Rime Allaf - Articles

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67. Patching things up with the neighbours Rime Allaf - Nov 2006 Guardian Unlimited Tony Blair would have us believe he can solve the Iraq fiasco, the Arab-Israeli conflict and the entire Middle East problem (all of which Britain so negligently helped create) by first "convincing" the US to speak with Syria and Iran. He also claims to have come up with a brilliant Middle East strategy, whereby solving the Palestinian question would - surprise, surprise - make Muslims hate the west less and cooperate with it more. Given Blair's repeated false promises on the subject, one shouldn't expect Palestinians to be ecstatic by this sudden revelation for a lame duck prime minister with Clintonian aspirations.... 66. Walking on eggshells Rime Allaf - Oct 2006 Guardian Unlimited It has become disheartening, albeit ordinary, to observe that most people in positions of power, authority or responsibility in US-friendly countries treat the Arab-Israeli conflict in one of two ways: with kid gloves and exaggerated detachment (speaking of "two sides" while pretending to be objective and neutral, as many EU states do) or with confident partisanship and only feigned concern for the region (unwaveringly replicating Israel's rhetoric and supporting its position, as the Anglo-American partners, standing shoulder-to-shoulder, demonstrated this summer).... 65. Damascus should beware delusions of grandeur Rime Allaf - Sep 2006 Bitterlemons International Following an unexpected proxy victory in Lebanon, the Syrian regime currently seems intoxicated with power and confidence, reveling in its recovered status as an incontrovertible accomplice to any regional arrangement. For the time being, everything seems to be vindicating its stated positions and alliances in the ongoing war for regional domination, and the latest episode's various losers (from Washington through London to Lebanon) can't help but notice the schadenfreude glowing from Damascus.... 64. As Lebanon burns, Syria finds supporters again Rime Allaf - Jul 2006 Bitterlemons International By the time the atrocities of Israel's latest aggression on Lebanon have been digested, the victims counted and buried, and the astronomical physical damage estimated, the region will be adjusting to a new status quo probably not intended by Israel and its allies. Neither the elimination or disarmament of Hizballah nor the sidelining of Iran or Syria is likely to happen in this manner, and the latter even stands to gain much political ground.... 63. The Golan Heights and Syrian foreign policy Rime Allaf - May 2006 Creative Syria Think Tank 39 years after Israel's invasion of June 5, 1967, can the Golan Heights return to the heart of Syria's foreign policy? In June 2007, it will have been forty years since Israel invaded the Golan Heights, and over a quarter of a century since it blatantly annexed the Syrian territory, in complete disdain of global condemnation and of United Nations Security Council resolutions... 62. The US and political change in Syria Rime Allaf - May 2006 Creative Syria Think Tank Do you think it is right to seek US assistance to push for political change in Syria? The first American "assistance" for political change in Syria (actually the first in the whole region, way before Mossadegh's removal in 1953 Iran) dates back to 1949, when the first democratically-elected president of Syria, Shukri Al Quwatli, was overthrown by a CIA-backed military coup installing Husni Al Zaim.... 61. Reform in Syria under Bashar Assad Rime Allaf - May 2006 Creative Syria Think Tank Six years into his administration, how significant are the reforms Bashar Assad put in place? Does one treat a gaping wound as one would a life-threatening disease? The former may need immediate surgery and a number of quick steps to stop the bleeding, save limbs in risk of amputation, and minimize permanent effects.... 60. Syria's performance over 40 years Rime Allaf - May 2006 Creative Syria Think Tank How did Syria perform over the past 40 years compared to its neighbors? Comparing the Syrian regime's accomplishments to those of its neighbors does not give us a realistic picture; given the poor performance around the region, it would be like grading on a curve and the score might not be accurate on certain parameters.... 59. Syria: Real fears or crocodile tears? Rime Allaf - Mar 2006 Bitterlemons International While American and British officials continue to live in a state of denial about the situation in Iraq, for most others talk of a civil war has for now overtaken talk of the de facto fragmentation of the country, brought closer with the passing of an ominous constitution in October 2005. After the most recent upsurge in violence, hopes are fading that further divisions along sectarian lines can be averted.... 58. Syria must choose pragmatism over isolation Rime Allaf - Nov 2005 Bitterlemons International For years, Syrian-Lebanese relations functioned in a distinct dimension: no matter how Syria fared with other countries, Lebanon was an exclusive domain where third party interference was never really efficient. But after the Syrian regime's clumsy handling of affairs in Lebanon in the last year, relations have entered another dimension which actually defines Syria's standing on the international scale, where Syria's cooperation--or lack thereof--on all things Lebanese will now delineate its position with the big powers....

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