Rime Allaf - Articles

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57. Syrian-Lebanese relations are not a zero-sum game Rime Allaf - Aug 2005 Bitterlemons International It would have been naive to expect Syrian-Lebanese relations to improve rapidly after Syrian troops finally withdrew from Lebanon in April. Regardless of whether the withdrawal was justified or not, each side felt slighted by the other, betrayed by perceived extreme positions and actions, and took for granted the other's responsibility for numerous offences or crimes.... 56. Winds of change, or dust in the wind? Rime Allaf - Jun 2005 Chatham House Omayad Square, Damascus’s inescapable central point where seven major roads converge, has recently become emblematic of the Syrian regime. Nearly two years ago, repairs began, aiming at reducing congestion by building an underground tunnel for cars going from Mezzeh to the Old City, freeing valuable space on the ground. The square quickly became, and remains, a massive construction site, driving Damascenes to despair even though the tunnel has already opened.... 55. Syria's stake in Lebanon Rime Allaf - Mar 2005 Bitter Lemons International The Syrian regime may have had plans for Lebanon, but clearly none envisaged the scenario that developed over the last weeks or correctly assessed the current regional mood. Having failed to realize that frustration and resentment were mounting in Lebanon, especially after the extension of President Emile Lahoud's term, Syria became inextricably entangled in the most shocking event of these recent weeks, the assassination of Rafiq Hariri, whose death shook the very foundation of Syria's presence in Lebanon.... 54. America's process from Syrian "accountability" to "liberation" Rime Allaf - Mar 2005 Asharq Alawsat Note: An Arabic “translation” of this article was published in the pan-Arab, Saudi-owned Asharq Alawsat daily on Friday March 25, 2005. Without consulting with me (and having made a very poor translation), the editors “omitted” several sentences which are marked here in bold; “coincidentally, the removed parts are all references to the US’s unreasonable pressure on Syria. The title was also changed to “Damascus’s isolation is of its own making.” The balance of the argument was thus completely removed from the Arabic version.... 53. Point of no return? Rime Allaf - Nov 2004 Chatham House Since the invasion of Iraq, American-Syrian relations have worsened drastically; harsh Syrian rhetoric was countered by vehement American accusations of assistance to Iraqi insurgents. Washington slapped sanctions on Damascus for supporting “terrorism,” and even rashly allowed Israel to strike targets within Syria, after thirty years of relative calm. Has Syria properly handled unreasonable American-Israeli pressure? Or has it ultimately helped achieve its own isolation by alienating powerful friends with risky meddling in Lebanon?... 52. Shockwaves Rime Allaf - Jul 2004 Chatham House The leaked photographs showing scenes of sadistic physical and psychological abuse inflicted on Iraqi prisoners in Abu Ghraib, the notorious prison where Saddam Hussein’s jailers preceded US forces, will have long-term negative repercussions on American designs for the Arab world, and Arabs’ perception of the United States.... 51. Bush's coup d’état on international law Rime Allaf - Apr 2004 Daily Star Lebanon Two of America’s most loyal allies paid homage to George W. Bush in one week. Tony Blair’s short visit on April 16 lasted just long enough for him to confirm his shoulder to shoulder stance, pretending to be fully privy to his decision-making circle, and rubber stamping everything the president said on Iraq and Palestine. Apparently, the prime minister remains the only one still oblivious to the perception that Bush treats him like a subordinate, rather than an equal.... 50. The pariah who came in from the cold Rime Allaf - Nov 2003 Bitterlemons International The last couple of months have been good, or at least better than before, for the Syrian regime. After getting a cold shoulder from the US over its opposition to the invasion of Iraq and even more so after the assassination of Rafiq Hariri, the Syrian regime was finally being acknowledged as a force to be reckoned with, and a regional partner to be considered, even valued.... 49. Recycled delusions in Geneva Rime Allaf - Nov 2003 Daily Star Lebanon It is only natural to feel a tingle of hope when rumors of a plan to settle the Palestinian-Israeli conflict emerge, especially after three years of unprecedented violence. And when Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon reacts with his usual hysteria, nearly forgetting his original 14 objections to the roadmap, one can be forgiven for deducing that the plan is relatively beneficial to Palestinians... 48. WMDs are turning the BBC into a new Al Jazeera Rime Allaf - Jul 2003 Daily Star Lebanon The weapons of mass destruction that supposedly litter the Middle East still haven’t been found, but they have already claimed a diverse list of victims, which the BBC recently joined to the surprise of regular followers....

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