Chez Twosret

2008-05-10T20:16:00.001-05:00

Look who is socializing with the Clintons

2008-03-21T09:06:00.003-05:00

The New York Times

Here is what the Clintons said about Rev. Wright

The campaign also provided a letter Mr. Clinton sent to Mr. Wright the next month thanking Mr. Wright for a “kind message” and saying he was touched by his prayers. A spokesman for the campaign said it was providing the information to show that Mr. Wright was well respected by many, including Mr. Clinton.

A spokesman for Mrs. Clinton said Thursday night that the campaign did not believe the Clintons had met with Mr. Wright before the speech or were aware of any views expressed by him at his church.

hat tip John America Blog

Rewind by Driss R. Temsamani

2008-03-20T18:47:00.002-05:00

"I was born next to a pond. A fragile leaf from a strong tree, I blossomed to a tall branch. Too ambitious for my pond and too rebellious to stay in my tree, I decided to change my destiny and break free.

Growing up, I met many mentors: a wise frog, a humble fish, and a duck; all tried to teach me the ways of the pond. My biggest adventure began when I met the most wonderful butterfly. She made everything so simple that I dared to leave my pond and venture to the vast ocean.

As the currents drifted me away, toward the burning sun, I realized that I was at a point of no return. I bounced left and right against the waves, and to make the best of the trip, I decided to have fun and not look back.

While drifting in the ocean, I met sharks, eels, and even some killer whales. I also met some stingrays, but always avoided their enchanting and sensual moves. They all told me things that I can barely remember; but one thing for sure, I have always stayed alert to their ways and hollow looks.

Day after day, the currents drew me further away from my home. The farther I got, the wiser I became: from migrating birds, I learned history; from a school of fish, I learned leadership; from the manatees, I learned compassion; and from one particular dolphin, I learned to love.

One day, I found myself riding a storm. I had never seen such a thing. I started to despair; then I remembered patience, courage, and grace. I remembered the words, but could not remember the wise who spoke them. Only one picture came to my mind: a tree, tall and strong, and defiant to the hurly winds. The harsh rains made me remember the frog…the catfish…and the duck of the old pond.

My skin shivered, and a flood of confidence invaded my body. With confidence, I confronted the storm, and as the time passed, I survived. I become confident, arrogant, strong, smart, and ready for any challenge that may come. I continue the ride.

The sun set on a beautiful and endless horizon, and from nowhere, I was hit from behind, only to realize that the fight had just begun. With courage, I confronted my fears. I fought with a cold heart, selfishness, and dry eyes. The hours felt like days; the days felt like months; and the years felt like seconds. One night, bleeding and tired, I crashed on a rock and I decided to rest. My will was broken and I had many scars. I realized that I had lost a lot of companions along the way; the goldfish, the seahorse, and the migrating turtle.

Feeling lonely, I remembered my home, and I cried alone in the dark. As my last tear dripped, I glanced at the sky and I saw a shooting star. I smiled, made a wish, and decided to rest for a while. Right before I closed my eyes, out of the deep of the darkness, the dolphin appeared and with her soft skin, she touched me and ended the restless night.

The next day, I woke up to a new morning, and I found that the ocean was calm. I was ready to drift again toward my destiny: I wanted to let my roots grow; I wanted to see many leaves blossom; I wanted to honor the tree. I was determined not to rest until I found my own pond."

Flying kites

2008-03-20T12:10:00.002-05:00

Painting by Marcio Melo

My daughters and I spent yesterday afternoon flying kites,there is something magical about flying kites. It was fun,refreshing,full of joy and laughters. The kites flew so high, the wind was perfect, our little princesses kites flew much better than the fancy wired ones on the lake. Everyone got to enjoy our kites, babies were hoping to try to reach high, toddlers were pointing and screaming in joy how high they were.

Lovely afternoon on the first day of spring.

Stop the war

2008-03-19T21:21:00.007-05:00

California AP

Atlanta AP

Washington Reuters

Iowa, AP

Cambridge, Mass. AP

New Jersey AP

San Francisco AP

Washington, DC Reuters

South Carolina AP

Virginia AFP

Chicago AP

London AP

Istanbul,Turkey AP

Anti-Zionist Jews for peace Reuters London

AP Madrid

AFP California

Rumi

2008-03-18T21:36:00.004-05:00

Soul receives from soul that knowledge, therefore not by book

nor from tongue.

If knowledge of mysteries come after emptiness of mind, that is

illumination of heart. Rumi

Spring

2008-03-18T15:15:00.001-05:00

hat tip daddy taken last weekend on Azalea trail

Happy St. Patrick's day!

2008-03-18T00:26:00.005-05:00

It is not too late to wish everyone happy St.Patrick's day is it?

Tory Burch

2008-03-17T23:45:00.006-05:00

Today's pick

My Marrakesh

2008-03-17T22:18:00.005-05:00

Maryam from My Marrakesh blog brought a breath of fresh air to my world when I discovered her blog. Amazing blog with the most vibrant and artistic pictures. Maryam and I share a lot in common and I had the pleasure to count on her expertise for helping me find a Caftan.

Want to see what a Moroccan garden look like? Look at this garden and enjoy the beauty .

One of the posts that I like very much is this one of Amy Leonard.

At last

2008-03-17T21:35:00.002-05:00

The blogger Gods have granted me my password and I finally can post on my blog again. It has been almost a year since I blogged and there isn't a better time to start blogging again.

I'm simply in the mood.

Who is Azmi Bishara?

2007-05-04T23:18:00.000-05:00

Arab-Israeli Member of Knesset Azmi Bishara from the Balad Democratic Assembly has a Ph.D. from Humboldt University in Berlin and he is fluent in Arabic, Hebrew, English and German. He has authored several books in Hebrew and German. Dr. Bishara has been regularly writing for the Egyptian Al-Ahram Weekly

American Palestinian New Generation blog has one of the best article's by Azmi Bishara.

Azmi Bishara

2007-05-04T23:03:00.000-05:00

Why Israel is after me
By Azmi Bishara, AZMI BISHARA was a member of the Knesset until his resignation in April.
May 3, 2007

Amman, Jordan — I AM A PALESTINIAN from Nazareth, a citizen of Israel and was, until last month, a member of the Israeli parliament.

But now, in an ironic twist reminiscent of France's Dreyfus affair — in which a French Jew was accused of disloyalty to the state — the government of Israel is accusing me of aiding the enemy during Israel's failed war against Lebanon in July.

Israeli police apparently suspect me of passing information to a foreign agent and of receiving money in return. Under Israeli law, anyone — a journalist or a personal friend — can be defined as a "foreign agent" by the Israeli security apparatus. Such charges can lead to life imprisonment or even the death penalty.

The allegations are ridiculous. Needless to say, Hezbollah — Israel's enemy in Lebanon — has independently gathered more security information about Israel than any Arab Knesset member could possibly provide. What's more, unlike those in Israel's parliament who have been involved in acts of violence, I have never used violence or participated in wars. My instruments of persuasion, in contrast, are simply words in books, articles and speeches.

These trumped-up charges, which I firmly reject and deny, are only the latest in a series of attempts to silence me and others involved in the struggle of the Palestinian Arab citizens of Israel to live in a state of all its citizens, not one that grants rights and privileges to Jews that it denies to non-Jews.

When Israel was established in 1948, more than 700,000 Palestinians were expelled or fled in fear. My family was among the minority that escaped that fate, remaining instead on the land where we had long lived. The Israeli state, established exclusively for Jews, embarked immediately on transforming us into foreigners in our own country.

For the first 18 years of Israeli statehood, we, as Israeli citizens, lived under military rule with pass laws that controlled our every movement. We watched Jewish Israeli towns spring up over destroyed Palestinian villages.

Today we make up 20% of Israel's population. We do not drink at separate water fountains or sit at the back of the bus. We vote and can serve in the parliament. But we face legal, institutional and informal discrimination in all spheres of life.

More than 20 Israeli laws explicitly privilege Jews over non-Jews. The Law of Return, for example, grants automatic citizenship to Jews from anywhere in the world. Yet Palestinian refugees are denied the right to return to the country they were forced to leave in 1948. The Basic Law of Human Dignity and Liberty — Israel's "Bill of Rights" — defines the state as "Jewish" rather than a state for all its citizens. Thus Israel is more for Jews living in Los Angeles or Paris than it is for native Palestinians.

Israel acknowledges itself to be a state of one particular religious group. Anyone committed to democracy will readily admit that equal citizenship cannot exist under such conditions.

Most of our children attend schools that are separate but unequal. According to recent polls, two-thirds of Israeli Jews would refuse to live next to an Arab and nearly half would not allow a Palestinian into their home.

I have certainly ruffled feathers in Israel. In addition to speaking out on the subjects above, I have also asserted the right of the Lebanese people, and of Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, to resist Israel's illegal military occupation. I do not see those who fight for freedom as my enemies.

This may discomfort Jewish Israelis, but they cannot deny us our history and identity any more than we can negate the ties that bind them to world Jewry. After all, it is not we, but Israeli Jews who immigrated to this land. Immigrants might be asked to give up their former identity in exchange for equal citizenship, but we are not immigrants.

During my years in the Knesset, the attorney general indicted me for voicing my political opinions (the charges were dropped), lobbied to have my parliamentary immunity revoked and sought unsuccessfully to disqualify my political party from participating in elections — all because I believe Israel should be a state for all its citizens and because I have spoken out against Israeli military occupation. Last year, Cabinet member Avigdor Lieberman — an immigrant from Moldova — declared that Palestinian citizens of Israel "have no place here," that we should "take our bundles and get lost." After I met with a leader of the Palestinian Authority from Hamas, Lieberman called for my execution.

The Israeli authorities are trying to intimidate not just me but all Palestinian citizens of Israel. But we will not be intimidated. We will not bow to permanent servitude in the land of our ancestors or to being severed from our natural connections to the Arab world. Our community leaders joined together recently to issue a blueprint for a state free of ethnic and religious discrimination in all spheres. If we turn back from our path to freedom now, we will consign future generations to the discrimination we have faced for six decades.

Americans know from their own history of institutional discrimination the tactics that have been used against civil rights leaders. These include telephone bugging, police surveillance, political delegitimization and criminalization of dissent through false accusations. Israel is continuing to use these tactics at a time when the world no longer tolerates such practices as compatible with democracy.

Why then does the U.S. government continue to fully support a country whose very identity and institutions are based on ethnic and religious discrimination that victimize its own citizens?

King of Morocco's wedding put the Mubarak's son wedding to shame

2007-05-04T19:46:00.000-05:00

How does Hosni Mubarak face his countrymen when his son gets married and most of the Egyptian youth can't find a job or even dream to get married?. I feel for the Egyptian singles,their families, and for their despair and sadness. They are betrayed by their corrupt government.

Today I was thinking about how Moroccan royals have preserved the country tradition and culture. Watching the wedding of the King of Morocco and reading the news of Gamal's wedding put the Mubarak's to shame.

Today I found myself comparing the event of the public wedding of King of Morocco to the secretive wedding of Gamal Mubarak.

The fact that the King of Morocco's wedding was held in public and the whole country celebrated the happy occasion for three days goes to show how Mubarak and his son is hated among the Egyptians.

Within days after the announcement Rabat, Morocco's capital, prepared itself for the royal weding. Quickly streets were re-embellished and buildings repainted. Flags and banners were planted in the major squares and streets, and gardens were replanted with new trees and flowers. More than 600 traditional Moroccan tents were put up in several parts of Rabat and its twin city, Salé. Meanwhile it was made known that on the occasion of the marriage King Mohammed VI granted free pardon to 8425 prisoners, including 1.080 who are sick, elderly, handicapped or pregnant women. The grace also included prison terms reductions for 42,661 inmates, of whom 1,887 prisoners are sick, old, handicapped or pregnant or breast-feeding women. Two detainees had their life-prison sentence commuted to a 30-year prison sentence.

The wedding celebrations started on Friday July 12th with a procession from the city gate towards the Ahl Fass Mosque in the esplanade of the royal palace at sunset. Representatives of all the regions of Morocco, bearing gifts for the bride, paraded in a colorful cortege, full of beautiful costumes and lots of music. Nearly 1,500 persons from all over Morocco paraded before the king, who watched watched the parade sitting on a throne under a canopy, while VIPs and foreign dignitaries sat alongside under tents. The Wali of Rabat, on horseback, opened the procession, followed by elected representatives, dignitaries, ulemas (theologians), chorfas (descendants of the Prophet) and Koranic school pupils, donning White jellabas. The H'dia (or Ladhiya) ritual - offering gifts for the bride that are symbols of purity and happy life - then began to the beat of drums and sound of trumpets. Men bearing big trays of henne, pure rose water, dates, incense, Arabic gum, and sandal wood, young girls carrying censers, candles, and baskets of rose petals, and folk bands performing typical songs and dances of their respective regions, walked over one kilometer and a half. The ceremony climaxed when the king, accompanied by his brother Prince Moulay Rachid, came down from the Royal stand to be greeted by the enthusiastic delegations and the guests. After the procession 1500 horsemen performed the typically Moroccan fantasia while popular music troupes from all parts of Morocco joined the festivities also.

Later in the evening the official wedding ceremony took place in the royal palace, and also the Berza - official presentation of the bride to the guests seated in a carrying chair - took place in the intimacy of the royal palace. Simultaneously about 200 other couples from all social classes were also married at the royal palace in Rabat. After this mass wedding King Mohammed VI willingly posed for a photo with the couples.

The bride:-

Lalla Salma Bennani, 24, is from Morocco's middle-class and worked as computer engineer in Morocco's largest private holding ONA Group. Her father is a school teacher in the spiritual capital of Fes, north of Morocco.

I'm proud to be the first blog posting the groom's picture!

Oh well! I can go to bed tonight singing "batalooda.....El Ghorab...Gawzooh ah'la yamama"

Khadiga Yes....Egypt NO

2007-05-03T10:50:00.000-05:00

I couldn't stop laughing seeing this banner on manal and alaaThis is a brilliant caricature by an Egyptian blogger. In the event of Gamal Mubarak the tyrant on call marriage to Khadiga.

Palestinian peace activists remembers Virginia Tech

2007-05-02T19:55:00.000-05:00

What a lovely thought! I wonder if Planting olive trees in remembrance of victims requires the supervision of the Israeli Defense forces with their guns?!

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Blogging Coma

2007-05-02T19:24:00.000-05:00

As many have noticed that I have been suffering from a blogging Coma. I'm sorry for lack of posts but I have been extremely busy with launching a new business, taking care of my toddlers and my family. Thanks to all who wrote to me and left me kind posts to inquire about my absence.

Blogging will resume shortly.

Farewell Sandmonkey

2007-05-02T18:22:00.000-05:00

Sandmonkey a famous Egyptian blogger known for his controversial topics, lack of empathy for the Palestinian cause and his support for the Israeli and American policies is bidding farewell to his readers.

We have major disagreements and our continuous bickering and fighting over politics, religion, and life in Egypt was echoed among many blogs. Many times I have expressed my outrage at his posts and blamed him for my high blood pressure. Responding to his Zionist, right wing ignorant crowd was a heavy task indeed.

Despite the above I am very saddened by his decision to quit blogging. I feel that his freedom was taken away from him. I'm appalled by how the Egyptian Government is abusing it's citizen. I'm shocked at how many Egyptian bloggers were arrested, imprisoned, and shut down. It is a shame that the Egyptian Government reached that level of oppression to go after young people expressing their thoughts in the virtual world. Their fear is indeed a sign of a troubled Government. A Government led by the eternal Mubarak family that is a sign of tyranny,oppression,criminal actions against it's citizen. Under the nose of America and the whole world the unjust is done everyday to the average Egyptian.

Egypt belongs to Egyptians and any Egyptian should be honored in his/her country by exercising his/her basic rights. Egyptians around the world will not be silenced by the Egyptian Government that has no control over us.

On a personal level, Sandmonkey's has many qualities. Sandmonkey has been an honest friend to many, he always gave them an honest advise, took time to listen, analyze, and deal with many disputes on the blogsphere. He helped many peace activists, stood by many bloggers and showed his sincere love to his country on many occasions.

Farewell Sandmonkey and let us hope that one day our Egypt will belong to us again.

Dancing Around the World

2007-01-23T18:13:00.000-06:00

John at America blog reminded me of this video. Matt from The video was viewed 4.4 million times. What I like about Matt's video is the chose people and animals in the most beautiful spots in the world to celebrate the world.

Matt is a 30-year-old deadbeat from Connecticut who used to think that all he ever wanted to do in life was make and play videogames. He achieved this goal pretty early and enjoyed it for a while, but eventually realized there might be other stuff he was missing out on. In February of 2003, he quit his job in Brisbane, Australia and used the money he'd saved to wander around the planet until it ran out.

Enjoy!

P.S. I don't agree with Matt's diary and the way he describes the world but the video is very cheerful indeed.

819 Palestinian children shot in their head,neck,and chest by Israeli soldiers since second Intifada

2007-01-22T12:53:00.000-06:00

Today I was driving my two years old girl to school when I heard this terrible news.

Israeli Troops Kill 10-Year-Old Palestinian Girl

A ten-year-old Palestinian girl has died after being shot in the back of the head by Israeli troops in the West Bank town of Anata. The girl – Abir Aramin – was shot on Friday while she was outside her school on recess. Her father, Bassam Aramin, helped found Combatants for Peace -- a group of former Israeli and Palestinian fighters. Aramin said that his daughter's death will not deter him from trying to work for peace. He said “We have no choice but to continue to save more children from falling in this dirty conflict."

In my book no parent should ever put his son/daughter to grave. I don't know how parents live after they lose their children. I can't even imagine!.

The Day Mr.Aramin daughter Abir was shot by Israeli soldiers he said that it will not stop him for working for peace. I have so much admiration for Mr.Aramin. I can't comprehend how he can survive this trauma and mourn his daughter through peace. I'm at loss!

Here is what the Unicef have to say about the killings of Palestinian children. And here are more girls shot by Israeli soldiers in the neck, head, and chest.

I have tried very hard to go against my human nature to post pictures of dead Palestinian children that are available at google and I simply couldn't.

Happy New Year!

2006-12-30T17:08:00.000-06:00

May God make year 2007 peaceful,Joyful,healthy for everyone. May the people of Iraq,Palestine,Afghanistan,Sudan,Africa,and people all over the world have a better year this year. May the world resort to peace not war. May God look upon the sick,needy,and troubled.

On a personal level.I am very thankful to God for my husband,children,my health and our extended families for all their support and for all the blessings of 2006.

Twosret signing off!

Happy Reading

2006-12-29T19:28:00.000-06:00

Guardian

Woman wins payout for slurs on blog

Ed Pilkington in New York
Thursday October 12, 2006

Guardian
A jury in Florida has awarded a woman $11.3m (Â£6m) in costs and damages after a former acquaintance accused her of being a crook, a con artist and a fraudster on an internet talkboard.

The award, believed to be the largest verdict of it sort relating to individual postings on bulletin boards or blogs, was handed down by a jury in Broward County, Florida, against a woman from Louisiana. The sum included $5m (Â£2.7m) in punitive damages.

Sue Scheff, who runs a small educational business in Weston, Florida, filed the lawsuit in 2003 claiming she had been subjected to 10 months of ugly criticism on the internet from Carey Bock. Ms Bock, from Mandeville, Louisiana, had posted the comments on Fornits.com, a board used by parents of troubled teenagers. Ms Bock did not attend the final hearing.

How would a court react to someone posting libel comments like "alcoholic,death threats,habitual liar?"

O Canada

Ontario Court issues injunction against Internet defamation
Bradley J. Freedman | Current to: June 4, 2004
Posted: Tuesday, July 06, 2004

In the June 4, 2004 decision in Barrick Gold Corporation v. Lopehandia, [2004] O.J. No. 2329, the Ontario Court of Appeal ordered increased damages and issued a permanent injunction against a British Columbia resident responsible for "a systematic, extensive and vicious campaign" of Internet libel against Barrick. The decision demonstrates that, in appropriate cases, Canadian courts will issue injunctions prohibiting Internet defamation even though the responsible persons are outside the court's territorial jurisdiction.

Bloggers beware

Writing the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth can keep you out of trouble — both in your personal and public life — only to a point. While truth is the defense for libel and slander, it is NOT a defense for invasion of privacy and the Internet is the new frontier where not everything is clearly defined.

And even if you consider your blog a diary, that doesn't keep you safe from character defamation charges - and the cost could be as much as 23 years of your life.

Death threats

New York man pleads guilty to Internet death threat
By Carson Walker, Associated Press
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. — A former Veterans Administration law enforcement officer from New York state will serve six months of home confinement for threatening to kill a Rapid City woman through e-mail.

Edward S. Grenawalt, 47, of Yonkers, N.Y., pleaded guilty Monday in U.S. District Court in Rapid City to one count of making a threatening communication and was sentenced to two years probation.

Besides the home detention, U.S. District Judge Karen Schreier also restricted his use of the Internet.

Jewish settlers, aka Jewish Extremists, aka Terrorists

2006-12-28T22:59:00.000-06:00

It is time for Mr. Bush, other world leaders, and the United Nations to seriously acknowledge Jewish-Fascism before Islam bashing gets completely out of hand. Particularly alarming is the behavior of Jewish extremists who have illegally squatted on Palestinian land. The newest, and certainly not the most unique demonstration of this crazy and violent misinterpretation of Judaism comes from no less than a rabbi, whose published article in a minor Israeli journal openly spoke of systematically killing all Arab men above the age of 13.

Rabbi Yousef Falay, who lives illegally on stolen Palestinian land in the "Settlement of Yitzhar," published his rave entitled "Ways of War" that openly states: "We have to make sure that no Palestinian individual remains under our occupation. If they (Palestinians) escape then it is good; but if anyone of them remains, then he should be exterminated..." [source] The last time I read about "extermination" of people, it was in the history books in the chapter on Nazi Germany.

Some might remember the American rabbi, Meir Kahane, whose Kach movement was founded on extreme racism, hatred and violence. It openly manifest a desire to kill all Arabs so that Israel would be a purely Jewish land with only Jews on its soil. Followers of Kahane have not disappeared, they are alive and well, beating 70-year old Arab men with clubs and pipes, uprooting Palestinians crops, killing their animals, and violently harassing Palestinian children on their way to school. Don't simply take my word for it, consult the International Solidarity Movement's activists who donate their time and sometimes lives, to advocate and protect unarmed and disenfranchised Palestinians from the vilest and cruelest hatred imaginable.

Contact the ISM and ask to see their videos of how the settlers (a real misnomer), hence called Jewish-extremists are enabled and protected by the Israeli IOF (Israeli Occupation Forces). Read about the Rachel Corries, the Brian Averys and the Tom Hurndalls, all US or British citizens who were deliberately killed by American bullets fired by Israeli soldiers as they tried to non-violently protect Palestinians. The Israelis themselves recognize their own failure in dealing with the extremists and organizations like Yesh-Din publicize this (see also their excellent links to other groups)

Jewish extremism is truly a plague on the Holy Land that must be stopped. It is immoral beyond words and its hypocrisy is chilling. As the western press continues to deafen us with examples of Islamic extremists, the scourge of the Jewish extremist on stolen land continues unabated funded by our tax dollars.

LINKS to follow:

International Middle-East Media Center (www.imemc.org)

Ma'an News Agency (www.maannews.net)

International Solidarity Movement (www.pasolidarity.org)

Peace Now - Settlement List (www.peacenow.org)

Posted by Terry Scott

This is why I hate the internet (Personal message to Bec)

2006-12-28T20:10:00.000-06:00

This entry was deleted by author due to the personal nature of the topic that doesn't go with the style of this blog.

FDA Expected to Rule on Cloned Food This Week

2006-12-27T23:48:00.000-06:00

Bush our great Christian president whom God speaks through him will allow the FDA to rule on cloned meat, milk and dairy products. Those products will be in my grocery store without a label to identify them. I'm ready to puke!

ABC news Dec. 27, 2006 — The Food and Drug Administration is expected to make an important ruling this week on the future of meat and milk from cloned animals.

Just 10 years after Dolly the sheep became the first mammal to be successfully cloned, food products from cloned animals could soon become available on grocery store shelves nationwide.

In what is seen as a preview of an FDA ruling expected this week, FDA scientists say in a new study that they have found that food from cloned animals is safe to eat.

"Meat and milk from clones and their progeny is as safe to eat" as food that isn't produced through cloning, the report said.

Regardless of the FDA's decision, it's not expected to quell the controversy over cloned foods.

"We are not convinced that this is safe food," Jaydee Hanson of the Center for Food Safety told "Good Morning America."

"And we haven't seen the facts that would convince us," Hanson said.

Some farmers and ranchers already clone animals, but a voluntary moratorium imposed by the FDA has kept that meat and milk off store shelves.

The public seems skeptical about changing that. In a poll taken earlier this year, 65 percent called cloning animals morally wrong. Another poll found that 45 percent opposed using cloning in food production.

If FDA approval goes through, the question is how and whether cloned meat and milk will be clearly marked so consumers know what they're buying. Experts say that may be unlikely.

"It's very possible that these products will end up on the grocery store shelves without any specific label identifying them as having come from cloned animals," said Michael Fernandez, executive director of the Pew Initiative on Food and Biotechnology.

36% of Egyptian men are beaten by their wives

2006-12-27T23:37:00.000-06:00

Yes, women also beat their husbands! That was the conclusion of a study of spousal violence conducted by the Dialogue and Development Center in Egypt. According to Al Arabiyah Television Channel, the study analyzed all stories published about spousal abuse in Egyptian Newspapers for the last six months of 2005.

One Al Arabiyah reporter said, “The results were surprising.” It turned out that women had committed 111 crimes against men (85 homicides, 15 thefts, and 11 beatings).”In contrast men committed 172 crimes against women,(150 homicides, 13 attempted homicides, and 9 beatings).

Saed Abdel-Hafiz from the Dialogue and Development Center and who conducted the study told the Al Arabiyah television: “We always hear about women poisoning their husbands because it enables them to avoid physical confrontations, but women are also becoming more creative. Some inject their husbands with poisonous substances, while others use simple household products like hair dye.”

Although the results revealed that men were still ahead in committing crimes against their wives, the study created a lot of controversy, which was evident in the headlines in the Egyptian Newspapers. “Husbands Massacre,” “Men are victims of the Soft Hands,” and “By poison, Choking, Kicking, Boxing and Severe Beating--- Women Respond to Verbal Abuse,” are some of the headlines.

Said Abdel-Hafiz, “the study results were surprising because they reveal an increase in violence committed by women. They committed only sixty less crimes than men in a period of six months.”

Nazic Nasir, a professor of social science in the American university in Cairo, believes that women are pushed to use violence because, “they have to deal with injustices and abuses. And they have no agencies to turn to for help in getting out of their unhealthy situations.”

According to Najad Alberie, secretary general of the Democratic Development Organization, “Women beating their husbands are not a new phenomenon. Researchers tend to make mistakes because they tend to base their research on data acquired from local police departments. But men often are ashamed to make a police report if they are physically abused. In reality many men are beaten by women.”

Alberie also said that wives who are subjected to beatings have to make a police report because that is the only way for them to be able get divorced from their husbands. Husbands, on the other hand, can divorce their wives anytime they want.

On the other hand,somewhere in America an American woman is raped every 2 minutes

Jewish Settlers to Christians in Hebron: "We killed Jesus, and we'll kill you too"

2006-12-27T23:01:00.000-06:00

I have first hand experience with the fundamentalism of Jewish settlers and fascists who are totally shielded from international media attention for fear of anti-semitism labels maligning the media agency. Luckily, independent solidarity organizations like ISM and other groups of volunteers come to the Holy Land to witness the hideous hatred of the Judaiofascists and lend their presence to protect Palestinians and the little of Christ's legacy that remains in this hijacked "Jewish State." The article below is from IMEMC which is a key news source to otherwise unreported events in the Holy Land. The disturbing photo on the right is of a Swedish volunteer who sustained a fractured cheek and lacerations by Jewish terrorists occupying Palestinian lands.

Settlers to Christians in Hebron: "We killed Jesus, and we'll kill you too" [source: IMEMC]

For most of Palestine, the obstacles and hardships we witnessed and
encountered in doing these activities with our local hosts highlight the
inhumanity of the situation and the day-to-day humiliation of living under a
military occupation where, at its most benign, the native population, daily,
must submit to the authority of heavily armed teenagers to access their own
villages, towns, farmlands, etc. Here in the West Bank, the native
population can rarely travel throughout their own territory without
procuring permits from their conquerors. I and three Swedish colleagues
have spent the last three days with olive farmers in a small village near
Tulkarem--this was the slice of life i intended to write about, but today's
events have forced me to change my story and show some of the sheer
brutality of the occupation. I just got back from a hospital in Jerusalem,
where one of my Swedish colleagues lies with her left cheekbone broken and
here eye swollen shut.

This morning, I and several friends headed down to a small village near
Hebron to support Palestinian farmers who, because of violence from Jewish
settlers from the Havat Ma'on settlement, had not been able to plough their
nearby fields. The settlers routinely engage in violence against the
villagers, whether it's the area children walking to and from school,
attacking the farmers, or poisoning the fields where their livestock
graze. You see, the Tuwani land is located in three areas: the Tuwani
hillside, the valleys between Tuwani and Havat Ma'on, and the Havat Ma'on
hillside. The closer the villagers move to the settlement outpost, the
angrier the settlers get, and the more likely they are to attack. In
addition, the Israeli authorities have strongly discouraged the villagers
from accessing their fields, save for the land on the Tuwani hillside.

On this day, armed with a recent court decision guaranteeing the villagers
the right to work their land and in the presence of Israeli international
human rights workers, the Tuwani farmers attempted to till as much of their
land as possible. The joint Israeli-international accompaniment hoped to
discourage settler attacks, and the ploughing was done all at once so that
the effort of the farmers would simply be too much for the settlers to
sabotage.

My watch started out easy enough--i and three Israelis sat atop a hillside
as a local farmer and his son sowed seed for about a half hour before we saw
a police jeep arrive at the top of an adjacent hillside. Moments later, just
as the farmer began to plough, five settlers then another with dogs came
down the mountain toward the farmer. Two Israelies backed away to take
pictures as I and the third Israeli stood between the settlers and the
tractor. As they approached I said, "shalom." I wanted to make sure that
they knew we meant them no harm, but these folks aren't the least bit
worried about that. Just shy of bumping into us, a few settlers sat down at
our feet to block the tractor; i attempted to convince them to turn around,
to which the settlers replied with curses in Hebrew, so i replied with one
of the only two words I know, *shalom, *to which one answered,

"No peace for you! Thieves! You're thiefs!" said one of the men. Again, i
attempted to clearly communicate our intentions by saying, "i only wish
peace for you," to which he replied "I ONLY WISH DEATH FOR YOU." This
stalemate continued until, after fifteen minutes, Israeli military jeeps and
more police jeeps arrived. Eventually, the soldiers and police casually made
their way towards us and, after a few conversations, convinced the settlers
to return to leave the area. As part of the negotiation, I and my three
colleagues relocated to the top of the hill, next to the police/military
presence, to observe as a Palestinian farmer made the most of this
opportunity which should be his everyday right.

As we watched this man plough his fields, several Swedish and English
friends accompanied other farmers to their fields, where they also had
similar encounters with settlers. As was the case in our group, settlers
approached the farmer from a hillside, and, just as the farmer was preparing
to plough, an English human rights worker grabbed the settlers arm as he
swung his fist towards the Paletsinian farmer. This man then turned to the
englishman and attacked him with a walkie-talkie. Then, as the Israeli
military and police arrived, the attacking setter dove laid down on the
ground next to the stationary tractor to behave as though he'd just been run
over. More settlers arrived, more military arrived, and then an ambulance
arrived (in fact, the medic attacked the same englishman). There was a whole
lot of accusations and arguments despite how totally absurd the situation
was--that a man who had supposedly been run over by a tractor would keep
sitting up and arguing with police and military? This man argued with the
very same police and military who not only had just witnessed his attack on
several human rights workers but had to have seen him lay down next to the
tractor. Eventually the attacker was carried off on a stretcher, and the
farmer got back to work.

Similar things occurred with this action, but the collective efforts of the
farmers and their supporters was too much for the settlers to disrupt or
sabotage. As a result of the efforts of the at Tuwani farmers, with a bit of
support from Israeli and international human rights workers, and with a bit
of enforcement on the part of the Israeli military and the Israeli police,
the Tuwani farmers were able to plough all of the land on their side of the
hill, all of the land in the valleys, and most of their land on the Havat
Ma'on side of the hill.

After the Tuwani action, several human rights workers went to Hebron to be a
nonviolent presence in the midst of a potentially violent Sabbath
celebration. In Hebron, the Sabbath is often an occasion for Jewish settlers
to rampage through the streets and attack the Palestinians, damage their
homes and their shops, and generally scare the hell out of them; this is
often doing so with a military escort (the Israeli military's job is to
protect the settlers). Today, however, was an extra special day, as it was
estimated that more than twenty thousand settlers from all over Israel,
Europe and the United States descended upon the city of Hebron to
commemorate the death and burial of Abram's wife, Sarah. However, as is
typical, prayers are not the only activities that the Sabbath brings to
Hebron, and this occasion was much larger than the ordinary.

Immediate inside the Tel Rumeida checkpoint stood a crowd of roughly 100
settlers; within moments of passing through this checkpoint, several human
rights workers were confronted by a group of settlers who demanded, "why are
you here?! where do you come from?!" To which one replied "we're here o
visit a friend." Immediately the crowd of settlers started chanting "JESUS
WAS GAY!" in Hebrew and English, and then someone from the back of the crowd
yelled, "THEY LOVE THE PALESTINIANS!" As the crowd began to spit on and kick
the the human rights workers, The chants continued and then changed to, in
Hebrew, "WE KILLED JESUS AND WE'LL KILL YOU, TOO!" All the while more
settlers arrived and joined in the chanting.

The whole time this was happening, where were the police? RIGHT THERE
CASUALLY WATCHING ALL THIS. The police did not even move until AFTER a
settler bashed a bottle across the face of human rights worker Touve
Johansson, a 19-year-old Swedish woman. As the crowd around them cheered,
Touve fell to the street with a lacerated face and a broken cheekbone. As
Touve's friends tended held her head and wiped away blood--In fact, as the
soldiers stood by--settlers took turns crouching down and giving "thumbs up"
by the bloodied woman's face. After the first medic, also a settler, arrived
on the scene with his medical supplies and refused to treat Ms. Johansson,
an Israeli military medic arrived, and she was eventually taken to a
hospital in Jerusalem. Three of the assailants were detained (but not
arrested) and released moments later (also to cheers by crowds of settlers);
moreso, the Israeli police did not take the detainees' names, but they did
threaten Touve Johansson's companions with arrest.

What happened to Touve and her group was definitely above the typical level
of violence and hostility shown towards international human rights workers,
and, as is the case with something violent and out of the ordinary, the
story has generated a lot of interest. Case in point--I just returned from
the hospital, where I received several phone calls from journalists who
wished to interview Touve.

People will take exception and pay attention because some of the
circumstances--especially the hospitalization of a European human rights
worker--are exceptional. There will be more media attention over the next
few days, but the real story is not in the out-of-the-ordinary events but in
the everyday events. This occupation is not about the Israeli peace movement
or the international human rights workers. There is a larger context to
consider and a very necessary question to ask: had this happened to a
Palestinian, would there be the same amount of interest? Would my phone
still be ringing?

As I mentioned before, many of these settlers came to Hebron from all over
Israel, Europe and the United States. They came not only to celebrate *
Genesis* Chapter 23 but also to terrorize the natives and assert Jewish
dominance over this predominantly non-Jewish city. On this day an
international was hospitalized. This specific occasion may have been
special, but * c*onsider this very simple fact: if you're a Palestinian, and
if you live in Hebron, this story is not exceptional, for these settlers are
your neighbors; they can do anything they want, and you can do nothing about
it.

Statement by the Patriarch and Local Heads of Churches In Jerusalem

2006-12-27T21:06:00.000-06:00

"THE JERUSALEM DECLARATION ON CHRISTIAN ZIONISM" - Statement by the Patriarch and Local Heads of Churches In Jerusalem

"Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called the children of God." (Matthew 5:9)

Christian Zionism is a modern theological and political movement that embraces the most extreme ideological positions of Zionism, thereby becoming detrimental to a just peace within Palestine and Israel. The Christian Zionist programme provides a worldview where the Gospel is identified with the ideology of empire, colonialism and militarism. In its extreme form, it laces an emphasis on apocalyptic events leading to the end of history rather than living Christ's love and justice today.
We categorically reject Christian Zionist doctrines as false teaching that corrupts the biblical message of love, justice and reconciliation.

We further reject the contemporary alliance of Christian Zionist leaders and organizations with elements in the governments of Israel and the United States that are presently imposing their unilateral pre-emptive borders and domination over Palestine. This inevitably leads to unending cycles of violence that undermine the security of all peoples of the Middle East and the rest of the world.

We reject the teachings of Christian Zionism that facilitate and support these policies as they advance racial exclusivity and perpetual war rather than the gospel of universal love, redemption and reconciliation taught by Jesus Christ. Rather than condemn the world to the doom of Armageddon we call upon everyone to liberate themselves from the ideologies of militarism and occupation. Instead, let them pursue the healing of the nations!

We call upon Christians in Churches on every continent to pray for the Palestinian and Israeli people, both of whom are suffering as victims of occupation and militarism. These discriminative actions are turning Palestine into impoverished ghettos surrounded by exclusive Israeli settlements. The establishment of the illegal settlements and the construction of the Separation Wall on confiscated Palestinian land undermines the viability of a Palestinian state as well as peace and security in the entire region.

We call upon all Churches that remain silent, to break their silence and speak for reconciliation with justice in the Holy Land.

Therefore, we commit ourselves to the following principles as an alternative way:

We affirm that all people are created in the image of God. In turn they are called to honor the dignity of every human being and to respect their inalienable rights.

We affirm that Israelis and Palestinians are capable of living together within peace, justice and security.

We affirm that Palestinians are one people, both Muslim and Christian. We reject all attempts to subvert and fragment their unity.

We call upon all people to reject the narrow world view of Christian Zionism and other ideologies that privilege one people at the expense of others.

We are committed to non-violent resistance as the most effective means to end the illegal occupation in order to attain a just and lasting peace.

With urgency we warn that Christian Zionism and its alliances are justifying colonization, apartheid and empire-building.

God demands that justice be done. No enduring peace, security or reconciliation is possible without the foundation of justice. The demands of justice will not disappear. The struggle for justice must be pursued diligently and persistently but non-violently.

"What does the Lord require of you, to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God." (Micah 6:8)

This is where we take our stand. We stand for justice. We can do no other. Justice alone guarantees a peace that will lead to reconciliation with a life of security and prosperity for all the peoples of our Land. By standing on the side of justice, we open ourselves to the work of peace - and working for peace makes us children of God.

"God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation." (2 Cor 5:19)

His Beattitude Patriarch Michel Sabbah
Latin Patriarchate, Jerusalem

Archbishop Swerios Malki Mourad,
Syrian Orthodox Patriarchate, Jerusalem

Bishop Riah Abu El-Assal,
Episcopal Church of Jerusalem and the Middle East

Bishop Munib Younan,
Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land

Occupation 101- The Movie

2006-12-27T18:01:00.000-06:00

Another brilliant find by Terry Scott

Another Rabbi threatens to sue over menorah

2006-12-27T09:36:00.000-06:00

The location is not an airport this time it is a town hall.

Exposing the deception of more Zionist organizations and bloggers

2006-12-26T22:24:00.000-06:00

I happened to come across a site called Palestine Facts in which the information was not by Palestinians, nor reflects the Palestinian history. The ownership of the site was not stated and I had to do some searching to find out that it is in fact owned by ZOA, the Zionist Organization of America.

I am sick and tired of the deception of the Zionist organizations and it's people of the average reader. Why did they choose to call themselves "Palestine facts?" Why are they trying to sound like a Palestinian site rather than a Zionist one?

Here is what I captured for you to view. Feel free to visit the sites yourself and examine the content where you will be shocked by the fact that this is really a Zionist site masquerading as a Palestinian one.

Moving on to the Zionist (Atheists and Jews) bloggers, I happened to notice that they are regular visitors to the Egyptian and Arab blogs. One can't help noticing their hateful, racist and fascist statements towards Arabs and Muslims. They constantly claim antisemitism if you disagree with their statements. Some claim that Arabs and Egyptians on the blogs are lying about the Zionists and Israel, others freely label anyone who criticizes as a terrorist. The most used argument is that Egyptians and Arabs are not tolerant towards Jews in general.

Today I would like to visit different blogs and capture some of the sentiments of Arabs towards the Zionist Jews. We will also visit some of the most famous Zionist (Atheist and Jews) blogs.

The following blogs greeted their fellow readers for Hanukkah

Twosret

From the Rock (Libyan Blog)

Drima the Sudanese thinker

The following Zionist blogs didn't even mention Christmas or send greeting messages to Christians or Muslims for their feasts.

shlemazl

The Raccoon

Elder of Ziyon

P.S. the above sample is not to generalize as I'm sure that some very decent Israelis and Jews, and they will not behave the same way some hateful Zionists are behaving on the blog sphere

Born is the King of Israel

2006-12-24T15:07:00.000-06:00

The Nutcracker

2006-12-22T21:37:00.000-06:00

What a great day I had today! Splendid,wonderful,refreshing, and a lovely performance of the nutcracker. I'm also a very proud Mom of my two very young girls who did wonderful in their first big theatre experience considering they are only two and three.

Bush and Condi killing Christmas

2006-12-21T17:16:00.000-06:00

I knew that God doesn't speak through Mr.Bush, John from America blog agrees and provide good evidence for that. Here is what John wrote.

Well, well, well. It seems the Bush administration is yet again leading the war on Christmas. Last year you'll recall it was George Bush's White House taking the lead by calling the national Christmas tree a 'holiday tree.' Fox News was close behind with their Happy Holidays ornaments.

Well, according to the Washington Post, Condi's State Department is telling our embassies around the world that they better not send any Christmas cards this year, and especially not in Muslim countries.

This raises an interesting question. Why is it okay, per holier-than-thous like Bush and the religious right, to impose Christmas on non-Christians in America (other than a few snafus like last year's 'Holiday Tree,' Bush and his Christian soldiers have been happy to ram Christianity down the throats of every Jew and Muslim in America) but suddenly they get all weak-kneed at the prospect of sharing the joy of America's proud Judeo-Christian heritage with all those foreign infidels?

Deny me trois fois?

So how come you claim you are Christian Mr. President?

A must read Target Iran by Scott Ritter and Investigative Journalist Seymour Hersh

2006-12-21T17:01:00.000-06:00

Target Iran: Former UN Weapons Inspector Scott Ritter and Investigative Journalist Seymour Hersh on White House Plans for Regime Change

I heard Scott Ritter this morning on democracy now this is long but worth reading

Jews against Christmas

2006-12-20T15:39:00.000-06:00

Several weeks ago NPR ran a three-part series on European attitudes towards Islam. Overall the rather biased reporting (courtesy of Sylvia Poggioli) indicated that European countries felt that Muslim immigrants to their countries did not want to give up their native customs and refused to integrate as easily as they were expect to. Yet the accusations towards Muslim immigrants to Europe and the US is negligible compared to what vocal Jews in America have dictated in this nation.

In what country of Europe have Muslims turned "Merry Christmas" into "happy holidays"? In which country has the cresent and star turned up next to the Cross? In what country is every single calendar published equalizing Muslim holy days alongside the Christian and national holidays? In which country is a rabbi arrested for praying in an airport or airplane? In what country can an imam threaten to sue the airport because the Christmas trees insult his religion AND THE AIRPORT COMPLIES by taking down all the Christmas decorations?!

In which country do 3% of the population set the agenda for 97% of the remaining majority? Please don't blame Muslims for wanting to practice their religion and culture when you allow vocal Jewish fascists for forcing their icons and religion on the rest of us. Lets be quite clear that "Christ" is being taken out of Christmas is not because of "Islamofascists" or Nasrallah or Iran. The de-Christianization and the increasing Judaicization of America is because of one subsect group alone--the vocal Jews with Judaism and arrogance as dual chips on their shoulders.

hatip (Terry) thank you babe!

Picture of the week

2006-12-20T12:26:00.000-06:00

This is the first time in the history of the United States that the White house decided to celebrate Hanukkah.

""Laura and I are honored to have this Hanukkah menorah here at the White House," Bush said. "It's a symbol that the White House is the people's house, and it belongs to Americans of all faith."

I mark your words Dubya, if America belongs to Americans of all faith then we are looking forward to see you celebrating the next Muslim holiday.

Apology for lack of posts

2006-12-16T22:15:00.000-06:00

Thanks to all of you who sent me e-mails and offline messages to check on me. I have been very busy with the holiday season,I was appointed to volunteer as a chair in one of the committees in my daughter's school, this is my first year in the school and holding such position wasn't easy. I was very glad that the big event went well and I felt very positive about helping the school and the community (it was really nice to deal with adults above the age of 3).

I had a sick mom visiting me that consumed some of my time,and my youngest daughter is going through her terrible two's. In addition my family and I are making very important business decisions that requires analysis,research,and time consuming business meetings.

I apologize for lack of posts and blogging will resume shortly. I wish all of you a happy Hanukkah,happy Kwanzaa,peaceful and joyful Christmas and a happy New Year.

Peace

Christmas childhood memories

2006-12-03T00:02:00.000-06:00

Christmas Creche

Decorating the tree

HH Pope Shenouda's Christmas midnight mass

The Legendary Fayrouz Christmas carols,Laylet Eid (Jingle bells)

St. Nick's and the spirit of giving

Buche de Noel

November 29 - U.N. Day of Solidarity with Palestinian People

2006-11-28T22:41:00.000-06:00

http://www.un.org/depts/dhl/palestinian/

http://www.palestinecampaign.org/events.asp?d=y&id=2060

Palestinians are the priority

2006-11-25T10:53:00.000-06:00

(Ben Heine © Cartoons){hattip Desert Peace}

Palestinians are the Priority an open statement of commitment to the Palestinian Solidarity Cause.

There are individuals within the Palestinian solidarity movement seeking to create divisions by:

* deliberately shifting focus away from Israel's war crimes and its supremacist Zionist ideology;

* imposing unilateral agendas by presenting both sides as victims;

* sabotaging service to the just cause of the Palestinian people;

* ignoring the issue of right of return for the Palestinians;

* utilising the platform of the Palestinian discourse to argue about anti-Semitism, which is not a Palestinian problem and not created by Arabs.

Our primary and single concern is solidarity with the Palestinian people.

As ethical human beings we consider it our obligation to:

* do all we can to allow the information to be diffused as widely and as quickly as possible;

* ensure the argument of the oppression and disenfranchisement of the Palestinian people stays in the forefront;

* present as clear and honest a picture as possible of the meaning of Zionism and the Jewish State;

* to cross the divide and to unite in our war against the Zionist crime.

We accept and believe in equality of all persons, regardless of their race, religion, political or other orientation. We believe that full and unconditional support of the Palestinian people is a condition sine qua non for activists to adopt, and we recognise that their attachment to their homeland is a fundamental and unalterable condition. To that end we advocate for one unified State with equal rights for all its citizens.

Any attempts at censoring reasoned critique of Israel and Zionism must be refused a priori, as it is in conflict with the goal of seeking to protect and support the Palestinian people - as their empowerment is the only way to peaceful coexistence for all the populations of the Middle East. Any attempts at dictating what the Palestinians should do will be looked upon with great circumspection and suspicion. Palestinians themselves wish to construct their own future and are not pawns to be shifted on the chessboard.

We demand free speech for sincere critics of Zionism and call for an end to campaigns created in order to ostracise its most vocal critics. Smear campaigns will not be tolerated, as we recognise that they are the instrument of choice of Zionists, and detract energy from our work. We will not hesitate to expose the instrumental usage of them, no matter the claimed principles of those who are engaged in creating such campaigns. On the other hand, open dialogue and reasoned argumentation is welcome and greatly encouraged as a tool to understanding and collaboration.

The indigenous people of Palestine are facing extermination by the hands of the Jewish State, and the world keeps silent. The sooner we draw public attention to Israel's needless wanton destruction, the sooner we can do away with this horrifying, insufferable situation.

If you agree with this statement, please sign the petition.

http://www.petitiononline.com/grosveno/petition.html

Glenn Beck and CNN exposed

2006-11-24T22:02:00.000-06:00

Glenn Beck's "expose" on "shocking" images and "hatefulness" from the Middle East is being touted as news. The banners are all over technorati.com and on mainstream webnews sites. Recall the tremendous hullabaloo over the "doctored" photo from a Reuters reporter during the Israel's assault on Lebanon this summer. The uproar on sites like the insane LGF is peanuts compared to the deep bias and disinformation that is passed off on CNN on a daily basis, from "expert" Wolf Blitzer to born-again-Christian Glenn Beck. Here is what the headliner promises to investigate:

"Radical Islamists are at war with the West. In a one-hour special, Glenn Beck will show you the shocking images -- rarely seen by American viewers -- that help fuel rage against the United States"

I only want to draw attention to just one of the many threads that can be pursued to discredit this flawed reporting. One of the "related" links featured on the CNN spead of the report links to "Middle East Media Research Institute" (memri.org) and sounds innocuous enough. A whois search of the ownership of the memri.org site reveals non other than a Col. Yigal Carmon, an Israeli former military figure who

"served in the IDF/Intelligence Branch from 1968 to 1988. From 1977 to 1982 he was the Acting Head of Civil Administration in Judea and Samaria and the Advisor on Arab Affairs to the Civil Administration. Following Col. Carmon’s retirement from the IDF he was Advisor to Premiers Shamir and Rabin for Countering Terrorism from 1988 to 1993. In 1991 and 1992 he was a senior member of the Israeli Delegation to peace negotiations with Syria in Madrid and Washington."

During his time in Military Intelligence, Carmon became a senior officer of its Unit 504, a small secret unit dedicated to "human intelligence" which was particularly active in Lebanon and administers Facility 1391, a prison described as "Israel's Guantanamo". Between 1994-1996, he argued that "public declarations made by Arafat and his associates contradicted the spirit of the Oslo accords and reflected their genuine intentions." [source]

Listing Yigal Carmon as a "related" link on a supposedly balanced site with the weightiness of CNN entirely discredits the purpose of Glenn Beck's report, unless of course the intention of this biased report is to further enflame already high tensions and to sow additional hatred towards Muslims and their respective countries. In the words of a much-despised John Bolton, who regrettably vetoed a credible response to Israel's Gaza atrocities--the Headline News crap by Glenn Beck is thorougly "biased and politically motivated."

Thanks to Terry Scott

Egyptian actors

2006-11-24T17:11:00.000-06:00

In a previous post, I noticed some comments that were referring to my Egyptian countrymen being not good looking or gay. I couldn't help but defend my countrymen.

The legendary Saleh Selim

Hany Salama

Ahmed Ezz

Khaled Abol Naga

Khaled Selim

UN human rights head slams Israel

2006-11-24T16:27:00.000-06:00

Arbour spoke to the Post in Tel Aviv on the tail end of a five-day trip to Israel and the Palestinian territories. The visit came on the heels of international condemnation and charges of human rights violations following an IDF strike in Beit Hanun in which 19 civilians were accidentally killed.

According to criminal law, "there is very little distinction between recklessness and intent," she said. "It is a small distinction as to whether you desire the result, or you foresee it as virtually certain and you do not care. In terms of culpability there is not a lot of difference between recklessness and intent."

Arbour indicated that this could mean that Israel was guilty of human rights violations for its actions in Lebanon.

Most of her meetings with members of both groups, she said, were characterized by a "profound sense of frustration and abandonment." But in looking at the two groups, she found that the lack of human rights was "particularly acute in the occupied Palestinian territory."

"I left Gaza with a sense that the right of its people to their physical integrity - their right to life - was particularly imperiled," Arbour said.

She blamed much of the human rights problem in Gaza on the "policies and practices" relating to Israel's security measures, as well as the fiscal constraints imposed on the Palestinians by Israel and the international community.

France Authorizes Troops To Fire At Israeli Jets Over South Lebanon

2006-11-24T16:15:00.000-06:00

{hattip Terry scott American Palestinian New Generation}

Playfuls.com
French soldiers serving with the United Nations force in south Lebanon, who feel threatened by Israel Air Force (IAF) overflights, are permitted to shoot at Israeli aircraft, the Jerusalem Post daily reported Thursday, quoting "a high-ranking French military officer."

The French decision was conveyed several days after an Israel Defence Forces (IDF) general met French officials in Paris to explain why the IAF conducted the overflights in south Lebanon, in violation of a UN-brokered ceasefire which ended the fighting in the summer between Israel and Lebanese Hezbollah guerrillas.

The overflights over French positions have raised French hackles. On October 31, an IAF mock bombing run almost prompted the troops to launch anti-aircraft missiles.

Major-General Ido Nehushtan told his French counterparts in Paris that Israel was conducting the flights to collect intelligence on Hezbollah, which Israel has accused of also violating the UN ceasefire.

Haartez Anti-aircraft units of the French UN peacekeeping force took what they called "essential preparatory steps" when Israel Air Force jets flew low over south Lebanon on Friday, a spokesman said.

On October 31, Israeli fighter planes nose-dived repeatedly over French
peacekeepers' positions in southern Lebanon, French Defense Minister Michele Alliot-Marie told the French parliament on November 8 - when the incident became first became public.

"Our troops barely avoided a catastrophe," Alliot-Marie said.

The planes were "in attack position," a spokesman for the French general
staff, Captain Christophe Prazuck, told reporters. French troops responded by readying an anti-aircraft missile, and were seconds away from firing, he said.

Israel has regularly flown its military aircraft over Lebanon to monitor
Hezbollah movements and to stop alleged smuggling of weapons from Syria.

The flights have caused tension with Lebanon and the United Nations, which consider the flights a violation of the August cease-fire agreement.

The most outrageous comment I have ever read on the blogs

2006-11-24T13:20:00.000-06:00

The blogsphere is full of all kinds of people. I have witnessed craziness,hate statements,bigotry,and self righteous behavior. This one beats them all. Enjoy.

Iskandar Abdullah said...

I'm a Muslim but I do not see Keith Elisson as representative of Muslims, especially since he supports gay "marriages", abortion, and rejecting two sources of Syariah (islamic law) namely Quran and Hadith.

Keith refuses to support reviving the Islamic Caliphate that can unite the Ummah. The former Caliphate was the Ottoman Empire, whose capital was at Istanbul.

Thus, even if Keith wants an immediately pull out he only speaks for those Kufar who elected him and certainly not Muslims.

We Muslims support American invasion of Iraq that overthrew of the Christian dictator Saddam Hussein and his brother, Tareq Aziz. Saddam was a Jacobite (ie Coptic Orthodox) and Tareq Aziz was a Roman Catholic.

Today, Iraq has its first Muslim Prime Minister, Nuri al-Maliki who is from the Islamist-leaning United Iraqi Alliance.

Copts have no love for Islam and they are a godless people. We, Muslims have two enemies, Jews (Zionists) and Christians (Crusaders).

Copts despise Islam so much they refuse to vote for the Muslim Brotherhood and try to force secular dictatorships upon the Arab and Muslim people.

The day will come when Islam will be glorified and every Jew and Copt will convert to Islam.

7:18 PM

Update:- I got contacted by the Ikhwan (by e-mail)asking me to understand their political stance. This is getting more bizzare. Is someone playing a joke on me or what?

Thanksgiving

2006-11-22T21:06:00.000-06:00

History of thanksgiving.

This is thanksgiving now

Jad Choueiri

2006-11-17T20:08:00.000-06:00

Oh well!

UCLA student tasered by Police in California for not showing ID

2006-11-17T17:51:00.000-06:00

Daily Bruin

Watch the video

CPD officers shot a student several times with a Taser inside the Powell Library CLICC computer lab late Tuesday night before taking him into custody.

No university police officers were available to comment further about the incident as of 3 a.m. Wednesday, and no Community Service Officers who were on duty at the time could be reached.

At around 11:30 p.m., CSOs asked a male student using a computer in the back of the room to leave when he was unable to produce a BruinCard during a random check. The student did not exit the building immediately.

The CSOs left, returning minutes later, and police officers arrived to escort the student out. By this time the student had begun to walk toward the door with his backpack when an officer approached him and grabbed his arm, at which point the student told the officer to let him go. A second officer then approached the student as well.

The student began to yell "get off me," repeating himself several times.

It was at this point that the officers shot the student with a Taser for the first time, causing him to fall to the floor and cry out in pain. The student also told the officers he had a medical condition.

UCPD officers confirmed that the man involved in the incident was a student, but did not give a name or any additional information about his identity.

Video shot from a student's camera phone captured the student yelling, "Here's your Patriot Act, here's your fucking abuse of power," while he struggled with the officers.

As the student was screaming, UCPD officers repeatedly told him to stand up and said "stop fighting us." The student did not stand up as the officers requested and they shot him with the Taser at least once more.

"It was the most disgusting and vile act I had ever seen in my life," said David Remesnitsky, a 2006 UCLA alumnus who witnessed the incident.

As the student and the officers were struggling, bystanders repeatedly asked the police officers to stop, and at one point officers told the gathered crowd to stand back and threatened to use a Taser on anyone who got too close.

Laila Gordy, a fourth-year economics student who was present in the library during the incident, said police officers threatened to shoot her with a Taser when she asked an officer for his name and his badge number.

Gordy was visibly upset by the incident and said other students were also disturbed.

"It's a shock that something like this can happen at UCLA," she said. "It was unnecessary what they did."

Immediately after the incident, several students began to contact local news outlets, informing them of the incident, and Remesnitsky wrote an e-mail to Interim Chancellor Norman Abrams.

Special dedication to Sandmonkey and his loser republican crowd

2006-11-09T15:57:00.000-06:00

DEMOCRATS WON THE SENATE AND SWEPT THE NATION!

2006-11-09T15:01:00.000-06:00

Democrats seal US Senate victory

Former Republican Senator George Allen
Mr Allen had been tipped as a future presidential contender
Republican George Allen has admitted defeat in the Virginia race for the US Senate, sealing Democratic mid-term victories in both houses of Congress.

"The people of Virginia have spoken and I respect their decision," Mr Allen told a crowd of supporters.

He confirmed the victory of his opponent, Jim Webb, giving Democrats a 51-49 majority in the Senate.

The Democrats had already captured the House of Representatives in Tuesday's US mid-term elections.

The Independent cover page

2006-11-09T08:09:00.000-06:00

Democrats got the Senate AP reports!!!!!

2006-11-08T20:22:00.000-06:00

DEMS GOT THE SENATE

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Democrats wrested control of the Senate from Republicans Wednesday with an upset victory in Virginia, giving the party complete domination of Capitol Hill for the first time since 1994.

Jim Webb's squeaker win over incumbent Sen. George Allen gave Democrats their 51st seat in the Senate, an astonishing turnabout at the hands of voters unhappy with Republican scandal and unabated violence in Iraq. Allen was the sixth Republican incumbent senator defeated in Tuesday's elections.

The Senate had teetered at 50 Democrats, 49 Republicans for most of Wednesday, with Virginia hanging in the balance. Webb's victory ended Republican hopes of eking out a 50-50 split, with Vice President Dick Cheney wielding tie-breaking authority.

The Associated Press contacted election officials in all 134 localities where voting occurred, obtaining updated numbers Wednesday. About half the localities said they had completed their postelection canvassing and nearly all had counted outstanding absentees. Most were expected to be finished by Friday.

The new AP count showed Webb with 1,172,538 votes and Allen with 1,165,302, a difference of 7,236. Virginia has had two statewide vote recounts in modern history, but both resulted in vote changes of no more than a few hundred votes.

An adviser to Allen, speaking on condition of anonymity because his boss had not formally decided to end the campaign, said the senator wanted to wait until most of canvassing was completed before announcing his decision, possibly as early as Thursday evening.

The adviser said that Allen was disinclined to request a recount if the final vote spread was similar to that of election night.

The victory puts Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., in line to become Senate majority leader. He has led the Democrats since Tom Daschle, D-S.D., was defeated two years ago.

Good Riddance Rummy!

2006-11-08T12:22:00.000-06:00

Rumsfeld Good Riddance........Bush is speaking live and he is pissed off pretty bad! Last week he said Rummy is staying till the end of his term. Today he says he was looking for replacement. HUH?! How many people needs to die before Rumsfeld go Mr. Bush?

Chris from Maine posted this comment on America blog:-

bush is going to vietnam next week?

well only about 40 years too late, but oh well.

Did anyone hear from Dick and Mary since the hunting trip on election day?

Today is a good day and it keeps getting better.

Madam speaker of the house Nancy Pelosi have spoken

2006-11-08T09:40:00.000-06:00

The American people voted to restore integrity and honesty in Washington, D.C., and the Democrats intend to lead the most honest, most open and most ethical congress in history. The American people voted for a new direction for a fairer economy, and Democrats intend to work for an economy where all Americans participate in the prosperity of our great country.

And nowhere did the American people make it more clear that we need a new direction than in the war in Iraq. “Stay the course” has not made our country safer, has not honored our commitment to our troops, and has not made the region more stable. We cannot continue down this catastrophic path. And so we say to the President, “Mr. President, we need a new direction in Iraq.”

Bring the troops home!

First Muslim Congressman elected

2006-11-08T08:39:00.000-06:00

Keith Ellison, a Democrat, has become the first Muslim to be elected to the US Congress by winning a Minnesota seat in the House of Representatives.

And here is what Congressman Allison says,Mr Ellison urged an immediate pullout of US troops from Iraq finally a voice to represent muslims in the Congress.

Israel the terrorist state kills 18 Palestinians and the gay parade is still on in Jerusalem

2006-11-08T08:15:00.000-06:00

BEIT HANOUN, Gaza Strip - Israeli tank shells ripped through a residential neighborhood in the northern Gaza Strip early Wednesday, killing at least 18 members of an extended family, including eight children, and wounding dozens of others, Palestinian health officials said. Boston Herald

'Profoundly shocking'
The European Union's External Relations Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner
expressed shock on Wednesday at the killing of the Palestinians.

"The killing this morning of so many civilians in Gaza, including many children, is a profoundly shocking event," she said in a statement.

"Israel has a right to defend itself, but not at the price of the lives of the innocent," she said, and called for the "utmost restraint" from Israel and the Palestinians.

The deaths bring to 5 553 the number of people killed since the outbreak of the Palestinian uprising in September 2000, the vast majority of them Palestinians, according to an Agence France-Presse count. - Sapa-AFP

Go democrats Go!

2006-11-07T18:23:00.000-06:00

Can't wait for the results! Go home republicans we had enough!

UpdateI:-America Blog is in Tryst cafe in DC giving us updates. Tryst is the place to be for the slumber party. I envy you guys!

UpdateII:- Results

Update III:- DEMS WIN HOUSE Can't wait to see Bush addressing Madam speaker Nancy Pelosi.

This comment got me laughing hard someone is reading my mind.

"Madam Speaker.....

I rise this morning.....

SIT your fat arse DOWN!"

Bush is having a press conference at 1:00 tomorrow and he is "very disappointed." LOL!

Ten types of Republicans

2006-11-07T15:26:00.000-06:00

I can't stop laughing watching this. Enjoy!

Free Abdel Kareem Egyptian blogger

2006-11-07T12:40:00.000-06:00

Egyptian authorities needs to adopt the freedom of speech concept before claiming democracy. Abdel Karim story is here. Please help spread the word and sign the petition to help Karim fight for his basic rights as an Egyptian citizen.

Update:- My support to free Abdel Kareem is not in anyway agreeing with his views about Islam.

Hate from Little Green Football

2006-10-25T10:15:00.000-05:00

Due to hate messages from Little Green Football fans. Moderation is on. Sorry guys, hopefully the blog will be hate free again soon.

"My name is Rachel Corrie" Minetta Lane Theater, NY

2006-10-18T18:41:00.000-05:00

I was very glad to hear today that "My name is Rachel Corrie" is playing in the Minetta Lane Theater in NY. If you don't know who Rachel Corrie is please check her Memorial site. The play caused a battle in N.Y. and London where My Name Is RACHEL CORRIE was originally produced to great acclaim by the Royal Court Theater. Many tried to stop the production in N.Y.

The Jewish community tried to stop the play in N.Y.

But shortly before it was to open (March 22), NYTW artistic director Jim Nicola backed away, saying that after talking to “members of the Jewish community” and finding “there was a strong possibility that a number of factions, on all sides of a political conflict, would use the play as a platform to promote their own agendas,” the theater needed more time to better “contextualize” the play.

Rachel Corrie was a 23-year-old American peace activist from Olympia, Washington, who was crushed to death by an Israeli bulldozer on 16 March 2003, while undertaking nonviolent direct action to protect the home of a a Palestinian doctor, his wife, and three children from demolition. Since her killing, an enormous amount of solidarity activities have been carried out in her name around the world.

Picture taken between 3:00-4:00PM on 16 March 2003, Rafah, Occupied Gaza. A clearly marked Rachel Corrie, holding a megaphone, confronts the driver of one of two Israeli bulldozers in the area that were attempting to demolish a Palestinian homes. She was confronting the bulldozer in order to disrupt its work, and prevent it from threatening any homes. Photo by Joseph Smith. (ISM Handout)

Picture taken at 4:45PM on 16 March 2003, Rafah, Occupied Gaza. Other peace activists tend to Rachel after she was fatally injured by the driver of the Israeli bulldozer (in background). This photo was taken seconds after the bulldozer driver dragged his blade over her for the second time while reversingback over her body. He lifted the blade as seen in the photo only after he had dragged it back over Rachel's body. This image clearly shows that had he lifted his blade at any time he may have avoided killing her, as the bottom section of the bulldozer is raised off the ground. Photo by Richard Purssell. (ISM Handout)

Rest in peace Rachel!

Edward Said 1935-2003

2006-10-18T03:10:00.000-05:00

Republican Congressman accused of corruption by the F.B.I.

2006-10-17T20:47:00.000-05:00

F.B.I. Searches Home of Congressman’s Daughter.

F.B.I. agents searched four homes and other locations in the vicinity of Philadelphia and two other sites near Jacksonville, Fla., as the part of the inquiry. Debbie Weierman, a spokeswoman for the bureau’s Washington office, confirmed the searches, but would not say why the locations were searched.

Mr. Weldon’s residence and his Congressional office were not among the locations that were examined, but other law enforcement officials said Mr. Weldon was the subject of a growing corruption inquiry. Affidavits citing why agents wanted to carry out the searches were sealed.

Request to God!

2006-10-15T16:26:00.000-05:00

Please God, protect my lovely country and the Egyptian people from this guy and end the suffering of Egyptians on the hands of dictators.

Police accuse Israeli president of Rape

2006-10-15T14:36:00.000-05:00

JERUSALEM, Oct 15 (Reuters) - Israel said on Sunday its police force had acquired evidence suggesting President Moshe Katsav had raped and molested women who worked for him.

In a joint statement capping weeks of investigations, Israel's Justice Ministry and national police said: "There is prima facie evidence of a number of incidents in which several women who worked under his authority were involved, that the president carried out sex crimes of rape, sexual molestation by force and without consent."

Katsav was also suspected of "a violation of a law against eavesdropping", it said, summing up findings presented by a team of police investigators.

But the scandal adds to a list of events that have darkened the mood in Israel, where a cabinet minister has been indicted for a forced kiss

Qahwa Sada

2006-10-15T14:08:00.000-05:00

I was glad to read about Qahwa Sada. Best wishes to the team for a successful Political analysis,with a cup of Qahwa Sada. Read there mission statement here.

Why a new blog-journal by Middle East experts? Because Middle East studies specialists have a phenomenal amount of quality knowledge about the Arab and Islamic world: deep knowledge about the history of the region, detailed empirical knowledge of political and social trends, sophisticated theoretical insights into their meaning. Many are out there in the region, seeing things happen and talking to people over a sustained period of time. But they often have trouble getting that knowledge out into the public realm. Part of the problem is that there just aren't nearly enough of the right kind of outlets. Academic journals are not well suited to getting information and analysis out to a wide public, and many have yet to adapt to the internet era. Blogs are wonderful, but not everyone wants one or has the time to run one. The op-ed pages are a crapshoot. MERIP and the Arab Reform Bulletin can't do it all on their own. That means that debate is too often dominated by people with, shall we say, a less empirically rich or theoretically sophisticated understanding of the region.

what happens in Palestine stays in Palestine

2006-10-15T13:39:00.000-05:00

One of my favirote bloggers is Energy Crisis Now. I asked his permission to borrow this poster. Whenever I look at it I ask myself this question. Why America did not consider bombing an American Energy Plant by Israel in Gaza as an act of war? Causing a severe humanitarian crisis obviously doesn't matter. Wouldn't the administration care for our tax money? Or is Pampering Israel the slut of America is more important than the citizens of America's money.

Bono and Zidane

2006-10-15T13:11:00.000-05:00

Today I will finally give in and buy a Red ipod. Maybe a Red Moto too!.

Nobel Peace Prize winner Muhammad Yunus invites Zidane to open a new food manufacturing project.

Mommy I'm tired

2006-10-09T22:27:00.000-05:00

Photo credit; Daddy

Domestic Priorities, where do our kids fit in?

2006-10-08T10:26:00.000-05:00

The budget is about $2.7 trillion. Try counting that high at a rate of 2 million per hour and report back in 10, 000 years. Here are some highlights. VERY BRIEF excerpts from the Washington Post.

Y 2007 Budget Proposal: Agency-by-Agency Breakdown

The $2.77 trillion budget plan emphasizes spending on the country’s fight against terrorism, while deeply cutting domestic programs. 141 domestic programs will be reduced.

The growth in defense spending has slowed compared with earlier this decade, suggesting the defense buildup that began in 1999 and accelerated in the aftermath of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks is winding down.

Department of Education. The $63 billion budget eliminates 42 programs — including parent-resource centers, vocational programs and drug-free schools.

Department of Energy. The department budget is essentially flat. The budget adds money to research some alternative fuel technology. Environmental groups said the funding increases are insufficient.

Department of Health & Human Services. Bush is requesting a $58 billion increase for Health and Human Services, bringing total budget authority to $698 billion.

Two mandatory programs — Medicare and Medicaid — consume 84 percent of the HHS budget. The administration aims to squeeze $36 billion out of Medicare over the next five years, by cutting hospital payments, establishing competitive bidding for lab services and increasing premiums.

Department of Homeland Security. The president proposes increasing the Department of Homeland Security’s budget of $31 billion for fiscal 2007, by $177 million. Homeland Security would spend $869 million to add 1,500 border patrol agents and 6,700 detention bed spaces. Congress requires adding 2,000 agents per year.

Department of Interior. This department would face a nearly 3 percent cut. $100 million would be cut from the current national parks budget, putting funding for national parks at $2.16 billion. The programs that would lose the most money include land acquisition, construction and maintenance.

Department of Justice. The administration wants to cut department spending by $1.5 billion for a total of $19.5 billion. [source]

A 6 year old shoots his schoolmate. First-grader? carries a gun to school in Mount Morris, Michigan and kills his schoolmate? Here is a very disturbing list of the school shootings since 1996.In Deming, New Mexico a 13 year old girl shot dead by her schoolmate who shot her in the back of her head. A 13 year old boy doesn't know why he shot his schoolmates in Fort Gibson, Oklahoma. In Pearl, Mississippi 2 killed 7 wounded; West Paducah, Kentucky3 killed 5 wounded; Jonesboro, Arkansas 5 Killed 10 wounded and Springfield, Oregon 1 killed 25 wounded. Conyers, Georgia 6 injured.The Columbine high school massacre Littleton, Colorado 15 Killed 24 wounded

Let us examine a fact sheet about Colorado gun law :-

State of Colorado Firearm Laws

* No licensing or registration requirements related to firearm purchase or possession.

* No waiting period for purchase of handguns, shotguns, or rifles.

* Handgun possession by persons less than 18 years of age is a misdemeanor. Exemptions from the prohibition on handgun possession by persons less than 18 years of age exist for attendance at a hunter's or firearms safety course, target practice at a shooting range, and other similar activities.

* It is a felony for any person to knowingly or recklessly provide a handgun to any person less than 18 years of age.

* It is a felony for any parent or guardian to knowingly or recklessly provide a handgun to a juvenile when that parent is aware that a substantial risk exists that such juvenile will use the handgun to commit a felony. Any parent aware of such a risk has a duty to make reasonable efforts to prevent the commission of the offense.

* There are no age restrictions related to possession of rifles or shotguns.

Will our children and society be more protected now that our Congress has authorized an even larger military budget?

Latest news about Republican congressman sex scandal

2006-10-04T23:18:00.000-05:00

Disgraceful sex scandal of a Republican congressman Mark Foley who was having internet sex with a young intern (teenager). The scandal is elevating to a much higher level in the congress of the United States of America. Ex-Aide says House Speaker J. Dennis Hastert's office at least three years ago.

I had more than one conversation with senior staff at the highest levels of the House of Representatives, asking them to intervene when I was informed of Mr. Foley's inappropriate behavior

What does Bush say?

President Bush came to Hastert's defense, praising him as a father, teacher and coach "who cares about children. ... I know he wants the facts to come out."

I will leave my readers to judge our president whom God speaks through him.

Goodnight!

Tante Angeel and Co.

2006-10-04T19:52:00.000-05:00

Advocates of the Coptic Christians in Egypt often voice their one-sided views of the religious intolerance of Muslims towards the Copts and ignore the religious bigotry towards Muslims rooted in Coptic society in Egypt.

Let me tell you about my childhood neighbor in Egypt, Tante Angeel ("Auntie Angel.") Tante Angeel was a very old Christian Coptic Orthodox spinster who lived in the building across from us. Tante Angeel was a very famous character in our neighborhood. In the Coptic society there are many Tante Angeels, but poor Tante Angeel herself is the victim of my story. She is now deceased so let me start by saying God bless her soul and forgive her.

Tante Angeel was Islamophobic. You would often hear her fighting with various Muslims around her. She fought with her porter and ran down the stairs with her broom to beat the Muslim kids who would play under her balcony. It was not strange to hear Tante Angeel yelling her lungs out if she discovers that the taxi driver that came to pick her up to go to church was Muslim. Yes! Tante Angeel asks taxi drivers if they were Muslims or not, and if they turned out to be, watch out, as the fight would start and the curses would fly.

Tante Angeel comes from a very prestigious and rooted Coptic background. Tante Angeel liked me very much as a child (I'm Christian of course) She was so pleasant when she wanted to and very religious and kind to all Christians around her. Tante Angeel is not the only one in my neighborhood that disliked Muslims. There were many relatives and friends of Tante Angeel that felt the same but chose to be quiet about it.

As a kid when I went to the Coptic church, Abouna (the priest) would hint about how sheikhs can be easily challenged by Coptic priests about their faith and how their religion is false. The topic of our Sunday school lesson or youth group discussions would have nothing to do with Islam but on many occasions this topic had to be brought up. When I went to church I found many old (very old) ladies like Tante Angeel that would spout hate towards Muslims even while they were still in church.

The only picture I posted on this entry is the old flag of Egypt. The three stars are symbols of Christianity, Islam, and Judaism under the state of Egypt. It represents a religious tolerance in older Egypt that has since disappeared...

Despite the phenomenon of Tante Angeel and Co., my grandmother, mother,and many others from the old generation happily existed with Muslims. My mother recalls a great environment of tolerance in her generation that we need to recreate today.

Fifteen favorite things

2006-10-03T19:18:00.000-05:00

I was tagged by Ha Ana Za to share my fifteen favorite things and here they are:-

Felluca ride in upper Egypt where the nile meets the green farm fields

Japanese tea garden, San Francisco, CA

Sashimi, Sushi, and Sake

US virgin Islands, St. John

Jelaluddin Rumi poetry

Khan El-Khalili, Cairo, Egypt

Nutcracker Ballet

Kawkab Al-Sharq Um Kalthoum

Good cup of Italian coffee

Qanoon and Oud

Azza Fahmy Jewelry

The life of Queen Elizabeth(1533-1603), Award winning movie Elizabeth 1998

Christmas tree in NY

Yoga

Chocolate Raspberry

I would like to tag Carmen,The Libyan Queen,Leilouta,and Jannah.

Shame on Israel!

2006-09-28T18:08:00.000-05:00

Graffiti in Hebron, 28 Dec 2002; by Christian Peacemaker Teams.

Child holds a sign during a demonstration Jerusalem; April 14, 2004. (Enrique Marti/Associated Press)

Graffiti in Jerusalem ("Arabs to the Crematoria") by Shabtai Gold for Haaretz.

Trophy photos

IDF soldiers stand guard as a Palestinian man and his daughters watch an Israeli bulldozer demolish their house (An-nahar, 20 Jan 2004).

"A photograph of a Palestinian boy tied to an Israeli police jeep has been handed to justice officials charged with investigating complaints over the use of "human shields" against demonstrators.

Sixteen-year-old Fadi Sharha of Dura, used as a human shield after being arrested by Israeli soldiers during a clash with Palestinian youths in Hebron. Photo: Nayef Hashlamoun, and B'Tselem.

6th Anniversary of Intifada

2006-09-28T16:10:00.000-05:00

Cyrine Abd Al-Nour

2006-09-27T14:16:00.000-05:00

I left Egypt in 1985 and my family and I didn't consider installing a satellite dish until recently. I was very shocked at the musical videos and their explicit nature. There were a few times where I had to blink and rub my eyes to believe what I saw. I think I'm the only one in the M.E. or maybe the world who doesn't think that Haifa Wehbe is attractive or talented. Her raccoon make-up and glassy eyes makes her look like she died thirty years ago before taking this picture. Even Nancy Ajram with her innocent and playful look, didn't convince me of her talent.

A month or so ago I came across this music video of a Lebanese singer with the name Cyrine Abd Al-Nour. After watching I could see how she is different. She is very attractive with little make-up and knew how to draw the line between sexy and cheap. The lyrics are matching the theme of the video which many arab singers neglect. The clothes were perfect, the scenery and the dance were suitable and she had a very passionate look on her face which helped her video to stand out.

Watch it yourself so you know what I mean ( If you can't view it on my blog due to blogger tech. difficulty you can watch it here)

Christian Palestinians leaving Jerusalem

2006-09-27T14:14:00.000-05:00

Salah Al-Dien (American Palestinian new generation) writes:-

Contrary to what might be reported in US papers about Israel being friendly to Christian visitors, there is deep hatred among Israeli Jews towards Christianity. The Jewish aversion to Christ is so strong that our very name "Christ-ian," is disavowed in the Hebrew language. We are called "Notzrim" in Hebrew which refers to "Natzeret" (Nazareth), not Christ, or even the birthplace of Christ. In Arabic however, the word for Christian is "Masee'hi" which is Messiah, or one who follows the Messiah.

In Israel, Churches are shot at, defecated in, pillaged, and denied construction permits if repairs are needed. There are no new churches being built. The crucifixes in Christian cemeteries are broken and graves are shat on [see outstanding resource that documents these events, Jerusalemites.org]. The birthplace of Jesus in Bethlehem continues to be a target for Israeli mortars and bullets, most dramatically witnessed several years ago, but also a few days ago when Israeli troops shot and killed a 14-year old Palestinian boy in Manger Square.

Educated Palestinian Christians have left Jerusalem and other cities of Palestine to study abroad often to never return to a country that treats them as second-class citizens or criminals. One of my family members struggled as an Arab at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem. Academically he had no problem as we was extremely bright, but socially he was ostracized and felt like a stranger in his own country, so he too left his homeland and will never return. Its a shame, a real shame because now only 2% of Palestine is Christian. In Jerusalem itself, when once the city was a majority Christian, that number is now around 5,0000 indiginous Arab Christians.

The only deformed version of Christianity that is palatable to the Israelis is a strange fundamentalist and apocaplytic interpretation of Christianity that is sold on TV to desperately lost souls by the Jerry Falwells and Co. In fact, so self-effacing are these un-Christlike "Christians" towards Jews that they have reinterpreted the very words of Christ himself in the New Testament in which it is said:

"For there is one God and one mediator between God and Man, the man Christ Jesus." (1 Tim. 2:5)

"Jesus answered... 'No one comes to the Father except through me.'" (John 14:6b)

Jerry Falwell was reported to have accepted TV Evangelist's John Hagee's "dual covenant" theory that has makes exception to Christ being the pathway to salvation. Later denying this, they originally were reported to have asserted that Jews are given "a special pathway" to God via the Old Testament and may bypass Jesus Christ. Apparently this strange nonsense was a joint venture of John Hagee and Rabbi Aryeh Scheinberg, whose Cornerstone Church and Rodfei Sholom congregations are Texas-based.

Pope Benedict would be a better servant to his Master to correct this incredible folly of by addressing the painfully lost Christian Right in particular the so-called Christian Zionists who have increasingly asserted their political clout with both the White House and Congress by vocalizing support for Israel. Rather than creating new controversy with Islam--which at least recognizes the person of Jesus Christ--the Vatican ought to preserve what little is left of true Christianity in that special land we call Terra Sancta. The face of Christianity in the Holy Land will be a kosherized one, acceptable to Jews and their rabbis, erased of historical and ecumenical meaning, subservient to Zionism and the Jewish people. This is not my Christianity.

Some Links:
http://www.sabeel.org/etemplate.php?id=17
http://www.pfo.org/jonhagee.htm
http://www.antiwar.com/utley/?articleid=9456
http://www.mediatransparency.org/story.php?storyID=116
http://www.ameu.org/printer.asp?iid=98&aid=140
http://www.doublestandards.org/halsell1.html

Flowers and plants of Ancient Egypt

2006-09-26T19:49:00.000-05:00

Lotus (water lily) and Papyrus, symbolizing Upper and Lower Egypt. The Egyptians used to sing for their lotus, they had a feast for lotus

Water lilies open in the morning and close again at night. This was probably the reason that the ancient Egyptians saw in them an image of rebirth and regeneration, important concepts in their religion

To the Egyptians, the papyrus became the symbol of fertility and life itself

They were given as gifts of love and worship, to lovers and gods

Ancient Egyptians were the first to recognize their "national plant"

Ancient Egyptians adored fresh floral arrangements, but were also one of, if not the first civilizations to immortalize them as artificial flowers made from durable materials

Ahlan Ramadan

2006-09-22T23:13:00.000-05:00

Ramadan in Egypt is very special and the fanous (lantern) has many memories in my childhood. May this Ramadan be spiritual, peaceful, and joyful to all my Muslim readers and friends. Let us hope that during the fasting month people will remember the poor around the world.

Hopefully during the month of Ramadan I will have the chance to reminisce and post about my experience as a Christian in Egypt in the month of Ramadan.

Happy Ramadan.

God does NOT speak through you Mr. Bush !

2006-09-20T13:36:00.000-05:00

On July 9, 2004 Mr. Bush visited the offices of the Lapp Electric Service plant in Smoketown, Pennsylvania. Mr. Bush was talking to a group of about 60 local Amish, one of whom had made a quilt for the visiting President. Mr. Bush shook a few hands, tried on a straw hat, and then made his announcement to the small crowd. “I trust God speaks through me. Without that, I couldn’t do my job.

The best reply I can muster for Mr. Bush was already eloquently stated in a 2004 article in CommonDreams.org by Karen Cobb. I am paraphrasing the majority of it here with my own images.

"I was told in Sunday school the word "Christian" means to be Christ-like, but the message I hear daily on the airwaves from the “christian ” media are words of war, violence, and aggression............. I hear church goers call in to radio programs and explain that it was a mistake not to kill every living thing in Fallujah. They quote chapter and verse from the old testament about smiting the enemies of Israel. The fear of fighting the terrorists on our soil rather than across the globe causes the voices to be raised as they justify the latest prison scandal or other accounts of the horrors of war . The words they speak are words of destruction, aggression, dominance, revenge, fear and arrogance. The host and the callers echo the belief in the righteousness of our nation's killing. There are reminders to pray for our “Christian” president who is doing the work of the Lord: Right to Life, Second Amendment, sanctity of marriage, welfare reform, war, kill, evil liberals. . . so much to fight, so much to destroy."

"Let me tell you about the Christ I know. He was conceived by an unmarried woman. He was not born into a family of privilege. He was a radical. He said, “It was said an eye for and eye and a tooth of a tooth, but now I say love your enemies and bless those who curse you.” He said, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God.” (Matthew 5: 3-9) He said, “All those who are called by my name will enter the kingdom of heaven." He said, "People will know true believers if they have the fruit of the spirit--love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, self control."

"He knew he would be led like a sheep to the slaughter. He responded with “Father forgive them.“ He explained that in Christ there is neither Jew nor gentile, slave or free male nor female. He explained that even to be angry is akin to murder. He said the temple of God is not a building, but is in the hearts of those are called by his name. He was called "the Prince of Peace." His final days were spent in prayer, so that he could endure what was set before him, not on how he could overpower the evil government of that day. When they came for him he was led away and didn’t resist his death sentence."

"I cringe as many christians vote for policies that deny help to the poor in our own county, who vote to support the war and military strength, assuring the latest weapons are developed and that the heavens will be dominated by the military of the United States. We develop electromagnetic weapons to shatter skulls , split the earth and silently destroy a body as a thief in the night. Studies are even now searching for the frequencies to override the freewill. These unbelievable technologies are a reality and DNA specific weapons can or soon will target a specific nationality.I weep as the waters Jesus walked on become contaminated with uranium. I grieve as the missiles fly through the atmosphere on the continent where Jesus rose into the sky, defying death and the grave and where the Holy Sprit first descended. I cry out at the horrors of war and the indignity of the prisons so close to where He took captivity captive. So I am no longer a Christian if Christianity has become what is presented to us by our Christian president and Christian media. I cannot support the right of the United States and Israel to develop and use the most heinous weapons ever imagined. I want no part of a temple built on the blood of the innocent. The sheep have been lead astray by the teachings of prosperity and misinterpretation of the final battle between good and evil. Many no longer can recognize the voice of the good Shepherd."

"Even the wrathful jealous God of the old testament spared whole cities for a few righteous souls. For Christians, to support mass killings as a way to prevent future deaths is not at all like Christ. He would not say,"When I am talking about war I am really talking about peace," like the self professed Christian President proudly states. Who but God has the right to determine what price a people should pay for their freedom? The religious leaders on the airwaves today respond to the voices of the few brave peacemakers who dare to speak out. They say that pacifism is insane, and that it doesn’t make sense, but what is forgotten is that logic and faith are separate entities. I believe in the example of Jesus and his admonition to love your enemies and bless those who curse you . Do I understand how this works on the global scale? Do I know what Jesus would say to all the world’s leaders? No, nor do I totally understand how the example of Christ’s life and his message of love works in the world today. That’s why I need faith. Am I always correct in my assessments and actions? No, that’s why I need grace. Am I brave and unafraid? No, that’s why I need the perfect love that casts out fear. Some put trust in Chariots and some in horses but I will remember the name of the lord our God--the Prince of Peace. Perhaps politics has no place for imitators of Christ."

"Who will show the face of Christ to the world? Who will speak His radical message? I hear from these so called imitators of Christ that the pacifists are a collection of kids, hippies, socialists and communists who haven’t got a clue. Some of us, however, have come to our beliefs as a result of careful and prayerful study of the scriptures and admonishment from our elders. Many are Mennonite, Amish, Quaker and other Anabaptists, whose ancestors did not resist their torturers and were drowned, burnt at the stake and flogged for their pacifist stand. They truly followed the example of Christ, and their resistance against the catastrophic effects of the merging of church and state cost them a great price. Churches today have signed onto the government plan and have agreed to look the other way in exchange for tax free privileges. The true message of Christ still exists to some degree in the quiet of the land to peacemakers, but sadly these good people have been deceived by the angry words from a righteous sounding religious media majority broadcasting in cars and trucks and tractors all over our land ironically preaching the “good news of war for peace“ and convincing 24-7 “liberal“ bashing. I suspect there are many who share my sorrow at the loss of what it means to be Christ-like, but our voice is seldom heard. The blaring rhetoric drowns out the still small voice of the mighty God. Peace used be the opposite of war, Conservative used to mean the tendency to conserve resources. Liberal used to mean kind and generous, and Christian used to mean like Christ."

"So I am no longer a Christian but just a person who continues trying to follow the example of Christ. I’ll let him call me what he wants when I see him face to face. Until then, I will pray that someday people like me will be able to reclaim the meaning of Christ’s identity, and the world will see the effects of the radical message of Christ‘s love--the perfect love that casts out fear."

Article by Karen Cobb, No longer a Christian, October 25, 2004 by CommonDreams.org

RIP Fouad El Mohandes (1924-2006)

2006-09-19T14:57:00.000-05:00

Theatre remains the true vocation of this 'comprehensive artist'. From stinging satire to social criticism, pedagogy to pure parody, he has been making audiences laugh, think -- and feel -- for over 40 years.

Egyptians are known for their sense of humour -- for laughing loudly in the face of adversity. Laughter carries them through the hardest of times. If the ability to laugh is a talent, however, the ability to make people laugh even through their tears is a gift, and Fouad El-Mohandes is exceptionally gifted in that respect.

"I shall never forget the day when my mother came to attend the annual ceremony at school and saw me on stage doing a comic scene. She was so horrified by what I was doing that she shouted at me to get off the stage at once. Actually, I obeyed her," El-Mohandes recalls, laughing.

Even as a child, El-Mohandes was aware of this magnetic power of his: he could draw people in and make them laugh with almost frightening ease.

Fouad and Shwikar, as she is now known, were married in 1963, and their work together yielded one of the most successful artistic partnerships in the Arab world. She was the quintessential coquette of the 1960s; he was the man tortured by the love of this pretty and difficult woman.

"It is only natural that my heart should begin to suffer. I have often lived with my heart, rather than my mind." Fouad El Mohandes says

Goodbye A'mmo Fouad!

Photos credit(www.videohat.com)
Comments by Ahmed Bahgat Al-Ahram Weekly

The Bourne Identity or The Bourne Supremacy you pick! Israeli espionage in the US, Part I

2006-09-17T22:07:00.000-05:00

Intense tone, strong mystery, very well constructed plot, and free from the usual thriller nonsense. Those were few terms used by critics to review both movies. The star(S) of my post today are not the cool, stylish, European-influenced, or the attractive Matt Damon (sorry Matt, I promise to dedicate another post to you).

The people I want to write about today are not the spies and counterspies from the same team working together for the same country (like the movies I referred to), I'm writing about dangerous major espionage events against the United States of America from the so called "strongest ally and friend" Israel.

The extensive Israeli espionage with it's dark and dangerous nature never once shook our society. Americans can't realize that those activities needs attention from the current (and even previous) administrations. There was no war launched, no economic sanctions, no references to Israel being a threat to our national security or an enemy to the United States. On the contrary we are seeing more support from the current administration to the traitors of our country.

During my research I came across hundreds of sites like, #1, #2, #3, #4, #5, and#6, that provide compelling evidence of the danger of the Israeli spy networks in the most crucial and sensitive American entities.

I decided to shed some light on these event in two parts. The news is not a mainstream-media big event as reporters actually dread to write about such topics because it can become an assaination to their career. The investigations of such crime are rarely complete.

Here are some news links, quotes, and references to some of the most dangerous espionage (different than spying since it includes Governement).

Let us start by those two sites whatreallyhappened.com and CounterPunch.org.

1947. Information collected by the ADL in its spy operations on US citizens is used by the House Select Committee on Unamerican Activities. Subcommittee Chair Clare Hoffman dismisses the ADL’s reports on suspected communists as “hearsay."

1950 John Davitt, former chief of the Justice Department's internal security section notes that the Israeli intelligence service is the second most active in the United States after the Soviets.

1954 A hidden microphone planted by the Israelis is discovered in the Office of the US Ambassador in Tel Aviv.

1956 Telephone taps are found connected to two telephones in the residence of the US military attaché in Tel Aviv.

1954 "The Lavon Affair". Israeli agents recruit Egyptian citizens of Jewish descent to bomb Western targets in Egypt, and plant evidence to frame Arabs, in an apparent attempt to upset US-Egyptian relations. Israeli defense minister Pinchas Lavon is eventually removed from office, though many think real responsibility lay with David Ben-Gurion.

1965 Israel apparently illegally obtains enriched uranium from NUMEC Corporation. (Washington Post, 6/5/86, Charles R. Babcock, "US an Intelligence Target of the Israelis, Officials Say.")

1970 While working for Senator Henry “Scoop” Jackson, Richard Perle is caught by the FBI giving classified information to Israel. Nothing is done.

1978, Stephen Bryen, then a Senate Foreign Relations Committee staffer, is overheard in a DC hotel offering confidential documents to top Israeli military officials.

1979 Shin Beth [the Israeli internal security agency] tries to penetrate the US Consulate General in Jerusalem through a “Honey Trap”, using a clerical employee who was having an affair with a Jerusalem girl.

1985 The New York Times reports the FBI is aware of at least a dozen incidents in which American officials transferred classified information to the Israelis, quoting [former Assistant Director of the F.B.I.] Mr. [Raymond] Wannal. The Justice Department does not prosecute.

1985 Richard Smyth, the owner of MILCO, is indicted on charges of smuggling nuclear timing devices to Israel (Washington Post, 10/31/86).

1987 April 24 Wall Street Journal headline: "Role of Israel in Iran-Contra Scandal Won't be Explored in Detail by Panels"

1992 The Wall Street Journal reports that Israeli agents apparently tried to steal Recon Optical Inc's top-secret airborne spy-camera system.

1992 "The Samson Option," by Seymour M. Hersh reports, “Illicitly obtained intelligence was flying so voluminously from LAKAM into Israeli intelligence that a special code name, JUMBO, was added to the security markings already on the documents. There were strict orders, Ari Ben-Menashe recalled: "Anything marked JUMBO was not supposed to be discussed with your American counterparts."

1992 Stephen Bryen, caught offering confidential documents to Israel in 1978, is serving on board of the pro-Israeli Jewish Institute for National Security Affairs while continuing as a paid consultant -- with security clearance -- on exports of sensitive US technology.

1993. The ADL is caught operating a massive spying operation on critics of Israel, Arab-Americans, the San Francisco Labor Council, ILWU Local 10, Oakland Educational Association, NAACP, Irish Northern Aid, International Indian Treaty Council, the Asian Law Caucus and the San Francisco police. Data collected was sent to Israel and in some cases to South Africa. Pressure from Jewish organizations forces the city to drop the criminal case, but the ADL settles a civil lawsuit for an undisclosed sum of cash.

1995 The Defense Investigative Service circulates a memo warning US military contractors that "Israel aggressively collects [US] military and industrial technology." The report stated that Israel obtains information using "ethnic targeting, financial aggrandizement, and identification and exploitation of individual frailties" of US citizens.

1996 A General Accounting Office report "Defense Industrial Security: Weaknesses in US Security Arrangements With Foreign-Owned Defense Contractors" found that according to intelligence sources "Country A" (identified by intelligence sources as Israel, Washington Times, 2/22/96) "conducts the most aggressive espionage operation against the United States of any US ally." The Jerusalem Post (8/30/96) quoted the report, "Classified military information and sensitive military technologies are high-priority targets for the intelligence agencies of this country." The report described "An espionage operation run by the intelligence organization responsible for collecting scientific and technologic information for [Israel] paid a US government employee to obtain US classified military intelligence documents." The Washington Report on Middle East Affairs (Shawn L. Twing, April 1996) noted that this was "a reference to the 1985 arrest of Jonathan Pollard, a civilian US naval intelligence analyst who provided Israel's LAKAM [Office of Special Tasks] espionage agency an estimated 800,000 pages of classified US intelligence information. The GAO report also noted that "Several citizens of [Israel] were caught in the United States stealing sensitive technology used in manufacturing artillery gun tubes.

1996 An Office of Naval Intelligence document, "Worldwide Challenges to Naval Strike Warfare" reported that "US technology has been acquired [by China] through Israel in the form of the Lavi fighter and possibly SAM [surface-to-air] missile technology." Jane's Defense Weekly (2/28/96) noted that "until now, the intelligence community has not openly confirmed the transfer of US technology [via Israel] to China." The report noted that this "represents a dramatic step forward for Chinese military aviation." (Flight International, 3/13/96)

1997 An Army mechanical engineer, David A. Tenenbaum, "inadvertently" gives classified military information on missile systems and armored vehicles to Israeli officials (New York Times, 2/20/97).

1997 The Washington Post reports US intelligence has intercepted a conversation in which two Israeli officials had discussed the possibility of getting a confidential letter that then-Secretary of State Warren Christopher had written to Palestinian leader Yasir Arafat. One of the Israelis, identified only as “Dov”, had commented that they may get the letter from "Mega”, the code name for Israel’s top agent inside the United States.

1997 US ambassador to Israel, Martin Indyk, complains privately to the Israeli government about heavy-handed surveillance by Israeli intelligence agents.

1997 Israeli agents place a tap on Monica Lewinsky’s phone at the Watergate and record phone sex sessions between her and President Bill Clinton. The Ken Starr report confirms that Clinton warned Lewinsky their conversations were being taped and ended the affair. At the same time, the FBI’s hunt for “Mega” is called off.

2001 It is discovered that US drug agents’ communications have been penetrated. Suspicion falls on two companies, AMDOCS and Comverse Infosys, both owned by Israelis. AMDOCS generates billing data for most US phone companies and is able to provide detailed logs of who is talking to whom. Comverse Infosys builds the tapping equipment used by law enforcement to eavesdrop on all American telephone calls, but suspicion forms that Comverse, which gets half of its research and development budget from the Israeli government, has built a back door into the system that is being exploited by Israeli intelligence and that the information gleaned on US drug interdiction efforts is finding its way to drug smugglers. The investigation by the FBI leads to the exposure of the largest foreign spy ring ever uncovered inside the United States, operated by Israel. Half of the suspected spies have been arrested when 9-11 happens. On 9-11, 5 Israelis are arrested for dancing and cheering while the World Trade Towers collapse. Supposedly employed by Urban Moving Systems, the Israelis are caught with multiple passports and a lot of cash. Two of them are later revealed to be Mossad. As witness reports track the activity of the Israelis, it emerges that they were seen at Liberty Park at the time of the first impact, suggesting a foreknowledge of what was to come. The Israelis are interrogated, and then eventually sent back to Israel. The owner of the moving company used as a cover by the Mossad agents abandons his business and flees to Israel. The United States Government then classifies all of the evidence related to the Israeli agents and their connections to 9-11. All of this is reported to the public via a four part story on Fox News by Carl Cameron. Pressure from Jewish groups, primarily AIPAC, forces Fox News to remove the story from their website. [WATCH THESE VIDEOS HERE] Two hours prior to the 9-11 attacks, Odigo, an Israeli company with offices just a few blocks from the World Trade Towers, receives an advance warning via the internet. The manager of the New York Office provides the FBI with the IP address of the sender of the message, but the FBI does not follow up.

2001 The FBI is investigating 5 Israeli moving companies as possible fronts for Israeli intelligence.

2001 JDL’s Irv Rubin arrested for planning to bomb a US Congressman. He dies before he can be brought to trial.

2002 The DEA issues a report that Israeli spies, posing as art students, have been trying to penetrate US Government offices.

2002 police near the Whidbey Island Naval Air Station in southern Washington State stop a suspicious truck and detain two Israelis, one of whom is illegally in the United States. The two men were driving at high speed in a Ryder rental truck, which they claimed had been used to "deliver furniture." The next day, police discovered traces of TNT and RDX military-grade plastic explosives inside the passenger cabin and on the steering wheel of the vehicle. The FBI then announces that the tests that showed explosives were “false positived” by cigarette smoke, a claim test experts say is ridiculous. Based on an alibi provided by a woman, the case is closed and the Israelis are handed over to INS to be sent back to Israel. One week later, the woman who provided the alibi vanishes.

2003 The Police Chief of Cloudcroft stops a truck speeding through a school zone. The drivers turn out to be Israelis with expired passports. Claiming to be movers, the truck contains junk furniture and several boxes. The Israelis are handed over to immigration. The contents of the boxers are not revealed to the public.

2003 Israel deploys assassination squads into other countries, including the United States. The US Government does not protest.

2004 Police near the Nuclear Fuel Services plant in Tennessee stop a truck after a three mile chase, during which the driver throws a bottle containing a strange liquid from the cab. The drivers turn out to be Israelis using fake Ids. The FBI refuses to investigate and the Israelis are released.

2004 Two Israelis try to enter Kings Bay Naval Submarine Base, home to eight Trident submarines. The truck tests positive for explosives.

This brings us to the present scandal. Two years into an investigation of AIPAC’s possible role as a spy front for Israel, Larry Franklin, a mid-level Pentagon Analyst is observed by the FBI giving classified information to two officials of AIPAC suspected of being Israeli spies. AIPAC hires lawyer Nathan Lewin to handle their legal defense, the same lawyer who defended suspected Israeli spy Stephen Bryen in 1978.

Larry Franklin worked in the Pentagon Office of Special Plans, run by Richard Perle, at the time Perle (who was caught giving classified information to Israel back in 1970) was insisting that Iraq was crawling with weapons of mass destruction requiring the United States to invade and conquer Iraq. There were no WMDs, of course, and Perle has dumped the blame for the “bad intelligence” on George Tenet. But what is known is that the Pentagon Office of Special Plans was coordinating with a similar group in Israel, in Ariel Sharon’s office.

With two suspected Israeli spies (at least) inside the office from which the lies that launched the war in Iraq originated, it appears that the people of the United States are the victims of a deadly hoax, a hoax that started a war.

The leaking of the investigation of AIPAC to the media on August 28th, 2004 gave advance warning to other spies working with Franklin. The damage to the FBI’s investigation was completed when United States Attorney General John Ashcroft ordered the FBI to stop all arrests in the case. Like the Stephen Bryen case and the hunt for “Mega”, this latest spy scandal seems destined by officials who have their own secret allegiances to protect, barring a massive public outcry.

End of Part I

If only pictures could talk (Palestinian Photographers 1880-1945)

2006-09-14T20:23:00.000-05:00

Garabed Krikorian and family, Palestine/Jerusalem, 1910

The Palestinian photographers captured the life in Palestine under the Ottoman rule (1516-1918) and the British mandate (1918-1948).

Yessayi Garabedian, leader of the Armenian Patriarchate in Jerusalem, started the first photographic workshop in Palestine. One of his pupils, Garabed Krikorian, established his photographic studio in the Old City of Jerusalem, Palestine, from 1885 until 1948. Krikorian was entrusted to prepare the famous Sultan Abdul Hamid Albums on Palestine and later became the official photographer of Kaiser Wilhelm II during his visit to Palestine in 1899.

Johannes Krikorian, Palestine/Jerusalem, 1917

The Krikorian studio operated for over forty years with Garabed's son, Johannes, taking over upon his father's death. Johannes Krikorian, who also spent several years in Cologne, Germany, to further his photographic training, followed father's footsteps and became the preeminent studio photographer in Jerusalem, Palestine.

Another of Garabed's students, Khalil Raad, opened his studio in 1890, across the street from the Krikorian studio, causing some intense competition between the two pioneering photographers. Peace was found when Raad's niece, Najla Raad was betrothed to Johannes Krikorian and she became known as the peace bride. Both Kirkorian and Raad continued a tradition that their mentor started, that of creating elaborate studio props with traditional Palestinian costumes that their clients (including foreign tourists) in which they wanted to be photographed.

Here are some pictures from the Krikorian studio:

Aida Krikorian, Palestine/Jerusalem, 1938

Aida Krikorian, Palestine/Jerusalem, 1942

Woman, Palestine/Jerusalem, 1900 - 1910

Sarah, to the left, mother of Najla Krikorian, Khalil Raad and Najla Krikorian his niece and baby Aida, Palestine/Yarkoune river, 1920

Doctor Jamil Taqtaq, Palestine/Jerusalem, 1915

Tourists dressed up in traditional clothing, Palestine/Jerusalem, 1910 - by Khalil Raad

Woman dressed in the Ramallah traditional costume, Palestine/Jerusalem, 1920 - by Khalil Raad

The historic photographic studio was tragically destroyed in 1948 during the Jewish occupation of Palestine.

[The photographs above are found at the Arab Image Foundation website, and were donated by the Krikorian family -- they are part of our family heritage]

Flash back 9/11

2006-09-12T19:45:00.000-05:00

On the beautiful morning of 9/11/01 (My office in Pennsylvania)

8:15 am M. and I walk to the coffee shop as usual, bought our favorite toasted bagel w/cream cheese. My co-worker, friend and neighbor M.

M: It is such a beautiful day let us walk a bit longer D.
D: I know, it is a crime to be indoors today but, we have so much work to do today, march! march! march! girlfriend!
M: Alright, I know, I know.....

8:45 AM checking my e-mail I find a new message from the secretary, reading the message, I look at M. and ask what is going on?

M: Did you read this e-mail?
D: yes, she is saying a plane flew into one of the towers in NY?
M: She is reporting from one of her relatives from NY, what appears to be a terrorist attack on one of the towers of the world trade centers.
D: The e-mail is very vague, check CNN, and I will check BBC.,..... Darn it! I have no access to the internet
M: Me neither! both sites are down.

Few minutes later, we found three employees K.,S.,T. storming into our office angry almost screaming at me.

K: It is the Arabs, it must be, they are responsible for everything aren't they?
S: (looking at me) I can't even look at their faces they are so sick.
T: Something needs to be done about them.

Suddenly we hear screaming everywhere, loud crying, employees wailing, my e-mail inbox keeps alerting, my brother W. from Canada, my cousin S., my cousin N., I rush to open my e-mail inbox and they are all asking me what is going on?! Please tell us you are Ok.

I page my husband R. he is not replying, he is in the same hospital but won't reply, M. and I are shocked, scared to go out of the office.

M: What do we do now D.?

D: We have to go out and find out M. I can't access any news sites, Radio is not working for some reason, we can't just sit here.

M: I have a feeling this is bad, since the three witches walked in and said what they said you need to stay here, let me go out and find out.

I agreed with M. and started replying to e-mails from my brother W. I write :- " I don't know, I don't know please tell me what news you have, it seems like I'm a prisoner in the office, people are angry, screaming and crying, I'm hearing bad comments directed at me and can't understand what is going on outside, I can't reach R. I'm worried about him, he is not replying.

Few seconds later I get an e-mail from my brother W. "the US is under attack, there is a war going on I heard"

I reply back "War, what war? give me details" I start shaking as I write "I can't find R., I have to go, I have to find R."

I rushed out of my office and see all office employees, in the hallways, talking to each other, risk management team running around. Security staff on walkie talkies, VP's are called for an emergency meeting.

M: (meets me in the hallway) You will not believe this D., some terrorists used commercial planes and flew through the two towers. The White house is under attack, there are rumors that there are more airplanes are going to hit, we don't know where they will hit next but they seem to target big buildings, here is a radio I found that works.

D: (crying hysterically) I don't understand why R. is not responding?!

M: Please calm down they are on the OB rotation (obstetric), they can both be delivering patients, in normal times we can't reach them, I don't think it is a good idea for you to try to exit the doors, this is a hospital and you know how they react to situations like this.

D: ok I will call the operator and let her get me connected to the nurses station, and if he is not to answer my call for no obvious reason, I'm walking to the main hospital to find him.

I call the nurses station and they reply in a rude tone, "we don't know where he is Mrs. A."

D: M. I'm going to the hospital to check on him are you coming or not?

M: Yes the radio is a mess I can't get it to work, we need to be with our husbands let's go, let me just call the nurses station one more time.

M: (To Nurse B.) Is Dr. A. or Dr. W. there?

Nurse B: I just told Mrs. A. we don't know where he is

M: With all due respect to my retired Catholic priest father, Don't you bitch with me and find me either Dr. A. or Dr. W. RIGHT NOW!

M: Here is your husband D. I will transfer him.

D: Hi honey, I have been looking for you.

R: Just got out of the delivery room beautiful baby boy 7 lbs 8 ounces (always sounds cheerful and describes the baby to me)

D: Honey listen to me, there has been planes hitting buildings all over the country while you were delivering the baby.

R: Planes? What planes?

D: Some horrible events and I feel a bit uncomfortable being in the office.

R: Ok, let me find out what the heck is going on and I will call you right back.

D: M. thanks for helping me.

Phone rings in few minutes

R: You need to go home now. I want you out of your office

D: What happened you sound very upset.

R: Yes, I am very upset and will e-mail the CEO of the hospital immediately to report Nurse B. and the three employees.

D: What did she do? Please calm down, you have excellent relationships with everyone, emotions are high, and people might say things they don't mean.

R: Well, as I hung up with you I heard Nurse A. Saying "we should go to war with them" and Nurse B. replied looking at me "why would we go to war, we have them right here".

D: let us just wait and see what the CEO will say or do.

Few minutes later I check the intranet with a message from the CEO warning employees from backlash on employees.

Phone rings

R: I did e-mail the CEO and there is an official announcement on the electronic bulletin board to warn from any attacks on us, I still think you need to go home. We will not be treated like Japanese Americans during WWII or like Iranians during the 80s hostage crisis.

D: Ok I'm leaving (M. overheard me and packed her stuff too..)

M: I'm coming with you, I want to make sure you get home safely.

D: I need to stop by the church across the street, I have to pray, I feel terrified.

M: Good idea, I think many people today will need our prayers.

M lost her cousin in the Towers, I had a big BDY party for R later that week that was planned before 9/11, I sent an e-mail to cancel the party due to 9/11, amazingly enough, M all physicians and their wives insisted that the party takes place.

Their reasoning, "Our lives will not change, we will continue doing what we do."

To M. and the friends of R. I will always remember you on 9/11, thanks for making America a better place to live.

Photo credits:
1. Palestinians East Jerusalem (pbase.com)
2. Schoolgirls in Palestine pray in a moment of silence. (September11new.com)
3. Marwa Adel Al-Sharif, 10, holds on to her mother, Sahar Al-Sharif, before the start of a prayer service at the Islamic Association of Greater Hartford in Berlin, Conn. (Washingtonpost.com)
4. Lena Beck, foreground, joins in a candlelight vigil Wednesday at McKenzie Park in Panama City, Fla. (Timesunion.com)
5. Palestinian children holding candles and flowers take part in a vigil Friday in front of the U.S. Consulate in East Jerusalem, expressing support to the victims of the terrorist attacks in U.S. (Timesunion.com)

What is in my purse?

2006-09-10T16:46:00.000-05:00

Highlander tagged me to show you what is in my purse, my shoes and toes, my list of books, and my dream car.

Highlander and I go a long way, we used to rant on another discussion board long before blogger came to light. When we rediscovered ourselves in our new blogger diggs we giggled non-stop. All through our friendship I noticed how she is tolerant, reasonable and very patient. Moi, on the other hand is the exact opposite, very vocal, emotional, and no-nonsense gal. Every now and then we exchange sentences like "Oh I wish I can say what you say the way you say it" or "You are so patient, why would you let him/her do this to you, get up and kick some asses girl". Just take a look at her purse vs. mine and that will give you an idea about how different we are, I guess thats what keeps us friends. So thank you Libyan Queen for tagging me.

I will show you my everyday purse and evening purse. I'm not just a mommy, I'm a wife too you know?

If you click on the photo and go clockwise you will see the following:-

The Backpack, I always need free hands
For my Child I pray (book)
Ziploc bag with cheerios and two boxes of raisins (girls snack)
Dream Angels eau do toilet by Victoria Secret
Neutrogena sunblock spray spf 30
Lowfat microwave popcorn (my snack)
Oral-B Brush up for cleaning teeth
Cell Phone and bluetooth
My husband's watch, needs battery (has been in my purse for two months)
Dior Mirror and Lip gloss
Wallet
Keys
Pen
Children books The hungry caterpillar, Dr. Sues Mr. Brown can Moo, and My potty book
Make-up and brush
Gecko aka Slimey, he travels with us everywhere
Doodle Pro (car friendly drawing kit for tots)
Sippey Cup
Bed Head Ego boost conditioner for hair

Evening purse

My husband's Trio
My cell phone and bluetooth
Lip liner
Armani Code for women
Lipstick
keys
NARS lip gloss
Bobbie Brown evening eye pallet

I would like to tagCarmen, DNA, MO , Basil, D.B.. Men, please show us whats in your work briefcase or fanny pack.

Protecting God's Child sexual abuse awareness

2006-09-09T20:01:00.000-05:00

I'm considerably a new mom, I'm learning as I go. This year J. our older daughter turned three so my husband and I decided to send her to a part-time program (Pre-k) in a nearby Catholic School, I've been overwhelmed by the experience and suffering from separation anxiety. Once I read the school handbook and knew that they require 100% volunteer participation from parents, I was the first to sign up for their program Virtus. With all the new information they throw at you in the first week of school, I haven't had the chance to read more about Virtus and thought it is a kind of orientation to the school, activities, rules, etc.... And boy, I was wrong!

The training session is about Protecting God’s Children from sexual abuse. The session starts by showing us a video that utterly shocked me. In the video they show sex predators, victims, and parents of victims. As I start watching, my tears started rolling down my cheeks, I could hardly see the screen but my tears didn’t prevent me from hearing how the sex offenders did what they did and how the victims explained the trauma. As I was shrinking in my chair I looked around me and everyone in the room (I would say 120 people) were either sobbing, shaking their head, disgusted, some expressed anger and muttered “please God protect our children”.

After the video ended there was silence. We started group discussion, it was very hard to focus as we all shared our shock about what we just saw in the video. I realized how vulnerable our children are and how uniformed I am, beliving many myths about sexual abuse. We were given questions and we answered them, shared our thoughts and the instructor announced that it was time for a break.

All of a sudden the world around me vanished and all what I could think of is how to protect my children. My priorities suddenly shifted and my brain went into defense mode. I prayed for God to protect my children and said in Arabic “Ya Rab Wahyatek dool awladak ahmeehom” (Please dear God protect my children they are your children.)

As disturbing as this is I feel compelled to share a few points with any parent who would visit my blog. Please feel free to visit Virtus' site to learn more about this topic and become aware and informed.

How big is the problem?

At least one in five girls and one in twenty boys are sexually abused in their childhood

500 thousand cases of sexual abused children are reported each year in the US ( please consider unreported ones)

Myths

Most sex offenders are NOT homosexuals, most sex offenders are mainly heterosexual.

Most Children are not lying when they mention sex abuse only 5% are lying.

Catholic priests don’t sexually abuse children because of their vow of celibacy, they abuse them for the same exact reason others do.

Sex offenders doesn’t look like criminals, in most cases they are normal looking people.

Sex offenders can be as young as 10 years old.

Sex offenders can be your neighbor, babysitter, teacher, priest, friend, relative, they are no strangers to our children.

Some confessions of Sex Offenders

“ He was five I was ten and he looked up to me and I trick him, I lure him, force him to take off his clothes and rape him”

“I would make sure I work around children, I volunteer everywhere, schools, skating rings, pizza places, I study my victim for months and calculate every move and make sure I get him/her even if it takes several months”

“I will dismiss my class early and keep her with me, I will be very nice to her parents and manipulate and intimidate her to never open her mouth with lies about me.”

“I use toys, fancy clothes, to bribe my best friends son to stay with me as long as I can keep him, I throw pornography magazines for him to view and then rape him/her”

“I’ve been doing this for 26 years”

Testimony of abused children

"I just didn't wanna' go on living. I just…I hated myself. I blamed myself I just… I just thought it was unbearable, the pain was just unbearable".

"I felt dirty, I lost my manhood, I wanted to kill myself at the age of 15"

"he always wanted me to take a bath. And…and then he'd start. And I couldn't move. You know, I'd try to scream or do something. I just couldn't do anything, you know?
And so what I did was I'd try to distract myself by looking at different things like, uh, the…the faucet in the bathtub, or, you know, little cracks on the walls. I just look at the cracks in the walls or I'd look behind…
try to imagine what's behind the cracks in the walls just to get my mind off of it…just to get my mind out of my body for a minute. And then he'd leave. And then I'd go to bed— shivering— and, uh, I'd try to fall asleep just to forget about it all, but I couldn't."

"I thought that everyone that looked at me knew that my manhood was gone. I felt… dirty, used, disgusted..."

How do we protect our children?

Control, Control, Control, be in control of your children schedule, children they play with , families of the children they play with, and more importantly who they spend time with alone.

Listen to your children, if your child comes home and doesn’t want to attend his English class, hates his teacher, always fails in this class and you notice a change in behavior, talk to your child and don’t force them to excel in school and play the power game.

Don’t drop off your child to any activity without accompanying them, stay until the teacher shows up.

Love your children, pray with them and for them, make them your friends and be available to them.

There is a way to protect our children, educate yourself, be aware, prevent sexual abuse before it happens.

Bush House Mix

2006-09-08T23:09:00.000-05:00

I can't watch Bush Jr. on T.V. , everytime the man opens his mouth, I flip the channel. Until I came across this house-mix. Its an edited video posted on Google. Honestly its not real, the man never said this!