Anne Applebaum: China and Russia bring back Cold War tactics – The Washington Post.
Irrespective of what #Russia’s or #China’s intentions are, resorting to Cold War tactics in this globalized world of ours will pave the way for disasters for which no one is prepared: #Syria is a case in point. Unless the need for a serious attitude adjustment on their part is highlighted by a more proactive American administration, the consequences of this development will be dire.
BBC News – Mohamad Chatah killing targets potential Lebanon PM.
Many have forgotten about the assassination of former Lebanese PM, Rafic Al-Hariri, and the culpability of the Assad regime in the matter, so perhaps a reminder was in order. The regime’s isolation at the time lasted for a total of three years, after which, Assad was rehabilitated and was once again considered to be a reformer, a modernizer and an indispensable figure for the stability of the region! Now, and despite the ongoing genocide Assad is championing and the destabilizing effect that this is having on the region as a whole, there are those like Ryan Crocker, among many others in the Obama Administration and its friendly circles, who would argue for rehabilitating Assad again. Will they never learn? Hasn’t the regime been rehabilitated enough already? And hadn’t it used very opportunity it was given to commit more mayhem?
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With too many parochial interests and too many corrupt politicians around few sanction regimes can ever achieve their intended goals, especially when they drag out for years. The same applies for wars, after a certain period conflicts become “stable” and self-sustaining as a result of a convergence of parochial interests. But conflicts remain unpredictable and often have too many unintended consequences. Those betting on “stabilizing” the Syrian conflict by transforming it into a contained low intensity conflict with minimal impact on neighboring countries are deluding themselves. The impact of the devolution of Syria will be felt globally, there are simply too many overlapping interests, too many players involved, and too many people watching and drawing lessons that may not too “kosher.”
Time travel is one of Assad’s major achievements, the problem is he only perfected it one way: backward.
The Ammar Abdulhamid Archive 