Barrel bombs being dropped daily on rebel areas in Aleppo, civilian installations such as schools and field hospitals are often targeted. Famine and denial of medicals services, including medicines and vaccines, are being used as weapons by the Assad regime in Eastern Ghouta and throughout the country. Worsening weather conditions have created a virtual nightmare for refugees in their tent encampments, especially in Lebanon, Jordan and along the long border with Turkey. Still, thousands are fleeing daily to nearby countries to escape bombardment and starvation.
Category: Sociopolitical Observations
Re-legitimating Assad
Re-legitimating the Assad regime today, after all it had done, will green light genocidal ventures elsewhere in the world. If world leaders are standing helpless in the face of one genocide today, what will they, I wonder, when they are faced with a dozen? The world witnessed similar conditions during the Cold War for sure, but this is supposed to be the post-Cold War Era, the Era of Never Again and R2P, an era where social media is creating deep links between average citizens and realities on the ground everywhere in the world. Allowing for a return of Cold-War-like realities and developments, or, to be more specific, allowing for the start of Cold War II, is a major step backward. It’s a major setback, a major failure, and it will come with a hefty price tag for all.
Far Right in Eastern Europe Makes Gains as Syrians Arrive
Far Right in Eastern Europe Makes Gains as Syrians Arrive – NYTimes.com.
Indeed, fascists are making a comeback in Europe, and the main drivers are economic woes and high rates of unemployment among the youth. But, in typical fashion, it’s the presence of immigrants and refugees that will be used as the convenient vehicle for venting frustration. Over the next few years, the Middle East, especially Syria, will be a major supplier of both, which makes continued dithering by European leaders on intervention in Syria rather baffling. Europe is not in a position to shield herself from meltdown in the Middle East, and yet, her leaders stood by and watched on helplessly as the genocide in Syria unfolded. Sooner rather than later, the political price for this lack of foresight and backbone on part of Europe’s leaders will be exacted, and the consequences will haunt all. Meanwhile, fascists of the world may not be uniting yet, but they are finding ways to cooperate with and support each other. That’s why they hold rallies and events in support of Assad throughout Europe, and that’s why few made them made the trip all the way to Syria to fight with his militias. While Western intelligence services will be watching all those European Jihadis after they come back home, their real security nightmares in the future might come from their native kith and kin on the far right.
Toward A New World Order
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 