There are only two things the Saudis know: spreading sectarianism and using the oil wealth to buy loyalty of people, especially politicians in different Muslim countries. Emile Lahoud, the former Lebanese President made a candid revelation in an interview with Iran's Press TV on May 3 saying that he was offered a suitcase full of dollars when he became the commander in chief of Lebanese armed forces.
Journalists, it is said, write the first draft of history. Given the manner in which the once honourable profession of journalism has been subverted into a propaganda tool of the Western corporate elite, it is a totally undeserved compliment.
We hardly needed WikiLeaks disclosures to tell us that Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari is a crook. Or, that opposition leader Nawaz Sharif has no spine, not to mention grey matter under his now-restored hair, thanks to thousands of pounds spent on hair transplant surgery in London.
All this is the gift of American friendship and the war on terror into which Pakistan has been sucked through US bullying...
Two more Palestinians were killed by Israel on January 25. One was a 22-year-old youth shot dead by troops; the other was a 16-year-old boy who died in hospital, one day after being shot by Jewish settlers.