UN makes record Syria appeal to avert ‘greatest humanitarian crisis in history’ – Telegraph.
And world leaders rushed to take out their checkbooks and make checks for a total of $6.5 billion. After all, if the behavior of world leaders over the last three years proves anything it’s that they deeply believe in the pricelessness of human life.
Fred Hiatt: Obama wanted U.S. action in Darfur. Why not in Syria? – The Washington Post.
Why not indeed? Were they being dishonest then? Or are they being dishonest now? What goes on in their minds these days, I wonder, as they watch the unfolding mayhem in Syria? Do they feel guilty? Do they feel ashamed? Or do they feel somehow justified somehow, through some twisted bit of logic disguised as realpolitik, in their decision to enter into a business deal with Assad over his chemical program, and Iran over its nuclear one, even as both continue with their sectarian genocidal venture in Syria? Do they feel anything at all?
Insight: Syria uses red tape, threats to control U.N. aid agencies | Reuters.
More Syrian children could die of cold and starvation in the early months of 2014 than during all the period of violence and mayhem that has been unleashed by Assad since early 2011. The genocide continues by other means. The international community’s dithering on stopping Assad, on lending support to moderate rebels and on rising up to the humanitarian challenges posed by refugee flows have paved the way to this moment: the international community is equally culpable in this genocide.
Amarji Special
Every historical period has given us different powers-that-be that shaped its main events according to their particular interests and worldview. These pivotal powers often derive their legitimacy from the ability to impose their will on others as well as from a certain set of principles and values that coincide with the belief systems of the prevailing majorities involved. Appeals to principles and values have always been necessary in order to mobilize public opinion in support of policies and actions that might otherwise seem objectionable and illegitimate.
The Ammar Abdulhamid Archive 