Back to the Beginning!

This week I would like to share an insightful article prepared by Ausama Monajed and others in association with the Strategic Research and Communication Centre. For the full article and more details, click here

"Back to the Beginning!

As Assad forces continue to seek salvation through bloodletting, protesters rely on sheer defiance and continued commitment to nonviolence, managing to reenergize their 9-weeks long movement.

44 dead and dozens wounded in the largest day of protest yet, with death toll expected to rise as more communities send their reports on Azzadi Friday (Azzadi in Kurdish means "Freedom").

Damascus & Suburbs, Hama & Suburbs, Homs & Suburbs, Idlib & Suburbs, Deraa & Suburbs, Alboukamal, Deir Ezzor, Raqqah, Qamishly, Amudeh, Kobani Banyas and Jableh among others, all took part in the protests.

With so many dead today despite all international pressures and sanctions, it’s clear that the Assads won’t go gently into that good night, but since the protesters are foolhardy enough to keep taking to the streets to die for the cause, the choice facing world leaders is how much bloodshed will be enough before they act.

We might call it the Obama Effect: those who felt the American President’s speech as being too light on Assad felt angered and expressed their frustration by taking to the streets, and those who felt it was just right for now, having raised the possibility of Assad’s departure, have also taken to the streets feeling that the momentum is back on their side.

This is at least one explanation for the mass turnout today. But even if true, the Obama Effect is just one factor here, a marginal one even. The reality is: the protesters were reacting to repeated assertions by Syrian officials over the last two weeks that their movement has lost steam and that the authorities have regained the upper-hand. They were also reacting to the statements by Bashar Al-Assad’s cousin, Rami Makhlouf that struck a raw nerve with Syrians by stressing the family-based nature of the regime and the willingness of the Assads to do whatever it takes to hang on to power.

Now it’s all about the Assads. The masks are off. Rami’s statements about Israeli security rendered all talk about resistance ideology rather meaningless. Even security officers are now order to chant for “Abu Hafiz” during their clashes with protesters. Abu Hafiz is Bashar’s traditional nickname and refers to the name of both his late father and his eldest son. The point is to say that Bashar will rule until his death and will be followed by his son. A pro-regime graffiti left on the walls of a Homs community by security officers even state “Bashar is our King.”

Forget about reforms then: the choice this is about Assad forever or Assad never. Whatever “reforms” Assad will be willing to entertain can never challenge his or his family’s hold on power, which is a complete anathema to the protesters. The resulting stalemate means more violence will continue to take place on a daily basis throughout the country, for the foreseeable future and until such time that army leadership begins cracking under pressure, with some changing their loyalties to the side of the protesters. Naturally, sectarian faultiness will figure highly in this. The ability of Syrian opposition forces to project an alternative that can be embraced by grassroots protest leaders and the international community will facilitate the adoption of a more proactive response by the international community, pushing leaders like President Obama into making clear-cut calls on Assad to leave or face certain dire consequences."

Painting by M.C. Escher

When Blind Justice Goes Deaf and Dumb Too...

Oil prices go up and down, stock prices increase and decrease, but the only commodity that seems to be suffering chronic devaluation is the human soul. This crisis, of course, has been around for as long as humans have existed on the planet. But what is remarkable is that in spite of the ubiquity of human-rights organizations, institutions, declarations, resolutions, reports, councils, committees, campaigns; flagrant violations still occur. It's no secret to the world that a human soul can in fact be snatched away for as much as an opinion, as the rising death toll in Syria asserts. After about 2 months into the protests, about 800 civilians have been killed. Such large-scale institutionalized killings are nothing but a badge of shame on all communities concerned with human rights, especially Arab ones. At least back in 2008-09 when about a 1000 were killed in Gaza, Arab and international states quickly condemned the actions and demanded an immediate halt to the violence. A UN-supported mission was later assembled to investigate the crime. It's true that verbal condemnation was deemed highly insufficient, but to tell you the truth I miss any sense of justice no matter how insufficient.

(Painting: Lady Justice by Luco Giordano)

It's Time Every Day Became a Friday!

Since the Syrian protests began, numerous academics, experts, etc. have tried their best to synthesize neat and objective analysis on the current situation. Here, I feel the need to voice my personal views on what's going on in the country of my childhood.
I must admit that when the Tunisian and Egyptian protests first started, I supported the idea of Syrian reforms without a radical change in leadership for fear of ensuing chaos. I still had faith in the leadership at that time. Now, however, I find it extremely difficult to respect a regime that readily crushes anyone who dares to voice views different from those dictated by it. In addition to the continuous oppression carried out by the regime against its people, the country has lost signigicant  prospects for investment that would've greatly helped alleviate standards of living. The strategy adapted by the government does nothing but drain the country of its current and future resources and potential. It has truly turned into a malignant tumor that needs to be excised before it cosnumes its host.
What's remarkable, however, is the lukewarm international and Arab reaction towards the atrocities committed by the Syrian government. Some have attributed the delayed condemnation either to fear of regional instability or strategic alliances. Regardless of reasons, one fact remains true: a Syrian soul is worth as much as a Libyan one. Until the international community realizes that, the opposition will have to rely on themselves and probably the moral support from opposition outside the country. Radical reforms will not truly take place unless protests are revved up every day into the full throttle mode of those occuring on Fridays.

Click here for a progress report on the protests: http://www.icontact-archive.com/Bm8lHV2mhxCcOgrfaR4ODIflgRJg1oPy?w=3

(Painting: the Guernica by Pablo Picasso)

Syria at a Crossroads...

Today marks the 40th day since protests erupted in Syria. While they started sporadically and reluctantly as if testing the water, the protests have gained momentum by day reaching a peak yesterday after Friday prayers leading to the death of 88 civilians according to some news sources. The government's tactics in responding to the protestors seems to indicate a muddled decision-making process and absence of centralized authority. The responses have varied between media blackout, concessions, and violent crackdown. Similar desperate measures are reminiscent of the last days of Mubarak. But, unlike Egypt, Syria's army falls under the president's command, which could mean an extensive draining battle before Syrians are finally able to draw the curtains on an era of repression. Another noteworthy factor is the fate of other dictators in the region, namely Libya's Gaddafi and Yemen's Saleh, which ultimately impact the protestors' morale. Toppling neighboring dictators previously had the effect of emboldening protestors and reinvigorating their stance. 
While it is still very early to judge how the events will unfold during these crucial moments, it is inarguable that these are historic times for the country ...

(Picture: historical city of Bosra in southern Syria)

On Opposition...

Since my previous post was about a much-anticipated but lagging Syrian revolution, I thought it was only fair to share some updates from the Syrian opposition. The following link shows footages of protestors from various parts of the country, collected in association with the UK-based Strategic Research and Communication Centre: http://www.icontact-archive.com/Bm8lHV2mhxCcOgrfaR4ODDF-0-Edh3VG?w=3

In spite of the sporadic protests, I still think that a major unified revolution has not yet taken place and is unlikely to happen in the near future, unless radical internal structural shifts or external interference take place.

As a matter of fact, the majority of Damascenes I have talked to report the continuation of normal daily activities, dismissing the news about the protests as "conspiracy theories aimed at national solidarity".

Here, I would really like to say a few things about opposition gorups. Regardless of the end results it achieves, the existence of opposition in any self-respecting constitutional regime is as vital as the presnce of the government in power itself. Call it the Yin and Yang of politics, if you will. Opposition ensures that powers are kept in check and that a healthy civil discussion is maintained. Most important, "opposition" is neither synonymous with "unpatriotism" nor "sectarianism". And while I do not generally support a power vacuum, I certainly can not give my voice to any institution that readily labels anyone seeking imporovement as an unpatriotic agent.

Why Al Tahrir Square in Damascus Remains Empty?

Democracy is like a dish of Spaghetti Napolitana: it’s messy and goes in unpredictable directions. This is especially true about the Middle East region. The difficulty of reaching a consensus government after a number of autocratic regimes have been recently toppled illustrate that democracy is by no means a natural smooth process. A long history of colonialism followed by despotic regimes, in addition to sectarian divisions and high levels of unemployment, to name but a few factors, are among the challenges facing democracy in this region.

Syrians are intuitively aware of this. Add the fact that the country still lives a recent memory of a severely-crashed attempted coup in the city of Hama in 1982 resulting in the death of thousands, then it comes as no surprise that many are reluctant to follow the lead of their Arab brethren. In spite of a small demonstration that sprouted in front of the Ministry of Interior in Damascus a couple of days ago, it is unlikely that the majority of the people will support an upheaval against the current government. An English proverb says it best: better the devil you know than the devil you don’t.

(Picture: Al Tahrir Square, Damascus)

In Pursuit of Happiness

For the first time in my life, I’m actually happy. I’m not talking about this particular moment or even this particular day. But I’m finally at peace with my beliefs and worldview. For the first time, it all makes sense and does not feel eerily imposed. Most important, I’m free of guilt! You know how certain worldviews perpetuate a hammering voice in the back of your head that continuously nags "you’re not doing enough, you're not doing enough, you're not doing enough"....you get the point. Well, I simply clicked the ‘mute’ button. Any worldview that promises harmony and eternal happiness shouldn’t make you miserable by reminding you of the very essence of your being – the fact that you’re a mortal, limited, sin-prone human being.

Some might ask “well, why not simply put a little more effort into it?”. Who said I didn’t? But even then, I didn’t feel any better than I would banging my head against a wall and feeling a little faint afterwards. Some would describe that feeling as transcending and mystical. I would describe it as “Ouch!”. Thank you very much, but I would take level-headedness at any time any day.

Now I can finally focus on putting my effort on what really matters like getting that dream job, and spending more time with the people I care about.

That being said, who’s up for a trip to the beach?