1915 Turkey

Ever since my grandma told me that Nazi Turks kicked her fam (and killed them) in central Turkey, I've looked at the whole Armenian Genocide a little differently.

Showdown in Gaza (The Ballad of Hussein Ash-Sheikh)

'Holy Jesus!'

That's what I said when I read this on Ma'an:

JERUSALEM (Ma'an) -- In an effort to increase the Palestinian Authority's influence inside Gaza, Israel and the PA are finalizing plans to deploy Palestinian officials at a crossing to the Strip in the coming months, an Israeli newspaper reported Thursday.

Israel's Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories Maj.-Gen. Eitan Dangot told The Jerusalem Post that in July he established a committee with Hussein Ash-Sheikh, the Ramallah-based minister for civilian affairs, to coordinate the expansion of the Gaza Strip's southern Kerem Shalom crossing and future international construction projects in Gaza.

OK ... So the key point here: Who is John Galt? (I mean, Hussein Ash-Sheikh?)

Hussein Ash-Sheikh is the former leader of the al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades, and is now considered by the Israelis as one of the few PLO strongmen who can deliver on security.

What's funny about this?

Hussein Ash-Sheikh is considered a merciless terrorist and the lowest kind of scum by nearly all Israeli officials ... and yet, they have to trust him--they do trust him--as he's one of the few Palestinians who can bolster the PA's armed capacity in Gaza.

Under few other circumstance would the Israelis ever talk to a man like Hussein Ash-Sheikh--but when Hamas is involved, he's their best friend.

Pot Smokin' in Palestine

Bethlehem is the best place to grow dope on the West Bank. It is close to the market in Jerusalem, not controlled by the Israelis--who are more likely to know what it is (as many in the IDF smoke dope)--and mostly, NOTHING EVER HAPPENS IN BETHLEHEM; so you'd think it would be The Spot.

Well, they've been caught. Ma'an reports:

BETHLEHEM (Ma'an) -- Palestinian Authority police detained four residents in the southern West Bank district of Bethlehem on Wednesday, a report read.

Police said officers were informed that marijuana was being planted in a home in Beit Jala, a Bethlehem town. Police arrived at the home and found 10 marijuana plants from the garden and seized several quantities of the psychoactive drug prepared for sale, as well as seedlings, the report read.

There has been an increase production of West Bank dope since the 2000 Israeli withdraw of Lebanon. Most of the stuff passed through mediums of the Israeli occupation.

But now that Israel is no longer in southern Lebanon, and the West Bank occupation is relatively relaxed under the Fayyad government, look for more drug busts like this one.

So, it seems that the West Bank is the New Best Place to get to the Israeli market ... because everyone knows the Palestinians don't mess around with that seedy stuff.


Update: Not that this has anything to do with good West Bank dope, but ... you are now allowed no more than 15.8 gallons of gas per month in Iran. And if you are driving a Soviet Volga (my favorite Soviet car) you're in trouble - the Volga gets about 14 MPGs!

Sgt. Josh Wood of Beirut

Middle East journalist, Josh Wood, writes a great blog; and tags a very cool video about the slumdog Christians of Cairo. I'd say more about it, but the menacing fucking vibrations from The Doors vinyl--currently spinning "Love Me Two Times" adjacent to my keyboard--is just that good.

So buy the record, read the blog, and play the Youtube video.





On a more personal note, Josh is a great journalist with a keen eye for the absurd ... like he found this crazy Californian who decided to "Surf the Blue Line" - from Israel to Lebanon.

Where Oh Where do you find 'em Josh?


Update: Whatever is happening over at Registan, I like it. Talk about a blow to The Afghanistan Policy, eh White House? (And thanks for the email Barack - I'd read your blog ... if you had one.)