‘Truckers without borders’ sustain Syria - Al-Monitor: the Pulse of the Middle East
▻http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/politics/2015/09/turkey-syria-truckers-without-borders-isis-nusra-front.html#
‘Truckers without borders’ sustain Syria
Un autre regard sur les routes de la guerre en #syrie
الكشف عن اجتماع سري لممثلي عشائر سورية والقوى الغربية ودول الخليج بجنيف لبحث كيفية التخلص من تنظيم “الدولة الاسلامية”.. ولقاء وشيك مع العاهل الاردني | رأي اليوم
▻http://www.raialyoum.com/?p=284076
La situation se simplifie en Syrie : les USA, avec des Etats du Golfe, rencontrent "secrètement" à Genève des représentants des tribus bédouines (comprendre : sunnites) pour qu’ils combattent Daesh (mais aussi le régime, sans faire partie des deux - au moins - officielles coalitions de l’opposition).
L’arrière-plan de la question ici : The cultural and tribal diversity and underground resources in the desert — extending over about half the surface of Syria — turned the battle fought on its territory into a multifaceted war.
▻http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/politics/2015/07/syria-desert-tribes-division-oil-geography.html#
Have US, Turkey found common ground in Syria? - Al-Monitor: the Pulse of the Middle East
▻http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/politics/2015/05/have-us-and-turkey-found-a-middle-course-in-syria.html#
Let’s look at the details of the Idlib operation. Military experts agree that this operation required intensive coordination among the groups in the field and the foreign actors that support them. But there is something even more significant. Western media reported that the Idlib operation was conducted by jihadist organizations such as Jabhat al-Nusra, but that the Free Syrian Army (FSA), supported by Washington, also played an important role in the operation.
Charles Lister, a Middle East expert at the Brookings Institution, a prominent US think tank, has spoken to some FSA sources who had taken part in the Idlib operation. FSA sources told him that the decision of the FSA to join the operation led by Jabhat al-Nusra was made by the joint US-Turkey operations room in Antakya. In other words, the United States seems to have modified its position on jihadist groups in Syria.
Previously, the United States was giving arms to groups it supported on the condition that they distance themselves from the jihadists and that they refrain from any joint action with those groups. The Idlib operation, however, shows that Washington is now more flexible when it comes to working with jihadists.
There is another change in Washington’s approach. Washington has refused to supply the opposition with anti-aircraft weapons, fearing they may end up in jihadist arsenals. However, a few days ago the head of the Syrian National Coalition, Khaled Khoja, announced on his Facebook page that the United States has changed its position on not supplying anti-aircraft weapons to the opposition. Some experts believe that this US change will allow the opposition to set up protected safe zones.
Gemayel: Lebanon should stand with Saudi Arabia - Al-Monitor: the Pulse of the Middle East
▻http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/politics/2015/04/lebanon-amin-gemayel-president-vacuum-aoun-hezbollah.html
Did your dialogue with Hezbollah stop?
Gemayel: No, it did not stop. But it is happening away from the spotlight as long as the main matters are not yet ripe for resolution. But this dialogue and the dialogue between Hezbollah and the Future Movement protects the future.
An-Nahar: What are you discussing in the dialogue?
Gemayel: Two topics: the first is a principle that we cannot achieve in the current regional circumstances. It is about the situation in Syria and Hezbollah’s involvement in the war there, and the issue of weapons. The second deals with other points related to management, transparency, public affairs, and maintaining security and stability. Maintaining a dialogue with the basic components of Lebanese society is useful, and this is our choice. Warding off the threat to the [Lebanese] entity is achieved by putting the internal situation in order, through dialogue, and convincing everyone that the Lebanese mosaic cannot afford to get involved in the region’s conflicts. And if this mosaic is broken up, it would be very difficult to put back together, and everyone will pay the consequences.
We feel, through the political dialogues and the current political discourse, that we are being heard. We feel that a solution will require some time. These matters will be addressed when the suitable historic, national and regional moment arrives. The door is not closed. Looking at Hezbollah’s path since 1982, we notice a development in its behavior, starting from its full rejection of the Lebanese state by rejecting parliamentary and Cabinet participation, to participating in the state and in parliament, the Cabinet and the administration. [Hezbollah] is now [active] in daily administrative issues. The more [Hezbollah], or anyone else, gets involved in the Lebanese structure, the more it becomes convinced of the need to preserve it and the more it gets engaged in the democratic state project. This is not the first experience in Lebanon’s modern history.
Read more: ▻http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/politics/2015/04/lebanon-amin-gemayel-president-vacuum-aoun-hezbollah.html#ixzz3Y7zFyUzS
Ankara’s influence over Barzani wanes - Al-Monitor : the Pulse of the Middle East
▻http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/politics/2014/12/ankara-barzani-turkey-influence-krg.html
The agreement that Iran, the United States and Europe have been pushing for months was finally signed last week when Erbil and Baghdad agreed to regulate their oil production and revenue sharing.
It wasn’t for nothing that Iran, the United States and Europe worked so hard for this accord that has important ramifications for future of Iraq. The same accord will have important consequences for Turkey.
A mon avis, de la plus grande importance pour la suite... On notera que l’Iran, les USA (et l’Europe) négocient de concert pour donner un peu d’air au Kurdistan irakien vis-à-vis de son dialogue avec la Turquie, et pour donner un peu de crédibilité à l’Etat irakien.
EU diplomat : We made a mistake in Syria - Al-Monitor : the Pulse of the Middle East
▻http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/politics/2014/11/httpassafircomarticle1381138.html
“This issue is still ongoing. There are countries in the region that still believe that a military solution is possible. What we see today is a daily war in the region between Sunnis and Shiites. It is also a war among the Sunnis themselves. Looking at the Sunni-Shiite issue, however, we see that it is a historical and cultural conflict. It is not really related to religion as much as it is related to the misuse of religion for geostrategic purposes. We are well aware of that, because our region witnessed 30 years of war in the name of religion (between 1618 and 1648, Europe witnessed a series of long and destructive wars between Protestants and Catholics). However, here, there is nothing related to religion or God, but rather to geopolitical strategy and such. I feel that in all cases, even now, there are countries that actually prefer a military solution over negotiations.”
Les propos de l’ancienne ministre italienne des Affaires étrangères. Une personnalité qui fait rêver à autre chose que le socialisme français.
C’est l’occasion pour moi de découvrir Emma Bonino - ça décoiffe... ▻http://www.cohn-bendit.eu/fr/ct/402
Syrian opposition member has little faith in airstrikes on IS - Al-Monitor: the Pulse of the Middle East
▻http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/politics/2014/09/manna-syria-opposition-is-war-iraq.html#
Manna wondered, “How can anyone be convinced that Turkey is against IS when it is the No. 1 investor in the oil sold by the group? How can anyone convince me that Turkey made 1,000 militants return to their home countries while 18,000 passed through its borders into Syria?
The war of villages and neighborhoods
In light of the increasing US raids over Raqqa and Bukamal, many questions arose regarding the party that would replace IS in these regions. Manna believes, “There are problems between both parties [the regime and the opposition] and the idea of taking advantage of the military strikes’ results would not do any good to any party. The political and military map has become a mosaic. At times, a certain party believed that it hit Khorasan, then it found out that it had hit brigades that have nothing to do with Jabhat al-Nusra, Ahrar al-Sham or IS,” he said.
As-Safir Newspaper - الفضل شلق : كي لا نندم.. : : الصفحة الرئيسة
▻http://www.assafir.com/Article/1/369087
إذا نجح الغرب في إعادة غزو المنطقة (وهم لم ينسحب منها، أصلاً) لدحر «داعش»، وهذا ما يتمناه الجميع، إذ ان ذلك له الأولوية الزمنية، فإنه سوف يعيد تشكيل المنطقة ومجتمعها على أساس الطوائف والمذهبيات والهويات المعطاة، من دون الأخذ بالاعتبار أهمية الفرد في مواجهة الدولة. تفقد الدولة سيادتها مع التدخل. ويفقد الإنسان فرديته. هذا ما علمتنا إياه تجربة العراق.
Utile rappel :
Si l’Occident réussit à envahir de nouveau la région (bien qu’il ne l’ait jamais vraiment quittée) pour vaincre Daesh, et c’est ce que tout le monde souhaite car c’est la priorité de l’heure, [cet Occident] réorganisa la région et ses sociétés sur une base ethnique, confessionnelle et identitaire, sans s’arrêter à la place de l’individu au regard de l’Etat. L’Etat perdra sa souveraineté avec l’intervention [militaire étrangère], l’individu perdra sa capacité à être un individu. C’est ce que nous a appris l’expérience irakienne.
Traduction (un peu bricolée) de l’article vers l’anglais : ▻http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/politics/2014/08/islamic-state-west-intervention-arab-world.html#
ISIS’s political Islam the latest Arab tragedy - Talal Salman
▻http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/politics/2014/06/iraq-syria-isis-arabism-political-islam.html
The Baath was able to come to power in Syria, then in Iraq, by relying on the army. The party ruling experience ended in tragic consequences at the national action level, especially since the party quickly melted into the “leader” who drowned in never-ending conflicts between left-wing and right-wing currents. The political scene was then cleared for leaders who hailed from the armies, which were often made up of one sect. The slogans promising unity, freedom and socialism were used to cover for the “historic leader” and minority rule based on the military. That expanded the work of the Islamists, who complained that the majority was being excluded from power.
[…]
In short, the governments in Syria and Iraq, which were accused of sectarianism, have gutted the secular parties and the authority that hid under its slogans. Nationalist movements that called for Arab unity no longer had an effective presence. Only the Islamist organizations that had gone “underground” returned to the surface and turned very extreme, demanding the establishment of an “Islamic state” and recalling the history of the Sunni-Shiite schism in its worst form, whether in slogan, behavior or practice that leads to “fitna” [strife].
Power is often more valuable than religion. Religion was often used to hide the race for power. When someone reaches power, he leaves religion to God and focuses on worldly matters.
We are now living the first of many chapters of the new political conflict in its awfully honest sectarian language and in its bloody practices that eliminate politics and religion.
Egypt’s main unions back Sisi - Al-Monitor: the Pulse of the Middle East
▻http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/politics/2014/05/egypt-unions-declare-support-sisi-elections.html#
Egypt’s main unions back Sisi
Bon à savoir.
The disappearance of political life in Arab world - Al-Monitor: the Pulse of the Middle East
▻http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/politics/2014/05/disappearance-political-action-arab-world.html#
The disappearance of political life in Arab world
Un édifiant panorama du paysage politique arabe actuel par Talal Salman, le patron du Safir.
Egyptians begin ‘Internet Revolution’ - Al-Monitor : the Pulse of the Middle East
▻http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/politics/2014/03/egypt-internet-revolution-protest-online-activism.html#
Egyptians begin ‘Internet Revolution’
La nouvelle « révolution internet » en Egypte : des abonnés paient en petite monnaie pour protester contre la dégradation des connexions.
Jordan’s opposition parties seek common ground - Al-Monitor: the Pulse of the Middle East
▻http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/politics/2014/01/jordan-opposition-parties-weak-foreign-inspired.html
Syria regime not the only one accusing Turkey of provoking crisis - Al-Monitor : the Pulse of the Middle East
▻http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/politics/2014/01/turkey-accused-provoking-syria-war.html
Bien intéressant papier (citant notamment Samir Aïta) sur l’incommensurable bêtise de la diplomatie turque sur la question syrienne.
Political Islam Considers Arabism Its Enemy - Al-Monitor : the Pulse of the Middle East
▻http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/politics/2013/10/political-islam-brotherhood-arabism.html
Political Islam acted as if its first enemy in all Arab lands were nationalism and its second enemy Arabism, whether when directly applied or in its intellectual-political manifestation: Arab nationalism.
Point de vue discutable, ne serait-ce qu’en raison de la difficulté à s’accorder sur UNE forme d’islam politique. Il faut se souvenir aussi que certains évoquent, par exemple dans le cas du Hezbollah, l’idée d’un islamo-nationalisme...
Fatah Leader Open to Army Entering Lebanon’s Palestinian Camps - Al-Monitor: the Pulse of the Middle East
▻http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/politics/2013/10/palestine-fatah-leader-interview-camps-lebanon.html
When asked about the real situation in the Palestinian camps, which are rumored to house terrorist cells and have been transformed into waypoints to gear up and carry out bomb attacks on Lebanese territories, Ahmad affirmed that “using camps to carry out terrorist acts is impermissible.” He pointed out that the Palestinian leadership, led by President Abbas, clearly and unequivocally stated that security in the camps be maintained in full coordination with the Lebanese army and official security institutions. “We will not allow a repeat of the Nahr al-Bared scenario, no matter what the cost.”
Fatah Ready for Reconciliation - Al-Monitor: the Pulse of the Middle East
▻http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/politics/2013/09/hamas-fatah-reconciliation-gaza-rajoub.html
Regarding Egyptian patronage and Cairo’s role in sponsoring the Palestinian reconciliation, and in light of the current situation and the status quo in Egypt, Rajoub said, “We approve everything in the Egyptian agreement. However, the Egyptians have been embittered because Palestinians are messing with Egypt’s national security.” This was said in reference to the latest statements to Al-Hayat by the Egyptian Interior Minister Nabil Fahmy.
Est-ce qu’il existe des articles (notamment dans les médias arabes) qui relient le coup contre les ikhwan égyptiens ce soir et la destitution de l’Émir du Qatar la semaine dernière ?
j’ai entendu hier à Beyrouth une déclaration du nouvel émir disant que le Qatar ne soutenait aucun courant politique mais des gouvernements. Ceci étant j’avais entendu la même chose il y a six mois à Doha de la part d’officiels
D’autre part, le roi d’Arabie saoudite s’est empressé de féliciter les nouveaux dirigeants, ne cachant pas sa joie de voir les Frères mis à l’écart
Voici la déclaration du roi d’Arabie saoudite qui félicite notamment l’armée égyptienne
In my own name and on behalf of the people of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, I congratulate you on assuming the leadership of Egypt at this critical point of its history. By doing so, I appeal to Allah Almighty to help you to shoulder the responsibility laid on your shoulder to achieve the hopes of our sisterly people of the Arab Republic of Egypt. At the same time, we strongly shake hands with the men of all the armed forces, represented by Gen Abd-al-Fattah Al-Sisi, who managed to save Egypt at this critical moment from a dark tunnel God only could apprehend its dimensions and repercussions, but the wisdom and moderation came out of those men to preserve the rights of all parties in the political process.
Plusieurs éléments, en plus de l’empressement saoudien à légitimer la déposition de Morsi et de la sortie de HBJ et de l’émir Hamad hors du pouvoir au Qatar, montrent la récente concordance des actions américaines et saoudiennes au détriment du Qatar et plaident pour l’hypothèse que les USA s’entendent désormais avec les Saoudiens pour limiter et redéfinir l’influence du Qatar et des Frères musulmans - que ce soit en Egypte ou sur le dossier syrien (voire au sein du CCG) :
– l’importance des liens entre des composantes du mouvement Tamarrud et les USA : ainsi Kefaya et le mouvement du 6 avril - qui a joué un grand rôle dans la mobilisation de la jeunesse connectée égyptienne en 2011 - ont bénéficié de l’aide en termes de formation de et de finances de fondations américaines semi-privées ou sur fonds gouvernementaux (cf reportages vidéos de Sofia Amara sur Canal « les Nouveaux révolutionnaires » ou d’al-Jazeera « The seed of change » ainsi que les livres du CF2R « la face cachée des révolutions arabes » et de Bensaada « Arabesques américaines »).
▻http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/politics/2013/05/egypt-opposition-campaign-against-morsi.html
The Tamarrud campaign first began about two weeks ago, but it has grown exponentially in recent days. A number of active and influential parties, blocs and movements have announced that they are joining the campaign. Among them are members of the Constitution Party, the Popular Trend, the “We Will Liberate Them” campaign, and the April 6 Youth Movement, which announced their participation in the campaign shortly after their general coordinator, Ahmed Maher, was arrested by Egyptian authorities.
– le fait qu’al-Baradeï, mis en avant par le mouvement Tamarrud, et présent lors de l’allocution du général al-Sisi, est souvent considéré comme proche des USA et qu’il a fait partie du think tank américain International Crisis Group (aux côtés de Brzezinski ou Soros ou Ghassan Salame) :
Les membres de la Coalition de l’opposition syrienne ont commencé à discuter jeudi à Istanbul pour désigner leur nouvelle équipe dirigeante et tenter d’afficher un front commun face au régime du président Bachar al-Assad, dont l’armée a repris du terrain face aux rebelles.
En tête de l’ordre du jour de la réunion qui a débuté dans un hôtel stambouliote en matinée figure le choix d’un nouveau président pour remplacer Moaz al-Khatib, qui a démissionné en mars dernier.
[...]
Initialement prévu fin mai, le choix du nouveau président avait été ajourné faute d’accord après des discussions qui avaient étalé au grand jour les divisions de la Coalition et la guerre d’influence que s’y livrent ses principaux parrains, le Qatar et l’Arabie saoudite.
Sous la pression de leurs soutiens, les opposants étaient finalement parvenus à un accord sur l’élargissement de leur mouvement, jusqu’alors largement dominé par les Frères musulmans soutenus par les Qataris, à des personnalités réputées plus proches des Saoudiens.
[...]
Outre leur président et son équipe dirigeante, les 114 membres de la Coalition doivent également discuter de la nomination du gouvernement du « Premier ministre » intérimaire Ghassan Hitto.
Le timing est juste aussi génial que la réintégration de Adly Mansour, juste 48 heures avant de se voir confier (?) les destinées du pays.
Army Ousts Egypt’s President - Morsi Is Taken Into Military Custody
▻http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/04/world/middleeast/egypt.html
The general’s plan bore a close resemblance to one proposed in recent days by the ultraconservative Islamist Nour Party, and suggested that he was seeking to bring in at least some Islamists as well as liberals and leftists to support the overthrow of the Muslim Brotherhood. The Nour Party, which quickly endorsed the plan, had joined other political groups in accusing Mr. Morsi and the Brotherhood of monopolizing power at the price of a dangerous political polarization.
How Qatar compensates for its huge loss in Egypt
▻http://angryarab.blogspot.fr/2013/07/how-qatar-compensates-for-its-huge-loss.html
It is rather funny. Qatar has obviously lost big in Egypt. So to compensate for its loss in Egypt, Aljazeera basically shifted coverage from Egypt to Syria. While all Arab channels were covering Egypt this morning, Aljazeera broke the news that the brave Fee Syrian Army heroes took over the neighborhood of Khaldiyyah in Homs. Kid you not.
France, Saudi Arabia Increase Syria Coordination Post-Qusair
▻http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/politics/2013/06/france-saudi-arabia-coordinate-syria-efforts-qusair-geneva.html
The battle for Aleppo, for which the Syrian army is preparing, has become a joint French-Saudi concern. Another concern that French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius shared yesterday [June 11] with Saudi intelligence chief Bandar bin Sultan and Foreign Minister Saud al-Faisal was how to avoid turning the upcoming Geneva conference into a defeat of the Syrian opposition. That concern is reasonable in light of the current balance of power following the military victory by the Syrian army and Hezbollah in Qusair.
Il a donc été décidé que le Centaure de César, qui est super-haram, sera prochainement détruit par une foule de parisiens hystériques :
Jordanie
La Jordanie en proie avec les conséquences de la guerre en Syrie au Nord et les violences tribales au Sud, notamment dans la ville de Maan.
More Problems Than Ever
By: Tamer al-Samadi Translated from Al-Hayat (Pan Arab)
▻http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/politics/2013/06/jordan-government-problems-ensour-syria.html
“To avoid the collapse of the economy, Jordanian Prime Minister Abdullah Ensour is likely to take harsh decisions in the coming period, starting by raising electricity prices, which would surely go beyond the gradual cancelation of subsidies on bread and other commodities. This is seen as an attempt to obtain a financial loan worth $2 billion from the International Monetary Fund (IMF). However, these decisions that have yet to be announced reflect the deep trouble Ensour is likely to face in the coming period. Ensour has an economic mindset. He was educated in the United States and France and his reputation has yet to be tarnished with accusations of corruption.
The biggest challenge facing the government — mired in economic and political complexities — is the bloody violence that has been gripping the city of Maan in southern Jordan for four days”.
(…) Official circles revealed to Al-Hayat that the Syrian file’s successive developments “urged powerful leading figures within the state to demand the current government’s dismissal and the declaration of the war cabinet as soon as possible in order to counter the repercussions of the Syrian disaster, [as] anticipated by the Hashemite Kingdom.”
