comme des citoyens de troisième catégorie."

Somewhat embarrassing

"The revelations are somewhat embarrassing for Jordan, which has often tried to keep its counterterrorism cooperation with the United States quiet, fearing domestic backlash." (thanks "Ibn Rushd")

PR for war crimes

Can you imagine an American reporter giving a PR advice to an Arab government or to Hamas? (Thanks Ramiz)

Xe is not Blackwater and Bush is not Bush

"A senior minister from the NWFP Bashir Ahmed Bilour on Friday confirmed the presence of Xe Services, formerly known as Blackwater, in the NWFP. Bilour further disclosed that not only do Blackwater officials exist in the NWFP, they have also been imparting training to Pakistanis." (thanks Adeel)

Israeli war criminals on the run

"Senior Israeli military officers have postponed a planned trip to Britain after it emerged they might face arrest on war crimes charges." (thanks Laleh)

Gen. Khalid Bin Sultan bin Bribe

Khalid Bin Sultan was explaining the lousy performance of his army vis-a-vis Yemeni Hawthi rebels. He said that the enemy has access to very "advanced weapons" and training. I kid you not. Yes, I am sure that Hawthi rebels receive as much weapons from the US as the Hawthi rebels.

This is also your war, America

"Saudi Arabia has carried out a series of lethal air raids across the border with Yemen, killing 16 civilians and wounding 19 others, Yemen's Shiite rebels said on Monday."

You want liberation? Take this

"Iraq executed 77 people last year, all of whom were convicted of terrorism-related offences, the country's supreme court said on Tuesday."

Zionism is racism: like we don't know that?

"However, the Interior Ministry denied the request, citing doubts about "the sincerity of the relationship." Moreover, a document obtained by Haaretz reveals that the decision reflects a trend of trying to prevent marriages between Israelis and Filipinas." (thanks Nasser)

A Prince on crack

You have to watch this interview with Prince Al-Walid bin Talal. I was grumpy and sick yesterday and yet watched the whole thing. It reminded me of a character that Al Pacino played in one of his movies in which he was high and high strung. It must have been Scarface. Notice the soft questions that Rose throws at him, and notice that they basically reach the conclusion that Saudi Arabia is a democracy, albeit a special (horrific, beheading) kind of democracy. And notice that Al-Walid owes all that he knows about world affairs to Thomas Friedman. And notice how he is at pains to reassure Israel. (thanks Sameer)

The Kingdom of flogging

"Amnesty International has urged the Saudi Arabian authorities not to carry out the public flogging of a 13-year-old girl charged with assaulting a teacher at her school." (thanks Dina)

PA puppet militia

Is that not their job? Are they not trained to protect Israel and Israelis? "Palestinian Authority civil defense crews rescued an Israeli settler who was trapped under her overturned car on Friday near Qalqiliya in the northern West Bank." (thanks Olivia)

Ginger drink

I was asked about how to prepare ginger (zanjabil in Arabic) drink. I asked the folks at Bread Republic in Hamra street, and they said just slice some giner over hot boiling water and let it sit for a few minutes. But the real expert on ginger drink is Tawfiq at Al-Akhbar newspaper. He told me that ginger should be grated and not sliced. And he adds honey. His ginger drink was the best and it was rather potent and spicy. As soon as I came back home I purchased ginger and a grater, and I have never grated in my life. It was good but not as spicy as Tawfiq's in Beirut. I will try to use more ginger and will report to you. Stay on the edge of your seats NOW.

Bandar Bush

My weekly article in Al-Akhbar: "Bandar Bush: The Seeker of the Throne, Prematurely"

Not true

All rumors to the contrary notwithstanding, this site is not being turned over by NBC to Jay Leno.

In Beirut

I was drinking ginger drink here. Raed Charaf took this picture.

`Ammar Al-Hakim

`Ammar Al-Hakim spoke on NBN TV. He said that he supports resistance "in the right frames and contexts." I kid you not. This is like Dahlan speaking about Palestinian resistance. He said that his movement pursued "political resistance." Not to be outdone, Antoine Lahd--speaking from his restaurant in occupied Palestine--said that he pursued collaborationist resistance against Israel in South Lebanon.

Genetic gifts arguments, in the NYT

"But places like Silicon Valley and Tel Aviv are created by a confluence of cultural forces, not money. The surrounding nations do not have the tradition of free intellectual exchange and technical creativity." If this geneticist would bother to visit the Silicon Valley he would be horrified to discover that most come from Pakistan, India, and other Asian and Muslim countries. (thanks George)