Richard Cohen:
"The United States seems to have two plans to deal with what is fast becoming a civil war in Syria. Plan A calls for the full implementation of the U.N. cease-fire and the complete cooperation of Bashar al-Assad, a dictator who would, at the risk of his very life, give up some power to the opposition. Plan B, on the other hand, envisions a military response through air power. For that to be implemented, Plan A must fail and more Syrians must die.
Just how many more Syrians must die no one can say. But it seems pretty clear that the toll — now in excess of 9,000 — must mount before the U.S., NATO and maybe the Turks and the Saudis will move to bring the slaughter to a halt. Bloomberg News reports that “more than 500 people” have been killed since the start of the cease-fire on April 12. This cease-fire is more fire than cease.
Few people in Washington have much faith in the U.N. plan, advanced by former Secretary-general Kofi Annan. He has been doing what he has been trained to do — go through the motions of peacemaking. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t, but there is a protocol to these things that has to be honored. Yet as each ticket is punched, more people die. ...." (Read more? Click title)
"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."
Showing posts with label Undercover Syria. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Undercover Syria. Show all posts
April 13, 2012
SandBoxBlogs: Town Hall "What Goes Around"
Oliver North:
"This week's "cease-fire," brokered by former U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan, hasn't stopped Syrian refugees from trekking through the Syrian Desert and across the border into Qaim. Deterred by harsh conditions, lack of fuel and inadequate food and water and banned by the Iraqi government of Nouri al-Maliki from going any farther, they have become unwelcome squatters in the border town that once served as a refuge for terrorists.
The brutal irony in all this is that many of those who once passed through Qaim to threaten the government in Baghdad are now among the armed rebels menacing the regime in Damascus. For six years, Bashar Assad was deaf to U.S. pleas to cut the terror ratlines from Syria into Iraq. Instead, he did the opposite -- facilitating the movement of thousands of Islamist fighters into Anbar province to kill and maim.
Now those same Islamists have turned on him, and he is learning one of the harsh realities of war: What goes around comes around....." (Read more? Click title)
"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."
"This week's "cease-fire," brokered by former U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan, hasn't stopped Syrian refugees from trekking through the Syrian Desert and across the border into Qaim. Deterred by harsh conditions, lack of fuel and inadequate food and water and banned by the Iraqi government of Nouri al-Maliki from going any farther, they have become unwelcome squatters in the border town that once served as a refuge for terrorists.
The brutal irony in all this is that many of those who once passed through Qaim to threaten the government in Baghdad are now among the armed rebels menacing the regime in Damascus. For six years, Bashar Assad was deaf to U.S. pleas to cut the terror ratlines from Syria into Iraq. Instead, he did the opposite -- facilitating the movement of thousands of Islamist fighters into Anbar province to kill and maim.
Now those same Islamists have turned on him, and he is learning one of the harsh realities of war: What goes around comes around....." (Read more? Click title)
"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."
February 29, 2012
SandBoxBlogs: Summit Daily News "Liddick: Let's move on Syria"
Morgan Liddick:
"...Is there danger in taking sides in Syria? Yes. The Syrian opposition undoubtedly contains Islamist elements, exactly as it did in Libya and Egypt; concern over a possible Islamist takeover is a major reason large ethnic groups in Syria continue to support the government. We too, should realize that such a new government may not be very friendly to us. But should this concern paralyze us, when there are many positive geopolitical results to be reaped from forthright, immediate action in concert with, for example, the Gulf Cooperation Council and Turkey? Call it “addressing humanitarian concerns,” if that sounds better.
Or, we can continue to wring our hands in anguish and chastise Bashar Assad's blood-spattered thugs. And when the Syrian opposition has been ground to dust, vow that this sort of thing will never happen again. I'm sure the dead of Baba Amr will appreciate the sentiment....." (Read more? Click title)
"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."
"...Is there danger in taking sides in Syria? Yes. The Syrian opposition undoubtedly contains Islamist elements, exactly as it did in Libya and Egypt; concern over a possible Islamist takeover is a major reason large ethnic groups in Syria continue to support the government. We too, should realize that such a new government may not be very friendly to us. But should this concern paralyze us, when there are many positive geopolitical results to be reaped from forthright, immediate action in concert with, for example, the Gulf Cooperation Council and Turkey? Call it “addressing humanitarian concerns,” if that sounds better.
Or, we can continue to wring our hands in anguish and chastise Bashar Assad's blood-spattered thugs. And when the Syrian opposition has been ground to dust, vow that this sort of thing will never happen again. I'm sure the dead of Baba Amr will appreciate the sentiment....." (Read more? Click title)
"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."
October 28, 2011
SandBox Comments: Power Line "Undercover Syria"
This is one of the most though-provoking reports on life in the Middle East we think we've ever seen.
A must watch.
"According to Wikipedia, Unreported World is a foreign affairs program produced by Quicksilver Media Productions and broadcast by Channel 4 in the United Kingdom. It holds itself out as traveling to dangerous locations all over the world in an attempt to uncover stories ignored by the world media. I’ve got a few candidates for them right here in the Twin Cities.
In “Undercover Syria,” broadcast on October 14, reporter Ramita Navai spends two weeks living undercover in some of the most dangerous parts of Syria with members of the opposition movement determined to overthrow the Assad regime. This 24-minute report provides a riveting view inside unfolding events in Syria...."
(Scott Johnson)
(Learn more? Click title and comment to start discussion)
A must watch.
"According to Wikipedia, Unreported World is a foreign affairs program produced by Quicksilver Media Productions and broadcast by Channel 4 in the United Kingdom. It holds itself out as traveling to dangerous locations all over the world in an attempt to uncover stories ignored by the world media. I’ve got a few candidates for them right here in the Twin Cities.
In “Undercover Syria,” broadcast on October 14, reporter Ramita Navai spends two weeks living undercover in some of the most dangerous parts of Syria with members of the opposition movement determined to overthrow the Assad regime. This 24-minute report provides a riveting view inside unfolding events in Syria...."
(Scott Johnson)
(Learn more? Click title and comment to start discussion)
"Truth goes through three stages. First, it is ridiculed. Then it is violently opposed. Finally, it is seen as self-evident."
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