…the 9/11 conspiracy theories are still giving me a migraine.

The problem with these sorts of accusations is that it releases responsibility of the deaths from al-Qaeda and moves it into hands of the American people.

Never forget.

[video] Egyptian Researcher Muhammad Al-Said Idris: The American Response to 9/11 Proves that the Official Version of Events Is False

Al-Rafidein TV (Iraq) - September 8, 2008

Popularity: 3% [?]

It’s like trying to resuscitate an already vegetative corps:

The cash-strapped Palestinian Authority will receive a financial boost from Saudi Arabia to help Prime Minister Salam Fayyad pay public sector salaries, Palestinian officials said on Saturday.

“The Saudi finance minister told the Palestinian Authority that the decision was made to transfer $100 million,” said Palestinian Information Minister Riyad al-Malki.

Malki said the money was part of pledges made to the Palestinian Authority at a donors conference in Paris in December and expected the transfer to arrive in the coming days.

Fayyad has struggled in recent months to pay government workers because many Arab donors have not met their financial commitments.

Maybe because the Arab donors are smart enough not to actually donate money to the palsyated Hamas government.  Pledging money is one thing (It’s great for public relations.  Arab brotherhood and all), but actually GIVING them the money??

Speaking of Arab support of Palestine, the ever dubious DEBKA file “military source” suggests a mainly Egyptian military force of 3,000 will be pledged to “assist” the impoverished Palestine:

DEBKAfile’s military sources report that a new 11-point scheme, just developed by Saudi King Abdullah and Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak, provides for the bulk of the 3,000-strong force to be Egyptian. The plan would effectively restore Egypt’s pre-1967 domination of the Gaza Strip.

It will be presented to Israeli defense minister Ehud Barak when he visits Mubarak’s summer palace in Alexandria, Tuesday, Aug. 26.

In 1967, (The Six Day War as dubbed by Israel) Egypt had complete control over the Gaza strip during it’s war with Israel.  Are they suggesting a “softer” occupation in conjunction with Israeli and Saudi support?

Popularity: 5% [?]

Egyptian marriage is simply a business transaction. 95% of all marriages in Egypt are based on Islamic traditions which values a negotiated marriage contract between two families.

What’s love got to do with it?

Egyptian blogger and newly minted novelist, Ghada Abdelaal, has a few words to say about the process:

“Girls are not supposed to be actively seeking something, a girl simply exists for someone to marry or divorce her,” says the author of the top-selling book, Ghada Abdelaal. “To say she wants something is seen as impolite.”

Of course, it should be noted that Egyptian marriage is further complicated based on class and family status.

Her rantings about having strange and unsuitable men parade through her home as possible mates were first launched on her blog, wanna-b-a-bride (arabic), and then printed in book form:

She says her target is not Egyptian men but a tradition known as “gawwaz el-salonat” (living room marriage), where a stranger is brought to the family home and the daughter must decide whether to marry him on the basis of this brief encounter.

“People who go for a picnic need to know each other a little longer than that - let alone make a lifelong commitment.”

The book’s popularity - it is in its third print run with a sitcom in the offing - reflects a widespread anxiety in Egyptian society.

In Abdelaal’s example, I think she’s got a case of the “Western Ideological Blues”, or, WIB as I like to say. Egypt should be praised as the most forward thinking Arab nation in the Middle East based on their relatively equal treatment of women (the key word here is RELATIVELY) and also as an Israeli ally.

I contribute the WIB effect to the ever increasing “leak” of western ideology into Egyptian society. And for women like Abdelaal, once golden western ideas start to seep into your life, it’s hard to continue accepting old traditions.

Popularity: 5% [?]