An informal poll at Al-Arabiyyah website showed that a little over 23% of the voters, totaling around 50,000, believe that Hezbollah’s activities have had a negative impact on the region. This is a very significant, if not too scientific, indicator. There is indeed a rising current in our midst that is becoming more and more willing to challenge the traditional nationalistic jingoistic consensus. For all their lingering appeal, and despite the emotionally charged moment we are going through, the nationalists and the Islamists are being challenged on their very holy grounds. The idols may not be falling yet, but they are getting chipped and cracked and are beginning to sway and tatter. There might be some for us yet.
Author: Ammar
A Syrian dreamer & dissident, not necessarily in that order.
معضلة التدخّل الدولي
هل أدى التدخل الدولي عبر العقدين المنصرمين إلى أي تقدم ملحوظ في أفريقيا وآسيا والشرق الأوسط؟
إذا ما أخذنا بعين بالاعتبار أن الطالبان ما يزالوا “يقاومون” في أفغانستان، وأن الوضع في الصومال ما يزال يتجه من سيء إلى أسوأ، وأن قضية كشمير ما تزال عالقة، ودعونا لا نتحدّث عن القضية الفلسطينية والإحباطات التي تسبّبها للجميع، يبدو من الواضح أن التدخّل الدولي يعاني من نقص أو خلل ما.
What should the United States Do?
(I have also posted the article below at my space at Newsvine). The topic for debate this week on the Creative Syria Think Tank is, so far, only Murhaf Joueijati and I have sent contributions, but there should be more to come soon. My contribution is posted below, and can also be accessed here, for those interested in voting.
What should the United States and the other relevant regional powers do to stop the bloodshed in Lebanon. Continue reading “What should the United States Do?”
Of Cats and Guilt
First posted on my short-lived blog Tharwalizations.
The cat-and-mouse game between regular armies and “resistance” fighters has always had a heavy toll on the civilian population and the basic infrastructure of the countries involved. It has always served to undermine the potential for democracy as well. Still, a democracy did emerge out of the rubble in Germany and Japan following WWII, and one hopes that this may still be the case for Lebanon as well, albeit all indications point to the possibility that the wrong elements might end up running things in Lebanon, once the dust settles. The elements will lord over a virtual desolation, but they will be the lords. Continue reading “Of Cats and Guilt”
