Saturday, October 20, 2012
Al-Jazeera Video: Noam Chomsky in Gaza. المفكر الأميركي نعوم تشومسكي في قطاع غزة
"وقد طالب المفكر الأميركي نعوم تشومسكي بإنهاء الحصار الإسرائيلي على قطاع غزة فورا. ووصف تشومسكي في زيارة لغزة لحضور مؤتمر أكاديمي في الجامعة الإسلامية الحصار الإسرائيلي بأنه عمل إجرامي، وحمل الولايات المتحدة المسؤولية عنه."
Guardian Video: Lebanon's security chief assassinated in car bomb explosion
"The Lebanese opposition party, 14 March bloc, call on the government to resign after the assassination of Wissam al-Hassan on Friday. The spy chief was killed in a Beirut car bomb during rush hour in east Beirut. The former prime minister accused Syria's president, Bashar al-Assad, of being responsible for the attack."
Gaza-bound ship Estelle intercepted by Israeli forces
Israeli marines board the Estelle and direct it to port
of Ashdod as 30 activists on board attempt to break Gaza blockade
Israeli forces have
intercepted a boat carrying pro-Palestinian activists seeking to breach the
naval blockade on Gaza.
A military spokeswoman said
no one was hurt when marines boarded the Estelle, which was rerouted to Israel's southern
Mediterranean port of Ashdod.
A campaigner said the boat had "come under attack" after being pursued by Israeli naval vessels.
Activists said they lost contact with the Swedish-owned, Finnish-flagged boat early on Saturday.
"The Estelle is now under
attack. I have just had a message from them by phone. Some time ago, they said
that they had military ships following them," Victoria Strand, a Stockholm-based
spokeswoman for the Ship to Gaza Sweden campaign, told Agence
France Presse (AFP).
She added that it was unclear what the activists onboard meant when they said they had been attacked.
The Estelle is carrying 30
activists from Europe, Canada and
Israel, humanitarian cargo such as cement, and goodwill items such as children's
books......"
Al-Jazeera Video: Gaza-bound ship 'attacked by Israel forces'
"Mikael Löfgren, media coordinator spokesman for the Estelle, spoke to Al Jazeera from Stockholm, Sweden."
Al-Jazeera Video: ما وراء الخبر - اغتيال العميد وسام الحسن
"تناول الحلقة اغتيال العميد وسام الحسن رئيس فرع المعلومات بقوات الأمن الداخلي في لبنان في انفجار هز منطقة الأشرفية في بيروت. أي دلالات يعطيها لهذا الاغتيال شخص العميد وسام الحسن وإدارته ملف الأمن الداخلي؟ وكيف سينعكس مقتل العميد الحسن على تعقيدات الوضع اللبناني داخليا وسياقه إقليميا؟
تقديم: ليلى الشيخلي
تاريخ البث: 19/10/2012
الضيوف: غسان جواد، أسعد بشارة"
We condemn Israel. So why the silence on Syria?
When Israelis kill Arabs there is outrage. But Assad's
brutal campaign has cost 30,000 lives and there've been no protests
They say nothing because
there is no pressure on them to say anything. Here and abroad, there is virtual
silence, save for the desperate pleas of a few Syrian expats and yesterday's cry
for humanitarian help from the Turkish foreign minister. We know the facts,
and we know what Bashar al-Assad has done since demonstrators took to the
streets to protest against his rule 19 months ago. He and his forces have
pursued a campaign of the most chilling brutality, using fighter planes to bomb
civilian neighbourhoods, capturing, starving and torturing children as young as
six, according
to Save the Children, and racking up an
estimated death toll of 30,000 victims.
People know all this but stay mute. Not that they should be demanding immediate military action. After Afghanistan, Iraq and Libya, people are justifiably both weary and wary, with many regarding action in Syria as a practical impossibility. I understand that. But what I can't comprehend is the lack of public pressure on those doing the actual killing – starting with the Assad regime. Instead, public opinion seems utterly disengaged, unbothered by the slaughter under way in Aleppo, Homs and Damascus.
There are no mass
demonstrations outside the Syrian embassy in London. The story is rarely on the
front page or on the TV bulletins. Even when there is a shocking atrocity, such
as the Daraya massacre of up to 400 people in August, it makes only a
fleeting impact. There is no Disaster Emergency Committee appeal......
There is no such clamour
now. The Stop the
War Coalition is not summoning thousands to central London to demand an end
to the fighting, as it did then. On the contrary, its
statements are content simply to oppose western intervention – of which
there is next to no prospect – while politely refusing to condemn Assad's war on
his own people. Caryl Churchill has not written a new play, Seven Syrian
Children, exploring the curious mindset of the Alawite people that makes them
capable of such horrors, the way she rushed to the stage to
probe the Jewish psyche in 2009. The slaughter in Syria has similarly failed
to move the poet Tom
Paulin to pick up his pen. Apparently, these Syrian deaths are not worthy of
artistic note. The contrast has struck Robert Fisk, no defender of Israel. He
puts it baldly: "[T]he message that goes out is simple: we demand justice
and the right to life for Arabs if they are butchered by the west and its
Israeli allies, but not when they are being butchered by their fellow
Arabs."......."
Friday, October 19, 2012
The killing fields: Syria
IS IT because America and Europe have tired of their own wars that they have started to turn their back on other people’s? The number of dead in Syria has passed 30,000. Some days over 250 bodies are added to the pile, which brings to mind Iraq at the insurgency’s peak in 2006-07. Were the next few months to stretch into years, as now seems likely, Syria’s great cities would be ground to rubble and the whole Middle East would choke on the dust.
To prevent this catastrophe, NATO needs to start making the humanitarian and strategic case for intervening in Syria. Grounding President Bashar Assad’s air force could save many thousands of lives. Giving the rebels scope to organise and train could help bring the war to an end. Speeding the fall of Mr Assad might give Syria a chance to re-emerge as a nation at peace with itself and its neighbours.
Bashar’s war
Nothing argues for intervention more forcefully than Mr Assad’s brutal tactics. From the beginning, when his troops fired on peaceful demonstrators, he has used extreme violence. A combination of impunity and desperation has led him to graduate from heavy weapons to aircraft, helicopter gunships and now cluster bombs. The fury of the assault against civilians in Damascus and Aleppo, Syria’s two main cities, explains why the death toll is now mounting fast. Such violence breeds implacable hatred, and so the rebels will fight on.
Mr Assad has also fomented sectarian conflict. By defining the rebels as terrorists backing Syria’s Sunni majority, he hopes to bind minorities to his cause. Thugs from his Alawite sect have sown division with an orgy of murder and rape. Sadly, as time passes, the sectarian lie is coming true. Long-bearded Salafists are fighting under the black banner of extremist Islam. Rebels have started to commit atrocities (see article). As tolerance wanes, so does the hope that Syria can emerge from Mr Assad’s rule as a decent country.
And lastly, Mr Assad is destabilising the region. By enlisting the support of Russia and Iran, he has laid the ground for an interminable proxy war in which Turkey and some Gulf states back the rebels. His forces have traded potshots with Turkey. Refugees are pouring over Syria’s borders. In Lebanon Hizbullah is being sucked in. Militant nationalism is growing among the Kurds (see article). And sectarian tension is rising in Iraq: the Shia-led government supplies Mr Assad, and rebellious Sunnis, including the rump of al-Qaeda, back his opponents.
Syria is facing a long, violent, sectarian civil war that will claim tens of thousands of lives, leave chemical and biological weapons unsecured and destabilise a region of paramount strategic importance. That is something the outside world has both a duty and an interest to prevent. But even if intervening now is the least bloody option, it will still be bloody.
In strictly military terms, the mission is feasible. NATO could enforce a no-fly zone over Syria. It is possible that the mere threat of destroying any airborne Syrian aircraft would keep Mr Assad’s planes on the ground; but America’s military planners might insist on destroying Mr Assad’s air defences anyway (harder than last year’s campaign against Libya, but still possible). The bigger worry, however, is what would follow the establishment of a no-fly zone.
Security chief dies in Beirut blast - live updates
"Background on Wissam al-Hassan
For those who want to know more about Wissam al-Hassam, the assassinated
security chief, Elias Muhanna is posting information and links on his Qifa Nabki
blog.
Wissam al-Hassan was one of the most important security figures in Lebanon. He headed up the Information Branch of the Internal Security Forces (i.e. the Lebanese police), and was recently responsible for arresting Michel Samaha, a former minister with close ties to Syria, for allegedly conspiring to have explosives blown up all around Lebanon in a bid to create havoc.
The move was seen as hugely destabilising in Lebanon — because Wissam al-Hassan is very close to the March 14th coalition while Samaha had long been regarded as “untouchable” because of his connections to Damascus — and yet none of Samaha’s Lebanese allies demanded his release.
Wissam al-Hassan also has a very interesting role in the investigation of the Hariri assassination, which we’ll discuss later as well.
Officials confirm security chief's death
Some observations from Guardian journalist Martin Chulov.......
Al-Jazeera Video: Huge bomb blast rocks central Beirut
"At least one person has been killed and 15 wounded by a huge bomb that exploded in a street in central Beirut on Friday, witnesses and a security source said. Al Jazeera's Rula Amin reports live from Beirut."
COMMENT:
This has the fingerprints of the bloody Assad regime all over it.
Al-Jazeera Video: Empire - The post-American Middle East
Hosted by Marwan Bishara
"The Middle East has served as a setting for the grand narratives of American imperial power for generations. Empire examines the complications that shape Washington's Middle East doctrine following the Arab Spring."
"The Middle East has served as a setting for the grand narratives of American imperial power for generations. Empire examines the complications that shape Washington's Middle East doctrine following the Arab Spring."
Cluster bombs dropped on Maarat al-Numan – AFP
The Guardian
"A correspondent for AFP has seen evidence of cluster bombs dropped on the strategic town of Maarat al-Numan, the agency reports.
"A correspondent for AFP has seen evidence of cluster bombs dropped on the strategic town of Maarat al-Numan, the agency reports.
The rebels showed an AFP correspondent in the battleground Idlib province town debris from one such cluster bomb and dozens of other bomblets that failed to explode on impact.
The devices bore markings in the Cyrillic script used in several Eastern European countries, including Russia – a key ally of the government of President Bashar Assad.
As we mentioned in the
summary below, the New York Times also has a report about yesterday's
airstrikes on Maarat al-Numan which refers to reporters on the scene for a
western news agency."
Syria accused of blocking BBC broadcasts
Syria was facing accusations last night that it was using sophisticated satellite "jamming" technology to block BBC broadcasts across the Mediterrean.
The Telegraph
"The BBC said on its broadcasts were being disrupted in the Middle East and Europe. Broadcasters including CNN and Voice of America using the Eutelsat were suffering widespread disruption.
Sources within broadcasting companies said Syria appeared to have sought Iranian
assistance to disrupt the signal as part of an information war against the West.
Syria has accused Western and Arab television stations of fanning the flames
of its civil war with "distortions and lies" about the government's response to
popular protests. Iran is an ally of the Damascus regime that stands accused of
providing assistance to Syrian crackdown.
The satellite operator said it had identified the source of the attacks. "The
deliberate and intermittent interference that began earlier this week is coming
from Syria," it said.
"The BBC, together with a number of other broadcasters, is experiencing
deliberate, intermittent interference to its transmissions to audiences in
Europe and the Middle East," it said in a statement. "Deliberate interference
such as the jamming of transmissions is a blatant violation of international
regulations concerning the use of satellites and we strongly condemn any
practice designed to disrupt audiences."......
....."Such deplorable tactics illustrate again the deteriorating human rights situation in Iran, and the desperation of the Iranian regime to silence any independent voices," he said in February."
....."Such deplorable tactics illustrate again the deteriorating human rights situation in Iran, and the desperation of the Iranian regime to silence any independent voices," he said in February."
Defiance in Maarat al-Numan
The Guardian
A shoe is seen glued to a statue of late Syrian president Hafez al-Assad, at the museum of Maarat al-Numan, in the northwestern Idlib province, on October 17, 2012
A shoe is seen glued to a statue of late Syrian president Hafez al-Assad, at the museum of Maarat al-Numan, in the northwestern Idlib province, on October 17, 2012
Thursday, October 18, 2012
Bashar Assad: This is Your Future; it is a Question of Time
Chomsky makes first Gaza visit
AFP
"GAZA CITY, Palestinian Territories — Jewish-American scholar and activist Noam Chomsky reportedly called for an end to Israel's siege of Gaza, on his first ever visit to the Hamas-ruled enclave on Thursday.
Chomsky, who was in the Gaza Strip for a conference at the Islamic University, called "to end the Israeli siege on Gaza," a member of Gaza's legislative council and head of the university's administrative board, Jamal al-Khudari, told AFP.....
On Saturday, Chomsky was to deliver a speech on the Arab Spring and the future of foreign policy in the region. He will also meet with NGOs, especially human rights groups, Khudari said.
"We organised a programme for him to tour refugee camps."
The Palestinian lawmaker noted Chomsky, travelling with an academic delegation, coordinated his entry to Gaza through the Rafah crossing with Egyptian authorities.
Chomsky is a professor of linguistics at the US Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a prominent critic of American foreign policy. He has frequently spoken out against Israel's occupation of the Palestinian territories."
"GAZA CITY, Palestinian Territories — Jewish-American scholar and activist Noam Chomsky reportedly called for an end to Israel's siege of Gaza, on his first ever visit to the Hamas-ruled enclave on Thursday.
Chomsky, who was in the Gaza Strip for a conference at the Islamic University, called "to end the Israeli siege on Gaza," a member of Gaza's legislative council and head of the university's administrative board, Jamal al-Khudari, told AFP.....
On Saturday, Chomsky was to deliver a speech on the Arab Spring and the future of foreign policy in the region. He will also meet with NGOs, especially human rights groups, Khudari said.
"We organised a programme for him to tour refugee camps."
The Palestinian lawmaker noted Chomsky, travelling with an academic delegation, coordinated his entry to Gaza through the Rafah crossing with Egyptian authorities.
Chomsky is a professor of linguistics at the US Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a prominent critic of American foreign policy. He has frequently spoken out against Israel's occupation of the Palestinian territories."
Guardian Video: Syria: 28,000 'have disappeared' since uprising began
"Up to 28,000 Syrians have disappeared over the past 19 months, with civilians snatched from the streets or forcibly abducted by government troops or security forces, according to global campaign network Avaaz. This harrowing film released by Avaaz shows footage of soldiers abducting people."
رحلات السلطة الفلسطينية إلى الأمم المتحدة
"....
....
طبخ
الحجارة
تعج الضفة الغربية وقطاع غزة بالكثير من القضايا الهامة والجوهرية التي يمكن أن تهتم بها السلطة الفلسطينية وتعالجها من أجل تحسين الوضعين الآني والإستراتيجي للشعب الفلسطيني، وهي أهم بكثير من الجري السنوي إلى الأمم المتحدة.
تعج الضفة الغربية وقطاع غزة بالكثير من القضايا الهامة والجوهرية التي يمكن أن تهتم بها السلطة الفلسطينية وتعالجها من أجل تحسين الوضعين الآني والإستراتيجي للشعب الفلسطيني، وهي أهم بكثير من الجري السنوي إلى الأمم المتحدة.
هناك قضايا الفساد التي تسلم ملفاتها للجنة من حركة فتح ولا تعمل
إعلاميا، وقضايا التنسيق الأمني وملاحقة سلاح المقاومة.
وهناك قضايا الاستيطان وتهويد القدس، والاعتداء على الفلاحين، وتدمير
البيوت والقرى، وقضايا اللاجئين ومآسي الفلسطينيين الذين يتم تهجيرهم من بلدان
عربية، وقضايا وحدة الشعب وإعادة بناء المقاومة الفلسطينية والاقتصاد الفلسطيني..
إلخ. هذه قضايا ملحة ومهمة جدا، وبدون معالجتها سيستمر الوضع الداخلي الفلسطيني
بالتدهور، والتوجه نحو مزيد من الضعف في مواجهة الصهاينة.
الظاهر أن الذهاب إلى الأمم المتحدة عبارة عن هروب من المسؤولية تجاه
الشعب الفلسطيني في كافة أماكن تواجده، وأن القيادة الفلسطينية تحاول الهروب من
واقعها وعجزها وعدم رغبتها في البحث عن مخارج لهموم الشعب بالتجول عبر العالم، سعيا
وراء قرار لن يغير من وضع الشعب الفلسطيني شيئا، وهي بذلك تشبه الأم التي حاولت
تصبير أبنائها على الجوع عبر إيهامهم بأنها تطبخ شيئا، في حين أن الحِلّة تمتلئ
بالحجارة.
"
"Al-Jazeera Video: Syrian children return to school in exile
"Jordan has opened its first school for Syrian refugee children whose education was interrupted because of the war. Classes started in early October at the school backed by United Nations Children's Fund. The Jordanian government has provided the teachers and the learning programme. So far, 2,400 students have enrolled. But many say they aren't happy with the quality of education they're getting. Al Jazeera's Nisreen El-Shamayleh reports from the Al Zaatari refugee camp in Jordan."
Poverty Sparks New Unrest in Egypt
".....In the four decades since former president Anwar El-Sadat announced his ‘Infitah’ (Open Door) economic policy, private capital has flooded into Egypt on the back of measures that promoted the country as an owner-friendly, low-wage investment destination. Firms enjoyed cheap land, tax holidays and subsidised energy while the state repressed union activity and eviscerated labour standards.
Political economist Amr Adly says market liberalisation and neoliberal economic policies were a boon for foreign corporations and wealthy Egyptians, but the resulting unemployment, corruption, and uneven distribution of wealth were primary factors behind the uprising last year that toppled president Hosni Mubarak.
“The economy was growing at seven or eight percent before the revolution, but there was no trickle down effect,” Adly told IPS. “Wages in many sectors lagged far behind inflation.”.......
But analysts say the new regime, much like its predecessor, wants to keep workers contained and controlled.
The Muslim Brotherhood, the Islamist group from which Egypt’s new president hails, has extensive business interests and a long history of anti-union activities. The group’s members in government have signalled a continuation of the old regime’s economic policies – which critics say come at the expense of labour wages and security.
“The Muslim Brotherhood doesn’t want strong unions,” asserts Hadeer Hassan, a local labour journalist. “They label striking workers as ‘thugs’ and want to prohibit union plurality.”
Egypt’s new labour minister, a prominent Brotherhood member and former ETUF deputy, has submitted a draft law that would require workers in each enterprise to select just one trade union to represent them. If passed, labour rights advocates say the legislation would eliminate most independent unions, which exist alongside their larger ETUF counterparts.
“Then we’re back to the way it was under Mubarak,” says Hassan."
Current Al-Jazeera (Arabic) Online Poll
Do you support accusations that Maliki is preparing for a sectarian war in Iraq?
With about 300 responding, 90% said yes.
Denial Is Slipping Away as War Arrives in Damascus
The New York Times
".....War has come to Damascus. Not on the scale of Aleppo or Homs, at least not yet. But the difference from just a few months ago is unmistakable. With sandbagged checkpoints every half-mile and soldiers methodically searching vehicles for weapons, simple movement is becoming impossible.
".....War has come to Damascus. Not on the scale of Aleppo or Homs, at least not yet. But the difference from just a few months ago is unmistakable. With sandbagged checkpoints every half-mile and soldiers methodically searching vehicles for weapons, simple movement is becoming impossible.
“Where is Damascus headed? Are we the next Aleppo?”
Rifa asked a few days later. “How soon before our city, our markets, are
destroyed?”
This is the center of Bashar
al-Assad’s power, the stronghold he tried for months to shield from a
popular uprising that has inexorably been transformed into a bloody civil war.
As his troops battled insurgents all around the country, Mr. Assad was
determined that here, at least, he would preserve an air of normalcy, of
routine, of certainty that life would go on, as it had before.
Such illusions are no longer possible. The reality of
war has crept into daily life, and there is a sense of inevitability. Even
supporters of the government talk about what comes next, and rebels speak of
tightening the noose around this city, their ultimate goal......"
Tlass 'should form a Champs-Elysées Brigade'
Tlass 'should form a Champs-Elysées Brigade'
The Guardian
"Defected Syrian general Manaf Tlass "wants to show
himself as Rambo", Adnan al-Shama'a, coordinator of the military councils in
Syria, told the Guardian today. Speaking to our colleague Mona Mahmood from a
mobile phone, he poured scorn on the idea that Tlass might
take on a combat role with the rebel fighters.
It is really funny. He does not have any popularity or supporters inside Syria. He wants to show himself as Rambo, though he has done nothing on the ground. He was [president] Bashar's friend and then he decided to defect.
He disappeared for two weeks and then showed up to declare his defection – which in reality is fleeing more than defecting. When he appeared on al-Arabiya TV channel he did not bother to put the flag of the Syrian revolution behind him and did not dare to say one word in criticism of Bashar al-Assad.
Manaf Tlass is a son of a minister of defence and a friend of a criminal [Assad] – which is not a merit but a stain. People inside Syria do not accept him. Those officers who defect from the regime do not have the right to tell the command of the revolution who is to be the leader. It is the command itself who decides.
It is a sinking ship and everyone is trying to jump off. He wants people to be grateful to him for his fleeing. It it would be better for him to form a Champs-Elysées Brigade in Paris.
His home town is Rastan but no one in Rastan is in favour of him. These people still can't understand that this is not a coup but a people's revolution and they have to forget about what positions they can get....."
Syria crisis: 28,000 disappeared, say rights groups
BBC
"Human rights groups working in Syria say at least 28,000 people have disappeared after being abducted by soldiers or militia.
They say they have the names of 18,000 people missing since anti-government protests began 18 months ago and know of another 10,000 cases.
Online activist group Avaaz says "nobody is safe" from a deliberate government campaign of terror.
It intends to give the UN Human Rights Council a dossier for investigation.
The Syrian government has so far not commented on the claims but has in the past strenuously denied reports of human rights abuses.
Avaaz said it had gathered testimony from Syrians who say husbands, sons and daughters were forcibly abducted by pro-government forces....."
"Human rights groups working in Syria say at least 28,000 people have disappeared after being abducted by soldiers or militia.
They say they have the names of 18,000 people missing since anti-government protests began 18 months ago and know of another 10,000 cases.
Online activist group Avaaz says "nobody is safe" from a deliberate government campaign of terror.
It intends to give the UN Human Rights Council a dossier for investigation.
The Syrian government has so far not commented on the claims but has in the past strenuously denied reports of human rights abuses.
Avaaz said it had gathered testimony from Syrians who say husbands, sons and daughters were forcibly abducted by pro-government forces....."
François Hollande acknowledges 1961 massacre of Algerians in Paris
Statement by Hollande is first time a French president has publicly accepted
that the killings took place
guardian.co.uk,
"The French president, François Hollande, has acknowledged that Algerians were massacred during an independence rally in Paris in 1961, ending decades of official silence over one of the darkest chapters of postwar French history.
The massacre has been widely recorded by historians, who say more than 200 people may have been killed.
The statement, which came as Hollande tries to improve relations with Algiers before a visit there in December, was the first time a French president had publicly accepted the killings took place.
"On 17 October 1961, Algerians who were protesting for independence were killed in a bloody repression. The Republic recognises these facts with lucidity," Hollande said in a statement on Wednesday. "I pay homage to victims 51 years later."...."
guardian.co.uk,
"The French president, François Hollande, has acknowledged that Algerians were massacred during an independence rally in Paris in 1961, ending decades of official silence over one of the darkest chapters of postwar French history.
The massacre has been widely recorded by historians, who say more than 200 people may have been killed.
The statement, which came as Hollande tries to improve relations with Algiers before a visit there in December, was the first time a French president had publicly accepted the killings took place.
As Algeria's battle for
independence spilled into France, the Paris police chief, Maurice Papon, ordered
police to crack down on thousands of Algerian protesters who had defied a
curfew.
"On 17 October 1961, Algerians who were protesting for independence were killed in a bloody repression. The Republic recognises these facts with lucidity," Hollande said in a statement on Wednesday. "I pay homage to victims 51 years later."...."
Egypt must release man on trial for criticizing religion
Amnesty International
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"A man facing trial for publishing videos critical of religions should be immediately released by the Egyptian authorities and all charges against him dropped, Amnesty International said today.
Alber Saber Ayad, an activist from the 2011 uprising, is charged with "defamation of religion". If convicted he could receive a six-year prison sentence and a fine of 500 Egyptian Pounds (US$82). His trial resumes on Wednesday before a Cairo misdemeanour court.
"Alber Saber Ayad is a prisoner of conscience, detained solely for peacefully exercising his right to freedom of expression and should be released immediately and unconditionally," said Hassiba Hadj Sahraoui, Deputy Director of Amnesty International's Middle East and North Africa Programme.
"Criticism of religions and other beliefs and ideas is a vital component of the right to freedom of expression. Laws – such as blasphemy laws – that criminalize such criticism violate human rights.
"Criticism, insult or mockery does not interfere with the individual believer’s freedom of religion, however offensive they may find it."
Alber Saber Ayad told his lawyers that while in detention, a police officer in El Marg Prison incited other detainees to attack him.
The detainees beat Alber Saber Ayad and cut him with a razor blade along his neck....."
.jpg)
"A man facing trial for publishing videos critical of religions should be immediately released by the Egyptian authorities and all charges against him dropped, Amnesty International said today.
Alber Saber Ayad, an activist from the 2011 uprising, is charged with "defamation of religion". If convicted he could receive a six-year prison sentence and a fine of 500 Egyptian Pounds (US$82). His trial resumes on Wednesday before a Cairo misdemeanour court.
"Alber Saber Ayad is a prisoner of conscience, detained solely for peacefully exercising his right to freedom of expression and should be released immediately and unconditionally," said Hassiba Hadj Sahraoui, Deputy Director of Amnesty International's Middle East and North Africa Programme.
"Criticism of religions and other beliefs and ideas is a vital component of the right to freedom of expression. Laws – such as blasphemy laws – that criminalize such criticism violate human rights.
"Criticism, insult or mockery does not interfere with the individual believer’s freedom of religion, however offensive they may find it."
Alber Saber Ayad told his lawyers that while in detention, a police officer in El Marg Prison incited other detainees to attack him.
The detainees beat Alber Saber Ayad and cut him with a razor blade along his neck....."
Wednesday, October 17, 2012
Al-Jazeera Video: Captured Syrian pilot speaks to Al Jazeera
"A Syrian air force pilot captured by rebels after his plane was shot down has told Al Jazeera that he did not know he was bombing civilians.
Captain Roni Ibrahim said he and his fellow pilots were isolated from the reality of the conflict.
Ibrahim said he was speaking freely, though Al Jazeera was unable to verify the claim.
Anita McNaught has this exclusive report from the northern town of al-Bab."
The Syrian State: A Corrupt and Rotten Facade
By Maysaloon
"......There is no state. And when Waqqaf arrogantly and with all the vulgarity that his camp are known for claims that he stands by a state, what he is really saying is that he wants a Syria ruled perpetually by the Assads. The Assads are the state, and everything outside of this vision is outside the state and is a traitor. If you love this vision, give yourself to it completely in body and soul, then it will provide for you so far as you are useful. If not, you will be completely and utterly crushed. It is nothing more than Syrian fascism with a dash of corporatism, and it has infected Syria politically, culturally and socially. There is not one remnant of the old Syrian state that remains untarnished, so complete and thorough has this movement embedded itself. The Muslim Brotherhood insurrection during the seventies sounded the death knell to Syrian civil society and to the remarkably active unions that the country once had. Under the pretense of a war on terror, all liberties were crushed, to be replaced by the politics of fear. This is the vision that Waqqaf is really defending, and the fact that he uses the terminology of statehood and representative government only adds insult to the injury that this regime has inflicted on an entire country......"
"......There is no state. And when Waqqaf arrogantly and with all the vulgarity that his camp are known for claims that he stands by a state, what he is really saying is that he wants a Syria ruled perpetually by the Assads. The Assads are the state, and everything outside of this vision is outside the state and is a traitor. If you love this vision, give yourself to it completely in body and soul, then it will provide for you so far as you are useful. If not, you will be completely and utterly crushed. It is nothing more than Syrian fascism with a dash of corporatism, and it has infected Syria politically, culturally and socially. There is not one remnant of the old Syrian state that remains untarnished, so complete and thorough has this movement embedded itself. The Muslim Brotherhood insurrection during the seventies sounded the death knell to Syrian civil society and to the remarkably active unions that the country once had. Under the pretense of a war on terror, all liberties were crushed, to be replaced by the politics of fear. This is the vision that Waqqaf is really defending, and the fact that he uses the terminology of statehood and representative government only adds insult to the injury that this regime has inflicted on an entire country......"
Rebels forcing Syrian jets to bomb from high altitude - France
"(Reuters) - Syrian rebels have acquired heavy weapons that have forced the
government's air force to bomb rebel-held zones indiscriminately from high
altitude, France's foreign minister said before meeting rebel groups
on Wednesday.
Laurent Fabius, one of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's harshest critics, made his comments ahead of a closed door conference in Paris with civilian members of rebel councils that run areas seized from central government control.
They included representatives from Maarat al-Numan, a town whose seizure last week cut the main route from Damascus to Aleppo.
"In a certain number of these zones, Bashar al-Assad is bombarding them with MiG fighter jets, and what is particularly horrible is that he is bombarding them with TNT," Fabius said.
"But at the same time there are now weapons that are forcing the planes to fly extremely high, and so the strikes are less accurate," he told reporters.
Amateur footage of rebels using shoulder-mounted surface-to-air missiles have emerged in recent days. On Wednesday, activists posted videos of what they said was a Syrian military helicopter spiralling to the ground and exploding in flames [See Post Below].
Rami Abdelrahman, head of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, said that the helicopter had been downed near Maarat al-Numan. "Some rebels say they used anti-aircraft missiles," he told Reuters by phone from Britain......."
Laurent Fabius, one of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's harshest critics, made his comments ahead of a closed door conference in Paris with civilian members of rebel councils that run areas seized from central government control.
They included representatives from Maarat al-Numan, a town whose seizure last week cut the main route from Damascus to Aleppo.
"In a certain number of these zones, Bashar al-Assad is bombarding them with MiG fighter jets, and what is particularly horrible is that he is bombarding them with TNT," Fabius said.
"But at the same time there are now weapons that are forcing the planes to fly extremely high, and so the strikes are less accurate," he told reporters.
Amateur footage of rebels using shoulder-mounted surface-to-air missiles have emerged in recent days. On Wednesday, activists posted videos of what they said was a Syrian military helicopter spiralling to the ground and exploding in flames [See Post Below].
Rami Abdelrahman, head of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, said that the helicopter had been downed near Maarat al-Numan. "Some rebels say they used anti-aircraft missiles," he told Reuters by phone from Britain......."
A Great Video: Syrian Regime Helicopter Shot Down Over Maraat al-Numan
The Fighters Need More of These Missiles, and Now!
Iraqi Shi'ite militants fight for Syria's Assad
"BAGHDAD, Oct 16 (Reuters) - Scores of Iraqi Shi'ite militants are fighting in Syria, often alongside President Bashar al-Assad's troops, and pledging loyalty to Iran's supreme Shi'ite religious leader, according to militia fighters and politicians in Iraq.
Iraqi Shi'ite militia involvement in Syria's conflict exposes how rapidly the crisis has spiralled into a proxy war between Assad's main ally Shi'ite Iran and the Sunni Arab Gulf states supporting mostly Sunni rebels fighting the president.
The conflict has already drawn in a stream of Sunni Islamist fighters from across the region attracted to the rebel cause, while on the other side Syrian rebels accuse Lebanon's Shi'ite Hezbollah of supporting Assad's troops on the ground.
For Iraqi Shi'ites who follow Iran's Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the uprising in Syria threatens Shi'ite influence and Iraqis fighting there say they see a duty to help Assad because of their loyalty to the Islamic Republic's highest authority......"
Libya: New Proof of Mass Killings at Gaddafi Death Site
A Year On, No Progress on Inquiry Into Deaths
Human Rights Watch
October 17, 2012
"(Beirut) – New evidence collected by Human Rights Watch implicates Misrata-based militias in the apparent execution of dozens of detainees following the capture and death of Muammar Gaddafi one year ago. The Libyan authorities have failed to carry out their pledge to investigate the death of Gaddafi, Libya’s former dictator, his son Mutassim, and dozens of others in rebel custody.
The 50-page report, “Death of a Dictator: Bloody Vengeance in Sirte,”details the final hours of Muammar Gaddafi’s life and the circumstances under which he was killed. It presents evidence that Misrata-based militias captured and disarmed members of the Gaddafi convoy and, after bringing them under their total control, subjected them to brutal beatings. They then executed at least 66 captured members of the convoy at the nearby Mahari Hotel. The evidence indicates that opposition militias took Gaddafi’s wounded son Mutassim from Sirte to Misrata and killed him there....."
Download the full report
Saudi Arabia must halt attempts to stifle peaceful protest
Amnesty International
Saudi human rights activist Mohammed Saleh al-Bajady was sentenced in April 2012 to four years’ imprisonment and a five-year travel ban for communicating with foreign bodies
"The Saudi Arabian authorities must withdraw their threat to deal “firmly” with people taking part in demonstrations and refrain from detaining those who exercise their right to peaceful protest, Amnesty International said.
The organization’s call came after the Minister of Interior issued a statement last week warning anyone taking part in demonstrations that they would face prosecution and be “firmly dealt with” by members of the security forces.
“The Saudi authorities must end their repeated moves to stifle people’s attempts to protest against the widespread use of arbitrary detention in the country,” said Philip Luther, Director of Amnesty International’s Middle East and North Africa Programme.
“The right of people to peaceful protest must be respected and the security forces must refrain from detaining or using excessive force against people who exercise it.”
The Ministry of Interior statement also disclosed the names of 10 people who have undergone, or are undergoing, judicial procedures in relation to crimes of “the deviant group”. They included in this list human rights activist Mohammed Saleh al-Bajady, who was sentenced in April 2012 to four years’ imprisonment and a five-year travel ban for communicating with foreign bodies “to carry out activities that undermine security”.
He was also reportedly convicted of participating in the establishment of a human rights organization, harming the image of the state through the media, calling on the families of detainees to protest and hold sit-ins, contesting the independence of the judiciary and having banned books in his possession......."
Saudi human rights activist Mohammed Saleh al-Bajady was sentenced in April 2012 to four years’ imprisonment and a five-year travel ban for communicating with foreign bodies
"The Saudi Arabian authorities must withdraw their threat to deal “firmly” with people taking part in demonstrations and refrain from detaining those who exercise their right to peaceful protest, Amnesty International said.
The organization’s call came after the Minister of Interior issued a statement last week warning anyone taking part in demonstrations that they would face prosecution and be “firmly dealt with” by members of the security forces.
“The Saudi authorities must end their repeated moves to stifle people’s attempts to protest against the widespread use of arbitrary detention in the country,” said Philip Luther, Director of Amnesty International’s Middle East and North Africa Programme.
“The right of people to peaceful protest must be respected and the security forces must refrain from detaining or using excessive force against people who exercise it.”
The Ministry of Interior statement also disclosed the names of 10 people who have undergone, or are undergoing, judicial procedures in relation to crimes of “the deviant group”. They included in this list human rights activist Mohammed Saleh al-Bajady, who was sentenced in April 2012 to four years’ imprisonment and a five-year travel ban for communicating with foreign bodies “to carry out activities that undermine security”.
He was also reportedly convicted of participating in the establishment of a human rights organization, harming the image of the state through the media, calling on the families of detainees to protest and hold sit-ins, contesting the independence of the judiciary and having banned books in his possession......."
Tuesday, October 16, 2012
Al-Jazeera Video: Meeting Syria's displaced
"After Syria's neighbours have seen thousands of refugees flood across their borders, camps are now being built inside Syria for those displaced by the fighting.
Al Jazeera's Zeina Khodr has more."
Syria and the battle for regional control
Russia and Turkey are in a war of words, but it's the
makeup of the post-Assad government that's really being fought over
".....Russia's support for a dying regime bemuses senior Turkish officials."What is Russia afraid of losing in Assad?" one of them asked. But in downing a Syrian plane full of Russian military parts – they were communication components for the air defence system Russia has supplied Assad with – Erdogan is playing a game of chicken with Putin. Each knows that their own set of bilateral interests in the Caucasus is too important to sacrifice on the altar of Syria.
As for the other side, the Saudis are past masters at using other countries to fight their war with Iran for them. Syria is little different to Iraq in this respect. For Turkey, which tried for six months to use its soft power to persuade Assad to reform, the Syrian conflict presents a series of hard power challenges. It allows ammunition over its Syrian border, but not heavy weapons. Enough to keep the insurgents in business, but not enough for victory. It will not do anything unilaterally, particularly as there is little appetite for intervention at home. Quite the opposite. And it too wants to keep a line to Iran open......"
Army base surrounded near Maarat al-Numan
The Guardian
".....
".....
Army base surrounded near Maarat al-Numan
The Syrian army is trying to send reinforcements to an army base just east of
the rebel-controlled town of Maarat al-Numan, a rebel fighter told the
Guardian.
Taha added:
Mosa’ab Taha from a rebel
brigade in the town told our colleague, Mona Mahmood, that the base
at Wadi al-Daif was surrounded by opposition fighters.
The nearest reinforcements are more than 15km away where they are being held
at rebel controlled checkpoint, Taha said. Two other convoys of reinforcements
have also been dispatched, he added. One of them is pinned down at fuel depot
south-east Khan Sheikhoun. The second convoy was stopped in the Besida area, 7km
north Khan Sheikhoun.Taha added:
Shelling by all kinds of aircraft against Maarat al-Numan hasn’t stopped for seven days. They shelled us with rockets and cluster bombs and even poisoned bombs. A artillery base 22 km from Ma'arat Al-Nua'aman has been hitting us day and night.Video from activists purports to show fighting around the Wadi al-Daif base....
Ma'arat Al-N'aman is now deserted, all the people fled after barrels of expolsivves were dropped damaging the houses.
EU support for Israeli crimes makes it unworthy of Nobel Peace Prize
15 October 2012
"The European
Union is not “merely hypocritical” in its relationship with Israel, it is
“complicit in crimes against the Palestinian people.” This is one of the main
conclusions of David
Cronin’s compellingly-argued book Europe’s
Alliance With Israel: Aiding the Occupation.
In fact, the European Union is steadily upgrading its relations with Israel while overwhelming, and growing, public majorities across Europe’s largest nations view Israel “mostly negatively.” According to a recent BBC GlobeScan poll, Israel is on a par with North Korea as the third worst perceived country in the world (“Views of Europe slide sharply in global poll, while views of China improve,” GlobeScan, 10 May).....
Atoning for the Holocaust?
This leads most sober Palestinians to conclude that the Holocaust-guilt-ridden European establishment wishes to wash its hands of its genocide against European Jews, among others, by imposing on the Palestinian people an unjust “peaceful” settlement of this essentially colonial conflict that would leave Israel with almost full control over the West Bank, including Jerusalem, and over the Palestinians’ economy, most fertile lands, water aquifers, borders and their very destiny......"Five arrested at big Kuwait anti-government rally
"(Reuters) - Kuwaiti security forces detained at least five people, including the son of a prominent opposition figure, at an anti-government protest against possible changes to an election law, witnesses said on Tuesday.
Several people were hurt in skirmishes at the rally, attended by at least 5,000 people who defied a request by authorities to cancel Monday's late evening demonstration.
In some of the strongest remarks by an opposition figure, former parliament member Musallam al-Barrak appealed directly to Kuwait's leader to avoid "autocratic rule" in a speech to the crowd....."
سورية: الثقافة والمأزق الأخلاقي؟
سورية: الثقافة والمأزق الأخلاقي؟
الياس خوري
"في لقاء مع مجموعة من الاصدقاء السوريين في بيروت، طرح سؤال كبير حول موقف المثقفين العرب من الثورة السورية.
بدأ السؤال بمواقف مثقفين وفنانين لبنانيين مليئة بالالتباس، وصل بعضها الى درجة البحث عن مبـــــررات 'فكرية' وسياسية، من اجل دعم النظام الاستبدادي الأسدي، لينتـــهي الى ســــؤال عام حول موقف المثقفين العرب الأخلاقي من معاناة الشعب السوري.السؤال محيّر فعلا، ومن الخطأ الفادح ان يُناقش على ضوء منعطف لجوء الشعب السوري الى السلاح في مواجهة الآلة العسكرية والأمنية للنظام. فالسؤال طُرح منذ الأيام الاولى للثورة التي اتسمت بطابع سلمي بطولي لا مثيل له. فالشعب الأعزل واجه لأشهر طويلة الرصاص والقتل بصدور عارية وحناجر تهتف للحرية ، ومع ذلك ووسط صور احذية الجنود والشبيحة التي تدوس اجساد المعتلقين ووجوههم ارتفعت صيحات التشكيك والنقد.
مع بداية الثورة قدّم الشاعر ادونيس الحجة الأولى عبر رفضه خروج المظاهرات من المساجد. صحيح ان هذا الموقف فتح ابواب التردد، لكن لا يمكن نسبة الظاهرة اليه، فهذه الظاهرة تنتمي الى تراث سياسي وثقافي يضرب عميقا في بنية 'يسارية' عامة لم يبق لها من خطابها اليساري القديم سوى يافطة معاداة الامبريالية، التي جعلت منها مشجبا تعلّق عليه ذيليتها السياسية، والتحاقها الطوعي بالاستبداد.
نحن امام معضلة فكرية، ولسنا امام ظواهر فردية، بعضها لا يزال يحمل قدرا من البراءة كمواقف الشاعر سعدي يوسف، وبعضها الآخر يحمل توترا عُصابيا يدعو الى الرثاء، لكنها تُجمع على دعم نظام الاستبداد، لأنها تعتبر الثورات العربية مؤامرة امريكية هدفها الهيمنة على المنطقة العربية!
هكذا وبمنطق مبسط وخال من العقلانية انقلبت امريكا على حليفيها حسني مبارك وزين العابدين بن علي، وصديقها المطواع معمر القذافي، بهدف الوصول الى قلعة الممانعة التي يمثلها حكم آل الأسد في سورية!
منطق غريب، لكنه يستند الى مروحة من الأفكار التي ساندت الجزارين الصرب وايدت حرب الابادة في الشيشان، وبكت على سقوط الديكتاتوريات في اوروبا الشرقية، لأنها لا تزال اسيرة عقلية الحرب الباردة، حيث لا يجري التعامل مع الشعوب والدول الا بوصفها حجارة على مائدة شطرنج دولية!
التقاطع بين يساريي النوستالجيا الى زمن الحرب الباردة (احزاب ما يسمى بالجبهة الوطنية التقدمية في سورية التي تضم حزبين شيوعيين، اضافة الى الوزير السوري قدري جميل ممول قناة 'اليسارية' التي اوكل مهمة ادارتها الى امين عام الحزب الشيوعي اللبناني) وبين خطاب حزب الله، فرض بلبلة كبرى، زاد من تفاقمها اندفاع بعض الكتاب والصحافيين النيوليبراليين الذين يعملون في الاعلام النفطي، الى الدفاع عن انتفاضة الشعب السوري بخطاب رجعي يحمل بذور الكراهية للحركة الوطنية العربية، ولمواقفها في مواجهة الهيمنة الامبريالية والاحتلال الاسرائيلي.
هذا الواقع الثقافي المعقّد سمح للفـــــكر المبرر لوحشية النظام بأن يجد في كل يوم مسوغاً جديدا، مركزا على الخــــوف من صــعود الاسلام السياسي الذي يبرز، في الواقع السوري على الأقل، على فضائيات الخليج اكثر بكثير من بروزه على ارض الواقع.
المسألة التي تبدو فــــي ظاهرها وكأنها تعبير عن خيارات سياسية مختلفة، تعبّر في رأيي عن بنية ثقافية تجد جذورها في ما يمكن ان نطلق عليه اسم الاستعلاء الثقافي. اي النظر الى الأمور من مقترب الثقافة بوصفها سلطة. وهي بنية يشترك فيها اليسار التقليدي واليمين، لأنها آتية من جذر واحد، هو استعلاء الثقافة او تعاليها عن االتفاصيل وانصرافها الى النتائج بعد اهمال المقدمات.
لن اناقش الافتراضات السياسية وادخل في مماحكة حول الدور الكولونيالي الروسي الذي لا يختلف في شيء عن اي دور كولونيالي آخر، او حول الفرق بين الاصوليتين الشيعية والسنية المتشابهتين اكثر مما يعتقد الكثيرون، بل اريد ان اناقش المواقف من زاوية اخلاقية. هل يعقل ان تجري المساواة بين ابراهيم القاشوش الذي قطعت حنجرته من اجل اخراس صوته وبين قاتله؟ هل يمكن ان تصاب العيون بالعماء المطلق امام مشاهد التعذيب والقتل واستباحة الجثث؟
الجواب هو ان من رفض ان يرى مشاهد الاستباحة في سورية، كان يرفض ان يرى الواقع التفصيلي كي يبني عليه استنتاجاته، فأخذنا الى لعبة الأمم مبررا للقاتل جرائمه باسم صراع دولي واقليمي لا يعني شيئا لأهل درعا الذين انتفضوا لكراماتهم المهدورة.
مشكلة الثورات العربية مع هذا النوع من المثقفين هي انها كانت مفاجئة، ولا تحمل سمات الثورات التي اعتادوا عليها او قرأوا عنها في الكتب. ثورات تعبر عن انفجار المجتمع في وجه الاستبداد. فالناس انفلقت من القمع والذل والافقار والنهب، ونزلت الى الشوارع كي تكسر الخوف، وتحتل التاريخ.
كان التوقع المنطقي هو ان تنتقل عدوى كسر جدار الخوف الى المثقفين، الذين لم يعرفوا كفئة بشجاعتها، لكن بدلا من ذلك اصاب الرعب قطاعات واسعة منهم، لأنها واليوم تصاب بالرعب من الناس لأنها لم تحاول يوما ان تتع اعتادت على الخوف من السلطة وانحنت لها،رف اليهم وتعترف بهم.
المسألة ليست فقــــط في خيـــانة بعض المثقــــفين، بل في مـــناخ الخيانة العام الذي يضرب عرض الحائط بمشاعر الناس وغضبهم وانتفاضاتهم، لأنه لا يعترف بالتفاصيل، ويعتقد ان القمع مسألة ثقافوية فقط، تتعلق بمنع كتاب من هنا او فيلم من هناك...
الاستعلاء على الواقع هو الخيانة التي منحت صكوك غفران للقتلة تحت حجة الممانعة او مقاومة الهيمنة الغربية. قبل البحث في السياسة علينا ان نبحث في جذر السياسة، فاذا كانت السياسة هي فن ادارة العلاقة بين المجتمع والسلطة، علينا ان نسأل لماذا ثار المجتمع، وما نوع هذه السلطة التي حولت البلاد بأسرها الى سجن؟ وبعد ذلك يأتي دور البحث في السياسات الدولية والاقليمية.
لعل ميزة الثورة السورية هي انها ترسم الخط الفاصل بين ثقافة الاستبداد وثقافة الحرية، فرغم تعقيداتها الكثيرة، خصوصا في مرحلة مقاومتها بالسلاح، فانها تقدم للثقافة العربية درسا في الأخلاق، وتكشف زيف المعرفة الكلية التي تحولت الى ببغاء يردد الكلمات نفسها، ويتماهى مع القتلة. "
الياس خوري
"في لقاء مع مجموعة من الاصدقاء السوريين في بيروت، طرح سؤال كبير حول موقف المثقفين العرب من الثورة السورية.
بدأ السؤال بمواقف مثقفين وفنانين لبنانيين مليئة بالالتباس، وصل بعضها الى درجة البحث عن مبـــــررات 'فكرية' وسياسية، من اجل دعم النظام الاستبدادي الأسدي، لينتـــهي الى ســــؤال عام حول موقف المثقفين العرب الأخلاقي من معاناة الشعب السوري.السؤال محيّر فعلا، ومن الخطأ الفادح ان يُناقش على ضوء منعطف لجوء الشعب السوري الى السلاح في مواجهة الآلة العسكرية والأمنية للنظام. فالسؤال طُرح منذ الأيام الاولى للثورة التي اتسمت بطابع سلمي بطولي لا مثيل له. فالشعب الأعزل واجه لأشهر طويلة الرصاص والقتل بصدور عارية وحناجر تهتف للحرية ، ومع ذلك ووسط صور احذية الجنود والشبيحة التي تدوس اجساد المعتلقين ووجوههم ارتفعت صيحات التشكيك والنقد.
مع بداية الثورة قدّم الشاعر ادونيس الحجة الأولى عبر رفضه خروج المظاهرات من المساجد. صحيح ان هذا الموقف فتح ابواب التردد، لكن لا يمكن نسبة الظاهرة اليه، فهذه الظاهرة تنتمي الى تراث سياسي وثقافي يضرب عميقا في بنية 'يسارية' عامة لم يبق لها من خطابها اليساري القديم سوى يافطة معاداة الامبريالية، التي جعلت منها مشجبا تعلّق عليه ذيليتها السياسية، والتحاقها الطوعي بالاستبداد.
نحن امام معضلة فكرية، ولسنا امام ظواهر فردية، بعضها لا يزال يحمل قدرا من البراءة كمواقف الشاعر سعدي يوسف، وبعضها الآخر يحمل توترا عُصابيا يدعو الى الرثاء، لكنها تُجمع على دعم نظام الاستبداد، لأنها تعتبر الثورات العربية مؤامرة امريكية هدفها الهيمنة على المنطقة العربية!
هكذا وبمنطق مبسط وخال من العقلانية انقلبت امريكا على حليفيها حسني مبارك وزين العابدين بن علي، وصديقها المطواع معمر القذافي، بهدف الوصول الى قلعة الممانعة التي يمثلها حكم آل الأسد في سورية!
منطق غريب، لكنه يستند الى مروحة من الأفكار التي ساندت الجزارين الصرب وايدت حرب الابادة في الشيشان، وبكت على سقوط الديكتاتوريات في اوروبا الشرقية، لأنها لا تزال اسيرة عقلية الحرب الباردة، حيث لا يجري التعامل مع الشعوب والدول الا بوصفها حجارة على مائدة شطرنج دولية!
التقاطع بين يساريي النوستالجيا الى زمن الحرب الباردة (احزاب ما يسمى بالجبهة الوطنية التقدمية في سورية التي تضم حزبين شيوعيين، اضافة الى الوزير السوري قدري جميل ممول قناة 'اليسارية' التي اوكل مهمة ادارتها الى امين عام الحزب الشيوعي اللبناني) وبين خطاب حزب الله، فرض بلبلة كبرى، زاد من تفاقمها اندفاع بعض الكتاب والصحافيين النيوليبراليين الذين يعملون في الاعلام النفطي، الى الدفاع عن انتفاضة الشعب السوري بخطاب رجعي يحمل بذور الكراهية للحركة الوطنية العربية، ولمواقفها في مواجهة الهيمنة الامبريالية والاحتلال الاسرائيلي.
هذا الواقع الثقافي المعقّد سمح للفـــــكر المبرر لوحشية النظام بأن يجد في كل يوم مسوغاً جديدا، مركزا على الخــــوف من صــعود الاسلام السياسي الذي يبرز، في الواقع السوري على الأقل، على فضائيات الخليج اكثر بكثير من بروزه على ارض الواقع.
المسألة التي تبدو فــــي ظاهرها وكأنها تعبير عن خيارات سياسية مختلفة، تعبّر في رأيي عن بنية ثقافية تجد جذورها في ما يمكن ان نطلق عليه اسم الاستعلاء الثقافي. اي النظر الى الأمور من مقترب الثقافة بوصفها سلطة. وهي بنية يشترك فيها اليسار التقليدي واليمين، لأنها آتية من جذر واحد، هو استعلاء الثقافة او تعاليها عن االتفاصيل وانصرافها الى النتائج بعد اهمال المقدمات.
لن اناقش الافتراضات السياسية وادخل في مماحكة حول الدور الكولونيالي الروسي الذي لا يختلف في شيء عن اي دور كولونيالي آخر، او حول الفرق بين الاصوليتين الشيعية والسنية المتشابهتين اكثر مما يعتقد الكثيرون، بل اريد ان اناقش المواقف من زاوية اخلاقية. هل يعقل ان تجري المساواة بين ابراهيم القاشوش الذي قطعت حنجرته من اجل اخراس صوته وبين قاتله؟ هل يمكن ان تصاب العيون بالعماء المطلق امام مشاهد التعذيب والقتل واستباحة الجثث؟
الجواب هو ان من رفض ان يرى مشاهد الاستباحة في سورية، كان يرفض ان يرى الواقع التفصيلي كي يبني عليه استنتاجاته، فأخذنا الى لعبة الأمم مبررا للقاتل جرائمه باسم صراع دولي واقليمي لا يعني شيئا لأهل درعا الذين انتفضوا لكراماتهم المهدورة.
مشكلة الثورات العربية مع هذا النوع من المثقفين هي انها كانت مفاجئة، ولا تحمل سمات الثورات التي اعتادوا عليها او قرأوا عنها في الكتب. ثورات تعبر عن انفجار المجتمع في وجه الاستبداد. فالناس انفلقت من القمع والذل والافقار والنهب، ونزلت الى الشوارع كي تكسر الخوف، وتحتل التاريخ.
كان التوقع المنطقي هو ان تنتقل عدوى كسر جدار الخوف الى المثقفين، الذين لم يعرفوا كفئة بشجاعتها، لكن بدلا من ذلك اصاب الرعب قطاعات واسعة منهم، لأنها واليوم تصاب بالرعب من الناس لأنها لم تحاول يوما ان تتع اعتادت على الخوف من السلطة وانحنت لها،رف اليهم وتعترف بهم.
المسألة ليست فقــــط في خيـــانة بعض المثقــــفين، بل في مـــناخ الخيانة العام الذي يضرب عرض الحائط بمشاعر الناس وغضبهم وانتفاضاتهم، لأنه لا يعترف بالتفاصيل، ويعتقد ان القمع مسألة ثقافوية فقط، تتعلق بمنع كتاب من هنا او فيلم من هناك...
الاستعلاء على الواقع هو الخيانة التي منحت صكوك غفران للقتلة تحت حجة الممانعة او مقاومة الهيمنة الغربية. قبل البحث في السياسة علينا ان نبحث في جذر السياسة، فاذا كانت السياسة هي فن ادارة العلاقة بين المجتمع والسلطة، علينا ان نسأل لماذا ثار المجتمع، وما نوع هذه السلطة التي حولت البلاد بأسرها الى سجن؟ وبعد ذلك يأتي دور البحث في السياسات الدولية والاقليمية.
لعل ميزة الثورة السورية هي انها ترسم الخط الفاصل بين ثقافة الاستبداد وثقافة الحرية، فرغم تعقيداتها الكثيرة، خصوصا في مرحلة مقاومتها بالسلاح، فانها تقدم للثقافة العربية درسا في الأخلاق، وتكشف زيف المعرفة الكلية التي تحولت الى ببغاء يردد الكلمات نفسها، ويتماهى مع القتلة. "
Syria: Live Updates
The Guardian
".....
كتائب السلام في حلب"استهداف الطائرة على مدخل مدينه نبل"الشيعيه"
".....
•
Syrian rebels have shot down another Syrian jet, according to unverified video
from activists. The MiG was shot down in Aleppo province, according
to the opposition blogger Ammar Abdulhamid.
• Two
new videos from activists suggest Syria rebels are using the heat-seeking
missiles to target military aircraft, according to the New York Times at War
blog. The first
video shows what would appear to be a two-man hunter-killer team with an
SA-7, waiting for an aircraft from their position, hiding behind a building. The second
video shows what appears to be a weapon of the same class being fired at a
passing fixed-wing jet......."
"كتائب السلام في حلب"بلأشتراك مع كتيبة حمزة " استهداف الطيران الحربي بريف حلب بصواريخ حراريه
هاااااااااااااااااااااااااامكتائب السلام في حلب"استهداف الطائرة على مدخل مدينه نبل"الشيعيه"
Monday, October 15, 2012
Al-Jazeera Video: Iraq limits number of Syrian refugees
"Thousands of Syrians are fleeing the conflict at home to take refuge in neighbouring countries. Jordan has announced it will open a second camp meaning as many as 250,000 refugees could be held in the country. But Iraq, another Syrian neighbour , is now limiting the numbers coming over the border saying it lacks the security and resources to hold them. Al Jazeera's Jane Arraf reports from the al-Qaim refugee camp."
Al-Jazeera Video: سيطرة كتائب الثوار على بلدات و قرى باللاذقية
"تسيطر كتائب الثوار في جبل التركمان التابع لريف اللاذقية على أكثر من خمسين في المائة من البلدات و القرى التركمانية في هذا الجبل, إلا أن القصف المستمر على هذه المناطق أدى إلى تشريد معظم السكان هناك.
ويؤكد كثير من الثوار التركمان أن نيل الحرية لكل لسوريا بكل محافظاتها ومكونات سكانها هي ما دفعهم للانضام للثورة."
Syria Stands Between Egypt and Iran
"The election of the Muslim Brotherhood's Mohamed Morsi to the presidency this summer was followed by a flurry of conjecture that the restoration of Egyptian-Iranian diplomatic relations – frozen since 1979 – was in the offing. Yet despite some initial indications to this effect, local analysts now say such speculation appears to have been premature....."
Current Al-Jazeera (Arabic) Online Poll
Do you support accusations that the Egyptian judiciary has been too lenient with the officials of the Mubarak regime?
With about 300 responding, 86% said yes.
Bibi’s Three Steps Forward, One Back
By Trita Parsi
"There seems to be a delusion reigning in Washington. After Israeli Prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s cartoonish presentation at the United Nations General Assembly and implicit signaling that he would not unilaterally attack Iran before the U.S. elections, there is a belief that Netanyahu caved to President Barack Obama. But did he really?.......
Once again, the threat of military action had succeeded in yielding more sanctions on Iran, limiting Obama's diplomatic maneuverability, and getting a U.S. commitment for a trip wire for war with Iran.
"There seems to be a delusion reigning in Washington. After Israeli Prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s cartoonish presentation at the United Nations General Assembly and implicit signaling that he would not unilaterally attack Iran before the U.S. elections, there is a belief that Netanyahu caved to President Barack Obama. But did he really?.......
Once again, the threat of military action had succeeded in yielding more sanctions on Iran, limiting Obama's diplomatic maneuverability, and getting a U.S. commitment for a trip wire for war with Iran.
Netanyahu's strategy has been to take three steps forward and, occasionally, once he has gotten what he wants, he takes a step back.
Declaring victory every time Netanyahu agrees to back off temporarily confuses tactical developments with the larger strategic picture. It is a fundamental misunderstanding of Netanyahu's strategy: Even though he temporarily dials down his pressure on the U.S., he has nevertheless ensured that the trajectory of developments are in his favor; that is, the U.S. and Iran inch closer to a confrontation.
Not bad for a guy who gives cartoonish presentations at the U.N."
Al-Jazeera Video: Fierce battles rage in Syria's Idlib province
"A fierce battle is underway for control of crossroads in Syria's Idlib province. The rebels are surrounding the Government bases, but the state is holding firm with an intense barrage of heavy firepower. Zeina Khodr has more from Maarat Numaan."
Number of Syrian refugees in Turkish camps exceeds 100,000
"(Reuters) - The number of Syrian refugees housed in camps in southern Turkey has exceeded 100,000, the
Turkish disaster management agency (AFAD) said on Monday, a level beyond which
Ankara had previously said it would struggle to accommodate
more.
AFAD said in a statement there were now 100,363 Syrians at more than a dozen camps in Turkish provinces along the border..."
AFAD said in a statement there were now 100,363 Syrians at more than a dozen camps in Turkish provinces along the border..."
Syria Crisis: Live Updates
Matthew Weaver
guardian.co.uk,
"....
It added:
It added that last June a small group of militants released a YouTube video officially naming their unit after a Kuwaiti cleric who had provided support.
The rebel faction, based outside Abu Kamal on the Iraqi border, called themselves Katibat al-Sheikh Hajaj al-Ajami – a Salafi Kuwaiti cleric who was prominent in raising money for the Syrian Revolutionaries’ Front.
......"
guardian.co.uk,
"....
Growing beards for weapons
Rebel groups in Syria are
playing up their Islamist credentials, including growing Salafi beards, as a
ruse to secure arms from conservative Gulf-based donors, according to a report
by the International Crisis Group.
It said the increasing presence of jihadi fighters was irrefutable but added
that groups with very different motives were being confusingly bracketed
together. It said:In some cases, adoption of Salafi nomenclature, rhetoric and symbols reflects a sincere commitment to religious ideals; in others, it expresses an essentially pragmatic attempt to curry favour with wealthy, conservative Gulf-based donorsThe report said “not all Salafis are alike; the concept covers a gamut ranging from mainstream to extreme”.
It added:
The money flow from conservative donors did more than strengthen Salafi factions relative to their mainstream counterparts. It also pushed non-Salafi combatants toward joining Salafi units capable of providing them with the requisite weapons and ammunition. Groups with no ideological affiliation whatsoever began to adopt the symbols, rhetoric and facial hair associated with Salafism for that purpose.It cited the example of Abdul Razzaq Tlass, a popular mid-level leader of Katibat al-Farouq in Homs who grew a Salafi beard to please Gulf financiers of his brigade.
It added that last June a small group of militants released a YouTube video officially naming their unit after a Kuwaiti cleric who had provided support.
The rebel faction, based outside Abu Kamal on the Iraqi border, called themselves Katibat al-Sheikh Hajaj al-Ajami – a Salafi Kuwaiti cleric who was prominent in raising money for the Syrian Revolutionaries’ Front.
......"
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