Friday, June 17, 2011

Anthony Shadid on Syria

I have to stay that Anthony Shadid--consistent with US media's reflection of US Zionist agenda in the Middle East--is playing it up a notch in his assessment of Syria's protests.  Today's protests were less big than previous Fridays, even by the account of Arab media.  There is an attempt to keep the issue alive, for political reasons, and to exaggerate and to speak--typically--to one side only.  I also was offended by his reference to the poor `Alawites of Lebanon and linking them to "the backbone" of Al-Asad's regime.  Not all `Alawites are the backbone of the regime, Anthony.  There are poor `Alawaites in Syria and in Lebanon.  Also, the reference in this story about the clashes in Tripoli is very biased: it repeats the narrative of Hariri media.   In reality, it is indubitable that Hariri Salafites were the ones who started the clashes to sabotage the new government of Tripolie-based Miqati.  Jabal Muhsin was shelled two days ago, and yet that was not mentioned in this account.  And notice that Syria is a daily front-page story in the Times now, but nothing on Bahrain or Jordan, for example.  I am yet to see one long article on Jordan.  And on Jordan, they send Ethan Bronner who--as part of his service for the Israeli propaganda efforts--really hearts the Jordanian potentate.