The Arab American News
Author's Posts
In Iraq, sex is traded for survival
Baghdad — When Rana Jalil, 38, lost her husband in an explosion in Baghdad last year, she could never have imagined becoming a prostitute in order to feed her children. A mother of four, Jalil sought out employment, but job opportunities forwomen had decreased since the U.S. invasion. She begged shop owners, office workers and companies...Doesn’t anyone hear those awful cries from Gaza?
No one seems to hear the cries from Gaza enough to act, despite the reports that talk about imminent economic collapse, dangerous food shortages, total aid dependency and impending humanitarian disaster. Neither the cries nor the reports appear in the headlines or news alerts in our mainstream media. And, while the statistics make...Israel “boycotts” Palestinian scholars
When the British University and College Union voted to promote a boycott of Israeli universities, critics hit back with a firm defense of academic freedom. Lee Bollinger, president of Columbia University, found the very idea of the boycott to be �utterly antithetical to fundamental values of the academy.� Such an action, he said,...
Why does Egypt choose to stoop so low?
September 1st, 20070 There is a special sadness to the diminution of giants, to great men and countries that choose to stoop low. Egypt, in this respect, mystifies us once again, as its ruling regime resorts to repression and harassment of those who would challenge it politically and demand more democratic governance. The Egyptian government increases...
ADC Michigan announces new building plans
September 1st, 20070 DEARBORN — What began as a dream is now becoming reality for the American- Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) Michigan, as they move ahead with plans to build the first-ever American-Arab Center for Civil & Human Rights (ACCHR). This ground-breaking education and resource center will stand as the first of its kind not only in...Group to hold community forum on charitable contributions
DEARBORN — As the month of Ramadan approaches and the time for almsgiving begins, BRIDGES and the U.S. Attorney's Office will make an effort to alleviate concerns about charities in the Arab American community by holding a community forum on charitable giving. The gathering will attempt to provide community members with a better...
Clash with Cheney over Iran prompted Rove departure
August 26th, 20070 It is as though I'm back as an analyst at the CIA, trying to estimate the chances of an attack on Iran. The putative attacker, though, happens to be our own president. It is precisely the work we analysts used to do. And, while it is still a bit jarring to be turning our analytical tools on the U.S. leadership, it is by no means...We all know the emperor has no clothes
After serving for a few years as ambassador of the United States to Lebanon, Mr. Jeffrey Feltman has finally recognized one of the many common denominators among Arab people. But he doesn't actually know what to do with the information. Based on his new-found knowledge, he has leveled accusations against some important Arab...Fear grows as Ramadan approaches
As Ramadan fast approaches, there is a nervous anticipation among charities on whether the U.S. Treasury will shut down or raid or make some announcement about another charity. Since 9/11, six charity groups have been shut down by the government after being accused of providing financial aid to groups and individuals included on the...Fatigue cripples U.S. army in Iraq
Exhaustion and combat stress are besieging U.S. troops in Iraq as they battle with a new type of warfare. Some even rely on Red Bull to get through the day. As desertions and absences increase, the military is struggling to cope with the crisis. Lieutenant Clay Hanna looks sick and white. Like his colleagues he does not seem to sleep....First ice lounge in the desert
Outside it was a sticky 44 degrees Celsius (111 degrees Fahrenheit), but Ali Hamdan was shivering under two parkas as he had a drink, surrounded by tables and chairs made of ice. Chillout is the Middle East's first ice lounge and the latest venture in this desert Gulf emirate that has been transformed by a mania for the biggest, first...Fordson senior has eye on the NFL
Will 'Fordson Tractors' carry him to stardom? DEARBORN — The National Football League doesn’t discriminate based on race or ethnicity, just like every other employer out there, at least in theory. But for one reason or another, America’s most popular sports league just doesn’t offer a whole lot of diversity when it comes to its...It’s not just the occupation
"Forty years ago today was the last day the citizens of Israel were a free people in their own land," wrote "Ha'aretz" columnist Akiva Eldar on June 4. "It was the last day we lived here without living other peoples' lives." This sums up the cherished mythology of what is still called the Israeli left and much of the international...What do Israel, U.S. expect from Abbas?
The rash and self-defeatist behavior emanating from Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and his close circle in the West Bank cannot possibly be intended for the benefit of the Palestinian people or for their internationally sanctioned struggle for human rights, freedom and equality. Abbas, and his self-serving Palestinian...Make friends with Muslims, not with their rulers
The West has to learn how to cultivate relations with Islam. The affluent world must take into account the demographic, economic and political realities of Islamic societies. To deal with growing violence the industrialized countries must partner with Muslim people, not only with their rulers. There are 1.3 billion followers of the......
Fakhouri to be inducted into Michigan’s Women’s Hall of Fame, named to Harvard leadership board
Detroit — Nine outstanding women have been selected for induction into the Michigan Women’s Hall of Fame for 2007. The four Contemporary Division Honorees are Dr. Haifa Fakhouri, president, CEO, and founder of the Arab American and Chaldean Council; Jane Briggs Hart, who trained to become one of the first female astronauts and presided...
Dearborn hosts ‘Festival of Peace’
August 18th, 20070 DEARBORN – Thousands of people gathered at Hemlock Park this past Tuesday to commemorate the one year anniversary of the end of the Israeli-Lebanese War. The Congress of Arab American Organizations (CAAO) organized the first ever Festival of Peace, and its success promises that the event will be an annual tradition in Dearborn. “We......
What are we going to do about racism?
Over a month ago, I was driving down Ford Road to meet up with a group of friends for a Sunday brunch in Garden City. As I was making my way through Westland, an ice cream stand had a sign that read, “If you can read this, thank a teacher. If you can read this in English, thank a soldier.” I'm not sure how long it was up, but it was...Learn from the fall of Rome, U.S. warned
The U.S. government is on a "burning platform" of unsustainable policies and practices with fiscal deficits, chronic healthcare underfunding, immigration and overseas military commitments threatening a crisis if action is not taken soon, the country's top government inspector has warned. David Walker, comptroller general of the U.S.,...Iran ties weaken Iraqi government further
BAGHDAD (IPS) — Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki's increasing ties with Iran have triggered a splintering of his government. Several groups, both Sunni and Shi'a, have followed the Sunni al-Tawafuq bloc (Iraqi Accord Front) in quitting the U.S.-backed government. But Maliki refuses to make the concessions necessary to bring his...Terror label for Revolutionary Guards entrenches U.S.-Iran enmity
WASHINGTON (IPS) — The White House's decision to designate the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps as a terrorist organization could deal a double blow to efforts to utilize diplomacy with Iran to stabilize Iraq. Not only does the designation risk undermining the important yet limited talks between the United States and Iran in Baghdad,......
The closed door meetings of Mahmoud Abbas
When Mahmoud Abbas, chairman of the Palestine Authority in Ramallah, holds three-hour meetings in Jericho with Ehud Olmert, the Israeli prime minister, and when these meetings are restricted to the two men only for half the time, the agenda must include issues of a very grave nature that require prior agreement. Mahmoud...Hamas optimism vs. Fatah despair
PALESTINE — Even in the face of possible economic collapse, Hamas leaders want to figure out a better way to collect garbage in Gaza. The Islamist movement, which now controls the coastal strip, is working out ways to create new jobs and reduce petty crime. A new enthusiasm has swept through this territory in the aftermath of the......
Taking care of hunger in the D
TROY — In the current Michigan economy, it may not startle you to learn that 45% of the population in Detroit is classified as what the international community now calls "food insecure." According to Monica Luoma of Forgotten Harvest, that means people who are hungry now, or who may be one paycheck away from hunger or who don't know...
Ahmed named to head DHS for Michigan
August 18th, 20070 DEARBORN — Governor Jennifer M. Granholm this week announced the appointment of Ismael Ahmed to director of the Michigan Department of Human Services. Ahmed is a 1975 graduate of the University of Michigan with a bachelor of arts degree in secondary education and a minor in sociology. Ahmed, co-founder of the Arab Community Center for......