Arab Leaders Heading to Gaza. Arab-Israeli Wine Wars. Gaza and Fireworks on the Nile. Ashoura in Jamaica. Joe the Pajamad Plumber of Arabia? More Media Mania
“Arab diplomacy has succeeded at getting an international resolution at the UN for a ceasefire and ending Israeli aggression in Gaza. Arab moderates have succeeded in spite of Arab and regional obstacles when some parties thought the time was ripe to pounce on such moderate states as Saudi Arabia, Egypt and others.” asharq alawsatOh, yes, the ceasefire is so loud and clear, it almost sounds like no cesasefire at all. Especially if you are holed up in Gaza. I suggest that all these Arab editors, diplomats and their leaders who are so excited about the UN resolution should move to Gaza for a few weeks- just to enjoy the fruits of their diplomacy. But remember not to expect too much: Hamas has banned all ‘happy hours’. There are, however, spectacular fireworks.
“Haniyya (leader of Hamas), in typical Arab fashion: 'we are on the threshold of victory, and our victory surpasses all the destruction they have inflicted…'”
With a victory like that one, who needs a defeat?
Actually Hamas has managed to do something unusual, but it won’t last long: it has united the Arab Islamic fundamentalists of both the Sunni and Shi’a branches, as well as the secularist leftists in support of its stand on Gaza. It has created a schism that clearly separates most of the ruling Arab oligarchies from many of their peoples. The secular liberals and the leftists, as well as the other Islamic fundamentalists, of course, are holding their noses as they join forces in support of Hamas. Hamas-style rule is not what most of the seculars and leftists want to see: it would mean a strict application of a harsh version of the Shari’a; some to think of it, it is sort of like what is done in Saudi Arabia.
“Israelis have failed to sweep into Gaza. They are manipulating the international media by banning it from Gaza. They also benefit from much of the ‘moderate’ Arab media that seems to take their side. Egyptian media coverage of events makes it look like that media are being run from Tel Aviv. According to ‘moderate’ Arab media, everyone who sympathizes with Gaza and the Palestinian resistance is considered an enemy of Egypt, and at best an agent of Iran, Hezbullah, Syria and the Shi’a axis in the region…” al-Quds Alarabi
“Forgive them O Mr. President Mubarak, forgive those who criticized you about Gaza, forgive their ignorance, and forgive us for being silent about them…Do not respond to these ignorant hateful people, silence is the best response… They, the ignorant troublemakershave ruined some of our economies and our societies. They ruin people’s minds with their ideas. Forgive them O President Mubarak…You are a big man, O President Mubarak may God guide these who have strayed…..Forgive them, those who take their cue from Iran, perhaps thinking that Saladdin who liberated Jerusalem was from Persia, ..…” alseyassah
Actually Salah el-Din was Kurdish, neither Persian nor Arab, but we won’t mention that in polite company will we? This is a new instalment of an almost weekly pay-to-play or pay-as-you-go journalism. But I find it interesting. Sort of like I used to love removing a scab from a wound on my knee as a child, then wait impatiently for the new scab to replace it so that I can remove it, and…..ad nauseam.
”Syria has protested to UN leaders that Israel distributed wine from the contested Golan Heights as year-end holiday gifts to UN staff and asked that they be told not to accept it. Israel's UN mission confirmed it had sent out the wine but said this was perfectly appropriate. ‘The Golan Heights is an integral part of the state of Israel and the wine produced in that region is some of the best in the country. As such, we were pleased to share it with our colleagues,’ Israeli mission spokeswoman Mirit Cohen said on Friday.“ haaretz, Israel
Better to spill wine than blood. I know this may be a toss-up in France.
“A battle of shoes erupted in the Egyptian parliament between members of the opposition and those of the ruling party about the Gaza issue. While the opposition criticized the regime on Gaza, loyal members sought to expel an opposition member for siding with the ’enemies of Egypt.'" alarabiya
Mr. Mubarak, about 81 years old, has been president for over 27 years, most of which he has apparently spent napping. His party completely dominates the parliament. His thugs dominate the streets. The only man to ever run against him, Ayman Nour, has been in prison on trumped up charges ever since. He is preparing his son to replace him, having been inspired by the likes of Kim Il Sung (and Kim Jung Il), and the Assad family in Syria. During his misrule Egypt has moved from being the major Arab country to being a third rate country, essentially a sidekick of Saudi Arabia, with little influence of its own.
I say, that bloody Iraqi journalist may have started a trend.
“It is hard for Muslim countries to agree on the day of Ashoura. An Islamic website has a list of countries that consider Ashours, the tenth day of Moharram (A Shi’a holiday) an official national holiday. They include Iraq, Bahrain, Lebanon, and Jamaica…Shi’as in Jamica get the day off.” alwatan
“Aljazeera had an interview with the terrorist and mass murderer Shimon Perez president of the evil Zionist Entity. He was upset because the channel was covering the terrible crimes of the Jews, may Allah curse them, against the Palestinians in Gaza. With the exception of some American Protestant neo-Crusaders, most Europeans hate the Jews and believe that they are behind all evil things in the world…During the 1960s the Jews, in control of world media, started to promote the legend of the Holocaust..” alwatan columnist.
This is typical of the gibberish disseminated daily by Salafi nuts in the Gulf media. Most are spawned by the various Sharia colleges around the region. They are mostly honest about what they write: they believe it. Some of their rhetoric makes Iran’s Ahmadinejad look like a 'Zionist' pussy cat, no mean feat.
“Former Iraqi Prime Minsiter Ayad Allawi accuses America of forcing a Western democratic model on Iraq: in spite of his repeated warnings that it won’t work…”azzaman, operated and edited by a former mouthpiece of Saddam Hussein’s Ba’ath regime. Okay, bring out the tanks.
“Joe the Plumber came to the Middle East, and said that he is going to the West Bank to report on the plight of Christians in Bethlehem…That is all we needed here.” Arab Media
What about those other Republican icons of Campaign 2008: Betty the Burglar, Bernie the Book-maker, and Hilda the Hooker? FYI: Joe is not wearing pajamas while reporting: he thinks they ain't manly.
Cheers
mhg
m.h.ghuloum@gmail.com
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