Rime Allaf - Articles

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117. From conspiracy to vox populi Rime Allaf - Aug 2011 Bitterlemons International For years, it seemed that nothing could happen in the Levant without the involvement of Syria, according to its regular critics--a claim that simultaneously annoyed and pleased the Syrian regime. On the one hand, the regime protested the automatic assumption that Syria was to blame for everything that went wrong. On the other hand, however, with the proverbial cards at its disposal in Lebanon, Palestine, Iraq and beyond, the Syrian regime never tired of alluding to its own importance in maintaining a status quo that was supposed to benefit everyone concerned. ... 116. Assad's allies become critics as uprising persists Rime Allaf - Jun 2011 Canberra Times Syrians want change and aren't afraid to put their lives on the line. Up until a few weeks ago, the conventional wisdom in the Middle East was that the Arab Spring had run into the stifling heat of an unexpectedly early summer. Dictators prematurely departing their eternal thrones was, Arab potentates and their allies had decided, the kind of trend that needed stopping as was the notion of civilians thinking they could dictate their own destiny. Sure, the cumbersome Muammar Gaddafi would be removed eventually but other revolutions would be stopped before they gained traction, whether by persuasion, dissuasion or repression.... 115. Assad has run out of friends, and out of time Rime Allaf - Jun 2011 The Daily Telegraph The Syrian regime has its back against the wall now that its people have found their voice, says Rime Allaf. Up until a few weeks ago, the conventional wisdom in the Middle East was that the Arab Spring had run into the stifling heat of an unexpectedly early summer. Dictators prematurely departing their eternal thrones was, Arab potentates and their allies had decided, the kind of trend that needed stopping – as was the notion of civilians thinking they could dictate their own destiny.... 114. Young Turks and the Syrian spring Rime Allaf - May 2011 Bitterlemons International Since the day Turkish leaders decided to turn their attention to the immediate neighborhood while Europe kept them waiting, Turkey's standing has gone from strength to strength in the Arab and Muslim worlds, even as it remains the only Israeli ally in the region and a member of NATO to boot. The more Turkey adopted regional causes, the more Washington and Tel Aviv worried.... 113. Don't bother sending an envoy Rime Allaf - May 2011 New York Times Rime Allaf, a Syrian writer, is an international consultant and an associate fellow at Chatham House in London. She blogs at Mosaics. In the space of a couple of weeks, Arabs were reminded of two issues that had become rather insignificant for them over the years, especially following the invasion of Iraq; first, the existence -- and the demise -- of the infamous leader of Al Qaeda, and second, the existence -- and the resignation -- of the latest U.S. envoy to the Middle East.... 112. A twist in Syria's sobriety Rime Allaf - Apr 2011 Bitter Lemons International Even with the benefit of recent regional experience, the Syrian regime has been quite stunned by the protests shaking the country--but not nearly half as stunned as the Syrian people themselves.... 111. Egypt unrest exposes real U.S. policy on Arab world Rime Allaf - Feb 2011 CNN After decades of experience, there is hardly anyone left in the Arab world who is surprised by the double standards of U.S. foreign policy. Everyone knows that the proverbial "moderate" regimes (even when they terrorize their citizens with F16s as they peacefully demonstrate) will always be supported at the expense of their people, while "rogue" regimes will be punished for failing to toe the line at the expense of their people too.... 110. The protests in Egypt are a sign of maturity Rime Allaf - Jan 2011 New York Times A series of unprecedented demonstrations has fired up the Arab world. With a warped interest in the region, governments and news media were surprised by the Tunisian dictator’s sudden fall, the rapid spread of demonstrations in Egypt and the serious manifestations in Algeria, Jordan and Yemen.... 109. Breaking, not engaging, the region Rime Allaf - Jan 2011 Bitter Lemons International It is said that repeating an action and still expecting a different result every time, despite proof of the contrary, is a sure sign of insanity. With its strange attitude towards Cuba's regime, the US has for decades demonstrated that adage while seemingly making Cuba the exception to the rules of diplomatic engagement. In particular, in the Middle East, American influence was for long directly proportional to its direct involvement, be it positive or negative.... 108. Syria, or the loneliness of the long-distance runner Rime Allaf - Sep 2010 Tres Culturas When Bashar Assad came to power ten years ago, many were hoping, too prematurely, to see great changes happening within the country. The wave of expectations never had a chance to gather strength as events overtook the region and placed Syria in one of its most difficult positions since the 1980s: with September 11 triggering a succession of US-led demands and misadventures, an ideological fervor pushing foreign policy was able to flourish under the administration of George W. Bush, putting Syria at a disadvantage long before the infamous “axis of evil” nominations had been adopted by a completely obedient media....

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