Syria Media Roundup (October 7)

[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.]

Inside Syria 

Anti-ISIS coalition’s ‘war on revenues’ hitting all Syrians Civilians in Syria are first to pay the price for the violent attacks, from the international coalition’s airstrikes, targeting ISIS power bases.

Syria: Assad loyalists concerned by rise of paramilitaries Lina Sinjab discusses the rise of pro-government paramilitary groups such as the National Defense Forces (NDF), and how minority groups feel Assad can no longer protect them.

Scholars Call for U.N. to Ban Trade in Syrian Antiquities "More than 80 prominent archaeologists and other scholars from around the world have signed an open letter calling on the United Nations Security Council to ban trade in Syrian antiquities, a market they say is now destroying Syria’s cultural heritage and providing funding for extremist groups."

EXCLUSIVE: Shaikh Hassan Abboud`s final interview  “Just hours before an explosion wiped out the entire leadership of one of the most powerful rebel groups in Syria, the head of Ahrar Al-Sham Brigade spent four hours talking to Yvonne Ridley about his vision for the future.”

UAE`s first female fighter pilot led airstrike against ISIS Maj. Mariam Al Mansouri the first female fighter pilot in the United Arab Emirates led a strike mission against ISIS. 

Clawing at the sky: fighting for political prisoners in Syria Mataz Suheil interviews Fadwa Mahmoud, “mother, wife and comrade to forcibly disappeared leftist activists: Abdulaziz Al Khayer (63), head of the CAP and a leading figure in the opposition group `National Coordination Body for Democratic Change`, and her son Maher Tahan (31)”. Fadwa talks in detail about the abduction of Al Khayer and Tahan. 

Syrian Women Say U.S. Strikes on Extremists Backfire A group of Syrian women activists complain that the US -led airstrikes will create sympathy among Syrians for the extremists and America should abandon plans to arm and train opposition. 

United Nations Ban on Trade in Syrian Antiquities Urged by Scholars Lucy Westcott writes about the recent efforts by scholars and archeologists demanding the United Nations Security Council "to pass a resolution banning the illicit sale of antiquities, similar to the one passed in 2003 during the Iraq War." 

The West’s Syria policy has been shaped by media missionaries Muhammad Idrees Ahmad writes about the role of media in the context of the Syrian conflict. 

Protests erupt in Homs over bombings that killed dozens of Syrian school children Pro-government Protesters adopted the same slogan of the opposition who protested in the spring of 2011, following a double bombing of an elementary school that killed several dozen children in the Akrama district.  

`The saddest museum director in the world`: documenting Syria’s lost antiquities Jonathan Steele writes about the efforts of Professor Abdulkarim Maamoun, the General Director of antiquities and museums, and the museum staff to rescue 300,000 ancient treasures from Syria’s museums and 100,000 historic sites.

The Dawn of Freedom Brigades: Analysis and Interview Aymenn Jawad Al-Tamimi writes about the formation of a new rebel coalition Tajammu’ Alwiya Fajr al-Hurriya (‘Grouping of the Dawn of Freedom Brigades’). Al-Tamimi interviews Abu al-Layth, one of the leaders of the Dawn of Freedom Brigades who talks about the aims of the new coalition. 

Antiquities Lost, Casualties of War Graham Bowley writes about the destruction of cultural treasures of Syria and northern Iraq "Sunni extremists like the Islamic State and others are deliberately wrecking shrines, statues, mosques, tombs and churches — anything they regard as idolatry". According to Professor, Maamoun Abdulkarim, director general of antiquities and museums in Damascus, said that directorate has lost three staff members because of the war. 

Remarks by Bonnie Burnham, President of World Monuments Fund, at the Press Conference on Heritage and Conflict in Iraq and Syria at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on Monday, September 22 “On Monday, September 22, WMF President Bonnie Burnham participated in an event at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York about heritage in peril in Syria and Iraq. Burnham joined Secretary of State John Kerry, UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova, and other officials in discussing protection and preservation efforts and ideas for Syrian and Iraqi heritage.” 

Syria: 19-Year-Old Kurdish Woman Fighter `Kills Herself Rather Than Falling into Isis` Hands` “A 19-year-old Kurdish fighter who appeared on a BBC report about Kurdish YPG women warriors in Syria has reportedly killed herself rather than falling into the hands of ISIS” 

Necessity, the Mother of Invention For Syrian Cooks Special report about the struggle of internally displaced people in Damascus, “as money and supplies run low, displaced people turn to inventive recipes”,

Syria blasts at school kill 32, including 10 kids Twin bombings targeted Ekremah al-Makhzoumi elementary school in a government-controlled area of the central city of Homs dominated by minority Alawites, causing the death of at least 10 children.

Kurds clash with Turkish security forces on Syria border BBC reports about the situation on ground regarding ISIS`s offensive to capture Kobane in northern Syria. 

Lebanon: At Least 45 Local Curfews Imposed on Syrian Refugees Human Rights Watch has identified at least 45 municipalities across Lebanon that have imposed curfews on Syrian refugees. Such curfews “restrict refugees’ movements and contribute to a climate of discriminatory and retaliatory practices against them”

A Syrian Revolutionary Speaks Out: Here`s What The World Should Know Carina Kolodny and Emily Kassie interview Farouq Al Habib, a Syrian activist, during his visit to New York City in late September to meet with the U.N. and different governmental bodies to ask for more humanitarian intervention in Syria.

U.S. strikes on al Qaeda group in Syria did not inflict decisive blow: sources Mark Hosenball reports about the US airstrikes in Syria during September against fighters from the Khorasan Group (a name that the US government use to refer to a cell of al Qaeda veterans who had relocated to Syria). 
 

 Regional and International Perspectives 

Isil`s reign of terror rooted in the political culture of Iraq and Syria “Isil`s extreme cruelty and filmic savagery has shocked the world, but it is not very different from what leaders of Iraq and Syria – and to some extent their colonial predecessors – have been doing to local people for decades.”

A New Plan for Syria Steven Simon and Jonathan Stevenson’s lengthy feature in which they analyze the current situation in Syria and propose realistic policy to contain extremist violence and reduce the number of non-combatant deaths. “We cannot wait for the defeat of ISIS to develop a larger plan for reducing violence and ending the Syrian conflict.” 

Syrian Wars of Proxy As`ad AbuKhalil maintains that the Syrian war is not only a proxy war but rather several proxy wars at the same time.

War without end: The U.S. may still be fighting in Syria in 2024, 2034, 2044 . . . Jack Shafer assesses the arbitrary and ever-shifting alliances in Syrian and estimates that the war in Syria might last for thirty years.

The Arabic translation of this article       

Assad unlikely to compromise for US coalition After the US-led airstrikes against ISIS, Antoun Issa analyzes the policy of the Syrian regime to survive in its `Syria core.`

Analysis: Syrian sentiments vary as coalition begins military campaign Edward Dark writes about conflicting views and reactions of different fractions of Syrians towards the US coalition’s military campaign in Syria.

Demise of group backing moderate Syria rebels is a warning for U.S. Hannah Allam writes about shutting down The Syrian Support Group, Washington-based opposition nonprofit group that tried to help the United States build a moderate fighting force in Syria.

Joe Biden: The U.S. And Its Allies Face A `Long Fight` Against ISIS According to the American Vice President Joe Biden, the battle against The Islamic State is "going to be a "hell of a long fight" for the United States and its coalition partners."

The real reason we wre bombing Syria Dennis J. Kucinich, a former 16-year member of the US. Congress and two-time US presidential candidate, argues that "ISIS was born of Western intervention in Iraq and covert action in Syria."

Biden blames US allies in Middle East for rise of ISIS “US Vice-President Joe Biden has accused America’s key allies in the Middle East of allowing the rise of the Islamic State (IS), saying they supported extremists with money and weapons in their eagerness to oust the Assad regime in Syria.” 

Policy and Reports  

How America Helped ISISA majority of the other top Islamic State leaders, including Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the leader of the Islamic State, were former prisoners held by US authorities. Andrew Thompson and Jeremi Suri write about the role of American prisons in the radicalization of the prisoners.  

The Case Against Qatar Elizabeth Dickinson writes about how Qatar "has pumped tens of millions of dollars through obscure funding networks to hard-line Syrian rebels and extremist Salafists, building a foreign policy that punches above its weight. After years of acquiescing -- even taking advantage of its ally`s meddling -- Washington may finally be punching back."

Arts and Social Media

Women who sing and paint walls to spread peace in Syria A Damascus-based NGO, founded by Mouna Ghanem, seeks to enable Syrians to partake in constructive roles in efforts towards peace building. 

The ancient art of making mosaics, kept alive in a refugee camp “A Syrian refugee makes an effort to preserve his family’s profession through the misfortune of his current displacement.”

Economy and Agriculture

Syria’s frail economy, before and after the revolution Jamal Mahamid discusses the deterioration of Syria’s economy since the beginning of the revolution, and what needs to be done in order to stabilize this damaged economy.

Central Bank Works to Stabilize Currency With Syria’s economy deteriorating, the Central Bank of Syria begins intervention efforts to stabilize current exchange rates and the currency market 

Documentaries and Films/Media

Syrian forces aim to cut off Aleppo rebels Government forces attack Handarat just outside Aleppo in efforts to interrupt rebel supply lines.

Full interview: Emir of Qatar Christiane Amanpour`s interviews the Emir of Qatar, Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani who gives his perspective on Syria and other critical issues.

Arabic 

الدكتور هيثم مناع: رئيس المعهد الاسكندنافي/ أموال الإمارة In this interview, Haytham Manna provides his perspective on ISIS, its background, funds and strategies.

حصري: وثائق تظهر أن مجموعة خراسان هي نفسها مجموعة الذئب التابعة للنصرة Al Aan TV had received exclusive access to the bombed out headquarters of “Khorasan group” in Reef Al Muhandeseen Aleppo. Accordinf to Al Aan TV, “What the Americans call Khorasan, is in fact the Wolf Unit and other groups of foreign fighters within Jabhat al Nusra” 

«دولة الخرافة» مسلسل عراقي يسخر من أفكار داعش والهلع الذي أحدثه
Alquds reports about a new Iraqi TV series called the "State of Myth" which mocks ISIS’s ideology through comedy. 

صحافية بريطانية تكشف عن أهم مقابلة مع "الحموي" قبل اغتياله بساعات
“Just hours before an explosion wiped out the entire leadership of one of the most powerful rebel groups in Syria, the head of Ahrar Al-Sham Brigade spent four hours talking to Yvonne Ridley about his vision for the future.”

السكن في سوريا: من «سماسرة اللبرلة» إلى «سماسرة الأزمة»
Alaa Gharz al Deen writes about the residential crisis and the increase of prices of properties in Syria as a result of the war.

هل من جديد في خطاب أمير "جبهة النصرة" ردا على الضربات الأمريكية؟
France 24 comments on the speech of Abu Mohammad al-Julani, the leader of al-Nusra Front, regarding the attacks of the international coalition.

 على الولايات المتحدة وسوريا التحقيق في غارات أمريكية قد تكون غير مشروعة
Human Rights Watch urges to open investigations regarding the American attacks on the northwest Syria because they might have violated laws of war causing at least seven civilians casualties including five children.

The English translation of this article 

صورة الجيش اللبناني: "بدكم لجوء؟"
Rogeh Auteh writes about the similarities between violent scenes in both Syria and Lebanon, and compares the acts of the Lebanese Army against Syrian refugees in Arsal, Lebanon, to that of the Syrian Army against civilians inside Syria.  

سوريا.. 45 قتيلاً بينهم 41 طفلاً بتفجير مزدوج قرب مجمع مدارس بحمص
CNN reports about the death of at least 41 Syrian children by twin bombings that targeted a gathering of schools in Homs City. 

تركيا تستعد لاحتلال شمال سوريا!           
Mohamed Nour Aldin analyzes the Turkish plans to occupy Northern Syria and impose No-Fly- Zone over the area.

هل تطيح تركيا قواعد اللعبة في الشمال السوري؟
Mohammad Ballout analyzes the Turkish tactics of game in Northern Syria and the regional attitudes towards the Kurdish question.

حرب أمريكا في سوريا قد تستمر حتى عام 2024 أو 2034 أو 2044 
Jack Shafer assesses the arbitrary and ever-shifting alliances in Syrian and estimates that the war in Syria might last for thirty years.

The English translation of this article

هنا «دولة دمشق الكبرى»... وهناك سورية قلقة                    
Ibrahim Hmeidi provides an insightful overview of different perspectives inside the "Great State of Damascus" 

عن العقد الاجتماعي الممكن في سوريا            
Jad Karim Aljbai explores the future possibilities of the social contract in post-conflict Syria.

المانيا تستضيف الشهر المقبل مؤتمرا لمساعدة اللاجئين السوريين
BBC reports that Germany will host a conference dealing with Syrian refugee crisis on October.

عفراء جلبي.. أول سوريّة تخطب في صلاة العيد
Hasan Arfeh writes about how Afra Jalabi, a Syrian writer and activist, went to the Noor Cultural Centre in Toronto, Canada at the first day of Eid al-Adha and delivered Eid sermon, following the footsteps of progressive female scholar of Islam such as Amina Wadud who in 2005 led Friday prayers in the US.

اعتذار للشعب السوري بخصوص الأطفال شهداء لقاح الحصبة
In this press release, the National Coalition of Syrian Revolution and Opposition Forces apologies to the Syrian people about the death of children in Idlib Governorate in Syria after being injected with contaminated measles vaccines.