Who Broke Syria? - By James Harkin. Less than a week into a U.N.
-brokered ceasefire in Syria, the arrangement is already looking pretty shaky. The Syrian government has promised to pull its army back from major cities, but now seems to be reneging on that deal. But rather than castigating its motives, perhaps it might be a good time now to take a fresh look what exactly has been accomplished by the internationalization of the Syrian "problem. " I've been going to Syria for some years now, both as a journalist and an ordinary citizen, and it's been inspiring to see how the country has changed. Some of my friends are ordinary civilians; others are now involved in the motley collection of opposition groups that have emerged since the uprising began in March of last year. As spring 2011 gave way to summer and fall and the flagging Baathist regime moved to snuff out dissent, some opposition groups looked to the force of arms to protect their demonstrations and their communities.
So what's going wrong? That was then. Can Obama's Yemen Model Work in Syria? U.S.
President Obama delivers a statement at conclusion of the G8 Summit at Camp David in Maryland 19/05/2012. (photo by REUTERS/Jason Reed) Author: Taraf (Turkey) Posted May 29, 2012 During last week’s G-8 summit, Obama suggested the “Yemen model” as a solution for Syria. It wasn’t clear what he meant by this, since Yemen and Syria are strikingly different cases. Summary⎙ Print During the recent G-8 summit, Obama suggested the “Yemen model” as a solution for the Syrian crisis. Author Ceren Kenar Posted May 29, 2012 Translator(s)Ceren Kenar. Meet Syria's Opposition - By Randa Slim. Seven months into the uprisings, the Syrian opposition has yet to develop a united voice and platform.
Unless these disparate groups unite and present a credible and viable alternative to the Assad regime, both Syria's fearful majority and the international community will find it difficult to effectively push for meaningful change in Damascus. The divisions among the Syrian opposition groups remain daunting, despite prodding from abroad and some progress toward unification. Dozens Defect From Syrian Army, But Rebel Ranks Also Cracking. A photograph of Colonel Hassan Hamada, the Syrian air force pilot that defected to Jordan, hangs on the wall at his home near Idlib June 22, 2012.
Hamada flew over the border to Jordan on Thursday, and was granted political asylum. Picture taken June 22, 2012. (photo by REUTERS/ABDO) Author: Rania Abouzeid Posted June 27, 2012 The ranks of the Syrian defectors who streamed into southern Turkey recently read like quite the roll call: a brigadier general, two colonels, two majors, a lieutenant, and dozens of soldiers, along with their families, according to press reports. Syria’s Economic Vulnerability. Will Syria’s weakening economy hasten Assad’s demise?
Back in May, some observers suggested that if Syrian protesters don’t topple President Assad, then the economic cost of the uprising would. Six months later, Assad shows no signs of either falling or leaving. But with protesters increasingly turning to violent resistance and the escalating conflict drawing in Turkey and Lebanon, attention is turning back to how much more Syria’s already vulnerable economy can withstand. Answering that question will give a good indication of how much longer President Assad can hold on. A rare tourist takes pictures of a wall decorated with posters of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in the old city of Damascus on April 2, 2011. Syria’s economy is starting to feel the pressure of eight months of violence in which an estimated 3000 people have died and thousands more have been injured. Tourism. Why the EU's Sanctions Against Assad's Syria Will Backfire.
A pro-Assad rally last month.
(Photo: Sana Sana / Courtesy Reuters.) The political and humanitarian crisis in Syria has led to more than 3,500 deaths and sparked a wave of international reaction. In response, on Wednesday Turkey froze Syrian assets and lines of credit in the country. That followed the move last month by the Arab League, which temporarily suspended Syria's membership and, too, adopted a set of so-called smart sanctions aimed at a few specific trade sectors. Is the White House Gearing Up for Action on Syria? - Max Fisher - International. A worsening death toll, new Arab League action, and Russia's sudden change in position might provide an opening for an international response Secretary of State Clinton meets with a small group of expatriate Syrian opposition members in Geneva on December 6 / Reuters The White House press office has just released an unusually strong statement calling on Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, whose regime has this week conducted some of its most brutal attacks against civilians yet, step down.
"The only way to bring about the change that the Syrian people deserve is for Bashar al-Assad to leave power," it reads. "The Assad regime has demonstrated that it does not deserve to rule Syria. " Syria's Torture Machine. Divide and Rule in Syria. The schisms of the Syrian opposition The Syrian opposition has so far failed to unite in the face of government violence and repression.
The political groups in opposition in Syria have so far failed to agree a consensus Intense dispute has surrounded the implementation of an Arab League initiative to end the Syrian crisis since a delegation of Arab League observers arrived in Syria on 26 December. Opposition groups and activists inside and outside Syria have criticized the effectiveness of the mission, labelling it ineffective and practically redundant. The most salient criticisms feature accusations that the visiting team is too small for the task at hand—numbering less than 100 observers—and that the man placed in charge of the operation, Sudanese General Mohammed Ahmed Mustafa Al-Dabi, is tainted by association with Sudan’s President Omar Al-Bashir.
"Fanning the Flames of Justice in Syria" by David Scheffer. Exit from comment view mode.
Click to hide this space CHICAGO – Justice will be a long time coming in Syria, but it can begin with a Security Council referral of the situation in that wounded country to the International Criminal Court (ICC) for investigation and, ultimately, prosecution. A Credible Alternative. Is the Syrian opposition ready to govern?
After 10 months of popular protests across Syria, the government crackdown has neither discouraged protesters nor ended a crisis that has caused thousands of civilian deaths. The Arab League's failure to end the crisis by diplomatic means has prompted fresh calls for UN intervention, and reignited debates about whether President Assad should be forced from office. Is there a credible alternative? Burhan Ghalioun, head of the SNC, has struggled to present a united front. When the Entire Planet is Against the Revolution. "I have seen the tree, but the roots are elsewhere. " - Indian proverb. Whether from the helms of the Syrian regime or through the "opposed" western media such as Al Jazeera and its helms in the Arab world, the hegemonic representation of the Syrian revolution is that of a world divided into two camps and no other. On one side, there are "the revolutionaries" and their free army, "neo-Ottoman" Turkey and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states—at the heart of which is Qatar and its prince—and with the United States, Europe, and Israel in the background.
On the opposing side, there is the Asad regime in Syria, Iran and the Lebanese Hizbullah—the “anti-imperialists”—with Russia and China in the background. At first glance, the Russian and Chinese vetoes in the Security Council seem to confirm nothing but such a narrative. The assumption in the Syrian case is that this is an "anti-imperialist/obstructionist" stance against western "imperialist" military intervention. But no! Blood and a Propaganda War. Leader of the Free Syrian Army, Riyad Al-Assaad: All Will Be Over In Three Months Riyad Al-Assaad talks with The Majalla about the goals of the Free Syrian Army, the group's relationship with the Syrian political opposition, the extent to which they are influenced by Turkey and the controversy that surrounds armed resistance.
Leader of the Free Syrian Army: Riyad Al-Assaad The crisis in Syria continues to be the focus of foreign governments who are anxious of the humanitarian situation, but doubtless also worried about the political fallout and destabilising effects of a potential full-blown civil war. Although domestic protests in Moscow have deflected a little of Russia’s interest and involvement in Middle East affairs for now, China has reportedly urged the Syrian government to cooperate with international aid agencies, allow access to problem areas and cease all violence immediately. The Voice of the People? Just another conference for the Syrian opposition One year has passed since the beginning of Syria’s uprising, and Turkey has been providing opportunities for numerous Syrian opposition figures to coordinate their efforts against the regime.
However, the results are largely discouraging. Jonathan Steele · Diary: In Syria · LRB 22 March 2012. Roughly twice a week several carloads of people set off from middle-class areas of central Damascus for a ‘party’ in the unlikely setting of Qudsaya, an impoverished hill town about eight miles northwest of the city. As the guests drive up the steep streets to the town’s small central square, young men, some with scarves wrapped round their faces, look out for signs of danger. The ‘party’ is actually a protest against Bashar al-Assad’s regime; government security forces may appear at any moment. My first two attempts to get to Qudsaya failed when armed police and militia showed up at the last minute and the demonstrations were cancelled. Opposition to the Syrian Opposition: Against the Syrian National Council. First, let us be clear. The Syrian people have every right to protest, peacefully and violently, against the brutal regime.
But let us be clear; the Syrian regime has no right to stay in power, and this was true even before it began using violence to quell the uprising. And let us be clear; the Syrian regime is incapable of reforming itself. It is rather foolish to wait for a group to ascend to power before criticizing it. A Divided Opposition. Burhan Ghalioun: “We have nothing but optimism; no way but victory and defeating the regime.” Why Washington Is The Syrian Opposition’s Next Battlefront - By Christian Caryl. The government of President Bashar al-Assad is firing tank shells and rockets at unarmed civilians. Obama administration moves to aid Syrian opposition.
The Obama administration is moving to provide direct assistance to the internal opposition in Syria for the first time, marking a shift in U.S. policy toward a more aggressive plan to help oust President Bashar al-Assad. Last week, a group of senior Obama administration officials met to finalize a package of options for aiding both the internal and external Syrian opposition, to include providing direct humanitarian and communications assistance to the Syrian opposition, two administration officials confirmed to The Cable.
The Perils of Piecemeal Intervention in Syria. Policy makers and advocacy groups have spent the past few weeks scrambling to come up with solutions. Time for Talks in Syria Has Passed. The dream of "managing militarization" in Syria. How Not to Intervene in Syria - By Aaron David Miller. In 20-plus years of government service, I saw more than a few reruns of the same movie, particularly when we faced a really tough challenge. Preventing Genocide. Syria: Mission Impossible by Stefano Casertano. Exit from comment view mode. Click to hide this space. "Saving the Syrians" by Gareth Evans.
Exit from comment view mode. Click to hide this space CANBERRA – Despite the United Nations Security Council’s belated endorsement of UN Special Envoy Kofi Annan’s peacemaking mission in Syria, confidence that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad will cooperate in any serious or sustained way remains low, and calls for external military intervention continue. The Least Bad Option - By James Traub. Former Syrian General Akil Hashem on the Uprising in Syria. Defying a Dictator: Meet the Free Syrian Army. What it Will Take to Intervene in Syria. Responsibility While Protecting - Gareth Evans. Q&A: Nir Rosen's predictions for Syria - Features. It's Time to Think Seriously About Intervening in Syria - Steven A. Cook - International. Preparing for Failure in Syria.
UN resoution on Syria is vetoed. Stolypin and Russia’s Veto of the Syria Resolution. Russia, China veto U.N. action on Syria ... and the blame game begins. Diplomatic Alternatives. Syria: echoes of a paralyzed international community. Syria Caught in the Middle. News Desk: Syria: A Neighborhood’s War. Syria resolution push moves to the General Assembly. The U.S. and Other ‘Friends of Syria’ Still Search for a Strategy to Oust Assad. Friends of Syria Have no Teeth. Syria's crisis: weapons vs negotiations. Why Washington Didn't Intervene In Syria Last Time. Is Annan's Syria cease-fire worth the paper it's printed on? Assad and his opponents: No, after you.
Syrian Rebels Unite In Turkey, Press for Peace Plan. Syria's Moment of Truth. Security Council demands Syria end military crackdown. UN Security Council condemns Syrian government after Houla massacre. News Desk: Hope in Syria? The Options in Syria - By Bruce Jones. A Fragile Calm Descends on Syria. Syria's Ceasefire: A Brief Interlude? Lines in the Sand: Assad Plays the Sectarian Card. Syrian Conflict Builds Momentum. Why Syria is Still a War Zone. Dead on Arrival. Enough Talking, Kofi - By James Traub. Why Syrians should say no to Annan. "Regime Change in Syria: We Should Learn the Lessons of Iraq" by Steven Strauss.
Syria: The virtue of civil disobedience. Growing Numbers at Reyhanli. Layla Al-Zubaidi · Diary: In Syria · LRB 24 May 2012. Turkey's Best Shot in Syria: Focus on the Kurds. Could Putin Solve Our Syrian Problem. A Tale of Two Summits. The Real Reason to Intervene in Syria - By James P. Rubin. "The Intervention Dilemma" by Joseph S. Nye. The Soft Approach Toward Syria Won't Work. The international community and the Syrian opposition face a new test. Syrian intervention risks upsetting global order. After Geneva. Syria's many new friends are a self-interested bunch. History Resumes: Sectarianism’s Unlearned Lessons. In Focus - Syria's Civil War. Civil Movement vs. Free Syrian Army. Syria, Where You Don't Always Get What You Want - By Brian Fishman. Damascus Under Fire. Syrian state TV: Syrian Defense Minister, Assad brother in law killed in suicide blast. Descent into Chaos. Syrian Assassinations.
Syria Reels. The Fall of Beit Assad. Damascus Spring?