Several parties, unions and organizations called for big demonstrations on Tusday in Tahrir Square in Cairo. They will be protesting the issuance on Monday by the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces of a constitutional ‘addendum’ that appeared to grant the military council wide powers and to whittle down those of the elected president. Former […]
Omar Khayyam (143) “Religious zealots are all jackasses”
Those religious zealots are all jackasses, who’re carrying a burden of deceit. And most amazing of all, under cover of their self-denial they sell their religion! They are worse than unbelievers any day. Translated by Juan Cole from Omar Khayyam’s Rubaiyat, [pdf] Whinfield 143
Syria Spirals down into Sectarian War (Cole at Truthdig)
My column is out at Truthdig, “Sectarian Violence Undermines Syrian Regime” Excerpt: “The Syrian government’s resort to Alawite death squads in recent weeks, however, has threatened the big-city alliance that has allowed the Baath to survive. The sight of Sunni women and children massacred by the Shabiha in Houla and Mazraat al-Qubair drove Sunni shopkeepers […]
Egypt: Fundamentalist President + Junta = ?
Since December, Egypt has had as its president a military council, and as its legislature the Muslim Brotherhood. It is possible this morning that Egypt now has as its president the Muslim Brotherhood and as its legislature a military council. Thus, not everything has changed. Although it is true that the judiciary, backed by the […]
Omar Khayyam (138) “Don’t throw your precious lives to the wind…”
Don’t fall for this world’s enticements, you amateurs! You know all about its tricks. Don’t throw your precious lives to the wind. Get yourself a lover and open a bottle of wine. Translated by Juan Cole from Omar Khayyam’s Rubaiyat, [pdf] Whinfield 138
What America would be like if it was like Afghanistan (Engelhardt)
Tom Engelhardt writes at Tomdispatch [satire alert] It Couldn’t Happen Here, It Does Happen There The Value of American — and Afghan — Lives By Tom Engelhardt “Do you do this in the United States? There is police action every day in the United States… They don’t call in airplanes to bomb the place.” — […]
Father’s Day (Louis C.K.)
Comedian Louis C.K. on Father’s Day:
Did the Egyptian Generals make their Coup because of a Conspiracy Theory?
The initial reaction of the leadership of the Muslim Brotherhood and its Freedom and Justice Party to the high court decision dissolving parliament had been acquiescence. On Sunday, they got a bit more active, arguing that the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF) did not have the right to dissolve parliament despite the court […]
Is the secret war in Yemen and Somalia secret no longer? (Woods)
Chris Woods writes at the Bureau of Investigative Journalism In what is being viewed by some as a significant move towards greater transparency, President Obama has officially acknowledged for the first time previously secret US military combat operations in Yemen and Somalia. The US military has been mounting aggressive combat operations in both countries for […]
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