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Syria Planet (540 unread)

October 30, 2008
16:20
Weblog of a Syrian Diplomat in America: Bassem Dahdouh 1
» ‎ Syria Planet

Some of my favorite works by distinguished Syrian artists.
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16:20
Weblog of a Syrian Diplomat in America: St. Paul de Vence
» ‎ Syria Planet

On leaving Spain, we went the most artistic village in the whole of Europe: St. Paul de Vence in the French Riviera to attend the wedding of some dear friends. There, we also met Mary and Tony Sidawi and had lots of fun with them. That was the end of our summer vacation.
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16:20
طارق أبو عسلي: الرد السوري على أمريكا
» ‎ Syria Planet

السلام عليكم:

بعد هذا العدوان الهمجي الأمريكي على أرضنا الحبيبة ، و بدون مبررات تذكر، و مع تبرير بعض السياسيين العراقيين للضربة؟

ترى هل سيكون ردنا لهم موجعاً؟

ألا نستطيع أن نرد رداً موجعاً؟

برأيي نستطيع هذا

لماذا لا نعيد إخواننا المهجرين العراقيين النازحين إلى سوريا فوراً إلى بلدهم العراق؟

ألن يكون هذا عبئاً على العراق و أمريكا؟

ترى، ألن يكون هذا هو الرد الموجع؟

على كل حال ، بإنتظار التبرير الأمريكي و التي مهما ذكرت من تبرير لن يكون مقنعاً.

و بانتظار انتهاء عهد بوش و بأملٍ كالعادة بعهد جديد أفضل من سابقه.

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16:20
The Blog and the Shower: More developments
» ‎ Syria Planet

The American embassy is closed today--just temporarily. According to Al-Jazeera, there were protests throughout Damascus which remained peaceful. Most Damascenes that I've spoken to continue to distinguish, as they always have in my experience, between a people and their government. But Syrians are also extremely angry at this violation of state ...
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16:20
Syria Comment: Protests in Damascus
» ‎ Syria Planet

Thousands of Syrians have taken to the streets of the capital Damascus to protest against a US raid which killed eight people near the border with Iraq. Riot police were deployed outside the US embassy as the demonstrators, mostly civil servants and students, gathered for the government-backed protest a few kilometres away. The embassy, which was pelted with stones during a protest against US-led air raids on Iraq in 1998, was closed on Thursday due to security concerns. But the situation remained peaceful as the protesters filled the Youssef al-Azmi square and surrounding streets in the al-Maliki neighbourhood, with some Syrians forming circles and performing traditional dances.
[Landis Comment] It is worth remarking that this demonstration was held at Youssef al-Azmi Square and not at Rawda in front of the US Embassy. It is a few kilometers away. The Syrian government is taking no risks that the crowd will get out of control and attack the residence or embassy, as happened in 1998, when Ryan Crocker’s wife was alone in the residence when protesters came over the top of the wall and pelted the residence with rocks. Crocker, now the US ambassador in Iraq, has held a grudge against Syria ever since, according to members of the embassy who know him. . Assad’s strategic decision to turn cheek
MARK MACKINNON, Globe and Mail, October 30, 2008

…. Mr. Assad in recent months appears to have made a strategic choice to come in from the cold by improving Syria’s relations with Europe, opening diplomatic relations with the new government in Beirut and even flirting with Israel via back-channel peace talks over the Golan Heights. Though the Bush administration remains ideologically opposed to reconciling with Damascus, Syria has made no secret of its hope for better ties with the next administration, particularly if it’s led by Barack Obama.

Such incomplete moves have left Damascus in awkward limbo between a cautious West and its fuming long-time ally, Iran. Analysts in both Syria and the United States say that Syria’s strategic limbo may explain why the U.S. military decided to take action now after five years of complaining about the flow of foreign fighters into Iraq via Syria.

Some suggest that political considerations in the United States may have also been a factor, as the U.S. military may have been trying to set a precedent for action in Syria before the next administration takes over.

“Syria has its hands tied behind its back. It can’t allow its anger to rule this moment,” said Joshua Landis, co-director of the Centre for Peace Studies at the University of Oklahoma and editor of the syriacomment.com website. “In the past, clearly, the [U.S.] military in Iraq would have been very anxious about what Syria could do in retaliation.”

…. For now, the back-channel talks between Syria and Israel remain alive, though frozen while Israel heads into new elections. But Mr. Assad received critical diplomatic support when France, Britain and the European Union spoke out against the U.S. raid. The Iraqi government also condemned the assault, saying its territory should not have been used for an attack against a neighbour.

Mr. Assad likely believes that he only has to outlast Mr. Bush to see his new policy course bear fruit. Few in Syria make any secret of the fact that they’re pining for Jan. 20, 2009, the day the next U.S. president will be sworn in.

“The whole world is waiting for the end of Bush’s presidency,” Prof. Kabalan said. “Syria especially.”

Syria 101 - Youtube

Below I copy the note from a new Fulbrighter in Damascus. I became fascinated with Syria as a Fulbrighter in 1981-82, the year of Hama and the Israeli invasion of Lebanon. It is a truly wonderful program that has done more for US-Syria understanding than anything else. I hope it will not fall victim to the latest attack.

Dear Josh Landis,

Just a note from a recently arrived Fulbrighter in Damascus, where things are getting increasingly interesting and unsettling. I read your blog daily here; you probably know having been here that it’s often easier to get news about Syria from sources outside the country than from the media here in Cham. Today we found out, during a break in a’amia class at the American Cultural Center, that the building might be shut down along with the American School. We were not told yet what effect this will have on the Fulbright program. Certainly the Syrian government could cancel our visas if they chose to go that far. That seems far away and hopefully will stay that way. We all arrived here under strict travel restrictions and plenty of State Department prep talk about the risks of grant study in Syria. The Embassy has said nothing official yet beyond a standard “Warden’s Message” about “maintaing vigilance” and avoiding protests; their hands are tied by Washington, it seems, which is saying nothing. But for how long? I write a blog here and am sending you the link as a lark:

[hiddencities.wordpress.com]

Here’s hoping all of us on Fulbright are able to stay in the country and enjoy life and studies here, which are grand except when you read all day about a Special Forces helicopter raid on a farm near the Iraqi border.

Best, Freddy Deknatel

Syria puts US embassy under guard as tens of thousands join protest
Haroon Siddique and agencies
guardian.co.uk, Thursday October 30 2008

Hundreds of Syrian riot police surrounded the US embassy in Damascus today as tens of thousands of protesters gathered nearby to denounce a US raid that killed eight people near the Iraqi border.

The crowds converged on Youssef al-Azmi square, about a mile from the embassy - which has been closed for the day because of security concerns.

Troops wearing helmets and carrying batons and shields took up positions around the embassy and the adjacent US residence building. Two fire engines were also parked nearby.

But there were no signs of violence as protesters formed circles and danced traditional dances

“America the sponsor of destruction and wars,” read one banner, as protesters waved national flags and pictures of President Bashar Assad.

“We will not submit to terrorism,” read another.

Hussam Baayoun, a 20-year-old university student, said the US raid was a “criminal act” and added: “We want the Americans to stop their acts of terrorism in Syria, in Iraq and the rest of the world.”

The Syrian government has demanded a US apology for the attack in the eastern border community, which it says left eight civilians dead, and has threatened to cut off cooperation on Iraqi border security if there are more raids on its territory.

Syrian security around the embassy is usually tight and Americans in the country are generally made to feel welcome but when the US invaded Iraq protesters attacked the embassy.

The American school has also been shut for the day. The Syrian government has ordered the closure of the school, expected within a week, and the immediate closing of the American cultural centre linked to the embassy.

In Washington, state department deputy spokesman Robert Wood said yesterday that the government was considering how to respond to the order to shut the cultural centre and American school and stressed the US expected the Syrian government to “provide adequate security for the buildings”. The US embassy warned its citizens in Syria to be vigilant.

There has been no formal acknowledgment of the raid from Washington, but US officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, claimed the raid killed Badran Turki al-Mazidih, a top al-Qaida figure in Iraq who operated a network smuggling fighters into the war-torn country. An Iraqi national, he also goes by the name Abu Ghadiyah.

Washington lists Syria as a state sponsor of terrorism and has operated sanctions since 2004. But in recent months Damascus has been trying to end years of global seclusion. Assad is seen as less hardline than his father, who preceded him as president.

US accusations that Syria is not doing enough to prevent foreign fighters from crossing its borders into Iraq remain a sore point in relations. Syria says it is doing all it can to safeguard its long, porous border

The End of International Law?
By Robert Dreyfuss in the Nation

A parallel new Bush doctrine is emerging, in the last days of the soon-to-be-ancien regime, and it needs to be strangled in its crib. Like the original Bush doctrine — the one that Sarah Palin couldn’t name, which called for preventive military action against emerging threats — this one also casts international law aside by insisting that the United States has an inherent right to cross international borders in “hot pursuit” of anyone it doesn’t like.

They’re already applying it to Pakistan, and this week Syria was the target. Is Iran next?

Why the West wants Syria to dump all its old friends
By David Blair, 29-Oct - 2008

The West and Israel both want Syria to acquire the habit of spurning allies. The friends they want Mr Assad to shake off are, in ascending order of importance, Islamic Jihad, Hamas, Hizbollah and Iran.

In return for dumping all his allies, Mr Assad would get a normal relationship with the West, the lifting of US sanctions and, in the event of a peace agreement with Israel, the return of the Golan Heights. If this happened, the strategic balance of the Middle East would be transformed. At present, Syria forms the crucial supply route linking Hizbollah with its chief paymaster and arms dealer, Iran. Mr Assad’s goodwill also saves Iran from near total diplomatic isolation in the Middle East.

By reaching an accommodation with Syria, the West could gravely weaken both Iran and Hizbollah with a single blow. Hence the importance that Britain attaches to sounding out Mr Assad. As it happens, his wife, Asma, is half-British and the couple met when Mr Assad was a doctor in London.

Even if he was willing to make this extraordinary leap, would Israel hand over the Golan Heights? At present, Israel sees the talks with the Palestinians as a higher priority.

“When you look at the Palestinian issue, there’s a sense of urgency. There’s no sense of urgency with Syria,” said Professor Asher Susser, the head of Middle East Studies at Tel Aviv University. “I don’t see any Israeli government handing over the Golan.”

This would be doubly true if Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud party wins Israel’s forthcoming election. If so, this would let Mr Assad off the hook and allow him to continue his eternal game of keeping all doors open and every bridge unburnt.

Jordan’s lower house blasts US over raid into Syria

…”The attack on Syria is an attack on every inch of the Arab world and means that no Arab land is safe from U.S. attacks,” said a statement read by Deputy Najeh Momani.

The statement was made in a session of parliament, which was designed for Q&A with the government but MPs took the opportunity to condemn the U.S. aggression on Syria, describing it as a terrorist strike.

The national bloc also criticized the government’s reaction to the event as “disappointing”….

What is Syria Up To?
By Howard Schweber
The Huffington Post, 30 October 2008

….Although there has been no comment from either the White House or the State Department about the most recent raid, officials quoted in several sources say that it reflects the administrations broad interpretation of Article 51 of the U.N. Charter which provides the right of individual or collective self-defense to member states. This is the same provision that Israel has repeatedly cited to justify its own military actions including its attack on Something Mysterious in Syria last September; it has also been used by Turkish troops pursuing Kurdish militants in their sanctuaries in northern Iraq. President Bush hinted at the scope of the theory in his speech to the U.N. this past month: “As sovereign states, we have an obligation to govern responsibly . . . We have an obligation to prevent our territory from being used as a sanctuary for terrorism and proliferation and human trafficking and organized crime.” It is important to note that this is not the Bush Doctrine of pre-emptive attack, it is a theory of “self-defense” that according to administration sources justifies attacks on insurgents in other nations if they threaten “the forces, allies, or interests of the United States” according to U.S. officials. The word “interest,” of course, makes the scope of this theory essentially infinite…

Iraq’s Security Agreement Demands Revealed: No US Attacks On Neighbors
By QASSIM ABDUL-ZAHRA
The Huffington Post, 30 October 2008

Iraq wants a security agreement with the U.S. to include a clear ban on U.S. troops using Iraqi territory to attack Iraq’s neighbors, the government spokesman said Wednesday, three days after a dramatic U.S. raid on Syria.

Also Wednesday, the country’s most influential Shiite cleric expressed concerned that Iraqi sovereignty be protected in the pact. Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani wields vast influence among the Shiite majority and his explicit opposition could scuttle the deal.

Government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh said the ban was among four proposed amendments to the draft agreement approved by the Cabinet this week and forwarded to the U.S.

President Bush said Wednesday that the U.S. had received and negotiators were analyzing the Iraqis’ proposed amendments to the so-called Status of Forces Agreement.

“We obviously want to be helpful and constructive without undermining basic principles,” Bush said in the Oval Office during a meeting with Massoud Barzani, the president of the semiautonomous Kurdish region in northern Iraq. “I remain very open and confident that the SOFA will get passed.”

Al-Dabbagh said the Iraqis want the right to declare the agreement null and void if the U.S. unilaterally attacks one of Iraq’s neighbors.

U.S. troops launched a daring daylight attack Sunday a few miles into Syrian territory against what U.S. officials said was a key figure in al-Qaida’s operation that moves foreign fighters and weapons into Iraq.

A senior U.S. official said the al-Qaida figure, an Iraqi known as Abu Ghadiyah, was killed. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because the raid was classified. Syria says eight civilians died and has demanded an apology…

Bush to Highlight Success in War Against Terrorism
By John D. McKinnon
The Wall Street Journal, 29 October 2008

President George W. Bush, riding low in the polls, isn’t doing any out-and-out campaigning for Republicans this week. But he’s still hoping to score a few points with voters on the national-security front.

In a speech scheduled for Thursday, Bush plans to highlight his administration’s success in preventing another terrorist attack in the U.S., making perhaps his strongest claim for credit yet.

“More than seven years have passed without another attack on our soil. This is not an accident,” Bush plans to say, according to an advance text of the speech released by the White House. “Since 9/11, we have gone on the offense against the terrorists abroad – so we do not have to face them here at home. And we are standing with young democracies in Afghanistan, Iraq, and beyond as they seek to replace the hateful ideology of the extremists with an alternative vision of liberty and hope.”

With only five days to go until Election Day, Bush’s speech to a graduating class of FBI agents isn’t likely to garner much attention. Even if it does, the war on terrorism has slipped on many voters’ list of worries, given all the economic and financial problems that have emerged.

Still, it marks a success of sorts for Republicans that the war against terrorism has faded – or at least been overshadowed – so much as an issue. In recent days, a number of conservatives have been pointing to the U.S. success.

In his speech, Bush plans to give the FBI a share of the credit.

“Since 9/11, the Bureau has worked with our partners around the world to disrupt planned terrorist attacks,” he will say, according to the advance text. “Most Americans will never know the full stories of how these attacks were stopped, and how many lives were saved. But we do know this: The men and women of the FBI are working tirelessly to keep our nation safe, and they have earned the thanks of every American.”

Pakistan to US: Stop missile strikes near border
By STEPHEN GRAHAM
AP, 29 October 2008

Pakistan’s government summoned the U.S. ambassador on Wednesday to urge an immediate halt to missile strikes on suspected militant hide-outs near the Afghan border.

Missile strikes have killed at least two senior al-Qaida commanders in Pakistan, putting some pressure on extremist groups accused of planning attacks in Afghanistan — and perhaps terror strikes in the West.

However, a marked uptick in frequency of the missile attacks has badly strained America’s seven-year alliance with Pakistan, where rising violence is exacerbating economic problems gnawing at the nuclear-armed Islamic republic’s stability.

Having called in U.S. Ambassador Anne Patterson on Wednesday, “a strong protest was lodged on the continued missile attacks by U.S. drones inside Pakistani territory,” a Foreign Ministry statement said.

The attacks have led to the loss of “precious lives and property” and “undermine public support for the government’s counterterrorism policies,” the statement said.

“It was emphasized that such attacks were a violation of Pakistan’s sovereignty and should be stopped immediately,” it said.

A U.S. embassy spokesman was not immediately available for comment.

American commanders complain that Pakistani forces have not put enough pressure on militants in its remote and impoverished border regions, an area considered a possible hiding place for Osama bin Laden and al-Qaida No. 2 Ayman al-Zawahri.

Reflecting that frustration, U.S. military and CIA drones that patrol the frontier region are believed to have carried out at least 15 strikes since mid-August, including one that killed about 20 people at the home of a Taliban commander on Monday.

The United States rarely confirms or denies involvement.

Lawmakers on Monday pass a resolution condemning the attacks and calling on the government to take “more effective measures” to stop them.

The Foreign Ministry said it gave a copy of the resolution to Patterson on Wednesday.

ANALYSIS: Legality of US strike in Syria debatable
By Mike McCarthy
DPA, 29 October 2008

The US raid against a top al-Qaeda operative this week in Syria was the latest effort by the Bush administration to step up pressure on the terrorist network, even by striking in countries without the approval of their governments. Syria strongly protested the helicopter-borne attack on Sunday, 8 kilometres beyond the Iraqi border, where the United States is believed to have killed an al-Qaeda lieutenant responsible for smuggling fighters, weapons and money into Iraq.

The White House has not publicly acknowledged the attack. Damascus says that only civilians were killed.

Syrian outrage after the strike mirrored similar complaints from Islamabad over a series of crossborder raids and strikes by US forces against al-Qaeda and Afghan Taliban militants who use the rugged, ungoverned region inside Pakistan near the border as refuge.

Washington appears to be ordering the attacks based on broad legal arguments that the US can act in self-defence to protect US and coalition soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan, if neighbouring countries are unwilling or unable to crack down on militants, international law experts say.

“If the state is unable to control what is going on within its territory, then the case can be made that it relinquishes some of its sovereignty to those who can,” Anthony Clark Arend, a professor of international law and diplomacy at Georgetown University in Washington, said in assessing the Bush administration’s legal rationale.

Arend said he frequently disagrees with legal conclusions adopted by the Bush administration, but in the cases of the assaults in Syria and Pakistan, the White House’s position is not “an unreasonable argument.”

“But many legal scholars would say that this is per se illegal unless you can show that the state is supporting or encouraging” the militants.

Washington has long complained that Syria has not taken adequate steps to prevent the flow of militants and potential suicide bombers across its border into Iraq, but Sunday’s attack, the boldest incursion so far by the US military into Syria, came as US generals had observed in the last year a sharp drop in infiltrations…

U.S. Invokes Self-Defense in Syria Raid From Iraq Expansive Definition Rejected By Damascus
The New York Times, 29 October 2008

In seeking support in international law for its actions, the Bush administration is joining a list of nations that have cited Article 51 of the United Nations Charter, which enshrines the right of individual or collective self-defense to all member states.

Over the years, a growing body of legal argument has made the case that this right of self-defense allows a nation to take military action on the territory of another sovereign nation that is unable or unwilling to take measures on its own to halt the threat.

This argument was emphasized when the Israeli military mounted a hostage-rescue mission at Entebbe airport in Uganda in 1976, and similar arguments have been made to defend actions by the Colombian military against the FARC guerrillas seeking haven in neighboring countries, and Turkish troops pursuing Kurdish militants in their sanctuaries in northern Iraq.

Israel also made this argument when, in September last year, its warplanes attacked what Israel said was a nuclear reactor in Syria that was nearing operational capability.

This month, General David Petraeus, the former top commander in Iraq, said that the flow of foreign fighters into Iraq had dwindled to less than 20 a month from a peak of more than 120 a month a year ago.

But one military officer said Monday that while Syria had been able to take specific steps like detaining combat-age men found flying into Damascus airport on one-way tickets, there had been less success in halting the flow of money and weapons to the insurgency.

The Iraqi government found itself in an awkward position on Monday as it sought at once to remain on friendly terms with Syria, which is a neighbor and now home to more than a million Iraqi refugees, but also to bolster the United States in going after people believed to be fomenting antigovernment unrest in Iraq.

“This area was a staging ground for activities by terrorist organizations hostile to Iraq,” said Ali al-Dabbagh, the Iraqi government spokesman.

He said Iraq had previously requested that Syrian authorities hand over insurgents who used Syria as their base.

America’s Military Attack in Syria—Possible Reasons and Likely Costs
By Daniel Levy
Prospects for Peace, 28 October 2008

Details are finally emerging of the American military operation inside Syria in Abu Kamal on Sunday afternoon. While there still has been no official on-record briefing from the Pentagon, unnamed DoD sources have filled in some of the gaps and reports on the operation appear in today’s press. The target was apparently “Abu al-Ghadiyah” (Badran al-Mazidi), described alternatively as a high-ranking AQI (al-Qaeda in Iraq) operative or facilitator of smugglings and infiltration networks from Syria into Iraq, and vice versa. While it appears that there have been instances of cross-border “hot pursuit” by U.S. forces across Syrian borders before, today’s Washington Post makes the assertion that this is “the first acknowledged instance of U.S. ground forces operating in Syria.” Syrian and Arab T.V. have been full of pictures of the area of the raid and its aftermath, interviews with the civilian wounded in hospitals, and now images of thousands attending the funerals of the 8 civilians who it is claimed also fell victim to this attack (there are claims that American forces nabbed two AQI operatives–these are as yet unconfirmed–there might still be a DoD briefing today).

Condemnations have been prevalent in the Arab media, with the headline of the UAE daily al-Khaleej being typical: “U.S. Aggression Against Syria”. And criticism has not only come from the obvious places–Syria, Iran, Lebanon, Iraq and elsewhere in the Arab world–but also from Russia, Europe and beyond. There have also been some interesting exceptions to this trend within the Arab world–notably Saudi Arabia, leading some to speculate that the Saudis encouraged or were even complicit in this operation. But even as the details are emerging many are still baffled as to why this raid took place, and especially why now. As ever when it comes to the Middle East, and especially where Syria is concerned, tantalizing and mischievous theories proliferate. Here is an attempt, then, to make sense of why this happened, and what the implications might be…

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16:20
Syria Winks: North-west Syrian sealine
» ‎ Syria Planet

Pictures from north-west greeny Syrian nature and hot sunny climate.

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16:20
Syria Winks: Syria Mountainous Areas - Wadi Al-ayoun and Sheikhbadr
» ‎ Syria Planet

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16:20
Syria Winks: Flora
» ‎ Syria Planet

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16:20
uramiumian thoughts: يوراميوم
» ‎ Syria Planet

الأفكار الجميلة والخلاقة تأتي ممن ترك التفكير التقليدي شاهدت هذا الموقع وهو إعلان لألبوم موسيقي “دليل الحياة العصرية” اسمه you are not dead (على فكرة الموسيقى أيضاً جميلة) عنوان الموقع : Fake الفكرة في الموقع أن التصفح (الـ Scroll) أفقي،أي أنه عليك سحب شريط التصفح باتجاه اليمين لمتابعة القراءة والاطلاع على الموقع، قد تكون الفكرة غير عملية 100% [...]
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16:20
أمواج اسبانية في فرات الشام: و حكم جديد.. من محكمة العار
» ‎ Syria Planet

علمنا أمس, الأربعاء, بخبر الحكم على معتقلي إعلان دمشق للتغيير الوطني الديمقراطي لمدة سنتين و نصف مع الحجر و التجريد, باستخدام التهم المعتادة في هذه الحالات كإضعاف الشعور القومي و نشر أخبار كاذبة و الانتساب لجمعية سرية. و باقي الديباجة التي مللنا و للأسف من سماعها. هذه الصفعة الجديدة للحقوق الأساسية في سوريا تضاف إلى صفعات أخرى تعاقبت على مدى العقود الأخيرة, ملاحقات و مضايقات و اعتقالات و
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16:20
انا بموت على حلب: adjustments
» ‎ Syria Planet

A week ago, I received a phone call from my Syrian Uncle, the older brother of my Aleppine host mom. He was in Damascus for business and hadn’t seen me since the night I burst into tears at his house in Hama following a political discussion that simply broke my heart. With the exception of that exchange though, we had always enjoyed each other’s company. He is both a Mercedes trader and sheikh, thus through him, I have access to two slices of Syrian society I have little contact with these days (and which usually have little to do with each other): the ultra rich and the ultra religious. Our relationship is something I treasure in part because it is so rare, but in the wake of Abu Ali’s visit last week it is somewhat changed.
I met him by his car, down in the park. After the usual greetings we got into the still plastic lined front seat. Immediately he started talking about the car. “A 2008 Mercedes, have you ever been in one of these before?” I could not have cared less how much it cost him, but he told me anyway, comparing it with the price of my family’s home in America. The car was much more expensive. Although Abu Ali owns multiple houses in Syria and abroad, last week, he decided to take me to his principle Damascene house, complete with family. He asked me if I wouldn’t mind wearing a headscarf for the visit, and although I feel it is important to boldly face discomfort with religious diversity, I trusted my uncle to know the situation and out of respect for him, I donned my white hijab. Inside, I was acutely aware of the ambiguity of my relationship with Abu Ali and felt the need to clarify to anyone who would listen that he was my uncle. When the women left the room for a moment, he turned to me and after confirming that I understood that I am not to mention this family to the one up north, he told me not to talk so much. “If I am here, just refer to me if talking needs to be done.” I was out of practice and had forgotten myself.
Min, my roommate and the most unapologetically direct person I’ve ever met, was also invited to dinner (this totally works for her in a wonderful way). She showed up an hour after me by taxi and the moment she walked in I realized just how much I can change when I’m with members of my Syrian family. There I was in different clothes and having been instructed not to speak when Min came in and immediately started complaining that my uncle did nothing for himself. Over dinner they discussed the merits of non-religiosity and while Abu Ali ate oranges peeled by his mistress and placed in front of him, Min declared him a dictator. I watched the color drain from the faces of the women in the room. They were all so embarrassed for Min. But what Min did was fine and my uncle did not get angry at any point. In fact, he engaged her in albeit light debate about her opinions. All this brought my own behavior into a new light. I felt for so long that my role was to observe and understand, and, AND, when the time is appropriate share my view. After watching Min, I felt weak and spineless. Why didn’t I express my distaste for my uncle’s misogynist and ego? Maybe it’s because I hear so many opinions in American about this kind of behavior that judge it out of context and out of scale, and so I have taken the role of its defense. But that’s not it; I don’t’ want to defend it, or curtail my criticism. It could be that I’m an outsider, and from a culture that has made a history of moral (and other) judgments on cultures in which we had no business meddling. But I’m not sure I would have said anything to an American in the same position. Maybe I really am just spineless. I’ve had time to think this over and I can’t trace my behavior back to a single source. The time I’ve spent with Syrians, in their homes and families, has taught me how to look for appropriate contexts for certain conversations and while I admire Min’s clarity, I require more time and reflection to make my move; and when I make it, it will be on Syrian terms, not American ones.
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7:16
The Syria News Wire: US embassy in Damascus may close
» ‎ Syria Planet

America says it may have to close it's embassy. It follows angry
protests in Damascus following Sunday's invasion.
Extra Syrian police have been guarding the compound since Sunday.
Even during the start of the Iraq war the building stayed open,
although the Syrian army stopped protesters getting near the top end
of Abu Rumani street.
The embassy has been without an ambassador for three and a half years.
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7:16
The Syria News Wire: Aftermath of the American invasion of Syria
» ‎ Syria Planet

This is a battle of words. True, eight people died, but everyone knows
Syria is not going to attack America - as it has the right to.
Syria has been invaded. America called it "taking matters into our own
hands". But the real debate is over what Syria is calling it.
On the streets, people are calling this an act of war. But officials
are deliberately steering clear of those two explosive words.
Syria does not want a war, no matter how limited, which is what
America appears to be gunning for.
Instead, they're calling it a war crime. That's telling, because it
frames the attack within the context of what's going on in Iraq. Syria
is making it clear it sees the invasion as a misstep in America's war
on Iraq. It is not an outright invasion.
Syria is as stunned as the rest of the world. It has cracked down on
people crossing the border. It's impossible to travel anywhere near
the border without getting stopped, checked or followed.
And America knows it. It has praised Syria for stopping the flow of fighters.
In Damascus, protection has been stepped up at the US Embassy. And on
the night of the attack there was an impromptu demonstration on the
city centre.
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7:16
المـــرفـأ: الحكم على معتقلي إعلان دمشق بالسجن عامين ونصف
» ‎ Syria Planet

بحضور حشد كبير من المتضامنين ، شمل إلى جانب الأهالي والعائلات جمهورا من المثقفين والكتاب والناشطين السياسين والحقوقيين وبعض الدبلوماسيين الغربيين، انعقدت قبل ظهر اليوم الأربعاء 29/10/2008 ، الجلسة الأخيرة من جلسات المحاكمة السوداء الجارية في رحاب محكمة الجنايات الأولى بدمشق لمحاكمة معتقلي إعلان دمشق. فافتتحها القاضي محي الدين الحلاق رئيس المحكمة بتفقد حضور المتهمين ، ثم قرأ قرار المحكمة الصادر بالاتفاق بتجريمهم بجنايتي :
1- إضعاف الشعور القومي وفقا للمادة 285 من قانون العقوبات السوري ومعاقبة كل منهم بالسجن ثلاث سنوات
2- نقل أنباء كاذبة وفقا للمادة 286 من قانون العقوبات ومعاقبة كل منهم بالسجن ثلاث سنوات دغم العقوبتين وللأسباب المخففة التقديرية تخفيض العقوبة لمدة سنتين ونصف لكل منهم ، تحسب منذ بدء توقيفهم، وحجرهم وتجريدهم مدنيا، حكما قابلا للطعن بالنقض خلال ثلاثين يوميا.

وقد ساد الوجوم قاعة المحكمة لدى سماع الحكم، وما لبث الحاضرون أن انفجروا بالتصفيق الحاد حال سماعهم صيحات المعتقلين الذين شبكوا أيديهم ورفعوها متضامنين ومرددين: عاشت سورية حرة وطنا ومواطنين، سورية الحرة تستحق كل تضحية .
ووسط حالة من الانفعال والتوتر الشديدين، سارع رجال الأمن والشرطة الذين كانوا وللمرة الأولى بإمرة ضباط متعددين على رأسهم عميد إلى إخلاء قاعة المحكمة والممرات بكل شدة، بينما كان المعتقلون والحاضرون يتبادلون تلويحات التضامن وصيحات الاحتجاج على الحكم الجائرالمذكور.

http://nidaasyria.org/ar/news/63

التعليق :
إنها التهمة الجاهزة .. إضعاف الشعور القومي !!
ولا أدري قبل أيام من أضعف الشعور القومي وأهان كرامتنا ووطننا وأبناء وطننا !
لا ندري قبل أيام من انتهك حرمة وطننا وسفك دم أبناءه !!
مثل هؤلاء يرد عليهم .. سوف نعاقبكم إذا كررتم فعلتكم !
أما أبناء الوطن الأحرار .. لأنهم يقولون كلمة الحق .. ولأنهم يبحثون عن الحرية .. ولأنهم يريدون حماية الوطن والمواطن .. فهؤلاء يجب معاقبتهم فورا لأنهم أضعفوا الشعور القومي !
أي شعور وأي قومي !! لم يبق لدينا شعور بالانتماء للوطن .. لأن الوطن مستباح .. ولأن كل من يخاف على الوطن يعاقب .. !!
صبرا يا أحرار إعلان دمشق .. سوف تبزغ الشمس قريبا .. إن موعدهم الصبح .. أليس الصبح بقريب ؟! بلى والله ..

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7:16
Cosmos | مدوّنة أنس عفيف عماد: stardict
» ‎ Syria Planet

برنامج ستارديكت Stardict هو برنامج معجم عالمي مفتوح المصدر ومجاني متعدد المنصّات مصمم بمكتبة Gtk2 ويتميز بالعديد من الميزات القوية كالبحث الضبابي والتعرف على النماذج بالإضافة إلى البحث النصّي الفوري (يعرض الترجمة للكلمات المحددة من أي نص في بالون أو تلميح tip text).

لقطة شاشة برنامج ستارديكت

لتنصيب ستارديكت Stardict

افتح الطرفيّة terminal ثم اكتب:

sudo apt-get install stardict-gtk

أدخل كلمة السر ثم انتظر حتى تمام التنصيب

الآن أصبح البرنامج جاهزاً انتقل إلى الخطوة التالية:

الحصول على المعاجم:

يحتاج ستار ديكت لأن يقوم المستخدم بتنصيب المعاجم يدوياً وبشكل مستقل عن تنصيب البرنامج ويمكن الحصول على المعاجم جاهزةً أو تحويلها من صيغة أخرى:

آولاً- تحميل المعاجم جاهزةً

يحتوي هذا الرابط على العديد من المعاجم الجاهزة

[reciteword.sourceforge.net]

بعد تحميل المعجم الذي تريد قم بفك ضغط الملف الذي حملته باستخدام File Roller أو من الطرفيّة

tar -xvvf filename

وبالطبع عليك استبدال عبارة filename باسم الملف الذي قمت بتحميله

انتقل إلى المجلد الجديد باستخدام الأمر cd ثم انقل الملفات إلى المجلد /usr/share/stardict/dic
في الطرفيّة أكتب التالي:

cd filename
sudo mv * /usr/share/stardict/dic

هذا الرابط أيضاً يحتوي على العديد من المعاجم المفيدة

http://www.ojuba.org/sharedfiles/%D9%82%D9%88%D8%A7%D9%85%D9%8A%D8%B3/st…

بعد تحميل المعجم الذي تريد قم بفك ضغط الملف الذي حملته باستخدام File Roller أو من الطرفيّة

tar -xvvf filename

وبالطبع عليك استبدال عبارة filename باسم الملف الذي قمت بتحميله

ثم انتقل إلى المجلد الذي يحتوي الملفات التي قمت بفك ضغطها واكتب

sudo ./install.sh

سيتم عندها تثبيت المعجم كما يمكنك أيضاً إتباع الطريقة السابقة مع هذه الملفات أيضاً دون الحاجة لهذه الخطوة

الطريقة الثانية: تحويل معاجم بابيلون إلى معاجم stardict

- تحويل معاجم برنامج بابيلون إلى معاجم مدعومة من قبل ستارديكت ويلزم لذلك برنامج صغير يسمى dictconv يمكن الحصول على كوده المصدري وتحتاج لتصنيفه من المصدر أو بالحصول على حزمة ديبيان

حمل حزمة ديبيان من الموقع
[www.packages.ubuntu.com]

أو قم بتصنيف البرنامج من المصدر
http://www.sourceforge.net/project/showfiles.php?group_id=146506&package…

ولتحويل معجم ما أكتب في الطرفيّة

dictconv babylondictionary.bgl -o resultdictionary.ifo

مثلاً إذا كنت أريد تحويل معجم arabic_english.bgl
أكتب

dictconv arabic_english.bgl -o arabic_english.ifo

سينتج لدي ثلاث ملفات أقوم بنقلها إلى المجلد /usr/share/stardict/dic
ولكي أنقل الملفات الناتجة في المثال السابق أكتب

mv arabic_english.* /usr/share/stardict/dic

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7:16
Maysaloon - ميسلون: My translation: A 'loaded' American provocation of Syria
» ‎ Syria Planet

A ‘loaded’ American provocation of Syria
By Abd al Bari Atwan of al Quds

The latest acts of president George Bush’s administration are characterised by confusion and indecisiveness, especially in the Middle East. The latest operation carried out by the US military in the Abu Kamal region within the Syrian borders, which resulted in the deaths of eight Syrian civilians, is the most prominent example of this.

This unprecedented raid by air has raised numerous questions with regards to its timing, motives and expected results. Especially with regards to the repercussions which will follow it not just with regards to Syrian-American relations but within Iraq and the Arab world as a whole. What was unique this time was the near complete silence of US official spokespeople, with only the slightest of comments regarding the raid, as opposed to the ‘unprecedented transparency’ with which Syrian politicians and media have dealt with the crisis, granting journalists unfettered access to the Syrian civilians there and to the targeted building as well as providing photographs and information about the incident. The Americans have said that the targeted area was a base of operations for an al Qaeda cell, but there is no tangible evidence to show that this is true. Even if what the Americans say is true, then dealing with such issues could have been coordinated through the relevant security channels which are active, either between the American command in Iraq and its Syrian counterpart or between the Iraqi and Syrian governments themselves, as has been done before on numerous occasions.
Even if we assume that there was some al Qaeda cell in the area, that does not give the United States and its forces the right to raid on the territory of a sovereign country and commit a massacre of innocent civilians. This is a clear act of terrorism which confirms that the US administration pays no heed to the international treaties and documents that it so ardently defends and upholds, punishing others who transgress with sanctions and isolation.
In our estimation the situation involves much more than the presence of some cell of al Qaeda, or even the presence of a major coordinator for smuggling arms and volunteers into the Iraqi hinterland. For it is no coincidence that the raid took place at a time when US hopes of a security agreement with the government of the “New Iraq”, which should have been ratified by the parliament before the end of the year to grant ‘legitimacy’ to the presence of over 150,000 American soldiers on Iraqi soil.

It is no secret to anybody that Iraq’s neighbours, Iran and Syria in particular, oppose the presence of US troops permanently in Iraqi bases, which pose a strategic threat to them. For the latest security agreement, and the clauses within it, places Iraq under an American mandate for decades to come. This makes the United States a permanent feature in the area.

The Iranians did not hesitate for an instant to openly oppose the agreement, issuing fatwas from Shia authorities forbidding the signing of the treaty and enjoining its allies, of whom it has many, in Iraq to stand against it. Even the government of Nouri al Maliki refused to ratify it, delaying presenting it to the parliament whilst requesting that the US administration modify a number of clauses to which it had previously agreed to, in fear of provoking Iranian anger. An anger that wil threaten grave implications should it be ignored.
The Syrians also oppose the treaty, though in their own special way – under the table. This whilst they give out clear signals indicating their wish to cooperate with the Iraqi government and the American project for Iraq through the opening of an embassy after twenty years of broken relations as well as receiving Iraqi leaders with noticeable warmth.

The US administration, which has lost 4200 American soldiers in Iraq and 700 billion dollars, is currently behaving like a wounded bull as it sees the allies it helped to power refusing to ratify an agreement that would legitimise its presence, in spite of its continued threats with grave consequences if they continue in this position, and for this it is starting to get desperate in its actions and decisions.
In other words, the administration cannot send its helicopters to strike the Iranian Revolutionary guards inside Iranian territory under the pretext that they arm and train militias opposed to the US presence in Iraq. That is because it knows full well that any such attack would provoke a painful response through sleeper and active cells which are operating in Iraq. It also, the US administration, is aware that it cannot dismiss al Maliki’s government because it knows that such a move would cost them, not only for the lack of a better alternative to him, but also because of the economic crises, military defeats and financial collapses which surround them from all sides.

The attack on Syria was the least expensive option for president George Bush Jnr. And his military command in Iraq, due to the fact that Syria is the weakest link in the chain. It has recently been subjected to numerous Israeli air raids, the most prominent of which targeted an alleged nuclear facility in the North-East of the country, as well as the carrying out, by the Israeli Mossad, of several high profile assassinations of Lebanese and Syrian personalities, such as General Muhammad Suleiman and al Hajj Imad Mughniyeh the head of the military wing of the Lebanese Hezbullah. The common denominator in all these raids and killings was the absence of any Syrian response and the adherence by the Syrian leadership to the highest levels of self restraint, avoiding falling into the trap of American backed Israeli provocation.

The American raid on Abu Kamal confirms this new development in America’s confused policies, which is that the US military leadership has decided to carry out its revenge on Syria by provoking it into a response for these attacks, instead of using the Israelis as was the case previously. This indicates that the new American strategy is to target Syria, paving the way for attacks on Iran, Hezbullah and Hamas the main backbone of the ‘Axis of Evil’ of the American presidential elections.

The Syrian government has shutdown the Cultural centre and American school in Damascus as an initial response to the raid, also delaying a meeting of the Syrian-Iraqi association which was due to take place in the next few days. It has also demanded explanations from the US and Iraqi governments regarding the raid. However, it is apparent that the Syrian response will not exceed the framework of non-violence at the present time. There are numerous cards in the hand of the Syrian government and which could lead to catastrophic results for the American project in Iraq if it decides to play them, individually or collectively. It is enough for the Syrians to scale back their cooperation on policing the border with Iraq, and ignore the smuggling operations which bring in weapons and fighters into Iraq, as well as stopping coordination with the American and Iraqi commands. For when the border with Iraq was open for volunteers to join the ranks of the Iraqi resistance, the number of operations targeting US forces exceeded 1000 a month, whilst al Qaeda was able to carry out over 700 suicide operations within a period of three years.
We do not expect the Syrian government to abandon its position of self-restraint, and risk provoking the raging American bull with wounds in the closing months of this defeated administration. It is behaving as other countries in the region and the world are, biding its time until the curtain is lowered on one of the most hostile American administrations towards Arabs and Muslims ever, in the hope that a new administration would learn from their mistakes and choose a policy of dialogue rather than confrontation in the Middle East.
View Original
7:16
Cosmos | مدوّنة أنس عفيف عماد: أهلاً بكم في مدونتي
» ‎ Syria Planet

لا بد في البداية من الترحيب بكل الزوار المحتملين لهذه المدونة، ستناقش هذه المدونة إن شاء الله العديد من المواضيع العملية التي تعكس اهتمامات صاحبها المتعددة!! سأعمل على كتابة وترجمة العديد من المقالات حول المصادر المفتوحة، البيئة والغابات والعديد من المواضيع الأخرى. أتمنى أن تقضوا وقتاً ملؤه الفائدة والمتعة في ضيافتنا!
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7:16
حسام: Housam
» ‎ Syria Planet

منذ فترة وأنا أعمل على إضافة تأثير Parallax إلى ترويسة موقعي الجديد (يمكنكم ملاحظته عند تحريك الفأرة لليمين واليسار). احتاج الأمر لمدة تفوق 5 أيام لتنسيقه ليعمل مع متصفح Microsoft Internet Explorer التأثير تم تجريبه على FireFox - Internet Explorer 7 - Google Chrome. In the end I like to thank Stephen Band for this great [...]
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7:16
The Damascene Blog: Absolutely
» ‎ Syria Planet

A US military official with direct knowledge of the raid said: "Absolutely no women or children were killed. American troops put themselves at risk to ensure children and women would not be killed in the Syria incident".

Suleiman Al-Abdallah, 16, is one of eight people killed by US troops in Al-Boukamal (photo from Syria News)

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7:16
Getting Started: I hear blood, I see blood
» ‎ Syria Planet

On Monday October 20, 2008 my dad had a bypass surgery...this wouldn’t be a problem at all if it wasn’t for the “rare complication” according to the doctor which manifested in an internal bleeding that they had to rush him back to the OR to fix it...I’d say this also wouldn’t be a problem if my dad’s blood type was anything but AB- which is according to the blood bank “dude” the rarest type in the country...being the only match available I had to rush in the middle of the night to donate some of my blood and exchange it for some of the bank stocks...I learned that this is the only way “bring a donor & pay 950 SP/unit” and NO the hospital is not responsible for any of that!!...thank God by dawn everything was ok but again around noon he needed more blood which left us all in panic...everyone called almost everyone he/she knows n’ in less than an hour we got a handful of matching donors but even better!...one of my uncles happens to know a significant “someone” which lead to us taking the last unit of AB- blood without having to wait for the donors and leaving anther woman with 4 units short...ever since am pleading for those with rare blood types to donate regularly...I know I will & I will even set a reminder to that cuz even tough our ordeal has passed but I do believe that we still owe it to society...
I always knew that u can find ur way almost through anything in this beloved country if u just knew the right “someone”...but honestly this is the last place I expected...vitamin “W “ as in “Works every time”

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7:16
Maysaloon - ميسلون:
» ‎ Syria Planet

Morally bankrupt, from the root to the leaves. This is my growing opinion of the West. The rest of the world faces occupation, bombing, extortion, economic ruin and poverty because of their corrupt ideologies - is it any surprise to see how petty and repulsive their popular culture can be on a local level? As if he has nothing better to do, Gordon Brown has waded into a celebrity tit-for-tat. Russell Brand, a celebrity famous for being famous (he is praised by the masses for the amount of drugs he took and for telling everybody about his sexual experiences) insulted a veteran actor by leaving a message on his voicemail telling him "he f*cked his granddaughter" on a radio show. Oh, he also said that he used a condom. How very nice of him and how funny. The maiden whose virtue was tarnished by this? She works as a 'burlesque' dancer for a group called the "Satanic Sluts". For Middle Eastern readers unfamiliar with this terminology, burlesque is a way of saying she is a stripper, but making it sound like something sophisticated and refined.

Many would say that I am talking rubbish, that Ofcom has been inundated with complaints by people, proving that such behaviour is unacceptable. Nobody seems to remember that it is the same public which has made such human garbage famous and rich. They are the same people who might say that many in the UK opposed the invasion of Iraq, but forget to mention exactly how and why Blair was re-elected after the invasion and the sham of the WMD's. The exact same logic applies to America and the answer is clear in the economic recession which is affecting both countries. You people only care about money, you want to be ruled by the person who can get you the most money and it doesn't matter one bit who you bomb, kill or steal from to get it. You think you are more just and moral than the world, but in reality you are all hypocrites. At least the rest of the world does not hide and pretend it is something else.
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7:16
Maysaloon - ميسلون:
» ‎ Syria Planet

An excellent article on the attack against Syria by my friend Qunfuz:

Terrorists strike Syria
View Original
7:16
Weblog of a Syrian Diplomat in America: Yasser Hammoud 1
» ‎ Syria Planet

Some of my favorite works by distinguished Syrian artists.
View Original
7:16
Arabdemocracy: The New Middle East
» ‎ Syria Planet

By Bachir Habib

Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Moualem warned on Monday of military retaliation in the event of future cross-border American raids, saying: "If they do it again, we will defend our territory."
Why didn’t they retaliate this time? Why didn’t they retaliate after the bombing of what the US and Israel pointed at as “nuclear or chemical facility under construction” in September 2007. Why didn’t the Syrian – Iranian mutual defense agreement apply in both cases? And where do we go from here?
Ever since the invasion in 2003, Iran has had the upper hand in Iraq. The “Democratic” elections brought to power an Iraqi establishment close to Teheran and somewhat “Made in Teheran”.
Is it a coincidence that the so called Surge strategy is succeeding and the level of violence in Iraq has reached its lower records since American ambassador to Iraq Ryan Crocker and his Iranian counterpart Hassan Kazemi–Qomi held series of meetings in Baghdad discussing “exclusively” the security issue in Iraq? Although the invasion of Iraq probably had ideological roots in terms of “spreading the Western model of Democracy and creating a New Middle East”; on the ground this war has evolved in a more pragmatic direction. Washington is now seeking a safe exit for its troops, and on the other hand an Iraqi-American Agreement that will preserve its interests. The negotiations over that agreement were conducted by the Iraqi government, meaning an Iranian approval is implicitly given.
There is an Iranian American diplomatic tango going on, and it is at times getting quite intimate: In May 2008 reports revealed how Washington blocked an Israeli decision to bomb Iranian nuclear facilities. More recently the Israeli press publishes a report titled: Bush to declare renewal of ties with Iran (Haaretz, 25/10/2008).
Americans are apparently acting as if nothing is possible in Iraq without the help of Teheran. And it is only a matter of time before the American implicit recognition of the Iranian role becomes a formal and declared one. The price is going to be paid in Iraq, by Iraqis. It may have the face of an American brokered “Iraqi Taef” (in reference to the Taef conference that ended the Lebanese civil war in 1989) where Washington will recognize an Iranian role in Iraq, similar to the one Syrians used to have in Lebanon.
In exchange, the Iranians have established themselves as the only de facto power able to provide security guarantees to Israel: On the nuclear level, an Iranian agreement with the International community is the only nuclear security guarantee for Israel worthy of notice. On the northern Israeli front, Iran is the only actor able to ease Hezbollah’s pressure in south Lebanon and pacify the border. On the Palestinian front, Teheran has a very crucial role in guiding Syria’s policy towards radical Palestinian factions. All this comes at a time Damascus is desperately trying to reintegrate the International community after years of isolation, and when indirect Israeli Syrian peace negotiations via Turkey seem to be on a positive track.
There is a serious chance the next phase opening with a new US administration in office from November will be characterized by a climate of pragmatic negotiations. The re-defining of roles and shifting alliances will all be paving the way for an honorable and safe exit of the US Army from Iraq.
Finally, regarding Washington dropping its traditional allies such as Saudi Arabia and Egypt, the pragmatic Americans will find a very diplomatic way securing arms selling to the Arab Gulf Monarchies and other Arab countries, and on the other hand making them smoothly understand that Teheran is capable to give Israel in terms of security what they were never able to provide.

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7:16
The Blog and the Shower: Americans abroad…
» ‎ Syria Planet

Please remember to vote! Even if you haven’t recieved your absentee ballot, you can participate in the presidential elections via a Federal Write-In ballot, available at your local embassy. The embassy will send it for you through the diplomatic post, so it will still arrive in time if you go now!

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7:16
burhan ghalioun: العرب يدفعون ثمن انبهارهم بالثروة النفطية
» ‎ Syria Planet

حوار شامل مع برهان غليون
العرب الأسبوعي، 27/9/2008 عدد 174، لندن
أجراه حسن المصدق
- كيف تنظر إلى العلاقات الدولية في ظل التجاذبات الدولية الحالية بين هيمنة الولايات المتحدة ومحاولة العديد من الدول إعادة المنتظم الدولي إلى حظيرة عالم متعدد القطبية؟ وإلى أين يتجه النظام الدولي في نظرك؟ ومن ثم ما هي القيم التي ستسود في بداية الألفية الثالثة؟
غليون:
بعكس الاعتقاد الذي ساد غداة انهيار الاتحاد السوفييتي ونهاية الحرب الباردة لم يخلف زوال نظام القطبية الثنائية نظاما أحادي القطبية تسيطر عليه الولايات المتحدة، ولكن وضعا مضطربا ومشوشا، سعت واشنطن إلى استغلاله لفرض إرادتها كقوة عظمى وحيدة، والدفع في اتجاه نظام دولي أحادي القطبي يدور من حولها. وفي سبيل ذلك بدأت سلسلة الحروب التوسعية في العراق وفي أفغانستان، وعززت تحالفها مع إسرائيل، وأطلقت يدها في الشرق الأوسط أيضا باعتبارها أحد أدوات سيطرتها الإقليمية. وكان الهدف من هذه الحروب قطع الطريق بالفعل على انبثاق عالم متعدد الأقطاب خلفا لنظام القطبية الثنائية. لكن الولايات المتحدة لم تنجح في تحقيق أهدافها، وبدل بناء نظامها الامبرطوري الذي لم يكف المحللون السياسيون والجيوسياسيون عن التذكير به، نشرت الفوضى في كل المناطق التي حاولت السيطرة عليها كرافعة لاستراتيجيتها العالمية، وحولت منظمة صغيرة لا وزن ولا قيمة استراتيجية لها، القاعدة، إلى قطب ثان يقف أمام العالم الصناعي بأكمله ويستدعي إعلان حرب دولية، هي الحرب ضد الإرهاب.
في الواقع أثبتت التجربة الامريكية نفسها أنه لا توجد قوة اليوم قادرة على فرض نظام على العالم والتحكم به لوحدها، ولا توجيهه حسب أهدافها. وأن العالم الذي نعيش فيه متعدد الأقطاب فعليا، إذا نظرنا إليه من حيث الديناميكيات العميقة ومستويات القوة العسكرية والسياسية والاقتصادية. لكنها تعدديه لا تزال تفتقر إلى الاعتراف والتكريس السياسي والقانوني. أكثر ما يمكن أن تطمح إليه الولايات المتحدة اليوم هو أن تكون الأولى بين أسياد، لا السيد المطلق الوحيد. ولن ينتظم مسار العالم ونظامه قبل أن تستبطن واشنطن هذه القاعدة وتقبل بأن يكون التعاون والتفاهم والمفاوضات الجماعية هي قاعدة العمل لبناء سياسة دولية تفتقر إليها اليوم الإنسانية جمعاء.
ولا يمكن قيام مثل هذه السياسة من دون تطوير القانون الدولي وجعله حقيقة واقعة لا شعارا تختفي وراءه المطامع الخاصة للدول الكبرى. والذي يمنع من نشوء هذا النظام الدولي القائم بالفعل على القانون ليس الولايات المتحدة وحدها وإنما تردد الدول الصناعية جميعا، خوفا من أن تكون الأغلبية للدول النامية والفقيرة في أي مجلس تشاوري أو برلمان دولي.
لا يعني هذا أن الولايات المتحدة ليست دولة مؤثرة وليست قادرة على شن حروب وفرض مواقف وضمان مصالح ليس بإمكان أي دولة أخرى مجاراتها فيها. فهي القوة العظمى الاولى حتى امد منظور، وللقوة مكافأتها الطبيعية. لكن هذه القوة لن تسمح لها بفرض إرادتها على العالم وقيادته من غير موافقته. وتكفي مقاومة الدول الكبرى الاخرى السلبية لتحرم واشنطن من إمكانية تحقيق حلمها بقيادة المجموعة الدولية حسب مصالحها واجندتها القومية.
ستستمر الفوضى التي نعرفها ما لم تنجح الدول الكبرى والصغرى مجتمعة في التوصل إلى إعادة بناء العلاقات الدولية على أسس قانونية جدية. بمعنى إما أن يولد نظام عالمي جديد يستلهم قيم الشراكة الدولية التي يحتاج إليها العالم لمواجهة المشاكل والتحديات العالمية المشتركة والمترابطة، أو نسير في اتجاه نشر أكبر للفوضى وهدر فرص إقامة سلام عالمي قائم على قيم التضامن بين الشعوب من أجل السلام والإزدهار والتنمية الإنسانية.
- تحاول العولمة الجارية توحيد العالم ببأس شديد، بحيث تعميم النزعة الاستهلاكية وفتح الأسواق على أشده. هل تعتبر ردود الأفعال المتمثلة في النزعات القومية والدينية احتجاجا على توحيد الأنماط ببأس شديد، أم أن الإنسانية في بداية الألفية الثالثة ما زالت مرشحة لأن تعيش كثيرا من الأزمات؟
غليون:
العولمة التي شهدنا نموذجا عنها في العقود الماضية ليست هي السبب في خلق الأزمة أو الازمات التي تشهدها المجتمعات والعلاقات الدولية ولكنها ساهمت وتساهم في تفاقمها وتفجيرها. والسبب في ذلك أن العولمة مرتبطة بطفرة تقنية استفادت منها بالدرجة الأولى القوى التي كانت تملك ناصيتها وتحتضنها. فقد مكنتها من تطوير قدرتها الاستراتيجية والاقتصادية والثقافية والتقنية على الانتشار والتوسع والتمدد خارج حدودها واقتصاداتها ومحيطها الثقافي، لتدخل في عمق المجتمعات الأخرى وتحكمها من الداخل وتسلب إرادتها. وبوضعها نتائج هذه الطفرة في خدمة سياساتها الاقتصادية أو العسكرية سيطرت الدول الصناعية الكبرى على القرار العالمي جميعا، حتى صارت مجموعة الثمانية الكبار هيئة أركان دولية حقيقية لتسيير العالم وتوجيهه.
لكن الأمر ليس مؤامرة حبكتها هذه الدول في سبيل تفكيك الدول الأخرى والسطو ع

A Peek into Others' mind » Syria Planet » October 2008

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