[This is a roundup of news articles and other materials circulating on Syria and reflects a wide variety of opinions. It does not reflect the views of the Syria Page Editors or of Jadaliyya. You may send your own recommendations for inclusion in each week`s roundup to syria@jadaliyya.com by Monday night of every week.]
The New Problem From Hell Aaron David Miller argues that the United States should not intervene in Syria but it might just be headed that direction anyway.
Syrian Displacement Reopens Child Exploitation Debate Faten Elhajj says there is an increasing problem of child labor in Lebanon, tied to the Syria crisis.
Seduced by War, Europeans Join the Fight in Syria Nadette de Visser provides a detailed account of the situation.
Syria v Libya v Iraq Two striking graphs showing the number of deaths from internal conflict in 2007 and 2012.
BNP Leader Nick Griffin on Mysterious Trip to Lebanon The fascist chairman of the British National Party spent some time in Beirut.
Syria Narratives
Cockburn on Syria: Prejudice Offered up as Wisdom Michael Neumann says the two main problems with his article, reminiscent of others on Syria, is that “there`s the pretentious arm-wave towards history and there`s the deliberately lazy misuse of `proxy`.”
Syrian Teenager’s Public Death Reveals Growing Anger as Civil War Continues A fourteen year-old boy from Aleppo, Mohammad al-Qatta, was brutally murdered in front of his parents after saying he would charge Prophet Mohammad if he asked for coffee.
Syria: Inventing a Religious War Toby Matthiesen argues that “by misunderstanding the complicated history of Syria’s alliances with Shia groups, we may contribute to the very sectarian tensions that are tearing the region apart.”
Rebels Carry Out Ethnic Cleansing in Eastern Syria Hassan Hassan on the latest massacre near Deir Ezzor that targeted Shiites.
Syria or Elsewhere, There are no Pure Revolutions, Just Revolutions Syria Freedom Forever criticizes the actors behind Geneva II and the Syrian National coalition.
Inside Syria
Emotional Farewell to Damascus Lina Sinjab, who remained in Damascus since the beginning of the uprising, has heartbreakingly decided to leave a place she no longer recognizes.
The Syria the World Forgot Alia Malek writes: “while sectarianism has become the vehicle of the Syrian conflict, it was never its impulse.”
In Qusayr, Signs of an Intensifying Holy War Sam Dagher on the situation in and around Homs following the Qusayr battle
Violence Spirals as Assad Gains Another update by Sam Dagher reporting from al Qusayr
Syrian Army Recaptures Qusayr, Fighters Disappear Marah Mashi on the Free Syrian Army fighters’ disappearance to a destination unknown.
On the Road to Damascus Saud Qubeilat, a member of the Union of Jordanian Communists, recounts his latest meeting with Bashar al Assad.
A Five-Month Journey Through Syria’s Dungeon Mohammed Sergie meets with a member of he Kurdish party Azadi, who recounts his captivity in a Syrian prison.
Suicide Bombers Attack in Central Damascus
Arts and Social Media
Palestinian Refugee Who Fled Syria Recounts Outpouring of Support From EI Readers A refugee family that had been rudely treated by a team of Harvard researchers is now receiving support in Lebanon following Electronic Intifada’s documentation of the situation.
Syrians Protesting the death of 14-year-old Mohammad al-Qatta, who was killed by extremist rebels accusing him of blasphemy.
Civil Society Launches Alternative Media Johnny Abo estimates that there are 50 publications in Syria that are not under the government’s control.
Krak Des Chevaliers Under Threat The citadel has been bombed and many worry for its future.
Syria: Mapping the Conflict A BBC interactive providing a great overview of the conflict and its geography.
Policy and Reports
In Syria, Kidnapping Becomes a ‘Big Money Business’ An interview with Human Rights Watch’s Peter Boukhaert
Syria’s Strategic Balance at a Tipping Point Yezid Sayigh of the Carnegie Middle East Center on the strategic implications of the fall of Al Qusair.
Agencies Should Send Aid Where Most Needed Human Rights Watch on problems of distribution of aid inside Syria.
Why Syria’s Armed Opposition Has Failed to Unify A report by CNA Analysis and Solutions.
New Publications
The Syrian Observer An online platform that monitors the Syrian press and translates pertinent articles into English.
Syria’s Uprising and the Fracturing of the Levant Emile Hokayem’s book “provides insight into the myriad opposition groups, the conflicting external interests and the murky calculations of the Assad regime.”
New Texts Out Now: Daniel Neep, Occupying Syria under the French Mandate
New Texts Out Now: Thomas Pierret, Religion and State in Syria
Arabic
القصير من بعيد
متطلبات إعادة الإعمار و التنمية: الدردري "ملكا"
الجيش السوري… لا استسلام و لا "فرساي" لإذلالنا!
عندما تصبح المقاومة ستارا للاستبداد و الطائفية
عوارض الفاشية التي تسهل معرفتها تشخيصها عيانا
نظام سوريا لدى الظواهري و رفاقه المتطرفين!
متى ينجح مؤتمر جنيف!