memri
August 10, 2009 Special Announcements No. 78

MEMRI Blog Coverage of the U.S. Presidential Elections

August 10, 2009
Special Announcements No. 78

Visit the MEMRI blog (www.thememriblog.org) daily for news updates you will find nowhere else. We also encourage visitors to MEMRI sites to utilize our new RSS feeds. Now you can get the latest MEMRI content directly to your RSS reader or aggregator. Simply copy the URL of the RSS icon on any MEMRI site into your newsreader and you'll keep up to date with the most recent content from MEMRI.

The following is a selection of subjects and entries from daily reports over the last few months.

Report: Contacts Between Syria, Envoys Of U.S. Presidential Candidates

The Lebanese daily Al-Safir reports that recently there have been contacts "far from the spotlights" between Syria and envoys close to U.S. presidential candidates John McCain and Barack Obama.

Source: Al-Safir, Lebanon, August 19, 2008

http://www.thememriblog.org/blog_personal/en/9271.htm

Cartoon In Syrian Paper: "Election Games"

"Obama" leaps over "Bush's mistakes" as "McCain" flees

Cartoonist: Hamid Qarout

Source: Teshreen, Syria, July 30, 2008

http://www.thememriblog.org/blog_personal/en/8848.htm

Cartoon In Jordanian Paper: Bush Out, Obama In

Cartoonist: 'Abdallah Darqawi

Source: Al-Dustour, Jordan, July 25, 2008

http://www.thememriblog.org/blog_personal/en/8798.htm

Cartoon In Palestinian Paper On Obama In Iraq

Source: Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, Palestinian Authority, July 23, 2008

http://www.thememriblog.org/blog_personal/en/8719.htm

Cartoon In Saudi Paper: Obama Freed From Hillary, But Now Held Back By McCain

On small ball: "Hillary." On large ball: "McCain."

Cartoonist: 'Abd Al-'Aziz Al-Muzaini

Source: Al-Jazirah, Saudi Arabia, June 12, 2008

http://www.thememriblog.org/blog_personal/en/7950.htm

FROM MEMRI TV: Libyan Leader Mu'ammar Al-Qadhafi: Obama Suffers Inferiority Complex That Might Make Him Behave "Whiter Than the White." He Should Be Proud of His African, Muslim Identity. Ben-Gurion Gave the Green Light for the Killing of JFK

Following are excerpts from a public address delivered by Libyan Leader Mu'ammar Al-Qadhafi marking the anniversary of the U.S. air raid on Libya. The address aired on Al-Jazeera TV on June 11, 2008:

Mu'ammar Al-Qadhafi: "There are elections in America now. Along came a black citizen of Kenyan African origins, a Muslim, who had studied in an Islamic school in Indonesia. His name is Obama. All the people in the Arab and Islamic world and in Africa applauded this man. They welcomed him and prayed for him and for his success, and they may have even been involved in legitimate contribution campaigns to enable him to win the American presidency."

http://www.memri.org/legacy/clip/1791

Editorial In Saudi Paper: Obama Most Capable Of Bringing Change In U.S. Policy

In an editorial, the Saudi paper Al-Watan stated that U.S. Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama is more capable than anyone else of bringing about change in U.S. policy, particularly in all things connected to the Middle East.

The paper added that in light of Obama's intent to conduct a dialogue with Iran, the Middle East countries should launch a dialogue with him and help him better understand what is going on.

Source: Al-Watan, Saudi Arabia, June 6, 2008

http://www.thememriblog.org/blog_personal/en/7902.htm

Iranian Conservatives, Reformists Agree: Don't Pin Hopes On Obama

Conservatives and reformists in Iran are in agreement over U.S. Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama.

Media outlets from both camps have called not to pin hopes on Obama, saying that he will bring nothing new to the White House if he is elected.

Sources: Kayhan, Alef, Iran, June 10, 2008; Aftab-e Yazd, Iran, June 8, 2008

http://www.thememriblog.org/blog_personal/en/7866.htm

Cartoon In Jordanian, Palestinian Papers: "Obama As The Arabs Imagine Him..."

On briefcase: "The Arab issues."

Sources: Al-Arab Al-Yawm, Jordan; Al-Quds, Jerusalem, June 7, 2008

http://www.thememriblog.org/blog_personal/en/7855.htm

Cartoon In 'Al-Sharq Al-Awsat': Obama Sharpens His Sword For Run Against McCain

Cartoonist: Amjad Rasmi

Source: Al-Sharq Al-Awsat, London, June 5, 2008

http://www.thememriblog.org/blog_personal/en/7832.htm

Cartoon In 'Al-Quds Al-Arabi': "The American Presidential Race"

Cartoonist: 'Imad Hajjaj

Source: Al-Ghad, Jordan, Al-Quds Al-Arabi, London, June 3, 2008

http://www.thememriblog.org/blog_personal/en/7783.htm

Cartoon In Jordanian Paper: "The U.S. Presidential Candidates"

Cartoonist: Jalal Al-Rafai'i

Source: Al-Dustour, Jordan, May 27, 2008

http://www.thememriblog.org/blog_personal/en/7645.htm

Ahmadinejad Ready For Debate With All U.S. Presidential Candidates

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has announced that he is "ready for debate" with all U.S. presidential candidates "on global developments."

Source: IRNA, Iran, May 13, 2008

http://www.thememriblog.org/blog_personal/en/7358.htm

FROM MEMRI TV: British MP George Galloway to Hamas TV: I Pray for the Safety of Barack Obama. Arab Puppet Presidents and Corrupt Kings Will Discover That the Ground Has Moved under their Feet in November

Following is an interview with British MP George Galloway, which aired on Al-Aqsa TV on May 2, 2008:

George Galloway: "I hope that the new presidency in the United States... I pray for the safety of Barack Obama, and I pray that he can shift the United States attitude to this question. But as you know, Palestine cannot free itself. It is a small country against a huge superpower. The real problem is not in Palestine. It's not even in London or Washington. The real problem is in the Arab world. From Marrakesh to Bahrain – 300 million Arabs, oil at 136 dollars per barrel... If the Arabs wanted to solve this Palestine problem, they could do so in six days."

http://www.memri.org/legacy/clip/1785

Iran Assesses that U.S. Elections Will Preclude Pressure With Regard to Its Nuclear Dossier

Iranian daily Kayhan, which is close to Iranian Supreme Leader 'Ali Khamenei, assessed that in the coming year no strategic change would occur with regard to the Iranian nuclear dossier, partly on account of the upcoming U.S. presidential elections. Accordingly, Iran must reject the incentive package by 5+1 countries, including the proposal of assistance in many areas in return for concessions on its nuclear dossier. IRGC Commander Gen. Mohammad Ja'fari expects Iranian security and missile industries to reach great heights during the current Persian year.

Source: Kayhan, Iran, April 3, 2008; IRNA, Iran, April 2, 2008

http://www.thememriblog.org/blog_personal/en/6620.htm

Cartoon In Palestinian, Saudi Papers: U.S. Presidential Race Begins In Tel Aviv

On paper: "McCain Supports Jerusalem As Capital Of Israel."

Sources: Falastin, Palestinian Authority; Al-Madina, Saudi Arabia, March 20, 2008

http://www.thememriblog.org/blog_personal/en/6349.htm

Cartoon In UAE Paper On "U.S. Presidential Election"

On right: "Republican Party." On left: "Democratic Party."

Source: Al-Ittihad, UAE, March 4, 2008

http://www.thememriblog.org/blog_personal/en/5952.htm

Cartoon In UAE Paper: Barack Obama And The U.S. Presidential Race

Source: Al-Bayan, UAE, February 14, 2008

http://www.thememriblog.org/blog_personal/en/5467.htm

Cartoon in Kuwaiti Paper On Obama's "Sweeping Victory In Maine"

Source: Al-Jarida, Kuwait, February 12, 2008

http://www.thememriblog.org/blog_personal/en/5378.htm

Syrian Columnist: World Must Tighten Seatbelt In Advance Of McCain Win

In his column in the Syrian government daily Teshreen, Charles Kamilah wrote that the expected nomination of Senator John McCain as head of the Republican Party (sic) is sad evidence that the American people has not learned the necessary lesson from George Bush's term as president.

He added that McCain would be a "war president" and that the world must tighten its seatbelt and be on guard in light of the possibility of his being elected.

Source: Teshreen, Syria, February 6, 2008

http://www.thememriblog.org/blog_personal/en/5184.htm

FROM MEMRI TV: Iranian Intelligence Ministry Broadcast Encouraging People to Snitch on Spies Features "John McCain" Masterminding a Velvet Revolution in Iran from the White House

Following are excerpts from an Iranian Intelligence Ministry public service broadcast, informing Iranians of the 113 hotline, dedicated to snitching on spies. The clip was aired on Khozestan TV on February 5, 2008.

"John McCain – a senior White House official, who orchestrates numerous conspiracies against the Islamic Republic of Iran."

[…]

John McCain: "True, pressure and aggression no longer guarantee the achievement of our goals. We must consider 'culture-building' over there."

Gene Sharp: "The 21st century is the age of changing cultures and influencing minds."

Bill Smith: "That is precisely the plan we were working on."

John McCain: "But your plan is not enough. For 28 years, we've spent a lot of money because of your plans, but in return..."

http://www.memri.org/legacy/clip/1678

Share this Report: