I have finished
the dissertation
that I’ve been
writing
and which
has lately kept me from
blogging
more often
Forgive me
It was onerous
So long
And so dense
Qifa Nabki
News and commentary from the Levant
This Is Just To Say
Discussion
106 thoughts on “This Is Just To Say”
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Qifa Nabki 
Mabrouk. With a new thread we can now continue the debate between Gaby and AIG.
Posted by Johnny Seikaly | May 1, 2012, 10:25 amThose plums look more like prunes. Did that dissertation strain cause an intolerable level of viscosity?
Posted by honestpatriot | May 1, 2012, 10:41 amIt was onerous
So long
And so dense
Sort of like the previous thread’s debate 🙂
Posted by Monolith | May 1, 2012, 11:00 amI have finished
the dissertation
that I’ve been
writing
QN,
When you get your Phd, you may want to apply to the University of Oklahoma. They’re in dire need of some good ME experts.
Anway, will QN be next on this “Hit List”? Only time will tell…:)
http://www.campus-watch.org/
Posted by Akbar Palace | May 1, 2012, 11:10 am
Posted by mj | May 1, 2012, 12:26 pmAt last you would be the real Hakim. 😛
Congrats!
Posted by danny | May 1, 2012, 1:06 pmLest anyone miss the reference:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/This_Is_Just_To_Say
Posted by Qifa Nabki | May 1, 2012, 1:13 pmCongratulations, QN.
I thought the (visual) reference to was to the rewards of your long slog to earning your doctorate:
http://www.studyingonline.eu/idiom-land-a-plum-job/
Posted by lally | May 1, 2012, 2:58 pmCongratulations once again!
Guys, tone it down with the linguistic and visual references. Some of us (ahem, me) are a little slow and have a history of poor comprehension! 🙂
AP,
Dear, dear me… let the guy enjoy this milestone. Give him a month or two before you threaten to throw him into the Bad Professor bucket!
Posted by Gabriel | May 1, 2012, 3:19 pmNicely done!
Posted by Andrew Exum | May 1, 2012, 3:24 pmCONGRATULATIONS ! do you have to wear a wig now when you write to us ? 🙂
Posted by Vulcan | May 1, 2012, 5:38 pmhave finished
the dissertation
that I’ve been
writing
QN,
What was your thesis statement?
Posted by Akbar Palace | May 1, 2012, 7:30 pmhttp://www.dailymotion.com/embed/video/xbkf06Abdel Halim Hafez – Wehyat Albi We Afraho by poetictouch
Posted by honestpatriot | May 1, 2012, 9:12 pmMabrouk QN. Wish you the best of careers. Sounds like the dissertation was a lot of work, but at least it is finished now.
Posted by Ras Beirut | May 1, 2012, 9:19 pmCongratulations!
Posted by Niklas Smith | May 1, 2012, 11:52 pmAlf Mabrook !
Posted by marillionlb | May 2, 2012, 3:05 amCongratulations
Posted by idit | May 2, 2012, 5:09 amAP
I’ll post an abstract once I file the dissertation, later this week.
Posted by Qifa Nabki | May 2, 2012, 5:57 amQN –
Thanks. Congrats on your accomplishment!
Posted by Akbar Palace | May 2, 2012, 6:40 amAnyone have a favorite Egyptian presidential candidate?
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-17859639
Posted by Akbar Palace | May 2, 2012, 7:06 amCongratulations. Brown is waiting.
Posted by gkaram | May 2, 2012, 9:40 amFelicitations Elias. Doesn’t Lebanon need you more than the US of A?
Posted by badrsafi | May 2, 2012, 2:01 pmMabrouk QN
a gift
Posted by 3issa | May 2, 2012, 5:02 pmwoot woot I finished mine too!
Posted by Jumana | May 2, 2012, 5:10 pmThe degree to which some Lebanese will degrade themselves is depressing:
http://english.al-akhbar.com/content/lebanese-students-us-university-fraternize-friends-idf
Posted by dontgetit | May 2, 2012, 10:07 pmDont get it. Just cut the crap dude. Don’t be surprised when even the mere fact to speak to an israeli is suspicious for many arabs. You know, after a certain point you should ask yourself what went wrong.
At least I prefer the AIGs of this world who don’t give a damn to be rejected by their neighbours. They do not shed crocodile tears. They know well the why of this enmity. And what they do? They seek refuge with the idf and some of them comments on lebanese blogs.
Posted by 3issa | May 3, 2012, 2:12 amWilliam Carlos Williams!
Posted by Sietske Galama | May 3, 2012, 6:34 amYou know, after a certain point you should ask yourself what went wrong.
3issa,
What went wrong with what? Can you be more specific?
Posted by Akbar Palace | May 3, 2012, 8:01 am3issa,
I think you miss the point. The issue is not “suspicion” but the idea that this grants Israel some recognition in the form of “normalization”. Frankly, this has hurt the Arabs even in their effort to battle Israel. In every major Israeli university there is a department for Arab studies. There is no department for Israel or Jewish studies in any Arab university I know (if someone has data to the contrary, please post) because this is viewed as “normalization” or granting some recognition to Israel. The Arabs have given Israel a huge advantage in the relationship because they refuse to study and understand their enemies under all sort of superficial arguments that upon further inspection are just self-goals.
So yes, one could be a little surprised at this seemingly irrational behavior.
Posted by AIG | May 3, 2012, 11:55 amAIG,
What would you like Universities to teach students in Palestine, Lebanon, Syria, Jordan and Egypt about the Jewish people and Israel, that they don’t already know?
(By the way, we had two “Jewish” American officials in Beirut this week meeting with state officials in Lebanon)
Posted by Monolith | May 3, 2012, 1:13 pmMonolith,
It is really sad that you actually ask this question and that this is your attitude towards knowledge.
Posted by AIG | May 3, 2012, 1:58 pmPlease elaborate.
Posted by Monolith | May 3, 2012, 2:01 pmI don’t want anyone to teach anything to anyone that does not want to learn. If you don’t want to study this subject, that is your problem, not mine. What is sad is that you seem to think that this gaining of knowledge is for my sake when it actually benefits you.
Posted by AIG | May 3, 2012, 2:16 pmWhat subject?
The Torah?
Posted by Monolith | May 3, 2012, 2:41 pmThe Talmud?
Posted by Monolith | May 3, 2012, 2:46 pmDo you even know what people study and learn in Arab studies departments? Search that and apply the analogy to Israel. Here is one little subject out of many: Weaknesses and strengths of Israeli society. If you ever want to beat Israel, isn’t this something you should know?
Posted by AIG | May 3, 2012, 3:11 pmNo. I don’t.
Maybe SHN and Bashar have.
But you’ve made clear made that we seem to be engaged in some form of Texas Hold’em Poker game … with people being used as chips.
Posted by Monolith | May 3, 2012, 3:22 pmAnd you’re holding the two Aces.
Atomic Bombs and American tax payer’s money.
Posted by Monolith | May 3, 2012, 3:26 pm“But you’ve made clear made that we seem to be engaged in some form of Texas Hold’em Poker game … with people being used as chips.”
I don’t know what you are talking about. How is the Israeli-Palestinian/Arab conflict anything like a poker game? Plus, what aces are you talking about? In 1948 Israel had neither A-bombs nor American tax payer’s support and it did not make a difference. You are focusing on two completely wrong aspects that underlie the relative strengths of Israel, but of course since you don’t think it is worth learning about, I am not surprised you are making this mistake.
Posted by AIG | May 3, 2012, 3:35 pmThen please enlighten me.
Help me understand … so that I can help you.
We have an extensive Armenian community living amongst us in Lebanon with equal rights that suffered atrocities similar to what your forefathers have in Germany.
They did not come here and displace anyone.
How are you different from them and why?
Posted by Monolith | May 3, 2012, 3:46 pm“Help me understand … so that I can help you.”
Understand what? Help me with what?
Posted by AIG | May 3, 2012, 3:51 pmWell, according to you, the state of Israel and the Jewish people are surrounded by a bunch of ignorants that would benefit from studying your “whateverness” in more depth in Universities that could lead to … our coexistence and harmony?
Posted by Monolith | May 3, 2012, 4:41 pmIsrael Studies Departments, Arab Studies Departments… Artsy Fartsy departments galore :).
Reminds me of an article I recently read on the Globe and Mail regarding the Protesting Students in Quebec. It’s written by staunch Israel supporter, Margaret Wente:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/opinions/opinion/quebecs-university-students-are-in-for-a-shock/article2418431/
Some snippets:
Yes, we all get the idea.
Generally, all those characters got their ideas from taking courses in those Middle Eastern Departments. To know which ones to avoid, why not consult AP’s excellent list compiled in Campus-Watch!
The conclusion?
Forget Arab Studies, and Jewish Studies. While we’re at it. Forget Persian Studies and Russian Studies and Indonesian Studies and Tutsi Studies… (Shouldn’t universities also offer extensive courses in all those things as well!)
We need more and more, and yet even more scientists and mathematicians and engineers. Since they stay at home and behave themselves and have better things to do than waste it on Forums and Rioting.
And above all, they’ll likely be less well, I shouldn’t say it.
Posted by Gabriel | May 3, 2012, 5:41 pmQN….
You do have a job line up, don’t you?
Who knows, you may end up being a Barista, or a Sheesha charcoal changer, otherwise!
Posted by Gabriel | May 3, 2012, 5:45 pmWe understand, accept and sympathize with the plight the Armenians suffered 100 years ago and they live amongst us with their culture, language, food, craftsmanship and heritage and are part of the fabric of Lebanese every day life in all aspects. Politically included.
How old is your oldest University in Israel, dude?
Posted by Monolith | May 3, 2012, 5:48 pmNever too Young to Learn
Forget Arab Studies, and Jewish Studies. While we’re at it. Forget Persian Studies and Russian Studies and Indonesian Studies and Tutsi Studies… (Shouldn’t universities also offer extensive courses in all those things as well!)
We need more and more, and yet even more scientists and mathematicians and engineers.
Gabriel,
Thanks for posting your opinion.
Speaking for myself (and maybe AIG), it seems to me the Arab world may need more political leaders. Where do you learn that?
Hey QN,
What ever happened to that outstanding UAE academic center: The Zayed Center for Coordination and Follow-Up?
We were interested in taking courses in jihad and resistance.
http://www.leakoverflow.com/questions/359180/03abudhabi3828-zayed-center-web-site-closed
Posted by Akbar Palace | May 3, 2012, 6:48 pmhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Presidents_of_the_United_States_by_education
Hey, if Lincoln didn’t need a college education to lead, well then… !
Anyways. between you and me AP, I think Israel should just take over the whole Arab world. They have the brightest and sharpest minds, and know well how to lead society.
Who needs Jumblatt and Aoun and Assad when you can have Bibi.
Posted by Gabriel | May 3, 2012, 10:09 pmPS… I really am quite impressed over the rather positive steps you have been taking. First, we managed to get you to congratulate QN on his achievements. And now, you actually decided to actively not speak on AIG’s behalf! This is a remarkable development.
Posted by Gabriel | May 3, 2012, 10:12 pmBy the way AP,
Just so that you know, I am quite the fan of the arts. More so than engineering. And frankly, I’d rather be a Barista than an engineer!
Posted by Gabriel | May 3, 2012, 10:16 pmMonolith,
I really do not understand your examples. The Armenians came to Lebanon in 1915, Lebanon became independent only in 1943. So it wasn’t the Lebanese that let them stay. A more telling example is how you are treating the Palestinians that came after Lebanese independence. Or how for centuries the Shias were treated. Furthermore, do you really think a country that had a 15 year civil war in which 200,000 or so people were killed and only ended because of Assad is a good example for how to treat minorities or how different groups should get along?
And if you do not want to learn, don’t. Nobody is forcing you to learn anything. If ignorance works for you, who am I to say otherwise?
Posted by AIG | May 3, 2012, 10:52 pmWatching Gabriel’s Webside Etiquette
Anyways. between you and me AP, I think Israel should just take over the whole Arab world. They have the brightest and sharpest minds, and know well how to lead society.
Gabriel,
I disagree. They’re doing a fair job at best; nothing spectacular. Moreover, Israelis don’t want to take over the Arab world. The Jewish People just want to be able to govern themselves, which is why they decided to leave Gaza, Southern Lebanon, a lot of the West Bank, Sinai, and parts of Jordan.
Posted by Akbar Palace | May 3, 2012, 10:58 pmWell they don’t need to take over.
Just send us some leaders. They’ll whip us into shape.
Posted by Gabriel | May 3, 2012, 11:39 pmAP. So its the need for self government that lead “the Jewish People” to withdraw from occupied land. So I guess that need is not really pressing these days. I’ll pray for that natural need to come back asap so we might get current occupied land freed.
C’mon, move on up, you “the Jewish People”…his royal self AP is speaking on your behalf. Wherever you are! In Ottawa, Fez or Judea…its time for you to govern yourself. Withdraw!
Clear cut BS
AIG, is this the kind of BS you want “the Arabs” to study?
Posted by 3issa | May 4, 2012, 2:14 amAIG
Who on this blog is saying that our political system was and is exemplary?
What do you think the latest thread by QN is all about? Why do you think we are participating in it?
What is your problem, man? Why do you even bother?
What do you want?
Posted by Monolith | May 4, 2012, 4:16 amSo its the need for self government that lead “the Jewish People” to withdraw from occupied land.
3issa,
You are a prime example of what we are talking about on this thread.
If arabs were sufficiently moderate, liberal, and educated, they would prosper. And the arabs have made great in-roads in this direction, and the arab awakening gives arabs an opportunity. But in terms of the general “arab street” and the arab leadership (or lack thereof) across the ME, there is still a LONG way to go.
Resisting Israel should be toward the bottom of your list of priorities. Just MHO.
QN, feel free to chime in. DId you submit your thesis or do you still have a lot of work to do on it? :o)
Posted by Akbar Palace | May 4, 2012, 6:42 amA MAJORITY of people here (Not on QN) rich, middle class, poor, educated and not educated, strongly believe that our corruption, sectarianism, intolerance, lack of human rights, lawlessness, division internal bloodshed, poverty, environmental decay and coma is due to a diabolical conspiracy by the west and Israel “Perpetrated by the Man to keep the Brotha down” some do so motivated by true Fear, Hate and Religious Racism, others do so out of Corruption, Greed, Laziness, Thievery and lack of Morals, and others do so out of complete and utter ignorance or strangely enough out of Elitist intellectualism, revolutionarism and nationalism a la Che and Abdul. All use the ideological and religious hatred for cover and all are Believers, hypocritically devout believers and Atheists. somehow they almost all refuse to accept or understand that these acts and this state is and can only be solely our faults, it is Arabs who are daily engaged in these actions and if we keep blaming others “Israel, West” directly or indirectly in every sentence, we effectively negate our existence, competence and will.
Wake up Wake up and open your Eyes if you live here, WE and only WE are doing this to our self. The day the person stops hiding behind the “Conspiracy or Injustice of the White Man” and start taking responsibility for their every action, is the day many solutions will be found and Peace and Prosperity may be achieved.
It’s not Israel or the West, hell ! they can’t be that smart, No?
Someone whispers “could this be the twilight zone and they are magically, smartly, ZioColonialismly and develishly behind every action that got us to where we are?”
Crackling over the waves… “Oh, there’s nothing amazing about it. I know this ship like the back of my hand”
We certainly need more Engineers, how about Behavioral Engineering Departments.
This Is Just To Say, Adios y Hasta Luego.
Posted by Vulcan | May 4, 2012, 11:00 amLoL, Vulcan.
I love that you ended your post with “This is Just to Say”. What better way to tie in to the original post :).
La pasión!
The frustration nearly blew up my computer monitor!
I was- heathen though I am- at a Serbian Christmas party some months back. A soiree full of tall creatures- they are a tall people- spent the entire evening talking about the West, Communism, the Fall of Milosevic.
You bring up the Argentine, Che.
Blaming the White Man, or Western Society or the Jewish State for the ills of the world is not unique to the Arabs. It is not spawned in the wombs of our mothers, the progeny of our backwardness, nor can it be corrected in post graduate university programs.
And you are right. In general readers of QN seem not to be afflicted with this rather common problem: Although, if one were to believe AIG, a big chunk of us are (yourself, it should be said, excluded) anti-Semitic zombies. This phenomenon is no less a problem that the one you point out. And it is a problem.
So there is no reason for you to be flustered. Or frustrated. It is what it is.
Smile. Play Kurt Weil’s Moon of Alabama, as you are sipping on some Scotch with a cigar in your hand.
Posted by Gabriel | May 4, 2012, 11:25 amCheers and Gracias ! 🙂
Posted by Vulcan | May 4, 2012, 11:32 amActually, Vulcan’s self-hating rant is perfectly illustrated by this iconic photo:
http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Local-News/2012/May-04/172343-harb-may-sue-newspaper-over-lead-photo.ashx#axzz1tcjKIkxW
No wonder there is a perception by some foreign entities that Lebanon invites interference….; {)
Posted by lally | May 4, 2012, 12:07 pmLally, Cheap but not surprising.
Posted by Vulcan | May 4, 2012, 12:33 pm@59,
lally before you exhaust your blank bullets; could you kindly explain why do you think Vulcan had “a self hating rant”; as you put it?
I guess you belong to the crowd that thinks you are great and others (That is the west!!! are screwing your rep!)
No problem about leaving any perception about foreign entities lol…The Iranian Mullahs are allowed to “dump” in Lebanon and Lebanese and that’s considered fertilizer in your book I assume. 😀
Posted by danny | May 4, 2012, 12:36 pmFor you Darling Lola
Posted by Vulcan | May 4, 2012, 1:07 pmfertilize baby fertilize LOL
Posted by 3issa | May 4, 2012, 4:45 pmAP, I really appreciate that you care for the prosperity of the Arabs. One day Jihadi-towel head crazies, another day Freedom loving individuals. It is one of this 2 categories depending on what they reject.
When they reject fully fledge colonialism and ethnocide, well, they turn to be backward Jihadis.
But when they reject their own being, their own rights, well, they are fine humanists.
And this: “And the arabs have made great in-roads in this direction”…”there is still a LONG way to go.”
If I say that this the most condescending load of arrogance one can read…under which category I’m falling?
Again, please note this down: I personally reject any kind of tyranny, be it from the so-called current Arab leaders, or any tyranny of obscurantist tribal thinking. And I reject as strongly, the dispossession of anybody, or any form of colonialism.
Tell me frankly how would you define an Arab dude like me?
cheers
Posted by 3issa | May 4, 2012, 5:00 pmI’ve never seen the likes of such widespread self-criticism from any identifiable “group” as is expressed by commenters on this blog. It’s my impression that it’s a phenomenon more common to Lebanese than other Arab groups (“colonized” Arab minds excluded 😉
I’ve been often tempted to ask what the assembled admire about their country and countrymen. Vulcan, is the iconic RC lament meant to refer to nostalgic longing for Lebanon?
Perhaps it’s not fair of me to pick on Vulcan; he’s hardly the only one to express such negative sentiments, danny. Comparatively, you are correct that “I” or “we” Americans in particular think we are so effing fabulous. Yet we are STILL largely willingly blinkered to the havoc we have and still wreak on peoples the world over; all for their own goddam good, of course. It’s our collective shame.
Posted by lally | May 4, 2012, 5:30 pm“Yet we are STILL largely willingly blinkered to the havoc we have and still wreak on OUR SELF the ARAB world over; all for their own goddam evil, of course. It’s our collective shame.”
See Lally, you and I are close
Nostalgia It is
Posted by Vulcan | May 4, 2012, 6:11 pmPlease excuse testing prompts for apparently auto-generated winking smiley face icons:
;~{) .) 😉 :] ;}
Posted by lally | May 4, 2012, 6:12 pm🙂 :> wink wink
Posted by Vulcan | May 4, 2012, 6:17 pmVulcan.
We come from entirely opposite positions of inherent power & influence.
On “my” side is the bible-spouting colossus with his terrible swift sword willing to baptize the wogs in their own blood in order to save them from themselves and for the blessed good of Zion.
Yours? Ummmmmmmmmmmm. Not so much.
(Re nostalgia; Never been to Lebanon but can still remember my long-dead aunt’s glowing face as she described the wonders of her too-short time of living in Beirut)
🙂
Posted by lally | May 4, 2012, 6:47 pmFollowing rigid scientific protocols has determined that typing : & ; + 1 ) each results in arbitrary transformation into 🙂 and/or 😉
I can only wonder @ the why of it all………..
Posted by lally | May 4, 2012, 7:00 pmAgain, please note this down: I personally reject any kind of tyranny, be it from the so-called current Arab leaders, or any tyranny of obscurantist tribal thinking. And I reject as strongly, the dispossession of anybody, or any form of colonialism.
Tell me frankly how would you define an Arab dude like me?
3issa,
Sorry if I sound arrogant. My hope that participating on these forums can help to bridge gaps.
Of course my first care is for my family, my country, my people and then others in that order. I would suppose that’s not very different than any one else. Or is it?
3issa,
Are there arabs who care more about Palestine than their own kids, their own community or their own country? People who spend all their energies trying to dismantle another state INSTEAD of improving their own? There is a myth that most martyrs are poor and abused, when, in reality, most are middle-class.
How would I define you?
How is “nut case”?
Unless you can tell me what “colonialism” it is you’re talking about, when all nations in the Levant are independent nations, sans (except for), an agreement between the Palis and Isras.
Posted by Akbar Palace | May 4, 2012, 7:18 pmCan anyone translate the discussion between lally and Vulcan for me.
It’s seems to be dripping with sarcasm, yet, I can’t identify the fluid.
Posted by Akbar Palace | May 4, 2012, 7:21 pmVulcan,
I guess the Arabs have not reached the level of self hate yet, a label reserved for the “Jews” but not entirely exclusive to the ” Jews”. It takes a lot of self development and progress to somehwhat join the Cynics who satirically and negatively criticized their OWN ….fill the blanks…. for the purpose of waking people up from their slumber or in the Arabs’ case, to get their head out of the sand.
Maybe, Lally and co need to watch a bit more Bill Maher.
Posted by Maverick | May 4, 2012, 11:02 pmLoL, AP.
Essentially, it seems that most participants of QN have been described as Self Loathing.
The “Self Loathing” Arab, Vulcan, and the “Self Loathing” Waspy American have managed to find common ground- a connection- in their…. well… .”Self-Loathingness”.
Then the other “Self-Loathing Arab” Maverick came in to tell us that it is OK to be “Self-Loathing”, because Bill Maher is American and he’s “Self-Loathing”.
Lally, fresh from her recent attempts at becoming a JAP blushed at all the attention and started winking away.
It seems the only people around here that are not Self-Loathing are the Jews. Although…
… given that you rather impertinently referred to your people as “Joo-Nation”, perhaps that is not the case! And even the Jews are Self-Loathing.
Posted by Gabriel | May 5, 2012, 1:38 amAP,
Again that big lie about “bridges”. So what you are doing here, as a hardcore likudnik, is building bridge?
You are just showing how intransigeant and arrogant your position is. And maybe you think that its “cool” and “subversive” to talk like that.
Give me a break. Please go look for more self government with your fellow “Jewish People” and withdraw.
Posted by 3issa | May 5, 2012, 4:48 amThe “Self Loathing” Arab, Vulcan…
Gabriel,
Why do you think Vulcan is self-loathing?
So what you are doing here, as a hardcore likudnik…
3issa,
Why do assume I am a Likudnik? I never voted in an Israeli election.
…showing how intransigeant and arrogant your position is.
Please tell how what is it about my position that is “intransigeant and arrogant”.
I recognize all states in the region and the hope that Palestine will be a fully independent, sovereign state.
Posted by Akbar Palace | May 5, 2012, 7:17 amI’m an outsider. My impression that commenters on this site present overwhelmingly negative picture of Lebanon and Lebanese is just that, an impression. (This attitude is hardly confined to QN). To those who believe in the curative powers of unrelenting blistering critiques, it may be that such language is common coin among their circle(s) and as such, unremarkable. To one from a culture that regularly indulges in orgies of self-adulatory boasting, it’s a surprising phenomenon.
Insert winky smileyface HERE_____.
Another impression I have formed over the years is that bottom line, Lebanon and the Lebanese are the least likely MENA State and peoples to ever tolerate being ruled by a dictator or some form of Royals from somewhere.
A Palace. “Likudnik”, like “neocon”, are descriptive terms that have morphed beyond their original meanings. “Likudnik” used to refer to American supporters of the Likud party but is now utilized to denote anyone who rigidly adheres to the doctrine that Israel can never do wrong.
You are an hombre sincero & mean well.
PS. No blushing about the fact that I LOATHE Bill Maher. He is a shallow little woman-hating pr!@%.
Next….
Posted by lally | May 5, 2012, 12:59 pmAP,
Please do read that sickeningly funny post again!
Where on earth did I say that V is self loathing!
Or if it did read that way to you, maybe thenI also called you self loathing. And you cannot possibly believe that I think that of you!
You are about as autophilic (is that a word) Jew as they get. In fact of you could rip your clothes off and make love yourself, you probably would!
Posted by Gabriel | May 5, 2012, 1:29 pmLally
It is interesting to read your views on this. I dint know you’re much farther from reality you can be regarding the state of the Arab world and its people and how they self perceive.
QN forum members reflect a large spectrum of viewpoints and mindsets.
If you read that people are critical about the state of the Arab world, it is not without reason.
We have the luxury of having seen and lived both sides. The oriental and the occidental.
Even if I were to agree with your characterization of Americans, which I partially do agree with, at least the system presents opportunities to its people. I am no fan of the American system, and see many faults in it, but I can still be objective and make that statement.
If you find people here overly harsh, mostly it is because the situation pains them, and they wish what is best for the country.
I’ve always found your interest in the region fascinating. But, we, this collective mess that makes up the region seem to be falling well below your expectations!
Posted by Gabriel | May 5, 2012, 1:47 pmNo “expectations” here, Gaby, just observations.
Even though, as you say, I am “much farther from reality you can be regarding the state of the Arab world and its people and how they self perceive.” Try as I might, I can’t seem to see the “Arab world” as a monolith and perceive differences between say, the citizens of Egypt and KSA. Am I wrong to differentiate and to consider Lebanon and Lebanese to be sui generis?
It’s an understood given that the criticism is from frustrated concern…ditto with my own expressions of similar sentiments about my country. I would have thought that was too obvious to mention.
Posted by lally | May 5, 2012, 4:23 pmA Palace. “Likudnik”, like “neocon”, are descriptive terms that have morphed beyond their original meanings. “Likudnik” used to refer to American supporters of the Likud party but is now utilized to denote anyone who rigidly adheres to the doctrine that Israel can never do wrong.
Lally,
I agree. But I think 3issa uses it for anyone who believes Israel is a legitimate nation.
You are an hombre sincero & mean well.
Of course!
PS. No blushing about the fact that I LOATHE Bill Maher. He is a shallow little woman-hating pr!@%.
Which why I never watch him (unless I want to induce vomiting).
Lally,
It isn’t a question of whether Israel or anyone can do no wrong (she has and she will), it is a question of making peace.
Posted by Akbar Palace | May 5, 2012, 5:12 pmLally,
Forgive me for the use of the word “Expectation”. I did not intend it as it sounded.
Also, nothing should be taken as obvious. We have people here who run amok and hide behind words (or lack thereof).
Posted by Gabriel | May 7, 2012, 7:39 pmMonolith,
I assume you’re referring to Jeff Feltman as one of the “two Jewish officials” who visited Beirut. The army of well paid fact-checkers at Lebanese publications regularly forget to research the claims of their writers. Feltman is not Jewish. A “man” at the end of one’s name does not necessarily denote Jewish heritage.
Posted by Charles | May 10, 2012, 2:36 amArab Cusswords
Charles,
Being “jewish” is a common arab epithet. All arab despots like Assad and Mubarak are “jewish” as well as all pro-Israeli westerners like Obama and John Bolton.
Another ambassador who was thought to be jewish (due to his name I guess) was Samuel Lewis.
Posted by Akbar Palace | May 10, 2012, 7:34 amCharles,
Mr. Feltman is very much of Jewish descent, with both his mother and father being jewish.
Whether he identifies himself personally as such is his business.
Posted by Monolith | May 10, 2012, 9:36 amMonolith,
If Al-Manar says it, that doesn’t make it true. What is your source that Feltman is of Jewish descent?
Posted by AIG | May 10, 2012, 11:42 amtest
Posted by Akbar Palace | May 10, 2012, 3:38 pmStrange for a Joo like Feltman to sbeak arabic, but not Ivrit.
Maybe Feltman should ask President X-Box (in arabic) why he’s killing so many more arabs than Israel has from the recent wars in Gaza and Lebanon combined.
http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/biog/120440.htm
Posted by Akbar Palace | May 10, 2012, 4:00 pmAnother of President Obama’s Jewish advisors is Assistant Secretary of State Jeffrey D. Feltman, who was chief of the mission in the United States consulate in Jerusalem.
http://www.israelnationalnews.com/Articles/Article.aspx/9053#.T6xOTHjd7ww
Posted by Monolith | May 10, 2012, 6:26 pmMonolith,
Artuz 7 is not a credible source. It is basically the settlers mouth piece and are a third rate news organization and they are just wrong. You need to find another source. You wouldn’t believe them about anything else, so why would you believe them on this?
Posted by AIG | May 10, 2012, 7:08 pmHere is a source that reports that Feltman says he is a Christian:
http://www.cedarsrevolution.net/jtphp/index2.php?option=com_content&do_pdf=1&id=972
I don’t know how credible this source is.
Posted by AIG | May 10, 2012, 7:13 pmAP,
Your mate Angry Arab posted twice a day about Jeffrey Feltman Arabic. Really funny. This guy don’t know arabic. Period.
You say: “But I think 3issa uses it for anyone who believes Israel is a legitimate nation”
I say: “cheap zionist empty dialectic”
By the way, how is your need for self government lately?
Posted by 3issa | May 11, 2012, 1:29 pm3issa,
This is just proof that anyone an arab doesn’t like is a “joo”.
John Bolton, Jeffery Feltman (who many non-obsessed arabs think is a hero for touring Syria while the Baathists were shooting up street demonstrators), George Bush, Barrack Obama, Hosni Mubarak, Mahmoud Abbas, Dick Cheney, RIchard Murphy are all Joos.
Who is “angry arab”? I thought all arabs were angry. If I were arab, I guess I’d be angry too.
Posted by Akbar Palace | May 11, 2012, 2:01 pmYou are being antisemite now.
Posted by 3issa | May 11, 2012, 4:41 pmRight. Call everyone YOU don’t like a Joo, and then call me an anti-semite.
I get it;)
Posted by Akbar Palace | May 11, 2012, 4:53 pmgood
Posted by 3issa | May 11, 2012, 5:19 pmAIG,
We’d have to conduct a DNA test on Feltman to definitively determine it.
Right ? 🙂
Posted by Monolith | May 11, 2012, 5:24 pmMonolith,
No, because if he says he isn’t Jewish, he isn’t Jewish.
But the point is something else. Why are you so eager to declare him Jewish? Why does it matter one bit if his parents are Jewish (which still you have not brought any credible evidence to support)? Care to explain?
Posted by AIG | May 11, 2012, 6:40 pmNo, because if he says he isn’t Jewish, he isn’t Jewish.
The arab definition of jewish is anyone who meets the following criteria::
– anyone who is pro-Israel
– anyone who recognizes Israel
– anyone who kills thousands of arabs but doesn’t kill more than a few hundred Jews
– anyone who has diplomatic relations with the US or Israel
Posted by Akbar Palace | May 11, 2012, 8:18 pm3. Israel’s Left is aghast. Netanyahu managed to snooker them and
wangled for himself a new national unity coalition, which will last
another 18 months or so. By announcing elections in September, he
stampeded what is left of the Kadima Party into joining his coalition
because Kadima faces obliteration in any new election. The Left is
soiling itself in rage. How dare Netanyahu and Mofaz (chief of Kadima
now) dare do such a “dirty trick.” Mofaz had sworn on his grandmother
just 3 days before joining the coalition that he would not do so!
Dirty tricks say you? Well, these are the very same leftists he
orchestrated and celebrated the most infamous “dirty trick” in Israeli
history when Shimon Peres undercut a national unity coalition
involving the Likud and Labor in 1990, much to the chagrin of Yitzhak
Rabin by the way, to set up his own Labor-led government with some
religious parties. Rabin dubbed the attempt by Peres, which failed,
the “Stinky Trick.” Of course, Rabin and Peres later had their own
stinky trick when they passed one of the Oslo accords with the Arab
fascist parties only thanks to bribing two members of Raful’s
rightwing party to cross ideological lines in exchange for payoffs.
http://www.stevenplaut.blogspot.com/
Posted by Akbar Palace | May 11, 2012, 8:50 pm.Interesting times ahead now that Bibi has secured immortality. Now he has the power to smash the dialogue table on anyone’s head without hindrance. Loovleh. Fred Zakeeria thinks, naively, or sarcastically,dunno Freddy well enough,that Bibi should use this unprecedented power to further the Peace Process. LoL
Posted by Maverick | May 11, 2012, 10:47 pmMaverik,
I read Zakaria’s piece also. He was not being sarcastic, but he is a little naive. Not about Bibi wanting peace, but the ability of the Palestinians at this stage to deliver anything Israel can live with. Haniyeh and Abbas cannot get their act together and unite. I am all for a two state solution based on the 67 lines with land swaps but in my opinion if a Palestinian state will be created now, it will certainly be a failed one. Just for starters, it will take the Iranians 5 minutes to find 10 militias to fund in the West Bank a la Hezbollah or the groups they fund in Gaza. And in the Gaza strip Hamas has proven to be “democratic” in the one person, one vote, one time way. The Islamic wave in the Arab world has to run its course and there is nothing Bibi or Israel can do about it. What use are the Israeli strengths that Zakaria talks about in bringing peace? The US is much stronger than Israel and they cannot bring peace to Iraq or Afghanistan. All strength can do is deter. To get peace we need trust and that is lacking on both sides.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/under-netanyahu-israel-is-stronger-than-ever/2012/05/09/gIQAcTH2DU_story.html
Posted by AIG | May 11, 2012, 11:48 pm“To get peace we need trust and that is lacking on both sides.”
You think it is about trust?
Whatabout the ” Borders” , ” settlements”, ” Refugees” and Jerusalemmmmmm.
But hey why bother, the Palestinian state is doomed to fail before it even exists as you so succinctly put it.
Posted by Maverick | May 12, 2012, 1:25 amHow Jewish of you to answer a question with a question 🙂
I know, it’s a state of mind.
Posted by Monolith | May 12, 2012, 8:54 amMaverik,
Yes, there are details to resolve but the main problem is trust. Let me put it in a Lebanese context in order to explain this point. Why are many if not most Lebanese against giving citizenship to the Palestinians in Lebanon? Because they do not trust the Sunnis to wield their additional power fairly and are afraid of Sunni domination. In short, they do no trust the Sunnis. Why are Junblatt and many others against proportional representation? For basically the same reasons (mistrust of the majority).
I personally don’t trust the Palestinian leadership to be democratic and I don’t trust that they can control extremist groups in the future Palestinian state. Yes, this is a judgement call about the future. But if you can make arguments why my judgement is off the mark, I would be happy to hear them. What makes you think that the West Bank will not end up like Gaza politically?
Posted by AIG | May 12, 2012, 10:25 amThe REAL obstacle to peace:
I first asked for students to raise their hands if they generally support Israel. All the students to my left and several in the middle raised their hands. I then asked how many students supported the Palestinian side. All the students to my right and several in the middle raised their hands. I then posed the following question to the pro-Israel group: “How many of you would support a Palestinian state living in peace and without terrorism next to Israel?” Every single pro-Israel hand immediately went up. I then asked how many on the pro-Palestine side would accept a Jewish state within the 1967 borders, with no settlements on territory claimed by the Palestinians. There was some mumbling and brief conversation among the people to my right, but not a single hand was raised.
The debate was essentially over, as everyone in the middle now recognized that this was not a conflict between pro-Israel and pro-Palestine groups, but rather, a conflict between those who would accept a two-state solution and those who would reject any Jewish state anywhere in the Middle East.
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4227866,00.html
Posted by Akbar Palace | May 12, 2012, 1:57 pm