Kofi Annan’s peace plan’s weakness inspite of Russia and China’s support

On 20th March, Russia stated that it was ready to support France’s presidential statement to UN, procuring Kofi Annan’s peace plan. Suddenly, both Russia and China who had shielded Syria by vetoing against 2 UN resolutions, have changed their alignment.

On the other hand, Kofi Annan who met Assad last month could not create immediate results. In fact, the terms and conditions of his diplomatic talk with Assad have not been made public. Well, I wonder if they would have anyways received more importance than the sudden email leads of Assad and his cosmopolitan wife. These emails storming the news media, perhaps have become a new face of ‘information propaganda war’.

Without meticulous analysis, a common man watching Syrian news is revealed that Assad has been getting guidance from Iran and his father-in-law in London to squash the rebels. Similar to it was the leaked Barbara Walter’s interview preparation when Assad was shown to learn how to give an interview infront of the American public.

Kofi Annan’s peace plan

Turning back to Kofi Annan’s peace plan, it includes 6 points like, both the sides should end violence, daily pauses for humanitarian assistance, release of political prisoners and access to journalists, freedom of assembly for protest and above all, the Syrian government and opposition should work in good faith. Well, the peace plan is a statement and not a resolution that can be legally binded. It portrays nothing but another feeble attempt from the side of West to conquer the Middle East.

‘Different dance for China and Russia’

What disturbs more is that both China and Russia are changing sides. This swift change was perhaps visible from the very time Moscow stated that it would not be granting asylum to Assad. Well, Russia cares for Tartus, its military and its arms trade. It was surprising that it was Tunisia’s president Moncef Marzouki who stated asylum for Assad, not just once but three times, eventually declining his offer. As far as China is concerned, it is anyways known for its ‘transactional diplomacy‘ which involves globe trotting all over the world with a fat checkbook in hand. Both Russia and China are quasi allies, after all, they both were communist blocs, hungry to export their revolutions, all around the world. Their security dilemma and hatred for the West has bought them closer, but how will this relationship affect Syria?

Lessons from Libya, Egypt and Tunisia

On the other hand, perhaps no one is learning from Libya. The NATO unilateralism in Libya has segmented the country between demands of federalism rising amid Benghazi and Tripoli. The Interim government has yet not pursued the war crimes. The Truth and Reconciliation commission is a farce, nothing else. Though, all TRCs have their own problems.

Like the one in South Africa only heard the grievances of 20,000 victims in the anti-aparthied struggle while others were simply forgotten. At the same time, even UN is not forcing these commissions to investigate human rights abuses.

While Egypt is now marching towards Presidential elections and Muslim Brotherhood has finally stated that they would have their own nominee, also. But the government is still ruled by the military and the parliament is just a ceremonial institution. This has made is very difficult for Egypt to obtain a $3.2 billion loan from the IMF.

Turning to Tunisia, the country seems to follow the Turkish model of democracy and rule of law, as it celebrated its Independence day from France in 1956 on 20th March. Tunisian presidents and foreign ministers are engrossed in talking about Libya, setting firms in Italy, petrol prices and welcoming Turkey’s President.

‘Syria’s revolution spills’

Also, Syria’s turmoil will not be limited to its own geopolitics. Lebanon, right now, who played the role of silent supporter for Syria, is facing the consequences. The shells fired in Syria has already started hitting the Lebanese border village of al-Qaa, where severally Syrian refugees are currently hiding. Similarly, the Libyan revolution did spill to Mali while the Egyptian to Sudan. Therefore, with the kind of geopolitical importance that Syria has, the chess board might utterly change, if its revolution gets exported.

‘Turkey and Syria: Is a military confrontation near?’

Meanwhile, in a very discreet manner, Turkey has started establishing a buffer zone at the Syrian side. 500 soldiers have already arrived to look over the current scenario and the migration of refugees. Well, this entire plan, without the knowledge or prior consent of the Damascus regime can lead to military confrontation if Turkey does not play the right cards. The entire situation puts Turkey in a very unconformable situation because it has to also seal its border from the influx of Kurdistan Worker’s Party (PKK) along with the Syrian refugees. Right from last year August, Turkey has been conducting air strikes against the Kurdish camps in Iraq. Few leaked reports have stated that Syrian regime employs Kurdish militia to maintain control over the northern regions- a reason well enough to anger the Turkish Armed Forces.

Russian Navy and Syria’s future?

Recently, there has also been another rumour that a Russian navy has landed a tanker in Syria on its Tartus port. It involves ‘anti-terrorism’ marines to further squash the rebels.  Well, the Damascus regime has currently negated the rumour. Nevertheless, just like the ‘Friends of Syria’ meeting in Tunisia last month, the Kofi Annan Peace Plan seems to fall flat. With Damascus regime being tight lipped, its even difficult to predict the consequences. The May elections predicted by Bashar al Assad would be the next important issue to look at.

Israel’s Nuclear Power: A graver issue than Iran’s nuclear potential

As Israeli ‘Agent 83’ hogs for a million dollar applause after predicting the intricate details of Iranian nuclear bomb, it seems quite reasonable to smirk at the imbalance in Middle Eastern politics. While Iran is being criticized by IAEA Chief Yukiya Amano for not being transparent enough about its nuclear programme, no one is questioning Israel for its ‘Policy of Nuclear ambiguity’. Right from 1948, this nuclear opacity, that has been intelligently social engineered by Israel. It provides political investments, existential deterrence benefits, immunity and monetary advantages to Israel to secure more modernised nuclear arsenals.

‘If Arabs have oil, we have the matches.’

When Mordechai Vanunu, a technician who worked at the Dimona Nuclear Facility disclosed the details of Israel’s nuclear capacity on 5th October 1986 to London Sunday Times, he mentioned that at that particular time, Israel already had 200 bombs, F-16 deliverable warheads, Jericho warheads, neutron bombs and boosted devices. Over the past years, Israel has developed low yield Neutron bombs which would destroy troops with minimal destruction caused to nearby property. They also have ‘tiny-nukes’ and ‘micro-nukes’ for attacking point targets. Their sea launch capability is secured through submarine launched nuclear missiles which operate in 350 km range. Oman, with its past record of unofficial relationship with Israel is the perfect option for carrying out second strikes of ‘Nuclear missile capable submarines‘ against Iran. Also, the 1994 Accord with Jordan grants limited Israeli military presence in the country. Taking into consideration Ariel Sharon, perhaps rightly said ‘If Arabs have oil, we have the matches.’

‘Nuclear power: Crusade Against Holocaust’

Israel’s struggle for nuclear capability started right from 1948. Ben Guiron believed that ‘Science would compensate Israel for what nature had denied‘, referring to the Holocaust and massive manslaughter of Jews by the Nazi regime. He was helped by his two close associates, namely, Professor Ernst Bergmann and Simon Peres. Professor Bergman founded the Israeli Atomic Energy Commission and as a scientific advisor, had close relations with Francis Perrin, who himself was a member of French Atomic Energy Commission. Israel would gather French support in terms of nuclear reactors and repossessing plant. Simon Peres played an integral role in strengthening the French-Israeli Nuclear deal as the young director General of Ministry of Defense. This deal had initiated even before the 1956 Suez Canal campaign started. In fact, it was secretly signed on 3rd October 1957.

‘Strengthening of the French Connection’

Well both, Israel and France had their own selfish reasons for developing their embryonic relationship. The nuclear research capability to France had been limited after Second World War. It found itself behind US, USSR, UK and even Canada. When President Nasser of Egypt had closed the Straits of Tiran, Ben Gurion got worried and ordered the development of nuclear and chemical weapons. Gurion had started growing skeptical of Czech-Egyptian arms agreement of 1955.  So, Israel needed a political/economic saviour and France readily became one. After all, France wanted to use Israel as its asset against its fight in Algeria. Though, in 1958, when French President de Gaulle came to power, he terminated the French participation in Israel’s nuclear empowerment.

After the sudden stoppage of French supply, Israel had to import Uranium oxide from Belgium. It utilised the West German Front Company for this purpose under the ‘Operation Plumbat‘. This covert operation undertaken by Mossad violated the Euratom control of nuclear materials. Norway, later, sold 20 tons of heavy water to Israel in 1959.

‘Assasination of Kennedy: End of Questioning Israel’

It was on 23rd December 1960, under US pressure, when Ben Gurion was forced to reveal to the Israeli Parliament (Knesset) that 24 megawatt research reactor that it used was meant for peaceful purpose. It was perhaps the last time an official statement regarding Israel’s nuclear capability was made.

May 1961, President Kennedy had started threatening Israel for not being more transparent and that he would be sending US Scientists to Israel.  But his assassination proved to be the last honest attempt of US against Israel. President Johnson was pro-Zionist, had suffered bitter memories of the holocaust himself during the second world war and did not really care about Israel’s nuclear power. It was later in 1968 when the Nuclear Non proliferation treaty was formed with the co-sponsorship of US.

Initially, Israel was pressurized to sign up for NPT and only then it would receive Phantom aircraft from America. Later, this mandatory demand was wiped out. In return, on 11th March 1965, a cable was sent from the US embassy in Tel Aviv to Washington stating that PM Levi Eshkol has declared that ‘Israel would not the the first to introduce nuclear power in the Middle East’. This declaration has become like a mantra, repeated on and on by Israeli Prime Ministers, the latest being PM Netanyahu.

The secret meeting of Israeli PM Golda Meir with US president Nixon in 1969 further made sure that world politics obliterated the evidence of Israel’s nuclear power. In Middle East, it was Egypt that first initiated this process. When the David Camp Accords were signed on 17th September 1978, President Sadat never questioned Israel’s nuclear capability in those 13 days of negotiation.

Conclusion

The entire fallacy becomes evident when Israel can develop its nuclear power under ‘activist defense policy‘ but Iran can not. This political tendency supports the realists and their ravenousness for power rather than security or trade. Over the years, AIPAC has grown as strong as the loopholes in Israel’s nuclear ambiguity, hence, dodging Israel away from sanctions, isolation or political containment.

Also, it is unfair that spy satellites are being used to keep an eye on Iranian military facility and they are being suspected of cleaning up radioactive evidence. But the world forgot about 22nd September 1979 when Israel carried out a testing of neutron bomb in the South Indian Ocean.

In the end, there is no guarantee that Israel, that has threatened for a war against Iran, will not use its nuclear power. Already during the Yom Kippur War in 1973, Defense Minister Moshe Dayan had put Jericho Missiles on high alert, so that they could be used as a last resort against Egypt and Syria. Then, Golda Meir declined its usage. But would Benjamin Netanyahu do the same? Well, the answer remains abstract and uncontrolled.

Netanyahu and Obama’s stand on Iran; release of an Israeli spy still ignored.

For the past 27 years, Israel has been trying to free Jonathan Pollard, a civilian American Naval intelligence Analyst.  Both US and Israel have kept him under a plea agreement. Years back, Jonathan found out about an undeclared intelligence embargo continuing in US under which Israel was not provided information regarding vital details about Syrian, Iraqi, Libyan and Iranian nuclear weapons/ capabilities. Under his ideological sense, Jonathan felt it was his prime duty to deliver these vital informations to Israel that granted him citizenship later in 1995. But he had to pay a huge price for it. He still suffers life sentence as has become another abstract and unheard demand for Israeli PM Netanyahu.

Benjamin Netanyahu, who still awaits a response from Obama administration, however understands that US can not be considered ‘ignorant’ or pressurized by Israel. For the past several months, both these political leaders have been going through a bind. The tension between them became clearer when US Defence Secretary Leon Panetta disclosed the nascent plans of Israel regarding an attack on Iran in April. In a quite intelligent manner, Netanyahu has shifted the entire focus of Israel’s concern from Palestine to Iran. He wants US to start the war as America leads in terms of weapons, ballistic missiles, grenades and of course, nuclear power. That is exactly why Netanyahu is more concerned of destroying Iran’s nuclear ‘capability’ rather than its ‘intentions‘. Israeli leaders want to operate a unilateral military action against Iran, which perhaps would not include alarming US before they do attack.

“Iran and IAEA’

Currently, Iran, like other countries, eg- Brazil, Japan, Argentina does have a right to enrich uranium as the NPT signatory. Under the IAEA scrutiny, Tehran needs to be transparent about its experiments and once it satisfies IAEA, it can enrich uranium and follow the peaceful fuel cycle nuclear energy programme. In spite of knowing all of this, Israel is threatened that Iran aims to wipe it out from the world’s map, as Iranian President had once confessed. President Ahmedanijad does not even accept that Holocaust under Hitler ever happened in world’s history and literally loathes the entire ‘Zionist identity’. Though, Ayatollah Khameini, the Supreme Leader continues to state that having nuclear power is a sin and non-Islamic, at the end of the day, he has the power to operate them.

‘Parliamentary elections in Iran’

In the meanwhile, 9th Majlis (Parliamentary elections) took place last Friday in Iran. US and Israel had believed that the ‘crippling sanctions’ would frustrate the Iranian citizens against thire government and the elections would not be able to preserve its sanctity. Interestingly, 65% of the 48 million people came to cast their vote. Hence, it definitely comes as a slap for the Zionist controlled governments (ZGOs) who are suspected to cause  protests against the President in 2009 Green Revolution. Iran also suffers from fractured political presentation. Firstly, it does not have political parties and secondly, the distance between President Ahmedanijad and Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khameini is increasing day by day, as they both see each other with mutual distrust and suspicion. But that does not pose a lot of threat because the values of kinship in Middle East are different. The famous saying , ‘ Me against my brother, me and my brother against my cousin, me and my brother and my cousin against the outsider.’

‘Obama’s dilemma’

In any case, when President Obama addressed the AIPAC annual convention yesterday, he said exactly what any diplomatic leader would utter. He talked about ‘loose talk of war’,  did not define the ‘red lines‘ and declared that US would not follow the policy of ‘containment.’ Before the entire political drama was unfolding, it was definitely expected that whatever Obama would say, might make a point, a difference. Unfortunately, it did not. Everything from praising Israeli President Simon Peres and his Jewish identity to claiming that ‘Israel’s security is sacrosanct and non-negotiable’, felt like a well mugged speech. In fact, President Obama called President Peres for receiving the ‘Presidential Medal of Freedom’ which is the highest Civilian honour by the White House.

Undoubtedly, President Obama is acting as a ‘duck President‘ right now. The reason is, he wants to secure his second term. In 2008, he won by 78% of Jewish votes. Thus, this year, he is trying his level best to secure votes from Jewish populations in Florida, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan and Nevada. Though, as the US president and Commander in Chief of the army, he is the strongest man, in fact, a dictator in his own merit. But he cannot take a nasty stand with AIPAC, the pro Israel lobby in America. Well, not only would his presidency be threatened, he can even be assassinated.

Thus, as President Obama still states that any war on Iran would be a mere distraction and exploit the peace, Israel definitely has other plans. But it needs to remember that its not Syria or Iraq that are developing nuclear power and hence, it can easily destroy it. Its Iran and definitely, whatever might be the pattern of bombardment used, a huge price would have to be paid by both these three countries.

Thomas Friedman reveals the Detestable self through ‘There be Dragons’

When Samuel Huntington wrote the ‘Clash of Civilisations’ after the disintegration of USSR, he funneled the odious orientalism of Middle East, Africa and Asia. For him, it was just US and Japan that deserved to dominate. Ten years later, after the September 2001 attacks, Edward Said answered him back with his ‘Clash of Ignorance.’. The title promises the satire at Huntington who was now being judged by an occidentalist.

In 2012, Thomas Friedman, the world renowned Pulitzer award winning New York Times columnist wrote ‘There be Dragons‘. Perhaps his zionist side has added to his complacency when he describes Middle East being the area of ‘dangerous and uncharted locations.’ He states that ‘ In medieval times, areas known to be dangerous or uncharted were often labeled on maps with the warning: “Beware, here be dragons.” That is surely how mapmakers would be labeling the whole Middle East today.’

Without wasting ten more years in this process, I want to answer him immediately for the delusions he carries in his tirade against North Africa, Middle East and West Asia.

1. He states ‘We also tend to believe that inside every autocracy is a democracy dying to get out, but that might not be true in the Middle East.‘

We cannot criticise Lenin, Stalin or Mao for what communism eventually became during their regime because they always lacked the intellectual honesty of Karl Marx. Communism failed. Disastrously. But worse that that is the transformation of democracy into ‘dictatorship of the government.’ Friedman does not mention that when countries like Iran gained their democracy in the early 1950s, it was CIA and America that executed the coup and snatched it away. He does not understand the significance when Ayatollah Khameini stated ‘We believe in democracy and we also believe in freedom, but we do not believe in liberal democracy.’ Perhaps, he considers Saudi Arabia that functions without even a constitution, more competent than other Middle Eastern countries. Also, if democracy is so important, why is Turkey, that has revamped itself for getting a membership in the EU for the past one decade, not respected and used as a snitch? Perhaps, George Bush thought he would make ‘democracy halaal’ in Iraq by invading it. But we all know, it added to the civil war. So, Friedman does not mention the incompetency of western powers to even establish what they believe in. And we do not even need to go to Palestine and how Israel created the Second Holocaust, worse than what Hitler did, to throw Muslims and Christians out of their own homeland. If Friedman craves to see Middle East democratic, he should understand that US had played the role of a ‘devil’s advocate’ in using this entire region as a chess board where his opponents just lost.

2. He states ‘When the iron lid of autocracy comes off, Middle east falls back, not on liberalism, but Islamism, sectarianism, tribalism or military rule.‘

Hardly before 1989 when Salman Rushdie’s book ‘Satanic Verses’ was released, no one knew or talked about Islamism. Later, the 9/11 attacks added to the Islamophobia. Today, the western powers think that ‘Shariah Law’ and ‘Islam’ is connected with ‘terrorism’ or ‘jihad’. In reality, this is not the case. Its not justice to blame Islam when Christianity also has its own loopholes. No one criticizes the Church in Greece or even orders an investigation into the millions of euros that are stored. If they did, Greece, I promise, would not have been in debt. To the outside ignorant public, it is stated that countries like Greece, Italy, Ireland, etc are facing recession because they were ‘welfare states’. If one investigates their economy, what they are facing right now is the result of ‘fiscal irresponsibility’. Anyways, coming back to the point, the ‘Church’ is not questioned. So, if that kind of pattern is followed for Western countries, why can’t the government by mosque or even its sovereignty be such a problem? Friedman does not mention that Muslim Brotherhood, for the past several decades have been carrying out grassroots changes in Egypt, Jordan, Yemen and to a certain extent in Syria.  As far as Salafists are concerned, even the people of Egypt know that they do not want them to rule.

As far as sectarianism is concerned, Friedman forgets that western powers, themselves, have been using this major issue to cause further chaos. He does not talk about Lebanon where the Maronite Christians have been used as an instrument by Roman and French powers to hate Sunnis, Shias, Druze and Kurds. I can not debate about tribalism because Friedman perhaps might find everyone a ‘tribal’ if he is not from US or Israel. And as far as military rule is concerned, he perhaps once again forgot that its US which has been actually strengthening the military of countries like Egypt, Israel, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan by giving them aids and arms.

3.  He states ‘Almost four years ago, we elected a black man, whose name was Barack, whose grandfather was a Muslim, to lead us out of our worst economic crisis in a century.’

Well, when it comes to Barack Obama, his first identity is not the “president’ but a ‘black man’. Friedman thinks that after 200 years and a civil crisis, America could ‘Make it happen.’ But he doesnot mention that ‘Right now, we are forcing the same black man to go on war with Iran’, or he does not mention that ‘ we are trying to make this man whose grandfather was a Muslim force for military intervention in Syria’. You know, what the funny part here is? If Obama does it, he would be called nothing but a stooge like George Bush. If he doesnot, his competitors like Mitt Romney and Ron Paul would call him a coward. Friedman thinks that the civil war in America is over because people are not dying anymore. But what about Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iraq, where they are being killed?

4. He states ‘You see in Syria how quickly the regime turned the democracy push there into a sectarian war.’

Western powers should not touch the subject of Syria which has become a case of international conspiracy than that of civil war. The western media’s propaganda does not talk about how Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Israel are funding the Free Syrian army by giving them arms. One does not need to think twice for knowing how is behind these proxies. Bashar al Assad has been easily caused the ‘Tyrant’, ‘ The replica of Hafez who caused the massacre in Hamas 30 years back.’. No one knows the reality but everyone judges them. Al Jazeera has been as zionist as ever, in its broadcast, often manufacturing news rather than reporting it. And also, what happened in Libya? There was ‘No Fly Zone’ and the cunning twist of UN’s resolution to causie regime change. Colonel Gadaffi was killed. What happened next? The Libyan Transitional Council is still not able to contain the militancy. But who cares? If Libya could not succeed, its Libya’s problem. No one should question the impeccability of US, Britain and France.

5. He states ‘U.S. troops accidentally burned some Korans, and President Obama apologized. Afghans nevertheless went on a weeklong rampage, killing innocent Americans in response — and no Afghan leader, even our allies, dared to stand up and say: “Wait, this is wrong. Every week in Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iraq, Muslim suicide bombers kill other Muslims — holy people created in the image of God — and there’s barely a peep. Yet the accidental burning of holy books by Americans sparks outbursts and killings. What does our reaction say about us?

Firstly, there is a propaganda by media to just state news that contains suicide bombers killing people in Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iraq. They want to create this public opinion that these countries are unsafe, froth with turmoil and terrorists- and eventually, should be dominated. Its all psychological how this grooming is done. I must ask Friedman how he would react if Afghanis burnt his ‘Old Testament’ or the ‘Bible of Jews’? Jews still consider themselves as victims to what happened decades back. So, why should the natives of Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iraq forget so soon? They too have faced deaths.

And what difference does it make if Obama did apologize? Friedman criticises Taliban and Al-Qaeda without actually naming them. But then, who created Taliban? Who created Al-Qaeda? He forgets that drone attacks still continue in Pakistan (recently, have started in Syria). He does not go into the depth of why Muslims kill other Muslims. He does not frame them into Pathans or the tribals in Waziristan or the Muhajirs in Karachi.For him, they are one and the same. Muslims killing each other would have been an issue in 1979 when USSR had conquered Afghanistan, now it does not matter. US is in a uni-polar world, an excellent example of social darwinism.

Morals and ethics have no place in real politik. But justice has. Friedman should know that when he points one finger at others, three fingers are pointing at him. Its ignorance and unfortunate use of racism by Friedman to write this article, creating further perceptions for a common American who does not actually know what is happening.

If dragons have to be there, they aren’t in locations but inside of people.

‘Friends of Syria’: Dictatorship of Futile International Diplomacy

The much hyped ‘Friends of Syria’ Conference taking place today in Tunisia is nothing but an embarrassment that US, EU and Arab League would remember.

More than 80 countries are participating in this international conference. Its only Lebanon, China and Russia who chose to ‘disassociate’ themselves from the event. Interestingly, the event is being funded by Qatar (hotel arrangements, travel tickets, bookings) while Tunisia maintains the administrative formality of executing it.

Moncef Marzouki, the President of Tunisia stated in an interview with Al Jazeera that he does not want military intervention in Syria. Syria would not be another Libya because events in this country have gone far more complex and intertwined. He once again urged the need to convince Russia to be supportive.

‘Too many cooks spoil the broth’

FOS itself is divided. Though the draft declaration is still being circulated, the communique states that they would not be supplying arms to Free Syrian Army and Syrian National Council.

While, members of the SNC who are currently in Tunisia have stated that it does not matter what is officially stated, they would eventually be armed.

This is one of the first and very apparent rift that exists in FOS. Well, its obvious to happen this way because such a high number of diplomatic representation at an international issue would have their own polemics, agendas and black propagandas.

‘Just to Impress Russia’

Few countries like Tunisia want to lower down the tone of the communique so that Russia can also be involved in their process, at a later stage. This idea, seems ‘Utopian’ and boorish enough for other Arabian countries who demand a military intervention at any cost (like Qatar).

So one can ponder the impact any declaration that FOS would eventually have if everything done is being customised for Russia or China? Just like the Thursday conference on Somalia in London, this entire FOS facade would be nothing but a posh and unnecessary expenditure for the diplomats, serving no purpose, what so ever.

‘Do not lecture Syria’

Ammar Waqqaf of the Syrian Social Club has stated that ‘If FOS wants humanitarian aid, one must talk directly to the Syrian government rather than lecturing it. Syria is self sufficient in terms of food and medical supply. It can take care of itself.’

He also states that it is assumed that the rebellions are concerned with the lives of the normal civilians, but in reality, they are not. In fact, the rebellions try to show that they have a control over the situation in respective district, but in reality, they are not even musketeers.

‘Differences with SNC’

As if the rifts in FOS were not enough, SNC too is facing opposition from the opposition. The National Coordination for Committee for Democratic Change (NCCDC) boycotted its presence in the FOS. They believe that FOS would be biased in praising SNC and there is not point in having any other Syrian Opposition group in the conference if such partiality continues.

NCCDC believes that it has more contacts in Syria and capability to use its soft power than SNC. In fact, it is based in Damascus itself. Also, NCCDC, chaired by Hassen Abdel Azim, is largely based inside Syria unlike SNC that is based in Istanbul.

Conclusion

If Karl Marx, Engels, Lenin and Guevera were still alive, they would have found nothing abysmal with the Syrian uprising. In fact, it includes every normative demand for being called a ‘revolution’ that has crossed the discursive, generative and paradigmatic process to eventuate into one.

Also, everything from international support, foreign intervention, ambitious yet abstract demands are present. Thomas Paine, perhaps would have credited American revolution of 1763 to be their godfather while Edmund Burke would have written another ‘Reflections’ to rebuke it.

But there’s one subtle point which they all thought but never wrote about. The point is, ‘Sometimes, revolutionaries themselves become part of international conspiracies.’

Reality of Syrian opposition, Assad’s leaked interview and Return of Kofi Annan

Last year, Patrick Cockburn had revealed how both Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch did not have concrete evidence to justify that Gadaffi was involved in causing war crimes and inhuman massacres in Libya.

This year, once again, Cockburn takes another polemic ideology and debates if ‘the preponderance of youtube videos, tweets, blogs and texts from Syrian opposition are actually true?’

In an interesting analysis in The Independent, he states :

‘YouTube pictures may have played a positive role in the uprisings of the Arab Spring, but the international media is largely mute about how easy it is to manipulate them. Pictured from the right angle, a small demonstration can be made to look like a gathering of tens of thousands. Shootings in one street in one town can be used to manufacture “evidence” of shooting in a dozen towns. Demonstrations need not be genuine events luckily captured on mobile phone cameras by concerned citizens; frequently the only reason for the protest is to provide material for YouTube. Television companies are not going to reject or underline the stage management of film that is free, dramatic, up to date – and which they could not match with regular correspondents and film crews even if they spent a lot of money.’

He further adds,

‘In the print press, bloggers get an equally easy ride, even though there is no proof that they know anything about what is going on. Hence the ease with which a male American student in Scotland was able to pretend to be a persecuted lesbian in Damascus. Since the Iraq war, even the most intensely partisan bloggers have been presented as sources of objective information. Tarnished though they may now be, they still have a certain cachet and credibility.’

Also, there’s another interesting incident that has currently taken place.

Bashar’s leaked interview

The hacker group Anonymous attacked the mail server of Syrian Ministry and 100s of emails have been leaked in this process. One of them reveals how Bashar actually planned before the much hyped interview with Barbara Walters. Eventually, the interview just showed him as an incompetent, hairy brained and boorish dictator, often dumb when asked questions regarding his own country.

Here goes the attached manuscript of the leaked PDF of Bashar’s Interview.

‘Its Annan, Koffi Annan’

Indeed, the situation is mushrooming with paroxysm of sarcasm and stupidity. Anyways, what is important right now is the much awaited ‘Friends of Syria’ meeting at Tunisia today morning and also what Kofi Annan does, after being requested to be the joint special envoy on Syria.

Well, it depends because he could not stop the invasion of Iraq by US inspite of being the UN Secretary General at that time. The Ghanaian native, winner of Nobel Peace prize in 2001 and acknowledged for his reforms in the Rwandan genocide, perhaps can turn tables in Syria.

Why Iran can not be attacked by Israel and US?

After its humiliating attempt to contain the ‘nuclear power’ progress of Iran, Israel embarked to embrace the potent weapon of ‘intervention and war.’ Everything from political pressure, sanctions, sabotage, counter-proliferation measures and attempt for regime changes, have failed in Iran.

Few are even calling Iranian President Ahmadinejad as Adolf Hitler, all set to wipe out the Jewish identity from the world.  Interestingly, this is not 1935 and even Israel is not a naive participant in utterly innocent international diplomacy.

America’s ambiguous strategy

Barack Obama has stated that there is no evidence that Iran has the ‘intentions or capabilities’ to wage a war on US soil. Well, it was only last October when Iranians have been accussed by Americans for planning the assasination of a Saudi Arabian ambassador on this very American soil.

Also, US after the 1979 hostage crisis that followed after the 1953 coup in which CIA has dismantled the Iranian government, America cannot predict whats on Iran’s mind. Though, US Defence Secretary Leon Panetta seems more worried about the Israel-Iran attack rather than withdrawing US army from Afghanistan or even calculating their defence budget.

Republican Candidate Mitt Romney, the topmost contender for the Presidential position, has already stated that he would be more pro-Israel than Obama and he would back up the American diplomacy with very credible military option.

‘If Iran makes the first move’

Iranian Rafah News Website which is identified with President Ahmadinejad has already threatened Israel, last month. Iran is already known for blowing up Israeli embassy and Jewish communities in Buenos Aires in 1992.

If Iran, once again, targets soft power of Israeli foundation, it might act as a vitriolic catalyst to give a reason for Israel and US to attack Iran. Under Article 51 of UN Security Council’s Charter, US does not need the permission to launch military intervention. This Charter preserves the right of the member nations to respond to any armed attack.

‘Few Ignorant analysis of Iran’

Ignorant US analysts believe that since Syria, the major supporter of Iran is being shattered in the Arab Uprising, Iran might become weak. They also have a weaker perception of Hamas and Hezbollah who have been heavily financed by Syria and Iran.

Few believe that President Ahmedinjead does not have the power to call a nuclear war and the Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Khameini, already 72, is too old for such an operation.

Few only believe that Israel can once again operate Operation Opera in which it destroyed a nuclear reactor under construction in Baghdad on 7th June, 1981.

Well, once again, Iran is not Iraq that can be mercilessly crushed by foreign intervention.

‘Why Israel can not attack Iran’

1. It is defended by substantial ground forces, fighter aircrafts and SAM sites. Unlike Iraq, Iran has not accumulated its power plants at one location. They are scattered and are well protected.

2. Israel is far from Iran. So, in case, Israel plans to bombard the Iranian soils, it would need modified aircrafts and extra tanks for refueling. Saudi Arabia might allow Israel to land for refueling, but then again, Israel will have to calculate every move with precision.

3. Iran’s Vice president Mohammad Reza Rahimi has declared on 27th December that ‘not a drop of oil will pass through Strait of Hormuz’. Iran, suffering the worst of sanctions on its central banks and oil exports, would take the revenge by closing this strait from where 20% of world’s oil passes out.

4. Iran has already started the activation of Fordow Facility for the underground Uranium enrichment plant near Qom. It is well protected under a bomb proof tunnel or  under a mountain near the military. Also, both US and Israel do not have bunker buster bombs that can penetrate these mountains and explode the power plants.

5. It has hundreds of flawless Shabab missiles that are capable of striking Israel.

‘Israel’s covert nuclear involvement’

Turning to Israel, one does not readily mention that it is also clandestinely developing large and well sophisticated nuclear weapons. Mordecai Vanunu, who defected Israel’s nuclear programme and the Wisconsin Project have revealed that Israel is building thermo-nuclear and neutron war heads. It is injustice to target Iran just became it has oil reserves.

‘Deaths of Iranian nuclear scientists’

Also, what about the Stuxnet computer virus which hit Iran last year and caused Uranium enriching centrifuges at Natanz to spin out of control and explode?

Also, the rampant and mysterious death of Iranian nuclear scientists is another clue of Mossad’s intelligence and how Israel is inculcating fear in Iranians to cause them to defect. Interestingly, all of these bomb explosions ( 5 since 2007) carry the same hallmark.

There is a motorcycle that targets the victim’s car, flashes the ‘sticky bomb’ or magnetic explosive and elopes. Eventually, only the target dies and nothing else is disrupted apart from the car. It is also believed that Israel has been buying off few Iranian citizens and paying them fat salaries to work as spies.

Conclusion

In the end, it is not important when the attack would happen, if it does but what would happen after it does. Would Iran become another Iraq or Afghanistan or is 2012 when America surrenders and Iran becomes the super power?

Why Turkey should not criticise Syria?

As the city of Homs is being bombard by Syrian forces, Turkey’s anger is making it forget that ‘People who live in glass houses should not throw stones at others.’ The frantic Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu is marching to Washington, to lick his own wounds with Hillary Clinton and conspire for another international action against Assad.

Turkey which has often been called as The Sick Man of Europe and even Human Cancer by British PM David Lloyd George after the First World War, today stands in an oblivion. Its not social justice to blame Syria for 6000 death when Turkey’s own shadows are egregiously blood-soaked. The modern country which has cowardly declined to accept the killing of thousands of Armenians under the Ottoman Empire in 1915 still does not accept it as genocide.

‘If you criticize, you are dead’

If it is banned in Syria to criticise Assad, the same jail sentence would be delivered in Turkey if anyone criticizes Ataturk. Even if we try to overlook this fact by crediting that yes, Mustafa Kamal was the hero of Turkey’s war of Independence and lets not trouble his soul, what about the current PM? Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the man who is audaciously changing Turkey so that it becomes a member of EU by 2015 does not allow criticism to his own policies. The ego has bustled to the cost of Turkey’s foreign relations with US and Israel.

Turkey and Syria: Friends with no Benefits

PM Erdogan states that Turkey was an ally of Syria. Well, perhaps he thinks that no one remembers Ankara’s prickly relation with Damascus. Syria wanted the Turkish province of Hatay which was awarded  to Turkey after a referendum when the French pulled out in 1930s. Also, what about the grudge of the Syrians over the water flow of Euphrates River. One must not forget that the World Bank did not finance the famous Ataturk Dam on Turkey’s Euphrates River because it knew that domination would prevail and Turkey did not clearly mention how much water it would allow to flow into Iraq and Syria. Tehran, Damascus and Baghdad have always been Turkey’s enemy.

The Kurdish Question

Turning again to human rights, Turkey itself can not pretend to be a humanitarian neighbor by creating a buffer zone with Syria because Turkey is known for brutual abuse of human rights. Especially, what about the Kurdish question? The thousands of PKK rebels, often found similar to Hamas in Palestine are fighting for their rights and independence for years. Kurds have been facing an 80 year long ban. They are even called the ‘world’s largest nation without a state’. Currently, there are 25 million Kurds. To defend itself, Turkey calls them as ‘Mountain Turks’ rather than actually identifying them.

What if Turkey was Kurdey?

Ahmet Altan, the prominent leftist journalist in Turkey sarcastically questions that what would have happened if Turkey was Kurdey and if Turks became the minority in it? How would Turkey feel if they were called as ‘Oceanic Kurds‘ and never given their own existence? Thankfully,  Kemal Mustafa made Turkey what it is. One should remember that when he fought at the beaches of Gallipoli, he said to his men, ‘I do not ask you to attack, I am ordering you to die.’ He is the same man who told King Edward VIII that Turks were not taught to be servants. Just like Voltaire condemned the role of State and Church during French Revolution, this man abolished the existence of Caliphate in Turkey and made it what it is today.

Conclusion

Both Turkey and Syria are very different from each other, in terms of their democratic and dictatorship regimes, culture, belief, religious majorities and minorities, etc. I do not wish to ignore the massive deaths of innocent civilians in Syria by trying to criticise Turkey. My main aim is to reveal the double standards in international diplomacy and how countries like Turkey who have blood on their own face, who are having difficuly in gulping their own saliva, should be neutral. They should not fight for the defence of others, if they themselves can not deliver justice in their own country.

Syria: A Battlefield for Russia, China, US, EU and Arab League

So, finally, Russia and China did veto the UN Security Resolution against Syria. The 15-nation-international organisation is cracking, one by one.

But is this good news or bad news? Is Syria saved or just put into another turmoil?

Russia’s Tears at Tartus

Sergei Lavrov, the Foreign Minister of Russia clearly stated that his country would not accept the Moroccan drafted and Arab League Sponsored UN  Resolution. He demands a clear post resolution scheme to candidly hide the mere simple and selfish fact that Russia cant face another enormous loss like it did in Libya. Also, both these countries have been defying arms embargo and publicly accepted to be involved in arms trade. From the very Cold war era, Russia has been suppling arms to Syria, it has a naval base (its only) in Syria’s Tartus which it simply can not wipe out to dust.

China’s subtle revenge

While China, the mute and very cunning spectator has not given huge headlines defending itself. The reason put forward is the same as defended by Russia. But then, one must know,  when it comes to China, you are fighting an emerging economical power. Very quietly, behind the scenes, China is also engrossed in investing in several Latin American countries who are still wounded by imperialism to form its own nest. The usage of soft power is quite tricky as several Chinese countrymen are also being deported to small countries in Africa to start their own business. And above all, Chinese relations with US and the European Union has not been a bed of roses. So, when its time for subtle revenge, its basically is the time, only for it.

European Union’s silence

Nicholas Sarkozy was here, there, everywhere when it came to imposing a no-fly-zone in Libya. Interestingly, he is quite silent or perhaps, absent in the entire case of Syria. Well, the 2012 French elections can be one of the main reasons. He wants to run for the second successive term and thus, nothing means more to him that the months of ‘April’ and ‘May’.

Though, there have been rumors that France has been training members of the Free Syrian Army in Lebanon and Turkey.

As far as other countries are concerned, Germany which has for years, after the world wars, acted like a follower, is perhaps looking at the monetary aspect of the resolution. You do not need Adolf Hitler to reveal that this resolution, if passed, would cause further chaos, foreign intervention. The Euro Zone crisis  has left other nations crippled and at Germany’s mercy, as England does not really care a damn about it. Germany, if clever, does not have a choice.

In the same context, there is no point even trying to think about what Italy, Greece, Ireland can manage to do.

America’s stand

Obama is busy facing the skeletons in his closet and at the same time, fighting to secure his second consecutive term in US Presidential elections. Congressmen Ron Paul is more of a headache than Assad. Also, Obama can not be rude with Russia, especially after he started the arms control treaty called New Start with Russia.

Hillary Clinton, in an obvious angry mood called the Security council as a ‘neutered organisation’.

Russia has been criticised for being extravagant with the veto power. Well, under Vitaly Churkin’s reign, Russia has just vetoed 4 times. Few analysts have applauded this fact because a security council should give as much importance to a veto as it gives to acceptance.

And for heaven’s sake, America should not be even questioning the role of veto. Its futile to even count how many times USA has vetoed any resolution against Israel. So, perhaps, whatever is happening right now, is just justice.

Arab League’s Plan

Once upon a time, Crusaders took over the west and in their response, the Ottoman Empire revealed its power to nab them in their clutches. Then came the European invaders armed with colonization and imperialism, all set to ruin the Middle East. But that was not the end. The emergence of Muslim Brotherhood, Al-Qaeda, Iranian revolution, Hamas and Hizbollah again threatened the world which already was witnessing world wars and cold war.

From then on, the stalemate has continued between the east and the west. What the current uprising has done, is not only create another issue like Israel and Palestine but has also given a chance for Arabs to fight for their dominance. Arabs do not want Iran and for that matter, they do not want the Alawite Shiite to rule. Its sectarian and its bloody violence.

Conclusion

All of this, states one thing. None of them- Russia, China, US, EU or AU are there to actually protect the innocent citizens who are being slain off in Syria. International politics here is a murky gamble, where everyone is playing their own cards, just to prove their power. The same goes for Assad who has been called as a ‘Dictator by Accident.’ Well, he is not. History has been trying to forgive Napolean, Adolf Hitler, Stalin and Churchill. The quote that ‘One man’s terrorist is another man’s freedom fighter’ does not hold true anymore.

Especially, when the concept of ‘Freedom’ has been butchered.

Is Iran a scapegoat in Syria’s uprising?

The main target of Qatar and Arab League is Iran and not Assad. U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta is fearing an Israeli attack on Iran by early April.

If you read in between the lines, the mission here is to weaken the nuclear armed state, nab it with oil sanctions and arms embargo and perhaps, reiterate the chessboard scenario that its neighbour, Iraq faced for a long time during American intervention.

Behind the mask of Syrian democracy, the international players are secretly conspiring a termination for the Persian Shiite, who for times immemorial, have been the enemies of Sunni Arab monarchies.

Iran-Syria Relations: A historical perspective

Assad, who belongs to the Alawite sect, sn offshoot of Shiite, is perhaps the singular dynasty ruler who maintained Iran’s alliance with Syria.

Right from 1982 onwards, Syria shut down a major pipeline that used to operate in its territory. In return of it, Iran used to provide oil at subsidised rates.

Iran, known for financially and intellectually helping Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon, is a major enemy of the western political powers.

Syria, too, for a certain extent, joint the list when it started acting as a route to supply arms and armaments to Hezbollah by acting as a passage route.

Iran’s concern during the current uprising

Iran carries the history of being rebuked by both American and Russian powers in the past decades. Hence, claiming to its anti-western ruthless ideology, Iran mushroomed its military and nuclear strength.

The 11-month-old Syrian uprising is definitely a challenge to Iran. Perhaps, a greater concern than its own Green Revolution of 2009.

Hence, Iran has started to send force advisors and training personnel to Syria for training the soldiers. It also aims to establish its own military base in Syria which would cost $23million.

Interestingly, an Israeli official has accused Syria of building its own nuclear power.

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the President of Iran has stated to Kuwaiti media that he wishes to hold a meeting with the Islamic countries to devise a manner in which Bashar al-Assad’s coutry can be saved from foreign intervention.

Iraq’s paranoia

Who ever said that the resignation of Assad would cause an earthquake in Middle Eastern politics was absolutely right. The paranoia of Shia-Sunni antagonism has started fearing the political will of Iraqi Shiite Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki.

In January itself, one can witness Iraq drowning into its own crisis as Sunni politicians are being arrested and their houses being ransacked.

Unfortunately, the entire spectacle in Middle East is turning into a disease that can not be cured simply by injecting a dose of democracy. There is sectarian violence, power paranoia, methodological madness and deep rooted conflicts.

Its only time that can have the power to reveal the future amidst such chaos.