struggle for democracy in syria

No Picture

Barack Obama, CIA, coverage of foreign events, Crimes Against Humanity, Dimming Vision of World Affairs, Egypt, foreign correspondents, foreign news coverage, History, human rights, human rights reports, Intelligence, International Law, Iran, Poetry, Russia, State Department, syria, U.S. Intervention, U.S. Military, United States, use of force, war crimes July 7, 2013

REPRISE: Hommage à Homs (actualisé / updated)

BEIRUT: Intense fighting in the central Syrian city of Homs has left 60 to 70 percent of a besieged rebel-held district damaged, destroyed or uninhabitable,…

No Picture

Barack Obama, China, Crimes Against Humanity, Dictatorship, extrajudicial execution, France, History, human rights, Iran, Lebanon, Russia, State Department, syria, Torture, U.N. Security Council, U.S. Congress, U.S. Intervention, U.S. Military, United States, use of force, war crimes May 28, 2013

REPRISE: Syrian military continues campaign to crush opposition in Saraqeb, Homs, al-Qusair and elsewhere—Obama’s Debacle in Syria — Update #16 (March 24, updated March 25, 2012)

REPRISE Originally published March 25, 2012 Latest news reports Oliver Holmes and Steve Gutterman (Beirut/Moscow), “Syrian forces on the offensive; Annan in Moscow,” Reuters, March…

No Picture

Barack Obama, China, CIA, Crimes Against Humanity, History, human rights, International Law, Iran, Israel, Lebanon, Russia, State Department, State Department Legal Adviser, U.N. Charter, U.S Foreign Relations, U.S. Congress, U.S. Intervention, United Kingdom, United States, use of force, war crimes, Yemen May 7, 2013

REPRISE: “Looney Toons” at the White House: New York Times article details Obama’s thinking on Syria—Obama’s Debacle in Syria — Update #45 (May 27, 2012)

Introduction to the REPRISE (May 7, 2013) So, Obama’s “red line” on the use of chemical weapons in Syria turns out to be a red…

No Picture

"that spark of the divine", Barack Obama, China, coverage of foreign events, Crimes Against Humanity, Deutschland, Dictatorship, Germany, History, human rights, Intelligence, kosovo, Middle East, NATO, Russia, Serbia, State Department, syria, Taliban, Torture, U.N. Charter, U.N. Security Council, U.N. Torture Convention, U.S. Congress, U.S. Intervention, U.S. Military, U.S. news coverage, United States, use of force, war crimes September 18, 2012

REPRISE: Responding to Atrocities in Syria: It’s Not Just About Al-Assad, It’s About Us—Obama’s Debacle in Syria — Update #86 (September 18)

Responding to Atrocities in Syria: It’s Not Just About Al-Assad, It’s About Us Originally published March 6, 2012 I heard a boy in Syria on…

No Picture

Azerbaijan, Barack Obama, China, Crimes Against Humanity, France, Germany, human rights, India, Intelligence, International Law, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Middle East, Morocco, NATO, Portugal, Qatar, Russia, sanctions, Saudi Arabia, State Department, State Department Legal Adviser, syria, Togo, Torture, U.N. Charter, U.N. Convention Against Torture, U.N. Security Council, U.N. Torture Convention, U.S Foreign Relations, U.S. Intervention, United Kingdom, United States, use of force, war crimes August 27, 2012

Die Zeit (Berlin): Military intervention in Syria is “absolutely essential”—Obama’s Debacle in Syria — Update #79 (August 27, 2012)

Latest Press Reports and Commentary (1) Die Zeit (Berlin) reported on August 27, in an article by Martin Gehlen, that military intervention in Syria is…

No Picture

Azerbaijan, Barack Obama, China, CIA, Crimes Against Humanity, elections, extrajudicial execution, France, Germany, History, human rights, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Middle East, Portugal, Qatar, Russia, sanctions, Saudi Arabia, State Department, State Department Legal Adviser, syria, U.N. Security Council, U.S. Intervention, U.S. Military, united arab emirates, United Kingdom, United Nations Secretary General, United States, use of force, war crimes August 10, 2012

Ban Ki-Moon’s unceremonious dismissal of General Robert Hood; SG on verge of disastrous appointment of successor to Kofi Annan—Obama’s debacle in Syria — Update #73 (August 10)

The mediation mission of Kofi Annan has turned into a hydra-headed monster that the United States, France and the United Kingdom do not seem to…

No Picture

Azerbaijan, China, Crimes Against Humanity, dubai, extrajudicial execution, Germany, human rights, human rights reports, International Law, Iran, Israel, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, NATO, Qatar, Russia, sanctions, Saudi Arabia, self-defense, South Africa, State Department, State Department Human Rights Country Reports, State Department Legal Adviser, syria, targeted assassinations, targeted killings, Togo, Torture, Turkey, U.N. Charter, U.N. Convention Against Torture, U.N. Security Council, U.N. Torture Convention, U.S. Intervention, U.S. Military, united arab emirates, United Kingdom, United States, use of force, war crimes July 25, 2012

REPRISE: Humanitarian Intervention in Syria Without Security Council Authorization—Obama’s Debacle in Syria — Update #68 (July 25)

The article reproduced below, and the earlier articles it cites, address the issue of the legal justifications that might be advanced to support the supply…

No Picture

Argentina, Barack Obama, Brazil, Chile, China, Crimes Against Humanity, Deutschland, Dictatorship, dubai, Egypt, extrajudicial execution, France, Germany, History, human rights, International Law, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Ivory Coast, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Middle East, NATO, Nigeria, Qatar, Russia, sanctions, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, State Department, syria, Togo, Torture, Tunisia, Turkey, U.N. Charter, U.N. Convention Against Torture, U.N. Security Council, U.N. Torture Convention, U.S. Congress, U.S. Military, united arab emirates, United Kingdom, United States, use of force, war crimes July 19, 2012

REPRISE: “The League of Authoritarian States”—Obama’s Debacle in Syria — Update #65 (July 19)

REPRISE: “The League of Authoritarian States”—Obama’s Debacle in Syria — Update #50 (June 9) First published June 9, 2012 … Responses to events in Syria…

No Picture

Argentina, Barack Obama, China, Crimes Against Humanity, Egypt, France, Germany, human rights, International Law, Ivory Coast, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Qatar, Russia, sanctions, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, State Department, State Department Legal Adviser, syria, Torture, U.N. Charter, U.N. Security Council, U.N. Torture Convention, united arab emirates, United Kingdom, United States, use of force, war crimes July 17, 2012

If Russia vetoes a Security Council resolution on Syria, then what? — Obama’s Debacle in Syria — Update # 64 (July 17)

We are at a potential decision point on Syria. A draft resolution presented by France, the U.K., the United States and Germany, extending the UNSMIS…

No Picture

CIA, Crimes Against Humanity, extrajudicial execution, France, Germany, human rights, internal supporters of human rights, International Law, Iran, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Middle East, NATO, Qatar, religious belief, Russia, Saudi Arabia, State Department, State Department Legal Adviser, syria, Torture, Turkey, U.N. Charter, U.N. Convention Against Torture, U.N. Security Council, U.N. Torture Convention, U.S. Intervention, U.S. Military, united arab emirates, United Kingdom, United States, use of force, war crimes, Yemen July 11, 2012

REPRISE: Goals to guide the international community in Syria—Obama’s Debacle in Syria — Update #62 (July 11)

Originally published May 29, 2012 With talk of orchestrating a Yemen-style transition in Syria through agreement between Russia and the United States, it may be…

No Picture

Barack Obama, China, Crimes Against Humanity, extrajudicial execution, France, human rights, International Law, Iran, NATO, Poetry, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, State Department, State Department Legal Adviser, targeted assassinations, targeted killings, Turkey, U.N. Charter, U.N. Security Council, U.S. Intervention, U.S. Military, united arab emirates, United Kingdom, United States, use of force, war crimes June 19, 2012

REPRISE: Hommage à Homs: Jacques Prévert, “Barbara” (with English translation); Paul Verlaine, “Ariette III” —Obama’s Debacle in Syria— Update #53 (June 19)

Voir / See BEYROUTH (Reuters) – L’opposition syrienne a accusé mardi l’armée gouvernementale d’intensifier ses bombardements sur les quartiers résidentiels de Homs et les autorités…

No Picture

Barack Obama, China, Crimes Against Humanity, extrajudicial execution, History, human rights, International Law, Iran, Israel, Lebanon, Pakistan, Qatar, Russia, sanctions, Saudi Arabia, self-defense, Somalia, State Department, State Department Legal Adviser, syria, Taliban, targeted assassinations, targeted killings, Torture, U.N. Security Council, U.S. Intervention, U.S. Military, united arab emirates, United States, use of force, Yemen June 12, 2012

Obama, the presidential elections, Syria and Iran—Obama’s Debacle in Syria — Update #51 (June 12)

More Opinion on Obama, drones, the elections, Syria and Iran (1) Anne-Marie Slaughter, “Syrian intervention is justifiable, and just,” The Washington Post, June 8, 2012….

No Picture

Barack Obama, China, CIA, corruption, Crimes Against Humanity, extrajudicial execution, France, Germany, human rights, internal supporters of human rights, International Law, Iran, Lebanon, Libya, Middle East, NATO, Qatar, religious belief, Russia, State Department, State Department Legal Adviser, syria, targeted assassinations, targeted killings, Torture, Turkey, U.N. Charter, U.N. Convention Against Torture, U.N. Security Council, U.N. Torture Convention, U.S. Intervention, U.S. Military, united arab emirates, United Kingdom, United States, use of force, war crimes, Yemen May 29, 2012

Goals to guide the international community in Syria—Obama’s Debacle in Syria — Update #47 (May 29)

With talk of orchestrating a Yemen-style transition in Syria through agreement between Russia and the United States, it may be useful to address the question…

No Picture

Barack Obama, China, CIA, Crimes Against Humanity, dubai, extrajudicial execution, foreign news coverage, France, Germany, History, human rights, Intelligence, International Law, Iran, Middle East, NATO, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, State Department, State Department Human Rights Country Reports, State Department Legal Adviser, syria, targeted assassinations, targeted killings, Torture, Turkey, U.N. Charter, U.N. Security Council, U.S. Intervention, U.S. Military, U.S. news coverage, United Kingdom, United States, use of force, war crimes May 27, 2012

“Looney Toons” at the White House: New York Times article details Obama’s thinking on Syria—Obama’s Debacle in Syria — Update #45 (May 27)

looney-tunes adj. [after Looney Tunes, trademark for a series of animated cartoons] [Slang] crazy; demented: also loon’ y-tunes *** loony [Slang] adj. loon’i-er, looní-est [LUNATIC]…

No Picture

Barack Obama, Crimes Against Humanity, Dictatorship, electronic curtain, extrajudicial execution, foreign correspondents, History, human rights, human rights reports, internal supporters of human rights, International Law, Lebanon, Libya, Middle East, NATO, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, State Department, State Department Human Rights Country Reports, State Department Legal Adviser, syria, targeted assassinations, targeted killings, Torture, Turkey, U.N. Charter, U.N. Security Council, U.S. Intervention, U.S. Military, united arab emirates, United Kingdom, United States, use of force, war crimes April 24, 2012

With al-Assad defiant, freeze on UNSMIS, military action required—Obama’s Debacle in Syria — Upadate #29 (April 24)

In view of Bashar al-Assad’s (entirely foreseeable) refusal to comply with the provisions of Security Council Resolution 2042 (April 14, 2012) and Resolution 2043 (April…

No Picture

Barack Obama, China, Crimes Against Humanity, extrajudicial execution, History, human rights, International Law, Lebanon, NATO, Russia, State Department, State Department Legal Adviser, syria, Torture, U.N. Charter, U.N. Security Council, U.S. Intervention, U.S. Military, United States, use of force, war crimes March 28, 2012

Syrian onslaught continues in Deraa, Hama, Kalidiya, Homs, Saraqueb, Qalit al-Madiq, and elsewhere—Obama’s Debacle in Syria — Update #17

Latest News Reports The Christian Science Monitor reports, “Robert Grenier, former director of the CIA counterterrorism center, writes in a commentary for Al Jazeera that…

No Picture

Barack Obama, China, Crimes Against Humanity, Dictatorship, extrajudicial execution, History, human rights, Iran, Russia, State Department, Torture, U.N. Security Council, U.S. Military, United States, use of force, war crimes March 24, 2012

Syrian military continues campaign to crush opposition in Saraqeb, Homs, al-Qusair and elsewhere—Obama’s Debacle in Syria — Update #16 (March 24, updated March 25)

Updated March 25, 2012 Please check back for news updates. Latest news reports Oliver Holmes and Steve Gutterman (Beirut/Moscow), “Syrian forces on the offensive; Annan…

No Picture

Barack Obama, China, Crimes Against Humanity, Dictatorship, extrajudicial execution, History, human rights, human rights reports, International Law, Iran, State Department, State Department Legal Adviser, syria, Torture, U.S. Intervention, U.S. Military, use of force, war crimes March 22, 2012

Security Council issues “presidential statement”; al-Assad’s military onslaught continues unabated—Obama’s Debacle in Syria — Update #14 (March 22)

On March 21, 2012, the U.N. Security Council unanimously endorsed the issuance of a “presidential statement” on Syria which was notable primarily for its support…

No Picture

Barack Obama, China, Crimes Against Humanity, Dictatorship, History, human rights, internal supporters of human rights, Russia, State Department, syria, Torture, U.N. Security Council, U.S. Intervention, U.S. Military, United States, use of force, war crimes March 20, 2012

Putin plays hardball in Syria, uses Lavrov to distract gullible UN and international community—Obama’s Debacle in Syria — Update #13 (March 20)

AP reporter Vladimir Isachenkov reported from Moscow a week ago that: Russia has no intention of curtailing military cooperation with Syria despite calls from the…