"When someone kills ya, you know that they've committed genocide against ya"
George W. Bush: Jan. 2008

A Game of Chickens and Lebanese Cantons:
Two parallel events were held in Beirut today.
One was a political rally for the heirs of the late Rafiq Hariri, and it was a political statement by the pro-rump-cabinet, since the man has been dead for three years. After all, Mr. Hariri was close to the Saudi royals, and the Wahhabis do not cotton up to commemorating the dead- in fact they frown on it. Come to think of it, they frown on many things most of the time.

The other event, in Southern Beirut, was a real funeral for Imad Mughniyah, Hizbollah operative, strategist, and wanted for terrorism across Europe and North America, and a couple of other places. The funeral was held in the same area that witnessed the massive bombings and shellings during the War of 2006, the bombfest that Secretary of State Rice callously called the “birth pangs” of the “New” Middle East.

During the funral, Hizbullah leader Hassan Nassrallah promised retaliation against Israel. What surprised me was when a State Department spokesman appeared on Fox News to dismiss the threat, saying that Hizbullah will “bluster” for a while. The sad thing is: Hizbullah never just “blusters”. To bluster means to speak loudly and noisily, which Nassrallah did today, but it also implies an element of bluffing, which he does not do- in this respect he is a very un-Arab leader.
Mr. Hariri, fils, for his part, blasted Syria, which means he was not original this time either. A good question: how did they get through Syrian security? Who got paid what?

The game of chicken continues in Beirut. Normally the party with more fire in its belly wins, in this case Hizbullah- the other side blinks. But this time around there are too many things at stake for various regional and international parties. Mr. Hariri and Mr. Saniora will not blink soon, even if they want to: their foreign sponsors (USA and Saudi Arabia) have placed matchsticks to hold their eyelids wide open. Hizbullah's sponsors (mainly Iran), meanwhile, keep the supply lines open. Unless this is resolved, it looks like a cantonization of Lebanon will be in effect. They always did say that Lebanon was the Switzerland of the East- now she will have the cantons to prove it.

In Iraq, the cantankerous parliament has finally acted on several measures to bring the country closer together, at least nominally. Meanwhile, the long-delayed municipal elections have finally been scheduled for October, under UN supervision- no word yet on whether Jimmy Carter will be there.

Iran has delayed a scheduled meeting with US officials over Iraq. No reason given.

Saint Valentine's Day Massacre:
In Saudi Arabia, the War on Valentine's Day has intensified. No less, and no more, a person than the head of the Society for the Spread of Virtue and Prevention of Vice (sounds like a Republican, as in GOP, campaign slogan, nicht war?) stressed that they will be vigilant and will confiscate any presents or symbols related to this “pagan festival”. Pagan indeed! Well, don’t expect any toga parties in Riyadh anytime soon….not unless you reside in one of them sumptuous palaces over there, those uniquely Arabian frat houses on the Riyadh or Jeddah Greek Row.

In relatievly liberal Kuwait, a Salafi member of the National Assembly tried to get a measure passed banning Valentine's celebrations. But, Kuwait being what it is, everybody ignored the shaggy honorable pendejo.

Bush the Censor (forget Cato):
Speaking of Saudi Arabia, President Bush yesterday gave its rulers a Valentine’s Day present that is decidedly double-edged. He put restrictions on financial and other dealings of several Syrian officials whom he said were involved in disrupting the stability of Iraq and, get this, “profiting from embezzling (or abusing) public funds” in Syria. At least this was the summary Arabic translation. About that last part, about “embezzling of abusing” public funds in Syria: is this supposed to be a warning shot for the royal Saudi allies to cease and desist from abusing public funds- just in case the had any ideas?
There is certainly abuse of public funds in Syria- there are all kinds of abuses in Syria: but how often can one overlook the pot and call the kettle “black”. And get away with it.
Cheers & Happy Valentine's...
Mohammed