Do you know that Saudi Arabia (or the House of Saud, I should say) arrested 8322 people in ONE WEEK. Is that not a record? They were accused of "paper violations." What are the chances of sending the 4th Infantry Division after King Fahd? Oh, I forgot: these are the "good" tyrants.

It is now official. The US government has announced that (as a humanitarian gesture) Saddam will be flown to the US, and he will be allowed to register as a Democrat and cast his first ballot in the New Hampshire primary. The White House denies any political exploitation of Saddam's capture (and they are furious that anybody would even consider thinking about that), and insists that Saddam's participation in the democratic New Hampshire primary was entirley Saddam's idea, and without any duress. The White House is also allowing Saddam to open an office for Iraqi Ba`thists for Howard Dean organization in New Hampshire. They also deny that this was Carl Rove's idea. In other news, Bush made a statement during the press conference today: Full text: "Saddam, freedom, liberty, Iraq, terrorism, freedom, Saddam's capture, liberty, free, veggie burger, democracy, potato, saddam, milkshake, freedom, Elton John, freedom, Saddam's capture, liberty, Somosa, freedom. Thank you all."

I shall be appearing with Dennis Kucinich this morning on KPFA after 7:00AM (Pacific Time). You can listen live but I am too lazy to get you the link.

Disgusting. There is already a reference by Israeli reporter (who is close to US and Israeli officials) of a "deal" to be struck between Saddam and the US government. I really really believe that they want a hasty and closed trial to avoid embarrassment for US officials who have had ties with Saddam. This means that we sill not be hearing about Saddam's friendship with Rumsfeld from the 1980s. Do you know that this trial plan (that was approved by the US puppet council in Iraq last week) would be the first war crime tribunal EVER without an international role? We should support the internationalization of the war crime tribunal to avoid its politicization by the US government. The deal under discussion will spare Saddam the dealth penalty in return for Saddam's services for US government? This Human Rights Watch dude makes the point that Saddam should be put on trial in an international court.

The other side of the American "liberation" of Iraq.

American press never misses an opportunity to bash Palestinians. Now they want to claim that the Palestinians were Saddam's staunch supporters. In reality, the Palestinians, due to their agony and ordeal, rally to the support of anybody who shouts slogans against the US. There was yesterday a call for a demonstration in support of Saddam in Gaza: do you know how many people showed up? 16 people. The US press will not point that out.

These articles are very much in fashion in these days. "I am an Arab liberal--(not the Angry Arab who is anti-liberal) who likes Pepsi and wants the US to help me." Washington loves these voices these days to justify its Middle East wars.

US Afghan puppet, Hamid Karzai, is accused of constructing a dictatorship for himself. But it is ok, as long as he is a pro-American dictator, who remains silent over US bombings of Afghan villages.

Spread of Islamic extremism in Central Asia, where the US is too busy supporting its band of petty and brutal dictators.

How insane is this: more articles about US copying Israeli methods of violent subjugation of an Arab population. What amazes me is those military planners act as if the Israeli methods have been a great success. Yet, more on US emulation of Israeli brutal methods. Well, at least we can predict their failure: in Palestine, and in Iraq. (not to mention their failure in Lebanon).

In land of oil, Iraqis do without it. They fault US.

On Arab popular reactions to Saddam's capture. You have to remember some Arab's melancholic reactions are not so much due to love for Saddam. But any US "victory" (especially when exploited politically by Bush) is resented.

Some top Iraqi officials (including heads of intelligence, special forces, and regional party leaders) are still at large. You would not know it from the celebratory coverage; Bush is too busy reaping political benefits from the capture of Saddam. Don't be suprised if Saddam is forced to endorse Bush's democratic opponent to ensure Bush's reelection. ("Saddam is for Dean" placards are already being prepared by Karl Rove, allegedly).

Notes from Saddam's interrogation. He claims that he cannot go the bathroom as long as "his people" are in bondage. Does that mean that he has not been to the bathroom since 1968?

Too many things to upset me. Angry Arab is not easy to please. I heard CNN on my satellite radio: and all that Aaron Brown wanted to know about Saddam's capture was: "Can you tell us if there was a lot of high-fiving in the White House?" I swear. This what passes as news analysis on CNN. And AlJazeera: had a report about Saddam's career: and in reference to his gassing of the Kurds (he also used Chemical weapons on Iran, by the way), it said: "and Kurds allege that Chemical weapons were used against them." What? What? And embedded Middle East expert on CBS: Fouad Ajami (who assured Dick Cheney that Arabs (not only Iraqis) would welcome US war and beg for more Middle East wars, was analyzing the situation. He kept talking like a military commander, not as a social scientist: "Dan, we had to go to the center of the Arab world. Dan, we had to go to Afghanistan.etc." Do experts on Mexico or experts on China speak like that? "We have to send the troops" "here" and "there." What is happening?

Due to Saddam's sectarian legacy, and due to US occupation's exploitation of the sectarian question in Iraq, there is a deep Sunni-Shi`ite rift in Iraq, and beyond. I notice (from following the ME coverage): joy in Shi`ite areas, and gloom and sadness in many Sunni areas of Iraq. It is amazing how US news media show only one side to the story: the scenes that conform with US foreign policy goals, and wishful thinking. But I am disappointed with AlJazeera's coverage too: they have been focusing too much on Iraqis who resent Saddam's capture, just as CNN focuses on those who are happy. I think, no I know, that all Iraqis suffered under Saddam, but Sunnis are now particulary nervous about the consequences of US occupation. In fact, it will be folly to think the occupation will now proceed smoothly. If anything, the Shi`ites may now join the resistance because they have no fear of Saddam's return. And Saddam's followers (who constitute one element of several in the resistance) may now get more lethal and more brutal, lashing out agaisnt Shi`ite in particular. It is in their interest to sew the seeds of Sunni-Shi`ite war. I was surprised to see how skeptical many Arabs are about whether Saddam was captured. It is certainly Saddam, I think. And I am no DNA expert. What adds to the skepticism is the varied and different stories coming out of the US government: He was leading the resistance; the military (and I think that they are right) insist that he has nothing to do with the resistance. He is a lousy military planner with defeat upon defeat on his c.v. He was captured due to a tip from somebody; no he was captured due to great investigative techniques. He was found in the hole under ground; no he was found over ground in the bedroom and the hole was only used to hide when troops were in the vicinity. He was cooperative during interrogation, said colonial administrator Bremer; no, said the military and the Arab puppet council members who met him. He was defiant and arrogant, and even yelled obscenities at one of the members. When asked about his merciless killing of two respected Shi`ite clerics (by the name of Sadr (Chest in Arabic), he called them rijl (foot in Arabic, very insulting in Arab culture). And you know what is sexist: many Arab media are now maintaining that he was captured because his 2nd wife (who lives in Beirut) turned him, and that he was calling her once a week. First, that is so unlikely. There is no evidence that he has used a phone himself in years, and the US troops said that they did not find any phone or technological device on him (except a Sony MP3 player--kidding here). And was it not ironic that Ariel Sharon was congratulating Bush on the capture of Saddam? If you ask me, Saddam and Sharon belong in the same prison cell, and both should be put on trial for war crimes.

Saddam should be put on trial. A special war crimes’ tribunal should be established for the trial of all the Iraqi officials (who have blood on their hands) associated with Saddam regime. Do you notice how those tyrants who glorify “martyrdom” and who so casually send people to their death, like this man, are so keen to stay alive? They worship life for themselves, and order death to their people all so casually. Saddam used to order that Iraqi soldiers on the front lines who did not advance under the most perilous conditions be shot on the spot? Many Iraqis wanted him (and still want him) dead. But I think that he should go through the humiliation of watching the Iraqi popular disgust with him, and his regime. He should be made to watch every movie that Tony Danza ever starred in, and every speech that John Kerry ever made. Let the TV in his cell only show those two people. No entertainment. He needs to see the faces of his victims and surviving relatives of his victims at his trial. The trial, however, should not be entrusted to this puppet council. There are members of this puppet council (like Iyad `Allawi) who were part of this brutal regime, and they should also face trial. International human rights groups have expressed concern over the recent announcement of the creation of a war crimes’ tribunal by the puppet council.The council even invoked the laws of 1958, which were the same laws that Saddam and the Ba`th later used for their show trials. I say that UN or International Criminal Court (the latter is still opposed by the US) should be in charge of this trial, and Iraqi civil society and victims’ groups in Iraq should be consulted about the procedures. The trial has to be credible to be part of the truth commission that we need for Iraq. I want Saddam to speak in his trial: he should tell us about all those who should be stained with their association with his regime. I want to hear about his friendship with Jacque Chirac (who reportedly used to receive funds from Saddam back in the 1970s—reportedly); he should point to us those in the puppet council who were his co-conspirators; he should report to us about his meeting with Donald Rumsfeld—not to be confused with Wolf Blitzer—back in 1983; he should also tell us about those Arab journalists and professors (many of whom now preach about democracy and human rights) who received funds from his regime over the years. Finally, I am afraid that the US occupation will now indulge itself in illusions. They will now convince themselves that occupation will now be found to be pleasurable and enjoyable by Iraqis now that Saddam has been captured. Occupation will be rejected with or without Saddam. By the way, how vain of Saddam that he insisted on dying his hair pitch black, even in his hiding place. What’s with that?

The Stasi report outrages Muslims in France (and some of the visitors of this website, I may add).

Howard Dean is brandishing his foreign policy credentials. He wants you to know that: he agrees with Bush on most foreign policy issues; he will not withdraw troops from Iraq; and he supported 4 recent wars: Iraq '91, Kosovo, Bosnia, and Afghanistan; and he assures you that he will not be reluctant to drop bombs and rockets over Muslim and Arab heads if you elect him president. Oh, and he loves Israel, and will not deal with Arafat. Any question? (Oh, and I noticed that he referred to the perceptions that the governing council members are seen as "puppets." Could he have gotten that from the Angry Arab News Service? Inidentally, a high-ranking member of his campaign staff is a former student of mine. An excellent guy/gal. Will not reveal that person's name of course, lest that person be fired.)

Palestinian victims are always nameless, faceless, and ageless. Kamilah Muhmmad Ash-Shuli is (was) a 21-year old Palestinian female college student. She was shot while in a Taxi by Israeli troops. New York Times will not show pictures of her funeral; Bush will not call her killers "terrorists;" Congress will not pass a resolution in her honor; no charity group will be established in her memory here in the US. Nobody will be calling for the prosecution of her killers. US government will not issue a call for Israel to stop "terrorism." Her killers will not be listed in any state's list of terrorist organizations and groups. No US TV show will devote a segment to her story. She will be added to the thousands of Palestinian civilian victims of Israeli killings. Maybe now you know why Angry Arab is angry after all.

"Ni putes ni soumises" is supporting the Stasi Report about religion in public places in France. It is a French feminist organization active in Muslim immigrant neighborhoods.

Islamic Zamzam Coke is coming to a vending machine near you in...Lebanon.

It is important that we never forget the suffering of the Kurds under Saddam (and under NATO member Turkey). Saddam may have killed more than 100,000 Kurds. Turkey also killed tens of thousands of Kurds. I worry, as a supporter of Kurdish national aspirations, that the current alliances of Kurdish political parties in Iraq will harm their future ties with the Arabs of the region. This report remembers the survivors of Saddam's massacres.

Saudi king (well he can barely read or stay awake, but go along with the story) asks clerics to warn of the dangers of extremism. He added, however, that the royal family will continue to adhere to the most fanatical and extremist ideology.

Iraqi agent denies ever meeting with 9-11 hijacker. US told him that no, he did meet with him. Agent said that he did not, US told him to remember again. We shall see what his enhanced memory will produce on the pages of the New York Times.

New rules for the FBI. Feel free to make your own sarcastic comments here.

Depleted uranium shells pose cancer in Iraq. But US government shows Iraqis evidence that cancer is good for the cause of their liberation. As a result, Iraqis show "understanding." Some even asked for additional supplies of depleted uranium.

Sa`di Yusuf's poem Jackals' Weddings. Sa`di Yusuf is a famous Iraqi poet (opposed to Saddam, of course, and opposed to the US war). Mudhaffar An-Nawwab (mentioned in this poem) is a well-known Iraqi poet persecuted by Saddam, and by other Arab governments.(thanks Fahd).

Only the UK press is noticing that the war in Afghanistan continues, and that the Taliban (yes the Taliban) are regrouping and planning a comeback. But in fairness to the Bush administration, they may have not noticed because they are very busy "making progress" in Iraq.

Sen. Strom Thurmond, famous white supremacist from South Carolina, had a secret daughter. Everybody knew about her, but the press covered it up until now.

Bush's faith initiatives preach prejudice. Now, if there is the best drug treatment program in the world, and it is hypothetically run by a satan-worshipping church, would they ever get a dollar from the White House's faith initiative? Those who disagreed with me on the veil issue in France: do you see why we should fight for the secular principle?

Now Angry Arab is upset. I do not understand why Muslim groups are calling the new French proposal on veils in public schools and buildings "unfair and discriminatory." I think that it is fair and balanced. Remember: it did not single out the veil in its ban. It called for the ban of all "conspicuous" symbols of religion, and mentioned other religions too. The report also suggested special days for religious days of Jews and Muslims (I personally do not think that the state should celebrate any religious day although I sympathize with the French Revolution when it wanted to celebrate Reason). It also had other recommendations including the improvement of the socio-economic conditions of Muslims in France, the instruction of Arabic in schools, the respect for the food standards of Muslims and Jews, the assignment of Muslim clerics in the French army, etc. Secularism means that the state should be absolutely neutral as far as religious preference is concerned. If that entails the ban on religious symbols in public schools and buildings, so be it, I say.

The dictator of Azerbaijan is dead. His son is the new dictator. He is adored by big oil company and the US government. He should be alright.

Michael Kinsley on how the democratic presidential candidates lack coherence in their positions on the Iraq war.

Saudi ambassador in DC slams war opponents. This pathetic Saudi royal family, which created Bin Laden and inspired the Taliban is now trying to save its throne, by any means necessary. This ambassador is very unpopular in Saudi Arabia, and the Crown Prince has largely marginalized him since Sep. 11. Notice that every high ranking member of the House of Saud (including the Crown Prince, Minister of Defense, Head of Intelligence, and this ambassador) has admitted to have met Bin Laden several (or many) times. Should not they be asked why? The White House, however, remains very protective of this family.

A conservative magazine is concerned over the extent of policy secrecy in this White House.

A proflile of John Abizaid.

This silly and brutal Libyan dictator, Mu'ammar Al-Qadhdhafi, is trying very hard to win Western acceptance. An interesting look at his "state of the masses."

Tariq Ali on why the colonization of Iraq will fail.

Sunni-Shi`ite tensions rising in Baghdad.

Congratulations. Saddam's outrageously ostentatious palace (one of the major ones) will now become the US embassy in Baghdad.

Sen. Robert Byrd (W.V.) is concerned that the Syria Accountability Act (signed by Bush today) may lead to a war agaisnt Syria.

Full text: Annual State of Children Report by UNICEF. It reveals that International development efforts are drastically short-changing girls, leaving hundreds of millions of girls and women uneducated and unable to contribute to positive change for themselves, their children, or their communities.

US general (who shot "over the head" of an Iraqi prisoner--a member of the Iraqi police--and allowed his beating in some accounts) will not face a court martial It was recommended that he pays a fine..

This is an informative English language biographical account of Ayatollah Sistani of Iraq. We will be hearing more and more about him in the next few months. This website, however, is not objective: rather apologetic account of his life. Washington Post and other newspapers are quite off in analyzing his views. He is no liberal, and no secular. It is not true that he believes in separation of church and state, as Washington Post keeps saying, and he can be quite rigid on social issues (he thinks music is impermissible, for example (from his Arabic fatwas).

Shocking. Truly shocking. So I was reading an interview with the US-chosen head of the international Atomic Energy Agency, and he reveals that Israel has nuclear weapons. Israel? Did you know that? Did you really know that Israel possessed nuclear weapons? I had no idea.

Infinite wars.

US military defends raid that killed 6 children in Afghanistan.

Dear Leader is indoctrinating North Koreans through the internet. They are made to stare at the CNN website. It is known to lead to mass obedience. Kim loves it.

Good morning Baghdad. It is Bush's TV.

"Bush's Iraq a magnet for terrorists, says Prince Turki Al-Faysal. The man should know. He was head of Saudi intelligence for for years (before leaving his job 10 days before Sep. 11--an important fact for conspiracy theorists) so he knows what he is talking about. He was Bin Laden's handler after all (allegedly), and is now Saudi ambassador in UK.

Cheney's former company may be in trouble.

The hateful sectarian legacy of Saddam.

Have you read about the Arab waiter in DC who was barred from a Bush dinner?

Yesterday, I reported that one third of the first battalion of the new celebrated Iraqi army has quit. Now we learn that a half in fact has deserted. It will be amusing, at least to me, if all of them quit except one soldier. Then the Iraqi soldier would become best friends with the Micronesian soldier. The two would then go to dinner together; watch TV together, chase bad guys together, attend picnics, play sports, and even walk on the beach. That would be quite touching.

It seems that Saddam is opposed to democracy in Iraq; US is opposed to democracy in Iraq; puppet council is opposed to democracy in Iraq; but the people of Iraq are in favor of democracy in Iraq.

After US raids have left scores of children dead in Afghanistan, the people of the country are said by the Washington Post to be "bewildered."

I do not mean to alarm you, but Congress is pushing for a larger military.

Pentagon published a list of 63 countries that can bid on reconstruction contracts in Iraq. Israel is displeased that it did not make the list, and Jerusalem Post is more displeased the Micronesia made the list, but not Israel. I cannot believe that they would make fun of Micronesia. I would never, EVER, make fun of Micronesia.

A critical look at the path of Neo-Conservatism.

Did you know that US occupation forces have been arresting anti-Saddam Labor leaders in Iraq? Did you notice how this topic is ignored in the glorious US press? (thanks Linda).

Full text: The report of Human Rights Watch on civilian casualties in Iraq. It talks about 1000 civilian deaths from cluster bombs alone. Its tone is too moderate for my taste.

This is an important issue. The full text: Rapport de la commission stasi. This is the presidential French commission that was formed by Chirac to resolve the issue of religion in public schools and buildings. I personally support the defense of the principle of secularism in France (and anywhere else for that matter). It is part of the legacy of the great French Revolution. The commission will ban ALL conspicuous signs of religious belief, including the skull cap, big crosses, AND the veils. I do not see that as prejudice or anti-Islam, as many Muslim groups will assert, and some have asserted already. One has to understand the seriousness in which France takes secularism (unlike here of course). People should be free to dress any way they want, of course, but the state, the Secular State, should have the right to defend itself from religious penetration and permeation. The commission was composed fairly in my opinion, and had two Islam experts (Mohammad Arkoun and Gilles Kepel--whose books I recommend) in it. It also had Regis Debray (the former leftist who may have betrayed Che and surrendered him to his death, allegedly, of course). It will not end the debate in France.

You may remember that the Iraqi puppet council closed down the offices of Al-Arabiya TV (Saudi-funded and largely pro-American conservative station) in Iraq because it dared to air a tape of Saddam Husayn. When the decision was announced, it came under criticisms from people advocating freedom of the press. The US colonial administration in Iraq said that it had nothing to do with the decision, and that it was purely an Iraqi puppet decision. Well, yesterday, the Saudi newspaper Al-Watan reported that (based on a source in the puppet council) the decision was an American decision and was taken days before the Iraqi puppet council announced it.

CNN, to its credit, is really trying very hard to catch up with Fox News. It is failing miserably in the ratings' war, but not for lack of silliness and subservience to government. Tonight, I heard a report on CNN on the killing of children in Afghanistan (on my satellite radio, not to be confused with my satellite shoe), and the anchor Aaron Brown (who was brought the network from ABC News with great fanfare because his delivery is acutely boring and monotonous) introduced the segment by saying: that these kind of things ALWAYS happen in war, and always have happened. Just like that. If somebody finds the transcript please send to me to post.

Iraqi health officials (US puppets who replaced Saddam's puppets) are ordered to halt counting Iraqi civilian casualties. I wonder why. Why?

Unbelievable. Reread if it was too incredible. Israel has been trying to convince the world that if you are opposed to Israel, you must be ant-Semitic (although Israel has tolerated the anti-Semitism of its allies like former Nazi Anwar Sadat or some Christian fundamentalists in the US). And now US envoy in Israel maintains that if you oppose the US or even Globalization you must be anti-Semitic. He adds that if you do not watch "Friends" or if you do not like sugar in your tea, or if you do not consume 24 chicken McNuggets a day you must also be anti-Semitic. The envoy teaches advanced courses in logic at Potato University.

I do not mean to uspet you. Really. But: the first batallion of the celebrated new Iraqi army has lost one third of its soldiers. They have deserted. Where have they gone? To...Disney Land (or is it Disney World? I confuse the two but I know that my friend Rhiannon now works for Disnely World).

Israel is displeased that UAE will receive advanced F-16s. Do not be surpised if Israel now claims that UAE (but not Micronesia) poses a threat to its existence. Let's hope Cheney does not order the troops.

The revival of Najaf. Unintended consequences of US war.

Donald Rumsfeld, not to be confused with Tony Danza, is seeking information on the Iraqi insurgents.

Building the new Iraq. OK. US has authorized a new Iraqi intelligence service. At its head, are two Ba`thists who worked for Saddam's intelligence service. One of them is the notorious Iyad `Allawi who in the 1970s (reportedly) chased and killed Saddam's enemies in Europe.

Human rights demonstration in Syria. High time.

Taliban spies are still active in "liberated" Afghanistan.

Criminalizing Motherhood.

Horrible. Israeli government wants to confiscate and redirect Holocaust reparation money.

Shame on Ms. Magazine. They are now copying People Magazine. Queen Noor on the cover of Ms.?

Is there an American Empire? I am not sure. Let me think about that.I know there is a Micronesian Empire, but that's about all I know.

Newly released NSA documents on Israeli attaack on USS Liberty.

The disaster of Medicare "reform."

This is a list of countries of the visitors to this website: (in descending order, from the most visits to the least)
.net Network
.com Commercial
.edu USA Educational
.uk United Kingdom
.lb Lebanon
.org Non-Profit Organizations
.us United States
.gov USA Government
.de Germany
.ca Canada
.il Israel
.au Australia
.fr France
.jp Japan
.es Spain
.nl Netherlands
.fi Finland
.be Belgium
.sg Singapore
.ch Switzerland
.pl Poland
.it Italy
.se Sweden
.is Iceland
.yu Yugoslavia
.sa Saudi Arabia
.qa Qatar
.sy Syria
.int International
.my Malaysia
.no Norway
.mil USA Military
.hk Hong Kong
.ae United Arab Emirates
.ph Philippines
.ie Ireland
.cl Chile
.ua Ukraine
.tw Taiwan
.dk Denmark
.mx Mexico

US to expand its military empire.

Major victory in the war on terrorism: US forces kill SIX MORE CHILDREN in Afghanistan. But CNN assures you that their families were, once again, very understanding of the US.

Anti-US books are popular among German youth: two of Michael Moore's books are best sellers.

The reactionary and conservative religious establishmnet of Al-Azhar Islamic University in Cairo is busy banning books.

The enemy next door in Iraq: horrible intensification of Sunni-Shi`ite frictions. But Iraq is "liberated" and Bush is making "progress."

Not a good sign. This right-wing columnist for the Washington Times is very unhappy with the new Afghan constitution. He finds signs of religious intolerance in it (he is right).

Full text: a group of terrorism experts and former officials wrote this report about America's security policies: very critical of Bush's terrorism policies and actions.

Well remember those highly celebrated school repairs in Iraq that were all over American news? Well, they were pretty bad apparently. They were performed by Bechtel. The school repairs in Iraq performced by UNICEF were better.

I do not know how to tell you this, and I do not mena to scare you. But...dozens of dirty bombs are missing from...Moldova. But no need to worry. "Coalition" forces in Iraq assigned the Micronesian soldier to the task. Once he finds Saddam and Bin Laden, and once he liberates Iran, he will be sent to find them.

This US magazine has a long story on Saudi money and its connection to terrorism.

Have you ever wondered how poor people live? Those local officials gave it a try.

Fueling anger in Iraq. But remember what CNN says: Arabs and Muslims feel only "understanding for the US" when they lose their loved ones to US bombs.

Not good. In a survey in Le Monde, some 22 % of French people sympathize with Le Pen.

The privatization of war.

David Ignatius of the Washington Post (a close friend of Wolofowitz and his crowd) does not like Ahmad Chalabi but he adores another member of the puppet council. His name is Iyad `Allawi. What you need to know about this favored puppet is that he was a high ranking member of Saddam's intelligence apparatus, and Abbas who sent me this item tells me that he was in charge of chasing and killing Saddam-Bakr's enemies in Europe in the 1970s.

Like you, I am concerned about the plight of the Micronesian soldier in Iraq. That one soldier constitutes a major section of the Micronesian armed forces: which number around 1000 men (no women). But Micronesia's defense against greedy foreign invadors who may want to capture that brave Micronesian soldier who single-handedly overthrew Saddam's government, is a US responsibility under the Compact of Free Association between the US and FSM .governments.

Don't cry for me Micronesia. I should have a special Micronesia Watch section given the supremely important role that this wonderful nation plays in world affairs: from blind support for Israel, to sending one brave Micronesian soldier to Iraq to help the "coalition." Here, a pro-Israeli website praises Israeli-Micronesian relations. And here, the Israeli foreign ministry brags about the visit by the glorious president of Micronesia to Israel. And here, the government of Israel brags about sending a whopping $5000 (I swear 5000) worth of medical aid to Micronesia. And this is offensive: this paper lists the number of foreign troops in Iraq (including the 30 soldiers from Macedonia but there is no reference to the brave Micronesian soldier in Iraq, which only makes me worried. Where is the Micronesian soldier in Iraq? Is he missing? What if he is looking for the WMDs or for Saddam? Is he safe? What if he is lonely? I plan to launch a campaign to support the lone Micronesian soldier in Iraq.

Basically, Israel has secretly buried Palestinians in unmarked graves in West Bank. In other news, US and Micronesia praise Israeli killing practices, and hail Sharon as the best and most peaceful person ever in human history.

US refuses to give UN its arms report. But US administration is convinced that WMDs will be found; if not in this century, certainly in the next one. Yesterday, making the rounds of the Sunday shows, White House chief-of-staff Andrew Card talked about "bad intentions" of Iraq. And intentions could be more dangerous than weapons.

US is indeed a leader, toward a new nuclear arms race.

The foreign minister of the country that US hails as a model Muslim country criticizes US policy in Iraq. Minister was immediately taken to Guantanamo for a friendly tour of the facility.

Now the Iraqi middle class is angry at US. Losing hearts and minds, at great speed.

The new militia that may trigger sectarian violence in Iraq.Yet another brilliant idea for Iraq.

You have to admit it. Professor Loïc Wacquant is quite interesting and "combative."

How the US military really assesses the Iraqi resistance.

Briefly put, Michael Ignatieff is very very obnoxious.

Micronesia is at it again. This brave country which sent one soldier to Iraq to join that famous "coalition" continues to support the US and Israel. At the UN yesterday, 90 countries voted to refer the Israeli racist separation barrier to the International Court of Justice. But eight countries voted against. They are (call them US and Israel's valuable allies): (in addition to US and Israel):Micronesia, Australia, Ethiopia, the Pacific islands of Nauru, Marshall Islands and Palau. In other news, Micronesia is a candidate to become the next superpower.

CNN, which had reported that people in the village that lost 9 children to US bombings were "understanding" of the killing and forgiving, may now change its tune. US media are reporting about "anger" and "revenge". But in fairness, CNN does a great job in reporting about such matters as Gary Condit, Michael Jackson, Lasi Peterson, and Potato Chips. On such weighty matters of politics, CNN is supreme.

Saddam may have executed more than 61000 Iraqis in Baghdad alone, according to survey by Gallup Poll. I do not trust Gallup Poll; they have been doing paid work for the US government in Iraq, and releasing the "pleasant" or "convenient" facts, but I believe anything about Saddam's brutality and savagery. It is important that we do not lose sight of the suffering of Iraqis under Saddam, without in any way giving any legitimacy to US war and colonization. Ironically, most of Saddam's murders occurred while he enjoyed close ties with US, France, Germany, UK, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Egypt, Qatar, Jordan, and Japan.

Make no mistake about it. There is a war raging in Afghanistan. I am sorry. I mean free, peaceful, and liberated Afghanistan (although Taliban are making a comeback, women are still oppressed, and thuggish warlords rule the lands).

What arrogance. No, what utter stupidity. Having won its conflict with the Palestinians, and having smashed the Palestinian national movement by force, and having established a victorious method of victory through killing, Israel, YES ISRAEL, is now advising and training US assassination squads in Iraq. Israeli military "specialists" have even gone to Iraq to study the scene. And who is coordinating this brilliant idea? None other than the brilliant General William Boykin. He is the same guy who believed that God personally selected George W. Bush as the leader (dear leader) of the US, and that Muslims worship an idol. He also believed that certain spots on a picture of Somalia had traces of Satan. But do not lead this news change the facts: US cotinues to win hearts and minds of Muslims.

Now we know who is wisely advising the US military in Iraq: Israelis and Saddam's Bathists. Lovely.

Yesterday, I posted a horrible item from the New York Times in which an American officer (advised by the wise Israeli military) maintained that the only language the Arabs understand is the language of force. Certainly, Israelis (and Zionists before the state of Israel was founded) operated on that assumption. I feel it necessarily to quote Hannah Arendt here (and she was a hard-core Zionist who gave money to militant right-wing Zionist groups at the end of her life, according to her biographer): She wrote:" All hopes to the contrary notwithstanding, it seems as though the ONE argument the Arabs are incapable of understanding is force." ("Peace or Armistice in the Near East?" in Review of Politics (January 1950), p. 56).

Stories from the dictatorial pro-US government of Egypt: Meet Muhammad Baha' Ad-Din. His story is told in the Arabic press. For thirty years, he worked as an engineer, and never dealt in politics. But when Egyptian president Husni Mubarak started to groom his son to succeed him, Baha' Ad-Din had had enough. He purchased a spray paint can, and went around the city of Zaqaziq and scrawled: "No to political succession based on inheritance." The police arrested him and charged him with "hatred and disdain of the regime". That was the official charge, literally. The press accounts through the Arab world forced the government to release him this morning.

The story of a US asset in Iraq.(thanks Nir).

US wants Saddam's brutal secret police back on the street.

AlQaeda is shifting operations from Afghanistan to the "free Iraq."

Double standards: remember how an Arabic TV station was closed down in Iraq because the US military (and the puppet council) accused it of knowing about attacks on US troops? Well, Time magazine reporters traveled with Iraqi resistance attackers, and watched them in action. Yet, Time magazine continues to operate in Iraq.

Well, CNN yesterday reported that the villagers in Afghanistan who lost 9 children in US bombing were "understanding" of the US. AP reports that in fact they are angry. But there is no need to get upset. US military offers the survivors an apology. What else do they want?

Combat casualty count doubted.

A special supplement of Stars and Stripes: a survey of US troops in Iraq.

Now that regime change worked so smoothly in Iraq, right-wingers set their eyes on Iran.

Cheney's former company now gets contracts (a $ billion worth) without having to compete for them.

Now we know where Cheney was getting his "selective" intelligence from before the war: he was reading memos by a major fabricator working for the Iraqi "National" Congress.

The female US soldier who was reportedly raped attempts suicide.

A brave American soldier blasts the US lies about the "battle" of Samarra'.

The US media has not covered the cases of those terrorists. But then again, they are neither Muslims or Arabs.

Many FBI recommendations for prosecution rejected. A detailed study.

Flash! Is this for real? CNN actually states that the villagers who lost 9 children to US bombing in Afghanistan are "understanding." They are so understanding of the US, reports CNN, that they have actually begged the US to bomb more villages, and to kill more of their children. There is nothing, I mean NOTHING, like "understanding." Are we not all for that?

Warning. This makes Angry Arab really angry. Entire Iraqi villages are now being wrapped with barbed wire. And an American officer analyzes the Arab mind: "You have to understand the Arab mind," Capt. Todd Brown, a company commander with the Fourth Infantry Division, said as he stood outside the gates of Abu Hishma. "The only thing they understand is force..." And an Israeli expert throws in his pearls of wisdom: "If you do nothing, they will just get stronger," said Martin van Creveld, professor of military history and strategy at Hebrew University in Jerusalem. He briefed American marines on Israeli tactics in urban warfare in September." In other news, US continues to win hearts and minds of... the Israeli military.

Donald Rumsfeld, not to be confused with Donald Duck, visits the dear northern oil fields in Iraq. He makes a powerful speech. Excerpts: "Dear Oil Fields: Freedom, free, liberty, oil, freedom, liberty, crude oil, OPEC, free, liberty, oil, gasoline, liberty, free, oil, free." Applause.

One source of one lie about Iraq has been revealed.

Horrible story: plastic surgery on women's feet so they they can fit their shoes.

So John Kerry is in the midst of a lousy campaign. So he tries to be cool and hip. He gives an interview to the Rolling Stones and uses the F world. Well, that may make him president.

Meet the terror tourists. (thanks Amal).

A Russian official says that American soldiers in Afghanistan are becoming heroin addicts.

Iraq morass will be fixed: in...YEARS.

Not all American soldiers were pleased with Bush's sneak visit to Iraq.

US bombing caused the death of 9 children in Afghanistan. US military will investigate. Add this investigation to the investigation of UFOs. It will produce results for sure.Be patient, and give them a century or two, and the results will be in. I cannot believe how cynical you all are. Why cant you be as trusting and innocent as the Angry Arab?

A recent quiet contract by the Pentagon for "effective strategic influence." The news was leaked to the New York Lies (I mean Times), and did not cause a ripple in the US. Notice that a newspaper in Pakistan took notice. "Effective strategic influence" is a fancy phrase for covert propaganda in Muslim lands. That could be a new effort to revive that office for lies, that was "closed down." The company that got the contract has a website: see if you can understand a word.

Kuwaiti women want the right to vote: anybody cares? Oh, and they do not want bombs over their heads to liberate them. But thanks for the offer.

1 % of my pleasure in life comes from data like this. This is a rich compilation of public opinion surveys about Sep. 11 and the subsequent unending wars. It is a big document: some 180 pages. Great reference source.

An anonymous source has sent me these very disturbing pictures of Iraq "liberation."

Are we back in colonial times? And who does John Kerry think he is? In a speech he delivered last week, he said (about Saudi Arabia): " We need to see the new textbooks. We need to hear what the government-financed clerics are preaching?" What kind of interference is that? Now, nobody is more opposed to the Saudi royal family than the Angry Arab (you shall see that anger in my forthcoming book against the Saudi royal family and against Wahhabiyyah--I think that if you attack Wahhabiyyah it does not mean that you are anti-Islam, but some anti-Wahhabiyyah advocates in US are also anti-Islam. Not me, of course. But those words by John Kerry in his "major foreign policy speech" bothered me. And I hate it when candidates make a speech and call it a "major policy speech" on...Health Care, or "major policy speech" on Defense, or "major policy speech" on Ice-Cream. You get the picture. No wonder I am not supporting any candidate. In fact, Angry Arab is a citizen of US and Lebanon, but he has never voted in any election. But I may vote in the next election on the moon, after its liberation (see below).

Jimmy Carter, who praises himself as the Human Rights president, although he was enamored with dictators when he was in office (like Sadat, House of Saud, and Shah of Iran, among many others), gave a speech in Geneva a few days ago in praise of that Geneva accord. In that speech he said: "Had I been elected to a second term, with the prestige and authority and influence and reputation I had in the region, we could have moved to a final solution." Does he not need a lesson in modesty? What kind of arrogance is that?

ITV military reporter attacks military spin.

"You earn your future of hope when you lead your police to the evil doers. You earn your future of hope every time you ignore the demons of fear and look to the better angels of your nature." From the poetic words of Paul Bremer to the Iraqi people. This is from his last weekly address. Paul Bremer is greeted with, you guessed it, "sweets and flowers" everywhere he goes in Iraq.

The occupation may have energized the Ba`th Party in Iraq. The jerks may be coming back!

A Gallup Poll on religion. Religion is very important to Americans. Angry Arab will bake Pita breads (and eggplants Pizza) in the ovens of hell.

Bush's religious language.

What are Iraqis watching? Not "Friends". TV viewing habits.

Bremer of Baghdad.

The persecution of Baha'is in Iran; this peaceful faith has been persecuted by the clerical government since 1979. (thanks to Robert for the article).

Something aggressive about veils, says J. Chirac. Something aggressive about your shirts Mr. Chirac, say Muslims.

Bush plans to send troops to the moon. He pledged to overthrow the evil Muslim government of the moon. Saddam may have hidden his weapons of mass destruction on the moon. A search is underway for an Ahmad Chalabi for the moon. Cheney assures Bush that people of the moon will greet US troops with "sweets and flowers."

"The quicker you succeed, the better", Henry Kissinger told the military dictators of Argentina. From the newly released documents.

"They fight...asymmetrically."

There is an award for everything, and everybody: even for Tom Hanks, and even for "bad sex" writings.

This store, Abercrombie & Fitch, would reduce the hours of "less attractive salespeople." I say boycott.

Full text: Shlomo Brom's article on Israeli intelligence and the war on Iraq.

Powell urges NATO members to send more troops to Iraq. He assures them that Iraqis will greet them with "sweets and flowers." Wait, that sounds familiar. That was the prediction that pro-American occupation Kanan Makiyya made about US troops in Iraq.

American soldiers in Iraq will get new protective body armour. Iraqi police will get new protective thick T-shirts.

US Arab population doubles in 20 years.

Israel is more involved than YOU had thought in intelligence fabrications before the war.

FBI spying more widespread. Really? No? No way.

Another corruption scandal for Richard Perle?

Newly released documents reveal that US OK'd "dirty war" in Argentina.

US version of events at Samarra' is under attack.

US exports $20 million worth of torture equipments.Bush asked Cheney whether torture is bad. Cheney told him to go and brush his teeth.

Full text: Dissent Under Attack report.

The Chemical industry's Bhopal legacy.

Long gasoline lines in Iraq. But New York Times assures readers that Iraqis do not mind; they ask Americans for longer gasoline lines, less electricity, and they plead for more American bombs and rockets over their heads. They just seem not to get enough of American liberation. Is that not touching?

Well, it seems US appetite for more wars has not diminished; warnings issued against other "rogue" nations. US will expand its armed forces to 281 million.

How the US press meakly fell for Bush's sneak visit.

Powell praises North African pro-American dictatorships. He downplays abuses of human rights. Long live human rights and democracy, US foreign policy style.

The Kurdish militia leader, Jalal Talbani, who has killed thousands of Kurds in Kurdish civil wars in northern Iraq, and who has shifted loyalties almost daily, and who has kissed Saddam more than his wife, now justifies the closing of an Arabic TV station in Iraq. He of course is a member of the puppet council.

If somebody rings your door bell, answer within 15 seconds , ruled the Supreme Court, or they can break into your house. You may, however, keep your door open 24 hours a day. That is safer.

Another White House lie exposed (thanks Julie).

An anti-Patriot Act measure is dropped from Congress. It was intended to reduce the severity of the Patriot Act.

Who's Who in US occupation structure in Iraq.

Iraqis are eager for democracy: the try to organize a census to get ready for an election. US rejects the plan.US offers its count of Iraqis: only the pro-American embezzlers and former Saddam's henchmen who now work for US occupation will be counted. Americans are proud of their nation's spread of democracy. In other news, the media is still very touched with Bush's lengthy visit in Baghdad.

US contributes to the marginalization of women worldwide. Bush asks Cheney whether this is a good thing. Cheney snapped at him, and told him to finish his vegetables.

A dictatorship that we love, cuddle, and hug: Rumsfeld wants close ties with Azerbaijan

An Israeli generalreveals that Israel was a major source of lies and fabrications about Iraq WMDs and intelligence. This, of course, should not absolve the Bush team.

B. Barber on the clash between democracy and Bush's preventive war. But his wars are preventive, if you think about it: they do prevent peace.

" C'est ça la démocratie de Bush ? Il est venu en Irak pendant deux heures seulement, comme un voleur ", says an Iraqi. (Is this the democracy of Bush? He came to Iraq for two hours only, just like a burglar.) The French newspaper L'humanite has the most revealing account of what happened in Samarra'. An insider tells the paper that it was a small group of Islamic fundamentalists (and they were not supporters of Saddam or even former army people who are resented for not defending the capital), and that they were not after the money. There also were no Fida'iyyi Saddam, he adds.

Israel approves more construction of settlements. It also approves more deconstruction of Palestinian homes. But the "peace process" marches on.

A primer on Echelon. Spooky.

39 % of Americans think that people who do not accept Jesus as their savior will go to hell. By the way, for those who know, is there Thai food in hell? How about Pizza delivery? I bet they have great brick ovens.

Saddam's Labor Laws live on in Iraq (thanks Shawna).

The occupation force in Iraq is stressed out.

Meet this man: Ruslan Shapirov. He is a victim of US friendship with Uzbekistan

Bible lawyers are coming to a court near YOU

Inside Guantanamo: the new symbol of US democracy?

The bad news is: Saddam's deputy, the pathetic `Izzat Ad-Duri has not been found despite massive raids. The good news is: his wife and daughter were found and arrested, as was his secretary. Let us hope that they find and arrest his grandchildren and his maid. Keep hope alive.

I knew that this was coming: playing by the Israeli playbook of occupation. US forms a paramilitary militia in Iraq. Nothing hardened people's positions against the Israeli occupation in South Lebanon more than the South Lebanon Army (the militia of thugs that Israel founded). The name of the new militia in Iraq is: "South Iraq Army." The head of the South Lebanon Army fled for his life when Israel was forced to leave Lebanon, and is now nicknamed General Hummus (not to be confused with Gen. Falafil) in the Israeli press because he just opened a Middle East restaurant in Israel. He promised to not shoot at his customers. Old habits are hard to break: he has been accustomed to shooting at Lebanese civilians.

Please offer your condolences: the Kyoto Accord is dead. Flowers are being sent to American oil corporations, and to the Republican and Democratic parties. The Russian government is accepting candy.

On the small, very small, number of Israeli pilots who did not want to kill innocent Palestinians.

A group of military lawyers (who served as defense team in Guantanamo) was fired by the US government, because they protested the unfairness of the trial. US government rules that it is unfair to declare anything unfair in the land of the free and fairness. Oh, and Fox News is Fair and Balanced. Never forget that.

A special report with images on the war in Samarra'

Media and democracy, or media vs. democracy?

A group of Israeli rabbis issued a fatwa, declaring the Israeli negotiators in Geneva to be "traitors" who "should be brought to justice and declared outside the brotherhood of humanity"

Apparently, Disney Chief Eisner used to call his rivals "Shi`ite Muslims" (allegedly). He meant it as an insult.

I try to post items in English only on this website, but this is an exception. Two hours after posting the item below about the new report about the Iraqi resistance, and its constituent elements, my friend Abu Fiona sent me the full report. It has the most detailed information on who is who in the Iraqi resistance. It shows a diverse group of organizations that cannot be reduced to "Saddam's thugs" or to "infiltrators" from Syria. Apparently, Sunni fundamentalist groups play the major part, but others play a part too: nationalist groups, the dissolved elements of the Iraqi army, and some possible presence of AlQa`idah (which distributed flyers in Iraq). AlQaedah most likely came into Iraq after the war, taking advantage of the chaoes of the battle. But AlQa`idah has no chance of gaining a foothold in Iraq, or anywhere else in the region (perhaps with the exception of Saudi Arabia). There is no popular base for that group, and Bin Laden's speeches and messages are ignored (outside of Saudi Arabia, I should add where he remains popular among the Wahhabi fanatics). AlQa`idah, we have to remember, comes out of the Wahhabi tradition, which contains a fanatically anti-Shi`ite component. For Wahhabis, Shi`ites are not even Muslims. (You will read about all that in my new book about Saudi Arabia coming out in a few months). And we have to remember that Saddam indirectly unleashed fundamentalist powers after 1995 when he declared his "faith campaign," which stressed the role of religion in politics. With every defeat, Saddam gets more religious and pious.

Amnesty International raises questions about the death of two Afghans in US custody:

Full report: merchants of toture equipments

Why does this article on a police video showing US officers fatally beating a black man appear in UK newspapers, but not in US newspapers?

This is quite interesting: the Al-Arabi newspaper in Cairo published a study by an Iraqi researcher, `Abdul-Karim Al-`Uluji, in which he details the names and nature of Iraqi resistance organizations. He lists some 27 different names of organizations that have claimed responsibility for attacks against various targets in Iraq (and Arab media cannot publicize their names or proclamations because the royal decree by Paul Bremer bans that) in Iraq. According to his list, the primary element of the resistance is comprised of Islamic fundamentalist groups, followed by different Arab nationalist and Iraqi nationalist groups, and in third place are the groups that are loyal to the deposed Iraqi regime. This of course clashes with the picture that is presented by US media about all these groups being loyal to the previous regime. This proves that Gen. Abizaid was right: Saddam is NOT capable of leading or planning an military campaign of any kind. He is too incompetent. (I have not read the aforementioned report in AlArabi. The website of the paper has been off for a few days. I read about it in an article by Fahmi Al-Huwaydi in As-Safir newspaper today).

The is the most comprehensive public opinion survey of Iraqis that I have seen: conducted by people from the Department of Sociology at Oxford University. It reveals that nearly 80 percent of Iraqis have little or no trust in US occupation forces. Please, I plead with you to not tell the US administration. They will get upset. They still think that they are regarded as forces of liberation.

Jealous of the anger of the Angry Arab, American liberals are getting angry. High time, I say.

Among those killed by Israeli troops is a 9-year old boy. Israel continues its heroic battle against terrorism, and terrorist women and children.

Victory for the US in Iraq: defeat for forces of democracy and elections: the Iraqi puppet council rejects the idea of elections. Why should they stand for elections when most of them know that they will never win (not in Iraq, anyway). The right to stay in power, without electoral legitimacy, is aright defended by US troops in Iraq. This is the new era of democracy and freedom promised by Bush in that famous speech of his when he said: "freedom, free, liberty, freedom, freed, free, liberty, free, freedom." Eloquently put.

The city of Rotterdam plans to ban poor immigrants from moving in

Save the Children UK refuses to be silenced: they decide to ignore the disgusting pressures from Save the Children US which wants it to be silent about hte plight of Iraqi children

Rumsfeld receives a prestigious prize for obfuscation (thanks to Munzir, Rania, Amal, Julie, and Allen, among others that I may have forgotten who have sent this to me; quite an amusing story)

Iraqis challenge US version of events in Samarra'

No wonder Angry Arab is angry: Donald Rumsfeld, not to be confused with Donald Duck, expressed anger at Arab satellite stations AlArabiya and Aljazeera because he said that they sometimes get advance notice of attacks on US troops. There is absolutely no evidence of that. And both indicated that they have never aired footage of attacks or bombings live in Iraq. Yet, they were singled out for criticisms (and both are funded by client governments of the US), and AlArabiya was banned by the US colonial administration in Iraq, and its puppet council. And yet I have not heard criticisms of the French sensational magazine ParisMatch (which combines politics and celebrity) which has put on its website video footage of the attempt to shoot down a DHL cargo plane in Iraq (a civilian target for sure). Notice that when the page comes (wait for a few seconds) the cover of the web site combines Michael Jackson's story with "Irak Exlusif".

Text of the Geneva Accord: signed by an Israeli and a Palestinian who barely represent themselves. The accord abolished the right of return, gave Israel the right to keep some 80 percent of settlements, and the right to dominate a tiny demilitarized Palestinian state. But why should the Israeli army have to face armed Palestinians? Should they not enjoy the right to kill and maim without opposition from the Palestinians?

Coming to a war near you: US war robots.

I will be interviewed live tomorrow Tuesday morning at 7:30AM Pacific Time (10:30AM Eastern Time) on the Morning Show on KPFA. You may listen Live.

a boy punished for mentioning his lesbian mom (thanks Krista)

This is the official account of the event at Samarra' by the US military: notice that the estimate of enemy dead is now 24 (not 54), but who is counting.

The new "liberated" Iraq (which may resemble Saddam's Iraq): the media order of the Calition Provisional Authority (read US military administration) bans media that, among other listed reasons, contain material that "is patently false and is calculated to promote opposition to the CPA or undermine legitimate processes towards self-government." (see p. 2, section 3, item (i)

..now more stories about what happened in Samarra': (see below). Iraqi hospital sources are now reporting 8 Iraqis dead (not the 54 reported by US military). And they insist that they were civilians. Some accounts mention that the men may have been bank robbers waiting for a convoy of cars carrying the new Iraqi currency. So where does the figure 54 come from? And who were those people? And I also doubt that Saddam's Fida'iyyin would wear their identifiable uniforms, as the US media are reporting: let us not forget that many, if not most, Iraqis loath and detest those units of Saddam's worst henchmen, and regard them, rightly, as thugs as they did the dirty work of their leader `Udayy Saddam Husayn. Many Iraqis would arrest them or kill them if they see them. Mystery of the story expands.

..and Shi`ites are pushing for autonomy in South

Even stupid Time magazine is reporting about losing hearts and minds in Iraq

So US troops killed some 46 Iraqis. The US press is calling all of them terrorists (or "assassins and thugs" in the precise language of Bush). Now if these were insurgents (and wearing the uniforms of Fida'iyyi Saddam, as the US government is claiming), why would they concentrate together in such larger numbers? The most basic rule of guerrilla warfare is to not concentrate in large numbers to create such an easy target for the enemy? But we are led to believe that those not only gathered together in large numbers, but dressed in recognizable uniforms to be easily identifiable for US troops. What are they going to tell us about them next? Will the US military now also claim that they had t-shirts carrying the signs:"We are Saddam's thugs and assassins"? Have you noticed that not a single US newspaper carried a skeptical story about them.

For a skeptical and different account of what happened, go here

Sharon may annex part of West Bank: Ayatollah Bush is pleased

Pork feast

On how the US is losing its bottle

Iraqi puppet council is changing its views on the "US plan" for Iraq: it suddenly noticed public opinion

That Iraqi scientists lied about the existence of Iraqi nuclear weapons, and that Bush officials lied about Iraqi weapons and everything else

"Confessions" of a UK prisoner

How the US is moving quietly toward a flat tax (thanks Julie)

Why Zionism IS racism: how Israeli universities try to limit the number of Arab students by resorting to "special admission tests":

The rise of the Ayatollahs in Iraq: Anthony Shadid (who used to write for the Boston Globe) is the best Washington Post reporter, and did a decent job during the war

God on the quad: the rise of Christian evangelism on US campuses: (Neil, a reporter for the Boston Globe) was my student some 455 years ago)

...and the number of Americans who claim no religion has increased (thanks Shawna)

The Elvis of Academia: (thanks to Beta-blogger)

I should have a special section called Embedded Scholars: Noah Feldman will win first dishonorable mention. The late Edward W Said so disliked this Noah Feldman. We, in Middle East studies, never knew or heard of this fellow until the US war of colonization in Iraq. The US colonial administrator then hired this Feldman, a law professor at New York University, and New York Times published a laudatory profile about him. It was all about how this expert is going to help the poor Iraqis write their own constitution. It was so annoying and so traditionally colonialist that you felt being taken back in time. And then he was everywhere: NPR and other media outlets sought him to explain the poor feeble-minded Iraqis to the American people. And in one story in New York Times he observed that people in the Middle East “who do not normally act rationally” have been recently acting rationally. Kid you not. So I have been quite annoyed with this guy, as you can tell. And then yesterday, in the New York Times (November 29th, 2003, p. A7), he was quoted: he was, of course, expressing his objections to democracy and elections in Iraq because “the wrong people could get elected.” Imagine.

Patriot Act author has concerns

An Iraqi town: the writer Mohammad Bazzi is now Middle East correspondent for New York Newsday: originally from South Lebanon, he grew up here, and covered local NY stuff for years before they allowed him to cover the region

American wounded approach 10000 (thanks Allen)

A US soldier from Montana honestly describes Iraq duty as a nightmare: Not in the New York Lies

Image of US lawlesness

The Wal-Mart that you do not know:

Who is under attack by the FBI?

The US administration's best hope was the Iraqi police. Now they suspect the US-trained Iraqi police to be working for the enemy. Oh, shit.

You need a govt permission to change the color of your car in Saudi Arabia:

Bush has new nuclear weapons in store for you: in the cause of liberty, liberation, freedom, liberte, emancipation, etc.

..and then there is this little problem of Iraqi militias

UK prisoners in Guantanamo will be allowed to go home: the rest: they can rot forever, US govt decided.

Robert Fisk on the censorship of truth in US military

Franco-Arabs turn to the right:

Western democracies and their commitment to development: the US record

The rise of high tech India

Judge for yourself: this is from a transcript of White House press reporters asking Bush questions upon returning from Baghdad:
THE PRESIDENT: Good job.
Q: What kind of ball cap was it? What did it say on it?
DR. RICE: Mine was in my bag, it was --
Q: A Cleveland Brown's hat?
Q: It was actually -- I didn't have a Cleveland Brown's hat.
Q: That would have been a dead giveaway.
DR. RICE: That would have been a dead giveaway.
THE PRESIDENT: Here are the names of the people here.
Q: We would love to get some video of you up here sometime, sir.
Q: What does it say, Blake?
THE PRESIDENT: -- something like this.
Q: Did you really pull it down that low?
THE PRESIDENT: No. We had pretty tinted windows. We went through a gate where --
Q: They thought, who in the world is that?
THE PRESIDENT: Eddie said, we're coming to a gate.
Q: (Inaudible.)
THE PRESIDENT: Well, I'm telling you, this is -- again, had this been jeopardized in any way, we wouldn't put myself and/or you all in this position. And we were very -- we were cautious and we needed to be. And I want to thank you for honoring that. This is an historic trip. And it'll reverberate in such positive ways for these kids who are -- and these soldiers who are far away from home serving us. And it's exactly what I wanted to do.
Q: Thank you.

Full report: Academic freedoms and national security in a time of crisis (thanks Hussein)

To my readers in the Arab world. I have received a few emails from readers in the Arab world asking that I create an Arabic version of this website. I am seriously considering either making an Arabic version, or creating a new Arabic website. Unfortunately, Neal, may he be praised, does not know Arabic to help out.

Another innocent victim of Sep. 11

AFL-CIO is facing major financial crisis: solution? Stop funding the Democratic Party.

Guns for hire by the CIA.

Congress wants no federally-funded study of sex. Sex is quite unpopular in US.

This, THIS, makes Angry Arab angrier: this Kennedy family spoiled brat has the audacity to lecture us about the environment, while he flies around in a private jet, and has not noticed that wars are bad for the environment. Tell him to go to his family compound and watch TV.

Apparently, Bush was brought to Baghdad kicking and screaming. His aides had to prod him, hoping for some political boost for his campaign.

In the new (and presumably liberated) Afghanistan: if a woman gets married, she cannot pursue her education. Yes, there was such a law on the books, but the communists discarded it, and US allies brought it back to life. Long live American liberations.

Please help welcome the 102 F16l fightetr jets, destined for Israel, and worth some $4.4 billion. They will bomb and kill, but for the cause of peace, of course.

Why all this noise about this Bush’s trip to Iraq? Well, it proves that Iraq is safe and peaceful. Yes, the president stayed for two hours only, but that was close to 120 minutes. Not a short period of time, especially if measured by dog years standards. To be sure, the trip was a sneak visit, and lights were turned off, and he threatened to return the plane (he called it “this baby”) if the press leaked the news. It proves that the president is right: he is making progress (do not tell him that a US soldier was killed hours after his departure). And we are told that he met with Iraqis: that was true: 4 of the most enthusiastic puppets of the Iraqi puppet council were whisked (probably blindfolded) to a secret location so that they could shake hands with this historic leader. In the short speech that Bush made, “freedom” and “free” were used no less than 7 times. And the US media is going crazy over the trip; and they insult their own American troops, that they worship so deeply, by suggesting that the two hour trip was a great boost to troop morale. Why?

The plight of Muslim deportees

Sarah Hale and the history of Thanksgiving Day

Rumsfeld frets over Muslim schools: let them study in Christian schools, he affirms.

In a post-war self-review by 3rd Infantry Division, the error was found: that the US should have called its troops "occupiers" and not "liberators." From a leaked document to globalsecurity.org

Debating polygamy in Indonesia.

A CIA analyst defends the manufacturing of intelligence on Iraq

And who are the democrats after all? US considers allowing some elections in Iraq, but only to appease Ayatollah Sistani

Scandalous: how Save the Children was ordered to halt its criticisms of US war by its US branch. This is why even NGOs are suspect in developing countries, often for good reason.

Iraqi General dies in US custody: in the USA Today story, it said he died of natural causes, but that "investigation techniques" were being reviewed. He may have naturally and accidentally beaten himself to death, or he may have naturally shot himself with a gun not in his hands. Many things could have "naturally" happened. Do not jump to conclusion. He may have traveled back in time for the SF earthquake of 1906.

US asks for more time to deal with UK prisoners in Guantanamo: a century or two would be needed, Powell says.

BBC director on US TV news coverage: Government-owned BBC is better than "free" US media.

A highly objective UN agency censures Iran for its nuclear program; it also praises Israel for its WMD programs AND nuclear, chemical, and biological WEAPONS. It calls on Israel to increase its arsenal for the sake of humanity and world peace. It also lavishes praise for Israeli missile technology, and calls on it to test them ASAP over Arab heads. No wonder UN has produced world peace and harmony.

Is it a war, a picnic, a war of liberation, or an election campaign?

Confessions of Jay Garner

Spoils of Iraq war

Washington Post is concerned that Muslims in Europe are treated as outsiders: do we really think that US can still preach about religious and ethnic equalities to countries of Europe??

This is quite ironic: the Iraqi grand Ayatollah insists on elections; and the liberators, who cannot stop preaching (only verbally) about the virtues of democracy, do not want elections.

Rape in the Military: (thanks Katie)

US soldier who was accused of brutally beating Iraqi prisoners of war explains himself: "We were doing our jobs. ... It is war."

This week US is blaming Saddam's deputy, `Izzat Ad-Duri, for attacks on troops. But we are not sure who the US will blame on Saturday. That changes. I noticed that New York Lies, or Times, refers to him as General Ad-Duri. Now Ad-Duri is certainly a sinister senior member of Saddam's brutal regime, but he is no general. He also looks like my grandfather in his last dying days. So he is wanted by the US, but he cannot be found. So the US today arrested his wife and his daughter. Justice and liberation in Iraq.

This is cute: members of the Iraqi puppet council want to stay in power, even after elections. But do not judge them harshly. They know they will not win elections. They just want to stay to help in the occupation project. They want to become Senators. Very cute.

This is a picture. A touching image of a sincere and affectionate friendship between two people who for a long time were fond of one another. Saddam and Rumsfeld.

US will move troops from S Korea to Iraq and Afghanistan. And Bush is still reporting progress. And Bremer report declnie of attacks on US troops in the last few...minutes

A campaign to end violence against women

Students from Gulf countries are facing discrimination here in the US, and in...Lebanon

Washington Post reports that the ban on the Arabic TV station AlArabiya was approved by US government. Really? Really?? No Kidding? And we assumed all along that the Iraqi puppet council was an independent council which made decisions by itself, without any interference by the US colonial administration. How mistaken we were.

A setback on the war on hunger, worldwide

Full text of the FAO's report on Food Insecurity

French minister bars a juror because she wears a veil

Armed checkpoints, embedded reporters in flak jackets, brutal suppression of peaceful demonstrators. Baghdad? No, Miami

Guantanamo Bay detainees facing trial by 'kangaroo court', says a Law Lord in UK

US is making small cash payments to Iraqi civilian victims of its shooting, but they have to waive their rights.

I am worried about cruelty against Palestinians and Iraqis, and PETA is worried about cruelty to turkeys.

The brilliant anchorman Tom Brokaw was moderating the debate of democratic presidential candidates last Monday. As he was asking questions about the Iraq situation, he wondered aloud, and with great confidence, whether the Taliban (YES THE TALIBAN) may return to Iraq, YES IRAQ, if US troops withdraw. These are the gifted journalists of the mainstream US press.

Israel embraces an Italian neo-fascist: which only proves that Zionist leaders really can tolerate real anti-Semites (like the Christian Right in US. They really object to opponents of Zionism and Israel.

As a tribute to past Latin American military dictatorships, US armed forces play an increasing role in surveillance and policing at home.

How thoughtful: Congress expands FBI spying powers as a tribute to the memory of J.Edgar Hoover, Joe Mcarthy, and Joe Stalin.

Suicide rate among US soldiers in Iraq

Dictators we like, love, and cuddle: Musharraf's foe tortured over letter

This is the first time I see something about it in the English language press. Arabic press has reported that the occupation forces (I am sorry, I mean the forces and bombers of liberation) have sent instructions to mosque preachers around Iraq telling them what can and what cannot be said. Muqtada As-Sadr pointed to that last week too. But just because the US forces are violating the rights of Iraqis, and holding political prisoners (among other prisoners) without charging them, and just because newspapers have been closed down and harassed, and just because some Iraqi civilians have been killed, does not mean that the war was not a war of liberation. Be flexible.

War on Women: Rape as a weapon in the Congo.

There is a war in Afghanistan. (Do not tell the American public. Some 93% of them supported the war in Afghanistan and believe that the country is now liberated.)

Nice plug of the Angry Arab News Service on slackisland.org

Who's counting the Iraqi dead? Well, Angry Arab is. Why do you ask?

Perle says invasion was illegal, but that it does not matter. Nothing matters.

Mosul is angry, and it is OUTSIDE that famous Sunni triangle

The Uncensored stories of the Iraq war

New Bill Threatens Intellectual freedoms: but it is ok: the intellect of our president will take care of everybody and everything.

Who is visiting this website? This is a breakdown of the visitors based on their servers, in percentages of total visitors: .net (46.2), .com (24.9), .edu (16.8), UK (6.4), Lebanon (1.5), NGO (0.8) (.org), US (I do not know what a .US server is, anybody knows? 0.5), Israel (0.4), Germany (0.3), .gov (meaning, US government servers--Big Brother/Sister watching? (0.3), Canada (0.2), Australia (0.2), Japan (0.2), Spain (0.2), Netherlands (0.1), France (0.1), Finland (0.1), Belgium (0.1), Switzerland (0.1), Singapore (0.1), Italy (0.1), Sweden (0.1), Yugoslavia (0.1), Poland (0.1), Syria (0.1), .int (international? Anybody knows what that is?), Iceland (0.1), Malaysia (0.1), Qatar (0.1), Saudi Arabia (0.1), Norway (0.1), Denmark (0.1), Mexico (0.1), United Arab Emirates (0.1), Chile (0.1), USA Military (.mil), and Philippines (0.10).

Work is torture for maids from Sri Lanka in the Arab world (thanks Nadya)

"Iraq", not to be confused with Iraq, (read US) appoints an ambassador to the US: she (Rend Rahim, who was one of 3 Iraqis who the president invited the Oval Office prior to war to show the nation that is Iraqis are fond of his war) is an American who cannot read Arabic, and headed the Iraq Foundation which was supported with US funds. I knew Rend but contact between us ended as I strongly opposed her close work with Chalabi and with US war appratus (and our families knew each other socially) and I can tell you that her knowledge of things Arab and Arabic is close to my knowledge of Chinese. But qualifications for new Iraqi diplomats are: subservience to US, desire to to have more US bombs fall on Iraqi heads, admiration for the intellectual abilities of George W. Bush, and willingness to thank American people for all the bombings and occupation of Iraq.

Not good news: Iraqi families (for some weird and inexplicable reason, implies US press) are not happy for the US shooting of Iraqi civilians. But do not they understand that this is for their own good?

Thanks to Jeremy:
"I did a search on that Bush speech and found:

24 matches with "free" in it (counting freedom, free, freed, etc)
4 matches with "liberty" in it
7 matches with "justice" in it.

I would not trouble myself to look for more, it was disheartening."

Saddam is gone; a new pro-US Saddam is in: attacks on press in Iraq continue: the puppet council bans an Arab satellite station.

Army Times predicts: the worst is yet to come in Iraq.

Replies to Tony Judt's article on the binational state in the Holy Land.

Colonial Anthropology is back: A Middle East anthropologist "helps" establish colonial democracy in Iraq. Her next book is titled "The Savage Mind" about Arab culture.

Mullah Oman is back, issuing more threats. But he has no WMDs on him.

One of US favorite dictators had to quit in Georgia: but the oil pipeline can be more important than loyal and delightful dictators sometime.

The New York Times just noticed that FBI is "scrutinizing" (look at the language of this Orwellian newspaper) anti-war demonstrators. This is not new. Since the war in Afghanistan, every anti-war rally had Police capturing faces of people on video.

This is a more critical account, from a..UK newspaper

This is a racist (very racist) website against Arabs, which uses "angry arabs" in its name (thanks to a reader)

Lies of the Times (this should become a permanent feature of the site): This is what the New York Times said on Saturday, November 22, 2003 (p. A 3): "There were in fact relatively few large gatherings of demonstrators during the president's stay, although noisy crowds of several hundred people assembled from time to time outside Buckingham Palace. The main protest march on Thursday was a bit sparse at times and nowhere as big as the weekend antiwar protests in London earlier this year." This when Scotland Yard estimated crowd to reach as high as 100000 (and organizers put the estimate at 200000).

Human Rights Watch, which has been particularly concerned for months over the plight of a right-wing lawyer in Lebanon--Muhammad Mughrabi--(not knowing whether he is eating well and drinking well--although he is free, and the organization that believes certain human rights abuses may be good for Arab people's heath, says that targeting of Iraqi civilians by armed opponents of US occupation are committing war crimes. No problem here. I agree with them on that point. My problem is this: would you ask the esteemed Human Rights Watch whether the killing of Iraqi civilians by US forces constitute ANY crime at all? Or does Human Rights Watch consider the killing of Iraqi civilians by US troops to be good for the Human Rights cause that they so lousily represent?

Iraqis not allowed to bid on Iraq rebuilding contracts: but US crooks will be encouraged to apply.

The question is: what kind of a turning point?

Toxic bullets litter Iraq: may be good for your health, and..liberation.

Is that a good thing or a bad thing? Members of the puppet council in Iraq accused of taking bribes.

Supporters of Israel can be proud: Israel among the TOP FIVE arms exporters in the wrold.

Among contractors, a race for Iraq deals. Fruits and vegetables of liberation, but not for Iraqis to taste, of course.

The nation is really proud: US detonates its biggest non-nuclear bomb: the MOAB, "21,700-pound satellite-guided GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast Bomb." Muslims nations now await its inaguration over their heads, although some believe that it has been tested already over Iraqi heads, but we do not know for sure. The bomb emits gases, and then sets them ablaze over a section of a city or an area. Victory for science over humanity.

This is an outrage. I know that angry arab is easily outraged (as his friend Salih alleges), but this is really outrageous. A top US general now says that capture of Bin Laden is not important. This is an attept to prepare the public for the re-election campaign of George W. Bush, in order to preempt critics who will ask about the plight of Bin Laden, who was wanted dead or alive. The esteemed general implies that Bin Laden is out of the violence business. Absolutely no evidence for that: Bin Laden in his last tape keeps threatening and keeps talking the language of violence and death. This is really an example how the re-election campaign supersedes any other interest or priority, even their declared "war on terrorism."

US war tactics return to Iraq: but end of war was declared back in May.

Full Text: Report of the UN Population Fund: Iraq: Reproductive Health Assessment. Women's conditions worsen.

FBI used murderers as informers: the nation can sleep better now.

I apologize, but I have actually read the full text of Bush's speech at Whitehall Palace in London. I do not have my computer technology on me here, but I would like it if one of the readers would calculate the times the words "liberty," "freedom," "democracy," "liberation" were used by the esteemed dear Leader. And remember that Goebbels--and that sinister Nazi propagandist should know-- defined propaganda as "repitition, constant repetition." The New York Times on Thursday was quite pleased that he quoted philosophers: (Locke and Adam Smith, in question, and one can debate whether they qualify as philosophers, in the same way as George W. Bush and Hegel qualify. He brushed over the issue of WMD, and said that Saddam ignored demands to "end the nightmare for his people." In fact, the US did not (whether under Reagan, Bush Sr., Clinton, or W. Bush) make a big deal about Saddam's brutal dictatorship. It was all about WMDs. We remember that Bush Sr.'s government permitted Saddam to use his helicopter gunships to slaughter more than 50000 Iraqis, while the US was busy celebrating its military victory at the time: NYC parade and all. In its analysis of the speech, the New York Times (p. A 13, Thursday edition, Nov. 20--remember it for the historical record): noticed the issue of WMDs. So it stated: "No substantial cahes of chemical or biological weapons have been found." LOOK AT THE LANGUAGE; WHEN THEY SAY "NO SUBSTANTIAL" THEY ARE IMPLYING THAT SOME NON-SUBSTANTIAL CACHES WERE FOUND. And it still passes as the best newspaper in the US.

Why the fascination in this country with JFK? Is it a certain secret desire for royalty? And why is he lionized by liberals in US? After all, when the civil rights movement was gaining steem, he yelled at his white advisor on civil rights: "Can't you get your goddamned friends off those buses?" See the biography by R. Reeves.

You may click to watch a videa of Bush's statue being brought down by demonstrators in London

US Arabic Propaganda TV's launch is delayed: could not recruit enough Arabs: It is estimated that Arabs will develop a crush on Bush (and some may fall in love) a week after the beginning of its broadcast. Nation awaits in antiticipation.

Two years after Bush's declared wars on terrorism, we are now told that terrorism, Inc has expanded

Why Eminem, whose lyrics are always directed in their rage against his ex-girlfriends, is a confirmed racist and sexist

Women demand an end to violence in Liberia

energy bill going to fund pseudoscience, lobbiests, and the sleazy chain, Hooters:

The man who was silent and cowardly when it was essential to speak, now cannot stop talking: Hans Blix sees a bleak future of US in Iraq

Being in Washington, DC, I was stuck how many people (people I know and people I do not know) now know that I love fried eggplants. The secret is out.

Only when I travel, I get to be subjected to US visual media. I confine myself to US print media, as the irritation is more contained and I am spared the faces of the rulers. But as I watched some US TV news yesterday, I was shocked: shocked at the extent to which Michael Jackson's story overshadows what is going on Iraq, and shocked at the extent they downplayed the demonstrations in UK (imagine: 100000 (some estimate put the figure at 200000) on a weekday: that is huge for London), and shocked at the extent they (mis)covered the demonstrations against globalization in Miami. One MSNBC anchorperson refused to air the scene of demonstrators in London taking down an effigy of Bush. CNN covered the demonstrators in Miami with such hostility and bias, and only allowed the Police to define the demonstrators. CNN, MSNBC, FOX News: they really are the same: the coverage is the same, the themes are the same, the sensationalism is the same, and even the hairdos are the same. The US has not given up on Ahmad Chalabi: the New York Times quoted some official the other day to the effect that this international embezzler (on whom a US-press CIA leaked report about him stated that people in Iraq either did not know him or felt a strong urge to puke when hearing his name) may become the first prime minister of post-Saddam, US-run Iraq.

Uzbekistan: a model country for US foreign policy goals: why cannot all brutal dictatorships around the world be like Uzbekistan? Yes, it is unjust and torture is widespread, but the government is subservient to US foreign policy, and hosts US troops. The march of freedom continues.

Another justification for the war in Iraq (as the search for WMDs continue): Saddam is not only linked to Bin Laden, but he is now being linked to Michael Jackson. That is right. Michael Jackson. Apprently, Michael Jackson had some of his plastic surgery done in hospitals in Baghdad. Support for the Iraq war surges further.

For those of you deceived by Dennis Kucinich: he has the political courage of all other members of Congress: he makes some critical remarks about the war in Afghanistan, and then calls back to withdraw his remarks. He, after all, VOTED for Bush's war in Afghanistan, not to mention his long love affair--maybe a crush--with Israe.

Israel admits lying over one raid; other lies over other raids will not be admitted, however.

Bush asks Israel to soften its humiliation of Palestinians; he promised to do the humiliation himself. He still talks about Abu Mazin fondly, unaware that he is now totally marginalized. But then again, Bush still thinks that Queen Victoria is in charge in UK.

The military media complex

A new estimate of casualties in Iraq

One ton bombs are dropped in Iraq: believed to be particularly and scientifically good for liberating Muslims: Muslims in other countries are now begging US for bombs over their heads. Special requests are being made for the one ton bombs over Muslims' heads.

In other news, the Taliban--yes, the Taliban that were eliminated by Bush's famous war--continue their attacks in Afghanistan, deliberately targeting aid agencies and workers.

FBI powers expand, yet again: all is possible in the age of the "war on terrorism."

While the Bush administration is declaring Afghanistan a success and model for Muslims: aid agencies flee that increasingly violent place: the American march of liberation continues. May we be spared.

Life in Mosul: and who designed the Sunni triangle, and why is it a triangle.

Animal rights groups are fighting Muslims with..pork meat: groups fed pork meat to sheep destined for the Middle East: as a vegetarian, I feel safe.

Some Hindu groups want to fight Muslims with...Procreation: procreators of the world, unite.

The New York Times worries (and rightly so) about anti-Semitism in Europe (which it often equates with anti-Zionism--see a piece last Tuesday in that paper); yet, it never cares about growing evidence of anti-Islamism. But to be fair to the paper, it does not believe that Muslims or Arabs are equal to other human beings.

I am doomed to poverty: belief in heaven and hell is good for economic growth, says this piece of "research"

Trading in people's lives, literally

Nafta and the False Promises: the case of Mexico: where are the jobs?

Remember: to scroll down to the bottom: you may need to press F11 twice. I will be in Washington, DC for the next few days, but will try to update.

Data on US (and European) arms production

Coke on trial in India

"The Will to be lethal" in Iraq: Liberation proceeds smoothly

The Bubble of American Supremacy