Ethnic/race war

"He explains how they invaded his home and investigated him and his family. "They found nothing. I am a police officer in the Ramallah government; I have nothing to do with Hamas."

Youths

"Seven youths suspected of having attacked an Arab youth were indicted Thursday on charges of aggravated assault. Three others were released from custody. One of the boys released, a 13-year old on whom not enough evidence had been found to file charges, told Ynet he had asked his friends to stop hitting the youth. He also claimed a number of other assailants had escaped arrest." Give them a few years and they will run for Congress here in the US."

Sheikh Mo woe

"There are increasing signs that the foreigners who once flocked to Dubai are leaving. “There is no way of tracking actual numbers, but the anecdotal evidence is overwhelming. Dubai is emptying out,” said a Western diplomat." (thanks Richard)

The Edward Said Family

I call on the family of Edward Said to speak out against that horrible letter by Daniel Barenboim.

Lebanon's commander-in-chief

Doesn't the Lebanese commander-in-chief, John Qawhaji, look like as if he is constantly being tickled?

It is biased to be even-handed

"Second, the administration must avoid taking what some refer to as an “evenhanded” approach." (thanks Olivia)

Why Kucinich?

"But here's the deal about the Kucinich hearing on Gaza. Kucinich's office didn't even notify the press. There was no press release. The Reuters and Associated Press daybooks were not notified. Maybe had C-Span been notified, they would have covered it. Maybe Al-Jazeera would have covered it. Maybe even some American television reporters would have covered it.After all, it was a rare event – a hearing on Palestine right smack dab in the middle of occupied territory." (thanks Rob)

Zionism= racism + terrorism

""This is a legitimate bill, which has already been proposed by Likud MK Yisrael Katz, but the problem with it is enforcement. It is legitimate to demand that the citizens of a state should be loyal to it," said Netanyahu in an interview with Channel 2. Netanyahu was referring to Lieberman's vow to pass a citizenship law that will "prevent the disloyalty of some of Israel's Arabs." Lieberman's hardline Yisrael Beiteinu has built its campaign ahead of next week's general election around the slogan: "No citizenship without loyalty," which is directed at Israeli Arabs, some of whom the party accuses of constituting a fifth column." (thanks Luay)

Bassam Abu Sharif

Abu Sharif has been critical of Abu Mazen because the Fatah gangs cut off funding to Abu Sharif since the death of Arafat. Here, Abu Mazen convinced UAE rulers to pay for Abu Sharif liver operation, and now you can expect Abu Sharif to praise the wisdom of Abu Mazen. Abu Sharif has been a principle-for-hire all his life. Abu Sharif is a symptom of a disease in the Palestinian Revolution. I blame George Habash for this one: there were many people in the PFLP who saw the corruption and unprincpleness in this man, but Habash protected him over the years. (thanks Mirvat)

Hamas vomit

I have often written critically of Hamas although I refrained from criticism of Hamas during the Israeli war on the Palestinian people of Gaza because it was a war on the Palestinian people of Gaza and Zionist terrorists often would like to change the subject and make it about the ideology of Hamas, as if there was any ideology of any Palestinian organization (from left to right to center to pacifist to radical, etc) that Zionist terrorists did not find objectionable if the organziation launched resistance against the terrorist occupation by Israel. I have believed ever since Hamas was elected (in the puppet-elections-under-occupation) that Hamas would now follow the lousy path of Fatah, but without the massive corruption that characterizes the movement of Aby Mazen-Dahlan gangs--although Rice have been telling us that those gangs reprsent "reform" and "transparency". Here, Isma`il Haniyyah, vomited a disgusting letter to the King of Saudi Arabia in which he said: "Your stance, o Servitor of the Two Holy Sites in the Kuwait summit and your speech revived the spirit of dignity, pride, and Arab untiy in the ummah...You stood on the side of righteousness and supported the oppressed...and brought a new hope in the Arab national and in a precious and free life to every Palestinian house..."

Tactics

"Numerous observers have charged Israel with committing war crimes during the war. Without downplaying that aspect, I think it is important to understand the 1,300 Palestinian casualties, including 400 children as well as many, many women, versus 13 Israeli casualties, as typical of a particular kind of “police action” that Western colonial powers and Western “ethno-cratic settler regimes” like ours in the U.S., Canada, Australia, Serbia and particularly apartheid South Africa, have historically undertaken to convince resisting native populations that unless they stop resisting they will suffer unbearable death and deprivation. Not just in 1947 and 1948, but also in Lebanon in 1982 and 2006, Israel used similar tactics." (thanks Nimer)

Angry Arab TV News

I have received enthusiastic messages from readers around the world--literally as Joe Biden would say--expressing their desire to volunteer for the upcoming Angry Arab TV News service. This is the beginning: we can first formulate a plan that I can post, and then we can make a list of the volunteers around the world and decide how to go about doing it. I will certainly depend on the volunteers because I am a bad organizer and bad manager. I will release more about this. We can start with a weekly newscast and then may make it daily. We may seek funding at a later stage.

Professor of Zionist terrorism

"Sending a soldier there to fight terrorists is justified, but why should I force him to endanger himself much more than that so that the terrorist's neighbor isn't killed? I don't have an answer for that. From the standpoint of the state of Israel, the neighbor is much less important. I owe the soldier more. If it's between the soldier and the terrorist's neighbor, the priority is the soldier. Any country would do the same." The decision regarding the magnitude of force used to protect the lives of the soldiers is up to the commander in the field. "The commander must be skilled in gauging the appropriate use of force," Kasher said."

To Daniel Barenboim: take your piano and go away

"By Daniel Barenboim

To the Editors: Your readers may be interested in the following statement by Daniel Barenboim and the list of those who have supported it.

Dina Haidar
Ilona Suschitzky
Emre Ülker
Paris, France

For the last forty years, history has proven that the Israeli–Palestinian conflict cannot be settled by force. Every effort, every possible means and resource of imagination and reflection should now be brought into play to find a new way forward. A new initiative which allays fear and suffering, acknowledges the injustice done, and leads to the security of Israelis and Palestinians alike. An initiative which demands of all sides a common responsibility: to ensure equal rights and dignity to both peoples, and to ensure the right of each person to transcend the past and aspire to a future."

I woke up to see a copy of this piece of trash in my inbox. I can't say that I was surprised because I saw the name of Daniel Barenboim on top, and never expected much from him. I never liked or trusted this man, and his friendship with Edward Said meant nothing to me. I never felt that I need to befriend an Israeli to complete my humanity or to prove my civility. I don't understand why Barenboim dares on the heels of the massacres of Gaza to lecture to the Palestinian people. This statement is a proof that Barenboim and every person who signed this lousy statement has declared himself/herself an enemy of the Palestinian people and their historical resistance movement which began a century ago. Just look at the political primises of the statement: they basically imply that both sides are at fault, or that both sides are just, and that we need to move on. Move on? At what price? And under which balance of forces. I would have no problem in signing this statement once we defeat Zionism and liberalte Palestine and ensure the return of the Palestinian refugees. Only then I would sign it. You see this statement is a sneaky (but not smart) way to basically legitimize the facts on the ground which have been achieved by force--in favor of Israel of course. This is like asking a family that has been conquered and beaten and shot at and whose house has been occupied by a merciless killer to sign a statement to foreswear force once and for all. And notice the very first phrase: "For the last forty years." Barenboim and his Zionist friends (every person who signed this statement and others in the Israeli terrorist army--those who signed this statement are basically identifying with the Israeli killers in Gaza, make no mistake about it) decide just like that to re-write the history of the Arab-Israeli conflict. Forty years? How did you achieve that magic number? By order from the Israeli military censor? You are telling me that prior to 1967 there was no Arab-Israeli conflict? I was born to the conflict and its discussion all around me, and I was born in 1960. Do I have to disbelieve my own memories? Do I have to disbelieve all those Israeli attacks on our lands? Do I have to go the Palestinian refugees in squalid camps throughout the Middle East and tell them that all your tears and pain and blood before 1967 were imaginary and that this is the case because Barenboim's Piano and his Zionist friends on this list have so decided? And then to vomit a flat out lie that the Arab-Israeli conflict can't be settled by force is to deny the realities in the holy land thus far. Did Israel not take Palestine by force? Did Israel not expel the Palestinian natives by force? Did Israel not occupy Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, and Egypt by force? Did Israel not bomb Tunisia, Egypt, Syria, Lebanon, Palestine, Jordan, and Iraq by force? Did Israel not achieve its status as the brutal hegemon in the region by force? You think that Israeli conquests were achieved by persuasion? And do you think that the word Palestinian was made famous in the world by peace and candle vigils? No, the world knew of the Palestinian people and their cause by virtue of the force that the Palestinians decided to pursue in the 1960s. And notice that this lousy statement refers to injustice but without identifying who was unjst to whom? The implications are clear: that there is a symmetry of pain and tears and blood by both sides, that both sides suffered injustice--perhaps by nature or by some outside force from another planet which killed hundreds of children in Gaza. And is it not cute how th Zionists on this list refer to security for both people? Yes, the side with nuclear weapons and other WMDs needs the same kind of reassuances and security guarantees as the side in refugee camps being bombed from the air, land, and sea by the Israeli terrorist army. And then they call on me to transcend the past? How cute is that? If the realities on the ground favor one side (the killers, the conquerers, the usurpers, the colonizers) then any call for transcending the past is a mere call for legitimizing and accepting not only occupation, but all the massive violence and terrorism that have been used and are still being use to ensure the supremacy of Israel. I never understood why Barenboim's piano playing or his friendship with Edward Said entitles him to offer preachments to the Palestinian people. I never liked this man or his statements on Palestine and avoided posting what people sent me about him. What is particularly offensive about this particularly offensive statement is that it came on the heels of the Israel festival of butchery in Gaza and said not word about what happened. That proves that those who signed it decided to ignore the suffering of the Palestinian people, and to support the violence of the occupiers. Make no mistake about it. The good thing is this: the Palestinian people in the camps don't give a shit what Debra Winger and other signatories on this list have to say on the Palestinian problem.

PS I am too pissed to write more this morning but just ask yourself this: would Netanyahu or Kahane object to this statement? I really think that both would not object to its contents. I will respond to this lousy statement in a long article in Arabic in Al-Akhbar.

Israel: Attack that killed Gaza girls ‘reasonable’

"The Palestinian doctor became a symbol of the Gaza offensive after he captivated Israeli TV viewers with a sobbing live report on the death of his three daughters in Israeli shelling. On Wednesday, Israel's military said its troops were fired on from nearby and called the mistaken identification of people in his house as combatants "reasonable.""

Pierre Abisab on May Shidyaq

Comrade Peirre on May Shidyaq's psycho-drama.

Project cancellations and/or suspensions in UAE

Project cancellations or suspensions in UAE. (thanks Saeed)

Iranian missiles technology

A military analyst who does not want to be identified sent me this: "The launch of the satellite suggests the extent of Iran technology capacity, which in turn feeds into its war fighting potential as well as its involvement in preventing Israel from establishing a hegemony in the Middle East which curtails its own legitimate national interests, as opposed to the illegitimate Israeli ones. Believe me Israel knows that Iran will never lob an atomic device onto Tel Aviv. There are so many reasons that would make an Iranian first strike simply out of the question. But if Iran is interested in nuclear weapons it would be for their deterrence capacity in the face of what Seymour Hirsh called 'Samson's Choice' when Israel resort to the use of its own nuclear weapons - and we know that Israel considered that and in the October 1973 and began arming their nuclear stockpiles.
OBSEREVATIONS
Over the last 20 years mounting evidence, now further confirmed by the launch of the satellite, suggest that Iran established a ballistic missiles traditions around a community of scientists and engineers in the two major R&D centers. Not a simple achievement. Their approach has been the classic one: modify successful technoplogy (mostly Soviet) to meet their requirements and gain significant experiences from the process to enable one to meet higher and more sophisticated requirement. The launch was apparently conducted with solid fuel! This is a breakthrough, despite the fact that liquid fuel that power the engines in Shehab 1 - 6 have become safer to handle. While the Shehab series were Medium Range Ballistic Missiles (MRBM) reaching 800-1200km, the claim in a previous test of a much longer range seems now validated, as may be seen in the length of the launch rocket in comparison with the earlier generations (extra length means extra fuel and longer There are reports of tests carried on multi-stage rockets in the North-East - but I discount all that, since I doubt the Iranians plan on attacking Sicily, although the Israelis would be ready to raise the alarm to the extent of recommending to the Iceland government building air-raid shelters! It is established that accuracy of the warhead even in the MRBM has increased substantially by introducing spin (as in a bullet from a rifle) that overcomes wind and other weather factors. This is quite significant, because the Scud missiles that Iraq lobbed onto Israel in the Gulf war lacked such precision, and rendered them only suitable for targeting populated areas - for 'shock and awe' purposes! But while there must be considerable guidance features in the avionics I do not have information about rocket and warhead self-guidance. This is probably one of the the problem the scientists are working on in the Shaheed Himmat Industrial Group - one of the two principal R&D sites. I doubt if Iran has real telemetry issues - that is communications with the rocket and the satellite. The initial sources are not clear whether Chinese or Russian - but then, they were not unhappy monitoring the existing Iranian satellites in orbit launched on a Russian rocket a couple of years ago!
DETERRANCE
The significance of these developments, and indeed, in the entire missile technology effort, now that confirmation of advances have been made, is increased deterrence preventing a foolish attack on Iran (at least an entire rocket Birgade is presumed to have been setup a year ago armed with some 90 Shehab 3 with 200 in reserve). This is very important for the US administration - even if it was headed by McCain.
TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER
It means too, that technology transfer to Iran's friends is a corrollary further reducing the tilt in the strategic balance in favor of Israel and consolidating the establishment of the new 'second front' for Israel - right within it! Already Iranian SRBM are deployed in Syria.
CURRENT TASKS
I believe that Iran's scientists would be working now on the guidance systems, as well as the high-explosive warheads. This would lead to the manufacture of high precision bombs, as well, which accords with the statement made by their Air Force chief a couple of days ago, about the Iranian Stealth bomber."

By stealth?

"Extremist rabbis and their followers, bent on waging holy war against the Palestinians, are taking over the Israeli army by stealth, according to critics." (thanks Marcy)

Israeli political credentials

"The other day, the Labor Party leader, Ehud Barak, was quoted in the newspaper Haaretz as criticizing Lieberman as a lamb in hawk’s clothing, asking: “When has he ever shot anyone?”"

Zionism: Theft and occupation and terrorism

"Over 30 settlements - including longstanding settlements such as Ariel, Kochav Yaakov, Beit El, Elon Moreh and Ofrah - that were to some extent built on private Palestinian land. Construction activity within settlements being conducted without necessary building permits or in direct violation of the building plans. The extent and locations of unauthorized building in outposts across the West Bank." (thanks Michele)

terrorist justifications

Ethan Bronner continues to justify Israeli terrorist killing of civilians in Gaza: "The dozen or so civilian deaths seem like the painful but inevitable outcome of a modern army bringing war to an urban space." I am sure that Bin Laden would love to use these justifications for his terrorism.

Dog-eaten cadavers

"As they were still reassembling dog-eaten cadavers of kids in Gaza, an envelope from Aipac dropped in my mailbox. The self-proclaimed most powerful lobby in Washington had sent me a pre-printed post card to sign and mail to my congressman, urging him to support increased military aid to the Israel over the next decade." (thanks Olivia)

Why I am a conspiracy theorist

"Warren is an aspiring author as well as a spy. Eight years ago, he published a pulp thriller called "The People of the Veil." The hero of the book is a U.S. diplomat, based in Algiers, who battles terrorists trying to take over the U.S. Embassy. In a subplot, the hero, Nick Phillips, has an affair with Mariam, a beautiful Algerian woman who shunned Arab men ("because they were too controlling") but fell in love with Nick because he "respected her and treated her as an equal," and who "never pressured her and understood her culture." Speaking anonymously in order to be candid, one of Warren's former instructors at the "Farm," where spies are trained, told NEWSWEEK that Warren was "a loose cannon" whose confidence "bordered on narcissism." Still, he added, people at the agency "are crushed by this." A former academic mentor, Professor William Alexander of Norfolk State University, described Warren as "an incredible person" and said that he had been working on a second novel." Do you know the evidence of the conspiracy? There is an almost complete blackout on this story in the Arabic press, including AlJazeera. They probably fear embarrassing the American patron. (thanks Ali)

Gaza 2009

Gaza 2009 (Marc is the military analyst for Human Rights Watch--but don't tell anybody)

UNCLASSIFIED: CIA HISTORICAL REVIEW PROGRAM

"Patai's book is clearly the product of a profound knowledge of Arab civilization. The book is well organized and, for a scholarly study, especially interestingly and elegantly written. The author does a masterful job of integrating his knowledge of the many facets of the culture, such as the language, the arts and literature, and child-rearing practices, and then delineating the ways that these cultural variables influence personality development. In this respect, it is appropriate to compare Patai's book with Sania Hamady's The Temperament and Character o f the Arabs, published in 1960, since the objective of both authors was the same-the delineation of Arab national character. While Hamady and Patai reach many of the same conclusions about the Arabs, Patai's analysis and explanation of the "why" of their behavior places his study on a considerably higher analytical plane than that of Hamady. The specialist on the Arabs may not discover anything startlingly new about Arab character or world view in Patai's book, but he will probably acquire a better appreciation of the cultural and psychological wellsprings of Arab behavior. It is in this latter respect that The Arab Mind is an important contribution to the scholarly literature on the Arabs." (thanks Mohamed)

Life is microphones

Rashad Abu Shawar on chief PA's buffoon (or "blowhard" as James Baker called him in his recent book), Sa'ib `Urayqat (thanks Mirvat)

Where is `Abdul-`Aziz Al-Hakim?

Where is `Abdul-`Aziz Al-Hakim? I know that his family is very busy (reportedly) with embezzlement but still.

Somali developments

My confidential (and "highly-placed") Somali source sent me this information on the new president of Somalia: "What I can tell you about him is my own observations of him and his team (the ARS) during the last 9 months but also the differents talks and discussions that I had with manu Somalis and others participants during the negociations of the Djibouti Agreement. What struck me from the beginning was the discipline of Sheikh Sharif at many level: I never saw him loosing his temper even during the most heated times of the negociations. Secondely, I was really amazed by the discipline of his team of negociations: always on time and well prepared... while the TFG team were always in disarray and fighting each others. Third, the composition of his team is very diverse: intellectuals, business peoples, women, youths, elders... etc. And, althought I never had the chance to participate at one of their private meeting, I get informations from some of the participants that Sheikh Sharif style is a participatory one, that he have a great skill when it come to listen to everyones and that he also have great communications skills. Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed was born on July 25, 1964 in the Shabeellaha Dhexe province of Somalia and studied at Libyan and Sudanese universities. He has worked as a secondary school teacher of geography, Arabic, and religious studies. He speaks Arabic, Somali, and English, and he is from the Abgaal branch of the Hawiye clan (one of the two major clan in Somalia, the other one is the Darood clan).. Sheik Sharif Sheikh Ahmed started his education in Somalia at the Sheik Sufi Institute which was connected to the University of Al-Azhar in Egypt. He then continued his education by entering into Kurdufan University in Sudan where he persued a degree in Islamic law. He the left for Tripoli, Libya and entered into the Open University there where he completed his Islamic law degree in 1998. He came back to Somalia in 2000 when the TFG was created during the Arta Conference in Djibouti and the election of a first president (that was close to the Islamist): Abdikasim Salad Hassan. Soon after, he became involved with the ICU that will take power in Mogadishu from the warlords in June 2006. On December 28, 2006, after only six months in power and the defeat of the ICU's army, he committed himself to fighting the Ethopian forces in Somalia. After the ICU's defeat, he fled towards the Kenyan border. Sheikh Sharif is married and he have two children, Ahmad, aged 9 and Abdullah, who is a toddler. He live in a modest house in Mogadishu. The others things that I can tell you is that for the first time, the MPs vote wasn't a vote based on clan and ethnicity but a sign that a lot of MPs see Sheikh Sharif as a geniune leader that can bring everyone togheter. Beside, I witnessed from my discussion with the MPs and others Somali participants that there is a real fatigue of the ongoing fight. Sheikh Sharif is the only one people remember that brought peace and security to Mogadishu from the warlords in 2006. Furthermore, he is young, talented, and a lot of peoples were telling me that he is an "honest guy" compared to all the others politicians. Finally, a lot of people appreciate the fact that this guy is not ashamed of being a muslim during a time when that definition is associated with terrorism. That's all for now As'ad!"

Who?

On the plight of Arab women by the talented Layal Haddad

The enemy of my enemy is also my enemy

Comrade Joseph: "The Egyptian regime, which considers Israel its most important ally in the region after the United States, believes correctly that Israel is not trying to undermine it, which is why Israel has not been an enemy of Egypt since the mid 1970s. The days when Israel tried to destroy the Arab nationalist regime of Gamal Abdel Nasser are over, and since his successor Anwar Sadat's capitulationist overtures, Israel has been a sure supporter of the Egyptian regime, which supports Israel in turn, sometimes as many have recently speculated, to the regime's own detriment. Since the Reagan years, Israel has also become the friend of the Saudi regime and later the rest of the Gulf monarchies, not to mention its longstanding friendship with the Moroccan kings. The Tunisian regime of Habib Bourguiba also refused to consider Israel an enemy since the 1960s as had fascist Christian forces in Lebanon which considered it and still consider it a friend. Most important in this context is how the Palestinian Authority (PA) under Yasser Arafat and Mahmoud Abbas no longer considered Israel an enemy, except briefly under Arafat before he died and when he realized that Israel was out to unseat him. Otherwise, both Arafat and Abbas, whose term as PA president expired on 9 January, could not and cannot get enough hugs and kisses from Israel's war criminal leaders." (in Arabic)

Middle East news broadcast

I woke up with this idea: to have an Angry Arab daily Middle East newscast. Of course, I don't have the time to manage and organize but may be seeking volunteers at some point (or can seek funding at a later point) . We can have a volunteer correspondent in many countries in the world , and they can contribute brief daily reports about developments in that country delivered through a webcam or some other form, and then we can collect in a daily newscast on the Web. This can begin on weekly basis, and then can become a daily newscast about Middle East developments. This may become essential as Saudi dominance in the media expands, especially as Qatar does not seem eager to confront Saudi provocations and hegemony.

Royal Contributions

Talal Salman on Arab royal "contributions"

Somali developments

My special (highly placed) source in Somalia sent me this: "Long time that I didn't write you about Somalia peace process going on in Djibouti...The last two weeks, the Ethiopian army completed their withdrawal of Somalia, a new enlarged Parliament was formed passing from 275 MPs to 550 MPs. Last night, the new Parliament met under heavy security (there were clear threats from the Shabab movement that they will try suicide operations) to elect a new president" There were 14 candidates but the 2 most important contenders were Sheikh Sharif and Nuur Addeh (prime minister). The later was clearly enjoying a lot of support from the US, the EU and in an indecent way by the Italian ambassador in Djibouti (by giving a lot money and even making available a 747 Boeing carrier for his traveling). After the first round, Nuur Addeh came at the third place and was beaten by the son of the former dictator of Somalia Mohamed Siad Barreh (Mr. Maslah M. Siad Barreh) by one vote! Nuur Addeh was really and litteraly living the meaning of his name: Addeh means in somali the "whitty" (the face of the guy was completely white!). He decided to withdraw from the second round. This is the number of each ones after the first round: Sheikh Sharif=215, Maslah M. Siad Barreh=60, Nuur Addeh=59. At the second round, Sheikh Sharif won 293 votes while the son of the former dictatur of Somalia who took power by a Coup d'etat and destroyed a very democratic government, won 126 votes. Immediately after the swearing ceremony, Sheikh Sharif will go to Addis Ababa (capital of Ethiopia) to participate at the African Union meeting. It will be great to see the faces of the Ethiopian government who will receive the leader of the Islamic Union courts, the same group that they were suppose to fight against. (please don't mention my name, thanks!)"

Winning hearts AND minds

"The document reads depressingly like a treatment for an Abu Ghraib-inspired sequel involving American power, the Arab world, sexual violence, and digital photography. As the text shows, there appear to be layers of this story yet to be revealed—none of them likely to help President Obama’s outreach campaign in the Muslim world. The document refers, for example, to multiple women photographed by Warren, the alleged assailant, whom it describes as a convert to Islam." (thanks Laleh)

Palestinian refugees in Lebanon

"Despite facing severe work restrictions, most Palestinian refugee households have at least one family member who is employed, constitute 10 per cent of all private consumption in Lebanon, and do not burden the Lebanese welfare system, a recent report has found."

Liberated

"The mortality caused by the war is also high. Several household surveys were conducted between 2004 and 2007. While there are differences among them, the range suggests a congruence of estimates. But none have been conducted for eighteen months, and the two most reliable surveys were completed in mid-2006. The higher of those found 650,000 "excess deaths" (mortality attributable to war); the other yielded 400,000. The war remained ferocious for twelve to fifteen months after those surveys were finished and then began to subside. Iraq Body Count, a London NGO that uses English-language press reports from Iraq to count civilian deaths, provides a means to update the 2006 estimates. While it is known to be an undercount, because press reports are incomplete and Baghdad-centric, IBC nonetheless provides useful trends, which are striking. Its estimates are nearing 100,000, more than double its June 2006 figure of 45,000."

Wahhabi lessons

"Saudi Arabia yesterday urged the Palestinians to adopt a new and realistic concept of resistance that would realize their unity, strengthen their legitimate organizations, protect their lives and properties and ensure their legitimate rights." To be lectured on resistance by Saudi Wahhabi royals is like being lectured on peace by Bush.

Saudi Promotion of Virtue

"The Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice and the Public Prosecution in Makkah are investigating the case of an Indonesian AIDS victim who was raped by 46 men, including one police officer, around a month ago." (thanks Olivia)

Foreign maids in Lebanon

"News reports on Wednesday said the Sri Lankan helper was being treated for wounds and fractures she suffered after throwing herself from the second floor of the embassy building. She is in critical condition." Notice that this item was buried at the end of the article and that the headline focused on the theft. (thanks Laure)

Saudi justice

30 lashes for a Sudanese who smoked on a Saudi airline (thanks ls)

Memory of George Habash

"About 30 demonstrators from the Israeli-Arab Abnaa elBalad Movement (Sons of the Land) rallied in Haifa yesterday in protest of a police decision to ban an open-air memorial service for George Habash, the founder of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine. The PFLP is considered a terrorist organization in Israel." (thanks Marcy)

Kahanism = Zionism

Do you think that I find any difference between Labor, Likud, Kadima and Kach? They are all the same as far as I am concerned.

Foxman against Moyers

"Take, for example, Foxman's recent attack on Bill Moyers (a longstanding friend and occasional supporter of my work). When Moyers broadcast a less than laudatory commentary about Israel's Gaza invasion, Foxman accused the veteran journalist and liberal icon of--I kid you not--"moral equivalency, racism, historical revisionism, and indifference to terrorism." (You can read it online, together with Moyers's response.) The incident says far more about Foxman than Moyers. As M.J. Rosenberg of the Israel Policy Forum observed, Moyers "is one of the most admired figures in America. This attack will harm not at all. It will, in fact, enhance his reputation just as Ed Murrow's was enhanced by the attacks on him during the McCarthy era." Still, it is demonstrative of the maximalist Manichaean mindset that characterizes so much of American Jewish officialdom. Among Moyers's myriad sins, says Foxman, was his "ignorance of the terrorist threat against Israel, claiming that checkpoints, the security fence, and the Gaza operation are tactics of humiliation rather than counter-terrorism."" (thanks Sellam)

Did you say jump, o Zionist Master?

"For the past twenty years or so I've been working as a fixer, translator, advisor – call it whatever you want – with most of the foreign media. And of course in this work with the international media I got myself a number of jobs, one of which I'm still doing. I even have colleagues here. For the past twenty years I've been working with NBC News, and I was blogging for Commentary Magazine also. I was writing for U.S. News and World Report, occasionally for the Wall Street Journal, and a number of British tabloids. In the course of this work with the international media I became a writer and analyst of Palestinian affairs and a film producer for the BBC. About eight years ago, when the Second Intifada started, I started writing for the Jerusalem Post about Palestinian issues. And I still work with the international media. My job is to serve as the eyes and ears of the international media." The thing about Khaled Abu Toameh is that he would have been a great asset to his Zionist masters/handlers if he were talented: the man can't write and can't speak and his intellectual powers are akin to those of Sa`d Haddad. (thanks Ben)