Not quite getting the Wagner thing

From a recent Al Ahram opinion piece.

In that respect, the Arabs are no different from any other people -- including Jews -- when they refuse to forget the crimes committed against them before a just settlement to their ordeal is reached and a historic apology for the crimes perpetuated is tendered. While the Israelis have until very recently refused to allow Wagner's music to be played in Israel because Wagner, who died decades before the rise of Hitler and the Third Reich, happened to be the Dictator's favourite composer . . .

Wagner "happened" to be a prominent anti-Semitic intellectual figure in his own time. His articles influenced Hitler's thinking. This writer assumes that Der Fuhrer just "happened" to take a liking to his music, poor guy, dooming him to the ire of those perpetually unforgiving Israelis. I don't much support bans on music myself, but if anyone ever deserved it, it was Wagner. If you don't believe me, just spend a few seconds with a search-engine or a cheap set of encyclopedia.

Chickpeas turn deadly

I enjoy felafel sometimes, but somehow it shouldn't be the pinnacle of Israel's national cuisine. The present story doesn't exactly make you eager to try the more-authentic Arab version of the stuff:

Sixty-seven cases of food poisoning inundated Hebron’s main hospital Friday night, after a dozen families who visited a traditional falafel and hummus restaurant in Surif, south of Hebron, fell ill.

Director of the governmental Hebron Hospital Sa’id Farahna said most of the 67 were released the same evening following tests. He noted medical officials were at the restaurant investigating its health and safety procedures, while law enforcement officials said the owner was being charged with one count of neglect under the health code.

On Friday evening ten Red Crescent ambulances were needed on the scene at the restaurant to transfer the ill. The effects of the food poisoning were rapid, and panic quickly broke out in the village eatery.

Ahmad Al-Atawneh, head of Hebron police public relations, said the owner of the restaurant was detained and expects he will face criminal charges. [...]

Jailed McKinney cries genocide, Cole yearns for Jeffersonian solution

McKinney, unlike the prisoners of her Hamas friends, is provided with the means to write editorials while in prison:

During Operation Cast Lead, U.S.-supplied F-16's rained hellfire on a trapped people. Ethnic cleansing became full scale outright genocide. U.S.-supplied white phosphorus, depleted uranium, robotic technology, DIME weapons, and cluster bombs - new weapons creating injuries never treated before by Jordanian and Norwegian doctors. I was later told by doctors who were there in Gaza during Israel's onslaught that Gaza had become Israel's veritable weapons testing laboratory, people used to test and improve the kill ratio of their weapons.

The world saw Israel's despicable violence thanks to al-Jazeera Arabic and Press TV that broadcast in English . . .

Meanwhile, Juan Cole is indignant:

US hostages held in foreign country on Fourth of July, including a former Congresswoman, after having been captured in a naked act of piracy in international waters after the Americans attempted to respond to a crisis provoked by crimes against humanity, as detailed by Amnesty International.

Once upon a time, Americans would have had the guts to mind such a thing.

The phrase about American "guts" links to a description of the First Barbary War, Thomas Jefferson's war against the Barbary Pirates. Didn't that war involve fighting Jihad with blockades? You can't fault him for bringing up irrelevancies.

Crossposted on Soccer Dad

Father's Day has come and gone--now they release Volume 81 of the complete works of Kim Il Sung!

Some folks will probably sell you the whole set for a few potatoes:

Among them are works "New Year Address", "On Some Measures for Solving the Problem of Electricity",

The measures must not have been too effective: electricity is still with us.

"Let Us Take Effective Measures to Increase the Steel Production", "On Some Problems Arising in the Improvement of Economic Work" and "On Some Measures for Putting on a Normal Basis the Production at Industrial Establishments and Improving the Standard of People's Living" which clarify in detail the tasks facing different fields to push ahead with the socialist economic construction and the ways for carrying them out. [...]

The cultural achievements of the DPRK don't stop there. There was also an art exhibition. Let's just say it was a bit single-minded about the subject matter:

Displayed in the venue are at least 60 art works created by artists of art studios in capital and local areas.

Seen in the centre of the venue is an art work depicting the President standing against the background of Mt. Paektu, the holy mountain of the revolution.

An acryl painting "The shining victory of the Arduous March", Korean paintings "Here is the forefront before you, leader", "Samjiyon Revolutionary Battle Site in Spring " and other works impressively deal with the great personality of Generalissimo Kim Il Sung who defeated two imperialisms in one generation and achieved the liberation and freedom and independence of the country, bringing happiness to the people.

An oil painting "The great leader Comrade Kim Il Sung visits the Kangson Steel Works to start the Chollima movement", an acryl painting "Visiting himself even an underground cutting face", a watercolor painting "Sitting knee to knee with a peasant," etc. depict the revolutionary career and immortal exploits of the President who ushered in a new era of prosperity of the country and built a socialist power, independent in politics, self-supporting in economy and self-reliant in national defence, on this land.

An oil painting "Longing for Father Generalissimo" and other works reflect the ardent yearning of the Korean people for the fatherly leader of the nation. [...]

How can you not love a painting entitled "Longing for Father Generalissimo"?

Crossposted on Soccer Dad

MPAK-UK "exposes" People's Cube!

I imagine they'll appreciate the exposure. This is so geshmak:

In the 21st century it is astonishing to note the double standards that one thing can be worthy of condemnation, yet, at the same time be defended by the freedom of press. There is nothing wrong with slandering the core principles of Islam, there is nothing wrong with calling our Prophet a terrorist because it’s just freedom of expression. However, anti-Semitism and offending any other religions is absolutely wrong.

That is why we see websites such as www.thepeoplescube.com freely mocking Islam, our holy books and holy places. The site has a section called “Religion of Peace”, in which all you see is Islam being mocked and ridiculed. The site not only proudly announces Apple Mecca as an achievement, but also denounces Makkah even further by claiming the dissimilarity between the two is that there aren’t ‘regular stampedes’(tawaf), killing ‘geeks’(pilgrims) and ‘female users covered from head to toe in black robes hiding their faces’. This Islamophobic site is a clear example of the double standards we are facing today. If a similar site was put up criticising Jewish rituals or practices it would not have been long before someone shouted 'anti-Semitism!' Such is the state the great 21st Century is in today. We talk about liberation, but I guess there is no such thing when it comes to certain people.

A wrong is a wrong always, with freedom comes responsibility, by escaping the self delusion and considering it a right, there is an urgent need for legislation in order to redress this imbalance. There should be restrictions and boundaries which condemn the misuse of the term “freedom of expression”, but there aren’t any, why? This is because the people who have the power to condemn such act are the ones committing these acts. Under this pretence of this right of freedom of speech, they are destroying the peace and harmony of the whole society. The western world is renowned for its remarkable level of personal freedom, but rarely is the concept of personal responsibility even mentioned. [...]

They should have consulted this. (I'm just not going to be able to explain to people where the silly smile on my face came from.)

Crossposted on Soccer Dad

More "revenge-vowing meetings" in North Korea

They're into hate-rallies in North Korea. On June 23 Korean News reported on a "A revenge-vowing meeting of school youth and children." Taking place on a date evidently associated with the Korean War, the article states "the departed souls of many people mercilessly killed by the Yankee wolves are still furiously crying out for a thousand-fold revenge upon the Yankees." The next day a headline read "Agricultural Workers Vow to Take Revenge upon Enemy." The next day a headline read "Korean Women Vow to Take Revenge upon American Murderers." The latest example: "Korean People Vow Vengeance on U.S. Imperialists." Let's sample this sucker:

The Korean people are hardening their mind to take revenge upon the U.S. imperialist aggressors, the sworn enemy, a thousandfold on the occasion of the "June 25, the day of the struggle against U.S. imperialism."

This year lots of servicepersons, working people, school youth and children have visited the Central House of Class Education, a place for indicting the crimes of the U.S. imperialists and a center for class education.

Listening to the explanation of the brutal atrocities committed by the U.S. imperialists while invading Korea century after century since the intrusion of the aggression ship "General Sherman", the visitors firmly vowed to take revenge on the enemies without fail.

At the Sinchon Museum where more than 4,000 pieces of data, remains and lethal weapons are on display, the visitors keenly realized once again that the U.S. imperialists are the only horde of brutes in the world.

Looking round the place where the ghouls machine-gunned and threw hand-grenades at people and burnt their bodies to ashes right before their fleeing, the torture room, the slaughter-site and others at the House of Class Education in Susan-ri, Kangso County, the visitors expressed their resolution to wipe out to the last one the pernicious murderers, wolves in human shape, if they pounce upon the Korean people again. [...]

Whew! After that, an article entitled "DPRK Lauded as Invincible Country" is almost a let-down:

The U.S. should be well aware that the DPRK is an invincible country with the powerful military deterrent and that no force on earth can break the single-minded unity of the Korean army and people closely rallied around their great brilliant commander, which is stronger than nuclear weapons.

The DPRK will always emerge victorious and strikingly demonstrate its dignity as an invincible socialist power in the future, too, as there are the Songun leadership of Kim Jong Il and the revolutionary army and people strong in mental power.

Another day, another reference to North Korean "mental power."

Crossposted on Soccer Dad

Gadaffi "the savior who rescue them from state of oppression they are living in"

Isn't that Obama? Guess what country's news agency this is:

Italian Minister of Equal Opportunity, "Mara Carfagna" expressed her appreciation of the leader's analysis of the status of women in the world and in Africa in particular .

In her article published by "A" weekly magazine, she highlighted the leader's stress during his meeting with Italian Women's activists on 12 / 6 that the world is in need of women's revolution based on cultural revolution and that African woman should get all her rights.

She said: "The leader, "Muammar al-Gathafi" reminded of the suffering of African women .. declaring the draft law he presented to the African Union in order to respect the family and marriage in Africa and to consider marriage relations as sacred that must not be disgraced".

"Africans who were unable to defend themselves from oppression have found now that the leader, "Muammar al-Gathafi" is a strong ally to reassure their freedom and the savior who rescue them from state of oppression they are living in", the Italian minister added

Great news! "Ahmadinejad orders probe into Neda's 'suspicious' death"

Look at the compassion on that face! His government would never murder Neda, no never--it's all a plot of the World Arrogance:

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has asked the Judiciary chief to conduct a through investigation into the death of Neda Aqa-Soltan, an Iranian woman who was shot dead in Tehran's post-vote protests.

In a letter to Iran's Judiciary chief Ayatollah Mahmoud Hashemi-Shahroudi on Monday, Ahmadinejad called for a serious probe into the "suspicious" death of Neda and recognizing elements behind her killing.

"Neda Aqa-Soltan was shot dead in one of Tehran's streets on June 20 by unknown elements in a completely suspicious way," said the president.

"Amid vast propaganda by foreign media and many other evidence about the heartfelt event, it seems definite that opponents of the Iranian nation interfere (in Iran's internal affairs) for their political misuse," he added.

Neda, 26, became a symbol of post-election street rallies in Iran and an international icon in recent days after graphic videos of her death grabbed the attention of world media outlets.

Her death first became suspicious after revelations that she was killed by a small caliber pistol -- a weapon that is not used by Iranian security forces.

A small caliber pistol! Everybody knows that's a World Arrogance weapon. Will Mahmoud ever look like this again?

Stay tuned!

Crossposted on Soccer Dad

Iran implements Obama Doctrine

What might be called the "Obama Doctrine" has emerged from Obama's recent statements on Iran: National sovereignty is sacrosanct and inviolable while human rights are negotiable. Expressing opinions about what is going in other countries and promoting one's own values is meddling. Therefore anyone who expresses opinions on what is going in Iran must be extremely circumscribed in his opinions; otherwise he crosses the line into meddling. This has obvious corollaries for news reporting and embassy staffs, and Iran has obviously taken it to heart. According to the BBC:

[...] Iranian media reported the detention of eight local staff at the UK mission over their alleged role in the unrest.

UK Foreign Secretary David Miliband dismissed the allegations as baseless.

Relations between the countries are strained since President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad accused the UK of stoking post-election protests, which London denies.

Iran has repeatedly accused foreign powers - especially Britain and the US - of meddling after the 12 June election, which officially handed him a decisive victory. [...]

At Iran's Press TV the release of some Embassy staff members is the headline:

Iran says certain members of the British Embassy staff in Tehran have been released after preliminary investigations but others will remain in custody.

"The British Embassy played a crucial role in the recent (post-election) unrest both through its local staff and via media," IRNA quoted Intelligence Minister Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Eje'i as saying on Sunday.

"We have photos and videos of certain local employees of the British Embassy, who collected news about the protests," he added.

"The Embassy sent its local staff to rallies and inculcated ideas into the protestors and the society," said the minister. [...]

Ideas! How meddlesome!

Crossposted on Soccer Dad

JANA (Libya): "Newlywed Italian couple who were congratulated by Leader of the Revolution . . . express overwhelming delight"

Gadaffi, we learn, "was very suave":

The newlywed Italian couple who were congratulated by Leader of the Revolution, as he was passing a Rome square during his first historic to Italy, expressed overwhelming delight for the congratulation on their wedding day in Rome.

The Italian groom Leonardo Di Silvio, described the leader's gesture during his wedding day a great one, which they were not expecting.

The Italian groom, Director of Radio Mania, in Velletri the outskirts of Rome, said:
(Me and my wife were overwhelmed by the surprise which we were not expecting, we only thought we could see him from a distance, but what had happened was a very joyful incident that coincided with our first wedding day and we thank him for it).

"It is difficult to describe seeing him up close for the first time, it's the fascination and admiration of Leader Gathafi, it's difficult to describe that moment, the leader was very suave," the groom added while receiving a copy of the photos that were taken during the incident from JANA office in Rome.

For her part, the bride expressed honor to the leader's congratulation on her wedding day.

"We sensed great compassion in the leader Gathafi's words, his congratulation made our wedding day even more joyful. When we approached him and shook hands, we felt assured and we wished that moment wouldn't end.

Ah, to have been there! Short of receiving wedding greetings from the Leader of the Revolution, the surest route to expressions of overwhelming delight is the latest Haveil Havalim.

Ahmadinejad: "June 12 polls was end of liberal democracy"

I think Ahmadinejad means that "liberal democracy" is done for in the world at large. He is given to those sorts of pronouncements. "Liberal thoughts" are also kaput:

President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said on Saturday that the June 12 presidential election in Iran which has promoted and strengthened the government was the end of liberal democracy and liberal thoughts.

Addressing a national gathering of judicial officials, the President said, “the Iranian nation favors dialogue and wisdom as well as constructive and cultural interaction.”

Referring to the recent interference in Iran's internal affairs and insulting comments of certain Western states on Iran’s dealing with rioters after the 10th presidential election in the country, President Ahmadinejad said, “From now on, we will bring you to justice at any international meeting.”

“How is it possible that those whose hands were stained with the blood of innocent people, are now talking about human rights and believe that they could damage Iran’s Islamic system and establishment with their hollow and satanic statements and with their propaganda against Iran’s clean and humane system?”

President Ahmadinejad made the remarks commenting on the recent statements of US President Barack Obama about Iran’s riots following the country’s presidential election.

President Obama had said on Friday that the way that Tehran has dealt with those involved in recent riots in the country was “outrageous.”

President Ahmadinejad noted that IRI does not expect a few European countries (Germany, Britain and France) to follow a logical way but it expects US President Barak Obama to be more logical.

"Americans say they wish to talk with Iran but then show such a conduct. They have no more thing to hide from other nations. They showed to the world that they have yet to change," the President said, alluding to Obama's main solgan of change.

Stressing that Iran’s electoral system was one of the most popular, safest and cleanest in the world, the President termed the remarks made by his US counterpart as “far from international rules and norms and also impolite.”

The president advised Western states to stop addressing the Iranian nation with impolite literature and correct their behavior.

Another IRIB article features "First Vice-President Parviz Davoodi" with the headline "Riots nerve centers located in West." Iran has developed a super-weapon which turns Western intellectuals into palm trees:

He added that the global arrogance is scared and terrified by the fact that their scholars and thinkers have grown frond of Iran’s religious democracy.

The horror . . .

Meanwhile, at Press TV we learn that Ahmadinejad has added threats of retaliation to the meddling-accusations that Obama's meddling-denials evidently inspired:

Ahmadinejad downplayed Obama's slogan of change, saying his actions are at odds with his statements and went on to ask the White House to "change its tone and approach."

"If you continue your meddlesome stance, the Iranian nation's response will be crushing and regret-inducing," warned Ahmadinejad.

Oh well, Obama's good at regret.

Crossposted on Soccer Dad