August 10, 2007Quotable"It’s the kiss of death...(t)he minute you are counted on or backed by the Americans, kiss it goodbye, you will never win." --Turki al-Rasheed, a Saudi reformer, commenting on Amin Gemayel's recent loss in the Lebananse by-elections. Heckuva job, Condi! Posted by Gregory at August 10, 2007 01:28 PMComments
cf The Democratic debate on action against Osama in Pakistan and its effect on the Pakistanis. My colleagues coouldn't understand my point when I said that talking about Pakistan doing things at our bidding in a US election has a negative effect. It just feed anti-American sentiment. Posted by: Alan at August 10, 2007 03:30 PM | Permalink to this commentConsidering that the Syrians murdered his uncle, 25 years ago; they used an SSNP cutout, and are probably behind his brother's death last year; his loss is not that surprising. The fact that Eido, Gemayel et al, are being mowed down, and we're supposed to blame Abu Ghraib & Gitmo ! Must have Macfarquahar behind that piece; his novel about the Gulf War shows more insight than his writing about the Middle East. Seriously ,Greg, these are the statesman you're father, said were good folk, from his days in Damascus. Hamilton & Kean approve, apparently as well. As for Mssr. Al Rasheed, I think three generations of Wahhabist indoctrination, probably has more to do with it. A situation assured by the likes of Minister Eddy's lopsided agreements; that made sure Bushco sure has provided us with a rich source of comedy (to go along with the tragedy) over the last 7 years. Remember how they came in all cocky and arrogant, so confident that PR ("message discipline" and whatnot) was the answer to any of their problems? Just tell people all is well and they'll believe it. The power of positive thinking. And their attempt to sell America to the Muslim world with advertising, which tends not to work so well when word gets out about all the torturin' and such. Maybe Bushco should put the word out that the mullahs in Iran are secretly meeting with them, any support for the mullahs might vanish overnight. If our international standing is so craptacular, may as well salvage from it what we can. Posted by: LL at August 10, 2007 04:07 PM | Permalink to this comment"Oh, those damn birth pangs!' Posted by: jonst at August 11, 2007 06:28 PM | Permalink to this commentThe NYT may well be following the fine American tradition of interpreting everything that happens in the world as a result of American politics. The Thinking Lebanese don't even mention American support as a factor in their discussion. And it wasn't a nobody vs Gemayel, it was an Aoun proxy vs Gemayel. The specific identity of the proxy is a non-issue. They say Gemayel did quite well to come within 400 votes in that district. Posted by: Antiquated Tory at August 12, 2007 12:59 AM | Permalink to this commentBit caught on that one myself actually, although Leb Land politics are so murky and Lebs themselves so very partisan about their views it is hard to get a step back. I think it is a bit exaggerated the non-entity backer line, though, my dear Tory. Names count, and I do think it spin the commentary on Gemayel. Don't forget the leanings of most of the Leb writers in English. Still lesson is, one can get into Navel Gazing Westerner mode all too easily. Regardless the same arty quotes Hamarneh regarding similar sentiments in Jordan - I know Hamarneh and his family, I think his call is spot on. One can quibble about the real influence vis-a-vis Gemayel but I think the macro commentary was right, if maybe the example was off base. Posted by: The Lounsbury at August 13, 2007 10:35 AM | Permalink to this comment |
About Belgravia Dispatch
Gregory Djerejian, an international lawyer and business executive, comments intermittently on global politics, finance & diplomacy at this site. The views expressed herein are solely his own and do not represent those of any organization. More About the Author Email the Author Recent Entries
Gaddis' Kennan Biography: Some Preliminary Musings
The Folly of Afghanistan The Syria Conundrum Brzezinski on Execution of the Asia "Pivot" Donilon's Missing Word Search
The News
Financial Times
New York Times Wall Street Journal The Economist The Times The Spectator Daily Telegraph The New Yorker Washington Post New Criterion New Republic National Review The Atlantic The American Conservative Harpers The Week The Guardian Weekly Standard The Nation Real Clear Politics Le Figaro Le Monde El Pais Pravda The Blogs
Across the Aisle
Marc Ambinder American Footprints The American Scene Bainbridge Jack Balkin Becker-Posner Balloon Juice Steve Clemons Juan Cole The Corner Crooked Timber Cunning Realist Brad DeLong Democracy Arsensal Daniel Drezner Washington Monthly James Fallows Glenn Greenwald Nikolas Gvosdev Huffington Post Mark Kleiman Joshua Landis Daniel Larison Marc Lynch Josh Marshall Progressive Realist Obsidian Wings George Packer Gideon Rachman Andrew Sullivan Katrina vanden Heuvel Volokh Conspiracy Steve Walt James Wolcott Matthew Yglesias Foreign Affairs Commentariat
Law & Finance
Barron's
Bloomberg Bull and Bear Wise Calculated Risk Marketwatch Contrary Investor Corporate Counsel Blog DealBreaker Deal Lawyers Blog Financial Sense Forbes Fortune Hussman Funds Bruce MacEwen Barry Ritholz Nouriel Roubini Safe Haven SCOTUS Blog Seeking Alpha The Street 10b-5 Daily Yahoo Finance Think Tanks
Security
Books
American Scholar
LRB NYRB NYT Book Review Paris Review TLS Granta Grand Street Arts & Letters Daily TNR's The Book The City
Curbed
Eater Gothamist NY Magazine NY Post NY Press New York Observer Tribeca Trib Vanishing NY Village Voice Epicurean Corner
Archives
|
|||