The Arab American News
Author's Posts
Iraq’s antiquities garner international attention
Across southern Iraq, large stretches of terrain resemble a moonscape, the earth pocked by dozens of untidy craters. The man-made holes have been dug as part of the looting of Mesopotamia's archaeological sites that experts say is robbing Iraq of its ancient heritage. The looting not only funds unscrupulous dealers of...Around The World: China hit by massive earthquake
China's confirmed death toll is 41,353 as of May 21, 2008. After last week's massive earthquake, more than 32,000 remain missing. Officials expect the final death toll to exceed 50,000. A survivor searches for his relatives amid the ruins of a collapsed house where he once lived, in earthquake-hit Beichuan, Sichuan province May...The U.S. war on journalists
Sami al-Haj is a free man today, after having been imprisoned by the U.S. military for more than six years. His crime: journalism. Targeting journalists, the Bush administration has engaged in direct assault, intimidation, imprisonment and information blackouts to limit the ability of journalists to do their jobs. The principal...Let’s hope Bush does no more damage
In the troubled, conflict-ridden Middle East, President George W Bush has done everything wrong. But his mandate still has half a year to run and, unless restrained, he can do a lot more damage — to the region and to America — before he retires to his ranch at Crawford, Texas, and to the obscurity he amply deserves. At the heart...Memorial Day a time to reflect on troops
It is time for our annual day of reflection, commemorating U.S. men and women who have died in military service to their country. This holiday began first to honor Union soldiers who died during the American Civil War. After World War I, it was expanded to include those who died in any war or military action. Arab Americans have...Can we learn from the Irish experience?
Canadian General John de Chastelain was the invited speaker at a public meeting held at the National Library in Ottawa, under the auspices of Potlucks for Peace. Potlucks for Peace is an Ottawa group of Arabs and Jews striving to understand each other's experiences and hopes relating to Palestine/Israel. De Chastelain was...Omar’s brother fights deportation & The Harkats are Stuck
Omar Khadr's older brother Abdullah is currently fighting extradition from Canada to the United States. He is accused of participating in al-Qaeda training camps and of supplying military equipment and supplies to al-Qaeda for use in Afghanistan. After a year in prison in Afghanistan, during which time he was interrogated by...Guantanamo trials hit setbacks
NEW YORK (IPS) — Key elements of the George W. Bush administration's anti-terrorist detention policies appear to be unraveling, according to human rights and legal advocates. In the past two weeks alone, a military judge has disqualified a Pentagon legal official from participating in the Guantanamo war crimes trial of Salim Ahmed...Gaza cannot be compared to Holocaust
The 60th anniversary of Israel's "independence" was met with all the usual fanfare celebrating the "achievements" of the "only democracy" in the Middle East and as a refuge for Jews – Bush fed into that, saying Masada won't fall again. What was missing, of course, was the real meaning of that anniversary. It's imperative, then, to...Strategic move for a perpetual conflict
I sat down to watch the news on Tuesday and I was shocked beyond belief to see that the Lebanese leaders in Doha have reached an agreement. The government and opposition now appear to have agreed on the allocation of cabinet seats to form a new unity government that will give crucial veto power to the opposition, something that has...U.S. allies picking up the pieces
WASHINGTON (IPS) — As the White House agenda for the Middle East continues to unravel, events over the past 24 hours seem to suggest that U.S. allies in the region are determined to construct a new edifice based on diplomacy, with or without Washington's help. In spite of efforts by President George W. Bush's administration to...Will U. S. policy in Lebanon and the Middle East ever change?
"Absolutely not! Without a credible deterrent force, there is no real Lebanese sovereignty. Israel came very close to getting nearly all it wanted with the 1983 May 17th agreement. Had Hizbullah not prevented this, Lebanon today would be colonized with near confederation status with Israel. The Bush administration's democracy and...
A victory for Lebanon
May 23rd, 20080 The agreement gives Hizbullah and its opposition allies enough control in the government to have veto power over legislation. Beirut — After 18 months of living on the streets in an encampment that has paralyzed this city's downtown, Lebanon's opposition supporters started going home Wednesday. They dismantled their...Don’t miss Sunday’s PBS special
Just in time for the long Memorial Day weekend, PBS Detroit will air "On a Wing and a Prayer," about an American Muslim taking flying lessons, on Sunday afternoon, May 25 at 3:30 p.m. The hour-long documentary traces the improbable dream of a Pakistani-Muslim living in America who pursues his dream to learn to fly in spite of the...Arabs not worried about Iranian nukes
To make its case against Iran's right as a signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) to develop nuclear capabilities, the U.S. government has tried to claim that the people of the region, in U.S.-allied countries like Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, and the Gulf states, are concerned about Iran's nuclear developments. Yet,......
Bush’s Middle East policy in tatters
May 23rd, 20080 Last Tuesday, while United States President George W. Bush was setting out from Washington on a five-day tour of the Middle East, Iran's semi-official Fars news agency quoted Iranian President Mahmud Ahmadinejad as hinting that Tehran might consider a cut in oil exports. Of course, Iranian Oil Minister Gholamhossein Nozari quickly...
Arab American Day at state capitol
May 23rd, 20080 Lansing — State senators and representatives in Lansing got a taste of Arab culture Thursday, when about a dozen community organizations visited the Capitol building for Arab American Day, a first time event organized by 13th district Rep. Barbara Farrah. Legislators coming in and out of their offices got a chance to eat Middle...Pro-government Lebanese demonstrate in Dearborn
Local supporters of both sides of the conflict weigh in on crisis in Lebanon Demonstrators in favor of the Lebanese government's ruling March 14 coalition on the steps of Dearborn City Hall protesting violence that has flared up after an 18-month standoff with the Hizbullah-led opposition. Dearborn – About 100 people gathered...Economic forum draws top speakers, small crowd
Officials, businesspeople discuss peace, oil prices, renewable energy, water, new opportunities Washington — Amr Moussa, secretary general of the Arab League, as keynote speaker at the third U.S.-Arab Economic Forum, stressed the gravity of the current state of the world, engulfed in turmoil with oil prices......
Value of gold rising, Arab Americans targeted
If someone is knocking down your door wanting to buy your gold, think twice. Most Arab American families have gold jewelry stashed away some place. Recently, many have been considering selling their gold to pawn shops, jewelers, investors or private individuals because of hard economic times, high unemployment...Westland residents discuss Jesus and Islam
Those who have always thought that Jesus belongs to Christianity alone are mistaken. The WhyIslam organization held an event titled "Jesus In Islam" on May 7 at the Westland Public Library. WhyIslam.org is a website-oriented association that has regional leaders spreading the word of Islam through events and speeches throughout......
Palestine group launches commemorations
Dearborn — Hasan Newash was six years old when his family fled their home in the Palestinian village of Ein Karem in 1947, when it was overrun by a right-wing Jewish militia ahead of the establishment of Israel. Newash returned to visit his childhood home in 1990, more than 40 years later, and found the house his father built...Ultimate fighter: No pain, no gain
From the outside looking in, most people think Ultimate Fighters are the epitome of dumb jocks, or worse yet, a little crazy. After all, who would willingly jump into a cage and put themselves in harm's way unless they didn't have anything better to do with their life? One person who chose to do just that is Amir Sadollah, one......