[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]
Regional and International Perspectives:
Nasrallah on Syria As’ad AbuKhalil says “If Hezbollah feels it can only choose the side that is opposed to Israel, it should know that it has alienated a large section of the Syrian people.”
Obama Does Syriana Pepe Escobar on Syria’s “multiple, concentric proxy war.”
The Development of the Israeli Position on the Syrian Revolution
Five things international community must give Syria after Bashar al-Assad Kurt Shillinger says a post-Assad transition in Syria is be “impossible without constructive international support.”
Kurds must feel included in the Syrian opposition Fazel Hawramy says the main Kurdish groups in Syria have recently agreed to side with the opposition.
Turkish Intervention in Syria: Two Birds With One Stone Hüsnü Mahalli says “Turkey is contemplating creating a buffer zone inside Syrian territories and is using Kurdish control south of its border as an excuse to justify military intervention.”
Jordan jitters over swelling Syrian refugee influx Ian Black says the refugee crisis adds to the endangered domestic stability.
Syrian Workers in Lebanon: No Time is Safe Moe Ali Nayel writes on the daily racism that Syrian workers face.
Syrian Refugees in Lebanon: Stories of Greed and Neglect Usama al-Qadiri on Lebanon’s inactivity in coping with the refugee influx and the refugee abuse by profiteers.
Syrian Refugees in Lebanon: Mixed Welcome in Akkar
Liberated Kurdish Cities in Syria Move into Next Phase A spokesperson for the democratic Kurdish party of Syria said "Barzani asked the KNC and PYD to rule the Syrian Kurdish cities evenly between them and in return promised financial and moral support.”
Kurdish National Council and People`s Council of West Kurdistan conclude additional agreement
KNC Leader: Syrian Kurds are Disappointed by PYD`s Actions In an interview, chairman of the Kurdish National Council Abdulhakim Bashar says “no Kurdish city in Syria is liberated.”
Syrian Narratives:
Only a Ceasefire Will end the Nightmare in Syria Patrick Seale reflects on Assad’s failure to anticipate the “revolutionary potential” caused by years of youth unemployment and rural disaffection.
Syria can be preserved by the subtle route of compromise Charles Glass argues that “the choice confronting the world is not between the Assad regime and the opposition, but between two oppositions.”
Manaf Tlass: Being groomed as the Syrian Ahmed Chalabi? Dan Murphy says although the former general might be a favorite for foreign powers planning a transition in Syria, “his star is unlikely to rise as quickly among Syria`s rebels as it did among the Baath regime he served for so long.”
Quand le général dissident était l’ami de Dieudonné Pierre Haski untangles the close ties between Manas Thlas and comedians, journalists and intellectuals whom many would label as Assad apologetics.
Manaf Tlass and the future of Syria Christian Henderson argues “A solution that includes the Tlass family is not worthy of the sacrifices that many ordinary Syrians have made.”
The Syrian Rebels’ Spinmeister Mike Giglio on the rebels’ attempt to mobilize outside support through an “aggressive media campaign.”
The Syrian regime is not a house of glass Fawas Gerges says even if Bashar al Assad goes, the structure of the authoritarian state will remain, and the recent developments in Syria will prolong the transition to a pluralist system.
Syrian war of lies and hypocrisy Robert Fisk directly criticizes countries pretending to care for Syrians’ plight while their domestic and international policy does not reflect a concern for human rights.
Yes, there`s violence, but some Syrians think it`s time to return
Mrs. Assad Duped Me Joan Juliet Buck’s clumsy attempt at dissociating herself from a highly criticized Vogue interview with the “Rose of the desert,” whom she now describes as a “murder”
Asma al-Assad and that Vogue piece: take two! Homa Khaleeli says Joan Juliet Buck’s “mea culpa is almost as disastrous as the initial interview.”
For the minorities, even neutrality is unsafe Robert Fisk speaks about the pressure on Christians and Palestinians to pick a side in the crisis.
Flipping The Script: The Western Media`s Syria Propaganda Is Falling Apart
As Syria`s Regime Unravels, Reporters Struggle To Bear Witness On the challenges of reporting from outside and inside Syria.
Shameful Performance of Western Media As’ad AbuKhalil provides an extensive list of the shortcomings in covering the Syria crisis.
Why Syria’s Rebel Can’t Have it All David Aaron Miller criticizes the “neocons and liberal interventionists for guilting the United States for an ill thought-out intervention in Syria.
Inside Syria:
Damascus Struggles for Normalcy Anas Zarzar on the deteriorating economic and security situations in the Syrian capital.
Guests of the Warlord Jon Lee Anderson speaks with Lebanese men allegedly held captive in the Syrian city of Azaz by “rebel” fighters.
Al-Qaida turns tide for rebels in battle for eastern Syria Ghaith Abdul-Ahad meets with al-Qaeda fighters, whose experience helps the opposition make territorial gains, but whose ideology raises fear for a post-Bashar period.
Aleppo’s Christians Arm Against Islamists The radical turn that took the uprising make many fear a repeat of the Iraq scenario.
Syrian Activist’s message not lost in death An article on the death of activist Tammam al-Saab and interesting maps showing the pockets of fighting in Aleppo and Damascus.
Syrian opposition`s volunteer medics keep working, despite death threats Scott Peterson reports on the dangerous work of volunteer medics in the city of Aleppo.
Life During Wartime Jeanine Di Giovanni reports on the lives of the people caught off guard by “the velocity of war” in Damascus.
Diary from Damascus Damascus resident John Wreford shares his thoughts on when the storm ”truly blew into town.”
In Syrian Conflict, Both Sides Vie To Control Message Kelly McEvers’ fifth radio report from Derat Azza, where she is escorted by a group of “rebel” fighters for a tour in which villagers are told not to blame the fighters.
Syrian rebels seize rural territory while Assad forces focus on major cities
Imperialism and the Left:
From the people who brought you the Iraq war...Dan Murphy on the open letter released by foreign policy analysts asking Obama to ‘work with regional partners to establish air-patrolled “safe zones” covering already liberated areas within Syria, using military power.’
The open letter signed by 62 foreign policy experts and former U.S. government officials and former cheerleaders of the Iraq War.
Art and Social Media:
Ibrahim al-Jaradi: Sitting Amongst Gardens of Ruin Al Akhbar draws a portrait of a young bedouin boy turned into a prominent poet.
Information Wars: Assessing the Social Media Battlefield in Syria Chris Zambelis’ original research assessing the “impact of the social media battlefield on dictating the course of events in Syria.”
Syria Censorship: Opposition Directors Under the Axe Anas Zarzar on the precarious situation of many filmmakers in Syria, who have to fight corruption and favoritism to receive grants and opportunities.
Interactive: Tracking Syria`s defections
Policy and Reports:
The Turkey-Syria military balance Soner Çağapty and Coşkun Ünal’s assessment of Turkish military capabilities and conclusion that Turkey would only intervene in Syria with a “limited geographic scope.”
Disturbing reports of summary killings by government and opposition forces Amnesty International’s report based on fieldwork in Northern Syria.
Syria’s Mutating Conflict International Crisis Group’s executive summary of the developments of the Syrian crisis, focusing on three alarming trends.
Rebel Groups of Jabal al Zawiyah Asher Berman presents a report on the insurgent networks in Jebel al-Zawiyah, which “reveals a shift in tactics that indicates a maturing operational planning capability.”
Arabic:
دور المجتمع المدني في الثورة
Nael Hariri writes about the role of Syrian civil society in the revolution.
الحدث السوري في ضوء التجربة العراقية: ضرورة الموقف الــمُرَكَّب
دمشق تحرك حروب الاقليم والحسم بعيد
الناس يحترقون في دمشق والتلفزيون السوري ينصحهم بالتمارين الرياضية
Abd Al-Bari Atwan writes about the Syrian revolutionaries’ popular opinion about the defected General Manaf Tlass and doubts that the people would nominate him as future president of the country.
العيش داخل «الفقاعة الثورية»
Abd Al-Bari Atwan compares the battle of Aleppo to the one that Libyans witnessed in Benghazi, and analyzes the possibility of international intervention.
دمشق: تحديات عسكرية واجتماعية.. في ظل لعبة الأمم
Ziad Haydar writes for Assafir about the situation in Damascus especially after the latest explosion that led to the death of 4 high-ranking officials.
المغيثون السوريون: هدف مشترك لفريقي النزاع
Tarek Al-Abed writes for Assafir about those who have chosen to be in charge of rescuing victims or the fighting that has spread across Syria.
Ghassan Sharbel writes goes back to the very beginning, and questions, “Why did Syria explode?”
مناف طلاس: تمنيت لو أن الأسد أصغى إليّ.. وكنت أعتبر الحل الأمني انتحارا للنظام
Al-Sharq Al-Awsat’s Tarek Al-Humeid’s interview with the recently defected General Manaf Tlass, in which he reveals his views about the current situation in Syria, the status of his relationship with Al-Assad during the past year and a half, and his opinions about Saudi Arabia.
Syria, Roundup