Two huge explosions killed and wounded scores of people in Damascus. The government accused the opposition, which, in turn, accused the government. And then this, today: in a video posted online the Islamist group al-Nusra Front says it carried out two bomb attacks in the Syrian capital Damascus on Thursday (the original quote in BBC’s newspeak was: “A video posted online in the name of Islamist group, al-Nusra Front, says it carried out two bomb attacks in the Syrian capital Damascus on Thursday“. Just an example of how political correctness even damages grammar). This all got me thinking again: does anybody care that the Wahabis are on yet another rabid killing spree, this time in Syria?
I have not posted much on Syria primarily because I feel rather uncomfortable with the entire situation. As you probably know, I loathe the Assad regime as much as I loathed the Gaddafi one. And yet, I don’t feel that it is right to simply indulge in reckless Assad-bashing like many Arab and, sadly, Palestinian, pundits do. The very same folks whose irresponsible “down with Gaddafi!” plunged Libya in violence, chaos and poverty are now clearly hell-bent on repeating that same “performance” with Syria. The weirdest thing about these people is that they are self-proclaimed secularists, and yet they are in bed with the worse religious fanatics of the planet (Wahabi Islamists and Orthodox Jews). They whine about human rights, but when Gaddafi gets lynched by a crazed mob who even sodomizes him with a large knife, they turn away and have nothing to say.
For a while, I just assumed that they are misguided, but sincere, but when they turned their ideological hatred against Hassan Nasrallah, by far the most popular leader in the Arab and Muslim world, they showed me their true faces. Nasrallah, whom they in the past had covered in praise, suddenly turned into an overnight villain. Why? Because he chose to side with Assad and not with the US, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Israel and NATO. When I now see their expressions of outrage I wonder – did these pundits ever bother to actually listen (or read) a single speech by Hassan Nasrallah? How could they ever imagine that he would ever side with AIPAC and all the other newfound “friends of the Syrian people”?!
It is a very sad fact that a large segment of the Palestinian political leaders and pundits have had the gall to slander the one man on the planet who did more for the Palestinian people than any other and, forgive me for saying so, who did more for Palestine than any Palestinian ever did.
I understand that it would be useless for me to argue directly with these people, so I will limited myself to dedicating this short Russian fable to them in the hope that they might reflect on its moral:
This time around, and to the great chagrin of these “friends of the Syrian people”, both Russia and China have balked at the US demands to betray Assad and the Syrian people (like they had done with Gaddafi and the Libyan people). This double veto got these folks really, really, really angry because they figured out that this time a NATO war on Syria would probably not happen. Barring a complete breakdown of the Assad regime, a “victory” for bizarre “Wahabi-Judaic-Secular coalition” is rather unlikely, hence the subsequent wave of (mostly) anti-Russian and (marginally) anti-Chinese vitriol.
Pepe Escobar has written a very witty satire about the fallback policy of the West towards Syria entitled World Powers Rush to Plunge Syria Into War. Check it out, it is both funny, accurate and sad.
As for the regime, it seems to be taking Moscow’s threats about “no more mistakes or you are own your own” seriously and following a constitutional referendum parliamentary election have taken place. Does that mean that this Baathist regime has now come clean? Probably not. Old habits die hard, and corrupt officials used to rule by fear do not mend their ways overnight. But at least these two events could become the beginning of a gradual process of reform which could last for a very long time. The opposition understands that – hence the orgy of bombings which we are now witnessing.
Its too early to call this one. The Empire did prevail in Bosnia, Kosovo and Libya, but it was defeated in Chechnia by Russia which is now probably putting a lot of pressure on Assad to clean up his act. Besides Russia, Iran and Hezbollah are probably also trying to save Assad’s regime, and both of these are very good at counter-insurgency operations. So I want to believe that there is hope to avoid a “Bosnia v4, Kosovo v3 or a Libya v2 in Syria”, but it is going to be hard: Turkey is feeling that the moment is critical and going for the jugular, and NATO still might decide to strike. As I said many, many, times here, Russia will not, repeat not, militarily defend Syria in the case of a NATO aggression. And neither will China, of course. And that is the main problem.
The NATO puppets in Syria (aka the “Syrian opposition”) enjoy the certainty that it can always retreat to a safe heaven into Turkey or Jordan and that its US and Israeli patrons will look out after them. The folks risking their necks for the Assad regime have no such guarantees. NATO can decide to strike and if that happens, they will be on their own with a zero chance to prevail.
The future is probably in the hands of the Syrian people. If they can convince NATO and its US overlords that an invasion of Syria will turn into a bloody mess followed by a bloody insurgency, NATO might decide to stay out of it. But if NATO feels that all it needs to do is engage into another air campaign “a la Libya” and that its allies on the ground will do what the KLA did in Kosovo or the Northern Alliance did in Afghanistan, then its all over for Assad and Syria.
Whatever the outcome, the moral stain on the Palestinian elites will remain: twice they back-stabbed their Arab brothers and twice they were on the wrong side of the fence. If Syria collapses, it will be with their complicity, and if Syria prevails, it will be in spite of them.
When the Argentinian people got really totally sick and tired of all of their political elites they came up with a truly beautiful slogan: “¡Que se vayan todos!” (“All of them must go!”). This is also what I wish the Palestinian people, that they finally get rid of their clueless political leaders and equally clueless do-gooder supporters abroad.
Hassan Nasrallah has recently declared that the time when Israel will cease to exist is nearing, and he is absolutely correct about that. The liberation of the Palestinian people is a historical inevitability, but it will not happen as long as the Palestinian people are lead by clueless elites. Neither Fatah nor Hamas nor the so-called “Palestinian intellectuals” have what it takes to free Palestine. So, indeed, “¡Que se vayan todos!“
The Saker
Good analysis as usual, I agree with at least 90 percent. My main disagreement is the characterization of certain Jewish Zionist fanatics as “Orthodox Jews”. Traditional Orthodox Judaism is very anti-Zionist; calling these recent fanatical Jewish colonialists “Orthodox” is like calling Wahhabis “Sunnis” which they are not.
OTOH Wahhabism has been very successful at the politics of sectarian exclusivity, and for decades many Palestinians, both secular and religious, have been willing pawns in the game.
I have mildly criticized Hezbullah for short-sightedness wrt the Qaddhafi fiasco. But so many Palestinians turning on both Libya and Syria — and without Syria and Libya in the 70’s, or Syria and Iran from the 80’s to the present, there would be no hope for Palestine today — is utterly incomprehensible and inexcusable.
My only other concern is that you didn’t give a few examples/links of the foolishness you describe. I think some of your readers could use that info :-)
Peace
Hi Saker,
Spot on analysis. The only faction worthy of the epithet of resistance are the Islamic Jihad Movement in Palestine.
In my opinion, Dr Fathi Shiqaqi (assassinated by Mossad in 1995), a co-founder of the movement, was a genuinely sincere and principled leader of the Palestinian liberation struggle. The same was true of Dr George Habash, founder of the PFLP. It’s a shame that these individuals were eclipsed in power and influence by the likes of Arafat and his successor Abu Mazen. Not that Ismail Haniyeh is looking any better.
Hamas has betrayed Hezbollah and Iran (the lynchpins of the Axis of Resistance to Israel) by signing up to the Al Saud and Al Thani funded and directed (naturally at Washington’s behest) destabilisation of Syria.
How can a truly authentic Arab or Islamic liberation movement allly itself with Saudi Arabia and Qatar? The Gulf despotisms and Israel are all willingly locked into a symbiotic relationship.
In addition, Hamas is now trying to stop Islamic Jihad from attacking Israel. It’s been years since Hamas have a fired a shot in anger at the usurping Zionist entity.
Alas dear Saker, the mainstream Palestinian leadership and commentariat is populated by many a potential collaborator, more than happy to dance like a whore for a few scraps thrown from the tables of Tel Aviv, Riyadh and Washington.
My understanding is that the Palestinian masses, especially the youth, are becoming increasingly disgruntled with both Fatah and Hamas. I think that one should expect the winds of revolt against the established order of oppression to spread to the West Bank and Gaza.
@Ishamid:My main disagreement is the characterization of certain Jewish Zionist fanatics as “Orthodox Jews”
Yes, I am aware of this argument, but I reject it. If we are talking about the position of Orthodox Jews at the moment of the establishment of the state of Israel – then yes, they were largely anti-Zionist on religious grounds. But, with time, the vast majority of them came around and now are very much behind this racist state, the fact that this racism fitted nicely with their own, racist, interpretation of pre-Rabbinical Jewish scripture probably explains that (racist Jews of the world – unite!).
Now if you are referring to Neturai Karta, they are a rather small group which is, I think, naively taken by many in the anti-Zionist movement as being somehow representative of “true Judaism” which I strongly believe is wrong, if only because what they would call “true Judaism” is nothing else but the direct continuation of the sect of the Pharisees who ethno-tribalism was already denounced by Christ and his Apostles as being “of the Devil” and the “Synagogue of Satan”. It should really be called “Phariseic Rabbinism” or something similar.
My only other concern is that you didn’t give a few examples/links of the foolishness you describe. I think some of your readers could use that info :-)
Well, I did drop a few hints about whom I was referring to in the post. But put it bluntly, most of the Fatah leadership is composed of corrupt idiots while most of the leaership of Hamas is probably composed of honest idiots :-)
@Raskolnikov: How can a truly authentic Arab or Islamic liberation movement allly itself with Saudi Arabia and Qatar? The Gulf despotisms and Israel are all willingly locked into a symbiotic relationship.
Absolutely!!!
My understanding is that the Palestinian masses, especially the youth, are becoming increasingly disgruntled with both Fatah and Hamas. I think that one should expect the winds of revolt against the established order of oppression to spread to the West Bank and Gaza.
Amen to that. Que se vayan todos and have them replaced with young Palestinians who would take their inspiration from Hezbollah and not from Baathist, Nationalist, Leftist, Progressive, Liberal, Democratic, Conservative, Republican or any other form of secularist ideology. And, as you know, I also have no hope that a Sunni or Papist leader could do much to oppose the US/Israeli Empire. It is possible I suppose, but I very much doubt it. There are only three poles of ideological opposition to the Empire at the moment: Shia Iran, Orthdox Russia and “Bolivarian” Latin America. Dunno about China (whether Marxist or Confucian). But those religions who have been comprehensively co-opted by the Empire and secularism (at least in its prejudiced, militant, or nationalistic form) have failed once and or all and will do nothing to oppose it.
Dear Saker;
Simply brilliant analysis, as usual.
Spot on and to the point,in the answers to the comment as well…
Best,
Joe
Saudi and Qatari governments have lambasted Russia for supporting Assad saying that they oppress Muslims in Chechnya like Assad in Syria and the blow back will come to Chechnya. I guess that is a veiled threat for increased terrorist support in the North Caucasus.
http://www.memri.org/report/en/0/0/0/0/0/0/6246.htm
Sibel Edmonds on RT promoting her new book saying the US and NATO were trafficking and training terrorist from the Mid East in Turkey to fight in Bosnia and from the Mid 90’s the CIA directly supported terrorist groups and attacks in Chechnya and Central Asia.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sZ4qqe84u50
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hG8Tan8KqMw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RPo1l292P1E
An expose US support and trafficking of terrorist to fight Russian forces in Chechnya will unravel the truth behind 9/11.
@jack: Saudi and Qatari governments have lambasted Russia for supporting Assad saying that they oppress Muslims in Chechnya like Assad in Syria and the blow back will come to Chechnya. I guess that is a veiled threat for increased terrorist support in the North Caucasus.
The good news is that with Putin in power in Moscow and Kadyrov in Grozny all these threats amount to nothing. These two have, whatever their other faults might be, pretty much eliminated the Chechen insurgency. Not only that, but they have created an apparently viable Chechen regime which seems to be able to deal with the Wahabi threat without even involving Moscow too much. Lastly, the 58th Army is now *by far* the most combat capable Army of the Russian Armed Forces and it has more than enough capabilities to deal with any attempts at reviving the Wahabi insurgency.
No, I think that, barring some major and unpredictable development (like a double regime change in Moscow and Grozny?), the civil war in Chechnia is over. The loonies of the Arab Gulf might not realize this, but this changes nothing: its over.
Yes I very much hope you’re right on Chechnya Saker and I’m sure you are.
Re Syria it’s just possible some good might come out of this. If Assad has been forced to hold multi party elections that’s a step forward. Doubtless they won’t be exactly free and fair but in a situation of civil war instigated by outside enemy powers that’s hardly surprising. I think ballot rigging against any party that is a Wahabist front would be 100% justified. And I don’t often excuse ballot rigging.
My personal opinion is that the Zionist apartheid regime will only fall if a critical mass of its Arab neighbours become democratic(more or less) rather than tyrannies with a domestic human rights record as bad in some ways as the Zionist regime itself. It would short circuit this crap about “the only democracy in the Middle East” and deal a death wound to Zionist propaganda in the West.
The issue is not secularism versus religion but democracy versus the tyranny of a plutocratic elite, Wahabist, Baathist or Zionist.
20 families own an obsence percentage of the Israeli economy and they are making vast amounts of money out of the war. They need to keep the Arab and Jewish population of Palestine fighting each other rather than the oligarchy which is oppressing them.
Fatah is a junior partner of the oligarchy. As an agnostic I loath these “secularists” with a passion.
@Robert:The issue is not secularism versus religion but democracy versus the tyranny of a plutocratic elite, Wahabist, Baathist or Zionist.
Here I respectfully disagree. The US Empire is, at its very core, in its essence and ideology (capitalism), a secular, if not a pagan, phenomenon. It has at its very core the belief that the sum of everybody’s sins (greed) will miraculously result in a, if not perfect, then as perfect as can be society and international system. Not only spirituality, but even ethics as such have been comprehensively eradicated from the mainstream “culture” of the so-called “West”. From the Nietzschean ideas of “God is dead” and “beyond good and evil” arose a spectacularly evil political system and ideology which not only considered the entire planet as a commodity, but even considered all humans as a commodity. That is a triumph of secularization, a triumph of militant atheism which can only be countered and defeated by a fundamentally, dialectically, opposed worldview and that is, of course, a religious one.
Now, the Jewish/Israeli culture is not secular in its roots at all. Sure, it has a veneer of secularism (Socialist or Zionist), but even the most secular of all Jews have to turn to Jewish religious texts to justify their Zionism and, even more so, their racism. Yeah, many Zionists eat pork and don’t care one bit about the 613 Mitzvot, but at the very same time, their ethno-tribalism and sense of racial superiority will, when push comes to shove, always rally around the rabbinical religious narrative. And here again, only a religious worldview which is predicated on the fundamental affirmation that all men are equal can see the Judaic racist ideology what it really is: a monstrous blasphemy against the Creator, a brazen perversion of the universal message of the Prophets, an attempt at getting back at the Creator by rejecting Him and his Will and by taking control of His creation “and the inheritance will be ours” (Mark 12:1-7).
No, secularism, agnosticism, atheism & Co. are organically bound with the capitalist ideology and the trans-national colonial “globalist” order it naturally engenders.
At least this is my deeply held belief. You are, of course, free to disagree :-)
Cheers,
The Saker
As I said many, many, times here, Russia will not, repeat not, militarily defend Syria in the case of a NATO aggression.
Maybe not directly, Patriarch Kirill has drawn a line and the line is Syria and his full support of the Orthodox Christian Tradition and a stalwart defender of the doctrine of the ancient Christian Faith of the First Millennium. If it was not for him that weasel Mededev would have thrown Syria to his Zionist friends. Same goes for Putin.
@anonymous1136:Patriarch Kirill has drawn a line and the line is Syria and his full support of the Orthodox Christian Tradition and a stalwart defender of the doctrine of the ancient Christian Faith of the First Millennium.
Oh boy, here I totally disagree…
The (pseudo) “Patriarch” Kirill (Gundaev) is not AT ALL a stalwart defender of the doctrine of the ancient Christian Faith of the First Millennium. He is, in fact, a corrupt apostate, who used to work for the bad old KGB and who now works for the regime. To make things works, his original patron was “Metropolitan” Nikodim (Rotov), a crypto-Papist who even managed to die in the arms of Pope John-Paul I. I even am aware of strong evidence that both Nikodim Rotov and Kirill Gundaev are Papist Cardinals “in pectore” (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/In_pectore) but, alas, I cannot share it so its up to you whether you believe this or not.
I would only add that the entire Moscow Patriarchate is an organization founded by the Bolsheviks to replace the original Russian Orthodox Church and that from the point of view of the “ancient Christian Faith” it is a schismatic, lapsed entity, whose justifications for its past deeds actually make it heretical.
Besides, Kirill Gundaev has no authority or power of his own. Just like Blair was Bush’e lapdog, so is Gundaev Putin’s lapdog: he will do whatever Putin tells him to do, immediately and faithfully.
Sorry if I crushed your well-intentioned hopes but I cannot lie about this
Just to clarify I’ve re-read the thread and realise my mistake. I do NOT condone ballot rigging, even against parties that might be described as a “Wahabist front” That is exactly the kind of McCarthyite Cold War logic that the Empire used against Allende in Chile and elsewhere. If people vote for the Wahabists they have a right to be represented. Democracy except for those whose ideology you like is no democracy at all.