Some responses to the CIA rapes

The comments posted on the articles about the CIA chief turned rapist are more interesting than the articles in the Algerian press themselves, especially given that most of them rely primarily on AFP articles for sources. The coverage ranges from bland to slightly inflammatory. The comments are universally grumpy, with attitudes differing from paper to paper and from Arabic comments to French comments, though patriarchal attitudes are found throughout. Unlike American reports, which emphasize that the victims were Muslims, the Algerian reports emphasize that the victims had dual European nationalities. There is consensus that the women hold Spanish and German nationality and at least one of them also holds Algerian nationality. Their religion is not mentioned. Warren’s is, as is the fact that he spoke Arabic, as well as “Afghani” (Pashto?), and converted to Islam.

Violence: It returns to Berriane

[See these posts, this article and their comments for some background.]

[See below for more updates.]

More violence broke out after prayers in Berriane this Friday afternoon. A verbal altercation between youths leaving their mosques became a physical scuffle which turned into a melee, with stones in the air and houses being lit on fire. Five homes and three businesses were set ablaze, with fourteen people being injured. The security forces dispersed the crowds of angry young men with tear gas. What caused the rumble is not mentioned in the news reports. More to come when more details come out. (Ennahar has a short English piece. AFP also has a short one.)

Dilem reacts

Public works

En sko stor som en soffa har blivit staty i Tikrit, den forne irakiske diktatorn Saddam Husseins hemstad. Statyn, gjord i glasfiber och koppar, föreställer den sko som en irakisk journalist kastade mot USA:s dåvarande president George W Bush den 14 december förra året.

Skokastningen utfördes under en presskonferens då den irakiske journalisten kastade båda sina skor mot presidenten. Båda missade. Journalisten ropade samtidigt: “Det här är en avskedskyss din hund!”

“Kastad sko blev jättestaty,” Clas Svahn, Dagens Nyheter, 29 January, 2009.

Erdogan’s activism

The walk out at Davos sent him back home to an Ottoman welcome. 

More about Erdogan’s edgy Ottomanism.