Blogs are like backsides: everybody has one and they all stink (except mine)

Even casual RWDB readers will be aware of my minor Antony Loewenstein obsession. Now whereas you might not find Loewenstein funny, I find him very entertaining; not dissimilar to one of those hilarious but cringe-provoking moments where, for example, an overbearing child vigorously pets a cat that, when pushed too far, mauls the crap out of her. Anyway, it's always interesting to see what Middle East "expert" Loewenstein has managed to screw up.

Today Ant is in fine form, his most recent effort another of his famous "Americans torture by crushing balls" posts.

There's also a post concerning Israel's allegedly inferior airport security, which confuses Israeli air traffic control problems (Israel is a very congested airspace) with airport security issues. Can you recall the most recent example of a plane flying out Israel being hijacked, bombed or otherwise interfered with?

Loewenstein, blogging from the spare bedroom of his parents' house in Australia, even has the chutzpah to criticise real journalists for reporting on the Middle East from Jerusalem, of all places.

The highlight of the day is, however, Loewenstein's New Matilda latest opinion piece introduced as follows:

While the rest of us toasted the New Year, newmatilda.com correspondent Antony Loewenstein was in Cairo for the Gaza Freedom March

Yes, the personal sacrifices Ant makes in the interest of self-promotion are legion. He does, however, manage to work in "leading", his favourite word:

Mass protests in Cairo were eventually violently shut down by Egyptian officials and a leading declaration that outlined ways to isolate "apartheid Israel" and step up a global campaign of boycott, divestment and sanctions was led by South African unionists.

Who knows what that even means -- Loewenstein certainly doesn't -- but who cares since his conclusion is equally cryptic:

Palestine is slowly gaining prominence as an issue that inspires and focusses worldwide civil society.

Loewenstein is living proof that blogging requires neither talent nor intelligence.