تقديم : فيصل القاسم
تاريخ البث -- 2012-1-31
الضيوف
جوزيف بوفاضل
محي الدين اللاذقاني
Watch a near fist fight @ 12:00 minutes
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
Al-Jazeera Video: Qatar asserts its diplomatic presence
"The diplomatic clout of the tiny Gulf state of Qatar is causing growing controversy amongst its Arab neighbours."
Real News Video: Israel and the American Elections
Max Blumenthal: A few major Jewish donors push candidates to support Netanyahu on Iran
AN EXCELLENT INTERVIEW; DON'T MISS IT!
AN EXCELLENT INTERVIEW; DON'T MISS IT!
Real News Video: A Short History of Modern Syria
Hamid Dabashi traces the rise of the Assad regime
A VERY GOOD INTERVIEW
A VERY GOOD INTERVIEW
Blame NATO for the Mess in Libya
By Ramzy Baroud
Palestine Chronicle
".....The Nato allies are concerned, of course. If the Libyan model — regime change from the air — completely fails, their military adventurism in the Middle East will suffer yet another setback. More, the unfolding of the Libyan travesty will continue to reawaken allegations of serious war crimes committed by Nato itself, who supposedly unleashed the war on Libya "to protect civilians and civilian populated areas under threat of attack".
The Nato war on Libya was commanded by a Canadian, Lt Gen Charles Bouchard. Last June, Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird was quoted as saying that Libya should not be expected to go from "Gaddafi to Thomas Jefferson". He failed to elaborate on what kind of democracy Nato intended to achieve with its 9,600-strikes mission.
To berate Libyans for failing to adhere to human rights is brazen hypocrisy, especially as many of Nato victims are still not fully accounted for. The behaviour of militias, and the unrepresentative NTC are simply a continuation of the very violent legacy set forth by the very Nato countries that are demanding accountability, democracy and the rule of law."
Palestine Chronicle
".....The Nato allies are concerned, of course. If the Libyan model — regime change from the air — completely fails, their military adventurism in the Middle East will suffer yet another setback. More, the unfolding of the Libyan travesty will continue to reawaken allegations of serious war crimes committed by Nato itself, who supposedly unleashed the war on Libya "to protect civilians and civilian populated areas under threat of attack".
The Nato war on Libya was commanded by a Canadian, Lt Gen Charles Bouchard. Last June, Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird was quoted as saying that Libya should not be expected to go from "Gaddafi to Thomas Jefferson". He failed to elaborate on what kind of democracy Nato intended to achieve with its 9,600-strikes mission.
To berate Libyans for failing to adhere to human rights is brazen hypocrisy, especially as many of Nato victims are still not fully accounted for. The behaviour of militias, and the unrepresentative NTC are simply a continuation of the very violent legacy set forth by the very Nato countries that are demanding accountability, democracy and the rule of law."
Taliban believe they will take over from US and Nato in Afghanistan - report
Pakistan and Nato reject assertions by Taliban and al-Qaida detainees in document based on interrogations
Julian Borger
guardian.co.uk, Wednesday 1 February 2012
"A secret US military report says the Taliban, heavily backed by Pakistan, are confident they can win the Afghanistan conflict, and that they are gaining popular support at the expense of the Kabul government.
The report, The State of the Taliban 2012, is the latest of a series drawn up by a US special operations taskforce on the basis of interrogations with 4,000 suspected Taliban and al-Qaida detainees.
Its conclusions, that the Taliban's strength and morale are largely intact despite the Nato military surge, and that significant numbers of Afghan government soldiers are defecting to them, are in stark contrast to Nato's far more bullish official line, that the insurgent movement has been severely damaged and demoralised.
The report, leaked to the BBC and The Times, also portrays the Taliban as being under the thumb of Pakistan's powerful security agency, the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), but resenting that control....."
Julian Borger
guardian.co.uk, Wednesday 1 February 2012
"A secret US military report says the Taliban, heavily backed by Pakistan, are confident they can win the Afghanistan conflict, and that they are gaining popular support at the expense of the Kabul government.
The report, The State of the Taliban 2012, is the latest of a series drawn up by a US special operations taskforce on the basis of interrogations with 4,000 suspected Taliban and al-Qaida detainees.
Its conclusions, that the Taliban's strength and morale are largely intact despite the Nato military surge, and that significant numbers of Afghan government soldiers are defecting to them, are in stark contrast to Nato's far more bullish official line, that the insurgent movement has been severely damaged and demoralised.
The report, leaked to the BBC and The Times, also portrays the Taliban as being under the thumb of Pakistan's powerful security agency, the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), but resenting that control....."
Security Council: Russia must not block efforts to end atrocities in Syria
"Russia must not block international efforts to tackle the ongoing violence and human rights violations in Syria, Amnesty International said today amid negotiations over a resolution on Syria at the UN Security Council.
Russian officials have threatened to veto the resolution if it comes to a vote.
Russia was one of several Security Council members to block a previous resolution on Syria on 4 October 2011. According to reports received by Amnesty International, more than 2,600 people have been killed in Syria since then.
“Russia’s threats to abort a binding UN Security Council resolution on Syria for the second time are utterly irresponsible. Russia bears a heavy responsibility for allowing the brutal crackdown on legitimate dissent in Syria to continue unchecked,” said José Luis Díaz, Amnesty International's representative to the UN in New York.
“Russia must work with other Security Council members to pass a strong and legally binding resolution that will help to end the bloodshed and human rights violations in Syria once and for all.”
As the Syrian government’s largest overseas arms supplier, Russia has reportedly continued arms shipments into the country in recent weeks, even as Arab League observers reported back on ongoing human rights violations carried out by Syrian security forces....."
Russian officials have threatened to veto the resolution if it comes to a vote.
Russia was one of several Security Council members to block a previous resolution on Syria on 4 October 2011. According to reports received by Amnesty International, more than 2,600 people have been killed in Syria since then.
“Russia’s threats to abort a binding UN Security Council resolution on Syria for the second time are utterly irresponsible. Russia bears a heavy responsibility for allowing the brutal crackdown on legitimate dissent in Syria to continue unchecked,” said José Luis Díaz, Amnesty International's representative to the UN in New York.
“Russia must work with other Security Council members to pass a strong and legally binding resolution that will help to end the bloodshed and human rights violations in Syria once and for all.”
As the Syrian government’s largest overseas arms supplier, Russia has reportedly continued arms shipments into the country in recent weeks, even as Arab League observers reported back on ongoing human rights violations carried out by Syrian security forces....."
Iraq in Retrospect
What did we accomplish?
by Justin Raimondo, February 01, 2012
"Long out of the news, Iraq – you remember Iraq? – is falling apart. The “government” is in chaos, with Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki at war with Vice President Tariq al-Hashimi, whom he accuses of “terrorism.” Days after ending his party’s participation in Parliament, an arrest warrant for al-Hashimi was issued. Sixteen of the VP’s bodyguards have been arrested, along with two women who worked in Hashimi’s press office, and al-Hashimi himself has been forced to flee Baghdad.
by Justin Raimondo, February 01, 2012
"Long out of the news, Iraq – you remember Iraq? – is falling apart. The “government” is in chaos, with Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki at war with Vice President Tariq al-Hashimi, whom he accuses of “terrorism.” Days after ending his party’s participation in Parliament, an arrest warrant for al-Hashimi was issued. Sixteen of the VP’s bodyguards have been arrested, along with two women who worked in Hashimi’s press office, and al-Hashimi himself has been forced to flee Baghdad.
The dysfunctional government is a reflection of the nation at large, with violence so widespread that even Washington has noticed it. That hasn’t stopped the Obama administration from claiming credit for a US “withdrawal” that has upped the number of mercenaries – “private contractors” in the pay of the US government – and increased drone flights in Iraqi airspace. Ali al-Mosawi, a senior aide to Maliki, told the New York Times: “Our sky is our sky, not the U.S.A.’s sky,” But is it? What will the Iraqis do about the drones – shoot them down? If it happens, it’ll be with US-supplied fighter jets.......
In short, the effects of US actions in the region amount to a reverse Midas touch: everything we touch turns to lead. It’s enough to make one think the policy is deliberate: not the consequences of mistakes leading to failure, but the results of a policy successfully implemented. Put another way: if the United States is now engaged in a long term strategy of applying economic, political, and military pressure on the various Arab (and Persian) states so as to cause them to implode, then one has to judge the effort a triumph.
Which raises the question: to what purpose? Again, we are back to the question of intentions, both good and bad, which are mysterious to all but the mind-readers amongst us. As for myself, I ignore the whole issue of intent, because when all is said and done it doesn’t amount to a hill of beans. I judge people and nations by what they do, not what they say they want to do. By this standard, we wanted to sow chaos and that is precisely what we have wrought."
In short, the effects of US actions in the region amount to a reverse Midas touch: everything we touch turns to lead. It’s enough to make one think the policy is deliberate: not the consequences of mistakes leading to failure, but the results of a policy successfully implemented. Put another way: if the United States is now engaged in a long term strategy of applying economic, political, and military pressure on the various Arab (and Persian) states so as to cause them to implode, then one has to judge the effort a triumph.
Which raises the question: to what purpose? Again, we are back to the question of intentions, both good and bad, which are mysterious to all but the mind-readers amongst us. As for myself, I ignore the whole issue of intent, because when all is said and done it doesn’t amount to a hill of beans. I judge people and nations by what they do, not what they say they want to do. By this standard, we wanted to sow chaos and that is precisely what we have wrought."
The Invisible Arab: Excerpt from the preface
Read an excerpt from the preface of Marwan Bishara's latest book, The Invisible Arab.
"Christopher Dickey from Newsweek and The Daily Beast said, "Marwan Bishara's The Invisible Arab is the single most perceptive and accessible book I've read about the roots of revolt in the Middle East and the brave, chaotic, exciting and frightening new world they have begun to create."
The following is an excerpt from the preface of The Invisible Arab: The promise and peril of the Arab revolutions.....
..... There is no doubt new media played an important role in the Arab uprising, but the heart of the revolution was made up of people who had long been deemed invisible by dictators as well as by their international sponsors.
For centuries these Arab citizens and their social and political movements have been either unfairly demonised or totally ignored in the West - by both its leaders and the media - who saw the region through the prisms of Israel, oil, terrorism, or radical Islamism. But today's Arabs are presenting a stark contrast to the distortion, disinformation, and outright humiliation heaped upon them. Characterised as unreceptive to democracy and freedom, they are now giving the world a lesson in both."
"Christopher Dickey from Newsweek and The Daily Beast said, "Marwan Bishara's The Invisible Arab is the single most perceptive and accessible book I've read about the roots of revolt in the Middle East and the brave, chaotic, exciting and frightening new world they have begun to create."
The following is an excerpt from the preface of The Invisible Arab: The promise and peril of the Arab revolutions.....
..... There is no doubt new media played an important role in the Arab uprising, but the heart of the revolution was made up of people who had long been deemed invisible by dictators as well as by their international sponsors.
For centuries these Arab citizens and their social and political movements have been either unfairly demonised or totally ignored in the West - by both its leaders and the media - who saw the region through the prisms of Israel, oil, terrorism, or radical Islamism. But today's Arabs are presenting a stark contrast to the distortion, disinformation, and outright humiliation heaped upon them. Characterised as unreceptive to democracy and freedom, they are now giving the world a lesson in both."
Syrians face crackdown with creativity, humor
Al-Masry Al-Youm
"Throughout 40 years of Assad family dictatorship, one thing united Syrians — the culture of self-censorship, fear and paranoia.
But the uprising against President Bashar al-Assad has unleashed a burst of blunt irreverence and black humor that would have been unthinkable before, when any satire had to be indirect or hidden.
"The type of expression has now shifted, the subtlety has gone," said Rime Allaf, associate fellow at London's Chatham House. "Today, for the first time in recent Syrian history, people are able to get out and say it openly."
Opposition Syrians are pouring contempt on Assad using whatever medium they can, with a humor that also helps them get through the death and destruction in a crackdown that has killed more than 5,400, according to the UN. The internet provides a layer of anonymity, which is vital when retribution is a real danger, but the creativity has also spilled into the streets in the banners, signs and songs of the protesters.
"Top Goon: Diaries of a Little Dictator" is one of several new online shows....
Even in the darkest places, Syrians seem to try to extract some fun. The central city of Homs has been one of the worst hit by the regime's crackdown. But as in many rallies, giant protests there often saw crowds dancing, linking arm in arm and doing a sort of joyous simultaneous hop, along with circles of the traditional "debke" dance.
The song "Yalla Irhal, ya Bashar!" — a simple yet powerful rendition which translates into "Come on, Bashar, leave" — is often heard shouted by exultant protesters to the beat of a drum. It's the most popular, but an entire catalogue of protest songs has arisen, full of puns and references to members of Assad's inner circle.
"We are discovering ourselves for the first time," said a 28-year-old Syrian who goes by the name of Samer Lathkani, from the coastal town of Lattakia. "The uprising has awakened patriotic sentiments among young people, now every protest is a thrill."
Kfarnebel, a rebellious village in northern Syria, has become famous for coming up with colorful, amusing banners.
"Aleppo will not rise even if it took Viagra," said one recent banner......
In August, Syria's renowned political cartoonist Ali Ferzat, 60, was beaten by gunmen who broke his fingers and dumped him on a road outside Damascus after he posted cartoons satirizing Assad on his website.
Ibrahim Qashoush, a Syrian firefighter who wrote the "Come on, Leave, Bashar" song, was murdered in July, his vocal cords cut out and his body dumped in the river in the city of Hama......."
"Throughout 40 years of Assad family dictatorship, one thing united Syrians — the culture of self-censorship, fear and paranoia.
But the uprising against President Bashar al-Assad has unleashed a burst of blunt irreverence and black humor that would have been unthinkable before, when any satire had to be indirect or hidden.
"The type of expression has now shifted, the subtlety has gone," said Rime Allaf, associate fellow at London's Chatham House. "Today, for the first time in recent Syrian history, people are able to get out and say it openly."
Opposition Syrians are pouring contempt on Assad using whatever medium they can, with a humor that also helps them get through the death and destruction in a crackdown that has killed more than 5,400, according to the UN. The internet provides a layer of anonymity, which is vital when retribution is a real danger, but the creativity has also spilled into the streets in the banners, signs and songs of the protesters.
"Top Goon: Diaries of a Little Dictator" is one of several new online shows....
Even in the darkest places, Syrians seem to try to extract some fun. The central city of Homs has been one of the worst hit by the regime's crackdown. But as in many rallies, giant protests there often saw crowds dancing, linking arm in arm and doing a sort of joyous simultaneous hop, along with circles of the traditional "debke" dance.
The song "Yalla Irhal, ya Bashar!" — a simple yet powerful rendition which translates into "Come on, Bashar, leave" — is often heard shouted by exultant protesters to the beat of a drum. It's the most popular, but an entire catalogue of protest songs has arisen, full of puns and references to members of Assad's inner circle.
"We are discovering ourselves for the first time," said a 28-year-old Syrian who goes by the name of Samer Lathkani, from the coastal town of Lattakia. "The uprising has awakened patriotic sentiments among young people, now every protest is a thrill."
Kfarnebel, a rebellious village in northern Syria, has become famous for coming up with colorful, amusing banners.
"Aleppo will not rise even if it took Viagra," said one recent banner......
In August, Syria's renowned political cartoonist Ali Ferzat, 60, was beaten by gunmen who broke his fingers and dumped him on a road outside Damascus after he posted cartoons satirizing Assad on his website.
Ibrahim Qashoush, a Syrian firefighter who wrote the "Come on, Leave, Bashar" song, was murdered in July, his vocal cords cut out and his body dumped in the river in the city of Hama......."
Tempers flare as Brotherhood blocks protests
The poster quotes the supreme guide of the MB, during the Mubarak era, as saying that the MB supports Mubarak's running for president again and that the MB would like to sit with him!!
Al-Masry Al-Youm
"Muslim Brotherhood members prevented hundreds of protesters from reaching the Parliament building in downtown Cairo on Tuesday as part of the so-called “Tuesday of Determination” demonstrations to demand an accelerated transfer of power to civilians.*
Protesters turned their chants against the Muslim Brotherhood after Brotherhood supporters formed a human chain....
But the chants of “Down with military rule” quickly turned to “Down with the Muslim Brotherhood” when protesters encountered members of the group who were blocking their path. The group’s Freedom and Justice Party controls about 43 percent of the People’s Assembly....
“The transformation of the Muslim Brotherhood to a new Central Security Force is a real shame, this is a historic mistake that tarnishes the whole history of the Muslim Brotherhood,” said Hamed al-Defrawy, a former leading Muslim Brotherhood member who left the group in 2010, as he observed the standoff between the Brotherhood and protesters.....
The crowd accused the Brotherhood of selling out the revolution for the sake of a deal with the military rulers.
“The Brotherhood and the military are two sides that you cannot trust,” screamed the crowd.
“The Brotherhood had certain demands, which they have now achieved. Now they don’t want to fight for the other demands of the revolution,” said Hassan Aboul Enein, who arrived at Parliament with the march from Maspero.
Since the FJP acquired a majority in Parliament, revolutionaries have begun to suspect the existence of a secret deal between FJP and the ruling military council, one which would transfer power to the Brotherhood while exempting the military from prosecution......"
"Muslim Brotherhood members prevented hundreds of protesters from reaching the Parliament building in downtown Cairo on Tuesday as part of the so-called “Tuesday of Determination” demonstrations to demand an accelerated transfer of power to civilians.*
Protesters turned their chants against the Muslim Brotherhood after Brotherhood supporters formed a human chain....
But the chants of “Down with military rule” quickly turned to “Down with the Muslim Brotherhood” when protesters encountered members of the group who were blocking their path. The group’s Freedom and Justice Party controls about 43 percent of the People’s Assembly....
“The transformation of the Muslim Brotherhood to a new Central Security Force is a real shame, this is a historic mistake that tarnishes the whole history of the Muslim Brotherhood,” said Hamed al-Defrawy, a former leading Muslim Brotherhood member who left the group in 2010, as he observed the standoff between the Brotherhood and protesters.....
The crowd accused the Brotherhood of selling out the revolution for the sake of a deal with the military rulers.
“The Brotherhood and the military are two sides that you cannot trust,” screamed the crowd.
“The Brotherhood had certain demands, which they have now achieved. Now they don’t want to fight for the other demands of the revolution,” said Hassan Aboul Enein, who arrived at Parliament with the march from Maspero.
Since the FJP acquired a majority in Parliament, revolutionaries have begun to suspect the existence of a secret deal between FJP and the ruling military council, one which would transfer power to the Brotherhood while exempting the military from prosecution......"
VIDEO – Parliament protesters denounce SCAF and MB
From Hossam El-Hamalawy
اشتباكات بين نشطاء وإخوان وسط القاهرة
"اندلعت اشتباكات بين مئات من الشباب المنتمين لجماعة الإخوان المسلمين في مصر وأعداد كبيرة من المتظاهرين بوسط القاهرة مساء الثلاثاء، في محيط مبنى مجلس الوزراء المصري وبالقرب من مقر البرلمان.
وقد بدأت الاشتباكات عندما حاول شباب الإخوان منع المتظاهرين من الوصول إلى الباب الرئيسي لمجلس الوزراء من خلال تشكيل سياج بشري، غير أنهم فشلوا بعد أن رشقهم المتظاهرون بالحجارة والزجاجات الفارغة والمياه, وأصيب عشرات من النشطاء ومن الإخوان بإغماء بسبب شدة التدافع.
وردَّد المتظاهرون هتافات "ثوار أحرار حنكمِّل المشوار", و"الثورة مستمرة" و"الخاين يطلع برة"، و"بيع الثورة يا بديع", في إشارة إلى المرشد العام لجماعة الإخوان المسلمين محمد بديع، معتبرين أن الجماعة تخلَّت عن ثورة 25 يناير وعن استكمال أهدافها بالاشتراك في انتخابات مجلس الشعب وحصول حزب الحرية والعدالة المنبثق منها على الأغلبية النسبية في المجلس.
كما حمل المتظاهرون، الذين توافدوا على شكل مسيرات من ميدان التحرير المجاور، علم مصر وصورًا لقتلى ومصابي ثورة 25 يناير. وهتف نشطاء "الشعب يريد إسقاط الإخوان" وبصق آخرون على أعضاء من الجماعة خلال الاشتباكات بالأيدي ورفعوا أحذية في مواجهتهم. وفي المقابل هتف الإخوان "الله أكبر ولله الحمد", و"اللي يحب مصر ما يخربش مصر", وتلا بعضهم آيات من القرآن الكريم.
....."
اشتباكات بين نشطاء وإخوان وسط القاهرة
"اندلعت اشتباكات بين مئات من الشباب المنتمين لجماعة الإخوان المسلمين في مصر وأعداد كبيرة من المتظاهرين بوسط القاهرة مساء الثلاثاء، في محيط مبنى مجلس الوزراء المصري وبالقرب من مقر البرلمان.
وقد بدأت الاشتباكات عندما حاول شباب الإخوان منع المتظاهرين من الوصول إلى الباب الرئيسي لمجلس الوزراء من خلال تشكيل سياج بشري، غير أنهم فشلوا بعد أن رشقهم المتظاهرون بالحجارة والزجاجات الفارغة والمياه, وأصيب عشرات من النشطاء ومن الإخوان بإغماء بسبب شدة التدافع.
وردَّد المتظاهرون هتافات "ثوار أحرار حنكمِّل المشوار", و"الثورة مستمرة" و"الخاين يطلع برة"، و"بيع الثورة يا بديع", في إشارة إلى المرشد العام لجماعة الإخوان المسلمين محمد بديع، معتبرين أن الجماعة تخلَّت عن ثورة 25 يناير وعن استكمال أهدافها بالاشتراك في انتخابات مجلس الشعب وحصول حزب الحرية والعدالة المنبثق منها على الأغلبية النسبية في المجلس.
كما حمل المتظاهرون، الذين توافدوا على شكل مسيرات من ميدان التحرير المجاور، علم مصر وصورًا لقتلى ومصابي ثورة 25 يناير. وهتف نشطاء "الشعب يريد إسقاط الإخوان" وبصق آخرون على أعضاء من الجماعة خلال الاشتباكات بالأيدي ورفعوا أحذية في مواجهتهم. وفي المقابل هتف الإخوان "الله أكبر ولله الحمد", و"اللي يحب مصر ما يخربش مصر", وتلا بعضهم آيات من القرآن الكريم.
....."
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Syria is used to the slings and arrows of friends and enemies
Bashar al-Assad is clinging to power despite the slow growth of a civil war. But if the regime should survive, what sort of country will it rule?
By Robert Fisk
".....In reality, the Syrian government is likely to fight on alone. It always has. The Assad father-and-son doctrine has always been one of patience. Hold on tight – however great the condemnation by the rest of the world, however terrible the threats from Israel or America – and eventually the wheel of fortune will turn once more in your favour.
The awful carnage in Homs and the rest of Syria, the beheadings and the torture, however, suggest that Assad rule really is running out of time. Syria's people are dying just as the people of Egypt and Libya and Yemen have died, because they want the dignity of governing themselves. Their own battle is already infecting the sectarian divisions in northern Lebanon and they exist inside the Lebanese parliament, although this will not be the Syrian government's primary concern.
The battle for survival is a terrible thing and Bashar al-Assad still appears to believe that he can squeeze through his mass of proposed reforms before the disintegration of Syria. No one outside Syria appears to believe he will be successful. But there is one unasked question. Just suppose the regime did survive. Over what kind of Syria would it rule?"
By Robert Fisk
".....In reality, the Syrian government is likely to fight on alone. It always has. The Assad father-and-son doctrine has always been one of patience. Hold on tight – however great the condemnation by the rest of the world, however terrible the threats from Israel or America – and eventually the wheel of fortune will turn once more in your favour.
The awful carnage in Homs and the rest of Syria, the beheadings and the torture, however, suggest that Assad rule really is running out of time. Syria's people are dying just as the people of Egypt and Libya and Yemen have died, because they want the dignity of governing themselves. Their own battle is already infecting the sectarian divisions in northern Lebanon and they exist inside the Lebanese parliament, although this will not be the Syrian government's primary concern.
The battle for survival is a terrible thing and Bashar al-Assad still appears to believe that he can squeeze through his mass of proposed reforms before the disintegration of Syria. No one outside Syria appears to believe he will be successful. But there is one unasked question. Just suppose the regime did survive. Over what kind of Syria would it rule?"
Syria: a Soviet hangover turned headache
Russia inherited its Middle East presence from the Soviet Union. Is it about to lose its last ally in a newly democratised Arab world?
Editorial
guardian.co.uk, Tuesday 31 January 2012
"....This has the potential to isolate Russia within a reshaped Arab world. Moscow has to address two questions as it prepares to wield its veto. First, as Assad's principal arms supplier, is it backing the loser? If so, it will lose not only the $550m deal it signed with Damascus for trainer aircraft, but the only base it has outside the former Soviet Union and a string of listening posts. The second question is more pressing: is it about to lose its last ally in a newly democratised Arab world, of which Syria will remain a vital hub whatever happens? Russia inherited its Middle East presence from the Soviet Union, but it did not gain any new friends. With Gaddafi gone and Assad on his way out, Russia stands to lose more than physical assets.
.... But Russia is wrong to warn that the resolution will risk civil war. Continuing to back Assad, as it is doing, will propel a civil war. The sooner Assad sees he has no future – and even a watered-down resolution would help that – the sooner leading members of the regime will try to salvage something from the wreckage. The coming civil war will not guarantee the property of minority Alawites or the Sunni merchant class in Damascus and Aleppo. It will engulf them, and the score-settling in Libya will be as nothing to what takes place in Syria."
Editorial
guardian.co.uk, Tuesday 31 January 2012
"....This has the potential to isolate Russia within a reshaped Arab world. Moscow has to address two questions as it prepares to wield its veto. First, as Assad's principal arms supplier, is it backing the loser? If so, it will lose not only the $550m deal it signed with Damascus for trainer aircraft, but the only base it has outside the former Soviet Union and a string of listening posts. The second question is more pressing: is it about to lose its last ally in a newly democratised Arab world, of which Syria will remain a vital hub whatever happens? Russia inherited its Middle East presence from the Soviet Union, but it did not gain any new friends. With Gaddafi gone and Assad on his way out, Russia stands to lose more than physical assets.
.... But Russia is wrong to warn that the resolution will risk civil war. Continuing to back Assad, as it is doing, will propel a civil war. The sooner Assad sees he has no future – and even a watered-down resolution would help that – the sooner leading members of the regime will try to salvage something from the wreckage. The coming civil war will not guarantee the property of minority Alawites or the Sunni merchant class in Damascus and Aleppo. It will engulf them, and the score-settling in Libya will be as nothing to what takes place in Syria."
Syria presents an opportunity for the Arab League to make its presence felt
Nabil al-Arabi's briefing to the UN security council may be a seminal moment in the history of the league
Ian Black, Middle East editor
guardian.co.uk, Tuesday 31 January 2012
".....With the council considering its next steps and the United States and other western countries pressing to force President Bashar al-Assad to step down, Russia is resisting fiercely. So the voice of the league matters more than ever before...
But the stakes for Syria are higher than they were for Libya. Damascus lies at the centre of a web of regional relationships involving Iran, Lebanon and Israel. Assad has more support than Gaddafi did. Assad's enemies are also divided and have no equivalent of Benghazi, where Libya's uprising began......
It is no coincidence that Al-Arabi is being accompanied to the UN by Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim Al Thani, prime minister and foreign minster of Qatar, the tiny but wealthy Gulf state that has played a key role in the Arab spring.
Bin Jassim, chairing the league's Syria committee, has been calling the shots.....
Russia's position will be crucial. Critics accuse it of acting to defend its own interests – arms sales and a key Syrian naval base – as well as opposing a western agenda after what happened in Libya. There was an intriguing hint on Tuesday by its foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov, that Assad remaining in power was not a "prerequisite" for resolving the crisis.
This is a big moment for al-Arabi and the organisation he heads..."
Ian Black, Middle East editor
guardian.co.uk, Tuesday 31 January 2012
".....With the council considering its next steps and the United States and other western countries pressing to force President Bashar al-Assad to step down, Russia is resisting fiercely. So the voice of the league matters more than ever before...
But the stakes for Syria are higher than they were for Libya. Damascus lies at the centre of a web of regional relationships involving Iran, Lebanon and Israel. Assad has more support than Gaddafi did. Assad's enemies are also divided and have no equivalent of Benghazi, where Libya's uprising began......
It is no coincidence that Al-Arabi is being accompanied to the UN by Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim Al Thani, prime minister and foreign minster of Qatar, the tiny but wealthy Gulf state that has played a key role in the Arab spring.
Bin Jassim, chairing the league's Syria committee, has been calling the shots.....
Russia's position will be crucial. Critics accuse it of acting to defend its own interests – arms sales and a key Syrian naval base – as well as opposing a western agenda after what happened in Libya. There was an intriguing hint on Tuesday by its foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov, that Assad remaining in power was not a "prerequisite" for resolving the crisis.
This is a big moment for al-Arabi and the organisation he heads..."
Fighting continues in Syrian capital as insurgency gains momentum
Tanks seen moving into east of Damascus in attempt to retake pockets of territory from opposition forces
Martin Chulov in Beirut
guardian.co.uk, Tuesday 31 January 2012
"Syrian forces were battling groups of defectors in the eastern outskirts of Damascus on Tuesday as a campaign continued to reclaim pockets of the capital briefly seized by opposition groups.
The sound of artillery and gunfire could be heard throughout the afternoon as opposition forces fought street battles with loyalists who had retaken contested areas in northern Damascus on Monday.
Several dozen tanks were seen moving towards the east of the city in the early afternoon, the heart of the Bashar al-Assad regime's powerbase....
However, the president's troops continue to battle a more organised and committed opposition in the country's fourth city, Homs, where tanks and artillery were again firing intensively into the rebel-held Bab al-Amr district on Tuesday.
Residents of Homs, the frontline of an armed insurgency against the Assad family's four-decade rule, say neighbourhoods are fast being emptied of families that loyalists suspect of supporting the 10-month rebellion.
They have described dire living conditions, with poor sanitation and streets that are regularly raked by gunfire....
"There are many families homeless here and many homes destroyed," said Manhal Abo Bakr, a Hama resident and citizen journalist for the global campaigning group Avvaz. "The situation is much worse than it was last week. There has been so much killing."....."
Martin Chulov in Beirut
guardian.co.uk, Tuesday 31 January 2012
"Syrian forces were battling groups of defectors in the eastern outskirts of Damascus on Tuesday as a campaign continued to reclaim pockets of the capital briefly seized by opposition groups.
The sound of artillery and gunfire could be heard throughout the afternoon as opposition forces fought street battles with loyalists who had retaken contested areas in northern Damascus on Monday.
Several dozen tanks were seen moving towards the east of the city in the early afternoon, the heart of the Bashar al-Assad regime's powerbase....
However, the president's troops continue to battle a more organised and committed opposition in the country's fourth city, Homs, where tanks and artillery were again firing intensively into the rebel-held Bab al-Amr district on Tuesday.
Residents of Homs, the frontline of an armed insurgency against the Assad family's four-decade rule, say neighbourhoods are fast being emptied of families that loyalists suspect of supporting the 10-month rebellion.
They have described dire living conditions, with poor sanitation and streets that are regularly raked by gunfire....
"There are many families homeless here and many homes destroyed," said Manhal Abo Bakr, a Hama resident and citizen journalist for the global campaigning group Avvaz. "The situation is much worse than it was last week. There has been so much killing."....."
الثورة السورية بين المطرقة والسندان
إن هذا الشعور المرضي ( بفتح الميم والرّاء ) بالتفوق من جهة ، والرغبة اللاحقة في حماية إسرائيل ودعمها ، من جهة أخرى ، قد أعمى بصر وبصيرة الكثير من حكام ، دول الشمال المتطورة ، وجعلهم لايخجلون من ممارستهم إخفاء الحقائق ( الكذب ) حتى عن شعوبهم ، كما رأينا في موضوع أسلحة الدمار الشامل ، التي برر بها كل من بوش وبلير وغيرهما من القادة الأوربيين احتلالهم للعراق عام 2003 ، والتي أصبح الجميع الآن يعرف حقيقة عدم وجودها .
إن مما يؤلم ويؤسف له في هذا الموضوع ، أن قوى ومجموعات متعددة من كل من اليسار واليمين الأوروبي والأمريكي قد وقفت إلى جانب أنظمتها في تمرير تلك الأكذوبة الحمراء . بل إنها ماتزال حتى اليوم تساند حكوماتها فيما يتعلق بتاييد ودعم الكيان الصهيوني ، على حساب حق ستة ملايين فلسطيني أو أكثر يعيشون في الشتات بعيداً عن وطنهم وبيوتهم التي أجبروا على تركها بقوة السلاح .
إن وعي ، ولاوعي مواطني الدول الغربية ( السندان ) ، بات ــ مع الأسف ــ مسكونا اليوم ، بجملة من الأضاليل التي غرستها في عقولهم وقلوبهم الفئات الراسمالية ( الديموقراطية ) الحاكمة ، والتي أبرزها :
ــ عدم رؤيتهم لحق الشعب الفلسطيني ، في رؤيتهم الثابتة في أن إسرائيل دوماً على حق ، وأن خصومها
دوماً على باطل ،
ــ عدم رؤيتهم " ازدواجية المعايير " في سلوك حكوماتهم ، ( مع الديموقراطية هنا ومع الديكتاتورية هناك /
نعم للديموقراطية التي تأتي بأ تباعنا ، ولا للديموقراطية التي تأتي بخصومنا !!) ،
ــ عدم رؤيتهم البعد الإمبريالي المصلحي في في دفاع حكوماتهم عن بعض الأقليات الاجتماعية في بعض
البلدان ، على قاعدة " كلمة حق يراد بها باطل " ،
ــ عدم توقفهم عند الممارسات الوحشية والدموية التي يمارسها الموالون لإسرائيل من الحكام العرب ، كما
هي الحال في " سورية الأسد !! " منذ اندلاع ثورة الحرية والديموقراطية في آذار 2011 .
3.
في هذا المناخ السياسي والاعلامي الرمادي الملتبس ، وذي الوجهين ، تجد الثورة السورية ، والمعارضة السورية نفسيهما بين فكّي كماشة الداخل والخارج ، المطرقة والسندان ، أي عملياً الاستبدادين : الداخلي والخارجي .
إن المستوى العالي ، من التكتيك المنظم والمدروس بدقة وعناية ، بين النظام الوراثي الموالي لإسرائيل والغرب في دمشق من جهة ، وكلاًّ من الدول الغربية ( أوروبا وأمريكا ) وأتباعهما من المنحازين إلى إسرائيل في العالم من جهة أخرى ، قد أربك المعارضة السورية ، والثورة السورية ، بحيث أخذت تختلط لدى العناصر الميدانية فيهما ، وخاصة عناصر الداخل ، المواقف التكتيكية مع المواقف الاستراتيجية ، وبالتالي المواقف النظرية والإعلامية مع المواقف العملية الملموسة لهذه الدول ( الديموقراطية !) ، ولا سيما بعد أن بلغت حصيلة الشهداء في سورية قرابة العشرة آلاف شهيد ، إضافة إلى مئات ألوف الجرحى ، والمعوقين والمفقودين ، وأيضاً المعتقلين الذين تم تعذيب المئات منهم بطرق وحشية بلغت حدّ الموت !! ، أي أنه لم يعد ممكناً ولا مجدياً بالنسبة إليهم الإستمرار في النظر إلى الأمور نظرة إحصائية محايدة ، بل إن لسان حالهم بات ( اللي بوكل العصي مو مثل اللي بعدها // من يتلقى الضربات ليس كمن يقتصر دوره في إحصائها ) .
4.
إن المنازلة الإعلامية / الكلامية ، بين نظام عائلة الأسد وحماته ، وبين إسرائيل وحماتها ، لاتعدو بنظرنا أن تكون نوعاً من " التكتيك " السياسي الذي يمارسه الطرفان ، لإخفاء البعد الاستراتيجي لعلاقتهما الحقيقية. تلك
العلاقة التي فضحها ويفضحها :
ــ سكوت النظام السوري على احتلال إسرائيل لهضبة الجولان منذ عام 1967 وحتى اليوم ،
ــ اشتراك حافظ الأسد في الحلف الثلاثيني عام 1991 ( عاصفة الصحراء الأمريكية ) ضد العراق الشقيق ،
ــ إعلان حافظ الأسد في مجلس الشعب السوري قبيل انعقد مؤتمر مدريد في 30 أكتوبر 1991 أن خيار
السلام مع " إسرائيل" أصبح هو الخيار السوري الاستراتيجي ، وغلّفه بشعار " الأرض مقابل السلام "
ولما كانت الأرض المعنية هنا هي هضبة الجولان ، فإن حافظ الأسد يكون بذلك قد تخلى عملياً ورسمياً عن
القضية الفلسطينية ،
ــ الموقف الرمادي الحرباوي والتدليسي من الاحتلال الأمريكي ـ الإيراني للعراق عام 2003 ، ومن حكومة
المالكي ، حكومة المحاصصة الطائفية القابعة في المنطقة الخضراء .
إن هذه العلاقة بين الاستبدادين الداخلي ( عائلة الأسد وحماتها) ، والخارجي ( أمريكا وأتباعها ) وبمستوييها الإثنين : التكتيكي والاستراتيجي ، هو مايجسد بالنسبة لكل من الثورة السورية والمعارضة السورية مادعوناه
بالمطرقة والسندان ، أو بفكي الكماشة اللذين يحاولان احتواء ثورة آذار 2011 المجيدة ، ولكن الكاتب ، انطلاقاً من ثقته بأن النصرلابدّ أن يكون حليف الشعوب والمستضعفين ، مهما طال الزمن وعظمت التضحيات ، يكاد يرى بأم العين والقلب ، الانهيار القريب للنظام الديكتاتوري العائلي في دمشق ، نظام بشار الأسد وعائلته ، وقيام النظام الوطني الديموقراطي التعددي والتداولي على أنقاضه ، وعندها ستعود علاقات الوئام والمحبة بين الجميع ، وئام ومحبة لايفسدهما الاختلاف بين الرأي والرأي الآخر بين أبناء الوطن الواحد والأمة الواحدة .
A UN resolution on Syria, even watered down, would hurt Assad
I'd like to see a resolution that calls on the Syrian president (and, the Russians will insist, all armed groups) to stop the violence
Fares Chamseddine
guardian.co.uk, Tuesday 31 January 2012
"A UN resolution on Syria, regardless of its content, would be a very important step for the Syrian people in their struggle against Bashar al-Assad's regime. It might be heavily watered down by Russian demands before it can be passed, but it would still be a significant crack in Assad's diplomatic chainmail and a step towards a free and democratic Syria.
It would be naive to expect immediate changes should the resolution see the light of day, but there's no doubt that the regime takes any such action extremely seriously – and has been fighting tooth and nail to prevent a resolution from being passed.....
Still, the Syrian regime has done everything in its power to delay bringing the question of a resolution back to the UN, and that shows this is something which worries them very deeply. Nobody, not even Assad, can take Russia's support for granted, and at some point even the strongest ally could decide that a losing regime is not worth supporting."
Fares Chamseddine
guardian.co.uk, Tuesday 31 January 2012
"A UN resolution on Syria, regardless of its content, would be a very important step for the Syrian people in their struggle against Bashar al-Assad's regime. It might be heavily watered down by Russian demands before it can be passed, but it would still be a significant crack in Assad's diplomatic chainmail and a step towards a free and democratic Syria.
It would be naive to expect immediate changes should the resolution see the light of day, but there's no doubt that the regime takes any such action extremely seriously – and has been fighting tooth and nail to prevent a resolution from being passed.....
Still, the Syrian regime has done everything in its power to delay bringing the question of a resolution back to the UN, and that shows this is something which worries them very deeply. Nobody, not even Assad, can take Russia's support for granted, and at some point even the strongest ally could decide that a losing regime is not worth supporting."
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