09-26-09 Choice between bikini and berqa in Arab world is about absent freedoms

Choice between bikini and berqa is about absence of freedom in Arab World
By Ray Hanania – As I always do around this time of year, I pushed aside the Arab-Israeli conflict for a moment to contemplate the more serious conflict between secular Muslims and Christian Arabs and the growing religious extremism in the Middle East. There are 22 Arab countries, yet only two had the courage (or pride in their women) to field entrants in this year’s Miss Universe Pageant, which was held in the Bahamas, where string bikinis replace car bombs and women are truly free.The only two Arab countries that entered contestants, again, were Egypt and Lebanon.

06-05-09 Analysis of President Obama’s Powerful speech

Observations on President Obama’s Speech in Cairo
By Ray Hanania – Much was made of President Barack Obama’s speech Thursday morning (CST) to the “Muslim World.” The speech was inspiring. I listened to Obama as his speech was broadcast by an Arab television station and also to the reaction of Arabs throughout the Middle East. I subscribe to the Arab World TV systems using a neat little cable package called “Talfazat” through NeuLion Media that requires no satellite dish and uses an Internet box that connects to my TV and Internet. (Check it out at Talfazat.com. It’s under $30 a month and you can watch Al-Jazeera English while trying to learn Arabic.)

06-03-0 What Arabs and Muslims hope for in Obama speech

What Arabs and Muslims hope for in Obama speech
By Ray Hanania – By just going to Cairo University to give a “speech to the Muslim World,” Barack Obama is doing something that his predecessors never really understood. The Arab World and the Muslim World do not hate Americans nor do they hate the West. They are angry about some policies. Some fanatics use that anger and exploit it to finance and empower their extremist goals. But by speaking to the Arab and the Muslim World, Obama is sending a signal to the silent majority of Arabs and Muslims that he cares and that Americans care. And that by itself will help to undermine the extremists in the Arab and Muslim World who are behind much of the violence. Obama “gets it.” But what he actually says will help the Arab and Muslim World decide if Obama “understands” the Arab and Muslim World.

ELAASAR: Egyptian Author, Journalist and Outspoken Critic of Fundamentalism and Oppression, Wins 2008 Civil Courage Prize , FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, 11-14-08

Ali Salem, Egyptian Author, Journalist and Outspoken Critic of Fundamentalism and Oppression, Wins 2008 Civil Courage Prize
By Aladdin Elaasar — “The value of freedom that has been stolen is that; Man lives in two prisons, the prison of his own soul; and the prison of his government, from cradle to grave. A man who stretches out his hands to ask for freedom is not begging; he is seeking a right that has been stolen from him by human greed. If he obtains it, it will not be as a favor from anyone, and he will not be beholden to anyone.’ Egyptian writer, Mostafa Lotfi Al-Manfaluti

ELAASAR: Will Smith ain’t the Last Pharoah, FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, 8-28-08

Will Smith ain’t the Last Pharaoh, nor Cleopatra!
Can we be true to Egypt’s history for once?
By Aladdin Elaasar — In spite of admiration for Will Smith as a funny comedian and action hero, his latest project, The Last Pharaoh, is a great disappointment to millions of Americans, Arabs and Muslims, for many reasons. The film tells the story of Taharqa the Nubian king. The story is about Ethiopians battling Assyrians by screenwriter Chris Hauty, directed by Carl Franklin and starred and produced by Will Smith’s Overbrook Entertainment.

ELAASAR: Are we heading for another MidEast crisis? FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, July 29, 2008

Are we heading for another crisis in the Mid East?
The countdown for Egypt’s dictator Mubarak has started
By Aladdin Elaasar – Two books have been published recently predicting the downfall of President Mubarak of Egypt and the aftermath of the collapse of his regime. The first book is “Inside Egypt: The Land of the Pharaohs on the Brink of a Revolution” by John R. Bradley. The second book is called “The Last Days: the Horror Awaiting us” by Egyptian journalist Abdulhalim Qandeel. The two books have been acclaimed as a frightening depiction of the case of decay of the Egyptian society on every level and the inevitable collapse of the Mubarak’s regime and the chaos that might spread through the region.

CARTOON: What Hamas can and cannot control, FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 26, 2008

Click cartoon to see larger image.
What Hamas can and cannot control
June 26, 2008
“War on Errorism” Cartoon
By Ray Hanania
Click here to view more cartoons.

HANANIA: Egyptian brokered “truce” undermines peace and strengthens Hamas, FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, June 22, 2008

Egyptian brokered “truce” undermines peace and strengthens Hamas
By Ray Hanania – Many assert that the recent Egyptian-brokered “truce” between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip might open the door to a new peace initiative, but just the opposite can be expected. The truce actually undermines peace, undermines the secular Palestinian leadership in the West Bank that is steadily losing ground to the religious extremists, and only sets up Israel for more violence. Aside from the fact that Hamas will never be a partner to any true peace process, the “truce” also has a negative effect that will further discourage future peaceful negotiations.

HANANIA: Egypt’s disturbing actions in the Gaza Strip, For Immediate Release, 02-03-08

Egypt’s disturbing actions in the Gaza Strip
By Ray Hanania – The Egyptian Wall is nothing like the Israeli Wall, but they are designed to achieve the same purpose. Except while Israel controls it’s Wall, Egypt is merely a pawn enslaved to the changing political dynamics of a Middle East and the fast weakening of once proud Arab nationalism.

ELAASAR: Musharraf, Mubarak, same old sad story, For Immediate Release, 11-08-07

Musharraf, Mubarak, the same old sad story: America  should make the choice between military dictators or Democracy

By Aladdin Elaasar – General Musharraf has imposed emergency rule on Pakistan after months of unrest. He refuses to step down as head of the military or share power with former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto. He has put judges and opposition leaders, who contest his authority, under house arrest. U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice described the situation as deeply disappointing. Historically, the military in Pakistan have moved against civilian governments and took over. Musharraf himself came to power in 1999 overthrowing prime Minster Nawaz Sharif, after ten years of democratic rule.