Showing posts with label Syria. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Syria. Show all posts
Saturday, April 2, 2011
Setting the Gold Standard in Transparency
Syria's Ministry of Interior, a model of openness and transparency in government, is inviting offers for teargas on its website.
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Top 5 reasons why Hafez Assad was better than Bashar
5. Hafez did not pretend to reform. He just didn't reform.
4. Hafez took responsibility for his actions. He did not shy away from assuming responsibility for killing.
3. Hafez was consistent. He did not send mixed messages.
2. Hafez listened to his advisors. He did not say they want to reform, but "I'm holding them back."
1. Hafez did not giggle like a 5 year old girl at his own jokes.
To all "pragmatists" (Hillary Clinton), crypto-intellectuals (David Ignatius), or downright insane (Joshua Landis), eat your own words about Bashar the reformer now.
4. Hafez took responsibility for his actions. He did not shy away from assuming responsibility for killing.
3. Hafez was consistent. He did not send mixed messages.
2. Hafez listened to his advisors. He did not say they want to reform, but "I'm holding them back."
1. Hafez did not giggle like a 5 year old girl at his own jokes.
To all "pragmatists" (Hillary Clinton), crypto-intellectuals (David Ignatius), or downright insane (Joshua Landis), eat your own words about Bashar the reformer now.
Sunday, March 27, 2011
Syria Ambassador Imad Moustapha is not defecting
I noted that some people saw the blog by Syria-clown-in-DC, Imad Moustapha, as a sign of wavering. He referred to the dead in Dara'a as "Martyrs". It is not. SANA, the official Syrian news agency also referred to them as "martyrs":
Bashar al-Assad offered "condolences to the families of the two martyrs who died during the unfortunate events which took place in Daraa on Friday"
The truth is that every other person that dies in the Middle East is a "martyr". Even car accident victims are "martyrs." The word doesn't mean much more than "dead of unnatural causes."
But the blog entry is more interesting because of its Freudian slips: read Shostakovich for spineless, and "Xenon" (Zeno of Tarsus) for the Syrian regime's unabashed regional expansionary policies.
Click on the image for my comments.
Bashar al-Assad offered "condolences to the families of the two martyrs who died during the unfortunate events which took place in Daraa on Friday"
The truth is that every other person that dies in the Middle East is a "martyr". Even car accident victims are "martyrs." The word doesn't mean much more than "dead of unnatural causes."
But the blog entry is more interesting because of its Freudian slips: read Shostakovich for spineless, and "Xenon" (Zeno of Tarsus) for the Syrian regime's unabashed regional expansionary policies.
Click on the image for my comments.
Saturday, March 26, 2011
Assad nominates Hariri for PM!
Hussain Abdul-Hussain's blog highlights the author's own article in Kuwait's Al-Rai paper. The Washington-based author says that Bashar Assad has approached US officials to suggest that he is ready to recommend (to his allies in Beirut) the nomination of Saad Al-Hariri as Prime Minister of Lebanon again. Read the whole article here (Arabic).
If true, this confirms that Assad is desperate to re-ingratiate himself with Arabs, by appearing to move away from his alliance with Iran. Tony Badran has an excellent piece on why Assad will not move away from Iran. For an in-depth look at the complex relationship between Hizbollah and Syria, I recommend this piece by Emile Hokayem.
It is easy to look at Assad's gesture as a kiss of death. But it does not need to be. March 14 have been re-invigorated by the recent protests, and are back "on message" by focussing squarely on Hizbollah's weapons. Assad cannot deliver Hizbollah's weapons to the negotiating table, and it is difficult to imagine another Hariri premiership now that can duck the question of those weapons. This nomination will only expose Assad's own impotence.
If true, this confirms that Assad is desperate to re-ingratiate himself with Arabs, by appearing to move away from his alliance with Iran. Tony Badran has an excellent piece on why Assad will not move away from Iran. For an in-depth look at the complex relationship between Hizbollah and Syria, I recommend this piece by Emile Hokayem.
It is easy to look at Assad's gesture as a kiss of death. But it does not need to be. March 14 have been re-invigorated by the recent protests, and are back "on message" by focussing squarely on Hizbollah's weapons. Assad cannot deliver Hizbollah's weapons to the negotiating table, and it is difficult to imagine another Hariri premiership now that can duck the question of those weapons. This nomination will only expose Assad's own impotence.
Friday, March 25, 2011
Cancel Al-Dardari talk in London
On March 23, while Syrian security forces were busy killing peaceful protestors, the Arab Bankers Association in London announced this event on its website:
"The Arab Bankers Association would like to invite you to a presentation by HE Mr. Abdullah Al-Dardari, Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs in Syria on" Recent Development in the Banking Sector in Syria" on Wednesday 30th of March 2011.
Please find enclosed details for the evening.
For reservation please contact the ABA on:
Zina- 020 7659 4889 zhanna@arab-bankers.co.uk
Houda- 020 7659 4892 hlahiani@arab-bankers.co.uk"
Why is the Arab Bankers Association hosting a senior member of Assad's regime at this time? I'm sure this event was planned well before recent events unfolded. But it is not too late for the ABA to avoid displaying the same lack of judgement as Vogue. The ABA can cancel this event.
Please help encourage the ABA to cancel this event by sending an email to either of the two email addresses above. If you are too busy to write an email, you can simply copy and paste the text below:
I am dismayed that the Arab Bankers Association is hosting Deputy Prime Minister Al-Dardari of Syria on 30 March 2011.
Syria is no doubt an interesting destination for business and banking. But Syria is at an important juncture, as its people struggle for freedom. With dozens reported killed by the regime over the past few days, maintaining this event with a senior member of the regime betrays a lack of sensitivity to those who died.
I hope that the ABA will take the courageous step of cancelling this event, which can only bring embarrassment to your association. I also hope that the ABA will host a meaningful event about opportunities in Syria once the regime is changed. Only such an event will bring added value to both Syria’s economy and the Arab banking community in London.
"The Arab Bankers Association would like to invite you to a presentation by HE Mr. Abdullah Al-Dardari, Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs in Syria on" Recent Development in the Banking Sector in Syria" on Wednesday 30th of March 2011.
Please find enclosed details for the evening.
For reservation please contact the ABA on:
Zina- 020 7659 4889 zhanna@arab-bankers.co.uk
Houda- 020 7659 4892 hlahiani@arab-bankers.co.uk"
Why is the Arab Bankers Association hosting a senior member of Assad's regime at this time? I'm sure this event was planned well before recent events unfolded. But it is not too late for the ABA to avoid displaying the same lack of judgement as Vogue. The ABA can cancel this event.
Please help encourage the ABA to cancel this event by sending an email to either of the two email addresses above. If you are too busy to write an email, you can simply copy and paste the text below:
I am dismayed that the Arab Bankers Association is hosting Deputy Prime Minister Al-Dardari of Syria on 30 March 2011.
Syria is no doubt an interesting destination for business and banking. But Syria is at an important juncture, as its people struggle for freedom. With dozens reported killed by the regime over the past few days, maintaining this event with a senior member of the regime betrays a lack of sensitivity to those who died.
I hope that the ABA will take the courageous step of cancelling this event, which can only bring embarrassment to your association. I also hope that the ABA will host a meaningful event about opportunities in Syria once the regime is changed. Only such an event will bring added value to both Syria’s economy and the Arab banking community in London.
Saturday, March 19, 2011
Is another Jumblatt turnaround imminent?
The dust barely settled on Jumblatt's inelegant flip-flop of January. Casting his lot with "Syria and Hizbollah" was never going to be an easy task. The recent batch of Wikileaks cables only confirm that Hizbollah will never trust him. So, it is not surprising that as recently last Sunday, Jumblatt was still trying to have it both ways: there were protestors carrying the PSP flag and his pictures at the March 14 rally.
Now Syria is creating a new challenge. Dara'a is not the only city in Syria that is witnessing anti-regime demonstrations, but it is the city where the largest demonstrations have taken place. It also happens to be a mostly Druze city.
Jumblatt has often tried to project a role of a "regional" Druze leader, by hosting meetings for representatives of his community from both Syria and Israel. He cannot stay on "Syria's side", or even stay mute if Druze are being arrested or killed in Syria.
What will he do now? My hunch is that he will reach out to a bottle of vodka for the next couple of days. His next flip-flop will be very painful.
I just can't conceal my schadenfreude.
[Update: As events unfolded in Syria, I became aware that Dara'a is not a "mostly Druze city", as I was lead to believe. My source, a Druze himself, seems to have somewhat exaggerated this one. It does not change the fact, though, that the area includes a significant Druze population which is active in the anti-Assad demonstrations.]
Now Syria is creating a new challenge. Dara'a is not the only city in Syria that is witnessing anti-regime demonstrations, but it is the city where the largest demonstrations have taken place. It also happens to be a mostly Druze city.
Jumblatt has often tried to project a role of a "regional" Druze leader, by hosting meetings for representatives of his community from both Syria and Israel. He cannot stay on "Syria's side", or even stay mute if Druze are being arrested or killed in Syria.
What will he do now? My hunch is that he will reach out to a bottle of vodka for the next couple of days. His next flip-flop will be very painful.
I just can't conceal my schadenfreude.
[Update: As events unfolded in Syria, I became aware that Dara'a is not a "mostly Druze city", as I was lead to believe. My source, a Druze himself, seems to have somewhat exaggerated this one. It does not change the fact, though, that the area includes a significant Druze population which is active in the anti-Assad demonstrations.]
Saturday, February 26, 2011
Asma al-Assad, or the psycho terror of children
David Kenner's excellent blog highlights the ridiculous puff piece on Syria's ruling family in Vogue: Asma al-Assad, A Rose in the Desert.
"It's hard to imagine that a Vogue editor woke up this morning and decided it wouldn't be hugely embarrassing to publish a puff piece today, at the moment of the greatest upheaval in the Middle East in two generations, about Syria's ruling family. But that appears to be exactly what happened."
The most revealing part of the article, though, is the description of the psychological terror Asma uses on a visit to a school run by her charity, Massar. She tells the children:
"I’ve been advised that we have to close down this center so as to open another one somewhere else,' she says. Kids’ mouths drop open. Some repress tears. Others are furious. One boy chooses altruism: 'That’s OK. We know how to do it now; we’ll help them.'
Then the first lady announces, 'That wasn’t true. I just wanted to see how much you care about Massar."
I suppose this behaviour is rationalised somewhere in Asma's subconscious. She is simply preparing Syria's less fortunate children for the type of tests they will get at the hands of the Syrian state as grown-ups.
Why did Vogue's Joan Juliet Buck write this article? France's satirical Charlie Hebdo has an interesting investigative report about how Ben Ali bought off the French Press: "La Presse Française achetée par Ben Ali." But I am not suggesting that Ms. Buck is sleazy. I just think that she lacks common sense.
"It's hard to imagine that a Vogue editor woke up this morning and decided it wouldn't be hugely embarrassing to publish a puff piece today, at the moment of the greatest upheaval in the Middle East in two generations, about Syria's ruling family. But that appears to be exactly what happened."
The most revealing part of the article, though, is the description of the psychological terror Asma uses on a visit to a school run by her charity, Massar. She tells the children:
"I’ve been advised that we have to close down this center so as to open another one somewhere else,' she says. Kids’ mouths drop open. Some repress tears. Others are furious. One boy chooses altruism: 'That’s OK. We know how to do it now; we’ll help them.'
Then the first lady announces, 'That wasn’t true. I just wanted to see how much you care about Massar."
I suppose this behaviour is rationalised somewhere in Asma's subconscious. She is simply preparing Syria's less fortunate children for the type of tests they will get at the hands of the Syrian state as grown-ups.
Why did Vogue's Joan Juliet Buck write this article? France's satirical Charlie Hebdo has an interesting investigative report about how Ben Ali bought off the French Press: "La Presse Française achetée par Ben Ali." But I am not suggesting that Ms. Buck is sleazy. I just think that she lacks common sense.
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Is Syria next?
Before you dismiss this question as a sweet dream, consider the following:
1. The catalyst that drove people to the streets of Tunisia and Egypt now, as opposed to say six months ago, is rising food prices. This is a global phenomenon that is impacting all countries, including Syria.
2. Assad is clearly sweating. Take a look at the interview he had with the Wall Street Journal yesterday. The timing of the interview is itself enough evidence of the pressure he is facing.
3. The last two days have seen a remarkable "buzz" around activists that seem to be organising for demonstrations in Syria. One Facebook group got a remarkable 10,000 members in 3 days. You can read more about it on CNN, the FT, WSJ.
Sure Syria is a controlled economy, so international price increases are not automatically translated into domestic prices. But this means Syria's subsidy bill needs to increase sharply. The Economist had a good article in its January 20 issue highlighting the tough choices the government is facing, as well as its shrinking pool of subsidies.
1. The catalyst that drove people to the streets of Tunisia and Egypt now, as opposed to say six months ago, is rising food prices. This is a global phenomenon that is impacting all countries, including Syria.
2. Assad is clearly sweating. Take a look at the interview he had with the Wall Street Journal yesterday. The timing of the interview is itself enough evidence of the pressure he is facing.
3. The last two days have seen a remarkable "buzz" around activists that seem to be organising for demonstrations in Syria. One Facebook group got a remarkable 10,000 members in 3 days. You can read more about it on CNN, the FT, WSJ.
Sure Syria is a controlled economy, so international price increases are not automatically translated into domestic prices. But this means Syria's subsidy bill needs to increase sharply. The Economist had a good article in its January 20 issue highlighting the tough choices the government is facing, as well as its shrinking pool of subsidies.
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