Mona Alami and al-Monitor take a page from Nicholas Blanford's playbook (and quote him)

"“We are very ready for the possibility of a war breaking out, and it will be unlike any other,” said Ahmad, a Hezbollah sniper who spoke with Al-Monitor in Lebanon on condition of anonymity. A source close to Hezbollah fighters, who also spoke on condition of anonymity, told Al-Monitor that the recent February faceoff between Israel on one side and Iran, Hezbollah and Syria on the other was an ambush staged by Tehran.  Hezbollah expert and journalist Nicholas Blanford concurred, telling Al-Monitor the Lebanese organization has achieved a high degree of mobility in Syria, where it can deploy quickly with very little weaponry, like firefighters who put out fires when and where needed across a country. “Hezbollah, Iran and the Syrians have been tinkering with variants of the Iranian Fateh-110 family of missiles, such as reducing the size of warheads for increased range or slapping guidance systems on rockets," Blanford said. "The ability to accurately strike targets in Israel in the event of a war is of critical importance to Hezbollah and of equally critical concern to Israel.” (thanks Basim)

"Alami is a nonresident fellow at the Atlantic Council's Rafik Hariri Center for the Middle East, as well as Trends Research and Advisory and an Associate fellow at the King Faysal Center for Research and Islamic Studies. Alami is a regular contributor to a number of American and Arab publications including Asharq Al-Awsat, Al-Monitor and The New Arab, among many others."

Qatari BDS students protest a talk by Alan Dershowitz

Watch here

List of "dont" in a Saudi musical concert by Egyptian Tamir Husni

It says: "ticket are limited to 3 per agent.  Children less than 12 are forbidden.  The theatre is segregated according to gender.  Dancing and shining is forbidden.  Smoking is forbidden inside the place.  Modest dress is required.  Eating is forbidden inside.  Sold tickets can't be exchanged or returned."

Fadlo of AUB disinvite an Iranian academic under orders from DC

Shame on Netflix for promoting a racist, homophobic, sexist, and disgusting Lebanese comedians

Of all the Arab comedians (especially Egyptian and Syrians who are the funniest Arabs), Netflix chose the Lebanese comedian, Adel Karam.  His show is most disgusting and full of blatantly racist, sexist, and homophobic humor.  Forget about all that: it is most unfunny and Michele observed while I was watching it that nobody in the audience was laughing.  He made jokes about African men having big penises and African women having big butts and breasts.  There should be a petition by Arabs to remove this choice by Netflix.  Arab comedy is so much better than this trash.

PS This guy Karam is the same star of the lousy racist Lebanese movie which won academy award nomination.

Rev. Billy Graham: the Mufti fo the American Republican

My weekly article in Al-Akhbar: "Rev. Billy Graham is dead: the Mufti of the American Republic."

Exclusive: some news from inside the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

1) Israeli expert at Brandeis, Shai Feldman, was hosted by the Saudi regime and he delivered a lecture in Riyadh.  The regime didn't to announce the news in its media.
2) After the US decision to move the US embassy from occupied Jaffa to occupied Jerusalem, Prince Turki Al-Faysal sent an article in which he protested the move to the mouthpiece of Muhammad bin Salman, Ash-Sharq Al-Awsat.  His article was rejected, which was unprecedented.
3) I learned that Muhammad bin Salman has even put his own half-brothers under house arrest.
4) There are grumblings in the kingdom particularly about the social changes.

Israel reduces Gaza's fishing area, kills the fishermen

"Since 1996, following the signing of the Oslo accords by Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization, Israel restricted Gaza fishers to 20 nautical miles off the coast. That was eventually reduced to 12 miles, then six and now to just three." (thanks Amir)

Israeli-Saudi alliance

My interview with the RealNews.

The Canadian Clown

Regarding the warning about Russian spies infiltrating all aspects of life in the US

Regarding the post from yesterday about the warning on Lifetime channel at the end of a movie: it is not a parody.  It was a serious warning after a movie (claims to be based on "true events", called His Double Life) which alleges to show a Russian spy marrying a non-suspecting American woman and killing a number of people, in addition to trying to infiltrate the NSA.  Can you imagine if this warning appeared on North Korean or Russian TV? Can you imagine the uproar in US media about that? Can you imagine the mockery that this would have engendered if this was on an enemy TV station? 

How the lies of the Israeli occupation army get free run in US media

"Palestinian killed in raid captured on video: A 33-year-old Palestinian man was killed early Thursday by Israeli troops who are seen on a security camera video kicking and beating him with their rifles after he comes charging down an alley, carrying a long object on his shoulder.  The Israeli military confirmed that the video showed parts of a predawn arrest raid in the West Bank town of Jericho. An army statement initially said that Palestinians attacked troops during the raid and that an armed man tried to grab a soldier’s gun. In a later statement, it said the man ran toward soldiers with an iron rod and tried to attack them. The statement said troops responded “by opening fire, confronted the terrorist at close proximity and managed to block him.” It added that a knife was found on the man."

The clowning of the Canadian prime minister: or the Sa'ib `Urayqat of Canada

When will his clowning end?

The Lebanese government summons me to a military court

I finally spoke to the Lebanese Minister of Justice.  We spoke about my case where the Lebanese government has summoned me to appear before the prosecutor of the Military Court, in response to a tweet of mine against meetings in Naqurah between Lebanese Army Officers and Israeli occupation Army officers and I called (by way of irony) for disarming the Lebanese Army and preserving the arms of resistance against Israeli occupation and aggression.  He told me that he is in favor of freedom of speech and advised me to hire a lawyer to contact the prosecutor. I explained that I am still waiting for a verdict from the courts from 4 years ago in which I filed a suit against Saudi-run media in a case of defamation.  We shall see.

Is there something wrong with this? International Crisis Group OFFICIALLY calling for safe passage for Al-Qa`idah "Fighters"?

Crisis Group (@CrisisGroup)

2/25/18, 4:59 AM We welcome the #Syria #UNSC resolution. Implementation must include: - aid for besieged civilians - voluntary safe departure of HTS fighters from #Ghouta - return to August 2017 de-escalation agreement - #Russia-brokered negotiations for a non-violent resolution in Ghouta

This is way too far: scaring the American people like that. This appeared at the end of a Lifetime Movie on TV. Kid you not.

My wife and I watched a Lifetime movie last night, and at the end of it, this message appeared on the screen.  I doubt this happened during the 1950s red scare.  

When will Justin Trudeau's clowning come to an end?

"Justin Trudeau’s Celebrity Schtick Has Finally Blown Up in His Face"

America's secret wars

My weekly article in Al-Akhbar: "US (Semi) Secret Wars and the Targeting of Iran".

The most silly Western ranking of them all: Transparency International

Look at their methodology: "The Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) aggregates data from a number of different sources that provide perceptions by business people and country experts of the level of corruption in the public sector....Performed by a credible institution".  And notice that they don't mind ranking countries at war, like Yemen and Syria.  I wonder what their methodology is there.

Israel and school violence

Of course, the New York Times account ignores the long record of Israeli bombing of schools in Lebanon and Palestine and the bombing by fighter jets of school children in refugee camps. Also, what about the targeting of Bahr Al-Baqar school in Egypt in April of 1970? That does not count as school violence for the New York Times?

Frontline on PBS on Saudi-Iranian conflict

I watched one hour of the first episode.  Horrible.  He goes to Iran and tells viewers that there is suppression of political freedoms in Iran. He goes to Saudi Arabia and offers no such warning to viewers.  His main experts on the subject of the documentary are two: 1) a retired US diplomat who is a big fan of Saudi regime; 2) a Princeton Professor who is know for being very close to the Saudi regime and to Muhammad bin Salman.  After one hour, I learned about US documentaries what I knew not before.  He also adheres to Saudi regime talking point: that Saudi Arabia was a feminist democratic republic until 1979 when Iran revolution came and the rebellion in the Grand Mosque occurred. But what about the Jihadi rhetoric and religious fanaticism which was employed by Saudi regime against Nasser and against the Left in general BEFORE 1979???

The prime minister of Canada is most offensive (and clownish) when he tries to be most sensitive

Ben Hubbard on the Lebanese comedian

What is funny (or unfunny) is that Hubbard left out that the Lebanese (Christian) comedian that he profiled supports Hizbullah in Lebanon.  Yet, the Wall Street Journal reporter here, blamed Hizbullah for his court summon.

Rev. Billy Graham: the Mufti of the American republic was a blatant anti-Semite but was forgiven because he supported Israel

""Not all the Jews, but a lot of the Jews, are great friends of mine; they swarm around me and are friendly to me because they know that I'm friendly with Israel. But they don't know how I really feel about what they are doing to this country." Also, On Feb. 1, 1972, unaware of Nixon’s Oval Office taping system, when Nixon ranted about how Jews “totally dominated” the media, Graham said, “This stranglehold has got to be broken or this country is going down the drain.” He also told Nixon that Jews are the ones “putting out the pornographic stuff.”

An Israeli criminologist explains why for Israeli men, killing Palestinians make them less likely to kill other Israelis because they vent out against Palestinians

This is an incredible statement here: "“I would say that for many [Israeli] males, especially, military service serves as a kind of catharsis for their aggressive emotions, therefore much less of it is being expressed in civilian circles,” Dr. Rattner said."  Military service is a kind of catharsis? Because they get to kill and maim Palestinians which make them let some steam off?

This is the foreign policy columnist for the New York Times

Can you imagine Anthony Lewis or Tom Wicker or even William Safire writing like this: "reportedly had sex with a porn star shortly after his wife delivered their son".

Did Ibn Saud’s militants cause 400,000 casualties?

"Did Ibn Saud’s militants cause 400,000 casualties? Myths and evidence about the Wahhabi conquests, 1902–1925".  He is right, of course. The figure is inflated.

Look at this stupid sentence in the New York Times: in South Korea? Unlike the US??

So unlike the US, "In South Korea, men still dominate the top echelons of government, business and the arts".  I see.  When will South Korea have gender equality just like the US, when?

AP clarification about Jerusalem

"Clarification: United Nations-Palestinians-Israel story

UNITED NATIONS — In a story Feb. 21, The Associated Press reported that east Jerusalem is Palestinian territory occupied by Israel since 1967. The story should have made clear that this was quoting a speech by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to the U.N. Security Council." (thanks Basim)

Correction: stoning illustration

I stand corrected. The stoning illustration below is not an official Saudi regime publication but came from here.

ِAUB cancels series of lectures by Berkeley chemistry professor, Omar Yaghi

There is no question that UC, Berkeley chemistry professor is rising in his field.  A year or so ago, he was invited by AUB to give series of lectures.  But in the days preceding his lectures (last week), he was awarded the Israeli Wolf Chemistry Prize (which was also won by Ahmad Zuweil, who went on to win the Nobel Prize--an Arab has to prove his acceptance of Israel before receiving any Nobel: just look at the record, from peace to literature to chemistry).  He expressed his "pride" in receiving the prize: would he dare accept an Iranian prize, say?So there was a debate at AUB (you see there is more proBDS mood among Western faculty than there is among some AUB faculty), and then they decided to cancel all lectures by Yaghia but noticeably the AUB administration did not explain or release a statement for fear of upsetting the Zionist US Congress.  

Political repression in Lebanon: the view of the New York Times

Two things struck me: 1) they typically don't mention any of the leftist victims of state repression in Lebanon.  They only highlight the right-wing victims.  2) notice they refer to the allegedly most corrupt media personality in Lebanon, Marcel Ghanem, as "a popular talk show host".   This is like mentioning Robin Leach (of the Lifestyle of the Rich and Famous) as a popular journalist.

These are official Saudi regime illustrations about the rules of stoning

Saudi law specifies the rules and regulations for the "proper" stoning of a woman or a man.

It reads: "Stoning stones should be from a medium-size solid brick, almost the size of the palm, not small pebbles which can prolong suffering or he big ones which can kill fast thereby preventing the purposeful torture.  If it was a woman, a hole should be dug up to her chest so that she won't be uncovered, and it it was a man, no hole should be dug, and his pudendum should be covered, and the whole body of the woman during stoning.  The stoned should not be tied or chained, and remorse should be offered.  He could pray two prostrations, and can be provided with water.  If he dies, he can be washed and shrouded and prayed over him".  This regime is really a stickler for the law.

Matter-of-factly: UN secretory-general reports that Israel will destroy Lebanon

"The worst nightmare would be if there is a direct confrontation between Israel and Hezbollah...the level of destruction in Lebanon would be absolutely devastating, so there are major points of concern around this situation." (thanks Basim)

Part Two: origins of terrorism in the Middle East: Zionist pioneers.

Part Two: origins of terrorism in the Middle East: Zionist pioneering. On July 1938, Zionist tossed a bomb in Haifa market place and 8 Arabs are killed or injured. On July 14, 1938, Zionists planted a bomb in Arab vegetable market, killing 12 and wounding 29, including women and children.  

Who intervenes in elections more? US or Russia? Let the record shows

“A Carnegie Mellon scholar, Dov H. Levin, has scoured the historical record for both overt and covert election influence operations. He found 81 by the United States and 36 by the Soviet Union or Russia”.

The New York Times explains to its readers why US interferences in elections around the world is less sinister than Russian interferences

“American interventions have generally been aimed at helping non-authoritarian candidates challenge dictators or otherwise promoting democracy.” This is too funny. Non-authoritarian candidates? Like the Gemayyels and other fascistic elements in Lebanon, or the royals in Jordan and Morocco, or the various military generals around Latin America, or Hamid Karzai or Iyad Allawi?

The US represents the mother/father of all intervention in elections

“The U.S. government and American oil corporations helped Christian (read fascist) parties in Lebanon win crucial elections in 1957 with briefcases full of cash.”

Ukraine and the Holocaust: Where is the outrage here?

"But as with similar measures in Europe’s ex-communist nations, the Ukraine law generated little opposition or even attention internationally — especially when compared to the loud objections to a similar measure in Poland that was signed into law on Tuesday by the president. The law had passed both houses of parliament in recent days. The United States and Israel joined historians and Israel’s Yad Vashem Holocaust authority in decrying the bill. “The Ukrainian and Polish laws are similar, but in Ukraine’s case we didn’t see anything even close” to the avalanche of condemnations that Poland received, said Eduard Dolinsky, director of the Ukrainian Jewish Committee and a longtime campaigner against Holocaust revision in Ukraine. “I wish we had; maybe this law could have been stopped in Ukraine.”"

Long before ISIS and Al-Qa`idah: rooter of terrorism in the Middle East: the Zionist contribution to (and pioneering of) terrorism

I will be telling the story of Zionism through a history of roots of terrorism in the Middle East: an account of deliberate targeting by Zionists of civilians. 1) On April 16, 1936, two Arab civlilians living in a hut were murdered near Petah Tikvah. 2) On March 17, 1937, four bombs were tossed into Arab cafes in Jaffa. One Arab was killed and 10 injured.

The Berri-Basil conflict

My weekly article in Al-Akhbar: "The Constitutional and Sectarian background of the conflict between Tayyar and Harakat Amal".

A rare long report about the heavy Israeli military intervention in the Syrian war on the side of (some) rebel groups

"Another major shift in Israeli policy occurred during this time as well, according to Syrian activists and rebels I have interviewed, as well as pro-regime and opposition media reporting. Rebels from Quneitra and western Daraa, as well as media activists in those regions with ties to the rebels, told me that Israel began providing more military support to a greater number of rebel groups affiliated with the Free Syrian Army. This support came in the form of weapons, ammunition and money to purchase weapons on the black market. All of my sources confirmed the identity of at least seven factions receiving Israeli support, on the condition that the groups would not be named. However, two of these groups have been publicly identified before: Liwaa’ Fursan al-Jolan and Firqat Ahrar Nawa. Israeli officials have vehemently denied support to jihadist groups, leaving open the possibility that the government supports these non-jihadist groups. Some of the groups that started getting Israeli support in late 2017 were previously supported by the Military Operations Command, a CIA-directed center in Amman. Until January 2018, this center paid the salaries for tens of thousands of Free Syrian Army “Southern Front” fighters and provided them with materiel and ammunition." And as typical of the Israeli racist apartheid state, the occupation state has only contempt for its quisling Arabs: "Israel’s military establishment is entering relationships with rebel groups with a sense of distrust and even disdain."

Liz Sly of the Post

Liz Sly (who blocked me on Twitter) is by far one of the worst Western correspondents to cover the Middle East. By far.  Look at this article: she assembled three experts to talk about Syria: one is an Israeli, one is far right-Lebanese, and the 3rd is GCC think tank type. Not one person of the other side. Also notice, that while Israel admits that it raised and bombed Syria more than 100 times, Sly insists that Israel is merely watching developments in Syria with great alarm but not interfering at all.  Sly has eliminated the thin line separating some Western correspondents from Western propagandists.

Can Western governments please make up their minds whether chemical weapons have been used in Syria? They got me confused

"“Today, our agencies, our armed forces have not established that chemical weapons, as set out in treaties, have been used against the civilian population.”"