Middle East
Washington to Talk to Hamas - Someday Maybe
Published March 15, 2009 @ 07:35PM PT
At least, that's what the MSM is chattering about, from Qatar to Jerusalem to Washington. Aljazeera:
"I see no reason not to talk to Hamas," Brent Scowcroft, a former US national adviser to president George Bush senior, was quoted as saying.
Music in Iran Since the Revolution
Published March 15, 2009 @ 02:09PM PT
"...there has been a radical transformation of the Iranian music scene since the fall of the Shah -- but the salient changes are not rooted in foreign forms like rock and rap. Rather, the changes flow from a revitalization of the classical Persian tradition that began around the same time as the revolutionary ferment itself. Musical groups collectively known as the Chavosh (Herald) movement altered the way that players of classical Persian music viewed the world and related to their audiences. Like Western rockers, these performers were "modern" -- in the sense that they chose as lyrics the lines of contemporary poets and they played in a style projecting impatience and idealism. And these were also "underground" bands -- in the sense that their music stayed clear of the mainstream, defied the demands of the market, sought momentum in the energy of listeners and stayed true to the spirit of the times. There has been a radical transformation of the Iranian music scene since the fall of the Shah and the consolidation of the Islamic Republic. But the salient changes are rooted in the traditions of classical Persian music, not in the imported musical forms that Western observers love to write about."
Israel Shoots Another Nonviolent Protester in the Head
Published March 14, 2009 @ 03:39PM PT
Yesterday, the International Solidarity Movement announced that Tristan Anderson, 37, from Oakland, CA was shot in the head by the Israeli Defense Forces with a high velocity tear gas canister and is, according to overnight reports, in critical condition at an Israeli hospital.
Another one. You bastards! Rachel Corrie. Tom Hurndall. It's not just the foreigners though, as Starhawk reminds us:
Peacemaking Is Not Politics
Published March 14, 2009 @ 09:34AM PT
The past few months have seen an explosion in diplomatic, military and political activity in the Middle East. To recap, we've seen an Israeli election, a war in Gaza, the inauguration of President Obama and the appointments of Secretary of State Clinton and Special Envoy Mitchell. Whew! The press dutifully records that coming and going of these people and events, and occasionally tries to persuade itself that this is related to peace.
Durban II: Is Calling Israel Racist Antisemitic?
Published March 13, 2009 @ 07:16PM PT
The Durban II conference on racism and xenophobia is coming up soon (April 20-25). The last one made a big splash: Israel, Palestine, Zionism and antisemitism took center stage, nearly drowning out all the other worthy agendas that were 'supposed' to be addressed. Why did this happen? Supporters of Israel - and some critics - argue that it was antisemitism.
Israel Lobby Fells Another Victim: Chas Freeman
Published March 12, 2009 @ 04:47AM PT
“left to its own devices, the Israeli establishment will make decisions that harm Israelis, threaten all associated with them and enrage those who are not.”
-Chas Freeman, 2006
“The tactics of the Israel Lobby plumb the depths of dishonor and indecency…The aim of this Lobby is control of the policy process through the exercise of a veto over the appointment of people who dispute the wisdom of its views, the substitution of political correctness for analysis, and the exclusion of any and all options for decision by Americans and our government other than those that it favors.” Freeman continued, “I regret that my willingness to serve the new administration has ended by casting doubt on its ability to consider, let alone decide what policies might best serve the interests of the United States rather than those of a Lobby intent on enforcing the will and interests of a foreign government.”
Problem with Palestinian PR
Published March 11, 2009 @ 04:40PM PT
Arabnews.com addresses the problem of Palestinian PR. The Israelis
...cannot afford Palestinian officials whom Americans and Europeans listen to and connect with. They want Palestinian leaders to appear belligerent and intransigent. They use that as the excuse not to talk — and the Americans and the Europeans go along with it.
