PR for Bahrain royal repression

"Earlier this month, a group of three young Bahrainis arrived in Washington to talk about reform in the small Persian Gulf nation, which has been rocked by Arab Spring protests for the last year. The delegation, including an NGO worker and a tech entrepreneur, both Western-educated, represented "the leading voice for change and reform" in Bahrain, as an email message from one of the group's representatives put it.  But these weren't leaders of the protest movement that has challenged the country's ruling Sunni monarchy. They were members of a "youth delegation" put together by a top American public relations firm, Qorvis, which has been working with Bahrain to shore up the country's image in the United States.  The youth delegation's modestly pro-reform message was mixed with sharp criticism of the opposition in Bahrain and complaints about negative media coverage in the U.S."

Russian election

Syrian regime is dealing with the Russian election as if the winner is from the Asad family.

The last refuge of Arab dictators

I notice that when Arab dictators are falling, they resort to an increase in anti-Jewish propaganda in their media.  I can observe that in Syrian regime media.  And in Syrian media, you even hear of Masonic plot.  One of the funniest analysis of international relations, you read and hear these days in Syrian regime media.  It is as absurd as King Faysal's analysis of international affairs.

Obama's security priority

Look at this sequence in Obama's speech:  "For the sake of Israel’s security, America’s security, and the peace and security of the world,"  Can you imagine the uproar if he were to put any other's country security ahead of that of the US? It would have cost him the election.  

Obama's speech

I offer this speech by Obama at AIPAC to every person I know who voted for the man.

Bigger than Stalingrad

I have written before that propaganda of the Syrian National Council and its affiliates is characterized with exaggerations, fabrications, rumors, lies, and falsehood with little truths sprinkled in between (and only sometimes.)  I just heard a spokesperson of the Syrian National Council say on Al-Arabiyya (the news station of King Fahd's brother-in-law) that Baba Amr was an epic "bigger" than Stalingrad.  Somebody needs to tell the dude that some 2 millions died in Stalingrad battle (although we don't know for sure how many died).

Syrian opposition

Syrian opposition figure, Michel Kilo notes that Saudi and Qatari media ignored the formation of a new Syrian opposition grouping because it is opposed to foreign intervention in Syria.

Shimon Peres

I heard Shimon Peres (a war criminal at large) moralize about Iran at AIPAC conference.  A very simple question: who has caused more deaths in their lives and careers?  Peres or Ahmadejad? 

University of Michigan

Here is information on the panel on Syria in which I am speaking at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.

The two lousy sides

Today, downtown Beirut hosted two ugly parties: the pro-Saudi Salafites who claim to rally for the support of the Syrian people, while the minuscule Lebanese Ba`th Party (the pro-Syrian branch) rallies for the support of the Syrian regime.  The scenes were grotesque: both played music in their rallies that were rather small.  The Ba`th contingent came with drums as if they were celebrating the deaths of Syrian people. If only the Lebanese factions--all Lebanese factions--would leave the Syrian people alone and stop exploiting them for their own purposes.  But that is now impossible in the wake of Syrian National Council's open alliance with March 14.   

Photoshop propaganda in Saudi Arabia

Several readers noted that this image in the mouthpiece of Prince Salman, Ash-Sharq Al-Awsat (one of the worst examples of crude Saudi propaganda outlets), is not authentic: that it was photoshopped to show Syrian support of the lousy GCC governments.

the responsibility of the Syrian National Council and when Jeffrey Feltman pontificates

This lousy outfit is responsible for losing support among non-Syrian Arabs.  The pronouncements and alliances of the Syrian National Council have clearly undermined Arab popular support and sympathy for the Syrian protest movement.  Two weeks ago, there was a call for a demonstration in Egypt in support of Syrian protests and no one showed up except the Salafites.  The biggest demonstration in Tunisia on Syria was in support of Bashshar Al-Asad (unfortunately, of course).  But that shows you how the Arab people feel about the Syrian uprising and i am not speaking on their behalf but it is clear that the issue is not moving Arabs the way the "authentic" Egyptian and Tunisian uprisings moved all Arabs.  It is unthinkable that either the Tunisian or the Egyptian uprising would call for NATO support or Saudi or Qatari support.  Unthinkable.  Look at Libya: there is no sympathy whatsoever in the Arab world for Libya's NATO militias. I write this because I read that Jeffrey Feltman in his testimony in US Congress this week basically said that support for US policies on Syria and hostility to Bashshar Al-Asad are prevalent in all Arab countries: clearly, Feltman was talking about GCC dynasties but this is a common US error: they conveniently conflate Arab ruling dynasties in the Gulf with the Arab people.

You don't see this in the mainstream press

"The line-up of foreign powers on the opposing sides is beginning to resemble the coalitions that destroyed Biafra 40 years ago. With the Assad regime are Russia, China, Iran, Iraq and Lebanon's Hizbollah. The dissident factions are counting on the United States, Britain, France, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Libya and Al Qaeda. To this mix must be added a Syrian Sunni fundamentalist, Sheikh Adnan Al Arour. Sheikh Adnan appears regularly on television in Saudi Arabia to terrify Alawites, Ismailis, Kurds and Christians with the consequences of opposing the jihad against the regime." (thanks Mouin)

Unbelievable: the Bin Ladenite militias that were armed by Western governments are anti-Western

I mean, this is shocking really.  So the Bin Ladenite militias that NATO armed and supported don't like the West? Really?  This is like informing me that the Afghan mujahidin in the 1980s were anti-Western.  Were they? (thanks Ahmet)

The photographer reports

It is amazing how when Western governments develop a particular policy in the Middle East, all reporters (and photographers even) have to follow that policy.  In the case of Egypt when the uprising was directed against a dictator favored by the US and Israel: western media insisted that the Egyptian people can't use violence against the regime.  They hectored them as they hector Palestinians about the virtues of non-violence.  Yet, in Syria: the norm is now to glamorize the violence (often sectarian and often random--i.e. terrorist) by the Free Syrian Army and other Salafites.  Look at this long piece: a mere propaganda tribute to the Free Syrian Army.  I loved how the writer, or the photographer, called the Free Syrian Army "underequipped".  Underequipped in relation to what? To other populations in the region? To other opposition movements?  I mean, can you imagine a writer--any writer--in the New York Times referring to Hamas as "underequipped"?  That person would be fired on the spot and the Security Council would have met in a special session to rebuke the writer.  The two primary victims of the Syrian conflict are: 1) the Syrian people; 2) the standards of professional journalism in the East and West.

"Bashshar Al-Asad rapes children"

My latest blog post for Al-Akhbar English:  " 'Bashshar Al-Asad rapes Children' ".  

King Faysal propaganda

All propaganda about King Faysal is usually paid for by his sons.  I know that.  So there is a new documentary about him: it features Arabs and Americans who offer fawning tributes.  But notice how the House of Saud is still holding a grudge against Nasser for his attacks on House of Saud.  If only Nasser had succeeded in overthrowing that family.  If only. (thanks Sultan)

a new batallion

The lousy Free Syrian Army today named a battalion after Husayn bin `Ali.  I am sure that they did that to deflect from the bad press that followed the naming of Yazid Bin Mu`awiyah battalion.  I am as impressed with this gesture as I am with Bashshar's reforms. (thanks Akbar)

One state only

"Beyond appropriate legal regimes is a question of pragmatism. While two-state adherents emphasize the pragmatic nature of the two-state solution relative to the idealistic proponents of a single and democratic state, the facts on the ground demonstrate firstly, the inextricable population distribution of Palestinian Arab and Jewish populations. Indeed, the Gaza Strip may be the only territory where there exists a homogenous population. In light of this, achieving a two-state solution will not only necessitate land swaps but population transfers of Jewish and Palestinian populations as well. Such transfers should be opposed by the international community as they are likely to fuel accelerated ethnic cleansing policies akin to those seen in the former Yugoslavia. Advocating for equality among citizens of a single state is arguably more practical than is supporting the forced removal of ethnic populations aimed at achieveing homogeneous ethno-national entities. In a quickly shifting Middle East where citizenship, democracy, and plurality have gained increasing salience it is especially troubliing to advocate for reverse trends in Israel and the OPT. Not only is the two-state solution insufficient to treat Israeli violations of Palestinian rights, but it is impracticable as well."

Israel: the people enamored with war crimes--their own

"Only 19 percent of Israelis polled expressed support for an attack without U.S. backing, according to a poll I conducted — fielded by Israel’s Dahaf Institute Feb. 22-26 — while 42 percent endorsed a strike only if there is at least U.S. support, and 32 percent opposed an attack regardless."  So basically, some Israelis want to attack Iran with fries, other want to attack Iran with a side order of vegetables, but all almost agree that they want to bomb and massacre and perpetrate yet another war crimes.  And I am sure that the 32 percent who opposed an attack altogether meant that they want to postpone the attack for a month or two.

Israel in the US

"Israel features in the American presidential campaign as no other foreign country does, with the candidates vying for the sobriquet of "biggest Israel-lover" to the point where it often seems to be the main issue. Rich Jews like Sheldon Adelson donate enormous war chests to candidates for the sole purpose of buying their support for Israel, while the president of the United States, who won with a message of change, was forced to fold up, at lightning speed, the flag of planting peace in the Middle East simply because Israel said "No." If last week a British member of the House of Lords was forced to resign from Parliament after daring to criticize Israel, in the United States she would never have even considered making her views known.
Israel is teaching the world a lesson in international relations: Size doesn't matter. When it comes to foreign policy Europe toes the U.S. line much more than tiny Israel does. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also taught the world that it's possible to tell the American president "No," bluntly and explicitly, and not only remain alive but even to gain in strength."

This is certainly NOT a revolution

Look at the banner in Idlib: saluting Qatar and Saudi Arabia and Kuwait.  A movement that offers thanks and gratitude to the Kuwaiti and Qatari and Saudi dynasties is NO revolution.  Count me out, please.

Tim Arango on sectarianism in the Syrian conflict

So Tim Arango wrote this in the New York Times days ago:  " Syria is drawing in sectarian forces from its neighbors, and threatening to spill its conflict into a wider conflagration."  It is the season.  Correspondents and columnists have a free hand: they can write the most unsubstantiated materials without having to provide evidence or proof or even one source, as long as the venom is directed at the side that is not on the side of the US camp in the region.  Here, above was the example.  Mr. Arango is arguing that Syria is behind the increasingly sectarian tones and substance of the conflict.  For that, unsurprisingly, he blames the Syrian regime.  He says that Syria is the one "drawing in sectarian forces".  I don't know what that means, of course, as Syria is also drawing most of its support from Russia (did Russia convert to Shi`ite Islam and we were not told?) and China (is China Sunni or Shi`ite?)  And Syria has for years relied on Hamas support and the movement is rather split between those who want to support the regime and those who want to stay neutral and the one lone sentence uttered by Isma`il Haniyyah in which he saluted the Syrian people.  It is indubitable that the sectarian language and tone in this conflict in Syria is a feature of the Ikhwan and Ikhwan-affiliated segments of the Syrian opposition and of the Saudi and Qatari Arab media.  I have been watching and reading the media of both side for months: the words Sunni and Shi`ite and `Alawite never ever appear in the Syrian regime media, but is a constant theme in Saudi and Qatari media.  Saudi-sponsored religious channels regularly vomit bigotry against Shi`ites and `Alawites and many clerics (and even "liberal" pro-Saudi or pro-Hariri propagandists like Ma'mun Humsi) threaten extermination of `Alawites.  The sentence by Arango leads me to assume safely that he knows not one word of Arabic.  Now don't get me wrong: the sectarian question in Syria is also due to the sectarian bases of the Syrian regime.  The Syrian regime officially advocates a mild form of secularism (perhaps more secular than all other Arab regimes although it is not secular enough by my standards because the regime also exploits religion when it suits its own purposes and promotes clerics who parrot the propaganda line of the regime), while the ruling elite is sectarian in composition--not as purely sectarian in composition as in the times of Hafidh Al-Asad but still drawn from `Alawites.  But to deny the sectarian contributions of the Syrian opposition (not all of it of course), is to basically deny what one sees and hears daily.  The Ikhwan in Syria has a long record of sectarianism and bigotry.  Finally, let us not kid ourselves: the word Shabbihah (armed goons) is now used synonymously with `Alawite, and many sectarian killings in Homs were justified as targeting of shabbihah.   

gendered analysis of Arab uprisings

"Arab regimes are not the only actors using sexed and gender violence to discredit protestors and revolutionaries in the Arab world. As the hysteria surrounding the sexual assault of Lara Logan revealed in the days when the United States was still trying to assure Mubarak's longevity, the protestors were in fact a sex crazed reactionary and dangerous mob. In addition, "women's rights" in Egypt and Tunisia have been twinned with the type of state feminism advocated by their respective former first ladies, a cynical use of gender rights by authoritarian regimes that were thus branded 'reformers' by their western allies. In fact, reading the American press, it seems that the daily reality of sexual violence is important only to the extent that it can be harnessed to other political causes and projects. Furthermore, a selective emphasis on some sexual and gender violence decontextualizes those violences from the larger infrastructures of oppression that people live under. For example, Israeli attempts at “pinkwashing” its settler colonization of Palestine highlight how Israel saves gay Palestinians from their Islamic culture. In this way, the Israeli state hopes to paint Palestinians as homophobic Islamic fundamentalists in order to discredit now well over a century of resistance against settler colonialism and apartheid."

A biography is in the making: Patrick Seale

Having written hagiographies of Hafidh Al-Asad and of Prince Khalid Bin Sultan, it seems that Patrick is getting ready to launch a hagiography of the Emir of Qatar and of Qatar Airways. (thanks Ahmet)

Under the feet of Saudi princes

You have to see this. Janadiriyyah Conference attracts Arab writers, intellectuals, and politicians.  They go there and all compete in paying tribute to Saudi King and princes.  It is such a nauseating affair.  Read the statements of the guests.

Iranian elections

So in the Iranian elections, voters are permitted to choose from a group of clerical fanatics and another group of clerical fanatics.  What a choice.  

Who cares about numbers, really

Aljazeera reports that the Free Syrian Army announced that it killed 100 Syrian soldiers.  So then they had Riyad Al-As`ad, commander of the Free Syrian Army, on the air: and he said that they killed 135 Syrian army soldiers.  So the anchor asked him how does he know the casualty figure on the enemy side? He said that they controlled an army base for 8 hours and had the time to count their dead.  Kid you not.  I finished watching and learned what I knew not before about press coverage of Syria these days.

Bin Laden pictures in Tunisia

Saudi-funded Salafites in Tunisia raise pictures of Bin Laden in front of the US embassy in Tunis.

Hizb At-Tahriri in Tunisia

Under the sponsorship of lousy An-Nahda, Hizb At-Tahriri is holding the largest all-women conference for its supporters.  Check your local listings.

support for the Syrian regime

You rarely see that in the Western press although it is rather obvious--even if one does not like it.  "But it would be a mistake to assume that only the Alawites support the status quo."

The Red Cross

"The Red Cross angrily rebuked the Syrian government".   As it should, but: would the Red Cross EVER angrily rebuke the Israeli government in any case of war crimes, invasions, wars of aggression, and massacres? Ever?

unconfirmed reports in the New York Times

"There were unconfirmed reports that Syrian security forces were conducting...summary executions in the neighborhood."  This is hilarious.  The reports are confirmed and yet they are fit to print in the Times.  Do you think that we will ever read in the Times something like this: "there were unconfirmed reports of summary executions by Israeli occupation forces"?  Also, Saudi and Qatari media had different "unconfirmed reports": they said that Syrian soldiers executed prisoners by cutting their throats with knives.  You can say anything.  No need for sources or evidence.  I told you: it is a matter of time before we hear that Syrian troops dropped a nuclear weapon on Baba Amr.  BBC the other day hosted an "activist" who insisted that Baba Amr was bombed from the air. You know how easy it is to shoot videos of planes bombing from the air?  

fraud in the Iranian elections

The headline of this story on Al-Arabiyya (the pioneer unprofessional Arab news station owned by King Fahd's brother-in-law and run by his son, `Abdul-`Aziz), says that Iranian Revolutionary Guards rigged the Iranian parliamentary election.  You read further and you discover the headline and the story are attributed to "reports."  I kid you not.  

The Left on Syria

Let me say this: OK, he is right.  It is easy to argue that the Syrian regime is not Left and should not be supported by anyone on the Left.  But he conveniently left out the other side of the equation: that the Syrian National Council is NOT Left either, and should not be supported by anyone on the Left.

PS For the life of me, I don't understand (given what we know now), why anyone on the Left would be reluctant to criticize the Syrian National Council or any vehicle of the Ikhwan in Syria. 

Amr Musa

This is an interesting profile of the long opportunistic career of Amr Musa.

At Portland State University

You may watch the video of the plenary session in conclusion of the "Arab Spring" conference at Portland State University.  Here is the audio for my talk on US foreign policy toward Arab uprisings.

Syria versus Saudi Arabia

So yesterday, the Syrian government for the first time went after the Saudi government.  This was a first. I have been noting that the Syrian government has hitherto avoided criticizing Saudi Arabia's government.  It is ironic that in the summer of 2010, the Emir of Qatar complained to me that Bashshar is too afraid of the Saudi government and refuses to go against them (ironic, given the solid alliance between Saudi Arabia and Qatar these days).  The words of criticisms were uttered by the Syrian ambassador at the UN: and they came in response to a speech by the Saudi ambassador.  So they were not part of a planned offensive.  I have for months been saying that the absence of Syrian official criticisms confirm my suspicion: that the Syrian regime still hopes for a last minute, under the table deal--lousy deal--with the Saudi government to preserve the regime.  I stand by my suspicion.  The words of the Syrian ambassador were relatively lame and he kept saying: dont' provoke me.  Don't provoke me?  The Saudi government has called the Syrian regime "an occupation authority" and called for armed revolt it against it, and the Syrian ambassador at the UN foolishly tells the Saudi ambassador: don't provoke me.  What is provoking to you, Mr. Ja`fari?

Aljazeera-leaks

This is rather explosive.  You know how low Aljazeera has sunk when Syrian regime TV stations have a field day with the shoddy journalism and fabrication procedures of Aljazeera.  It seems that people inside Aljazeera have leaked raw footage and pre-air reports to someone in Syrian regime TV.  I am not surprised of the leak at all: I am in contact from people inside Aljazeera who are disgusted by the propaganda work of the network in the last few months.  The network is has been so bad that the law of diminishing returns apply here: the network has gone too far in its propaganda work that I can't see any effectiveness in what they do.  I mean, when they declare Friday after Friday that demonstrations "have finally reached" Aleppo and Damascus, and then repeat that the following Friday, you know what you are dealing with.  There have been too many lies and no attempts are even feigning professionalism anymore.  When the former director of the network speaks about regime change in Syria when he won't dare utter a word about dismantling apartheid Israel you understand that the mission is coming down from the Emir himself.  I know how those things work and they know that I know.  The footage that are being shown show staging of events of calling a civilian an "officer" in the Syrian army, of faking injuries and feeding statements to people before airtime, etc. Aljazeera seems to be writing its own professional obituary.  I don't know how it can really resurrect itself again.  It is mortally wounded. I know that there are people in the network who are pained about what is happening but royal orders are royal orders in the network and no one dare to disobey.  I am told that orders came down to the effect that no half-position would be tolerated and that categorical adoption of the Qatari foreign policy on Syria is a job requirement.  

An Israeli soldier wants to lecture me about the crimes of Zionism

I never thought that I would live to a day when an Israeli who fought (or provided "medical work") in the Israeli invasion of Lebanon in 1982.  Yes, that kind of a guy is qualified to teach me about the crimes of Zionism, when I was at the receiving ends of his bombs and car bombs and shells in 1982.  I wrote again and I will write it again: there is no room in the pro-Palestinian movement for anti-Semites--and I am not saying that they may even be Israeli infiltrators sent to sabotage and stigmatize the movement.  I have declared Gilad Atzmon an anti-Semite (using the general word for anti-Jewishness).  Go read some samples of his anti-Jewish statements on the entry on him at Wikipedia.  I signed a petition against him and will sign more petitions against him, if asked.  I don't throw labels of racist or anti-Semitic lightly but the case against this former member of the Israeli armed terrorist forces is rather clear.  Here, Atzmon thinks he can offer me lessons on anti-Zionism.  He is as qualified as the Saudi King giving me lessons about feminism.  He and others should get the message: the Palestinian cause is too just and too precious to be polluted by haters of any kind.  Anti-Semites are never welcomed in our movement.  The Zionist cause is your natural home.  

Ikhwan Syrian opposition

According to Ikhwan Syrian opposition, as it fed the right-wing Lebanese MTV station (known for its racism against the Syrian and Palestinian peoples), there were protests in Damascus (but no footage was shown) but that people in Damascus could not go out to demonstrate today because of heavy security deployment.  I watched that and had to think: so did they or did they not go out to protest today?

Tell that to Bashshar Al-Ja`fari

So the Syrian ambassador at the UN, Bashshar Al-Ja`fari, finally had mild words of criticisms against Saudi Arabia.  He even even criticized Saudi military intervention in Bahrain.  Al-Ja`fari should be reminded that his government--the Syrian government--had supported Saudi intervention in Bahrain.

Arguments for armed Palestinian resistance

All the arguments that are invoked by Western commentators in favor of arming the Syrian opposition can--nay should--be applied to the case of Palestinian resistance to Israeli occupation.  I can't wait for the next Western person to lecture to Palestinians about the virtues of non-violence.  

Flash: Syrian TV and raw propaganda footage from Aljazeera and CNN

It seems that Syrian regime had agents among the rebels; or it seems that the Syrian regime obtained a trove of video footage from Baba Amru.  They have been airing them non-stop.  They are quite damning.  They show the correspondent or witness (for CNN or from Aljazeera) before he is on the air: and the demeanor is drastically different from the demeanor on the air and they even show contrived sounds of explosions timed for broadcast time.  I have to say that Aljazeera and the affiliated Ikhwan media win the award for the largest volume of lies in this crisis.  Their lies have been rather helpful to the Syrian regime which now fills its airtime with exposing the lies and exaggerations of the Ikhwan-led Syrian opposition.

PS This is really scandalous. It shows the footage prior to Aljazeera reports: they show fake bandages applied on a child and then a person is ordered to carry a camera in his hand to make it look like a mobile footage.  It shows a child being fed what to say on Aljazeera. 

For the sake of the Syrian people

I sure hope that the Syrian regime ends its "reform" and brings back the state of emergency, and I sure hope that the Free Syrian Army stops protecting civilians.