Ajami's wishful thinking

This article by Ajami is so flawed: there is absolutely no evidence of a Saudi-Egyptian alliance.  If anything, the signs of the rift are all over.  Egyptian foreign policy is no more a replica of Saudi foreign policy.  Ikhwan base is very hostile to Saudi Arabia and the hatred distrust are mutual.  But Ajami--like other Zionists--want to delude himself into thinking that Israel can recreate the regional order that it lost when Mubarak fell.  Fat chance.  Also, Saudis are furious that there is little evidence of anti-Iranian sentiments in Ikhwan rhetoric.

Vote at the UN

People in US media are mocking the countries that voted against the UN GA resolution because they are undemocratic.  Yeah, I am sure that Western countries are very keen on democracy and for that they urged Saudi Arabia--the beacon of democracy in the region--to sponsor the resolution. 

Syria's Muslim Brotherhood

A damning critique of Syria's Muslim Brotherhood by a leading Syrian opposition figure, Michel Kilu.

People of Damascus and the regime

Some Syrian supporters of the opposition objected to me about a post by Akram about how people in Damascus are eager for regime advances against the rebels.  I asked him to clarify.  He wrote me this:

"It's very widespread not because the Damascenes are "pro-regime" but rather because of what they see of the criminal and sectarian practices of the rebels. I actually mentioned this in a previous post:

People are stuck on the news tickers of the Syrian TV channels hoping that what they read about the achievements of the Syrian army in this city or that town is true and that Bahsar Al-Assad is still their president and not a commander of a criminal militia

Sorry for not being clear on this point".

organizational structure of the Muslim Brotherhood

This is the organized structure of the Muslim Brotherhood. (thanks Hossam)

Free Syrian Army sectarianism

From Akram--who does not sleep:

"In an interview with Al-Arabyia TV station, Ryiad Al-Assa'ad, the puppet commander in chief of the Free Syrian Army, said that Al-Salamyiah city is pro-regime because it "facilitate the passage of the military reinforcements [of the Syrian Army] heading to Aleppo" (Arabic).

Al-Salamyiah is an Ismaili (a sort of Alawite) city and, contrary of what this thug Ryiad Al-Assa'ad said, it's not a pro-regime city (if one has the right to describe all the residents of a city of being pro or anti regime), it, actually, hosts a very active opposition movement. But for Ryiad Al-Assa'ad and his fellows, you can't be an opponent to the Syrian regime unless you are Wahabi.

So what can we say on this: an invitation to commit a sectarian massacre?"

Saudi-Zionist alliance

From Ahmet in Tunisia:  "Asad, who needs further proof, MBC censors Adel Imam series because he praises Hezbollah resistance.."

Syria and Lebanon: 1976

My weekly article in Al-Akhbar:  "Syria and Lebanon: 1976".

Secularism and Syrian opposition (some of it at least)

From Akram, the Angry Arab correspondent in Syria:

"The statement (Arabic) warned that "similar operations [Attacking Hafez Al-Assad tomb in Al-Qirdaha] will be carried out in all the Alawite villages and towns in Lattakia and Tartous and their outskirts as a response of targeting our Sunni mosques by Al-Assad terrorist gangs. All Alawite temples [not mosques] and Husseiniyas will be destroyed. Shiism in Syria will be eradicated. Shiites and Alawites will be disarmed and properties and money they looted of Sunnis during four decades will be recuperated..."

Clarification for those who can't read Arabic: the above was the secular part of a statement by "the military bureau of the Patriots Syrians Party" announcing that the tomb of the late Syrian president Hafez Al-Assad was partly destroyed as a result of an attack launched by two armed groups of the "party"".

war on drugs in...Lebanon

The US goes around the world forcing governments to adopt is silly "war on drugs".  I mean, leave people alone if they want to cultivate drugs and enjoy drugs.  Why does the puritanical Christian kooky morality of recent US administrations have to be imposed on other countries? Those policies result (as in Latin America) in bombing of formers and in impoverishment of farmers.  The US went to Lebanon and through pressures and bribery forced the Lebanese government--yet again--to burn hashishah fields in the Biqa`.  This happened a few times before: the US embassy provided the farmers with seeds for potatoes--KID YOU NOT--after a period, they went back to hashish.  A book should be written on the harms and destruction around the world that is caused by the US war on drugs.  (By the way, in Lebanon, it is known that Hashish farmers rarely use Hashish themselves: they provided it to those in other countries who really enjoy them). 

House of Saud

I wrote this in Arabic on twitter and I will write it here.  Arabic history has not vomited a family worse than House of Saud--ever.

Double the pleasure

Comrade Joseph's article on Intolerance in US foreign policy in Arabic. (English version posted this week).

Yarmuk camp is being shelled again

Sources in the camp are telling me that three shells fell on areas of Palestine street (part of the camp and adjacent to the Tadamun quarter which is being now overrun), and there is a sniper on the separating line.  It is confirmed that two people are killed today, in addition to twenty yesterday.  I am told that regime forces (with tanks and security buses) are taking over Tadamun and they have supporters of the regime in Nisrin street who had been armed by regime.  My source tells me that there is a sectarian character to the fight.

Yarmuk bombing

I have received communications from Palestinians in Yarmuk.  I can summarize what I received although there are Palestinians who support the PFLP-GC who side with the regime, and there are Palestinians who side with Fath-Hamas and who side with the opposition: there was shelling of the camp. That can't be disputed.  It fell on the camp regardless whether it was intended or not, although many believe it was deliberately targeted.  One source who works there wondered to me in a private email:  "Was it done by the Shabbihah of the regime on Nisrin Street in Tadamun (only 500 meters from the place where shells fell, and the regime has armed them with mortar), or was it the regular forces of the regime that are stationed in Yilda or in the sufuh (the word in English escapes me now) of Qasyun, or was it by the armed opposition (which as we know does not own artillery nor this caliber of mortar)".

Akram (who is not the author of the above report) sent me this in response:  "Soufouh: slopes... Kassioun is a mountain that overlooks Damascus. Many of the bombardment that targeted (and continues to target) the city and its suburbs are launched from the Republican Guard artillery stationing there".

Syria in a nutshell

"Other analysts are less forgiving. As’ad AbuKhalil, a professor of political science at California State University, Stanislaus, who runs the popular Angry Arab blog, says the revolution has been fully co-opted—with the armed element, led by the main umbrella fighting front, the Free Syrian Army (FSA), working to pull the civilian elements to its side. “The Free Syrian Army took over and hijacked the uprising. Most activists stayed home and washed their hands of what was going on, and some still supported the FSA even if they did not join,” he says. “There is no civilian movement left: it was killed by the regime and the FSA.”"

Syrian regime media

I remember that Patrick Seale (is he also now posing as a champion of freedom and democracy in Syria? I won't be surprised.  'tis the season) once told me that the English language Syrian daily is modeled--literally--after the North Korean English language daily. 

SANA-like reports

From Akram:

"Look at this Sana-like report about the massacre committed yesterday at Al-Yarmouk Palestinian refugees camp in Damascus:

At least 20 people were killed on Thursday when Syrian security forces fired three mortar rounds at a Palestinian camp in Damascus, medical sources said.

So what, exactly, did the "medical sources say? Did they really said that the Syrian regime was behind the massacre? Or it's, simply, what I think: another immoral practice of another western media outlet who didn't made any effort on the ground to verify the facts?"

The Economist correspondent has rendered her verdict: it is a secular "revolution"--still

"Secular-minded rebels still predominate..."  But I like that the second part of the sentence begins:  "but jihadists with links to al-Qaeda are coming in."  Wait: so the "revolution" is secular but the Jihadis are coming in? Coming in to where? How could they come in if they have no local hosts and comrades?  Explain that one please.

PS But I just realize: that the Western media's definition of secularism in the Middle East is rather peculiar. By secular they merely mean "pro-US".  Thus, Wahhabi clerics and Salafites in Lebanon are also secular. 

POWs in Aleppo

Akram sent me this:  "They, seemingly, practice what they learned on the Third and Fourth Geneva conventions and their instructor in that comprehensive course on the matter was no one than the talented General 'Adnan Al-Ahmad".

Killing and more killing

"But he is angrily interrupted by a young Sunni from Latakia, a port in the Alawite heartland. “The killing will not stop when Assad falls,” he shouts. “We will kill all those who stood by the regime—and not just Syrians.”" (thanks Khelil)

Yarmuk II

Now, of course, if it is revealed that the Syrian regime has shelled the camp (although it is under the forced control of the PFLP-GC), it won't be that surprising.  The Syrian regime has shelled Palestinian refugee camps in Lebanon (directly or through proxies like the Phalanges or Amal) from 1976 to 1988.  That is the actual record that the supporters of the Syrian regime can't erase from history AND memory.

Yarmuk

It is impossible to know what is happening in Syria. Yesterday, I posted on FB an innocent question about what actually happened in Yarmuk.  I received tons of answers from both sides of the conflict and each insisting that his/her version is the absolute truth. 

Olympic games

I have not watched any of the Olympic games.  But yesterday, just before I went to bed, I saw an Israeli flag and an Israeli swimmer.  I knew that I had to watch that race.  I did and once I realized that the Israeli swimmer lost (badly), I went to sleep--deep sleep actually. 

This Army is supposed to defend Lebanon from Israeli aggression

"Two policemen and two soldiers were wounded Friday in separate shootings over the crackdown on cannabis fields in east Lebanon, security sources said. An army major and lieutenant were wounded when a joint force came under fire by farmers in the Yammouneh area of Baalbek, a security source told The Daily Star.  The Lebanese Army confirmed the incident, saying that the army force came under fire during the eradication of the crop and that two soldiers were wounded by gunmen using medium and light weaponry." (thanks Basim)

Syrian on-line opposition folks (that does not apply to all opposition, I hope)

A young expert on Arab affairs sent me this (she does not want to be identified):

"My Twitter activity is very limited - I have about 300 Tweets, 150 followers, and myself follow about 130 (including yourself). As we all know, Twitter is very useful for keeping up with the latest developments and gaining a sense of popular reactions and opinions about those developments; social media's democratization of knowledge is priceless. But even with my limited usage I have encountered quite an unpleasant online activist environment revolving around Syria on several occasions, the worst of which took place two days ago. First, I benefited from the online community when asking fellow 'Tweeps' why I could not access SANA's website to read Bashar's recent official statement to the military. An online activist helpfully advised that I remove the 'www' from the URL - it worked. Having had this conversation on Twitter, I posted the link to my feed to share with others who may be interested in reading the original text in Arabic and not just the brief translated excerpts reported by news agencies. The response? I was condemned by "SyriaTweetEn" who tweeted ".... ZIONIST BITCH, FUCK U & BASHAR." I cannot reply to this Tweet because of their account privacy settings. But what would be the point anyway? I don't care to re-state to activist after activist that I have been opposed to the regime since Day Zero. My opposition doesn't meet their expectations and that's that.

I'm sharing this with you because... I don't know. Because I feel disillusioned. I am disillusioned by the present state of the crisis in which the Syrian community seems irredeemably polarized, each entrenched in their positions where they believe they are the owners of truth and principle. I am disillusioned by the future state in which freedom of expression and national dialogue may be fantasy. and so it goes."

Zionist discourse on the Middle East in the US

There should be a book or article written on this: the extent to which the Washington Institute for Near East Policy dominate the discourse and contributes to foreign policy making on the Middle East in the US.  Think about it: the people who are cited in the US press on Syria are either from the WINEP or from the Saban Center (which was founded by the founder of WINEP who used to be with AIPAC).  There are usually two or three names a day in the NYT from WINEP.  A DAY.  And now they have a now trick: they bring in a token Arab to make their shop seem non-Zionist, while the token Arab with the Saban center or WINEP never EVER utters a word against Israel--of course.  It is not in the job description.  And folks in WINEP also serve in senior positions of government.  When I came to US in 1983, there were quarters that opposed or countered the influence of Zionists: the Arabists and the foreign policy elite of the Republican Party. The Arabists were eliminated and the Republican Party foreign policy elite was taken over by neo-cons and Christian Right. 

The Suhayr Al-Atasi theory

I am amazed that folks of the Syrian National Council in the West are still peddling the schtick that Suhayr Al-Atasi is actually the leader of the Syrian "revolution".  And some ill-informed Western audiences--hell and some ill-informed journalists--actually buy it.  Poor Suhayr Al-Atasi. 

What happened in Yarmuk

"Syria opposition activists have told media that 21 people were killed when shells hit the Yarmouk Palestinian refugee camp in the suburbs of Damascus on 2 August.  The area is inhabited by a mixed population of Syrians, Palestinian refugees and others.  Today, Chris Gunness, spokesman for UNRWA, the UN agency for Palestine refugees, confirmed in a statement that, “Intensive armed engagements in Tadhamoun, Yalda, Hajar Al Aswad, Al Kaddam and other districts that share borders with Yarmouk have resulted in deaths and injuries of residents of Yarmouk, including Palestine refugees.”" (thanks Electronic Ali)

Alljazeera Arabic

I just taped a show on Aljazeera Arabic on US policies toward Syria. It should air (in full--I hope) next Tuesday on Min Washington program.

Syrian regime and Bahrain

Yes, yes, yes.  The Syrian regime supported Bahraini royal oppression and even supported the Saudi military intervention in Bahrain. For some reason, supporters of the Syrian regime keep writing to me questioning this fact.  I did link to a statement by Walid Mu`allim at the time here. You may still look for it on the website of the mouthpiece of Prince Salman and his sons, Ash-Sharq Al-Awsat.

Update on Damascus

I asked Akrarm, the Angry Arab correspondent in Syria, to give me an update on the feel of Damascus.  He wrote:

"I do not know how to express it accurately. But Let me tell you the following: Damascus residents live on a day-by-day basis. If the day went well, it's fine and tomorrow would take care of itself. We, all, know that the worst hasn't come yet but no one dare to talk about his expectations, in what seems to be a magical self-defense: If you didn't mention it, it, simply, doesn't exist. When someone hears an explosion, something very common these days, his immediate reaction would be: It's OK...It's just an artillery and It's so far. If Kofi Annan resigned, you would find someone saying: Never mind... It's nothing... Someone else will be appointed. People are stuck on the news tickers of the Syrian TV channels hoping that what they read about the achievements of the Syrian army in this city or that town is true and that Bahsar Al-Assad is still their president and not a commander of a criminal militia. Everyone says it's over, but in our deepest hearts we know it hasn't started yet."

Nasser

In the contemporary history of the Arabs, no Arab ruler--none--has received unpaid and free praise except Nasser.  All the rest obtained praise either through money or through correction.  Aside from assessing the Nasserist experience.

A primer on Shi`ite twelvers

"Twelver Shi’a venerate what they believe are 12 divinely ordained Imams comprising Imam Ali, cousin and son-in-law of Muhammad, and Ali’s 11 sons."   So Ali had 11 sons. He named the first: Imam no. 1, the second: Imam no. 2, etc.   (thanks Christopher)

PS Can someone capture an image of the passage before they correct it?

The people want the downfall of the Bashir dictatorship in Sudan

But I suspect that Bashir is making deals under the table with US and Saudi Arabia to stay in power. Stoning for adultery is consistent with doctrine of Wahhabiyyah.  Hell, Muhammad Ibn Abdul-Wahab killed a woman himself for the same charge.

"A 23-year-old Sudanese woman, mother of a six-month-old baby, has been convicted of adultery and will be stoned to death, Sky News reported."

Look how Western media go out of their way to explain away or justify crimes of the Free Syrian Army

"But during brief supervised encounters with prisoners, there were signs suggesting some of the captives had endured beatings and perhaps far worse during or since their capture by rebel forces.

One of the prisoners could barely see, his eyes were so swollen and purple. But it was unclear how long he had been held and whether his injuries might have been suffered in battle."  Yes, the beatings are from battle, and the torture is from battle and the knife injuries are from battle. You can continue to air propaganda now.

That the Free Syrian Army suddenly discovered a massacre by the Syrian regime hours after it was critizied for summary executions is pure coinciddence damn it

"The claim of a new mass killing at the hands of the government came as human rights groups condemned what appeared to be reprisal killings of regime loyalists."

deporting Syrians from Lebanon

Lebanon has deported Syrians who have criminal records to Syria.  I am opposed to deporting any Syrian to Syria at this point.  Yet, I was kind of nauseated reading about the outrages from US and French governments, and from the leader of 75% of 5% of the Lebanese population Walid Jumblat.  US and France deport thousands of people daily: they even deport people who face cruel punishments back to their own countries.  Malaysia deported a poor Saudi student who offended the religions Wahhabi establishment in Saudi Arabia by one of his tweets back to Saudi Arabia--a country that beheads and chop off limbs.  There was not one word of protest from any of the Western governments that prostrate before any barrel of oil.  As for Walid Jumblat: he forgot that we remember that he admitted on TV that the surrendered some of the "wanted" men of his OWN PARTY to the Syrian regime (like Abu Haytham).  I have had enough of those fake outrages this months. 

Critique of Saudi and Qatari media

Sultan (who I may soon call comrade--but he is not there yet) offers an excellent critique of Aljazeera's and Al-Arabiyya's coverage of Syria.

Lies of the Free Syrian Army

There is no question that Free Syrian Army, which mimics to a large degree the discourse of the Syrian regime--but with more religion and more vulgarities, lies habitually in all its religion-filled statements and speeches.  Today, Al-Arabiyya (the sleazy news channel of King Fahd's brother-in-law) gave the airwaves for a guy from FSA to give a long tedious speech.  I am not making this up when I say this: the speech started by saying that the confrontation in Aleppo is one between the Syrian regime army and the unarmed population of the city.  He said it was pure massacre.  The speech ten minutes later paid tribute to the "heroism" of the Free Syrian Army fighting the Syrian regime in...Aleppo.  I am NOT making this up.

spare me your mild and half-hearted criticisms of FSA's war crimes

For months, UN, HRW and Amnesty have very mildly (and in passing) mentioned the crimes of the Free Syrian Army.  And for months the Western media have ignored.  Videos and pictures of the crimes by Free Syrian Army have been around for months, and they were circulated by Arabs but totally ignored by Western media.  And now out of the blue: the Western media are rather displeased quietly that such a crime occurred as if it is the first one of its kind.  Go fly a kite. 

Western reporters and Mahmud Jibril

Western reporters--lacking language skills in countries that they cover--can easily be fooled. Take Mahmud Jibril.  He speaks good English and wears suit and tie so Western reporters immediately assume that he is secular.  Have you listened to him in Arabic as of late or during his campaign? He sounds like a Muslim Brother, for potato's sake.  The other day I saw him on Libyan TV saying that people should prostrate to god day and night.  So he wants to increase Muslim prayers from five times a day to, like, 59???

A coincidence really

"This claim of a new massacre came as the rebels faced severe criticism themselves for what appeared to be their brutal summary execution, one day earlier, of suspected pro-government gunmen on the streets of Aleppo".  By the way, is it confirmed that the Barri family members were even fighting?

J. DAVID GOODMAN of the Times

J. David Goodman casually justifies the massacre of the Barri family:  "While the details remained murky, the killings appeared to stem from the pitched battles that have raged for days in Aleppo".  Imagine if someone were to write that circumstances of the executions by the Syrian regime remain murky but that they stem "from the pitched battles that have raged for days..."

Christians in Aleppo

""We saw what happened to the Christians in Iraq," Abu George, a Christian resident of Aleppo’s Aziza district told GlobalPost. "What is going on in Aleppo is not a popular revolution for democracy and freedom. The fighters of the so-called Free Syrian Army are radical Sunnis who want to establish an Islamic state.""

Doubting the Holocuast on Hizbullah's Al-Manar wesbite

Anti-Jewish stupidity on Al-Manar (Hizbullah's TV) website. (Referring to Holocaust as "so-called").