Thanks for the information. Who is paying her salary?
I did a fast search, I see she's attended Georgetown University too. I understand why the formulation of her statements and what I see they will accomplish upset me so, and why I choose the words to reply, such as I did. https://plus.google.com/107576449301969033163/posts My apologies for not seeing a stellar name, and just repeating what was said instead of looking at it in the light of what I see it accomplishes. Defanging critical analysis, and holding onto Authoritarian labels, such as they have status, don't question what they say, works well apparently even out side the Corporate Main Stream Media. So my comments are on the SUBJECT, item by item, your putting forth I should have not replied in any manner other then glowingly due to her credentials? If I'm not free to look at and critique people, even those whom I would have as leaders, then there is no use having any input at all, just get in line, choose sides and goose step along. Your the second person to use her name to defuse my comments about something she's written, no one is interested in talking out loud about the subject. Scott > *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! 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