#syria

faab64@diasp.org

"In tomorrow’s world, we should not worry if some roads to peace go through Beijing, New Delhi or Brasília. So long as all roads to war do not go through Washington." Trita Parsi in brilliant #nytimes op-ed.

There was a time when all roads to peace went through Washington. From the 1978 Camp David Accords between Israel and Egypt brokered by President Jimmy Carter to the 1993 Oslo Accords signed on the White House lawn to Senator George Mitchell’s Good Friday Agreement that ended the fighting in Northern Ireland in 1998, America was the indispensable nation for peacemaking. To Paul Nitze, a longtime diplomat and Washington insider, “making evident its qualifications as an honest broker” was central to America’s influence after the end of the Cold War.

But over the years, as America’s foreign policy became more militarized and as sustaining the so-called rules-based order increasingly meant that the United States put itself above all rules, America appears to have given up on the virtues of honest peacemaking.

We deliberately chose a different path. America increasingly prides itself on not being an impartial mediator. We abhor neutrality. We strive to take sides in order to be “on the right side of history” since we view statecraft as a cosmic battle between good and evil rather than the pragmatic management of conflict where peace inevitably comes at the expense of some justice.

This has perhaps been most evident in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict but is now increasingly defining America’s general posture. In 2000, when Madeleine Albright defended the Clinton administration’s refusal to veto a U.N. Security Council Resolution condemning the excessive use of force against Palestinians, she cited the need for the United States to be seen as an “honest broker.” But since then, the United States has vetoed 12 Security Council resolutions expressing criticisms of Israel — so much for neutrality.

We started to follow a different playbook. Today, our leaders mediate to help “our” side in a conflict advance our position rather than to establish a lasting peace. We do it to demonstrate the value of allying with the United States. While this trend is more than two decades long, it has reached full maturity now with great-power competition with China becoming the organizing principle of U.S. foreign policy. This rivalry is, in the words of Colin Kahl, the under secretary of defense for policy, “not a competition of countries. It is a competition of coalitions.” Following Dr. Kahl’s logic, we keep our coalition partners close by offering them — in addition to military might — our services as a “partial broker” to tilt the scales of diplomacy in their favor.

It’s what you do when you see the world through the prism of a Marvel movie: Peace is born not out of compromise but out of total victory.

But just as America has changed, so has the world. Elsewhere in the world, Marvel movie logic is seen for what it is: Fairy tales where the simplicity of good versus evil leaves no space for compromise or coexistence. Few have the luxury of pretending to live in such fantasy worlds.

So while America may have lost interest in peacemaking, the world has not. As the Ukraine crisis has shown, America has been immensely effective in mobilizing the West but hopelessly clueless in inspiring the global south. While the Western nations wanted the United States to rally them to defend Ukraine, the global south was looking for leadership to bring peace to Ukraine — of which the United States has offered little to none.

But America not only has moved beyond peacemaking. It is also increasingly dismissive of other powers’ efforts to mediate. Though the White House officially welcomed the Saudi-Iranian normalization deal, it could not conceal its irritation at China’s new-won role as a broker in the Middle East. And Beijing’s earlier offer to mediate between Ukraine and Russia was quickly dismissed by Washington as a distraction, even though President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine welcomed it on the condition that Russian troops would withdraw from Ukrainian territory. As Mark Hannah of the Eurasia Group Foundation recently pointed out, there is an inherent hypocrisy “in touting Ukraine’s agency when it prosecutes war, but not when it pursues peace.”

Still, Xi Jinping of China seems undeterred. He traveled to Moscow this week and also plans to speak directly to Mr. Zelensky in what appears to be the preparation for an active mediation attempt to bring the war to an end.

Mr. Xi succeeded in bringing Iran and Saudi Arabia together precisely because he was on neither’s side. With stubborn discipline, Beijing maintained a neutral position on the two countries’ squabbles and didn’t moralize their conflict or bother with whose side history would take. Nor did China bribe Iran and Saudi Arabia with security guarantees, arms deals or military bases, as all too often is our habit.

Whether Mr. Xi’s formula will work to end Russia’s war on Ukraine remains to be seen. But just as a more stable Middle East where the Saudis and Iranians aren’t at each other’s throats benefits the United States, so too will any effort to get Russia and Ukraine to the negotiating table.

In a multipolar world, shared responsibility for security can be a virtue that reduces the burden on Americans without increasing threats to U.S. interests. It is not security that we would give up, but the illusion that we are — and have to be — in control of developments far away. For too long, Americans have been told that if we do not dominate, the world will descend into chaos. In reality, as the Chinese mediation has shown, other powers are likely to step up to shoulder the burden of security and peacemaking.

The greatest threat to our own security and reputation is if we stand in the way of a world where others have a stake in peace, if we become a nation that doesn’t just put diplomacy last but also dismisses those who seek to put diplomacy first.

In tomorrow’s world, we should not worry if some roads to peace go through Beijing, New Delhi or Brasília. So long as all roads to war do not go through Washington.

Trita Parsi is the author of “Losing an Enemy: Obama, Iran and the Triumph of Diplomacy” and the executive vice president of the Quincy Institute.
#Iran #SaudiArabia #Chinan #US #Politics #Peace #War #Russia #Ukraine #Ydmen #Syria #Israel
Paywall link:
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/22/opinion/international-world/us-china-russia-ukraine.html

faab64@diasp.org

In another shocking development, Basir Assad, dictator of Syria arrived in Abu Dhabi to meet with the dictators of United Arab Emirate.

The arch enemies of yesterday, seems to be shaking hands and the leaders of those countries receive military escort on arrival, the red carpet and warm welcome into the new "Arab brotherhood".

It seems like the Chinese position in negotiating peace between Iran and Saudi Arabia had some side effects as well, including the acceptance of Syria into the Arab league, group they were kicked out of over a decades ago.

Despite the nauseating image of these monsters meeting each other, it may have positive impact on the war thorn region facing the growing danger of ISIS and the radical fraction of AlQaeda (the old AlQaeda, just like the Taliban seems to be more friendly with the west and tolerant toward their former enemies).

Will this last? Can this finally end the 20 years of bloodbath ignited by the American war on terror and the criminal invasion of Iraq and Afghanistan as well as daily bombings of countries in west Asia and north Africa by US and it's NATO "peace loving" aggressors.

Will the 2023 be the year of peace in the region? i for one am too afraid of feeling hopeful, but I honestly hope my fear s are wrong and we see a slow end of the "New World Order" that Bush and his criminal neo-con gang created.

#PersianGulf #UAE #Syria #Politics #Peace #ArabLeague #Iraq #Iran #China #US #Afghanistan #NATO #ISIS #AlQaeda

استقبال گرم رئیس امارات از «بشار اسد» در ابوظبی

🔹«بشار اسد» رئیس جمهور سوریه، در رأس هیئتی بلندپایه و با استقبال رسمی «محمد بن زاید»، رئیس امارات، وارد ابوظبی شد.

🔹هواپیمای بشار اسد در حین ورود وی به آسمان ابوظبی با جنگنده‌های اماراتی اسکورت شد

nowisthetime@pod.automat.click

https://www.bitchute.com/video/qtQCHTHMmkB4/

The #Syria The Media Won’t Show You

"I always thought the Middle East was just rock and sand and full of fanatical nutters. I mean that's all the media ever show us isn't it. And so to cast off my ignorance and prejudice I travelled down to the country with probably the worst reputation of all, Syria. I was joined by Wales's most famous culinary expert @SimonWilson12 ( check out his channel for his videos from the trip ) and our new Syrian mate Rami for a journey that both educated and surprised us. Maybe it will surprise and educate you a little bit too and next time you watch some depressing news report from the country you will be able to better draw your own conclusions. Watch this ( the longest video I have ever made ) and find out for yourselves. Shukran habibis.
Get Surfshark VPN at https://surfshark.deals/bankrupt - Enter promo code BANKRUPT for 83% off and 3 extra months for FREE! bald and bankrupt"
https://www.youtube.com/@baldandbankrupt/videos

digit@iviv.hu

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m0iKA9Y5xSA

#propeace #pivottopeace
#holdleaderstoaccount #holdrepresentativestoaccount

#antiglobalization
#warisnottheanswer #imperialismisnottheanswer #downwithimperialism

#keeptheamericanpeopleoutofpolitics #americanisolationism #americaninsularity #americanignorance #humansuffering #hegemony #puppetgovernment #hubris #whenyoudontholdleaderstoaccount #endlesswar #mccarthyism #neomccarthyism #unipolarworld #PNAC

#vietnam #iraq #afghanistan
#alessonunlearned #lessonsunlearned
#libya #syria
#ukraine #taiwan

#beyondappearances #peoplearegood

#unauthorizeddisclosure


bonus, to add more context:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Hodx6cwNzU

#projectbluebeam #fakealieninvasion

shows the continued lack of respect for truth, for you, for reality.

they want a common enemy, a flase flag event, to terrorise everybody united against a common enemy? if they keep doing these sort of things, they'll make themselves that. a small part of me satirically quips "carry on", as if wanting them to shoot themselves in the foot in that ultimate way. a much larger part of me thinks, we've no need for this. we can transcend their bullcrap, obsolete their paradigm, their philosophy, their poisonous paternalism.

part_of_you@diaspora.psyco.fr

Mick #Wallace

If the #Apartheid State of #Israel is bombing Aleppo airport in #Syria preventing aid from reaching #Earthquake victims, what does that tell us about this Israeli Government...? What does that tell us about the 'European Values' of the #EU who refuse to condemn this brutality....?

#MickWallace
https://twitter.com/wallacemick/status/1633576800885391361

faab64@diasp.org

Citing a military source, the state news agency #SANA said #Israel 🇮🇱 “carried out an air attack from the direction of the Mediterranean Sea, west of Latakia, targeting #Aleppo International Airport”

ISrAeL hAs tHe rIgHt tO dEfEnD iTsElF!

It is not often that Israeli criminal actions get any kind of coverage on western media, but I guess bombing an airport that is the only route for foreign aid coming to Syria is just too big to ignore, but of course they bombed the "Iranian targets" , no way Israel would ever bomb a civilian airport, would they? It's not like they are like Russians or something.

There was no comment from Israeli officials. Israel has carried out hundreds of strikes on targets inside government-controlled parts of Syria in recent years, including attacks on the #Damascus and Aleppo airports, but it rarely acknowledges or discusses the operations.

Israel has acknowledged, however, that it targets bases of Iran-allied militant groups, such as Lebanon’s #Hezbollah, which has sent thousands of fighters to support President #Assad’s forces.

#Syria #Impunity #StateSponsoredTerrorism

https://www.france24.com/en/middle-east/20230307-syrian-state-media-says-israeli-strike-damaged-aleppo-airport?ref=tw_i

faab64@diasp.org

The House voted 414-2 last week to maintain US sanctions on Syria despite the earthquakes that have killed thousands of Syrians in the last few weeks. AOC and the Squad voted for the measure. The only opposition came from two Republicans incl. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia.

Inhumanity and lust for war mixed with the desire to be included in the team of main stream Democrats sows who these people are.

The squad is nothing but a safety valve for American public to believe in the circus the call 2 party system.

They keep people engaged and interested in supporting the Coke party that is everything the Pepsi party is not, except for foreign policy and support for never ending wars.

#US #Politics #Syria #Sanctions #Democrats #TheSquad

ramnath@nerdpol.ch

Frank Hoogerbeets, a dutch seismologist who predicted the Turkish quake suggests a convergence of critical #planetary #geometry around 2 and 5 March may result in large to very large seismic activity, possibly even a mega-thrust earthquake around 3-4 March and/or 6-7 March.

Quote He predicted the horror. Now he warns again: The first week of March is critical

#Dutch #seismologist #FrankHoogerbeets said the world could be hit by another major #earthquake in the coming days.

SOURCE: B92, M.J. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 1, 2023 | 15:30

Just to recall that Hoogerbeets gained international fame after predicting devastating earthquakes in #Turkey and #Syria last month.

The first week of March will be "extremely critical", says Frank Hoogerbeets. Hoogerbeets, who makes his forecasts based on the movements of celestial bodies, posted a video on YouTube on Monday warning that "the first week of March will be extremely critical".

"A convergence of critical planetary geometry around 2 and 5 March may result in large to very large seismic activity, possibly even a mega-thrust earthquake around 3-4 March and/or 6-7 March", it is stated in the description of the clip.

In the video itself, the seismologist claimed that the strength of the alleged upcoming earthquake "could be over 8 on the Richter scale."

The affected area could stretch for thousands of kilometers, from the Kamchatka Peninsula and the Kuril Islands in the Russian Far East, all the way to the Philippines and Indonesia, Hoogerbeets said.

"I'm not exaggerating. I'm not trying to create fear. This is a #warning," insists the scientist, who works at the Geometric Survey of the #SolarSystem (SSGEOS).

The head of the Kamchatka branch of Geophysical Research of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Danila Chebrov, questioned Hoogerbeets' predictions and described him as an "amateur".

The connection between the motion of planets in the solar system and seismic activity on Earth "is quite weak, and it is problematic to use it as a main prognostic tool," Chebrov explained.

On February 3, Hoogerbeets posted a tweet that read: "Sooner or later a magnitude 7.5 earthquake will occur in this region (South Central Turkey, #Jordan, Syria, #Lebanon)." Three days later, a magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck Turkey and Syria. The disaster caused the death of more than 50,000 people, and strong aftershocks continue in the region to this day.

Dutsch's seismologist Hoogerbeets has made predictions over the years that have not come true.

Commenting on his work earlier this month, Susan Huff of the US Geological Survey insisted that no scientist "has ever predicted a major earthquake".

Huff told NPR that the direct forecast for the earthquakes in Turkey and Syria was just a coincidence.

"It's a stopped clock that's right twice a day, basically," she said.

Source: https://youtube.com/watch?v=Ntd24t68ex4

https://www.b92.net/eng/news/world.p...&nav_id=115504

anonymiss@despora.de

Record number of states shut down the #Internet in 2022

source pdf: https://www.accessnow.org/cms/assets/uploads/2023/02/KeepItOn-2022-Report.pdf

#India made at least 84 internet blocks in 2022, according to the analysis. It thus holds the top spot for the fifth year in a row. #Ukraine suffered 22 blockages caused by the Russian #military as part of its war of aggression. #Iran follows in third place with 18 shutdowns - a new national annual record due to massive demonstrations in the country. Other countries affected included #Afghanistan, #Algeria, #Armenia, #Azerbaijan, #Bangladesh, #Brazil, #China, #Cuba, #Ethiopia, #Iraq, #Jordan, #Kazakhstan, #Libya, #Myanmar, #Nigeria, #Oman, #Pakistan, #Russia, #SriLanka, #Sudan, #Syria, #Turkey, #Tunisia, #Uganda, #Yemen and #Zimbabwe.

#politics #censorship #humanrights #problem #news #blocking #www #web #shutdown