Ordinary Life!

It would have been quite interesting indeed to witness an actual transmogrification taking place in real time had it not been so personally relevant. As such, watching our simple lion cub as he metamorphosesinto a full-fledged ass is no fun at all.

Nor is it any fun to watch, helplessly, and from afar, one’s own 60-something mother as she suffers from the pains of a broken shoulder blade, and one’s own 30-something friend as he goes through the anguish of chemo-therapy. Continue reading “Ordinary Life!” →

Much Ado about Bullshit!

BA: … Sanctions [against Iraq] did not have any effect on state officials… Some even grew richer during the sanctions… [Sanctions] affected only the masses…

Translation: if sanctions are imposed on Syria, only you, the masses, will suffer. My colleagues and I, naturally, will not.

Well, what can I say? At least he’s honest. Continue reading “Much Ado about Bullshit!” →

الفرق بين الكويت وسورية

(النسخة الإنكليزية)

في عام 2000 لم يحتج البرلمان السوري، المسمى بمجلس الشعب، سوى أقل من 30 دقيقة لتعديل دستور الدولة الموجود منذ عهد بعيد بغية إفساح المجال لبشار الأسد كي يخلف والده المتوفى حديثاً، حافظ الأسد، كرئيس جديد للدولة. ولم يُسمع صوت معارض واحد. ولكن أحد أعضاء البرلمان تشجع واقترح بأن تكون المداولات أطول وأن تتم عملية التعديل بمزيد من الإتقان للمحافظة على صورة البلد، دون الحاجة لذكر ذلك للرئيس القادم. تم توبيخ عضو البرلمان الشجاع هذا لمجرد التفكير بذلك. إذ لا يسمح لأعضاء البرلمان في سوريا البعثية أن يفكروا، نقطة انتهى.

Continue reading “الفرق بين الكويت وسورية” →

The Qardaha Boyz!

Small and seemingly minor events can sometimes convey the truth much more clearly and effectively than any amount of deep political analysis.

While security officers are busy rounding up young students and activists for daring to try to establish a democratic youth forum where they can exchange ideas about the future of their country, members of the President’s family (yeah, those good old Qaradah Boyz) long known for their involvement in smuggling activities, kidnapping, extortion and heists, seem to have decided to flex their muscles a little and show the country who’s really the boss there. They did so by stealing the Mercedes Phantom belonging to the country’s new Minister of Interior, Brig Gen Bassam Abdulmajid, in a move that constitutes a major blow to his yet un-established prestige. Boohoo. Continue reading “The Qardaha Boyz!” →