Egypt poll leader calls to change policy toward Israel
CAIRO, Egypt (AFP) – The frontrunner in Egypt’s upcoming presidential election, Amr Moussa, distanced himself from his country’s past policies towards Israel and told AFP in an interview his government would be frank with the US.The outgoing Arab League secretary general said that Egypt’s regional standing had diminished under ousted leader Hosni Mubarak, who was seen as a key ally of the United States and Israel.
Egyptians lay siege to Israeli embassy in commemoration of Nakba
With efforts to demonstrate at the Rafah border crossing thwarted by the army, the Israeli embassy in Cairo becomes the focus of protests in solidarity with Palestinians on Nakba Day
Will Anthony Shadid and Ethan Bronner dismiss those as agents of the Syrian regime too?
“Several thousand Egyptians protested in front of the Israeli Embassy in Cairo, waving Palestinian flags, clapping and chanting “Down with Israel.” After midnight some protesters tried to storm the embassy and were repelled by Egyptian Army guards, witnesses reported.”
Scores injured at ‘Nakba’ rally in Cairo
Security forces disperse “Nakba Day” demonstrators after group attempts to “storm” Israeli embassy in Egyptian capital.
VIDEO – SHUT DOWN THE ZIONIST EMBASSY NOW!
Photos – Israeli Embassy Nakba
Hussein: Palestine cause is a priority for Egypt
Secretary General of the Egyptian Labor party Majdi Hussein said that his country has embraced the Palestine cause anew as one of its priorities.
Tell that to Thomas Friedman and other Zionists: Egyptian youth and foreign policy
Comrades from Egypt yesterday sent me tons of pictures and links about the Palestinian theme from yesterday’s massive demonstrations all over Egypt. Here is one person kissing this slogan which says: ”Against the will of America and Israel, Jerusalem is ours and Palestine is Arab.” It is amazing how Thomas Friedman and other Zionists–in an attempt to reassure themselves really–insisted that the Egyptian youths have no foreign policy goals whatever.
And more news from the Arab uprisings:
Egyptian committee to liberate Palestine
They have called for an end to gas exports to the Zionist usurping entity.
http://angryarab.blogspot.com/2011/05/egyptian-committee-to-liberate.html
Egyptian youth carry a giant Palestinian flag
This is an image from above as some Egyptian youth carry a giant Palestinian flag to Tahrir Square. Show this picture to Zionists and watch them weep for Husni Mubarak.
http://angryarab.blogspot.com/2011/05/egyptian-youth-carry-giant-palestinian.html
Palestinian flags in Tahrir Square
Even the website of the news station of King Fahd’s brother-in-law, Al-Arabiyyah, had to write a special feature about “Palestinian flags in Tahrir Square.” The youth called for trying Mubarak for killing Palestinians in Gaza and called for a march to Jerusalem. They chanted in unison: ”To Jerusalem we are heading, martyrs in the millions.” Why do US newspaper not report on that? Well, because they are weeping for Husni Mubarak.
http://angryarab.blogspot.com/2011/05/palestinian-flags-in-tahrir-square.html
For those who think that Egyptian youth don’t care about Arab issues
This is a scene from Tahrir Square: they carried flags of all members of the Arab League.
http://angryarab.blogspot.com/2011/05/for-those-who-think-that-egyptian-youth.html
Why Zionists worldwide continue to weep for Husni Mubarak
Egyptian youth carry a giant Palestinian flag: those who insisted that Egyptian youth had no foreign policy goals should look at this picture carefully. (thanks Samia) PS I don’t like flags and I don’t like nationalism, but for Palestine and the Palestinians anything and everything.
http://angryarab.blogspot.com/2011/05/why-zionists-worldwide-continue-to-weep.html
Buckets of tears from Zionists to Mubarak
“Thousands of Egyptians took to the streets on Friday to push their military rulers to do more to help Palestinians following the overthrow of the country’s president Hosni Mubarak. Many Egyptians felt Mubarak, a U.S. ally, was too soft on Israel and want their new government to take a much stronger pro-Palestinian stand. The gatherings in Cairo, Alexandria and El-Arish come amidst preparations by activists to organize a march to the Gaza Strip on Sunday, May 15 — which Palestinians mark as the anniversary of their 1948 displacement following the establishment of Israel. Egyptian authorities have banned the march, saying the timing was inappropriate given sectarian tensions in Egypt.”
http://angryarab.blogspot.com/2011/05/buckets-of-tears-from-zionists-to.html
Haneyyah lauds Tahrir Square rally
The Palestinian Prime Minister of the Gaza government, Ismail Haneyyah lauded the participant in the rally that took place Friday in the Egyptian capital Cairo in support of the Palestinian cause.
http://www.palestine-info.co.uk/En/default.aspx?xyz=U6Qq7k%2bc
Bahrain
Bahrain court adjourns trial of protest activists (AP)
AP – Bahrain’s special security court on Monday adjourned until next week the trial of 21 opposition leaders and political activists, mostly Shiites, accused of plotting against the state.
http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/mideast/*http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110516/ap_on_re_mi_ea/ml_bahrain
Bahrain urged to release former military officer
A former military officer is still detained months after speaking out in support of pro-reform protests in Bahrain.
http://www.amnesty.org/en/news-and-updates/bahrain-urged-release-former-military-officer-2011-05-13
Bahrain’s hospitals are used as bait
In a health system that is being dragged deeper into the political crackdown, patients risk imprisonment just for seeking care. In Bahrain, to be wounded by security forces has become a reason for arrest and providing healthcare has become grounds for a jail sentence. During the current civil unrest, Bahraini health facilities have consistently been used as a tool in the military crackdown against protesters.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2011/may/13/bahrain-hospitals-political-crackdown
‘Hundreds held’ in Bahrain crackdown
Wife tells Al Jazeera how her husband was arrested by masked man in a wave of arrests targeting Shias.
http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2011/05/201151511050523260.html
‘Mass sackings’ in Bahrain crackdown
Part four in our exclusive series on Bahrain examines claims that a government crackdown has moved into the workplace.
http://english.aljazeera.net//news/middleeast/2011/05/2011514104251715508.html
Bahraini rights activist Nabeel Rajab speaks to Al Jazeera
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=663ueQ–HY4&feature=youtube_gdata
Saudis denounce Bahrain occupation
Hundreds of Saudi protesters have poured into the streets in the eastern city of Awamiya to condemn Saudi Arabia’s occupation of Bahrain.
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/179754.html
Burns & Feltman decline to testify on Bahrain …
WASHINGTON — “Human rights activists at a congressional hearing Friday implored the to publicly and forcefully denounce Bahrain’s violent and abusive crackdown against anti-government protesters. The only problem was nobody from the administration attended the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission hearing to listen to the pleas. Two top State Department officials — Political Affairs Undersecretary William Burns and Jeffrey Feltman, an assistant secretary in State’s Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs — were invited to testify, but didn’t show up. “I was expecting at least one, possibly two witnesses from the State Department to testify,” said Rep. James McGovern, D-Mass., the bipartisan commission’s s co-chair. “Regrettably, over the past 72 hours, we were informed that no one in any of the bureaus is available today.”
http://friday-lunch-club.blogspot.com/2011/05/burns-feltman-decline-to-testify-on.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+friday-lunch-club+%28%22friday-lunch-club%22%29
Patrick Cockburn: Bahrain is trying to drown the protests in Shia blood
World View: Claiming that the opposition is being orchestrated by Iran, the al-Khalifa regime has unleashed a vicious sectarian clampdown
http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/patrick-cockburn-bahrain-is-trying-to-drown-the-protests-in-shia-blood-2284199.html
Bahrain indifferent to international criticism
In just one example, Bahrain’s government failed to respond to a scathing report accusing authorities of detaining wounded protesters rather than allowing them to get treatment.
http://rss.csmonitor.com/%7Er/feeds/world/%7E3/9siSSxeJ4SY/Bahrain-indifferent-to-international-criticism
Egypt
Dozens hurt in Egypt as Copts are attacked
Riot police stand aside as motorists and residents in Cairo attack Coptic Christian demonstrators who set up a roadblock to press for more security after deadly sectarian clashes a week ago. Scores of mostly Coptic Christian protesters were injured when their weekend demonstration blocking a street near the heart of downtown Cairo was attacked by motorists and residents as riot police stood by, prompting new questions about the ability and willingness of Egypt’s military-led government to maintain security.
http://feeds.latimes.com/%7Er/latimes/middleeast/%7E3/gX8pRGE8FKA/la-fg-egypt-violence-20110516,0,5436028.story
Nabil Al-`Arabi
So the League of Arab Tyrants yesterday picked Nabil Al-`Arabi as the new secretary-general of the League. This was a clear attempt to not honor Al-`Arabi, but to remove him from the foreign ministry. Saudi government has been really pissed at Al-`Arabi, especially his refusal to join the Saudi regional plot which does not see Israel as the enemy. Saudi press has been quite clear in its disapproval of Al-`Arabi.
http://angryarab.blogspot.com/2011/05/nabil-al-arabi.html
Mubarak’s wife suffered ‘panic attack’
Reports of Egypt’s former first lady having suffered heart attack following arrest downgraded to “panic attack”.
http://english.aljazeera.net//news/middleeast/2011/05/201151414405360569.html
Suzanne Thabet joins the rests of the Mubaraks in the 15 Day pending investigations club
Suzanne Thabet is imprisoned in jail for 15 days pending investigation of corruption charges after being interrogated in Sharm El Sheikh. We do not know if she is going to be transferred to Cairo or not. According to Al Ahram portal and Al Jazeera Mubsar Misr she is going to transfer to the famous Kantar women prison and that the prison was being prepared for her reception for days. Al Ahram claims that she would be transferred on a military jet to Cairo like her son. On the other hand other sources say that she is not going to be transferred to Cairo because of security reasons and she will stay with her husband in suit 309 in Sharm El-Sheikh hospital. We are not sure if she is there yet or not. The security authorities in jail stated that they had not received yet any order regarding Thabet.
http://egyptianchronicles.blogspot.com/2011/05/suzanne-thabet-joins-rests-of-mubaraks.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+EgyptianChronicles+%28Egyptian+chronicles%29
Gag order in case of Egyptian spying for Israel (AP)
AP – An Egyptian court has imposed a gag order on the trial of a local businessman accused of spying on his country, Syria and Lebanon for Israel.
http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/mideast/*http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110514/ap_on_re_mi_ea/ml_egypt_israel_spying
Two dead in sectarian clashes in Egypt
At least two people have died and 60 have been injured in fighting involving Coptic Christians at state TV building.
http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2011/05/201151423163669237.html
Egypt to review trial procedures, free protesters
Reuters, CAIRO, May 13 (Reuters) – Egypt’s military rulers said on Friday they would review legal procedures used to try young activists detained after President Hosni Mubarak was ousted in February, and free some., The move meets some of the demands made by anti-corruption activists who staged sit-in strikes in March and April to push for Mubarak and other former top government officials be put on trial.
http://www.trust.org/alertnet/news/egypt-to-review-trial-procedures-free-protesters
Opening a Border, Ending an Era, Adam Morrow and Khaled Moussa al-Omrani
CAIRO, May 14, 2011 (IPS) – In a dramatic policy shift late last month, Egypt’s post-revolutionary government announced plans to reopen the Rafah border crossing with the Gaza Strip. And on Friday, hundreds of thousands of Egyptians amassed in Cairo’s Tahrir Square to demand the decision be carried out without delay.
http://ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=55636
Lebanon
Lebanon’s Palestinians bury victims of Israeli shooting (AFP)
AFP – Thousands of bereaved Palestinians in camps in south Lebanon on Monday laid to rest victims of a cross-border Israeli shooting, as shops and schools in the camps closed for a day of mourning.
http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/mideast/*http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20110516/wl_mideast_afp/israelpalestiniansconflictnakbalebanon
Eye witness from Marun Ar-Ras
As`ad–not me was in Marun Ar-Ras. He sent me some observations (I am citing with his permission). I hope that Anthony Shadid would not dismiss my friend and the others who are in the pictures as agents of the Syrian regime. As`ad–not me said shorting after he returned hom: “I saw courage and heroism today in front of my eyes. The sight was unbelievable. 10 death and dozens injured and the Palestinian guys would not stop. It is mind boggling. I was 200 meters behind the fence. The Lebanese army at the end attached us and was shooting like crazy up in the air. They chased us up the whole mountain. A day I won’t forget in my life. Thoussands of bullets wire fired above us to drive us back. Friends were literally at the fence and saw the guys falling. I will upload pics and videos later on FB. I will email you my thoughts later. We are still under shock. We were literally taking cover behind rocks, I really don’t know what to say.i swear if only these Palestinians are trained, given arms and support, Israel will not last a week. Every shot Asad from Israelis, a wounded or a killed from our side, dozens of ambulances leaving the scene.. and the guys would not stop. Showers of rocks were going the other way, and the damn Israelis snipers were shooting them down one by one.”
http://angryarab.blogspot.com/2011/05/eye-witness-from-marun-ar-ras-asad-not.html
Palestinians in Lebanon, at the lonely end of the Arab uprisings, Matthew Cassel
Never is a refugee’s right to return brought into question – except when that refugee is a Palestinian. Climbing up the mountain to reach the Palestinian right-of-return protest in Maroun al-Ras in south Lebanon on Sunday felt a bit like being back in Tahrir Square. The thousands of mostly Palestinian refugees were smiling as they joked about the strenuous climb, and helped each other up the mountain to reach the site where they were going to stage their demonstration. Some knew it could even be dangerous, but that didn’t matter as much as the rare opportunity to join together and call for their rights.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2011/may/16/palestinian-refugees-lebanon-right-to-return
Libya
ICC seeks Gaddafi arrest warrant
The International Criminal Court’s prosecutor seeks the arrest of Libyan leader Col Muammar Gaddafi, his son and brother-in-law for crimes against humanity.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/world-africa-13408931
Arab League votes to ban Libyan State TV from all Arab-owned satellites
The Arab League convened on Sunday and finally justified their existence by doing something useful— ban Libyan State TV.
http://abudai.tumblr.com/post/5517693119/arab-league-votes-to-ban-libyan-state-tv-from-all
Libya: UN official voices concern as fighting blocks aid delivery in west
http://www.unhcr.org/refworld/docid/4dcd25201a.html
LIBYA: Looming threat of scattered munitions in the east
CAIRO 16 May 2011 (IRIN) – There is so much ammunition and unexploded ordnance (UXO) scattered across eastern Libya that local people will face a serious threat when they return home. However, it is difficult to determine the exact quantities because of ongoing fighting, experts say.
http://www.irinnews.org/report.aspx?ReportId=92721
Gaddafi To NATO: ‘You Cannot Kill Me’
TRIPOLI, May 13 (Reuters) – Libyan state television carried brief audio remarks it said were by leader Muammar Gaddafi on Friday in which he taunted NATO as a cowardly crusader and said he was in a place they could not reach. The comments came after Italy’s foreign minister said Gaddafi had very likely left the Libyan capital and probably been wounded by NATO air strikes, a report that Tripoli immediately dismissed as nonsense. “I tell the cowardly crusader (NATO) that I live in a place they cannot reach and where you cannot kill me …. I live in the hearts of the millions,” said the voice, which sounded like Gaddafi’s. There was no accompanying video.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/05/13/gaddafi-to-nato-you-canno_n_861814.html
Libya refugees land on Italian island
A total of 1300 refugees, crammed in six boats, have landed on the tiny Mediterranean island of Lampedusa in the last twenty-four hours to escape the civil war in Libya. Some of the refugees accuse coastguards and NATO troops of illegally ignoring distress calls, despite spotting their boats from the air and sea. Around 20,000 migrants have fled to Lampedusa this year alone to escape uprisings in North Africa. Meanwhile, Europe fears a growing wave of migration and is discussing more stringent border controls and ways of sending the immigrants back home. Jonah Hull reports.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T1TzR1kiGmw&feature=youtube_gdata
Libya Ends College Funding For 2,000 US Students
SPOKANE, Wash. — Educators say about 2,000 Libyan students who attend college in the United States are losing financial support from their home government. The Spokesman-Review reports the Libyan government stopped funding the Libyan-North American Scholarship Program after the U.S. froze about $30 billion of its assets.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/05/13/libya-ends-college-fundin_n_861682.html
Libyan rebel morale spikes after week of gains
Libyan rebels saw significant progress on both the military and diplomatic front in recent days, even as Qaddafi’s regime disparaged their efforts.
http://rss.csmonitor.com/%7Er/feeds/world/%7E3/xqVklNqrWJY/Libyan-rebel-morale-spikes-after-week-of-gains
Letter from Libya: To live and lose in Misurata
Times staff writer Ned Parker recalls arriving and covering the fighting in the western Libyan town, within reach of Kadafi’s capital — and where two colleagues would be killed before he left again. We watched the African refugees wait placidly at the port for the boat to take them out of a city under siege. The day before, one of their own had been killed waiting at the port’s entrance, and today, shells were falling nearby. But they still filed quietly in line.
http://feeds.latimes.com/%7Er/latimes/middleeast/%7E3/8inCNVchhF4/la-fg-misurata-letter-20110514,0,4958877.story
Morocco
Moroccan journalist set to face trial over security forces criticism
Morocco is due to prosecute a newspaper editor for his criticism of the country’s counter-terrorism policies.
http://www.amnesty.org/en/news-and-updates/moroccan-journalist-set-face-trial-over-security-forces-criticism-2011-05-16
Syria
Syria: Targeted Arrests of Activists Across Country
(New York) – Syria’s security forces continue their nationwide campaign of arbitrary arrests and intimidation against political and human rights activists, holding them incommunicado, forcing them to sign undertakings to stop protesting, and in some cases torturing them, Human Rights Watch said today.
http://www.hrw.org/en/news/2011/05/15/syria-targeted-arrests-activists-across-country
Seven killed in Syria crackdown
Seven people died in the Syria border town of Talkalakh on Sunday after shelling by security forces, human rights activists say.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/world-middle-east-13406821
No Syria dialogue until killings stop-activist group
AMMAN, May 15 (Reuters) – The main activists’ group coordinating demonstrations against autocratic rule rejected on Sunday a “national dialogue” announced by the authorities, saying they must stop shooting protesters first. “The peaceful demonstrations and civic disobedience will continue … It is morally and politically unacceptable to have national dialogue before stopping all forms of killings and violence against peaceful protesters … lifting the siege on cities and releasing all political prisoners,” the Local Coordination Committees said in a statement sent to Reuters.
http://www.trust.org/alertnet/news/no-syria-dialogue-until-killings-stop-activist-group
Syria sees “relatively peaceful’ protests
A relatively lower number of deaths and injuries of civilians have been reported as large anti-demonstrations were staged across Syria on Friday. Unlike previous Fridays, security forces mostly held their fire – reportedly on the orders of president Bashar al-Assad. But some activists say the reason for the lower number of casualties is a result of a low-turnout of protesters amid heavy military crackdowns and sieges across the country. Zeina Khodr reports on nationwide demonstrations that some activists said were dedicated to Syrian women imprisoned for protesting.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YtzgDuUL9aw&feature=youtube_gdata
Assad regime may be gaining upper hand in Syria
One indication of Syria’s confidence is that it has not yet attempted to wreak havoc regionally – a tactic it has employed in the past when feeling threatened.
http://rss.csmonitor.com/%7Er/feeds/world/%7E3/ptxQKCcBgiA/Assad-regime-may-be-gaining-upper-hand-in-Syria
Sign of Assad’s confidence is that ‘he decided not to play his regional cards
“Rifaat Eid, the leader of the small Alawite community in Tripoli in north Lebanon, says that an indication of the regime’s confidence that it could overcome the rebellion is that it has not yet played its regional cards. Mr. Eid was referring to the sometimes malevolent influence that Syria can exert over its neighbors, including Lebanon, Iraq, Jordan, and Israel. “Syria could open the border with Iraq to jihadists, it has influence with Hamas and Hezbollah. It has many cards to play in Lebanon, but the regime has not used any of them which shows that it is confident,” he says…”
http://friday-lunch-club.blogspot.com/2011/05/sign-of-assads-confidence-is-that-he.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+friday-lunch-club+%28%22friday-lunch-club%22%29
Karin Leukefeld, “Syria: Releasing Detainees, Government Seeks to Meet Opposition Demands”
The release of detainees followed a meeting between the Syrian opposition and Bouthaina Shaaban, the media adviser to President Bashar al-Assad, which Shaaban had mentioned in an interview with a New York Times reporter. Besides the release of prominent civil rights activists, also on the agenda at the meeting was the need to pass a new press law, a law for the establishment of new parties, and a new electoral law, said Shaaban. She announced a national dialogue, which should begin as soon as possible, “possibly next week.” Civil rights activist Louay Hussein, who also participated in the meeting with Shaaban, said that activists demanded that the government permit peaceful protests and sit-ins. Meetings must be also permitted, so that protesters can come to an agreement on a political program and choose their own representatives who will be tasked to convey their demands to government officials. Hussein said to Reuters that activists demanded the withdrawal of plainclothes security forces from all locations and the media’s access to the towns and villages that have been made off limits to them. The release of civil rights activists is a good sign, in the opinion of Hussein. The Syrians with whom I have talked in Damascus welcomed a national dialogue. “We, the Communist Party, have been calling for a national dialogue for a long time,” says a party member, who wishes to remain anonymous. The original protests of people were legitimate, says the party member, especially since the economic development of recent years drove many into deeper poverty. Another Syrian tells me that he is cautiously optimistic. Noting that history shows that it takes time to make reform in Syria, he hopes that the dialogue will be successful.
http://mrzine.monthlyreview.org/2011/leukefeld130511.html
Tunisa
VIDEO: What job hopes for young Tunisians?
More than half of Tunisia’s population is under the age of 25 and despite the fact that the country has a high number of graduates, the youth unemployment rate is around 30%.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/business-13400010
Yemen
Yemen protesters shot as Saleh vows defiance
Three protesters killed in city of Ibb, as president tells supporters “we will confront a challenge with a challenge”.
http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2011/05/2011513121553593783.html
Yemen thrust into deeper uncertainty after Gulf deal falls through
A Gulf-brokered deal to usher Saleh out of power has failed. Yemeni protesters have settled in for the long haul with tents wired for Internet access and satellite TV.
http://rss.csmonitor.com/%7Er/feeds/world/%7E3/p4cFBN1O_tM/Yemen-thrust-into-deeper-uncertainty-after-Gulf-deal-falls-through
Massive crowds descend on Yemen capital to demand ruler’s exit
SANAA (Reuters) – Huge crowds across Yemen demanded on Friday that President Ali Abdullah Saleh leave after months of unrest which has put the Arab world’s poorest country on the brink of an economic meltdown. But in a defiant speech to thousands of flag-waving supporters in the Yemeni capital, Saleh declared: “We will confront a challenge with a challenge.”
http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2011/05/13/massive-crowds-descend-on-yemen-capital-to-demand-rulers-exit/
Other Mideast
Qataris avoiding Lebanon because of the ‘Shia’ mood’
“This summer, though, there are hardly any bookings for an Arab destination, not even for the three most favourite holiday destinations, Egypt, Lebanon and Syria,” said an industry source. Egypt is being ruled out by most holiday makers since trouble is still brewing there. Syria is witnessing intense anti-government demonstrations. And as for Lebanon, political uncertainties prevailing there and the mood in the Shia-dominated south of the country being largely pro-Syria, not many Qatari families want to visit Beirut, the source said.http://friday-lunch-club.blogspot.com/2011/05/qataris-avoiding-lebanon-because-of.html?
Analysis/Op-ed
The Arab Spring’s second wave
The current uprisings differ from their predecessors, marked by a series of more violent crackdowns.
http://english.aljazeera.net/indepth/opinion/2011/05/20115151582859118.html
Osama
EXCLUSIVE-Father of bin Laden’s wife rebuffed union at first
SANAA, May 15 (Reuters) – The Yemeni father of Osama bin Laden’s youngest wife, wounded in a U.S. raid that killed the al Qaeda leader, said he initially rebuffed a matchmaker’s proposal that his daughter marry bin Laden, before blessing their union. Ahmed Abdul-Fattah al-Saada said they were married in 1999, well before the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks on the United States, and that all he knew about bin Laden’s politics then was that he had backed insurgents fighting Soviet forces in Afghanistan.
http://www.trust.org/alertnet/news/exclusive-father-of-bin-ladens-wife-rebuffed-union-at-first
Pornography Is Found in Bin Laden Compound Files, U.S. Officials Say
Officials would not say whether there was evidence that Bin Laden or the other men living in the Abbottabad compound had acquired or viewed the material.
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/14/world/asia/14binladen.html
Bin Laden
Now we know why Bin Laden never cared about the plight of the Palestinians. He was too busy attending to his porn collection.
http://angryarab.blogspot.com/2011/05/bin-laden.html
The Killing of Osama bin Laden:Vengeance Has Been Done, Nima Shirazi
It has taken a while for me to write anything regarding Barack Obama’s announcement last Sunday night that members of the US Special Operations Forces (JSOC’s Navy SEAL Team Six) had shot and killed Osama bin Laden in a compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan. The reason is primarily due to so many other excellent analysts beating me to the punch and voicing my own feelings far better than I could have myself (thus saving me the time and effort). My own reaction to the news lies somewhere within an amalgam of these articles by Glenn Greenwald and David Sirota in Salon, Chris Floyd from Empire Burlesque, Haim Baram in H’aretz, Cord Jefferson in Good, Chris Hayes in The Nation, Kai Wright of ColorLines, and this post by W.W. from The Economist.
http://www.wideasleepinamerica.com/2011/05/killing-of-osama-bin-laden-vengeance.html
Bin Laden’s porn collection
Comrade Max is right to be suspicious. Personally, I only believe that Bin Laden was killed during the raid: the rest are a combination of lies, fabrications, and psychological operations–as they are officially called. We don’t even know how Bin Laden was killed. So the porn story could be made up: and it is suspicious that they announced the porn find many days later. I mean, porn did not have to wait for the Arabic linguists of the NSA to translate it before they realize that they stumbled on a porn collection. I mean, that would have been announced and photographed immediately. This is not to deny that it is a possibility and that pious Muslims (if we accept that Bin Laden was pious which is a stretch given his bloody record), like other pious members of other religions, are full of hypocrites.
http://angryarab.blogspot.com/2011/05/bin-ladens-porn-collection.html
