The Arab American News
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Catering to Israel
James Petras. The Power of Israel in the United States. Atlanta: Clarity Press, 2006. This book is something of a mixed bag. There are many interesting, provocative observations and analyses, but there are also some occasions where Petras fails to make the case. Let's start with some of the more generally...
W. Deen Mohammed, 74, dies
September 12th, 20080 Imam W. Deen Mohammed, a son of the Nation of Islam leader Elijah Muhammad, who renounced the black nationalism of his father's movement to lead a more traditional and racially tolerant form of Islam for black Muslims, died on Tuesday in Chicago. He was 74. The death was confirmed on the blog of Dawud Walid, executive director of...Israel asks U.S. for arms, air corridor to attack Iran
The security aid package the United States has refused to give Israel for the past few months out of concern that Israel would use it to attack nuclear facilities in Iran included a large number of "bunker-buster" bombs, permission to use an air corridor to Iran, an advanced technological system and refueling planes. Officials...It’s the oil, stupid
American policy toward the Middle East has always been determined by the politics of oil and the politics of oil are determined by the oil companies. It would be difficult to find many who would argue that the invasion of Iraq was premised, not on seizing Iraq's oil, but rather to eliminate the threat of nuclear weapons held by...
Nader pleads for change in two party system
September 12th, 20080 Independent presidential candidate Ralph Nader during a Detroit campaign rally at First Unitarian-Universalist Church. PHOTO: Khalil AlHajal Presidential politics is a theater of the absurd, according to independent presidential candidate Ralph Nader, who said he recently had to participate in a debate with Triumph the Insult Comic...Israel deliberately forgets its history
Every Israeli knows that he or she is the direct and exclusive descendant of a Jewish people which has existed since it received the Torah in Sinai. According to this myth, the Jews escaped from Egypt and settled in the Promised Land, where they built the glorious kingdom of David and Solomon, which subsequently split into the...‘Towelhead’ doesn’t deliver
When rapper Nas wanted to use the N-word as the title to his last album, it was clear that it was intended as a bold attempt to own the term in a context of militantly antiracist art that lets the listener know how it feels to be on the receiving end of the slur. Even then, the record company didn't let him do it. The album was...Palestinian group considers end of two-state strategy
WASHINGTON — An informal group of prominent Palestinian academics, politicians, entrepreneurs and activists has published a report that raises questions and offers solutions regarding Palestinian national strategy. It follows a growing sense of doubt that two decades of negotiations will culminate in an outcome fair to...Lose your house, lose your vote
The chairman of the Republican Party in Macomb County, Michigan, a key swing county in a key swing state, is planning to use a list of foreclosed homes to block people from voting in the upcoming election as part of the state GOP's effort to challenge some voters on Election Day. "We will have a list of foreclosed homes and will...
Ramadan Mubarak
September 6th, 20080 Muslims around the world began observing the holy month of Ramadan this past week. Many will fast from dawn to dusk for the entire month, the ninth month of the Islamic calendar. Muslims believe the Qur'an was first revealed to the Prophet Mohammed during this month. The streets of east Dearborn, as in many places around the...
ADC to recognize judicial excellence
September 6th, 20080 DEARBORN — The American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) Michigan will recognize excellence in the judicial community during its 7th annual Judges Night reception, on September 23, 2008, at the Bint Jebail Cultural Center in Dearborn. This annual event is organized and hosted by ADC Michigan's Advisory Board, chaired...
Officials recognize Ramadan, offer warm wishes to American Muslims
September 6th, 20080 Marking the beginning of Ramadan, a number of elected officials at various levels circulated statements recognizing the Islamic holy month. "The holy month of Ramadan is a special time of prayer, fasting and service," read a statement from President George W. Bush. "I thank the men and women of the Muslim community for their...
Ghamloush brothers corner the market
September 6th, 20080 DEARBORN — Many people dream of getting a chance to travel across Europe. But it took a nightmare for Joe Ghamloush to get that chance. Ghamloush, owner of three businesses on the corner of Warren and Chase roads in East Dearborn including Arabica Bistro and Coiffure D'Elegance Salon, was forced to leave his home and salon...
Community gets involved
September 6th, 20080 Amirah Kaid, 26, a supporter of Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama, holds up a bobblehead doll in the likeness of the Illinois senator during a watch party at a Dearborn restaurant for his speech at the Democratic National Convention on August 28. Obama campaign leaders in Michigan are scheduled to meet with Arab Americans...Peace team members arrested at Republican National Convention
Minneapolis, MN — Late Wednesday, September 3, while working to keep people out of harm's way outside a concert at the Republican National Convention, Rev. Peter Dougherty of Michigan Peace Team and three members of the Minnesota Peace Team were arrested, handcuffed, detained for almost five hours, and presented with citations......
Auto leases suspended for most vehicles
September 6th, 20080 DEARBORN — After a pricing competition that has hurt dealerships' bottom lines, GM and Chrysler have suspended leasing programs for many cars across the country. Local sales consultants say that the problem has become as big in Michigan as it has anywhere else, if not worse, because of the prevalence of leases leading to big...
Nader to rally in Detroit
September 6th, 20080 Independent presidential candidate Ralph Nader After two weeks of intense media focus on the Democratic and Republican National Conventions, independent candidate Ralph Nader intends to have his voice heard as he tours the Midwest gathering support for his anti-war, anti-corporate message. Nader, who is Arab American, is...
Mayor attracts audience
September 6th, 20080 Reporters and curious citizens camped out in front of the Manoogian Mansion waiting for Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick to leave for his final address to the city in the hours following his resignation Thursday. Some citizens were supporters while others, like Joseph Salmassi (right), 21, and Mohamed Kaddoura, 18, both Arab Americans...
Bully-Cummings retires as Detroit Police Chief
September 6th, 20080 DETROIT — Detroit Police Chief Ella Bully-Cummings, who was appointed by Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick, announced her retirement Thursday through a news release minutes after Kilpatrick pleaded guilty to two felonies and agreed to resign. Assistant Chief Ralph Godbee and Assistant Chief Robert Dunlap will handle the affairs of the......
Some charges tossed in case against Muslim charity
DALLAS (AP) — Prosecutors have dropped most charges against two men accused of helping a Muslim charity finance terrorism, an apparent sign that the government will focus its case on two other men who were leaders of the group. Leaders of the Holy Land Foundation for Relief and Development, based in Richardson, Texas, are accused...
Al-Arian finally free; ex-professor released on bail
September 6th, 20080 Dr. Sami Al-Arian, the Palestinian professor at the center of a terrorism case, was just granted a release on bond after five-and-a-half years in government detention. He will await further legal proceedings with his family in Virginia. His many supporters around the country are relieved that he is at least free from......
Sarah Palin’s frontier justice
Long before any of us knew about Sarah Palin's daughter's baby-daddy, the stage was being set. And the narrative that preceded her apotheosis was one of life and death. The Palin family "chose not to murder that beautiful soul," said an evangelical friend, as she closed her eyes and lifted her palms heavenward. "Choosing not" to...Neither respected nor feared
In an exalted phrase, the keynote speaker at the Republican convention reviewed the record of the administration, and asked, "When have we rested more secure in friendship with all mankind?" That wasn't in St. Paul, where the Republicans are gathered this week, but at the 1904 Republican convention in Chicago, when the speaker was Elihu......
