“I just believe in keeping the peace. I don’t throw tea bags every week.” Well, that’s a relief.
OFF-MESSAGE: The Swedish government takes on Oprah for being too pro-war. Oprah?? Who’s next? Peter Jennings?
IRAQIS VERSUS ARABS: Fascinating editorial in Iraq-Today on the bitterness many Iraqis feel toward the opportunism of their fellow Arabs:
On the walls of Mosul University, one of Iraq’s oldest, warning signs are clearly displayed; “No Jordanians, No Palestinians”. Iraqis are clearly still upset that other Arabs were able to study in Iraq, effectively on Saddam’s payroll. Iraqis have had enough of seeing their own lives compromised for the benefit of Arabs from neighbouring countries.
Saddam Hussein played the Palestinian card to the max. It’s widely believed that the support, both vocal and financial, he gave to the suicide bombers, are the reason behind the wrath of the “Zionists” in Tel Aviv and Washington. Whether that is true or not is beside the point – Iraqis saw other Arabs benefit from Saddam’s regime while they were left to suffer.
In contrast, the US spilled the blood of its own people to liberate them from Saddam’s tyranny. No matter how bad things are here right now, friends, colleagues and relatives assure me that with the pressure of living under the old regime gone, life is one hundred percent better.
Funny how few reporters from the New York Times have been able to report the same thing.
The Dish 