Baithak World Mar 04: Israel, News Unearthed, M J Akbar, Endless War, Rev Wright, Book Reviews, Muslims in Tibet, RealNews

Israel will be able to claim that the great pressure it brought to bear on the Gaza Strip forced Hamas to its knees to ask for the cease-fire. However, in so doing, Israel will have to concede that the cease-fire is also an achievement for Israel. It is indeed an achievement, because when the government cannot embark on a major military operation in Gaza, and when it cannot pay for the protection of its citizens by reinforcing their homes and public places, and when a comprehensive peace agreement seems in the meantime unrealistic, quiet in one region is an achievement. Still, it is best not to admit it, because Israel prefers the stance of the one who is granting the cease-fire, not the one who desperately needs it. Let's make a deal


This is an unusual weekly blog in which Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Brendan DeMelle highlight news that is ignored or pushed back the mainstream media. UNEARTHED: News of the Week the Mainstream Media Forgot to Report


Mr Pawar has now some help from the Lord Protector of the World, American Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. She too blames the rise of food prices on the Indian poor. Has she ever paused a minute to think about the consumption pattern of pets in American households? They consume food worth over fifteen billion dollars each year, enough to stave off hunger among Africa's poverty-stricken children. I know this is an unfair world, and I don't believe that pets should suddenly be cut off their feed. But at least we should be spared pomposity from the privileged. The Alibi Game By M.J. Akbar


It was not one of the celebrated moments of what the Israelis call the War of Independence and the Palestinians call Al Nakba, the Catastrophe. But it is one of the more arresting ones. In late August 1948, during a United Nations-sanctioned truce, Israeli soldiers conducting what they called Mivtza Nikayon — Operation Cleaning — encountered some Palestinian refugees just north of the Egyptian lines. The Palestinians had returned to their village, now in Israeli hands, because their animals were there, and because there were crops to harvest and because they were hungry. But to the Israelis, they were potential fighters, or fifth columnists in the brand new Jewish state. The Israelis killed them, then burned their homes. Endless War


We wasted another week on Rev Wright, hopefully the last one. No it didn't drag Obama down, though the right wing is spinning their wish that it would. If only. Keep dreaming. Reverend Chickens-Come-Home-To-Roost


News & Views

60 Years of: A strangled people By Sami Abdel-Shafi, The Guardian

Not unexpected: Egypt's Islamic opposition slams gov't over gas deal with Israel

BBC: Review: Suckers by Rose Shapiro | Trick or Treatment by Simon Singh and Edzard Ernst

Questions that should be asked by everyone: Sex slave dungeon: As dramatic family snaps emerge, the question is asked - how could NONE of Josef Fritzl's family known his horrific secret

Silence from Faux News: FOX News Silent About Hannity's Neo-Nazi Connection

It's about feelin' good: They do the treadmill in burqa

Tasting blood: 2,000 goats sacrificed in TN temple

Change of guards: Eccentric maverick wins London mayor vote

On writing: Biting The Hand That Publishes You

Nuclear Holocasut:New Photos Reveal Horror Of Hiroshima (GRAPHIC IMAGES)

Homeland insecurity: ‘On the watch list!’

Movie review: Nandita Das, Ramchand Pakistani Make an Impact


Book Reviews:

We Need to Talk About Kevin: epistolary form

Call of the Wild

So It Goes

Kissing the Cook

Pen and Sickle

Review: Torture Team by Philippe Sands

Review: Suckers by Rose Shapiro | Trick or Treatment by Simon Singh and Edzard Ernst

Interview: Sherman Alexie

A liberating experience: From rags to riches...

Salil Tripathi's take on P Sainath's criticism of the media: Media and moral outrage


The Spring issue of damazine is out [thanks ST]

A group of Tibetan Muslims with the Dalai Lama

Masood Butt is a Tibetan, living in India. But, unlike most other Tibetans in exile, who are Buddhists, Butt is a Muslim. However, apart from his faith, there is little else to distinguish Butt from other Tibetans. He follows Tibetan customs, speaks the language fluently and regards the Dalai Lama as his leader. Yet, Butt's community — the Tibetan Muslims — are little known in India, even though they have shared with their Buddhist brethren, the plight of leaving their homeland. And they have been living in India for the last 50 years."Like other Tibetans, our community, too has faced tough times and undergone great mental and physical strain," says Butt, who now works with the Dalai Lama's office in Dharamsala. Muslims of Tibet

Paul Jay present RealNews

Clinton exchanges threats with Iranian cleric Iranian cleric responds to Clinton's warning with a warning of his own view Bolivia faces separatist challenge Autonomy referendum pits rich oligarchs in Santa Cruz against poor indigenous majority in highlands view Rev. Jermiah Wright at the National Press Club An excerpt from the presentation of Rev. Wright at the National Press Club view