*The author, Ramah Kudaimi, is a Syrian-American and a staffer for the US Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation*
On Tue, Aug 27, 2013 at 4:09 PM, <[email protected]> wrote: > ** > > > > > To me, this seems rather disingenuous right out of the starting gate. > > Re #: > > 1. "DON'T in any way say or imply both sides are wrong and it's not clear > who we would be supporting if we get involved militarily." > > Whose saying that, of all the backing for US Intervention I've heard from > Progressives, the only cautious ones I've heard are, the US Hawks and > Russia, I've not heard both sides are bad. I've heard that the US has a > larger track record for killing citizens and starting illegal wars then > any other nation in history, we long ago buried Rome for that honor, but > it seems the title is trying to be put on Assad so no one will pay > attention to what it is the US wants to do, if the accusations, posted as > truth, can distract the public enough. > > Second quote form #1 "There are one million children who are refugees and > that is the fault of the regime. It is the regime who is bombing cities > with jets; it is the regime that has ruled the country with brutal force > for decades. Any statement that doesn't acknowledge this is again an > insult to those who have sacrificed so much." > > So lets make sure Obama and crew feel justified in bombing the hell out of > Assad AND the SYRIAN revolutionaries (not the foreign fighters taking > advantage of the popular uprising). Come on, the Imperial West, Assad, > Israel and the House of Saud are united in destroying all outbreaks of > Democracy. > > 2. "So there are a million and one excuses for the US to intervene and > faking chemical weapons attacks is not needed." > > The UN can declare a war, it is a War Crime to invade or bomb otherwise. > We've a long list, Iraq included where we simply said, we control the UN > and we're going to do it anyway and without any declaration of war from > Congress (Assad hasn't threatened the USA) or the UN (the international > body that is designed from allowing rogue Psychotic Cowboys from shooting > every one up) we should NOT be involving ourselves in any violent actions > in Syria... like funding Al Qaeda AGAIN (like we just did in Libya, > another International War Crime). > > 3. "DON'T obsess over al-Qaeda, Islamist extremists, jihadists, etc. Since > 9/11 progressives have rightly shunned the use of all these labels when it > comes to the US War on Terror, yet we now use them freely when it comes to > Syria and actually believe it." > > Huh? We know our CIA Al Qaeda buddies are not only in there but they are > being funded by us, and like the USA they want anything but an outbreak of > Democracy, all crimes are OK as long as they are done by our side, as they > are necessary, kind of war criminals. > > 4. "DO point out all the US failures toward Syria and how dropping bombs > on the country is not what is needed." > > I can get with that sentence, but I disagree, the US has worked for > overthrowing Assads Regime since the days of Clinton. Really, you need to > do a search on PNAC and Syria, or PNAC Assad. While your there see how > efficient, that is how many of the targets PNAC accomplishes, much more > then anyone else, it's rather scary to see what they and the World > Organizations have in store for the people of the world and any media > bilge will do as long as you don't interfere. > > Read the rest for yourself, please do so critically instead of just > looking for point to agree with. Until we have definite proof, until the > UN decides it will require outside intervention, everything else is a run > up to making it acceptable for the US to go in and not only regime change, > we are more violent and bloody in dealing with outbreaks of Democracy then > Assad ever has been, whether it is directly or through one of our > Dictatorship proxies. > > Just imagine if Syria can be over thrown, all that Russian hardware will > have to be disposed of and they will have to get Loans form the > international money sharks to buy all new US Military Industrial Complex > money makers. > > It's just good business, and worthless eaters as well as those in the way > of making a profit can be dealt with in any expedient profitable manner so > deemed. > > Scott > > > > http://mondoweiss.net/2013/08/dos-and-donts-for-progressives-discussing-syria.html > > > > Dos and donts for progressives discussing Syria > > *Ramah Kudaimi <http://mondoweiss.net/author/ramah-kudaimi> on August > 27, > > 2013 > > 20< > http://mondoweiss.net/2013/08/dos-and-donts-for-progressives-discussing-syria.html#comments > > > > * > > > > - > > Facebook< > http://mondoweiss.net/2013/08/dos-and-donts-for-progressives-discussing-syria.html?share=facebook > > > > - > > Twitter< > http://mondoweiss.net/2013/08/dos-and-donts-for-progressives-discussing-syria.html?share=twitter > > > > - > > Reddit< > http://mondoweiss.net/2013/08/dos-and-donts-for-progressives-discussing-syria.html?share=reddit > > > > - Google > > +1< > http://mondoweiss.net/2013/08/dos-and-donts-for-progressives-discussing-syria.html?share=google-plus-1 > > > > - > > > > With Syria back in the news due to the horrific chemical weapons attack > > last week that killed hundreds and threats from the US to engage in > > military strikes, below are some do's and don'ts for progressive/radical > > anti-war organizations/activists in the US as you figure out a proper > > response. > > > > 1. DON'T in any way say or imply both sides are wrong and it's not clear > > who we would be supporting if we get involved militarily. This is an > > insult > > to every Syrian who has and continues to go out in the streets and > protest > > both the regime and those forces who are looking to use this time of war > > to > > assert their own power over others. It is a shame how many progressive > > groups in the US just jump on the both sides are bad wagon so we > > shouldn't get involved. There are one million children who are refugees > > and > > that is the fault of the regime. It is the regime who is bombing cities > > with jets; it is the regime that has ruled the country with brutal force > > for decades. Any statement that doesn't acknowledge this is again an > > insult > > to those who have sacrificed so much. > > > > 2. DON'T over conflate Iraq and Syria. Just as ludicrous those who look > to > > Kosovo as an example of military intervention to support it in Syria are, > > it is quite pathetic when so many progressives and leftists are just > > obsessed with supposedly false chemical weapons claims. There are 100,000 > > Syrians dead, majority killed by conventional weapons. So there are a > > million and one excuses for the US to intervene and faking chemical > > weapons > > attacks is not needed. There is also no basis I believe in claiming al > > Qaeda has access and uses such weapons. Al Qaeda fought the US for a > > decade > > in Iraq and not once deployed such weapons. But all of a sudden they're > > using them in Syria? And if the rebels had these weapons, the regime > > would've fallen a long time ago. > > > > 3. DON'T obsess over al-Qaeda, Islamist extremists, jihadists, etc. Since > > 9/11 progressives have rightly shunned the use of all these labels when > it > > comes to the US War on Terror, yet we now use them freely when it comes > to > > Syria and actually believe it. The overwhelming majority of Syrians, both > > those who have taken arms and those who continue to resist through > > nonviolent means, have nothing to do with the extremist groups and are > > rising up against all forces who are destroying their country, whether > > they > > be regime or supposed "opposition" groups. It is also important to > > understand that the Free Syria Army is not a central command army with > > orders given from the top. It is a loosely affiliated group of different > > battalions and anyone can claim to be part of it. > > > > 4. DO point out all the US failures toward Syria and how dropping bombs > on > > the country is not what is needed. I personally don't believe that US is > > going to get militarily involved. They promised weapons to the rebels and > > have yet to deliver. No way is the US getting in because as has been > > pointed out by Gen. Martin > > Dempsey< > http://news.yahoo.com/dempsey-syrian-rebels-wouldnt-back-us-interests-070802647.html > > > > and > > in a NYT opinion > > piece< > http://www.nytimes.com/2013/08/25/opinion/sunday/in-syria-america-loses-if-either-side-wins.html?smid=fb-share&_r=0 > >, > > it is so much for useful for US "interests" for Syrians to kill each > > other. > > I think taking a position of the US should not get involved through a > > military intervention is fine. DON'T put it as "Hands off Syria" implying > > this is some kind of American conspiracy. DON'T argue this is about US > not > > having a right to taking sides in a civil war. DON'T make it all about > > money for home since we do want more humanitarian aid. DO frame it as > what > > will help bring the suffering of Syrians to an end. > > > > 5. DO point out US hypocrisy as it judges Russia for sending weapons to > > the > > regime. Just last week a story came out that the US is sending $640 > > million > > worth of cluster bombs to > > Saudi< > http://killerapps.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2013/08/22/us_shipping_thousands_of_cluster_bombs_to_saudi_arabia_despite_international_ban > >. > > Weapons continue to flow to Egypt, Bahrain, and Israel despite massive > > human rights violations. DO call for an end to all sales of weapons to > all > > regimes in the region. > > > > 6. DON'T let genuine concerns with US imperialism, Israel, Saudi, etc > make > > you look at pictures and videos of dead children and think conspiracy. > > Bashar is an authoritarian dictator and his record of resistance is a bit > > sketchy. Just remember he collaborated with the US on things such as CIA > > renditions< > http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/feb/05/cia-rendition-countries-covert-support > >. > > Just because the CIA is training a few fighters in Jordan or some > > anonymous > > rebel leader is quoted in some Israeli paper doesn't mean this isn't a > > legitimate Syrian uprising against a brutal regime. > > > > 7. DO highlight the continued bravery of the Syrian people who take to > the > > streets< > http://www.jadaliyya.com/pages/index/12556/the-growing-challenge-to-the-syrian-regime-and-the > > > > and > > protest against the regime, extremists, and all others looking to destroy > > their struggle for freedom and dignity. As in with everywhere, coverage > of > > violence trumps coverage of continued nonviolent resistance. > > > > 8. DO strongly urge people to donate for humanitarian aid. Between > deaths, > > imprisonments, internal displacement, and refugees, I think 30-40 percent > > of the Syrian population is in one way or another uprooted. > > > > 9. I have no actual solutions to suggest that you encourage people to > > support. Perhaps pushing for an actual ceasefire might be an option, > which > > would require pressure on Russia to tell Bashar to back down. I know my > > not > > having answers about how to resolve anything is a shortcoming, but > > sometimes the best course of action is to just be in solidarity with > folks > > in their struggle through simply recognizing it. > > > > 10. Syrians deserve the same respect for their struggle as all other > > struggles in the region: Tunisia, Egypt, Libya, Bahrain, Yemen, and > always > > Palestine. > > > > ----------------------------------- > > > > > > Kerry signals US Intervention in Syria, but to What > > End?<http://www.juancole.com/2013/08/signals-intervention-syria.html> > > > > Posted on 08/27/2013 by Juan Cole > > > > Secretary of State John Kerry strongly suggested in remarks on Monday > that > > President Obama has concluded that the ruling Baath regime in Syria was > > responsible for poison gas attacks last Wednesday that reportedly left > > hundreds dead, including non-combatant women and children. He further > > suggested that the Obama administration intended to respond in some way > to > > this alleged regime atrocity. > > > > AFP reports <http://youtu.be/i1fd8pQaAAQ> > > > > Kerry instanced the reports of the Doctors without Borders organization > > that operates in 3 Damascus-area hospitals. > > > > This is report from Doctors without Borders to which Secretary > > Kerry< > http://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/press/release.cfm?id=7029&cat=press-release > >was > > presumably referring: > > > > MSF can neither scientifically confirm the cause of these symptoms nor > > establish who is responsible for the attack, said Dr. Janssens. > However, > > the reported symptoms of the patients, in addition to the epidemiological > > pattern of the eventscharacterized by the massive influx of patients in > a > > short period of time, the origin of the patients, and the contamination > of > > medical and first aid workersstrongly indicate mass exposure to a > > neurotoxic agent. This would constitute a violation of international > > humanitarian law, which absolutely prohibits the use of chemical and > > biological weapons. > > > > Note that it is not as conclusive as Kerry suggested, though it is very > > suggestive. > > > > Some have asked why the regime would risk using poison gas when it has > > been > > making gains against the rebels. But the regimes advances are minor and > > tenuous. It only took the small town of Qusayr with Hizbullah help! And > > advances in Homs were just scorched earth destruction of neighborhoods. > > They were offset by loss of a major air base near Aleppo, key for > resupply > > of troops up there because roads north are insecure. The regime can only > > advance here or there, but doesnt have manpower to take back substantial > > territory. > > > > My guess is that rebels in Rif Dimashq in outskirts of the capital were > > making inroads toward Damascus itself. Defensive troops are off tied down > > in Homs. Since the capital is the real prize and end game, the regime > > decided to let them know it wouldnt be allowed. It is the typical > > behavior > > of a weak regime facing superior demographic forces (the Alawites are far > > outnumbered by Sunnis) to deploy unconventional weaponry. Although there > > was a risk in using the gas, the regime may have felt threatened enough > to > > take the risk, confident that it could muddy the waters afterwards with > > charges that it was actually the rebels who were behind it. > > > > *I dont find the false flag narrative about the gas attack put forward > > by the Russians plausible. Rebel forces are not disciplined enough to be > > sure of being able to plot and carry out a mass murder of the families > > that > > have been sheltering them in East and West Ghouta and to keep it secret. > > How could they have been sure no one among them would get cold feet and > > blow the whistle? Killing hundreds of women and children from your own > > clans would be objectionable to at least some in any group of fighters. > > The > > fighters in Rif Dimashq are not the hardened Jabhat al-Nusra types. > > Besides, capturing and deploying rocket systems tipped with poison gas is > > not so easy; even just operating them takes training.* > > > > It is not clear what an American intervention would achieve. It is likely > > that Washington will conduct a limited punitive operation, perhaps > hitting > > regime buildings with Tomahawk missiles. The latter would avoid the > > regimes sophisticated anti-aircraft systems, which might be able to fell > > an F-18 fighter jet. > > > > It should be obvious, however, that any such strike would be a form of > > retaliation for President al-Assads flouting of international law. It > > would not actually protect Syrians from their government, and it would be > > unlikely to alter the course of the civil war. > > > > Such a strike would carry with it some dangers for the US. It is not > > impossible that the Baath would respond by targeting US government > > facilities or businesses in the region. It is also possible that it would > > target Israel in revenge. An American strike might bring the Iranian > > Revolutionary Guards into Syria in greater forces. > > > > But it is also possible that the regime will hunker down and concentrate > > on > > surviving its domestic challenge. > > > > *Either way, the people of Homs and other contested cities will likely go > > on suffering the regimes indiscriminate assaults, and it is unlikely > that > > a few Tomahawk strikes will affect the course of the war.* > > > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > > > > > > > ------------------------------------ > > > > ---------------------------------------------------------- > > LAAMN: Los Angeles Alternative Media Network > > ---------------------------------------------------------- > > Unsubscribe: <mailto:[email protected]> > > ---------------------------------------------------------- > > Subscribe: <mailto:[email protected]> > > ---------------------------------------------------------- > > Digest: <mailto:[email protected]> > > ---------------------------------------------------------- > > Help: <mailto:[email protected]?subject=laamn> > > ---------------------------------------------------------- > > Post: <mailto:[email protected]> > > ---------------------------------------------------------- > > Archive1: <http://www.egroups.com/messages/laamn> > > ---------------------------------------------------------- > > Archive2: <http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]> > > ---------------------------------------------------------- > > Yahoo! Groups Links > > > > > > > > > > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------------------ --------------------------------------------------------------------------- LAAMN: Los Angeles Alternative Media Network --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Unsubscribe: <mailto:[email protected]> --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Subscribe: <mailto:[email protected]> --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Digest: <mailto:[email protected]> --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Help: <mailto:[email protected]?subject=laamn> --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Post: <mailto:[email protected]> --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Archive1: <http://www.egroups.com/messages/laamn> --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Archive2: <http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]> --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/laamn/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/laamn/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: [email protected] [email protected] <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [email protected] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
