Ayman S Ashour أيمن عاشور

How can you tell when Trump is talking rubbish?

His lips move ..

People in the Middle East are hanging onto every word Trump is saying, completely unaware that the man is con artist and that even his supporters discount most of what he says.

Ayman S. Ashour (@2imen) So I spent some time with ChatGPT contrasting Hamas communiques over the last two years, with their Trump response and the styles of the Egyptian, Turkish and Qatari Foreign Ministers. The conclusion ...

substack.com/@2imen/note/...

Without explicitly saying so, I know some Arabs and Muslims celebrate such terrorism and feel a level of vengeance or revenge. This is a sad, but it’s real. Just like some Jews look at the suffering in Gaza and feel the Palestinians brought it on themselves.

The messages such stupid acts send are:
1. Arabs & Muslim immigrants are a threat to western societies. Probably a small majority already believes this and such acts add fuel to the fire.

2. Another message to the Jewish communities is that they need to support and stand by Israel

Attacking innocent Jews in UK, France, Argentina, US, or elsewhere, beyond being a cruel, criminal terrorist activity, has nothing to do with pro Palestinian advocacy.

Israel is defeating Israel, Iran, Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis.

None will emerge the same after this war, all have been irreparably damaged.

Gaza Aid Crimes:

while the US is not a signatory to the ICC, the US Laws can be used to pursue American organizations and companies who committed crimes anywhere, not just the USA. And this is an effort that must start.

I’ve many friends from Gaza, some I met through Gaza Sky Geeks, they were building startups, others I got to know thru social media. A few I’ve met in person. Some support Hamas, most do not.

But literally, today and for the 1st time since the war started, everyone I know is complaining of hunger.

But the logic behind this pattern, which I’ve seen play out in business & war, is about maximizing negotiating leverage: improving one’s own BATNA (Best Alternative To a Negotiated Agreement) while degrading the BATNA of others.

The most intense fighting often occurs right before a ceasefire. In fact, the more intense the fighting before a ceasefire, the more likely it is to hold.

This is, admittedly, just an observation, or a prejudice, if you wil, unsupported by formal analysis.

Israel’s real issue isn’t Iran’s nuclear program, it’s the regime behind it: missiles, drones, and proxy militias across the region.

Even if Iran promised zero enrichment tomorrow, the threat stays. Because obviously, missiles and militias are totally fine, as long as they’re non-nuclear!

Four ways to say “maybe later”… depending on where you are:

🇪🇬 Egypt: Inshallah
🇮🇪 Ireland: God willing
🇬🇧 England: Weather permitting
🇺🇸 Trump: In 2 weeks

Different countries, same meaning:
Don’t hold your breath.

Never in my lifetime has the world needed sane leadership more than it does now. Sadly, the U.S. administration is failing—on tone and on substance. Thankfully, Europe and Israel’s neighbors are showing just enough foreign policy sense to possibly prevent a wider regional war.

Another day begins, another struggle with BT over getting them to fix my broadband! Day 7

I’ve always felt that consistency isn’t necessary always a good quality and I often declared openly that I’m full of inconsistency… but I never heard inconsistency praised before this:

**** Consistently is for little minds ****

This wonderful quote is attributed to Ralph Waldo Emerson.

Why can’t I get my apps organized the way I had them on my iPhone when I set up an iPad from iCloud. I know the number of apps per page is higher but surely grouping and order can be maintained. This is just #apple not being thoughtful enough & wasting users time

I’m scaring myself … I actually think Trump’s guy Witkoff might be doing an incredible job

@ezrakleinbot.bsky.social is by far the best podcast i listen to. The episode w Dem Rep Marie Glusenkamp Perez is the weirdest & most depressing I heard. I’m unsure if Ezra was taken aback by her weirdness. Klein is great at getting people to talk but he didn’t seem to want to challenge her at all.

A truly decent man … at a time of great strife and a world full of hate

Somehow I think it’s unlikely the Catholic Church will have another pope of this level of decency and compassion in my lifetime. Brilliant photograph to express the end of an era

The power of leadership: Pope Francis and Donald Trump.

Pope Francis led without armies, without tariffs, without bluster; embodied humility, compassion & the best of humanity.

Donald Trump leads with lies, cruelty, & grievance — the antithesis of moral leadership.

Rest in peace, Pope Francis.

Chag Pesach Sameach to my Jewish friends & blessed Palm Sunday & Holy Week for to my Coptic & other Christian orthodox friends

People who think that in the face of recession Trump is going to back down and reverse his idiotic policies might indeed be right.

There is darker scenario: to use the upcoming US economic downturn to incite more hate towards foreigners and democrats and turn more autocratic and xenophobic.

It’s good to see more people Hillary Clinton joining Bluesky. Soon X & its Ai merger will merge with Truth Social so people will have a clear choice

Happy Eid bsky ppl

كل عام وأنتم بخير

عيد مبارك

Janie on Substack Not Anymore

This is so worth watching

substack.com/@justgeege/n...

sorry for getting excited about something specfic and talking about it too much IT WILL HAPPEN AGAIN

Canadian flags in the snow

I love Canada, always have done from my very visit. I love the Canadian flag and I think Canada and Lebanon have the nicest flags in the world. There’s something fundamentally nice … yes nice, simply nice, about Canada and Canadians. #canada #ski

New Trump Executive Order:

Qubits can only be 0 or 1, only one of two states is allowed!

Taiwan is the next big Trump induced crisis … and I may actually support him on this one!

I’m waiting on an Executive Order from Trump rescinding the FAA ban on smoking on flights in the USA and making it illegal to ban smoking … Making America Great & Sick Again