The Syrian response to Sunday’s Israeli air strike on Damascus, which killed 42, was twofold. Beleagured President Bashar al-Assad announced that soldiers manning the country’s anti-aircraft batteries may now fire at will (the Baath Party system is slow because subalterns have to ask permission for every battle action, and initiative on the ground is usually […]
Alabina, “Habibi ya Nour el Ain” (Music Video)
Some Spanish lyrics, some Arabic. In medieval Arabic poetry this genre was called mulamma`at. Alabina, “Habibi ya Nour el Ain,” rare version As This source points out, “The mulamma’, “patch-work,” or “macaronic” poem, composed in alternate lines or couplets in two or more different languages, has no separate form, and will be more suitably considered […]
China and the Israel-Palestine Conflict: Enter the Dragon?
This video report on China’s new interest in Middle East diplomacy begins by pointing out that the Obama administration has announced a pivot toward Asia (i.e. US interests lie more in the Pacific Rim than the Middle East.). At the same time, China (which dislikes this pivot, fearing it is aimed against Beijing) is moving […]
UN has strong suspicions Syrian Rebels used Sarin Gas
A UN commission unvestigating the situation in Syria has strong, concrete suspicions that Syrian rebels used sarin gas, but does not have firm proof, according to investigator Carla del Ponti. Euronews reports The announcement landed like a bombshell because during the past week Israeli and European officials have levelled the same charge against the Syrian […]
BS Happens: Parody of 24/7 Cable News
Parody of 24-hour cable news from The Onion that that nails it:
Israeli, Hizbullah Proxy War in Syria
Israel and Lebanon’s Hizbullah, who fought a war in 2006, are increasingly being drawn into a proxy war in Lebanon. Hizbullah supports the Baath regime of Bashar al-Assad. The Israeli government, after a long period of neutrality, seems increasingly to have decided that the Baath must go. Israel on Sunday bombed what it said were […]
Shiraz, Iran: Timelapse Video
Timelapse of scenes of Shiraz, Iran. The southwestern city is known for its poets and shrines to poets and gardens and, in the old days, wine.
The Conservative Logic of Ferguson’s Smears of Gays, Muslims, Obama and Krugman
Harvard historian Niall Ferguson apologized Saturday for having said that economist John Maynard Keyes did not care about future generations because he was gay and had no children. The question I want to raise here is the over-all logic of Ferguson’s underlying reasoning. What makes him continually make embarrassing and simple errors of fact, as […]
Saudi Arabian Women, Unveiled (VICE video)
VICE reports on Saudi Arabian women, unveiled, showing the strong private/ public divide in the Kingdom (and moreover private and public are drawn differently there).
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