The Rosett Report

By Claudia Rosett

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But please — given a choice between Imelda Marcos and Asma al-Assad, I’d take Imelda any day. Bad as it was, the Marcos dictatorship was a puny affair compared to the 40-year totalitarian depravities of  Syria’s terror-sponsoring Assads. Asma al-Assad has chosen a form of excess that is all the more awful for masquerading as taste and class. It’s not simply the cost of those luxuriously simple outfits — though in Syria’s vat of repression and corruption, it’s worth asking where she thinks the money comes from for her Vogue lifestyle and well-clad patronage of all those common folk who live with none of the freedoms that would allow them to help themselves.

The real excess here is that of the Big Lie. This is the devil’s deal of providing a chic face for a regime of terror — the Syrian regime dolled up with fashion shoots, lectures in Paris, and a Facebook page. With her many languages, London education, continental travels, and modern tastes, does she ever go online to sift through the human rights reports on the atrocities and disappearances that are routine under her husband’s regime? Does she find it odd that in hallmark totalitarian style, Syrians are obliged to live among endless statues and pictures of her husband and his father? Did she find it peculiar that in 2007 her husband was “reelected” with an official 98% of the vote? Has she worked out a philosophy in which even the classiest of first ladies must sometimes put up with having a husband who butchers fellow citizens so that he and his family may continue enjoying his palace? As Syrians prepare for a Day of Rage on Friday, has Asma picked out just the right chunky Chanel necklace and pair of Louboutins for the occasion? What does a fashion-plate of the totalitarian world wear to the revolution?

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17 Comments, 14 Threads, 4 Trackbacks

  1. 1. Morton Doodalag

    As monstrous as Asma Assad and her cultivated mask is, what about the western accomplices who create the masks for the Arab terrorist kingpins? Was it Obama’s disgusting speech in Cairo which gave the proper nod and wink for the Arab charm offensives by the Khaddafis and the Assads, et al? Terrorist Muslim Arab scum can send their sons to America or Londen to get scrubbed and polished and pasted with new veneers, but it’s useless unless the salons and the Vogues and the London Schools of Economics play along to amplify the obscene charade. And play along they did.

    Annually we’re fed the list of “The World’s Richest” so-and-sos – but notice how the top dozen or so Muslim terrorist gazillionaires never show up? I’ve pointed out that the world has seen its first trillionaires in the scabrous forms of those tyrants of Saudi Arabia and Abu Dhabi. Of the top 15 ranked Sovereign Wealth Funds, at least 7 belong to terror sponsoring Muslim tyrants. Russia and China round out this who’s who of the totalitarian lottery winners of all time.

    That kind of loot (literally) buys a lot of bankers, a lot of lawyers, a lot of PR firms, a lot of consultancies by ex-diplomats, a lot of $2,000,000 speeches by ex-presidents, a lot of “Islamic Studies” departments at a lot of universitites to explain away Islam to the infidel, and a lot of glowing articles in newspapers in magazines and on TV. No wonder we’re still completely in the dark in the West about the bloody and intolerant totalitarian ideology of Islam. Our elites, on BOTH sides of the aisle, don’t want to jeopardize their chance to get some of that beautiful beautiful loot.

    With several trillion dollars at the disposal of the Islamic scumbags, we can see the result: a decade after 9/11 and we are still being told that Islam is at not war with our civilization, that Islam is a “Religion of Peace(tm)”, and that terrorism is a mere bug and not an all-out operating system feature of Islam. The western scum retailing these lies are everywhere.

  2. 2. Morton Doodslag

    Right on cue. Appearing on Fox News, one of the hired hagiographers of Islam making the rounds, author David Lesch, to “explain” what’s happening in Syria. His recent book’s title: “The New Lion of Damascas”.

    Who is David Lesch? Professor at Trinity University of “Middle East History”. I wonder who funds that department. Who funds most or all of the “Middle Eastern Departments” of this-and-that?

    His description today of Assad: “…He’s seen in Syria as an unpretentious man, a family man, a humble figure who gave up his avocation as an ophthalmologist to lead the country…”

    Gee. I wonder what the problem is then.

  3. 3. Gad

    According to Imelda’s attorney, Gerry Spence, she was given most of those shoes as gifts during visits to shoe factories. The Philippines is a major shoe manufacturer, and Imelda’s duties included appearances at factory locations.

  4. Michelle Obama probably has a larger clothing and jewelry wardrobe albeit without Asma’s refined tastes. A rough estimate on what MO has paid for her wardrobe is around a half a million. With the MSM it’s hands off. A Republican woman wouldn’t be so lucky.

    Michelle Obama Wears 16 Outfits in 4 Days.
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j8i30O20OXM

  5. What, don’t you know? Those Totalitarian dictators aren’t really rich: their wealth belongs to “the people”. To bad the people don’t get to benefit.

  6. 6. Gork

    When not comforting her husband after a hard day of torturing, killing, or beating his opponents for speaking against him, Asma al-Assad is a beautiful fashion queen.

    Vogue recently did a spread on her. That there are media whores who will paint lipstick on any pig, no matter how ugly, is no surprise. That there are pretty women who would sleep with the devil incarnate is no surprise either.

    No, what never fails to surprise me is how easily such dregs of humanity can continue to attract such limitless hordes of minions who will continue to support them. That there should be so many such people stuns me.

    Sooner or later one would think they’d realize the ugly nature of those who they have placed upon this pedestal. Maybe that’s what this Arab revolution is about.

  7. 7. Percival

    Maybe Muammar has something in her size.

  8. 8. Victor

    Claudia Rosett

    Could you please explain why 2 links were added to my above post and why my original link was deleted?

    http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Middle_East/MD01Ak01.html

    Claudia, you are a respected journalist with WSJ and NRO

    –neither of which would allow such actions as it would be unethical and would seriously damage both their brand and their credibility.

    Please look into this matter and explain what is going on here

    Thanks

    Victor

    [Ed. - Comments here are not edited. They are simply either posted or deleted. If anything got garbled, it was not an editing decision; most likely a technical glitch. Posting this as a correction.]

    • Cynic

      Well if it was an article by Spengler I’d give it more attention.

  9. I suggest Asma get fashion advice from the “Moochelle Collection”.

  10. 10. Elize Nayden

    Whatever widows wear in muslim culture….

  11. 11. Lyndsey

    Interesting hit piece. I would suggest that people talk to the Christian population of Syria whose life has improved considerably since Asma became first lady. They are no longer persecuted and treated like second class citizens. Asma is a Christian Syrian and has had considerable influence in making sure that her people are treated better and given oppotunities that they haven’t had in the past. She has also made sure that her people are protected from their Muslem neighbors who are often do violence to the Christians in the area.

    Having witness the treatment of Christians in Lebanon, Egypy, Syria etc.I see no reason to support a violent Muslem population.

    • SukieTawdry

      Although I can find no information about Asma’s good works on behalf of Syrian Christians nor about their improved lot since she arrived on the scene, I hope what you say is accurate.

      However, I believe Asma is Sunni Muslim. Any connection she has with Christianity appears to be strictly cultural. Or multicultural–she’s quoted as saying, “All the religions and cultures that have passed through these lands–the Armenians, Islam, Christianity, the Umayyads, the Ottomans–make up who I am.” And isn’t there at least one other group who passed through those lands conspicuously missing from her list? Oh well, perhaps she doesn’t feel the Jews are part of what makes her who she is.

    • David V

      Yeah, whatever. I sold my SOUL for Chanel and Louboutin, but, but, I can speak four languages you know. Off with their heads!!!

  12. 12. spindok

    At least she can wear all those nice clothes.

    Look at the photo of poor Ahmenijad’s wife sitting with her Lebanese counterparts. I feel embarrased for her just looking at it.
    http://www.nowlebanon.com/Library/Images/Uploaded%20Images/blog/Mo-Jad-wife-blog2.jpg

  13. 13. Isahiah62

    well I get many fashion magazines, keeping up with style is part of my job.
    I have looked through old issues of GQ, and Vogue. 100% pro-Bama anti McCain diss Sarah, articles were the norm. Vogue ran puff pieces on Jarrett and Michelle. I have no problem with using the first lady to promomte US fashion, thatis part of her job and many other first ladies have been style icons. I do object to the injection of political bias in the articles. GQ went so far as to run extremely iconic, flattering, almost propagandic images of Obama and Hillary while running the ugliest image of Mc Cain they could did up. Same for Mrs McCain, an attractive woman- they purposely made them look bad and (sin of fashion) OLD. I have cancelled both magazines as both are biased and the topic of their rags is NOT politics; the focus of the articles should be fashion, style, homes.
    The piece on MRS Assad was really disgusting- in so many ways- yes glossed over her husband’s “job” but worse did not address the issues Islamic women who are not the “Queen” of the country live. The same treatement was given to Rania of Jordan. Jordan a country full of oppressed Palestinians and women living in near bondage of Islam.

    Liberal and the media who write this propaganda are more of a problem to me than foreign enemies- these people are advocating for the people who wish to destroy the very establishment they are privileged to be part of of- a free press. For people who do not have such in their nations. I consider them dangerous to my personal and our national well-being.

    In my industry I can’t even feel comfortable to voice a conservative opinion or say I voted REP- so villanized, so libeled and so viciously hated by this group are we- I know it would affect my ability to get work. We don’t need a McCarthy blacklist in USA- it’s already here and not of Rep making- nope brought to us by Dems, dhimmis, and lib mainstream media who hold the hand of our enemies, while they disrespect fellow Americans.

  14. 14. David V

    From the Wall Street Journal’s March WSJ:

    1. There’s also the question of whether Vogue doesn’t sometimes allow a fashionable tail to wag a questionable dog. The March issue included a soft-focus look at Syria’s ruling al-Assad family. Yes, conceded writer Joan Juliet Buck, “In Syria, power is hereditary,” and there are those “souvenir Hezbollah ashtrays” scattered around. But president Bashar al-Assad’s wife, Asma, is nonetheless “glamorous, young and very chic.”

    2. … rumors still adore Wintour. The latest one is that she is interested in leaving Vogue and fashion for a job in Washington as an ambassador. This speculation has fed on Wintour’s enthusiastic fund-raising activities for Barack Obama and her open admiration for the First Lady—Michelle Obama is one of the first names Wintour mentions when asked whom she most looks up to.

    Before the presidential election in 2008, she co-hosted a fund-raising dinner with Calvin Klein and André Leon Talley at Klein’s home. “I spent time on the aesthetics, and Anna did the phone calls and was really responsible for the funds,” Klein recalls. “She was a powerhouse, this tiny, beautiful woman who you think just lives and dies for fashion.” Shortly after, Annie Leibovitz photographed Michelle Obama for a spread that ran in the January 2009 issue. She also appeared on Vogue’s March 2009 cover, along with an exclusive interview with the First Lady.

    Last July, Wintour hosted a $30,000-a-head Obama fund-raiser at her townhouse in Greenwich Village. In attendance were key members of her network, including Harvey Weinstein and his wife, Marchesa designer Georgina Chapman; Andrew Rosen, founder of sportswear manufacturer Theory (he contributed heavily to the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund and made the T-shirts for Fashion’s Night Out); Gap designer Patrick Robinson (who co-chaired the 2010 Costume Institute gala with Oprah Winfrey and Wintour); old chum and CFDA president Diane von Furstenberg; and art dealer Larry Gagosian. According to Women’s Wear Daily, the dinner raised as much as $1.5 million.

    Read more: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704893604576200722939264658.html#ixzz1IP3pDnxn

    Read more: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704893604576200722939264658.html#ixzz1IP39WsRc

    2 great reasons to NEVER buy US Vogue

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