“Bush Betrayal” on the Road to Damascus

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

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9 Responses to “Bush Betrayal” on the Road to Damascus

  1. Ryan September 21, 2007 at 12:53 pm #

    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.

  2. Jim September 21, 2007 at 1:00 pm #

    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?

  3. Ryan September 21, 2007 at 2:03 pm #

    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.

  4. Jim September 21, 2007 at 2:31 pm #

    But how could I preserve my tranquility if I lost my faith in The System???

  5. Lawhobbit September 21, 2007 at 9:34 pm #

    Solitary confinement in a semi-uncongenial undisclosed Caribbean location will do wonders for preserving your tranquility. 😀

  6. Jim September 21, 2007 at 11:02 pm #

    My fashion coach has been telling me to spend more time working on my tan, so maybe it would balance out.

  7. Jim September 21, 2007 at 11:07 pm #

    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.

  8. Ryan September 22, 2007 at 8:59 am #

    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.

  9. Jim September 22, 2007 at 9:06 am #

    Ryan – thanks!

    I received a full translation this morning – will post it momentarily online.