Iraq, Helen Thomas, and Shoes- The Shi'a Question: Wahhabis’ Own Group- Jackasses of Arabia Shall Rise Again- Senator McCaskill’s Clever Idiots- Giuliani on Blind Date Economics: Why He Needs JTP
Eyeraq, Eyeran, and Ayrabs:These latest Iraq elections point toward some easing of ethnic and sectarian tensions, at least for now, which should fit with Obama’s plans to draw down troops. The fierce sectarian Sunni-Shi’a open tensions have eased for now. They still vote along strict ethnic, tribal, and sectarian lines, as do all the Arab peoples in various countries when they are allowed to vote. But Sunni Arabs seem to have accepted that Iraq has changed and will not return to the politics of its first 80 years: they largely participated in this voting. There are still former Ba'athists writing in the viral daily tabloids in the Gulf region calling for regime change through an American-sponsored coup. They are whistling in the wind.
Iranian influence is still there, it is impossible to change that at this stage, but it seems to have ‘stabilized’ at least. That is no bad thing, given that most Arab regimes have not yet sent ambassadors to Baghdad, including Saudi Arabia which complains the most about a Shi’a ascendancy in Iraq. The unelected Arab oligarchs have stopped accusing the elected Iraqi government of being an Iranian stooge, for now.
The Saudi media, especially the offshore and internet version, are still full of editorials about the recent Iraqi elections, their shortcomings. They are particularly cautious about what they call ‘sectarian’ influences, as well as about the phenomenon of buying votes. They are really concerned, these tribal oligarchs and potentates, about the sanctity of Iraqi elections. This Elaph article talks about the sanctity of the vote and the dignity of the citizen.
Maybe they are waiting for Iraq to perfect her electoral system before they decide to institute democracy and adopt a similar electoral system. In that case, each prince will have his own province to rule over autonomously, sort of like they do now.
Speaking of Iraq: it looks like the Arabs have made one deep imprint on world civil political discourse. Throwing shoes as a political expression is spreading around the world and may become a legitimate means of expression (not sure if the Bill of Rights covers that one). Last week shoes were thrown at the Chinese prime minister in Cambridge, England. Don’t expect Helen Thomas to start flinging her shoes anytime soon: she missed her best chance over the past eight years. And she had a front raw seat. Dommage.
Their Very Own Paid Shi'as:
The situation in Bahrain is deteriorating fast, with the majority Shi’as demanding equal rights, and the ruling Sunni elites digging in their heels. There have been more arrests and more street protests. The Shi’a majority claims that the rulers are recruiting security agents from other (mainly Sunni) countries, Arab and non-Arab, to use in their crackdown on Shi’a villages. This is probably true, if past experience is any indication: Bahrain does not have enough Salafis yet to do that job although the elites have been nurturing local Salafis and importing others.
The Saudis have been trying to ‘defuse’ the 'Shi’a question' the only way they know: they have paid well to establish a Shi’a group of their own in Lebanon. It is a group that has hardly any following and will not win any seat in any parliament. The Arab Islamic Council of Lebanon is led by a M. A. al-Husseini, and it is not clear how many members it has: probably very few. On the positive side it advises Arab Shi'as to not follow Tehran, but it also plays the role of cautioning them, through Saudi media, to remain calm and accept their situation in Bahrain, as this editorial in a Saudi website explains. This new campaign was hinted at almost two years ago in a pro-Saudi daily rag in Kuwait, and it has taken form over the last few months. It won't solve the 'Hezbullah problem', but it is aimed at Shi’as all across the Arab world, and it most likely will not work as long as their are legitimate grievances. It 'smells' like a Wahhabi Hail Mary (sans any grace).
“Serious efforts are being made to establish a Society of Friends of Donkeys (asses) in the country, despite the stringent rules of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor regarding all new non-profit organizations, (the ministry is apparently in charge of all things to do with asses). Our sources indicate that a member of the assembly is supportive and trying to get it approved…It will be modeled after the recently-revived Egyptian Society for Friends of Donkeys….”
Of course historically Egyptian asses were bigger than Gulf asses, something to do with national diet, but the situation has been changing rapidly in recent years. In fairness, the latter have often seemed more asinine.
Maybe they can encourage some experienced Salafis to join this ne non-profit organization and make it a faith-based organization. Or maybe they can make things easier by recruiting a new jackass to the cabinet- they can call him an ‘ass without portfolio’. Some would say that there already are too many with portfolios.
Economics, Idiots, and NYC Blind Dates:
“They are idiots…idiots…” Thus spake Senator Claire McCaskill (D-MO). I beg to differ: these guys, the Wall Street CEOs, the receivers of the $19 billion, are not the idiots. Anybody who can wangle $19 billion of US public funds is no idiot: the real idiots are those who allowed this to happen under the supervision of the chief 'idiot': Hank Paulson. Also the numbed voters who are sitting silently in front of their TV sets and computers reading this, some of them thinking that they would do the same if they were in their shoes, except that they are not on their shoes, and most will never be.
Rudy Giuliani opined on this issue, but he did not mention 9/11: just a couple of nouns and verbs. The mayor who I never thought will ever become president opined on the $19 billion Wall Street bonuses out of public money. He said that it is good for the economy, because these overpaid CEO’s will spend the money in New York restaurants and shops. Apparently he thinks they have a lot of repressed consumption just waiting for the billions of bonuses to go on such things as blind dates and shopping sprees. (I will not elaborate on the blind dates here, but much of it would be of the illegal kind). He must be getting ready to run for governor or senator next year. His last campaign was dismal: he spent about $30+ million and did not get a single delegate, not even his ex-wife. Giuliani could use the talents of Joe the Plumber, who is now a Republican Consultant/mascot. He did manage to infuse the McCain campaign with whatever little excitement did not come from Governor Sarah Palin.
Cheers
mhg
m.h.ghuloum@gmail.com
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