"British, Danish and Australian warplanes took part in the U.S.-led coalition's airstrike Saturday that reportedly killed more than 60 Syrian government troops and threatened to unravel the "cessation of hostilities," military officials said Monday." (thanks Amir)
Tuesday, September 20, 2016
Restaurant owner puts up “Muslims get out” sign
"A Minnesota restaurant owner is drawing controversy over a sign telling Muslim customers to “get out.”
The sign outside Treats Family Restaurant in Lonsdale, Minnesota, reads “Muslims Get Out.” A second line reads “In Support Of St. Cloud,” reports CBS Minnesota.
On Saturday, a man stabbed several people at a St. Cloud mall, allegedly asking victims if they were Muslim before attacking them.
Restaurant owner Dan Ruedinger said the sign has led to some backlash, but he says business is up so much that he had to call in three extra workers Monday.
“It’s time that people started standing up, not worrying about the PC crowd and do what is right,” Ruedinger said. “And I feel what we’re doing is right. We are not targeting the Muslims in general, just the extremists. And that’s all I can say. It’s my right and I’m going to stand up, and I wish more people would do it.”"
While Western governments prostrate before UAE royals, this is how UAE regime avoided dissent
"Three years ago, the UAE government prosecuted en masse 94 government critics and activists who called for reform in the Emirates.
Since this time, there has been no Arab Spring-like uprising. No anti-government protests that have come close to shaking the ruling regime. Yet the state-sponsored repression of human rights advocates and journalists continues unabated.
Arrests, enforced disappearances, torture, unfair trials, deportations, and revocation of citizenships are among the tactics the UAE authorities regularly deploy to silence dissident voices and make sure that no such uprising takes place within its borders.
This week, 33-year-old Amina Abdouli is scheduled to appear before the Supreme Federal Court on charges related to her activities on Twitter. According to Amnesty International, she stands accused of:"…creating and running two Twitter accounts and publishing information with the aims of inciting hatred against the State and disturbing public order; mocking and damaging the reputation of State institutions; publishing false information about Saudi Arabia and making derogatory remarks about an Egyptian official with the aim of endangering the State’s relations with Saudi Arabia and Egypt…
Social Media and Pol participation lab at NYU: What "ordinary Arabs" think--provided they think in line of what the Gulf government thinks
"Look at this scientific sample selection of Arab tweets: "While it certainly does
not comprise a representative sample, the demographic makeup of the Arab online sphere has become progressively more diverse in recent years, and the percentage of social media uses that
report discussing politics, community issues, or religion online ranges from 60 to 81% across the
region. Social media sites are remarkably popular in the Gulf, with Saudi Arabia boasting the
highest Twitter penetration in the world. As a result, social media data provide detailed real-time
views into shifting narratives and interest levels in response to events on the ground." So how representative is this sample when most are in the Gulf and in that region any tweet that does not conform to the views of the governments can land one in jail? The Washington Post billed this as the views of "ordinary Arabs". Public opinion surveying is not a science in general, but public opinion surveys of Arab opinion by Western firms are really quackery. Notice that according to the lab almost all Arabs have one view on Syria--the view which conforms to the views of Washington Post and New York Times and their correspondents in the Middle East.
Ahmad Rahami's father on FBI's investigation of his son
"“Two years ago I go to the F.B.I. because my son was doing really bad, O.K.?” he said. “But they check almost two months, they say, ‘He’s O.K., he’s clean, he’s not a terrorist.’ I say O.K.” He added: “Now they say he is a terrorist. I say O.K.”"
The New York Times uncovered major terrorist leanings of the father of Ahmad Rahami
"While the father said he did not harbor anti-American feeling, he opposed the war in Afghanistan." The jerk opposed the war in Afghanistan? He must surely be a terrorist then. I suggest for safety to round up all those who opposed the war in Afghanistan. Who but terrorists opposed it?
This won't appear in the uniform Western press: Yazidis withdrew from Syrian National Coalition
Complaining about lack of justice and democracy, Yazidis withdraws officially from the Syrian National Coalition. Notice that Western media never report what could be harmful to the propaganda efforts and image of Syrian rebels.
New York Times covers Jordan election
"In Jordan, ideological arguments split the group into rival factions, with one recognized by the government as the official Brotherhood." Ideological splits? The regime split the party and confiscated its property and gave them to its tool. ""The fact that Jordan is actually holding elections ...in a region that is full of blood and fight and weapons — that in itself is important," he said. "It shows the strength of this country, and the credibility of its institutions and the reform process."" What? Strength and credibility? The lousy Syrian regime held elections, is that also a sign of credibility? If this sham election is being held in Syria or Iran, the Western media would be mocking it.
Only Zionist media would talk about the sham election in Jordan in this way
New York Times headline: "Jordan Election Seen as Small Step Toward Democratic Reform". Seen? by Whom? by Israel?
Jordanian regime creates its own opposition and Western media cheer its "democratic reform"
"We in Jordan have our own unique example of political participation," says Ms Tahboub. "As an Islamic movement, we're part of the system. Even when we were boycotting we were part of the official opposition." (thanks Basim)
According to Adonis, the Syrian people didn't protest against the Asad regime: this guy has no connection to reality whatsoever
Read about his latest horrible vulgar Orientalist remarks about Islam and such. But it just occurred to me, Adonis is a famous atheist and he tours and speaks throughout the Arab world. I remind you of this given the Western media schtick that there are no atheists allowed in the Arab world.
Monday, September 19, 2016
American Muslims on the cases of terrorism
To ask American Muslims and American Muslim organizations to condemn acts of violence and terrorism by individual Muslims is as crazy as asking White Americans and White American organizations to condemn acts of violence and terrorism by individual whites. Condemnation of violence and terrorism by the population should be expected and not required only from certain group which are deemed to be more suspicious.
Drudge Report
Drudge Report does not differ in any substantial way from the Nazi anti-Semitic propaganda media of the 1930s in Germany. And there is such acceptance of his role by all in the media establishment, with the Republicans desperate to win his endorsement (as Trump has).
BY the way: he is alive. Desmond Totu dead: a man who was never intimidated by American Zionists
"Desmond Tutu, the noted civil rights leader who became the first black archbishop of Cape Town, compared Israel's treatment of the Palestinians to the apartheid regime that discriminated against blacks in his native South Africa. Tutu, the Nobel Peace laureate, told News24, a South African media entity, criticized Israeli policies toward the Palestinians in the territories as "humiliating." "I have witnessed the systemic humiliation of Palestinian men, women and children by members of the Israeli security forces," he said in a statement."
Elections in Jordan
Now it is noticeable that US and Western media are not covering the silly elections in Jordan. As far as selections go, this is not worth covering at all: it is as insignificant as the elections in Syria. But what is worth covering is the extent to which the regime plays with the elections rules and the conditions in which the candidates compete. That is worth covering but it is becoming rarer and rarer to find US media covering corruption and abuse in regimes that are aligned with US/Israel. Increasingly especially in the Middle East and also in other regions, US media have become a propaganda voice for US government.
An Israeli war criminal at Harvard this Wednesday.
Ehud Barak, former Israeli PM and Defense Secretary during Operation Cast Lead in Gaza in 2008-09, is coming on Wednesday at 6 pm.
NGOs in the Middle East
US media and Western human rights groups are more worried about the plight of NGOs in the Middle East than about civilians who die from US or Russian bombs.
Hate Crimes Against American Muslims Most Since Post-9/11 Era
"Hate crimes against American Muslims have soared to their highest levels since the aftermath of the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks, according to data compiled by researchers, an increase apparently fueled by terrorist attacks in the United States and abroad and by divisive language on the campaign trail."
Saudi Arabia appears to be using U.S.-supplied white phosphorus in its war in Yemen
"Saudi Arabia appears to be using U.S.-supplied white phosphorous munitions in its war in Yemen, based on images and videos posted to social media, raising concerns among human rights groups that the highly incendiary material could be used against civilians."
Who will take over from Adnani within ISIS? Meet the new Saudi graduate of government rehabilitation program of terrorists
So Trad Al-Jarba, is a Saudi national who graduated from the Saudi government rehabilitation program of terrorists. After he was released by the Saudi regime, has he joined ISIS and is now slated to become the number two figure within ISIS. DO you remember those fawning articles about the virtues of the Saudi rehabilitation programs in the US press? I do.
US helps ISIS takes over Jabal Tharda
"The Royal Australian Air Force has now admitted its forces were involved in the strike, which a Syrian army general claimed was proof the US and its allies were supporting ISIS." "Islamic State said in a statement on its Amaq news channel it had gained "complete control" over Jebel Tharda."
Florida terrorist: According to Schreiber’s Facebook page, he is also a fan of the Israeli Ministry of Defense, IDF Women, the Israeli American Council of Florida
"The man accused of setting fire to the Islamic Center of Fort Pierce in Florida a week ago is an ardent supporter of Israel who labeled all forms of Islam as “radical.” "According to Schreiber’s Facebook page, he is also a fan of the Israeli Ministry of Defense, IDF Women, the Israeli American Council of Florida and the Messianic Jewish Alliance of America." "On 17 June, Schreiber posted 11 videos from the The Israel Project, a politically connected right-wing organization that specializes in feeding anti-Palestinian and anti-Muslim propaganda to journalists and policy makers."
Director of Human Rights Watch is now banking on US bombing to bring human rights to Syria
Kenneth Roth: "As US kills 80 Syrian soldiers, is it sending Assad a signal for his deadly intransigence?" (thanks Amir)
Sunday, September 18, 2016
This story was barely covered in US media; can you imagine if this little child was killed by the convoy of a Russian diplomat?
"Vehicle in Convoy of U.S. Ambassador to U.N. Kills Boy in Cameroon". And did his family receive $400 from the US government? What is the running price these days for a black or brown child killed by the US government?
When New York Times cites "residents" as source of its information: Anne Barnard on Syria
Look at this sentence: "and residents have reported deaths and casualties as well as the use of incendiary bombs". But this is what curious: since 2011, the New York Times has not been able to find any "residents" who reported deaths and casualties as well as the use of incedeniary bombs by Syrian rebels. What gives? Will there be one professor in some journalism school in the US who will finally teach a course on Western Media Coverage of the Syrian Conflict: Lessons for Journalism 101?
Ben Hubbard on Syria III
"And the day before Mr. Assad’s birthday on Sept. 11, for which his supporters created a fawning website," In fact, if you click on the fawning website, it only has Happy Birthday wishes. But hey, Hubbard can read Arabic (even if accompanied by English translation).
Ben Hubbard on Syria II
What is hilarious about this article is that it starts with the standard Western cliche: that Bashshar Al-Asad has only stayed in power by virtue of foreign support: "Despite widespread opposition to his rule, a combination of factors has enabled Mr. Assad to persevere, analysts say. His foes have remained divided and have failed to convince many Syrians, especially religious minorities, that they would protect their rights or run the country better than Mr. Assad." Yet, by the end of the article--and in passing of course--he made another realization: "But Mr. Assad still has significant support in areas he controls, including among many Syrians who want the war to end and see no alternative to his rule." Which is which, Ben? Make up your mind.
Ben Hubbard of the Times on Syria
What is fascinating about Western reporting about Syria is not only its outright bias: bias is not new, the US mainstream media have been biased about Israel since its very founding and it only because more biased over the years. It also has been biased in favor of the US position in every regional conflict in the world from the Balkans to Latin America to Africa, etc. But what is fascinating is that the coverage of Syria has went from biased reporting to crude and vulgar propaganda full of emotionalism which are usually eschewed by US media (in theory). Look at this article and its language: such language would never make it in the paper about the Saudi despot or the Jordanian despot or the Moroccan despot. The article even cites such quotations: "“Those birds were a deep message from heaven, whereas Bashar’s presence was just a parade, showing the muscles of a weak person,” Mr. Rifai said in an online chat."
If this Human Rights Watch staffer said those same words about Netanyahu he would be out of a job within hours
“The fact that many leaders are considering or willing to deal with him today as if he has not gassed his own people or tortured thousands to death is an indictment of the current policy environment across the world,” Mr. Houry said. “There is a level of cynicism, a lack of ambition.” Notice that Human Rights Watch staffer, like Western correspondents in the region, only let loose in their rhetoric against tyrants if they happen to be opposed to the Saudi regime. Can you imagine this same person calling on the world to not deal with the Saudi despot, for example? If there is one benefit of the Syrian war, it is two: 1) that Adonis would never win the Nobel Prize in literature. 2) that Western human rights organizations and even "relief" organizations have been exposed as being mere tools of US foreign policy.
Has Reuters (which in the past succumbed to Saudi pressures in moving a correspondent out of the country after royal complaints) been bought off?
"Traditional Wahhabi doctrine in Saudi Arabia is ultra-conservative, viewing Shi'ites as heretical, but the authorities welcome them to the haj and accepts Iranian visits to the Saudi-based Organization of Islamic Cooperation." (thanks Basim)
Ironies of US bombing of Syrian regime troops
1) And you wonder that some (or many) in the Middle East are convinced that the US has been colliding with ISIS from the beginning? Here is a case where there was a military engagement between one side and ISIS and US bombing went against the foes of ISIS (never mind the mainstream Western media narrative that Syrian regime troops never fight ISIS).
2) the audacity of the Syrian regime in its feigning outrage at the violation of Syrian sovereignty. First, the Israeli occupation has been violating Syrian sovereignty since 1967 (and certainly since the Asad regime took over in 1970) while the Syrian regime has been promising that it will eventually set the time and place of the battle with Israel. All those foreign armies and fighters in Syria and the Syrian regime woke up to its sovereignty?
3) that the US government claims that it only wants (sometimes but not always) Bashshar Al-Asad out of power) but that it will keep the Syrian army intact. This reminds one of US handling of the Iraqi army in 2003.
4) It is interesting that US government was more sorry in targeting Syrian regime troops than in killing regularly Syrian civilians in the course of its bombing in Syria.
2) the audacity of the Syrian regime in its feigning outrage at the violation of Syrian sovereignty. First, the Israeli occupation has been violating Syrian sovereignty since 1967 (and certainly since the Asad regime took over in 1970) while the Syrian regime has been promising that it will eventually set the time and place of the battle with Israel. All those foreign armies and fighters in Syria and the Syrian regime woke up to its sovereignty?
3) that the US government claims that it only wants (sometimes but not always) Bashshar Al-Asad out of power) but that it will keep the Syrian army intact. This reminds one of US handling of the Iraqi army in 2003.
4) It is interesting that US government was more sorry in targeting Syrian regime troops than in killing regularly Syrian civilians in the course of its bombing in Syria.
Saturday, September 17, 2016
By the way, the story that this dude is peddling (that Phalanges Party apologized for Sabra and Shatila massacres) is false
Gemayel has never apologized and this statement which he posted is taken from an effort by a group of Lebanese to write what Parties should be saying if they were to atone for their past crimes.
PS Not that an apology for war crimes suffices.
PS Not that an apology for war crimes suffices.
Obama's legacy
"The Obama administration has signed a $38 billion military aid pact with Israel in what the State Department boasts is the “single largest pledge of bilateral military assistance in US history.” The record agreement will provide Israel with $3.8 billion annually over 10 years beginning in 2019, up from $3.1 billion under the current deal. At a time when the US government supposedly can’t afford to provide poor and working Americans with basic services like universal health care – something Israelis enjoy – it is striking that there is always money available to enable Israel’s ongoing destruction of Palestine. Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton, who has expressed opposition to universal health care and free college tuition, cheered the aid deal. “Senator [Tim] Kaine and I applaud the agreement on a new memorandum of understanding regarding American security assistance to Israel,” said Clinton in a statement released by her campaign. Clinton also used the deal as an opportunity to saber-rattle against Iran, show off her military hawkishness against ISIS and reiterate her commitment to combating growing activism against Israel’s criminal conduct, which Israel refers to as “delegitimization.” “The agreement will help solidify and chart a course for the US-Israeli defense relationship in the 21st century as we face a range of common challenges, from Iran’s destabilizing activities to the threats from ISIS and radical jihadism, and efforts to delegitimize Israel on the world stage,” she said, reiterating her January promise to “take our relationship to the next level.”"
Canadian value
"Suspicion of all immigrants who are not white, or are not members of the former British Empire, is a Canadian value. Canada’s founding prime minister, John A. Macdonald, argued that Chinese immigrants to Canada were unfit to vote because they exhibited “no British instincts or British feelings or aspirations.” " (thanks Amir)
Practicing secularism in France
"Mohamed Manoubi a, lui aussi, reçu des appels de soutien de « toute la France et même de l’étranger ». Commerçant tunisien, marié à une Française, il s’est installé à Albert, dans la Somme, en 2010. Il a ouvert son salon de coiffure il y a un mois et demi. « Tout se passait très bien, niveau clientèle et voisinage », nous raconte-t-il.
Et puis, lundi 12 septembre, c’était l’Aïd el-Kébir. « C’est notre Noël à nous. » Alors, le week-end précédant la fête religieuse, il poste un message sur la page Facebook de son commerce et indique qu’il fermera l’établissement lundi 12, « en raison d’une fête religieuse ». « Vers 7h30 dimanche matin, je me lève et je m’aperçois qu’il y a un truc noir devant notre habitation. » Le salon de coiffure se situe dans la maison du commerçant et de sa famille. « Je me dis que ce doit être un sac poubelle, mais non. C’est une tête de cochon grillée. » Mohamed Manoubi porte plainte dans l’après-midi." (thanks Rachid)
Haaretz and Mohammad Dajani: and why is it that all Arab normalizers are NOT smart? It has been my observation since my youth
First he says: "The first time I heard about the Holocaust was at the American University in Beirut, and that, written in Arabic, was the denial narrative." This is a flat out lie. He went to AUB prior to 1975, where the professors of history and political science were all people who warned against the use of the Protocols and who talked to their students about the reality of Jewish suffering n Europe. Who denied to him the holocaust at the university? Unless he took courses with the fascist sectarian Charles Malik. I entered AUB in 1978, and both Walid Khalidi and Rashid Khalidi and Hanna Batatu spoke to us against anti-Semitism and I remember vividly how Walid Khalidi bristled when a student merely mentioned the Protocols in class and Walid went on to speak to us about the anti-Semitic origins of the Protocols and warned us against ever citing it as a source. This guy is a fabricator to make himself a hero among his Zionist friend. Also, the PLO in Lebanon was producing a whole body of literature which rejected anti-Semitism and the denial of the Holocaust. Unless the guy was a Muslim Brotherhood at the time because the PLO didn't speak about denial of the holocaust, and certainly not Fath which he said he was a member of. 2) Sari Nusaibeh, who is no fierce anti-Zionist, exposed his lies: "In an email correspondence with Haaretz, Al-Quds University’s former president, Nusseibeh, rejected Dajani’s allegations: “It is a great pity Prof. Mohammed wishes to implicate the university in his unfortunate affair." 3) here is another lie: "In 1967, he says, he underwent military training in southern Lebanon". Another flat out lie by this guy: there was no military training in South Lebanon in 1967 (prior to the Cairo agreement, mind you). Those who wanted military training either went to Jordan or to Syria. He made this up. But here is the political philosophy of this guy: he is opposed to peaceful struggle against Israeli occupation and is opposed to armed struggle against occupation. He wants the Palestinians to just forget the post and move on: "“I don’t support the use of violence, I don’t support BDS and I don’t support anti-normalization. " Zionists truly like the most unimpressive Arabs and for good reason.
This is how the US ignited the Lebanese civil war (3)
My weekly article in Al-Akhbar: "This is how the US ignited the Lebanese civil war (3): Lebanon Blesses Israeli aggression".
Friday, September 16, 2016
No, I am not saying that the Syrian regime would not commit such war crimes but look at this source of documentation: chlorine bomb attacks in Syria
"The finding by the United Nations and the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), the global chemical weapons watchdog, is based on Western and regional intelligence, the diplomat said."
An Open Letter to the UC Berkeley Administration Regarding Academic Freedom
"We, the undersigned, are the students of Ethnic Studies 198: Palestine: A Settler Colonial Analysis, the student-designed Decal course that was suspended yesterday, Tuesday, September 13th. We are a diverse group of students that includes Christians, Muslims, and Jews; we are white, Black, Latin@, Asian, North American indigenous, Middle Eastern, and more; we study Peace and Conflict Studies, Ethnic Studies and Middle Eastern Studies, Media Studies, Economics and Engineering. In short, we are a sample of some of the wide and varied backgrounds, beliefs, and interests that compose the campus community. One characteristic we all possess in common, however, is a genuine interest in the academic discussion surrounding Israel and Palestine. For some of us, this course was an opportunity to learn more about an issue we previously knew little about; for others, it was a chance to engage in discussion and debate with individuals whose views on the issue differ from our own. For still others of us, this class also fulfilled unit requirements for financial aid and other considerations. Regardless, these opportunities have been, suddenly and without warning, torn from us by your decision to suspend the class. We hold any claims made by campus administration or by outside organizations against the course to be blatantly false, especially any claims or concerns that the course would only tolerate a single or particular view. We the students collaboratively designed and established community agreements to ensure that we would engage with course content and each other in a mature and respectful manner. Any and all participants were welcome to attend the course, irrespective of background or preconceived perspectives on the subject matter. Therefore, criticisms of the course from outside its attendants are wholly unfounded, and do not reflect the views and opinions of those of us who were excited to engage with this material, and one another, in open academic inquiry. The decision to suspend Ethnic Studies 198: Palestine: A Settler Colonial Analysis is a violation of our academic freedom. This is an alarming development to have transpire on the same campus that not only hosted the Free Speech Movement, but which also routinely claims and utilizes the same Movement’s legacy to market itself as a world-class institution, a bastion of tolerance and diversity, and the site of intellectual inquiry — inquiry that is sometimes discomforting, but always enriching. Your decision constitutes nothing less than an act of discrimination against students who wanted to debate and discuss this contentious issue in a spirit of genuine sincerity, mutual respect, and open-minded curiosity. Again: the decision to suspend our course is both discriminatory and a violation of our academic freedom. We demand the reinstatement of the course."
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