A Syrian government-owned newspaper reviewed the Arabic version of Bush Betrayal this week.
Here is the summary of the review, as reported by the British Broadcasting Corp. Middle East wire. [[[[ UPDATE: Full text of the review is posted here.]]]]
Al-Thawrah carries a 400-word article by Khalaf al-Jarrad entitled “‘The World President’ Betrayal,” in which the writer reviews “The Bush Betrayal Book” by James Bovard, saying that “since being published four years ago, the book has aroused and continues to arouse a wide-scale, strong controversy among the US political and intellectual quarters, not because of its bold, shocking, and unusual title, but because the writer succeeded in gathering hundreds of pieces of evidence to prove the soundness of his theory, which is based on accusing the president of the superpower of treason.” [Damascus Al-Thawrah (Internet Version-WWW) Arabic. URL: http://thawra.alwehda.gov.sy ]
Not to be petty here, but I don’t recall the Voice of America ever doing a review of Bush Betrayal.
I wonder how the phrase from the book’s final chapter -“Torturer-in-Chief” – translated into Arabic.
If anybody out there can read Arabic and can find & decipher the full review, I would be much obliged. Also, if people have seen other Arabic reviews, I would appreciate hearing about them. Email at jim@jimbovard.com
Uh, oh…
Jim,
You might want to pack your toothbrush or leave the country. This administration would look upon this as an open and shut case of collaboration
with the enemy.
How could it be collaboration with the “enemy” when the Bush White House has relied on the Syrian government to torture suspects the U.S. grabbed and sent there?
Jim,
😀
Point well taken, but give them time, they’ll come up with something. When it comes to changing their position on something for political purposes this administration can turn on a dime.
But how could I preserve my tranquility if I lost my faith in The System???
Solitary confinement in a semi-uncongenial undisclosed Caribbean location will do wonders for preserving your tranquility. 😀
My fashion coach has been telling me to spend more time working on my tan, so maybe it would balance out.
I also posted this comment at the Antiwar.com blog, and that is generating some lively comments over there:
Comment by Michael in Cleveland on 2007-09-21 10:46:06
Don’t ask anyone in the government agencies to translate it for you, none of them know Arabic…but I am sure they could help you with the Russian review.
Comment by Scott on 2007-09-21 13:42:0
We’ll be cellies in the camps for sure Jim.
Comment by Swami Barmi on 2007-09-21 16:51:07
“Not to be petty here, but I don’t recall the Voice of America ever doing a review of Bush Betrayal.”
They’re probably waiting for MEMRI to provide them with a translation.
Jim,
You might ask Prof. Juan Cole for a translation.
I have to admit I find this extremely amusing. I can see it now. Next time you write something that ticks off the neocons they’ll try the sandwich smear on you the same way the detestable John Gibson tried to do to Ron Paul over his appearances on Alex Jone’s show.
Keep up the good work.
Ryan – thanks!
I received a full translation this morning – will post it momentarily online.