Daily Archives: May 12, 2011

by

Is the STL is Exploiting Syria’s Weakness ?

Qifa Nabki:

Given that most people in Lebanon already believe that the STL is politicized to some degree or another, the alleged re-emergence of a Syrian track in the investigation at a time like this — when the regime is battling internal protests and challenges to its authority — seems a little too convenient for me.

I have great respect for Elias, but why is it so inconceivable that a weak, isolated regime can spin out defectors faster than it can kill unarmed protestors? Why does it have to be an international conspiracy concocted behind closed doors?

by

How To Have a Summit Of Lebanese Religious Figures

Rule number 1: Make the summit about the importance of having a dialog

Rule number 2: Avoid all talk of controversial issues (you know, the ones about which it’s important to have a dialog. )

Needless to say, the Bkirki summit is not about the issues, it’s about “dialog theater”. It’s about creating the illusion that something is being done, about building a facade of jolliness so that the people’s level of stress will go down. This way the sheep can focus more on their work and less on the fact that their country is falling apart..

Update: And most importantly,

Rule number 3: Fall out and disagree as soon as you leave the place

by

“The Dictator Who Cannot Dictate”

James Denselow:

Focusing on whether or not Assad is a reformer is increasingly irrelevant. Syria has been shown to possess a paper dictator [...] To better understand the mechanics of the Syrian regime, people must go beyond the figurehead to examine the nexus of power at the heart of the Damascene court – an opaque and complex palatial mafia whose lesser known characters wield inordinate amounts of power.

So now the question is no longer: Is Bashar calling the shots? (and some do believe that he is). The question has become: Does this even matter?