I caught the Economist using "bad" language: "One senior French ambassador is reported recently to have called Israel “that shitty little country”; Dominique de Villepin allegedly forecast that it was a “parenthesis in history” and would eventually disappear."

Why the International Criminal Court has failed, before it has even started. First, it seems to reflect the desire of the White Man to punish the Black Man. Look at the examples: "Its prosecutors have delved deeply into horrible wars in Congo, Sudan and Uganda. The court's first trial—of Thomas Lubanga, a Congolese warlord, accused of using children as soldiers—is due to start later this year. The first indictments for the mass killings in Sudan's Darfur region are expected next month. Five leaders of Uganda's rebel Lord's Resistance Army have already been indicted. One has since been killed, but the other four face trial when caught. An investigation into atrocities in a fourth, as yet unnamed, country is due to be announced soon." Secondly, the court has adamantly refused to "judge" the conduct of the US war and occupation in Iraq: "[US] Administration officials were impressed by the court's carefully reasoned rejection of the hundreds of allegations it has received regarding America's role in Iraq—including suggestions that it was guilty of aggression or even genocide. Luis Moreno-Ocampo, the court's chief prosecutor, argued as follows: first, the war involved states (Iraq and America) that are not members and therefore lie outside the court's jurisdiction..."

Hamas and Fath have shown far better "abilities" in fighting against other Palestinians than in fighting against Israeli occupation. Thus, both don't deserve to lead Palestinian national struggle.

"FIFTY years ago, Mao Zedong lamented that China could not even launch a potato into space."

"A PRIZE-WINNING Iranian nuclear scientist has died in mysterious circumstances, according to Radio Farda, which is funded by the US State Department and broadcasts to Iran. An intelligence source suggested that Ardeshire Hassanpour, 44, a nuclear physicist, had been assassinated by Mossad, the Israeli security service."

"Egypt's news photographers have staged a protest in downtown Cairo, protesting their exclusion from parliament following the snapping of an unflattering picture of the prime minister eating watermelon seeds."

"Supply, Demand, and Secularization"

Did you know that Walid Phares (former deputy commander of the Lebanese Forces (right-wing, sectarian Christian militia in Lebanon) is now a "secular Muslim"? Maybe Phares and Manji can now issue joint fatwawawawa.

"Three former high-ranking U.S. military officers have called for Britain to help defuse the crisis over Iran's nuclear program, saying military action against Tehran would be a disaster for the region."

"But I learned the hard way that good intentions aren't enough." Let me say this to the White Man--at the risk if hurting his feelings: Please, please. Spare us your good intentions. Thanks.

Peace is at hand. Peace is at hand. "During an appearance before the Senate Armed Services Committee last month, Army Lt. Gen. David H. Petraeus, the new top commander in Iraq, said he counts the "thousands of contract security forces" among the assets available to him to supplement the limited number of U.S. and Iraqi troops to be used for dealing with the insurgency."

On the reforms of the Saudi King: "Local censors ripped out Dakhil's column in the December issue before allowing it into the kingdom."

Early signs of Bush's new security policy for Iraq: "Baghdad's worst bomb outrage kills 135 and injures 305"

What Saudi (and US) media don't tell you is that the overwhelming majority of "foreign fighters"--the count does not include US occupation soldiers because these are "invited guests", albeit very heavily armed--in Iraq are Saudi. Saudi Arabia remains the number one country of origin for most of the "foreign fighters."

A light unto what? "A recent report by Kayan, an advocacy group for Arab women, found that the minimal public transportation in Arab areas hits women the hardest, making it difficult for them to work or study and pushing them "to the margins of society.""

When Zaha Hadid designs, you just watch.

He was interviewed on Al-Arabiya TV, and said that he is proud to be an inferior Arab citizen of Israel. He said that Arabs deserve discrimination. He promised to use his new token and powerless position to increase discrimination against Arabs in Israel, and to promote puppets of Israel like him among the Arabs of Israel.

I came across this line of poetry by Bashshar bin Burd (d. 783):
فقلت له: إن العراق مقامه وخيم, إذا هبت عليك جنائبه
So I said to him that staying in Iraq is dire, if you were hit by its jana'ib*
(*Strong winds that hit from the south).

Dahlan TV Show. Did you see Muhammad Dahlan on Gizelle Khuri's Bi-l-`Arabi on Al-Arabiya TV? For me it was tough to watch. I mean, to have my least favorite people on earth together? I had to watch a taping of it while doing cardio exercises to let off steam--plenty of steam. Did you see how guilty Dahlan looked? He really looked like somebody who was caught red-handed killing children--literally. And the questioning was as tough as when Larry King interviews Bob Dole. Did you see Dahlan praise "the opportunism" of Hamas? He really felt as if he was off the air at that point, revealing his admiration for any manifestation of opportunism? And when asked about US military aid: he said it was all for "tents and crossing points." Oh, yeah. How innocent. Khuri in fact pointed out the irony that he is a wanted man, by Hamas but not by Israel. He said that he once was wanted by Israel. Oh, yeah. If you believe that you should believe that Bush continues to "make progress in Iraq." But his talk about sectarian tensions and Sunnis and Shi`ites, was quite repugnant. You know that I never liked or admired Yasir `Arafat, but he really sincerely was non-sectarian: he used to shut people up if they talked in his presence about Muslims and Christians. And even Hajj Amin Husayni--with all his immense problems: his private secretary was a Christian, who became the secretary of his political party. And now we have...Dahlan. What a low point for Palestinian struggle. But then again: there were always Dahlans in the history of Palestinian struggle: there were Rashad Shawwa, Mustafa Dudin, Abu Za`im, and Muhammad `Ali Ja`bari. Where are they now? Dahlan of course has more support and aid than any occupation collaborator in the region (well, the Iraqi puppets are also well-supported too).

"His dabbling with marijuana and cocaine while a high school student has been admitted quickly and disappeared again without causing controversy." (Sometimes, I wonder. Would the information that I have been dabbling with eggplants since my childhood be damaging if I decide to run for public office?)

"Egypt charges four with spying for Israel" (In fact, they were charged with "competing with government business").

"U.S. Backing for Fatah Stirs New Conflict"

A Lebanese Minister promises: Hariri's anniversary will be "civilized." (How many times did I tell you that Lebanon is a "civilization" that I don't want to be part of. Spare me.)

If you want to understand the nature of the conspiracy in the Arab world, read the coverage of Palestinian infighting in Hariri rag, Al-Mustaqbal. Notice the headline.

"The Bush administration has time and again referred to Morocco as a moderate Arab state that deserves to receive millions of dollars of taxpayers’ money to encourage democratic reforms. American officials point to recent elections, changes in family law and a good growth rate as indicators of Morocco’s success. But they turn a blind eye to problems of press freedom. A democracy cannot be established unless independent journalists, whatever their political beliefs, are allowed to work and publish freely."

A Chart of "liberation": 31 days in Iraq. (Click to enlarge NOW).

"Anarchists block Tel Aviv street"

Hands off Iraq oil (thanks Shawna)

Peace is at hand. Peace is at hand. "The Bush administration is seeking a record military budget of $622 billion for the 2008 fiscal year, Pentagon officials have said. The sum includes more than $140 billion for war-related costs."

The mayor of New York City offers advice to Israel on how to deal with Arabs: "“I personally think Israel shouldn’t talk to them.”"

The Bush administration relies for its policy of "liberty" and "democracy" on key allies in the region. People like Dahlan, Maliki, `Allawi, Fatfat, and others. To increase the spread of democracy, Bush has invited to the Oval Office Amin Gemayyel. But my favorite news of the trip is this: An-Nahar (the right-wing, sectarian Christian, anti-Palestinian (people), anti-Syrian (people)) newspaper reports that Gemayyel will also "deliver lectures." Lectures by Amin Gemayyel are more painful that extracting your teeth by yourself, using office tools. Please enjoy.

"To demand that Palestinians recognize "Israel's right to exist" is to demand that a people who have been treated as subhumans unworthy of basic human rights publicly proclaim that they are subhumans. It would imply Palestinians' acceptance that they deserve what has been done and continues to be done to them. Even 19th-century US governments did not require the surviving native Americans to publicly proclaim the "rightness" of their ethnic cleansing by European colonists as a condition precedent to even discussing what sort of land reservation they might receive. Nor did native Americans have to live under economic blockade and threat of starvation until they shed whatever pride they had left and conceded the point."

"Here, even the Christians get in on the craziness. Our guide tells us many pilgrims are overcome by "Jerusalem Syndrome," and that, "at least once a year, someone tries to crucify themselves." "How do they manage that?" I ask. "It helps to bring a friend," he says." (thanks May)

"Somalia's routed Islamist leader Sheik Sharif Sheik Ahmed and the US ambassador to Kenya, Michael Ranneberger, have come to bidding over the release of 11 US servicemen reportedly captured by the defeated Islamists in southern Somalia. According to Al-Khaleej news agency, based in Emirates quoting the DPA news agency, reliable diplomatic sources indicate that at least the two men have had four rounds of talks over the American soldiers in the captivity of Islamists in southern jungles of the war-torn country, Somalia." (thanks Dale)

I don't know why, but it was most sad. The brave Bishop, Hillarion Capucci, who was expelled by Israel in the 1960s, was on Al-Jazeera TV. And he expressed his sentiments about Palestinian in-fighting in beautiful Arabic and in emotional terms. He talked about wanting to see Jersualem before he dies. So many things you don't see on Western TV. Wait: I forgot. You have to cover Bush's success in Iraq, and Paris Hilton's latest outings.

"U.S. can't prove Iran link to Iraq strife: Despite pledges to show evidence, officials have repeatedly put off presenting their case"

""Clearly, groundfire . . . has been more effective against our helicopters in the last couple of weeks,"" (the surge notwithstanding).

"The American proxy war in Gaza" (thanks Ali)

To my friends at Al-Akhbar newspaper: I am willing to give you a blender (with ten speeds) if you can publish one issue of the paper without a (fawning often) reference to the Saudi ambassador in Lebanon. OK?

Does this sentence in NIE's report not prove that the US administration (and the parroting US media) have been lying all along? "Iraq’s neighbors influence, and are influenced by, events within Iraq, but the involvement of these outside actors is not likely to be a major driver of violence or the prospects for stability because of the self-sustaining character of Iraq’s internal sectarian dynamics."

Assaad sent me this picture under the heading "Another Angry Arab". A Palestinian yells at an Israeli occupation soldier.

Al-Manar's coverage of Iraq. So you watch Al-Manar's coverage of Iraq, and it is bizarre. There are references to the occupation forces, and then there are references to the Iraqi puppet government: but the Iraqi puppet government is treated as a neutral or objective party to the conflict, as if it is not linked to (or installed by) the occupation. This coverage lends support to those who accuse Hizbullah of sectarian bias. Al-Manar can't try to convince anybody that Dahlan is any different from the puppet rulers of Iraq. Puppets of occupation are...puppets of occupation, o Al-Manar TV.

Anti-Islam bigots always receive respectful coverage in Israeli newspapers (not to mention US media).

"Over 150 Israelis and 150 Palestinians planted nearly 1,200 olive trees on Friday next to the West Bank village of Salam, near Nablus. The ceremony took part under the slogan, "planting solidarity between Israeli and Palestinian farmers." The trees were planted in an area where hundreds of trees had been uprooted or cut down in recent years, many of them by Israeli settlers living nearby."

In Arabic we say, An-Nawm Sultan (Sleep is Sultan). How true.