According to the BBC: Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah has announced increased benefits for his citizens (…): there will be extra funds for housing, studying abroad and social security, according to state television. While Saudi television reported that Bahrain’s King Hamad was also flying into Riyadh on Wednesday. It looks like even the fattest of the fat cats is now getting fearful that the revolutionary tsunami might reach him: just imagine
Russian President Medvedev has just made an unannounced visit to the National Anti-Terrorist Committee meeting in the North Ossetian city of Vladikavkaz. He made a number of interesting, if very debatable comments. a) President Medvedev began by saying that what is now taking place in the Arab world is a “scenario which was first attempted in Russia but which was defeated”. b) He described the situation in the Arab world
— Note: I am in no way endorsing any of what Khaled Al Ga’aeem, under-secretary of Libya’s foreign ministry, says. Nor do I believe that he is sincere, or that his description of what is taking place in Libya is true. However, I do think that it is important to hear an articulate and intelligent defense of the regime’s position, if only because the leader – Gaddafi himself – is
It is kind of disgusting to see how Libyan apparachiks from the Libyan diplomatic corps in the USA going on al-Jazeera and calling for a UN imposed no-fly zone over their country because of the alleged ‘genocide’ taking place there. I have exactly zero love for that crazy buffoon Gadaffi, but his diplomats are even more spineless and hypocritical than him. Still, the worst liars and hypocrites are – who
President Medvedev has just fired the Deputy Commander of the Federal Security Service. Furthermore, a new law “On Police” has just been passed. Finally, President Medvedev has just held a conference with commanders of all the security services where he made a very strong speech about the need to bring order, discipline and ethics for all the security services. He threatened all the commanders with being immediately fired if they
There are plenty of reports about Gaddafi using his (notoriously incompetent) Air Force to bomb buildings controlled by the opposition. There are also rumors that he has left the country, possibly to Venezuela (which Venezuela is denying).
Voltairenet reports: The International Peace Institute recently released the results of a telephone survey of Iranians. According to the poll, Iranians are clearly split in a one third/two thirds ratio. The majority came out in favour of continuing the Islamic Revolution under President Ahmadinejad. On its part, the minority wishes to suspend financial support to Hamas and Hezbollah, hopes for closer ties with the United States, and backs opposition leader
The Alternative Information Center reports: The United States has vetoed a draft UN resolution condemning Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian Territory on Friday (18 February). The other 14 members of the United Nations Security Council all voted in favor of the resolution, which was sponsored by at least 130 countries. The resolution declared that Israeli settlements in Palestinian Territories are illegal and a “major obstacle to the achievement of
The BBC reports: At least 104 people have been killed in Libya since anti-government protests erupted on Wednesday, the campaign group Human Rights Watch says. It said the figure included at least 20 people who died when troops reportedly used heavy weapons in the second city, Benghazi, on Saturday. The group said its estimates were conservative. Good thing crazy old Gaddafi abandoned the camp of ‘terrorism’ and is now acting
Dear friends, I am spending this week-end at a major chess tournament in which all three of my children are playing. I will therefore be unable to reply to questions and comments until Monday afternoon. I apologize for the delay and I ask for your understanding. The Saker
I take refuge in Allah against the stoned devil. In the Name of Allah, The Compassionate, The Most Merciful. Praise be to Allah, The Lord of the world. Peace be on the Seal of prophets – our Master and Prophet Abi Al Qassem Mohammad – and on his chaste and pure Household, chosen companions and all prophets and messengers. First we salute the souls of our martyrs – the chaste
Listen to these words of wisdom about the situation in Afghanistan: “They face a stark choice between war and peace, as (…) military pressure on them mounts. They cannot defeat us. And they cannot escape this choice” Who do you think said that? Mullah Omar? Hakimullah Mehsud? Maybe Osama himself (from the word beyond, IMHO)? Nope. Its that crazy bitch Hillary! She is one hell of a joker, is she
Eric Walberg reflects on the reasons for the very different reactions to Egypt’s revolution among North Americans Western media always welcomes the overthrow of a dictator — great headline news — but this instance was greeted with less than euphoria by Western — especially American — leaders, who tried to soft-peddle it much as did official Egyptian media till the leader fled the palace. Egypt’s president Hosni Mubarak was a
Red Ant Liberation Army News reports: Just when one might have thought that reality was slowly sinking in regarding the Green movement’s lack of political traction in Iran, political and media elites in the United States have decided, in the wake of recent developments in Egypt, to dust off all of their factually ungrounded and intellectually irresponsible narratives. Still reeling from the loss of a longstanding U.S. ally to the
Prensa Latina reports: The Russian police arrested a woman and three men from Chechnya suspected of being involved in preparing an attack in this capital, Federal Security Service sources reported. According to Life News, those involved are Hassan Nazhaev, 26, Ramzan Jaliev, 28, Ruslan Yusupov, 30, and Angela Batalova, 39, who allegedly is the widower of a member of an armed group. The Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation considered
by Ken O’KeefeTo join the March to Gaza click here There is much talk about who and what is behind the popular revolts in the Arab world and I find such talk as interesting as anyone. But more than talk I am interested in action. Indeed that is why tears of joy streamed down my face as I watched the Egyptian people cleansing themselves of the shame brought upon them
Iranian democracy in action: watch this video of a presumed Basij getting lynched by a “freedom-loving” mob: There is a reason for the hate that this crowed feels for the putative Basij. The Basij are a voluntary force, nominally subordinated to the Pasdaran, but in reality pretty much autonomous. It is a paramilitary force really composed of low-level supporters of the regime. The Basij did play a key role in
