Saudi Arabia’s Publicity Stunt

Posted on October 23, 2013 by iPouya

First the Saudi’s reject a temporary seat at the UNSC and now Bandar Bush claims that Saudi Arabia will be shifting away from the US because it no longer wants to be “dependent” on the US. This is nothing more than a publicity stunt. The Saudi dictatorship is totally dependent on the US in a very beneficial way. No other country in the world guarantees the longevity of the Saudi dictatorship more than the US. This is nothing more than a ploy to put pressure on the US to do its bidding in Syria, toe the line over Egypt, and end the reconciliation with Iran, which benefits American interests. With too many Arabs mobilized across the region and with too many Saudis clamoring for reform at home, the moment the Saudis “shift” away from the US is the moment the regime has signed its own death certificate. I wish they would indeed “shift” away from the US.

Excerpts: Saudi Arabia’s intelligence chief has said the kingdom will make a “major shift” in relations with the United States in protest at its perceived inaction over the Syrian war and its overtures to Iran, a source close to Saudi policy said. Prince Bandar bin Sultan told European diplomats that Washington had failed to act effectively on the Syrian crisis and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, was growing closer to Tehran, and had failed to back Saudi support for Bahrain when it crushed an anti-government revolt in 2011, the source said on Tuesday. “The shift away from the US is a major one,” the source close to Saudi policy said. “Saudi doesn’t want to find itself any longer in a situation where it is dependent.”

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Syria Crisis: Guide to Armed and Political Opposition

Posted on October 21, 2013 by iPouya

The BBC has put together an illuminating outline of the different armed groups operating in Syria that I think is worth your attention:

There are believed to be as many as 1,000 armed opposition groups in Syria, commanding an estimated 100,000 fighters.

Many of the groups are small and operate on a local level, but a number have emerged as powerful forces with affiliates across the country or formed alliances with other groups that share a similar agenda. The BBC News website looks at the most prominent.

MAIN REBEL COALITIONS

SUPREME MILITARY COUNCIL OF THE FREE SYRIAN ARMY

  • Leader: Brig Gen Salim Idris

The Free Syrian Army (FSA) was formed in August 2011 by army deserters based in Turkey, led by Col Riad al-Asaad. Its banner was soon adopted by armed groups that began appearing across the country. Despite this, the FSA’s leaders had little or no operational control over what was happening on the ground in Syria. The opposition’s Western and Gulf Arab backers sought to encourage a centralised rebel leadership and in December 2012 a number of brigades affiliated themselves to a newly-created Supreme Military Council (SMC). The SMC’s chief-of-staff, Gen Idris, wants it to be a more moderate and stronger alternative to the jihadist rebel groups in Syria.

The SMC has 30 members, six representing each of five “fronts” in Syria – Northern (Aleppo and Idlib), Eastern (Raqqa, Deir al-Zour and Hassaka), Western (Hama, Latakia and Tartus), Central (Homs and Rastan) and Southern (Damascus, Deraa and Suwaida). Each front has a civilian-military council and a commander. The opposition National Coalition describes Gen Idris as the commander of the FSA, however observers have said the FSA is simply a loose network of brigades rather than a unified fighting force. Brigades supposedly report through the chain of command to Gen Idris, but he is yet to assert operational control and serves more as a spokesman and conduit for foreign funding and arms shipments. SMC-aligned brigades retain separate identities, agendas and commands. Some work with hardline Islamist groups that alarm the West, such as Ahrar al-Sham, and al-Qaeda-linked jihadists from the Nusra Front.

SMC AFFILIATES

Martyrs of Syria Brigades

  • Leader: Jamal Maarouf
  • Estimated number of fighters:7,000

Originally called the Martyrs of Jabal al-Zawiya Brigade, the group was formed in late 2011 in Idlib province. Although its name was changed in mid-2012 to the Martyrs of Syria Brigades to reflect the growing ambitions of its leader, its operations are still focused in north-western Syria. Unlike Suqour al-Sham (see below), which also hails from Jabal al-Zawiya and wants an Islamic state, the Martyrs of Syria Brigades reportedly ascribe to no particular ideology.

Northern Storm Brigade

The Northern Storm Brigade is an Islamist FSA unit that controls an important border crossing between Syria and Turkey. In September 2013, there were deadly clashes between the Northern Storm Brigade and the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIS) after the jihadist group stormed the town of Azaz.

Ahrar Souriya Brigade

The Ahrar Souriya (Free Men of Syria) Brigade, which operates under the SMC, was set up by Col Qassem Saad al-Din, a former air force pilot from the northern town of Rastan.

SYRIAN ISLAMIC LIBERATION FRONT (SILF)

  • Leader: Ahmed Issa (Suqour al-Sham)
  • Claimed number of fighters: Between 35,000 and 40,000

The Syrian Islamic Liberation Front (SILF) is a loose alliance formed in September 2012 by about 20 rebel groups, including the Farouq Brigades, the Islamic Farouq Brigades, Liwa al-Tawhid, Liwa al-Fath, Liwa al-Islam, Suqour al-Sham, and the Deir al-Zour Revolutionaries’ Council. Most of the groups, which range from moderate Islamist to ultraconservative Salafist in outlook, recognise the FSA’s Supreme Military Council. However, they are sceptical of the Western-backed opposition National Coalition. The SILF is active in Idlib, Aleppo, Damascus, Homs and Deir al-Zour provinces. The SILF has described itself as “the largest of the revolutionary coalitions” and it makes up the bulk of the SMC’s fighting force.

Farouq Brigades

  • Leader: Osama Juneidi
  • Claimed number of fighters: 14,000

The Farouq Brigades first emerged in late-2011, and was involved in a failed rebel effort to repel a government offensive on the Baba Amr district of Homs in February 2012. Since then, it has grown into a powerful force with affiliates across the country. Its northern wing, Farouq al-Shamal, has a strong presence on the Syrian-Turkish border. The group has suffered repeated splits, with several leading figures expelled and offshoots formed, including the more hardline Islamic Farouq Brigades and the Independent Omar al-Farouq Brigade. The Farouq Brigades’ leader occupies senior positions in the SILF and SMC.

Suqour al-Sham

  • Leader: Sheikh Ahmed Issa
  • Claimed number of fighters: 9,000 to 10,000

Suqour al-Sham (Falcons of Syria), one the more hardline groups in the SILF, was formed in the Jabal al-Zawiya region of the north-western province of Idlib in September 2011. It has since grown in size and influence and expanded its operations into Aleppo and Damascus countryside provinces. Its commander is also the head of the SILF and a member of the SMC.

Liwa al-Tawhid

  • Leaders: Abdul Qadir al-Saleh and Abdul Aziz Salama
  • Estimated number of fighters: Between 8,000 and 10,000

Liwa al-Tawhid (Battalion of Monotheism) was formed in July 2012 to unite the many separate fighting groups operating in the northern Aleppo countryside. It took control of part of the city of Aleppo after leading a rebel offensive that month. Liwa al-Tawhid is now one of the main forces operating in the province. It joined the SILF in January 2013. Its military leader is a former businessman known as “Hajji Marea” who is the SMC’s assistant deputy chief of staff for the Northern Front. The group’s political leader, known as “Hajji Anadan”, read out a statement by 11 Islamist brigades in September 2013 declaring that they did not recognise the National Coalition and calling for the opposition to unite under an “Islamic framework”.

Liwa al-Fath

Liwa al-Fath (Battalion of Conquest) operates mainly in the city of Aleppo and the surrounding countryside, as well as in Hassaka and Raqqa provinces, to the east. The group seeks to establish a “free Syria”. In September 2013, it sent reinforcements to defend a key border crossing with Turkey when another SMC-affiliated group came under attack from jihadists in the northern town of Azaz.

JAYSH AL-ISLAM

  • Leader: Zahran Alloush (Liwa al-Islam)

Jaysh al-Islam (Army of Islam) was formed by some 50 Islamist factions operating in and around Damascus in September 2013. Zahran Alloush, whose group Liwa al-Islam is the most prominent and powerful member of the alliance, said it had been formed to “achieve unity among the units of the mujahideen and avoid the effects produced by the divisions within the National Coalition”. More than 30 of the brigades in Jaysh al-Islam were already operating under the banner of Liwa al-Islam. The others include Liwa Fath al-Sham, Liwa Tawhid al-Islam and Liwa al-Ansar. Jaysh al-Islam’s formation is believed to have been an attempt by Saudi Arabia to counter the expanding presence of al-Qaeda affiliates around the Syrian capital, with Salafist groups being offered arms and money in return for loyalty. Zahran Alloush’s father is a religious scholar based in the Gulf Kingdom.

Liwa al-Islam

  • Leader: Zahran Alloush
  • Estimated number of fighters: 9,000

Liwa al-Islam (Battalion of Islam) was founded in mid-2011 by Zahran Alloush, a Salafist activist who had been jailed by the authorities two years earlier. The group rose to prominence after claiming it was behind the bombing of the National Security Bureau’s headquarters in Damascus in July 2012, which killed several senior security officials including the defence minister and President Assad’s brother-in-law. However, some have alleged that the attack was an inside job. Liwa al-Islam is the leading rebel group in the east of the Ghouta agricultural belt around Damascus and is well-armed.

SYRIAN ISLAMIC FRONT (SIF)

  • Leader: Hassan Abboud (Harakat Ahrar al-Sham al-Islamiyya)

The Syrian Islamic Front is a coalition of 11 hardline Islamist groups formed in December 2012. At the time, it suggested it had control of nearly 30,000 fighters. It has since become the most powerful rebel force battling the government, and it operates all over the country. The largest and dominant faction in the SIF is Harakat Ahrar al-Sham al-Islamiyya, whose leader Hassan Abboud, also known as Abu Abdullah al-Hamawi, is the SIF’s president. He was imprisoned by the Syrian authorities after taking part in the insurgency in neighbouring Iraq but released in early 2011 as part of an amnesty. Other members of the SIF include the Homs-based al-Haqq Brigade, the Ansar al-Sham Battalions from Idlib, the Jaysh al-Tawhid from Deir al-Zour and the Hama-based Mujahidi al-Sham Brigade. The SIF has remained independent and refuses to come under the umbrella of the SMC, but co-operates with SMC affiliates on the battlefield. The SIF also calls for the creation of a Sunni-led Islamic state and co-operates with al-Qaeda affiliates, but does not call for a global jihad.

Harakat Ahrar al-Sham al-Islamiyya

  • Leader: Hassan Abboud
  • Estimated number of fighters: 10,000 to 20,000

The Harakat Ahrar al-Sham al-Islamiyya (Islamic Movement of the Free Men of the Levant) is a Salafist group that first emerged in the north-western province of Idlib in late 2011 as Ahrar al-Sham and has since made a major impact on the battlefield. In January 2013, a month after it formed the SIF, the group claimed to operate 83 units across Syria, including the cities of Damascus and Aleppo. It merged with three other SIF groups to form Harakat Ahrar al-Sham al-Islamiyya in February 2013. Its fighters are renowned for their discipline and ability. They were some of the first to use improvised explosive devices and to target military bases to capture weapons. In March, it led the rebel assault on the northern town of Raqqa. The group operates a “technical division” that carries out cyber-attacks and a “relief office” that runs social services and carries out public works in Raqqa and Aleppo.

INDEPENDENT GROUPS

Ahfad al-Rasoul Brigades

  • Leaders: Abu Osama al-Julani, Mohammed al-Ali and Maher al-Nuami
  • Estimated number of fighters: Between 7,000 and 9,000

The Ahfad al-Rasoul (Grandsons of the Prophet) Brigades are an alliance of more than 40 moderate Islamist groups formed in 2012. They operate across Syria, although their presence is strongest in the northern province of Idlib. The alliance is independent but aligned to the SMC, and has also been linked to Qatar and Western intelligence agencies. In August 2013, its fighters were forced from the northern town of Raqqa by ISIS.

Asala wa al-Tanmiya Front

  • Claimed manpower: 13,000 fighters and civilian personnel

The Asala wa al-Tanmiya (Authenticity and Growth) Front is a moderate Islamist alliance formed in November 2012. Its fighters are organised across five “fronts” covering most of Syria, but their presence is strongest in Aleppo, where the Nour al-Din al-Zinki Brigades operate, and in the tribal areas of the eastern province of Deir al-Zour, the power base of the Ahl al-Athar Brigade.

Durou al-Thawra Commission

The Durou al-Thawra (Revolution’s Shields) Commission is an SMC-linked alliance of a few dozen small armed factions, most of them in Idlib and Hama provinces. It was set up in 2012 with the help of the Syrian Muslim Brotherhood. It describes itself as a moderate Islamic-democratic alliance. It acknowledges receiving support from the Brotherhood, but denies any direct link to it.

Tajammu Ansar al-Islam

Tajammu Ansar al-Islam (Gathering of the Supporters of Islam) was formed in mid-2012 by seven Damascus-based Islamist groups. However, it has since suffered several splits.

Yarmouk Martyrs’ Brigade

The Yarmouk Martyrs’ Brigade is a moderate Islamist group linked to the SMC that was formed in the southern province of Deraa in August 2012 through the merger of eight small units. Led by Bashar al-Zoubi, it operates mainly near Syria’s borders with Jordan and the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, where in March and May 2013 fighters briefly detained UN peacekeepers patrolling the demilitarised area.

National Unity Brigades

  • Estimated number of fighters: 2,000

The National Unity Brigades (Kataib al-Wihda al-Wataniya) were created in August 2012. It claims to have several units located in almost all of Syria’s provinces and top operate “for the sake of a civil, democratic state for all ethnicities and social identities”. The NUB operates mainly in the Jisr al-Shughour region of Idlib province and south of Damascus, but also in Jabal al-Zawiya, Deraa and Deir al-Zour. Some fighters are reported to be from the minority Alawite and Ismaili sects.

JIHADIST GROUPS

Al-Nusra Front

  • Leader: Abu Mohammed al-Julani
  • Estimated number of fighters: 5,000 to 7,000

The Nusra (Support) Front for the People of the Levant, is a jihadist group believed to have been created in mid-2011 with the help of the Islamic State of Iraq (ISI), a militant umbrella group that includes al-Qaeda in Iraq (AQI). It declared its existence in January 2012 and has since emerged as one of the most effective rebel forces. Its fighters are active in 11 of Syria’s 14 provinces, particularly Idlib, Aleppo and Deir al-Zour. Initially, the group was blamed for dozens of suicide bombings in major city centres, killing many civilians. Later, its disciplined and well-armed fighters began to take part in regular rebel operations, then major offensives. Today, they control territory in northern Syria. The US designated al-Nusra a terrorist entity in December 2012, saying it was an “alias” of AQI. In April 2013, the head of the ISI, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, announced the merger of his group and al-Nusra, creating the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIS). However, al-Nusra’s leader Abu Mohammed al-Julani – another former insurgent in Iraq released in 2011 by the Syrian government – swiftly rejected the move and asserted his allegiance to al-Qaeda’s overall leader, Ayman al-Zawahiri. Since then, al-Nusra and ISIS have operated as separate entities, with large numbers of foreign fighters joining the latter. Like Ahrar al-Sham, al-Nusra has sought to build popular support by providing social services and carrying out public works.

Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIS)

  • Leader: Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi
  • Estimated number of fighters: 3,000 to 5,000

The creation of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant in April 2013 was rejected by the al-Nusra Front. ISI’s leader, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, known as Abu Dua, nevertheless pressed ahead with expanding its operations into Syria. In August 2013, US intelligence assessed that he was based in Syria and commanded as many 5,000 fighters, many of them foreign jihadists. The group is active mostly in northern and eastern provinces of Syria. It has assumed joint control of municipalities in Aleppo, Idlib and Raqqa provinces. ISIS has taken part in a number of major rebel operations, including by carrying out suicide bombings that helped capture two military bases. But it has also had tense relationships with other rebel groups, including those considered Islamist. Its fighters reportedly recently killed a prominent member Ahrar al-Sham, and have clashed with those from Ahfad al-Rasoul in Raqqa and the Northern Storm Brigade in Azaz. They have also targeted Shia and Alawite civilians.

Jaysh al-Muhajirin wa al-Ansar

Jaysh al-Muhajirin wa al-Ansar (Army of the Emigrants and Helpers) is a group comprising hundreds of mostly foreign fighters, many of them from the North Caucasus, that was formed in March 2013 by several jihadist units. The group, which seeks to establish an Islamic state in Syria, operates mostly in Aleppo province, but says it is also fighting in Hama and Latakia. It is led by a Chechen jihadist called Abu Omar al-Shishani, who has aligned himself with ISIS.

KURDISH GROUPS

Popular Protection Units (YPG)

  • Political leader: Salih Muslim (PYD)
  • Claimed number of fighters: 10,000 to 15,000

The Popular Protection Units is the armed wing of the Kurdish political party, the Democratic Unity Party (PYD), an affiliate of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) that runs the de facto autonomous Kurdish zone in north-eastern Syria. The YPG emerged as a force in the summer of 2012 when the Syrian army withdrew from Kurdish areas and it sought to provide security. The PYD has tried to keep the Kurds out of the conflict and consolidate its territorial gains. However, there has been occasional fighting with government troops, and since November 2012 also deadly clashes between the YPG and rebel fighters – particularly those from Islamist and jihadist brigades – over control of several border towns and parts of the city of Aleppo. The Syrian rebels and the Turkish government have accused the Kurdish group of acting as an Assad proxy.

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Iran “plot” foiled

Posted on September 29, 2013 by iPouya

Given the news today, does that mean my post from Wednesday is true? 4 days ago, I posted here and on Facebook this:

“Iranian and American leaders both want to reconcile, but there are many in the world including the Israelis, Persian Gulf states, right-wing factions inside the US, the American weapons industry, AIPAC, and others who don’t want these two to set aside their differences and they will be working around the clock to stop it. Don’t be surprised if all of a sudden an alleged Iranian ‘terror plot’ was discovered somewhere around the world, or an Iranian alleged ‘assassination attempt’ was foiled somewhere, or maybe an alleged Iranian ship with weapons in it was captured en route to Hizbullah in Lebanon. If you see this in the news, just know that it was probably staged in order to torpedo the US-Iran reconciliation process.”

And here’s the almost comical news from today:

(Reuters) – Israel disclosed on Sunday the arrest of an Iranian-Belgian citizen on suspicion of spying for Iran, saying he had photographed the U.S. embassy and intended to establish business ties in the Jewish state as a cover for espionage.

Israel and Iran are bitter adversaries. Israel, widely believed to be the Middle East’s only nuclear power, says Iran is covertly seeking to develop atomic weapons. Iran says it is enriching uranium solely for peaceful purposes.

Ali Mansouri, in his mid-50s, was arrested on September 11 at Tel Aviv’s Ben-Gurion Airport, the Shin Bet intelligence service said in a statement. It coincided with the start of a visit by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to the United States where Iran’s nuclear program will top his agenda.

The Shin Bet said the Iranian-born Mansouri had legally changed his name in Belgium to Alex Mans and used his Belgian passport to enter Israel. It said he was recruited as a spy by Iran’s Revolutionary Guards and had visited Israel twice before his arrest.

Photographs which the Shin Bet said Mansouri had in his possession, and which it released along with the statement, included one taken of the rooftop of the U.S. Embassy in Tel Aviv from a nearby high-rise balcony.

The statement said Mansouri planned to establish commercial ties with Israeli businesses as a cover for intelligence-gathering and “terrorist activities”.

The Shin Bet said Mansouri was being held under a court order and that he would be brought before a judge on Monday for a hearing on extending his period of detention. No formal charges have been announced.

Netanyahu was due to meet President Barack Obama on Monday and address the U.N. General Assembly the next day, to try to counter what the Israeli leader called “sweet talk” by Iran’s new president, Hassan Rouhani, on reaching a pact with the West to settle the nuclear issue.

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The Israeli Hypocrisy Over Iran’s Nuclear Program

Posted on September 28, 2013 by iPouya

Look at this clown. The spokesman for the Israeli government says that he doesn’t care what the Iranian president says, but what he does. He insists on looking at the “facts,” which according to this joker, is Iranian concealment of an aggressive weapons program and the denial of access to IAEA to Iran’s nuclear sites. Well, sir, the FACT is that Israel isn’t even a signatory to the NPT, a treaty to which Iran is indeed a signatory, and denies everyone access to its nuclear arsenal. Furthermore, we too shall care little for your words and prefer to look at Israel’s actions. Israel’s talk of “peace” while doing anything and everything it can to make peace with the Palestinians an impossibility through its endless ILLEGAL colonization of the remainder of Palestine. I can’t believe this guy spoke with a straight face. I bet he was laughing inside at what he was saying.

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Shoes and praise over Iran-US phone call

Posted on September 28, 2013 by iPouya

Of course, there are also those in Iran that are equally opposed to a US-Iran reconciliation. The right-wing in the US, Israel, and Iran all have that in common.

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Obstacles to Reconciliation

Posted on September 25, 2013 by iPouya

Iranian and American leaders both want to reconcile, but there are many in the world including the Israelis, Persian Gulf states, right-wing factions inside the US, the American weapons industry, AIPAC, and others who don’t want these two to set aside their differences and they will be working around the clock to stop it. Don’t be surprised if all of a sudden an alleged Iranian “terror plot” was discovered somewhere around the world, or an Iranian alleged “assassination attempt” was foiled somewhere, or maybe an alleged Iranian ship with weapons in it was captured en route to Hizbullah in Lebanon. If you see this in the news, just know that it was probably staged in order to torpedo the US-Iran reconciliation process.

Posted in US-Iran Relations | 2 Comments

Rohani’s UN Speech

Posted on September 24, 2013 by iPouya

View/listen to it in full here.

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Rohani: “Why Iran seeks constructive engagement”

Posted on September 24, 2013 by iPouya

Rohani and Khatami have both published letters in leading American publications in a major PR blitz. The millions in Iran must indeed be suffering from what Obama shamelessly bragged were “crippling sanctions” and Rohani and his administration seem to be desperate for some economic relief.  Here’s Rohani’s piece at The Washington Post:

Three months ago, my platform of “prudence and hope” gained a broad, popular mandate. Iranians embraced my approach to domestic and international affairs because they saw it as long overdue. I’m committed to fulfilling my promises to my people, including my pledge to engage in constructive interaction with the world.

The world has changed. International politics is no longer a zero-sum game but a multi-dimensional arena where cooperation and competition often occur simultaneously. Gone is the age of blood feuds. World leaders are expected to lead in turning threats into opportunities.

The international community faces many challenges in this new world — terrorism, extremism, foreign military interference, drug trafficking, cybercrime and cultural encroachment — all within a framework that has emphasized hard power and the use of brute force.

We must pay attention to the complexities of the issues at hand to solve them. Enter my definition of constructive engagement. In a world where global politics is no longer a zero-sum game, it is — or should be — counterintuitive to pursue one’s interests without considering the interests of others. A constructive approach to diplomacy doesn’t mean relinquishing one’s rights. It means engaging with one’s counterparts, on the basis of equal footing and mutual respect, to address shared concerns and achieve shared objectives. In other words, win-win outcomes are not just favorable but also achievable. A zero-sum, Cold War mentality leads to everyone’s loss.

Sadly, unilateralism often continues to overshadow constructive approaches. Security is pursued at the expense of the insecurity of others, with disastrous consequences. More than a decade and two wars after 9/11, al-Qaeda and other militant extremists continue to wreak havoc. Syria, a jewel of civilization, has become the scene of heartbreaking violence, including chemical weapons attacks, which we strongly condemn. In Iraq, 10 years after the American-led invasion, dozens still lose their lives to violence every day. Afghanistan endures similar, endemic bloodshed.

The unilateral approach, which glorifies brute force and breeds violence, is clearly incapable of solving issues we all face, such as terrorism and extremism. I say all because nobody is immune to extremist-fueled violence, even though it might rage thousands of miles away. Americans woke up to this reality 12 years ago.

My approach to foreign policy seeks to resolve these issues by addressing their underlying causes. We must work together to end the unhealthy rivalries and interferences that fuel violence and drive us apart. We must also pay attention to the issue of identity as a key driver of tension in, and beyond, the Middle East.

At their core, the vicious battles in Iraq, Afghanistan and Syria are over the nature of those countries’ identities and their consequent roles in our region and the world. The centrality of identity extends to the case of our peaceful nuclear energy program. To us, mastering the atomic fuel cycle and generating nuclear power is as much about diversifying our energy resources as it is about who Iranians are as a nation, our demand for dignity and respect and our consequent place in the world. Without comprehending the role of identity, many issues we all face will remain unresolved.

I am committed to confronting our common challenges via a two-pronged approach.

First, we must join hands to constructively work toward national dialogue, whether in Syria or Bahrain. We must create an atmosphere where peoples of the region can decide their own fates. As part of this, I announce my government’s readiness to help facilitate dialogue between the Syrian government and the opposition.

Second, we must address the broader, overarching injustices and rivalries that fuel violence and tensions. A key aspect of my commitment to constructive interaction entails a sincere effort to engage with neighbors and other nations to identify and secure win-win solutions.

We and our international counterparts have spent a lot of time — perhaps too much time — discussing what we don’t want rather than what we do want. This is not unique to Iran’s international relations. In a climate where much of foreign policy is a direct function of domestic politics, focusing on what one doesn’t want is an easy way out of difficult conundrums for many world leaders. Expressing what one does want requires more courage.

After 10 years of back-and-forth, what all sides don’t want in relation to our nuclear file is clear. The same dynamic is evident in the rival approaches to Syria.

This approach can be useful for efforts to prevent cold conflicts from turning hot. But to move beyond impasses, whether in relation to Syria, my country’s nuclear program or its relations with the United States, we need to aim higher. Rather than focusing on how to prevent things from getting worse, we need to think — and talk — about how to make things better. To do that, we all need to muster the courage to start conveying what we want — clearly, concisely and sincerely — and to back it up with the political will to take necessary action. This is the essence of my approach to constructive interaction.

As I depart for New York for the opening of the U.N. General Assembly, I urge my counterparts to seize the opportunity presented by Iran’s recent election. I urge them to make the most of the mandate for prudent engagement that my people have given me and to respond genuinely to my government’s efforts to engage in constructive dialogue. Most of all, I urge them to look beyond the pines and be brave enough to tell me what they see — if not for their national interests, then for the sake of their legacies, and our children and future generations.

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The Business of War

Posted on September 19, 2013 by iPouya

If you want to understand why the U.S. is constantly in a state of war, you must know about those who benefit from war. There are forces in the U.S. who seek war for ideological reasons and there are those who pursue it for monetary ones (or both). Here’s an informative must-see video  titled “War Dividend: US arms firms ready to cash in if Syria attacked.”

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Syrian rebel groups sought sarin gas material, Turkish prosecutors say

Posted on September 18, 2013 by iPouya

So much for the narrative that the Syrian dictatorship used Sarin gas on civilians. More and more information is coming out that points in the direction that the “rebels” used the Sarin gas as a means by which to provoke Western intervention in order to save their “revolution” from total collapse. LA Times: Prosecutors in southern Turkey have alleged that Syrian rebel groups were seeking to buy materials that could be used to produce highly toxic sarin gas, Turkish media reported Friday.

An indictment issued in the southern city of Adana alleged that a Syrian national identified as Hytham Qassap, 35, was in Turkey trying to procure chemical materials for a pair of well-known Islamist rebel blocs, Al Nusra Front and the Ahrar al-Sham Brigades, the reports said. Washington has designated Al Nusra Front as a terrorist group linked to Al Qaeda.

Neither group is affiliated with the U.S.-backed Free Syrian Army.

Five other suspects, all Turkish citizens, were indicted in the case, Turkish media reported. All six suspects have pleaded not guilty, according to the English-language Hurriyet Daily News, which quoted from the indictment.

The alleged ring never manufactured sarin, a potent nerve agent, according to Turkish media.

The investigation began with a tip to police that some Syrian rebel groups might be seeking to obtain materials in Turkey to produce chemical weapons, the reports said. In May, Turkish police arrested 11 suspects in connection with the case. Turkish officials denied as erroneous some initial reports that sarin had been seized as part of the investigation.

The Turkish-Syrian border, which stretches more than 500 miles, has long been a conduit for arms and manpower destined for the Syrian rebels.

Syrian authorities have repeatedly cited the Adana arrests to bolster their allegation that it is the armed opposition, not their own military, that has mounted poison gas attacks, including the Aug. 21 incident outside Damascus that left hundreds dead.

Russia, Syria’s close ally, has alleged that the opposition has created a chemical weapons “cottage industry,” designed to frame the Syrian government and prompt Western intervention in the civil war.

The United States and its allies say the proof is overwhelming that it was forces loyal to Syrian President Bashar Assad who unleashed sarin outside Damascus on Aug. 21 and in several previous, smaller-scale attacks elsewhere in Syria.

On Friday, Louay Mekdad, spokesman for the U.S.-backed Syrian National Coalition, said via telephone from Turkey that his group had “no connection” to the Adana case, and he repeated denials of charges that the opposition possesses chemical weapons.

The Syrian government may be behind the criminal case in an undercover bid to discredit the rebels, Mekdad said.

“We do not rule out that this may be a false flag operation, an intelligence operation of the regime,” the opposition spokesman said.

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The Anniversary of 9/11

Posted on September 11, 2013 by iPouya

I posted a status update regarding the anniversary of 9/11 on Facebook that I’d like to share with you, not because of what I wrote, but because of a comment from a former student of mine:

My Original Post: “I will ‘never forget’ how the government exploited the tragedy and massive loss of innocent life on 9/11 to justify an unrelated and devastating war on Iraq, a war from which the people of Iraq have yet to recover.”

Comment: “I think today is the perfect day to bring up the war in Iraq, because were it not for 9/11 there would have been no war. That war was only possible because of how 9/11 had changed the American people’s attitudes, and made us all more willing to accept a war in that region of the world. I fought in Fallujah in 04, 05 and 06 and it is not disrespectful to point out the manner in which, and reasons why we went to war, on this day. It is today of all days that we should be reminded of this, so that maybe if a horrible event like 9/11 should happen again we remember not to let it be used to push us into another war of choice.”

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The Politics of an American Attack on Syria

Posted on September 8, 2013 by iPouya

You know the main reason why some Democrats support a potential strike on Syria is because the president ordering the attack is a Democrat. If it were a Republican president the likes of Bush or McCain, they’d be up-in-arms about it. Likewise, the only reason why some Republicans oppose such a strike is because it’s a Democratic president at the helm and they have the opportunity to use is as a stick to chip away at Democrats’ legitimacy in preparation for the next election. But my hat goes off to those from the same party as the president, such Congressman Grayson, who went against their party leader. He couldn’t be more on point here.

Posted in Syria | 1 Comment

Jihadist Groups in Syria Close Ranks

Posted on September 8, 2013 by iPouya

The jihadist groups in Syria are closing ranks behind al-Qaeda in anticipation of an American strike on Damascus. Apparently, they want to be well positioned and organized to take full advantage of America’s partnership. See the video here.

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The Syria Intervention Plan Is Being Pushed by Oil Interests, Not Concern About Chemical Weapons

Posted on September 3, 2013 by iPouya

Alternet.org: “Whatever the case, few recall that US agitation against Syria began long before recent atrocities, in the context of wider operations targeting Iranian influence across the Middle East. In May 2007, a presidential finding revealed that Bush had authorised CIA operations against Iran. Anti-Syria operations were also in full swing around this time as part of this covert programme, according to Seymour Hersh in the New Yorker. A range of US government and intelligence sources told him that the Bush administration had ‘cooperated with Saudi Arabia’s government, which is Sunni, in clandestine operations’ intended to weaken the Shi’ite Hezbollah in Lebanon. ‘The US has also taken part in clandestine operations aimed at Iran and its ally Syria,’ wrote Hersh, ‘a byproduct’ of which is ‘the bolstering of Sunni extremist groups’ hostile to the United States and ‘sympathetic to al-Qaeda.’ He noted that ‘the Saudi government, with Washington’s approval, would provide funds and logistical aid to weaken the government of President Bashir Assad, of Syria,’ with a view to pressure him to be ‘more conciliatory and open to negotiations’ with Israel. One faction receiving covert US “political and financial support” through the Saudis was the exiled Syrian Muslim Brotherhood.”

Posted in Iran, Syria | 1 Comment

Toxic legacy of US assault on Fallujah ‘worse than Hiroshima’

Posted on August 30, 2013 by iPouya

The US, which has used chemical weapons in warfare as recently as the Iraq War, now claims that it has the moral high ground to intervene in the Syrian War to stop Asad’s alleged use of chemical weapons. What’s next? The same US that has dropped two nuclear bombs in war will attack a country that is developing legal nuclear technology?

The Independent: Dramatic increases in infant mortality, cancer and leukaemia in the Iraqi city of Fallujah, which was bombarded by US Marines in 2004, exceed those reported by survivors of the atomic bombs that were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945, according to a new study.

Iraqi doctors in Fallujah have complained since 2005 of being overwhelmed by the number of babies with serious birth defects, ranging from a girl born with two heads to paralysis of the lower limbs. They said they were also seeing far more cancers than they did before the battle for Fallujah between US troops and insurgents.

Their claims have been supported by a survey showing a four-fold increase in all cancers and a 12-fold increase in childhood cancer in under-14s. Infant mortality in the city is more than four times higher than in neighbouring Jordan and eight times higher than in Kuwait.

Posted in Iran, Iraq, Syria | 1 Comment