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The US is finally giving up any pretense of being a fair broker in the Middle-East. Check out who, according to Haaretz, will be the next US ambassador to Israel: Obama expected to appoint Dan Shapiro Ambassador to Israel Shapiro, 40, has advised Obama on the Middle East since before he assumed the presidency, and coordinated his presidential election campaign to attract Jewish voters. U.S. President Barack Obama intends to
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
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
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
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
Russian TV is reporting that according to unnamed sources Mubarak is now in a coma. As soon as I heard that, I began suspecting that he was killed by somebody in the security or military. Indeed, on Thursday evening he categorically refused to leave power, and yet he stepped down the very next day, though unlike all the other announcement which he delivered personally, this one was delivered by Suleiman.
THE PRESIDENT: Good afternoon, everybody. There are very few moments in our lives where we have the privilege to witness history taking place. This is one of those moments. This is one of those times. The people of Egypt have spoken, their voices have been heard, and Egypt will never be the same. By stepping down, President Mubarak responded to the Egyptian people’s hunger for change. But this is
Admiral Mike Mullen is due to meet President Benjamin Netanyahu, President Shimon Peres and outgoing IDF chief Gabi Ashkenazi on Sunday. Israel needs to help the U.S. to stabilize the region Egypt unrest could improve Israel ties Israel fears loss of a crucial ally with Mubarak’s fall US to ensure Israel security amid Egypt unrest Israel holds drill amid Egypt protests Egypt rapidly repairing pipeline to Israel, Jordan. Egypt plans
Ynetnews reports: Israel’s former ambassador to Egypt was particularly pessimistic Friday after hearing of President Hosni Mubarak’s dramatic resignation. “It’s over, Egypt is no longer a superpower,” former Israeli Ambassador to Cairo Zvi Mazel told Ynet. “Egypt has completely lost its status in the area, while Turkey and Iran are on the way up. It’s a different world.” “As long as we had Mubarak, there was no void in our
Obama just made a phenomenally hypocritical statement about Egypt. It was aired on al-Jazeera. As soon as I find it on the net, I will post it here.
The Jerusalem Post reports: Leading Egyptian opposition figure Mohammed ElBaradei on Friday said that he did not believe that newly resigned Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak should be tried for crimes he committed against the Egyptian people during his 30 year dictatorship. “We don’t need to worry about retribution at this stage. Mubarak needs to go with dignity. Let’s focus on the future. We need a country at peace with itself,”
Haaretz reports: Hosni Mubarak had harsh words for the United States and what he described as its misguided quest for democracy in the Middle East in a telephone call with an Israeli lawmaker a day before he quit as Egypt’s president. The legislator, former cabinet minister Benjamin Ben-Eliezer, said on TV Friday that he came away from the 20-minute conversation on Thursday with the feeling the 82-year-old leader realized “it
Dear friends, Does anybody know what the national TV stations in Saudi Arabia, Jordan or Yemen are showing? I can only imagine the utter panic in Riyadh, Amman and Sana‘a! If you can, please let us know! Thanks, The Saker
(Thanks to Guthman for this absolutely amazing and beautiful video!)
If you can, check out the live stream from al-Jazeera here: http://english.aljazeera.net/watch_now/ Lots of good reporting from them, and also images from Gaza. I can’t help laughing at the monumental incompetence of the USraelian Empire. First they announce that “Mubarak must stay” clearing proving that the bloated US ‘intelligence’ community (16 agencies!) go it 100% wrong (again!), and now they looking at Mubarak’s departure. LOL! Frankly, I don’t see ANY
