Finally, what Washington cares about in Arab world; maintaining Zionism
At least the New York Times and Obama administration are honest; for them, Egypt is all about Israel, Israel and Israel: The demonstrations against President Hosni Mubarak’s government in Egypt are rocking the relationship between the United States and its most important Arab ally. But they are also rocking an even more fundamental relationship for…
Better PR won’t help Israel and nor should it
This newly released video, for a campaign called Take Back Zionism, will do nothing for Israel’s image: When will these people learn? You won’t be taken seriously until you address the occupation of the West Bank and Gaza, fundamentalist rabbis and settlers and discrimination against Israeli Arabs. Featuring pretty young things in the US is…
Fighting the privatisation beast
The Greens are the only major Australian political party to reject the spurious “progress” of privatisation. It’s a disease so widely accepted by the corporate press and mainstream politicians that even suggesting it’ll lead to worse services for the public is almost never uttered. Well, it should be and loudly: The NSW Greens have vowed…
Thank God some reporters don’t idolise Petraeus
American reporter Michael Hastings wrote a devastating portrait last year of leading US military man Stanley McChrystal. It was clear, unafraid to upset the establishment and devastating. McChrystal resigned shortly after. Hastings is now back, with another fascinating essay on the war in Afghanistan, this time profiling the role of General David Petraeus. The conclusion…
The MSM struggles with being seriously challenged by Wikileaks
The latest Wikileaks cables show the US under Barack Obama was very keen to spy on Britain. I’m sure Washington is equally interested in hearing the gossip from Australian diplomatic circles though they may be rather disappointed. Canberra pretty much follows everything America does, especially the futile colonial wars. How noble. Of course, the media…
Beijing should be scared
Censoring content will never work in the long run: …The New Yorker‘s Evan Osnos points out. China’s 457 million Internet users (and 180 million bloggers) can no longer use the Chinese word for “Egypt” in microblogs or search engines. The government’s goal is to pre-empt any contagion effect that popular uprisings against autocracy in the…
Standing with the Egyptian people in Sydney
I was there today, in the heart of Sydney, on a sweltering day showing solidarity with the millions of Egyptians demanding change. No to Mubarak. No to Israeli/US backing of Arab dictatorships: Hundreds of demonstrators have staged an emotion-charged rally in Sydney demanding that beleaguered Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak stand down. In a passionate outpouring…