:
Tu Jul 18 -

Lebanon:
PLANET EARTH PAGING...

The Daily Star's Leila Hatoum interviews Ibrahim Moussawi, the editor of Hizbullah's Al-Intiqad (The Criticism) weekly newspaper and Al-Manar television, which gives you a glimpse into his thinking. An entirely separate headline there tells it like it is: *US: Truce is unacceptable while Hizbullah remains intact.* In other words, it should be clear to at least the editor of that pub that the US wants Hizbullah disarmed. Ya think Moussawi needs a cluebat
from Mr T?

In a somewhat related incident, during a moment of levity at a presser... Tony Snow says to Helen Thomas: "thank you for the Hezbollah view." And I suggest you don't take that too seriously. You know, there are people, not just in the Middle East, who want to prohibit all humor on the premise that it offends other people. Check yourself!

* * * * *
Over at Al-Jazeera TV's English website, Firas Al-Atraqchi interviews As'ad AbuKhalil, who blogs at The Angry Arab, although one of his rival academic peers insists on referring to him as "Angry Hair." [I must confess, I haven't been following his Blog lately.]

*As'ad AbuKhalil... believes the recent violence is a symptom of an international conspiracy under way to enforce UN resolution 1559, which calls for the disarmament of militia groups in Lebanon - a reference to Hezbollah.*

Does As'ad really believe this "conspiracy" woowoo or has he formulated his rhetoric into a keenly honed marketing angle to seduce that audience segment?

Why can't everyone just agree that 1559 should be enforced? Why does it have to be a conspiracy instead of a simple agreement. I suspect As'ad may be coffeepotting a bit here; this is a conspiracy that smells like it came out of a feenjahn. But... ya never know with him. He does have a wild sense of humor. Maybe not everyone's cuppa tea. Mixed metaphor alert. Or mixed beverages.

I have to go out to pick up some groceries. Hope to be back later.
...