Author Archives: Soccerdad

About Soccerdad

I'm a government bureaucrat with delusions of literacy.

Mideast Media Sampler – 04/29/2013

Posted on 04/29/2013 by Soccerdad

1) The New York Times, Syria, Chemical Weapons and the Obama Administration Last week the editors of the New York Times asked Were Chemical Weapons Used in Syria? It would be alarming if Mr. Assad crossed a line few others … Continue reading →

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Mideast Media Sampler – 04/26/2013

Posted on 04/26/2013 by Soccerdad

Next in Syria Why hasn’t the United States acted more strongly against Bashar Assad? Read: nyti.ms/12Ke82b on Assad’s effort to sell his line to the US. Then this on why WH has already bought it: mme.cm/887R00 — Tony Badran (@AcrossTheBay) … Continue reading →

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Mideast Media Sampler – 04/25/2013

Posted on 04/25/2013 by Soccerdad

1) Shia is Shia and Sunni is Sunni and never the twain shall meet A couple of Al Qaeda terrorists were arrested in Canada. So of course, expect the LA Times to start its account with this: Police in Canada … Continue reading →

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Mideast Media Sampler – 04/24/2013

Posted on 04/24/2013 by Soccerdad

1) Friedman resurrects “Fayyadism” Some time ago, Thomas Friedman coined the term “Fayyadism,” a concept that, according to Nathan Brown, never had a chance. Why Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad never had a chance to meet the high expectations placed … Continue reading →

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Mideast Media Sampler – 04/23/2013

Posted on 04/23/2013 by Soccerdad

1) Middle East arms deal The United States is concluding an arms deal with the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Israel. Hoagland: arms deal “weaken the only containment strategy Obama consistently practiced – the containment of Israel” wapo.st/12D0xtp — … Continue reading →

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Mideast Media Sampler – 04/22/2013

Posted on 04/22/2013 by Soccerdad

1) The red line? Back in December, NBC News reported that Syria had loaded chemical weapons onto planes and was prepared to use them against civilians. Syria prepared to use chemical weapons against own people; military awaits final orders, US … Continue reading →

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Mideast Media Sampler – 04/19/2013

Posted on 04/19/2013 by Soccerdad

1) Getting it wrong I missed the overnight development in the Boston Marathon bombing case. In the early part of the aftermath of the Boston Marathon bombing the media were regularly getting things wrong and reporting them. Daled Amos commented: … Continue reading →

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Mideast Media Sampler 04/18/2013

Posted on 04/18/2013 by Soccerdad

1) Syria and contiguity Jacques Neria writes in Stalemate in the Syrian Civil War: While Assad has survived so far, he has not been able to quell the rebellion, the economy is in shambles, and so are most of the … Continue reading →

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Mideast Media Sampler 04/17/2013

Posted on 04/17/2013 by Soccerdad

1) We wouldn’t want anyone to get the wrong idea Yesterday Max Fisher wrote, Knowledge of pressure-cooker bombs is not limited to readers of al-Qaeda’s ‘Inspire’ magazine: And “Inspire” was far from the first extremist publication to distribute instructions for … Continue reading →

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Mideast Media Sampler 04/16/2013

Posted on 04/16/2013 by Soccerdad

1) The PA’s defense budget The Palestinian Authority regularly complains about its budget woes. Nitzana Darshan-Leitner writes that the largest portion of the PA’s budget goes to defense: Recently, the Palestinian Authority publicly revealed its new budget. In approving the … Continue reading →

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