[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
"Trop facile de pointer le véto russe " Q&A with Alain Gresh who suggests the Americans were relieved by the Russian veto, without which they would have been forced to intervene in Syria at a crucial time in domestic politics (U.S. elections).
Les islamistes contrôlent-ils la révolution ? Armin Arefi on role and motives of foreign “Islamist” regimes providing the military and economic support to opposition fighters in Syria.
Syria Crisis Spills Over into Lebanon Al Pessin says the latest flow of refugees to the Lebanese border comprises many Assad supporters.
Syria is Iraq Thomas Friedman comments on the situation in Syria, rapid-firing rounds of bad metaphors, orientalist thinking, and a sectarian implication that only and all members of religious minorities support the regime.
No Kidding: The Most Incoherent Tom Friedman Column Ever Matt Taibbi mocks Thomas Friedman’s NYT piece, whose bottom conclusion seems to be that “when your wife needs help giving birth, she should hire a midwife who stands outside the door and carries an automatic weapon.”
Holy war in Syria and the course of history Dmitry Shlapentokh says “the moral indignation of Washington hardly stands the test of history.”
Syrian blood etches a new line in the sand Pepe Escobar claims history is repeating itself with Syria exemplifying the latest episode in which “foreign policy that privileges Sunni jihadis formerly known as terrorists to create a "democratic" state in the Middle East.”
The rise and fall of Turkey's Erdogan M K Bhadrakumar on Turkey and its assumed role at “plung[ing] a sharp knife deep into Bashar's back.”
The Lebanese model may work for Syria Jawad Boulos says Michel Sleiman is in “a position to step forward with a vision for the future of Syria.”
Watching Syria, remembering Nicaragua Richard Becker remembers the 1979 blast in Managua, which Leon Panetta claimed showed “’real momentum’ for the Western-backed opposition in that country.”
Looking at Syria from Hatay-Reyhanli Hasan Kanbolat on the Syrians’ lives at the Turkish-Syrian border
Syria’s Developments and Iran's National Security Equation Mehdi Mohammadi assesses the situation outside the “heavy psychological war which is supposed to expound the entire political situation in Syria” as a means to expand on the fate of Iran's national security.
Why US Opposes Iran's Role in Syria? Q&A with Iranian ambassador Mohammad Farhad Koleini
China’s veto on Syria: what interests are at play? Nicholas Wong says although on paper Russia and China seem to act as a bloc, China has different interests and uses the conflict to leave its mark in the world.
Syrian Narratives
Syria opposition has power struggles of its own on the exiles’ role in the revolution, their disconnect from the inside opposition and the “daunting prospects for any post-Assad transitional period.”
Syria endgame: who and what will emerge from the ruins? Martin Chulov on a post-Assad era, the legitimacy of the SNC and the faith of the Alawi community.
Bashar al-Assad has amassed fortune of up to £950m, analysts estimate
A nun from Damascus: "We pray that all ends, we have no faith in the revolution" A Christian congregation in Damascus speaks on its hosting of displaced Muslims and Christians.
The Fog of Civil War Stephen Starr on the challenges of reporting the Syrian crisis, allowing for a “lack of nuance afforded by context.”
Against Orthodoxy: The Story of Alawi Origins Steve Tamari on the creation of orthodoxy which gives “lie to many of the prejudices and misconceptions that cloud contemporary views” about the Nusayri sect.
Reviving Nationalism in The Arab World Antoun Issa writes that a “discussion reviving Syria's national identity cannot be delayed until after a resolution is found to the crisis… as it is necessary to define the cause motivating the Syria”
Damascus Bombing: Assad’s Multiple Inner Circles Nicolas Nassif provides insights on Syria’s
Yet More Blood and Tears for Syria Ibrahim al-Amin suggests the Damascus attacks “ may have been facilitated by the extensive intelligence activity that is being carried out in Syria – in which the whole world seems to be involved.”
Syria embodies the end of colonialism Rami Khoury argues the regime is slowly going down as a result of a loss of “public confidence that the regime and the single top leader can stay in power and provide the combination of protection, patronage and privilege that are the glue of such regimes.”
Another pivotal moment in Syria Rami Khoury on the domestic, regional and international ramifications of the Damascus assassinations
If Alawites are turning against Assad then his fate is sealed Robert Fisk reflects on the importance of the outbreak of violence in Aleppo.
Sectarianism bites into Syria's rebels Robert Fisk tells the story of an opposition fighter who fears the death wish of some of his peers might take more Syrian lives.
Damascus Bombs and Mysteries As’ad AbuKhalil raises questions about the meeting that killed four Syrian officials last week.
Five Reasons Why There Won’t Be an Alawite State An Analysis by Joshua Landis
Inside Syria
Damascus Developments [Updated] on the Local Coordinating Committees’ work at providing basic services in the Damascus area, that includes providing shelter for displaced people, finding safe roads to send children to school and cleaning the streets.
Syria headlines 2: decapitating Damascus On the Damascus assassination of Syrian officials, Rita notes that “Syrian state television, well-known for distorting facts and denying the existence of a mass-movement against the Syrian regime, was on this occasion quick off the mark to spread news of the assassination.”
Syrian headlines: displacing the displaced Rita witnesses the trauma and stigma attached to being a displaced
person.
Rebels and regime trapped in cycle of destruction Ghaith Abdul-Ahad spends time with the rebel groups in Deir Ezzor, whom, according to the author, live a better life than the civilians.
Searching for the Truth Behind the Houla Massacre Christopher Reuter and Abd al-Kadher Adhun claim to having reconstructed the events that lead to the killing of civilians in Hama province, after interviewing witnesses from the Sayyid and Abdul Rassak families.
Imperialism and the Left
Imperialistic Sins Khalid Saghieh uses Syria as an example of how, after defeating colonialism
“regimes clung to their hostility against imperialism to justify the consolidation of power and the abandonment of all democratic mechanisms.”
Backing Horses: The Syrian Civil Warprogressive journalism's greatest perversion” is that it “consciously using the public's faith in its performance and moral rectitude to promote the latest war.”
How leftist "anti-zionists" are allied with Israel against Syria Mimie al Laham and Lizzie Pheland mock the opposition’s ironic rhetoric wanting that the Syrian regime is Israel’s greatest ally.
Policy and Reports
Putting sexualised violence on the map in Syria Laura Bates on New York-based Women’s Media Center’s Women Under Siege Project, which is currently mapping instances of sexual violence as a means of providing early responders an idea of the areas most afflicted by the abuses.
Safe Havens in Syria: Missions and Requirements for an Air Campaign
Syrian Refugees: Lessons from Other Conflicts and Possible Policies Rochelle Davis on how to provide assistance to civilians “without wading into the treacherous trap of military intervention.”
Syrian Refugees: Anxious Neighbors Stretched Thin Refugees International’s report on Lebanon and Jordan’s need for international support to take the necessary measures to welcome Syrian refugees.
Arabic:
التهديدات الكيماوية السورية وتوقيتها
Al-Quds Al-Arabi’s opinion on the Syrian Foreign Ministry spokesmen Jihad Makdissi’s statement about the Assad regime’s chemical weapons stockpiles.
بيان حزب الاتحاد الديمقراطي إلى الرأي العام حول الأنباء التي وردت في بعض وسائل الاعلام العربية مؤخراً
Abd Al-Bari Atwan analyzes the current situation in Syria and Al-Assad’s adamant decision to stay in the country.
رمضان الدكتاتورية الأخير!
Haytham Mannaa analyzes the recent developments in Syria and particularly the bombing in Damascus on the 18th of July.
سورية وفضائيات 'الدمار الشامل'
المرحلة الانتقاليّة في سوريا بين مشروع ‘اليوم التالي’ وتوافقات المعارضة السوريّة
الصراع الدولي في شوارع سوريا
سوريا بوصفها دولة المقاومة العربية
Nahed Hater writes about Syria’s description as the leading country of the Arab resistance against Israel.
الحكومة السورية تخلي كوباني (عين العرب
في ثماني عشرة ثانية