The source of the latest violence in Lebanon is murky, at best. In the latest edition of the Cairo-based paper al-Ahram Weekly, some essential background: Little ground support is evident for Fatah Al-Islam among the Lebanese or Palestinians and both, initially, backed army bombardment of Nahr Al-Bared. Palestinian outrage, however, mounted with the civilian death…
Showing all posts in June 2019
Amnesty gives the Israel and the US an F
Yesterday, Amnesty International published a report dealing with Israel and the Occupied Territories. It is a very comprehensive report and is a must read. Ynet published THIS about the Report, without comment. The Jerusalem Post made an attempt at comment, but not much could be said to counter what Amnesty had to say. Israel’s response…
When talking points collide
A contradiction if I ever saw one. So, we’re fighting “them” over there so we don’t fight them here, if we leave they’ll follow us home, we’re fighting al Qaeda terrorists who want to kill us all, etc… etc… Except if the Iraqi government asks us to leave we’ll go home and wait for destruction.…
We’re winning – really
Glenn Greenwald poses a good question and gives us a telling answer: Q. If you’re a Bush administration official and you want to create a prominent headline in Time Magazine proclaiming what great improvement there is in Iraq, what do you do? A. Have someone with a shiny military uniform go and flatter Joe Klein…
Educating Rudi
Following Giuliani’s dummy spit during the last Republican debate, it occurred to Ron Paul that poor Rudi is factually challenged. Paul has offered to help him get up to speed on foreign affairs. It might come in useful if he were ever to become president. “I’m giving Mr. Giuliani a reading assignment,” the nine-term Texas…
Even worse than the Republicans
Keith Olberman tells it like it is, more than once. Even for those with low expectations, the Democrats have not not only been a miserable failure, but have betrayed their voters. You, the men and women elected with the simplest of directions—Stop The War—have traded your strength, your bargaining position, and the uniform support of…
How useful they are
The Egyptian blogosphere is vibrant, brave and regularly reports on issues ignored by the mainstream media. Take extraordinary rendition. The case of Abu Omar – the latest here reported by Hossam el-Hamalawy – is a classic case of US intervention, state repression and media silence. And where else could you read this gem?
Energy needs
What else could Hamas really do? The militant Hamas movement has launched a stinging attack on BG Group and vowed to block a potential …£2 billion deal being brokered by the company to supply Palestinian gas to Israel. The Islamist group told The Times that any agreement would be equivalent to a modern-day “Balfour Declaration”…
Tough Jews battle for the (shiny Zionist) crown
This week’s Australian Jewish News contains some letters that really don’t need an introduction, or explanation. Just pity: IMAGINARY BOGEYMAN IAJV signatory Lewis Rassaby (AJN 18/5) claims that “whatever the merits of his opinions”, Antony Loewenstein is “at least brave enough to stand up for what he thinks”. And this is brave – why? Loewenstein…
Justice served
The only leading mainstream journalist to champion the human rights of the citizens of Diego Garcia has been John Pilger. For most other reporters, the island was simply a military base, useful for US aims in the Middle East. Now, after years of struggle, justice has arrived: Hundreds of Indian Ocean islanders who were forcibly…