tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-139697202024-03-11T03:21:03.498+00:00Middle East PolicyInforming about Middle East policies, politics, and geopolitics from liberal perspective by Nassim Yaziji.Nassim Yazijihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08286807488014247311noreply@blogger.comBlogger445125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13969720.post-12342147428502071662023-12-08T15:50:00.024+00:002023-12-08T17:54:46.905+00:00The French Arrest Warrants for Chemical Weapons Attacks in Syria: A Precedent with Key Questions<div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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</div><br></div><br></div>In an unprecedented development, the French judiciary has issued an international arrest warrants for the chemical weapons attacks performed by the Syrian government (regime) against civilians during the Syria war. The warrants target three top Syrian officials including the Syrian president. <div><br></div><div><a href="https://scm.bz/en/questions-and-answers-on-the-french-arrest-warrants-for-chemical-weapons-attacks-in-syria/">Here is</a> all you need to know about the first international (non-ICC) arrest warrant of a sitting head of another state for a grave crime against humanity and/or war crime by the <a href="https://scm.bz/en/">Syrian Center for Media and Freedom of Expression (SCM)</a>. </div><div><br></div><div>This international precedent is stating that no sovereign impunity for grave crimes against humanity, as clearly indicated by the issuing judiciary, prompts two questions. First, would it be a followed precedent marking a change in the int practice? And the second question, how the following practice will define the initiating grave crimes? </div><div><br></div><div>One explanatory enquiry should follow here is about whether the western powers that practically ignored and neglected a substantial quantity of grave war crimes and crimes against humanity committed by various parties including the Syrian regime (government) throughout the Syrian war are acting or will act only on chemical weapons deployment to actually defend their interests in maintaining their power supremacy rather than the victims rights as this supremacy is endangered by the proliferation of chemical weapons and the tolerance of their usage. </div><div><br></div><div>Only time will have the answers.</div><div><br></div><div><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Stay tuned to <a href="https://twitter.com/NMYaziji">my X</a> (formerly Twitter), <a href="https://mideastpolicy.blogspot.com">Middle East Policy Blog</a>, and <a href="https://nyaziji.wordpress.com">NeoInternationalism</a> website.</span></i><br></div>Nassim Yazijihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08286807488014247311noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13969720.post-42854976658606807852023-08-07T14:00:00.014+00:002023-08-09T04:43:16.297+00:00Netherlands and Canada's ICJ Torture Case Against Syria: A New Era of International Indictment of Sovereign Governments' National Crimes<div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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</div><br></div>Netherlands' torture and other ill-treatment case against Syria at the International Court of Justice opens a new chapter in the international order and practice. Although our previous experience with the international order and the international institutions, especially in the Syrian crisis, lets almost no room for any expectations for this case to end torture in Syria or to achieve any difference in the course of action of the Syrian regime, it definitely can lay the foundation for this end by the international documentation, indictment and recognition of these domestic crimes.<div> <div>In general, this unprecedented ICJ case has a particular international importance as It has a real chance to prompt a beginning of some international system development in terms of the international responsibility and role concerning ill-governance, which is generally fenced by the norm of sovereignty, especially in terms of systematic practice of torture and other kindes of ill-treatment by national governments. </div><div><br></div><div>This importance belongs to three factors:</div><div><br></div><div>1- It is an international precedent and this precedence per se will open and lead the way for new international practices and realities in this regard.</div><div><br></div><div>2- It will officially and judicially document and recognize domestic crimes at the international level. This will have implications at the domestic and international levels to be decided by the consequent actions by the domestic and international actors including other states and international organizations.</div><div><br></div><div>3- At the Syrian level, this case and its proceedings will constitute a significant moral blow to the recent normalization efforts with the Syrian regime and the states leading this normalization process. It will actually affect the development and the outcomes of the normalization efforts and will cause by default an embarrassment to the governments leading these efforts internally and internationally. </div><div><br></div><div>Moreover, it sheds light on availability of international means --regardless of their efficacy-- should states opt for supporting good governance and basic human rights along with the reluctance of states to make recourse to these means. These two facts are demonstrated by this dutch unprecedented resolution and the vast abstaining from joining Netherlands and Canada in this case by other states. </div><div><br></div><div>Although the 3-month postponement of the provisional measures indication hearings at the request of the Syrian government (regime) makes a really bad start for this unprecedented process, this case, its proceedings and its outcomes and consequences should be attentively monitored and considered by all parties including domestic and international actors and get contemplated by studying researchers and scholars. </div></div><div><br></div><div><i>Stay tuned to my <a href="https://twitter.com/NMYaziji">Twitter</a>, Middle East Policy <a href="https://mideastpolicy.blogspot.com">Blog</a>, and <a href="https://nyaziji.wordpress.com">NeoInternationalism</a> website.</i></div>Nassim Yazijihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08286807488014247311noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13969720.post-32046644573012576582023-07-24T13:41:00.031+00:002023-07-24T13:59:33.692+00:00Syria Strategic Battle: Between Israel's Pretence and Iranian Reality<p dir="ltr"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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</div><br /><p></p><p dir="ltr">It seems that the Israeli governmental establishment applies the 'ostrich' perspective as regards the Israeli Syria policy and the Iranian entrenchment in post-war Syria, which is reluctant to see or recognize. They are still insisting that they managed to defeat the Iranian 'project' (by their own definition of this project) in Syria and hold an assessment which concluds that post-war Syria is not a geopolitical field of the Iranian influence. This conclusion is definitely not shared by the vast majority of the Syrian scholars and activists, who have a quite different assessment of the Iranian power and influence in their country Syria.</p><p dir="ltr"> These substantially different assessments and conclusions prompt a necessary enquiries to discern this persistent Israeli pretence:<br /></p><p dir="ltr">
- What is the Israeli governmental understanding of the outstanding comprehensive Iranian power and influence in Syria in the military, governmental, economic and social fields?</p><p dir="ltr">- Does Iran have the ability to launch land fires at the Israeli territory from the Syrian south, as it did in April rocket salvo, regardless of the military capacity and scope of the Iranian firepower and the deployment of drones?</p><p dir="ltr">- Can there be a negotiated solution of the Syrian crisis without an Iranian role? And can a transitional government be formed in Syria without an Iranian contribution?</p><p dir="ltr">- Does Israel have the requisite assets to play a role and hold any influence in the future Syria?</p><p dir="ltr">- How did Israel lose its cards and role in neighboring Syria? What were the factors underpinning the Israeli role in the handover of the south Syria to the regime in 2018?</p><p dir="ltr">- Does the Israeli governmental establishment have a vision of Israel's long-term regional interests in the Middle East as regards particularly security, economic and energy projects amid regional rivalry by Iran and Turkey and in the reality of the Syrian geographic importance for these rivals and interests? And consequently does it have a strategy to achieve these interests on the Syrian side?</p><p dir="ltr">The answers of the previous questions will make it possible and even clear to find out the regional strategic loser of the Syrian war despite any official denial or opposite pretence.</p><p dir="ltr">Here is a list of my related articles:</p><p dir="ltr">- <a href="https://nyaziji.wordpress.com/2023/06/25/israels-strategy-in-syria-from-enabling-iran-to-strategic-loss/" target="_blank">Israel's Strategy in Syria: From Enabling Iran to Strategic Loss</a></p>
<p dir="ltr">- <a href="https://nyaziji.wordpress.com/2023/02/02/syria-in-reality-irans-power-and-israels-policy/">Syria in Reality: Iran's Power and Israel's Policy</a></p><p dir="ltr">- <a href="https://nyaziji.wordpress.com/2023/05/16/arab-normalization-with-syrian-regime-a-victory-for-iran-or-loss-for-arabs/">Arab Normalization with Syrian Regime: A Victory for Iran or Loss for Arabs?</a></p><p dir="ltr">- <a href="https://nyaziji.wordpress.com/2023/05/11/prompting-a-new-phase-in-the-middle-east-iran-claims-victory-in-syria/">Prompting a New Phase in the Middle East: Iran Claims Victory in Syria</a></p><p dir="ltr">- <a href="https://nyaziji.wordpress.com/2023/04/20/the-changing-middle-east-traditional-israel-and-changer-iran/">The Changing Middle East: Traditional Israel and Changer Iran</a></p><p dir="ltr">- <a href="https://nyaziji.wordpress.com/2023/04/07/irans-acknowledged-presence-in-syria-from-permeation-to-imposition/">Iran's Acknowledged Presence in Syria: From Permeation to Imposition</a></p><p dir="ltr"><i>Stay tuned to my <a href="https://twitter.com/NMYaziji">Twitter</a>, Middle East Policy <a href="https://mideastpolicy.blogspot.com">Blog</a>, and <a href="https://nyaziji.wordpress.com">NeoInternationalism</a> website.</i></p>Nassim Yazijihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08286807488014247311noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13969720.post-64888424140741156752023-07-14T13:32:00.020+00:002023-07-14T17:07:29.471+00:00The Internationalism of the Syrian Crisis: The Context and Exercise of the Regime's Interim Victory<p dir="ltr"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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</div><br /><p></p><p dir="ltr">The 'internationalism' keeps being demonstrated as an empirical fact in the international field where the Westphalian 'border' of sovereignty of nation-state is actually porous to international inputs and even determinant kind of international 'interference'. In fact, the international input including all kinds of practices and policies is of vital importance and impact in shaping the outcome of domestic-deemed issues regardless of their international ramifications and dimensions. The sovereignty is not a barrier between the domestic and international realms in reality. 'interference' is a term made to maintain the interests of the most powerful actors, and is actually a natural kind of interaction when it is not protected by adequate power. This is actually a reality rather than a theory or ideology.</p><p dir="ltr">The ideology is what I invented and became a Keen proponent of it that is 'Neo-Internationalism' where the international natural input in domestic affairs follows internationally-approved values and norms which are mainly based on and derived from the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant of Civil and Political Rights for the good of the concerned parties and the international system and wellbeing in general.</p><p dir="ltr">The international political phenomenon of 'internationalism' so far is totally related to interfering states' national interests and cynical benefits unfortunately. This international practice is the one responsible for the death of the once very promising rising international norm of 'responsibility to protect' (R2P) by particularly the international inputs in the Syrian issue, as I <a href="https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/openglobalrights-openpage/sad-fate-of-r2p-from-libya-to-lost-chance-of-syria/">articulated</a> a few years ago.</p><p dir="ltr">After the death of R2P with the rolling death toll of the Syrian people, the international Syria policies have been dictating the fate of the Syrian war and people uprising. As a result, the Syrian regime has managed to win and claim victory and starts to exercise its victory especially in its refusal to implement any part of the teeth-less Security Council resolution <a href="tel:2254">2254</a>. This is a quite normal position as winners dictate their own terms with no need to follow others' terms including the international law and UN's resolutions. That is actually what victory is about.</p><p dir="ltr">In this regard, I want to shed light on two turning points that actually contributed, in my view, to conceiving the Syrian regime's victory or at least partial or temporary victory. This is to try to define and understand the tipping points that turned the on-ground state of powers to a political result without detailing all factors of this outcome which are many and certainly include the mismanagement and failures of the amateur, corrupt and agent Syrian opposition institutions and factions.</p><p dir="ltr">- The first point is the handover of the south to the regime in <a href="tel:2018">2018</a> which was the tipping point of the territorial military victory of the regime in my opinion. The almost peaceful handover of the region, which was the cradle of the Syrian uprising, indicates with no doubt that it was brought about by an international decision, especially by the region's neighboring countries mainly Israel. For the Israeli side, this decision turned to be its biggest mistake ever through the course of the Syrian war, as Israel currently watches its primary regional adversary Iran entrenching in the region threatening the adjacent Israeli territory.</p><p dir="ltr">- The second tipping point of victory is at the moral and political levels, which is the U.S. green-lighted normalization decision and process with the Syrian regime by the neighboring and Arab countries including the once leader of anti-regime front Turkey. This key development created the political conclusion for the regime's victory and even more it has been a substantial factor of this victory.<br /></p><p dir="ltr">The natural anticipated action by the Syrian regime after this internationally-prompted and considerably recognized victory is to exercise it, and that is exactly has been the case. The regime exercised this victory at two also natural levels, domestic and international. Domestically, the regime simply has not changed its governing structure, policies and means. This applies to the entire system and includes the abstaining from even making any significant adjustments to the governance in the regime-held Syrian regions. The regime is substantially staying the course of pre-uprising governance. Internationally and regionally, the regime moved by this victory from not implementing any part of the SC resolution <a href="tel:2254">2254</a> to ignoring this resolution. Right after the re-admittance of the regime to the Arab League and the Jeddah Arab summit, the Syrian foreign minister made a statement to Sputnik news agency that the regime has previously implemented this resolution by holding multi-level elections. In addition, the regime exercised this victory at this level by bargaining other regional and non-regional states to cooperate in all Syrian-originated regional and international problems and threats, which mainly include the refugees question, narcotics and regional security. Once again, this course of action pertaining to its internationally-prompted victory by the Syrian regime is quite natural and coherent, and without it its victory will be meaningless.</p><p dir="ltr">Some critics can argue that the regime's victory is deficient as the regime is not in control of all Syrian territory, especially the oil-rich northeast region, and it is under strict sanctions system as well, which deprive it from vital economic resources. As this critique is somehow sound, it is essential to realize and consider two points. The Syrian regime demonstrated high level of patience and reasonable level of pragmatism, which enable it to maintain its functionality as long as there is no international decision to oust it, and the economic/humanitarian situation in its held region does not reach the breakdown threshold, which is also not permitted by the international powers.</p><p dir="ltr">For now, and in this very Syrian and international contexts, the only available and feasible means to contain the Syrian regime's victory is economic pressure as the military pressure is substantially excluded by the standing international policies in Syria. Changing or reversing this course and its related realities requires a change in the international input in Syria and that is the bottom line. Then, this necessitates a substantial strategic change in the Syria policies of the stakeholders powerful states and their underlying strategic views. This objective relies on either a grave Syrian-prompted deterioration in the region that is leading to significant threats and damages to these powers interests, the scenario that has reasonable prospect in the medium-term future, or a concerted deliberate course of action by the Syrian opposition to compel this intended international change, which is quite unlikely.</p><p dir="ltr">In conclusion, after the Internationalism of the Syrian crisis folded up the governance issue away to the crisis's international ramifications, the ultimate representation and practical abstract of the Syrian regime's victory is realized by the achievement of turning the Syrian question from a national governance crisis to international, and more precisely inter-states, dispute and issues. All parties who seek to change this outcome should realize and consider this conclusion to tackle this reality and cope with it. <br /></p><p dir="ltr"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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</div><i><br /></i><p></p><p dir="ltr"><i>Stay tuned to my <a href="https://twitter.com/NMYaziji">Twitter</a>, Middle East Policy <a href="https://mideastpolicy.blogspot.com">Blog</a>, and <a href="https://nyaziji.wordpress.com">NeoInternationalism</a> website. </i><br /></p>Nassim Yazijihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08286807488014247311noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13969720.post-67979292761047085492023-06-24T22:56:00.014+00:002023-06-25T12:54:13.027+00:00Israel's Strategy in Syria: From Enabling Iran to Strategic Loss<p dir="ltr"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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</div><br><p></p><p dir="ltr">Seven months ago, I wrote about the failure of the Israeli policy in Syria, which poses Israel as a main regional loser in the aftermath of the war in Syria. This article has been followed by other articles describing the following changing balance in the Middle East between Israel and Iran to the benefit of Iran and the role of Israeli policies and its traditional strategy and means toward its regional strategic loss.</p><p dir="ltr">Meanwhile, the Israeli government and intelligence establishment were in quite different place claiming even achievements in Syria as regards Iran's entrenchment there. The academia and research institutions were in-between. Recently, it came to my attention this article by Ehud Yaari, which is the ever best Israeli analysis I have read in months. <br><br></p><p dir="ltr">Finally, there is some scholar in Israel has the realistic and <a href="https://jstribune.com/yaari-how-israel-lost-the-syrian-civil-war/">true assessment</a> of the situation in Syria and the Israeli policy there along with the strategic conclusion. This is definitely a useful work, as the Israeli governmental and research bodies apparently and generally deem our scholarly contribution (the Middle Eastern scholars) unworthy of been taken into account. Then, I do hope they read and seriously consider this Israeli analysis to change their Syria policy to the benefit of the two neighboring countries and the needed peace in the region.</p><p dir="ltr">
Here are my comments on select excerpts of the article with a few key highlights:<br></p><p dir="ltr">- "<i>After the outbreak of the uprising against Assad in March <a href="tel:2011">2011</a>, Israel chose a policy of non-interference and refrained from taking significant covert actions to help the rebels topple his regime.</i>" On the contrary, there is well-established conclusion in Syria that The strategic decision of Israel is to maintain the outstanding regime and it used its leverage and even lobbied or affected the Western governments, particularly the US government to covertly uphold such policy. The Israeli acts concerning Syria throughout its war would support this conclusion, especially the decision about handing over the Southern region of Syria that neighbors Israel to the Syrian regime in <a href="tel:2018">2018</a>.<br></p><p dir="ltr">
- "<i>In the south, Israel had to stop its well-publicized 'Good Neighbor' operation that since June <a href="tel:2016">2016</a> provided humanitarian aid to the civilian population (and with no publicity, modest salaries to 7,000 rebel fighters). Some of the rebel commanders left Syria via Israel to seek new refuge.</i>" At the strategic level, it is also thought in Syria that the mostly peaceful handover of this region in <a href="tel:2018">2018</a> would not have been possible without an Israeli decision in this regard. Moreover, many Syrian rebels and scholars consider Israel the main party that is responsible for this strategic loss. I consider this handover a key tipping point in the course of the Syrian uprising and war.<br></p><p dir="ltr">
- "<i>For its part, Iran keeps adjusting its military penetration into Syria under the pressure of Israeli air force bombings, often on a weekly basis, of its facilities and convoys. Suleimani’s original plan is for now on hold.</i>" Iran did established a military capabilities in Syria through a complex network of allied, aligned, sponsored and directly-commanded militias and even regular military troops. The article was accurate about Israeli targets that are precisely just Iran's military facilities and conveys. The other point I want to tackle is the almost mythological Suleimani's plan, which I really don't know who disseminated it, or the trustworthy source that detailed it. The bottom line here is that Iran is extremely pragmatic player with experience in proactively playing on the ground to create assets and achieve interests and advantages, and the proof of that is Iran's success in Syria. Who is not familiar with Iran's pragmatism is not familiar with Iran itself.<br></p><p dir="ltr">
- "<i>Israeli intelligence believes that <a href="tel:8090">80-90</a> percent of the Iranian military presence in Syria has been destroyed.</i>" Apart from the math and calculation of the Israeli intelligence, which is most probably not even close to reality and lack strategic and political significance, Iran has the sufficient military assets and capabilities to pose a threat and reach the Israeli territories with various kinds of fires launched from Syria, and it actually proved it when concluded the April rocket salvo on Israel with the Syrian rockets. Then, there is no need for speculation or self-delusions in this regard.<br></p><p dir="ltr">
- "<i>The current US military deployment prevents the IRGC from expanding deliveries into Syria.</i>" Mr. Yaari again fine-tunes his terms to comply with reality as much as possible. However, we have no evidence yet that any US role or activity in Syria was intended and/or was successful in stalling Iran's entrenchment or diminishing Iran's power in Syria. In fact, Iran has claimed victory in Syria and seeks the international and regional recognition of this reality, as I specified in my previous articles (see the links below).<br></p><p dir="ltr">
- "<i>Hopes that the West or the Arab states would offer Assad attractive incentives to break away from Iran’s embrace are wishful thinking.</i>" I have suggested previously that the Saudi-led rapproachment and normalization with the Syrian regime is a part of the Saudi-Iranian rapproachment agreement, which is widely considered an Iranian achievement and success. This suggestion is supported by the fact that KSA and Arabs have got precisely nothing from the Syrian regime in return so far.<br></p><p dir="ltr">
- "<i>Was there ever an opportunity to avoid the present danger? If so, it was missed.</i>" Yes there was such opportunity especially in two places or occasions, the Israeli lobbying or effect on the policies of the US and other western allies, and in the Israeli management of the south Syria file. This opportunity has been definitely missed.<br></p><p dir="ltr">
- "<i>Israel now has no choice other than to vigorously thwart the Iranian effort to implement Qassem Suleimani’s strategic prescription of how to overpower Israel.</i>" As Israel lost the upper hand to the victorious Iran in Syria so far, it needs to start a new strategy and course of action there. Firstly, playing merely at the tactical level in implementing a strategy was and will always be a prescription for strategic loss. Syria's war was a strategic breakthrough and situation that entails a tailored and deliberate strategy based on realistic conceptions and intended objectives. This breakthrough and its related strategy require new means of achievement as well. Adopting and employing the same old and traditional means will also assure this strategic loss.<br></p><p dir="ltr">
Weakening the neighboring Syria and maintaining the traditional governing structure there was a losing traditional strategy with tactical and old means that only destructed and deconstructed a neighboring country and enabled a regional threatening adversary there.<br></p><p dir="ltr">
Here are the links of my related articles that are essential to conceive the strategic and geopolitical context of the Syrian issue and its regional implications and consequences:</p>
<p dir="ltr">- <a href="https://nyaziji.wordpress.com/2023/02/02/syria-in-reality-irans-power-and-israels-policy/">Syria in Reality: Iran's Power and Israel's Policy</a></p><p dir="ltr">- <a href="https://nyaziji.wordpress.com/2023/05/16/arab-normalization-with-syrian-regime-a-victory-for-iran-or-loss-for-arabs/">Arab Normalization with Syrian Regime: A Victory for Iran or Loss for Arabs?</a></p><p dir="ltr">- <a href="https://nyaziji.wordpress.com/2023/05/11/prompting-a-new-phase-in-the-middle-east-iran-claims-victory-in-syria/">Prompting a New Phase in the Middle East: Iran Claims Victory in Syria</a></p><p dir="ltr">- <a href="https://nyaziji.wordpress.com/2023/04/20/the-changing-middle-east-traditional-israel-and-changer-iran/">The Changing Middle East: Traditional Israel and Changer Iran</a></p><p dir="ltr">- <a href="https://nyaziji.wordpress.com/2023/04/07/irans-acknowledged-presence-in-syria-from-permeation-to-imposition/">Iran's Acknowledged Presence in Syria: From Permeation to Imposition</a></p><p dir="ltr"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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</div><br><p></p><p dir="ltr"><i>Stay tuned to my <a href="https://twitter.com/NMYaziji">Twitter</a>, Middle East Policy <a href="https://mideastpolicy.blogspot.com">Blog</a>, and <a href="https://nyaziji.wordpress.com">NeoInternationalism</a> website. </i><br></p>Nassim Yazijihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08286807488014247311noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13969720.post-24441332349348158282023-06-10T15:59:00.020+00:002023-06-10T16:22:20.627+00:00Syrian Opposition's Misconduct Saga: The Political Vandalization of Civil Activism By Madaniya<div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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</div><br></div>The new Syrian political/civil platform called Madaniya is a further and even advanced misstep to be added to the continuous series of mistakes by the Syrian opposition, so-called Syrian opposition or agent Syrian opposition. Apart from the entire absence of transparency and democratic mechanisms in governance, which usually leads to corruption and mercenariness, that characterize the vast majority of the Syrian opposition's institutions and entities, Madaniya is making a fatal precedent. <div><br><div>Madaniya is a political entity or an entity with political goals, as stated in its official documents, with a structure and shape of an umbrella for pre-set Syrian civil society organizations. Even though its <a href="https://www.madaniya-csn.org/madaniyas-conference-2023">official literature</a> and rhetoric is causing a lot of confusion about the type and job of this ambiguous institution, the unfortunate and deliberate mix between the civil and political domains can only achieve one end that is to vandalize the both of them, especially the civil domain and activitism.</div><div><br></div><div>The civil activitism should only be dependent on and pertaining to the rights-based approach and methodology regardless of the governance system and the type of the government and its applied various and changing political ideologies. Otherwise, it will destroy the credibility and effectiveness of the activist civil organizations along with their moral and ethical significance and respect. The common space between the civil and political activism can be conceived by and defined with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant of Civil and Political Rights, which should always serve as the premium constitution of civil activitism and work. </div><div><br></div><div>Madaniya's this unfortunate fatal precedent and massive mistake threaten to severely damage the nascent civil society Syrian activism, which is still developing and lacks experience, strength and credibility by turning this civil activitism to political activism and civil society organizations to political parties. This misguided and misconceived transformation is an utter vandalization of the civil domain and its role by moving its approach and work from the 'rights,' which are absolute and unbiased to politics, which is relative, ideological and cynical interest-motivated activity. </div><div><br></div><div>I would call on all Syrian civil organizations and activists to strictly stick to rights-based approach and methodology, and the sponsor of Madaniya platform to correct this massive misstep and establish a political party. </div></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><i>Stay tuned to my <a href="https://twitter.com/NMYaziji" target="_blank">Twitter</a>, <a href="https://mideastpolicy.blogspot.com" target="_blank">Middle East Policy</a> Blog, and <a href="https://nyaziji.wordpress.com" target="_blank">NeoInternationalism</a> website for the exciting developments in the region and world's politics.</i></div><div><br></div>Nassim Yazijihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08286807488014247311noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13969720.post-88769267709657598592023-06-02T22:42:00.024+00:002023-06-02T22:55:41.580+00:00Gambling on the Warhead, Iran Gets the Requisite Missile<div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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</div><br /></div>It seems that the mainstream media follows the course of their governments in their coverage of political and other related developments. As the US Democrat administrations with many other European governments usually incline to practically overlook the Iranian ballistic missile program and its deployment, the mainstream media also is impacted by this inclination. This is indicated by the light and deficient coverage of the recent <a href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/iran-unveils-new-missile-with-2000-kilometer-range-capable-of-hitting-israel/" target="_blank">Iran's unveiling</a> of the fourth generation of its Khorramshahr ballistic missile with a range of 2,000 km (1,243 miles) and a 1,500 kg (3,300 lb) warhead as reported by the official IRNA news agency. <div><br /><div>Iran named it Khaybar in reference to famous Islamic anti-jewish battle alongside a replica of the Al-Aqsa Mosque in the live broadcast of the state television. As usual, Iran directs its rhetoric against Israel and does not miss any show of its power in this regard . This is an official Iranian tradition and an essential pillar of the ideology of the Islamic revolution in Iran, which would not be possible without the actual support of the west, by the way.</div><div><br /></div><div>Back to this development's importance, it is indispensable to mention that the ballistic program is an essential part of any nuclear armament program because the fact that the possession of the nuclear bomb is meaningless without the possession of its delivery means, which are definitely the ballistic missiles of reasonable accuracy and required range. This key information was broadly missed or overlooked by many media outlets in the coverage of this event. </div><div><br /></div><div>Iran has declared that it has the ballistic missile that can reach Israel and the entire Gulf region, and now the question is would it obtain the nuclear bomb? Regardless of the answer, Iran keeps proving that it is a competent Middle Eastern player. </div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><i>Stay tuned to my <a href="https://twitter.com/NMYaziji" target="_blank">Twitter</a>, <a href="https://mideastpolicy.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Middle East Policy Blog</a>, and <a href="https://nyaziji.wordpress.com" target="_blank">NeoInternationalism</a> website for the exciting developments in the region and world's politics.</i></div>Nassim Yazijihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08286807488014247311noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13969720.post-67390017366224477002023-05-30T13:01:00.024+00:002023-05-30T13:51:01.268+00:00Israel Spring and Middle East's Order: The geopolitics of Democracy and Peace<div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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</div><br /></div>Islamic Jihad's only success was cancelling the week 19 Tel Aviv pro-democracy demonstrations. Just add democracy before the resistance axis and you will discover the real war in the Middle East. Seemingly, democracy has to win here to prevail in the Middle East. Only democracy and dignity will achieve peace in the region, which is one region and will always be. So, it is one war with multiple battles. The war for democracy and freedom is pertaining to human dignity, so it can never be sectarian, ethnic or divisive. Rather, it is unifying, pluralistic, philanthropic and pacifying struggle. So, let us unify and pacify our Middle East with democracy, freedom and human rights, and let us start from a real democratic Israel. <div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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</div><div><br /><div>Here are my explanatory comments:</div><div><br /></div><div>- Abolishing the judiciary's independence in Israel will put it under government's authority and eventually will turn it into a part of the executive authority, and this will definitely destroy Israel's democracy, especially in the absence of a constitution.</div><div><br /></div><div>- In a significantly polarized divided society like the current situation in Israel, only a profound democracy can protect the various sects of the society and save the country's unity and peace.</div><div><br /></div><div>- The absence of a true and profound democracy in Israel is the utmost threat and danger that will definitely and seriously threaten the Israel's very existence as a country. I do believe that the eventual existence of the country of Israel is dependent on its democratic system regardless of external threats or factors.</div><div><br /></div><div>- Far-right incumbent Israeli government has opted for authoritarianism as a governance system for Israel, which will turn Israel into a traditional Middle Eastern state that are colonially-artificial authoritarian states. Although this may lead it to join the autocratic club of the region, and even may ironically get it admitted to the Arab League, it will put it in the same systematic deficiencies and flaws of the neighboring countries and get it infected with their intrinsic social, economic and security problems. Eventually, authoritarianism will make Israel extremely vulnerable to its regional adversaries and rivals seeking any opportunity to get it submitted to their influence in case it is not collapsed by internal dynamics. </div><div><br /></div><div>- Dictatorship is not sustainable per se. Post-colonial Arab and regional dictatorships can not survive on the long run with a rising number of challenges and various kinds of problems that include social, economic and security deficiencies. Arab spring is only an igniting start of major regional unrest and consequent domestic and geopolitical developments. Putting Israel on the wrong side and direction of history will inflict it with very serious consequences that it could not survive especially in this very regional challenging and threatening context and environment, in my opinion. </div><div><br /></div><div>- In geopolitics, Israel's real and profound democracy will have positive and promoting implications on the Middle East as regards democratization and human rights struggle. The victory of pro-democracy movement in Israel is a requisite for a geopolitical medium that is hospitable to regional democratic change in the future.</div><div><br /></div><div>- Democratic change in the Middle East with a reliable human rights application and respect will change the traditional geopolitics in the region to less divisive boundaries and more integration through less protectionist nationalism and sectarian and/or ethnic intolerance to more regionalism and internationalism crossing over the lines and boundaries of sectarian and national division and conflict to some integrative complimentary regional order which enables and sustains peace and economic prosperity of the participatory regional countries.</div><div><br /></div><div>- The aforementioned democratic transformation of the Middle East is the only ultimate solution or remedy for the region's persistent deficiencies, instability, extremism and violence.</div><div><br /></div><div>Even that it is a very long road to this end, it always needs a start, and hopefully be a compelling and necessary start as the struggle to uphold democracy in the streets of Tel Aviv.</div><div><br /></div><div><i>Stay tuned to my <a href="https://twitter.com/NMYaziji">Twitter</a>, <a href="https://mideastpolicy.blogspot.com">Middle East Policy Blog</a>, and <a href="https://nyaziji.wordpress.com">NeoInternationalism</a> website for the exciting developments in the region and world's politics.</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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</div><br /></i></div><div><br /></div></div></div>Nassim Yazijihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08286807488014247311noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13969720.post-6522941100141904642023-05-22T14:10:00.023+00:002023-05-22T15:21:44.026+00:00Arab League Jeddah Summit: Normalizing to 'Business as Usual'<p dir="ltr"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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</div><br><p></p><p dir="ltr">With the <a href="https://nyaziji.wordpress.com/2023/05/16/arab-normalization-with-syrian-regime-a-victory-for-iran-or-loss-for-arabs/">comeback of the Syrian regime</a> to the Arab Autocratic/Authoritarian League, the system of this regional institution has been restored to the normal operation condition. This is per se constitutes an achievement for the Arab mutual cooperation and for this institution, which has not any democratic member among 22 member states of the Arab League. This significant long-awaited breakthrough achievement finally restores the status of the Arab system to 'business as usual'. For the whining activists about tremendous atrocities, destruction and humanitarian catastrophe in Syria, they should answer a very simple question. Why around a million killed Syrians and more than 10 millions of Syrian displaced and refugees and undefined number of disappeared, tortured and raped Syrians besides a continued humanitarian disaster should affect the Arab regimes' 'business as usual' and the Arab League's normal condition? What is the relation or the connection between these two things in the first place? In elaboration and in fact, how do you define their normal condition and business in essence and practice? </p>
<p dir="ltr">Getting back to my related commentary, I am somewhat surprised of the odd expectations of many intellectuals from a regional organization that has zero democracy among its 22 member states. But, however, the question about 'why' they reinstated Syrian regime's membership in this particular time and context is a quite reasonable question. The answer is related to the host state Saudi Arabia and its masterminding of the summit in the context of its new foreign policy.</p>
<p dir="ltr">It starts from the apparent loss, or the unreachable victory at least, in Yemen. This reality intertwined with two key developments, the Biden administration's appeasement policy towards Iran and the somewhat controversial power transition in Saudi Arabia. Muhammad Bin Salman could not forget Biden's harsh remarks and promises about him and his country in general in his electoral campaign, which directly followed by Biden's first surprising international decision after his presidential inauguration removing Hothis from terrorist organizations list. In this tough situation of Saudi Arabia when there is a transition of power and a challenging and threatening endless war with Iran-backed Hothis in Yemen attacking even the Saudi lands and infrastructure, MBS had no choice <a href="https://nyaziji.wordpress.com/2023/02/02/the-middle-east-is-heading-east-ending-the-western-era/">but to resort to China</a><u><a href="https://nyaziji.wordpress.com/2023/03/16/middle-easts-new-era-chinas-prominence-and-u-s-retreat/"></a></u> and Russia to balance powers after the abandonment by the US, the kingdom's almost eternal ally. </p>
<p dir="ltr">To complete the regional scene and context for Saudi Arabia, Iran regional victories and powers, <a href="https://nyaziji.wordpress.com/2023/05/11/prompting-a-new-phase-in-the-middle-east-iran-claims-victory-in-syria/">especially in Syria</a> and Iraq besides Yemen should be added and considered. MBS opted for acknowledging Iran's rising power and influence, so he chose rapproachment with Iran. The smartest move he made in this regard was the <u><a href="https://nyaziji.wordpress.com/2023/03/16/middle-easts-new-era-chinas-prominence-and-u-s-retreat/">resort to China</a></u> to adjust and maintain the rapproachment with Iran and balance the relations with it after its regional advancement, because otherwise that and in this particular situation, <a href="https://nyaziji.wordpress.com/2023/04/20/the-changing-middle-east-traditional-israel-and-changer-iran/">victorious Iran</a> will make him pay a huge price for its victory and his seeming loss. </p>
<p dir="ltr">Back to Jeddah Summit of the Arab League, the <u><a href="https://nyaziji.wordpress.com/2023/05/16/arab-normalization-with-syrian-regime-a-victory-for-iran-or-loss-for-arabs/">normalization with the Syrian regime</a></u> and its re-admittance was, in my opinion, a part of the Iranian deal. In these circumstances, MBS not to go eastward so far to the extent that will provoke the US and to appease it, he intelligently made this Zelensky meaningless and effectless show. However, everything else in the summit went as 'business as usual' and nothing really interesting or worth to mention. </p>
<p dir="ltr">For the Syrian side, although this Saudi-led Arab new deal about Syria is a moral and ethical slap, it will not change anything on the ground, so the Syrian catastrophe will also be unfortunately 'as usual.'</p><p dir="ltr"><br></p><p dir="ltr"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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</div><br><p></p><p dir="ltr"><i>Stay tuned to my <a href="https://twitter.com/NMYaziji">Twitter</a>, <a href="https://mideastpolicy.blogspot.com">Middle East Policy</a> Blog, and <a href="https://nyaziji.wordpress.com">NeoInternationalism</a> website for the exciting developments in the region and world's politics.</i></p>Nassim Yazijihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08286807488014247311noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13969720.post-61721117925242828932023-05-16T16:57:00.026+00:002023-05-16T20:08:46.547+00:00Arab Normalization with Syrian Regime: A Victory for Iran or Loss for Arabs?<div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="378" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEixsKRAXKPAGbpAI-AYsOaBWR8xIBvQHwNV0uT6YcN82F5EH_YolKGex_1-rQe4PUg6dCeythRFmtg5fNd14Gw-vJ2aSoAMCt_3htxjCfsRTZj68QOVDsCBoR-PYtkAHzhBnNWirK3ab65OohkBdWvNM2P2fllEC34xelU88mfe8sSOMkcpYDU=w640-h378" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A meme putting the Iranian president in the seat of Syria at the Arab League. </td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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</div><br /></div>One hard thing for political analysts and researchers when they find difficulty in understanding or analyzing some political development or course of action. A lot of ink has been spilled lately by political analysts and commentators trying to explain the unexpected and inexplicable decision of the Arab League to re-admit the Syrian regime after 12 years of suspension because of the atrocities committed by this regime against the Syrian people among other causes according to the suspension decision along with a started Arab normalization course with the Syrian regime. I am trying to explain this decision by spelling major reasonable causes and eventually derive the strategic significance of this political development. <div><br /><div>- First thing to do here is to ask about what has changed in the context of the Syrian crisis and the suspension decision. The answer is nothing except for the military victory of the Syrian regime against the opposition's factions. The pertaining question will be about the willingness of the Arab states to concede and politically acknowledge a semi-military victory, as considerable territories are still out of the Syrian regime's control, especially as the political crisis is still active at the domestic and international levels and still lacks any kind of political settlements. So, conceding for free is not likely the motivation for the Arab re-admittance decision and normalization course. </div><div><br /></div><div>- Captagon is an issue that can be dealt with in various ways that does not need to change the political landscape in the region of course. However, Captagon huge shipments are not stopped yet according to concerned states disclosures and will not be soon as it became linked to war economy with sophisticated very wide infrastructure, stakeholders and beneficiaries. We learned from previous international experiences that such businesses and economic activities are sustainable and persistent and need decades to be dealt with in some way or another with moderate expectations in success cases. So, Captagon combating cooperation can not be the motivation for such political development like this normalization and rearrangement of geopolitical scene with reinstating the Syrian regime in the regional order. This would be irreasonable in political terms and practice.</div><div><br /></div><div>- Can this normalization be a part in a settlement plan of the Syrian crisis? If so, it should be in the closing parts or later moves of such plans or agreements not in the advance or initiating measures because this in fact abolishes the entire plan as it eliminates the reciprocality when it delivers the stakes in advance. This is quite foolish and meaningless in political practice.</div><div><br /></div><div>- The only reasonable and realistic explanation I could find in my research is of strict political nature. I do think that is related to <a href="https://nyaziji.wordpress.com/2023/03/16/middle-easts-new-era-chinas-prominence-and-u-s-retreat/">Chinese-brokered</a> Iranian-Saudi rapproachment agreement, and I believe that is a part of it. In fact, the <a href="https://nyaziji.wordpress.com/2023/05/11/prompting-a-new-phase-in-the-middle-east-iran-claims-victory-in-syria/">Iranian president's visit to Damascus</a> with its timing and rhetoric is actually supporting this suggestion. The only criticism that can be directed at this perspective is the yet absent advantage the Saudis should have obtained in Yemen through this trade-off with Iran. </div><div><br /></div><div>We may need some time to clear the ambiguity of this Saudi-led Arab new deal in Syria. Meanwhile, for the time being we can discuss the derived strategic implications of this course of action. </div><div><br /></div><div> - How far the damage we may expect in the Middle East prompted by Biden administration's policies before it leaves? It becomes more obvious day by day the rising influence and <a href="https://nyaziji.wordpress.com/2023/02/02/the-middle-east-is-heading-east-ending-the-western-era/">roles of primarily China</a> and secondly Russia in the Middle East along with the more assertive and strengthening Iranian regional position and role. This will eventually lead to a geopolitical change in the region and consequently a new regional order. </div><div><br /></div><div>- Political actions and new deals like this Saudi-led Arab normalization and Arab League reinstatement of the Syrian regime will be futile at best if not counterproductive without a definite political context and significance, which their existence are requisite to deliver pre-set political objectives. Without these conditions, it is much probably that this Arab new policy towards the Syrian regime would not have considerable effects in Syria beyond the moral sphere, especially considering the actual reality of <a href="https://nyaziji.wordpress.com/2023/02/02/syria-in-reality-irans-power-and-israels-policy/">Iranian power and presence</a> in Syria. <br /></div><div><br /></div><div>The only effect of this Saudi-led Arab action so far is the recognition and acknowledgement of the Iranian victory in Syria and pressuring the Syrian people to deal with this reality. </div><div><br /></div><div>To be continued. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><i>Stay tuned to my <a href="https://twitter.com/NMYaziji">Twitter</a>, <a href="https://nyaziji.wordpress.com">NeoInternationalism</a> website and <a href="http://Stay%20tuned%20to%20my%20Twitter,%20NeoInternationalism%20website%20and%20Middle%20East%20Policy%20blog%20for%20the%20analysis%20of%20the%20exciting%20developments%20in%20the%20world%20and%20regional%20politics.">Middle East Policy blog</a> for the analysis of the exciting developments in the world and regional politics.</i></div></div>Nassim Yazijihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08286807488014247311noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13969720.post-860817439690926912023-05-10T15:09:00.021+00:002023-05-11T16:18:09.978+00:00Prompting a New Phase in the Middle East: Iran Claims Victory in Syria<p dir="ltr"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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</div><br /><p></p><p dir="ltr">Once again, my empirical realistic perspective proves its competency and applicability. At the significance level, nothing exceptional can be inferred from the <a href="https://en.mehrnews.com/amp/200262/">Iranian president's visit</a> to Damascus should we apply conventional political analysis methodology. But this will not be the case if we put this visit in the context and perspective set by my latest related articles posted in the latest weeks. Starting from <a href="https://nyaziji.wordpress.com/2023/02/02/syria-in-reality-irans-power-and-israels-policy/">Iran's rising power in Syria</a> and going through my conclusion about Iran's intention and plans to <a href="https://nyaziji.wordpress.com/2023/04/07/irans-acknowledged-presence-in-syria-from-permeation-to-imposition/">achieve a geopolitical change</a> and advance its interests reaching to the realities of the changing Middle East accompanied by <a href="https://nyaziji.wordpress.com/2023/04/20/the-changing-middle-east-traditional-israel-and-changer-iran/">Iran's 'changer' role</a>, we can transparently find out the significance and importance of this visit and its outcomes.</p><p dir="ltr">
- In general, through the lifespan of the Syrian war, there were no breakthroughs or considerable accomplishments at the level of state-to-state relations between Iran and Syria. Many agreements had been previously signed by the two states that didn't succeed in achieving high trade volume between the two countries or formalizing the Iranian actual linkage with Syria's infrastructure and state executive structure. This is maybe because of the war settings and the Iranian preference and expertise in substate domain and relations over the official formal state level. Hence, the added <a href="https://www.fdd.org/analysis/2023/05/03/iran-intensifies-ties-with-syria/">15 agreements</a> by this visit are not expected to make a breakthrough in this regard. An exception can be made here, in my opinion, in two fields if Iran has officially obtained Syrian lands in return for its huge debts as it asked earlier, and privileges and rights in the transportation and railways domains, so it can formalize its access to the strategic corridor to the Mediterranean Sea. However, even if this is the case, this would not affect Iran's on-ground dominance and influence on its vital Syrian infrastructure and geography in practical terms.</p><p dir="ltr">- A keynote of this visit is its timing, which came after Chinese-brokered Saudi-Iranian rapproachment agreement, and following the start of the Arab normalization course with the Syrian regime and just before the re-admittance of the Syrian regime to the Arab League. For me, it is hard to believe that this normalization and the re-admittance decision was not a part of the Iranian-Saudi agreement. This timing is apparently set to expose this fact as an Iranian accomplishment.</p><p dir="ltr">- The milestone of this visit, which summarizes and represents the entire significance and indication of Iran's policy and position in Syria, is the Iranian president's victory speech at Sayyeda Zainab Shiite shrine in Damascus. In this speech in this very particular place and in almost absence of any Syrian official the Iranian president claimed victory. He also did not miss the chance to articulate the advancing "resistance front" that has been advantaged <a href="https://en.mehrnews.com/amp/200262/" target="_blank">against the "Zionist regime"</a> by the new developments in the region. This iconic scene, as previously mentioned, summarizes and represents the Iranian perception of the regional developments and the resulting Iranian advancement and position in geopolitical terms. It also serves as an indication of the forthcoming Iranian policies and course of action in the Middle East or even beyond. Indigenous Middle Eastern scholars, with unbiased non-ideological realistic methodologies, will find no difficulty reaching this conclusion because they have the mentality of the region and the familiarity with its 'ecosystem' that make the regional political signs and actions comprehensible to them.</p><p dir="ltr">In the changing Middle East, Iran has played at the strategic level with a deliberate vision and objectives. In this regard, Iran for reaching the utmost of interests, influence, and geopolitical role, has deployed various kinds of policies and powers ranging from the rapproachment with, let us call it, the eastern side powers particularly the Saudi Arabia and other Sunni countries to the deliberate deployment of powers and assets, including <a href="https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-738765">rockets</a> and drones, in front of the western side powers particularly Israel and the United States.</p><p dir="ltr">Syria, the strategic geography and the very important and even vital geopolitical arena, which is overlooked and missed by the US and Israel, has been chosen by Iran as the climax center and playground for Iran's regional role and power as demonstrated by this iconic victorious visit and speech in this very particular timing and place. </p><p dir="ltr">This is definitely signaling a new phase in the region marking Iran out as a key regional player with advanced position and role, which has been made possible, in my opinion, by the failing U.S. and Israeli policies in Syria. </p><p dir="ltr"><i>Stay tuned to my <a href="https://twitter.com/NMYaziji">Twitter</a> and <a href="https://nyaziji.wordpress.com">NeoInternationalism</a> website for the exciting developments in the world's politics.</i></p><p dir="ltr"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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</div><br /><p></p>Nassim Yazijihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08286807488014247311noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13969720.post-30777623252557533962023-04-20T13:21:00.020+00:002023-04-21T12:56:51.270+00:00The Changing Middle East: Traditional Israel and Changer Iran<div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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</div><br></div>Only a few days after I inferred Iran's intentions to achieve a <a href="https://mideastpolicy.blogspot.com/2023/04/irans-acknowledged-presence-in-syria.html">change and advanced interests</a> at the regional and international levels derived from its acquired strong regional standing and cards, and a few weeks after writing on <a href="https://mideastpolicy.blogspot.com/2023/01/syria-in-reality-irans-power-and.html">Iran's rising power in Syria</a> following the failure of the US and Israeli policies there, a practical proof arose by the latest <a href="https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-738765">rocket salvo on Israel</a>. Iran clearly wants new regional rules and position and consequent regional and international recognition of its power and interests. In my opinion, the ultimate prize in this regard that Iran is seeking is to protect its nuclear program and facilities in the pursuit of attaining the implicit regional and explicit international recognition of the reality of the nuclear Iran. <div><br></div><div>Iran's new endeavor has been made possible only with its <a href="https://mideastpolicy.blogspot.com/2023/01/syria-in-reality-irans-power-and.html">entrenchment in Syria</a>, so the rockets from Syria were the <a href="https://www.fdd.org/analysis/2023/04/09/syrian-rocket-salvo-widens-assault-on-israel/">concluding line</a> of the Iranian message of the multi-front rocket salvo. The weakening Russian role in Syria due to the very extreme western pressure following hostilities in Ukraine caused the collapse of the Russian indispensable balance of power with Iran, which added to <a href="https://www.washingtoninstitute.org/policy-analysis/despite-airstrikes-iran-continues-permeate-western-syria">Iran's power and role</a>, or even made the current Iran position in Syria possible. The importance of the Syrian front for both Iran and Israel is pertaining to its geography and location which connects Iran to Mediterranean Sea and Lebanon, and exposing Israel's most important area to potential threat besides the perks of neighboring Turkey and proximity to the Gulf states. </div><div><br></div><div>The earlier denial or indifference to Iran's accumulated regional power and cards was catastrophic and very harmful to the region and the <a href="https://mideastpolicy.blogspot.com/2022/12/the-middle-east-is-heading-east-ending.html">western interests and influence</a> in the region as demonstrated by recent developments, especially the <a href="https://mideastpolicy.blogspot.com/2023/03/middle-easts-new-era-chinas-prominence.html">rising Chinese role</a> in the Middle East. This denial cost the losing of the ability to undertake preemptive measures or policy, which became out of reach and beyond availability. Thus, the only applicable course of action left is of proactive nature while missing a relevant and competent proactive policy for any reason, including the astonishing US negligence by usually the Democrat administrations, will probably means and leads to somehow handing over the region to Iran. </div><div><br></div><div>Apart from the Biden administration's negligence, or even empowerment of Iran in the Middle East, which is consistent with previous Obama administrations' policies and considering the US regional waning role and presence, Israel has exposed misunderstanding of the situation in Syria and its foundations and consequent lack of effectual vision to deal with it. Moreover, Israel still shows this misunderstanding and misbelief, which result in failed policies that worsen the situation in Syria and the region and empower its regional rivals or adversaries putting its security under their threat. Playing old cards in a new game and playing in tactical level in a strategic situation could not be less than destructive and counterproductive at best. Israel is in need of a brand new Syria policy that is based on a new vision besides deploying new means at the strategic level. </div><div><br></div><div>I can see an apparent change in the Middle East is taking place, which is unfortunately faced with a desire and policies of many regional countries including some regional powers that seek to restore the old Middle East and its traditional regional politics in vain of course. In this context, Iran has demonstrated, at least for the time being, the patience, ability and will to mastermind this change and its outcomes to its own benefit, which enables it to gain the upper hand in the current developments in the Middle East.</div><div><br></div><div><i>Stay tuned to my <a href="https://twitter.com/NMYaziji">Twitter</a> and <a href="https://nyaziji.wordpress.com">NeoInternationalism</a> website for the exciting developments in the world's politics.</i></div><div><i><br></i></div><div><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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</div><br></i></div>Nassim Yazijihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08286807488014247311noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13969720.post-64657889982541928172023-04-11T19:47:00.002+00:002023-04-11T19:51:18.893+00:00The U.S. Frustration over the Change in the Middle East Admitting <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2023/04/06/politics/cia-director-william-burns-saudi-arabia/index.html">frustration</a> over Saudi's China-brokered rapprochement with Iran and Syria's new deal after implicit denial of their significance or strategic nature is a very good first step provided that it be complemented with considering the fact of being consequences of US policies and checking and reviewing these failed policies. <div><br></div><div>I said it before, it is a strategic move and new deal: <br><div><br></div><div><a href="https://nyaziji.wordpress.com/2023/03/16/middle-easts-new-era-chinas-prominence-and-u-s-retreat/">Middle East’s New Era: China’s Prominence and the U.S. Retreat</a></div></div><div><br></div><div>And it is a consequence of the US frustrating and failing policies:</div><div><br></div><div><a href="https://nyaziji.wordpress.com/2023/02/02/the-middle-east-is-heading-east-ending-the-western-era/">The Middle East Is Heading East: Ending the Western Era?</a></div><div><br></div><div><br></div>Nassim Yazijihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08286807488014247311noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13969720.post-84638552037214040352023-04-06T20:42:00.002+00:002023-04-20T13:02:15.911+00:00Iran's Acknowledged Presence in Syria: From Permeation to Imposition<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7iDf2afo_jCpqlEmA4-rLDEnwlgVztCUtMFWOiuvevQ_LfkiPsYlnKh-aGOvlq-2enJTa2wmy0qBavL0hL6s9n7kiXdaRbiFkDp_n4etFxd60do6SWhe1qPNF-HK-VluQNumphRwDQFZnxNpgyX_o8Es35N601pypVxCixf5yCFcQNQVrX4c/s3343/Map%20of%20Iran's%20bases%20and%20points%20in%20Syria-01.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3343" data-original-width="2481" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7iDf2afo_jCpqlEmA4-rLDEnwlgVztCUtMFWOiuvevQ_LfkiPsYlnKh-aGOvlq-2enJTa2wmy0qBavL0hL6s9n7kiXdaRbiFkDp_n4etFxd60do6SWhe1qPNF-HK-VluQNumphRwDQFZnxNpgyX_o8Es35N601pypVxCixf5yCFcQNQVrX4c/w474-h640/Map%20of%20Iran's%20bases%20and%20points%20in%20Syria-01.jpg" width="474" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p></p><p dir="ltr">Iran made a <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/death-toll-us-strikes-pro-iran-installations-syria-rises-19-fighters-says-syrian-2023-03-25/" target="_blank">significant statement</a> about its presence in Syria that has been almost overlooked by the media and analysts. Its significance wasn't highlighted despite it can be considered as a key development in this regard.</p><p dir="ltr"> <br />In general, we got used to the Iranian threatening rhetoric of retaliation after been hit by usually Israeli and occasionally US air strikes, but this is the first time Iran acknowledges its military 'bases' and their existence in Syria. The Iranian security spokesman was clear in using the term 'bases' in his threatening statement. This is an Iranian precedent to my knowledge. Iran usually talks about its advisors in Syria who assist the Syrian 'legitimate government' in its 'war against terrorism' and never indicated its possession of military bases or 'Iranian-linked' military bases throughout the entire duration of the war in Syria.</p><p dir="ltr"> <br />In my opinion, this is definitely not a statement to neglect or miss. Iran is deliberately announcing and exposing this key military fact, and is intentionally leveraging the acknowledgement of its military presence and role in Syria from the advisors level to a fully fledged military level that is related to military bases. This move of leverage is to replicate itself at the level of Iran's regional and international relations.</p><p dir="ltr"><br />
When some regional or international power uncovers and acknowledges a fact concerning its assets, power or influence, this means that it intends to take advantage of them and to benefit of them in some way or another. Thus, Iran intends a change in the current status quo. It publicly enters the arena of key players in the Syrian conflict and Syrian geography. This intended 'change' may take various and multiple kinds and goals starting from obtaining the international recognition of <u><a href="https://nyaziji.wordpress.com/2023/02/02/syria-in-reality-irans-power-and-israels-policy/" target="_blank">Iranian role</a></u> and interests in Syria to the range of negotiating the scope and limits of these role and interests with othe players, or even may reach the goal of seeking to settle the Syrian situation in a desired way or according to the Iranian interests. All of this wide range is currently within Iranian reach, and we need to observe the developments and future Iranian measures to find out Iran's goals and intentions.</p><p dir="ltr"> <br />The bottom line of this development and the concurrent other developments is that many of the key players in the Syrian conflict are preparing the scene for a prospective settlement while waiting for the results of the Turkish elections next month.</p><p dir="ltr"> <br /><i>Stay tuned with the exciting developments with my <a href="https://twitter.com/NMYaziji" target="_blank">Twitter</a>, <a href="https://mideastpolicy.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Middle East Policy Blog</a>, and <a href="https://nyaziji.wordpress.com" target="_blank">NeoInternationalism</a>. </i></p><p> </p>Nassim Yazijihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08286807488014247311noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13969720.post-4851928366600843892023-03-30T15:28:00.000+00:002023-03-31T20:25:58.893+00:00From Moscow: The Chinese Proclamation of the New World Order<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgse6N_LymJiesXRun3mpl2RUfxW6kPHNyjFMHLMpSllKLRYZJPcWcNchPvBCxhw5Bi4_d1YRfttMEG7d0qIYuGWN7ws0ivjpb80CXRWMZg1J6JgwPzhBhg0K-NbKKwFRzaBe7f5Blv4d5xdhWbJMa_a6RIDDTck9Ej3mPZFjmd5TOKN9uqu0Y/s1079/IMG_20230329_232535.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="555" data-original-width="1079" height="206" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgse6N_LymJiesXRun3mpl2RUfxW6kPHNyjFMHLMpSllKLRYZJPcWcNchPvBCxhw5Bi4_d1YRfttMEG7d0qIYuGWN7ws0ivjpb80CXRWMZg1J6JgwPzhBhg0K-NbKKwFRzaBe7f5Blv4d5xdhWbJMa_a6RIDDTck9Ej3mPZFjmd5TOKN9uqu0Y/w400-h206/IMG_20230329_232535.jpg" width="400"></a></div><br><p></p><p>The Chinese president's <a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11887931/Xi-Jinping-Vladimir-Putin-say-change-coming-ominous-message-West.html">message</a> to his Russian counterpart has been made abundantly clear and self-evident to the extent that it needs no explanatory comments. Simply put, it is a proclamation of China's new international role and objective, which marks a new era in terms of the international order and politics. </p><p>- I have no doubt about the disfunctioning of the current US-led western international order due to its intrinsic flaws, unleashed capitalism's problems, and the world's changing balance of power.</p><p>- Thus, a change in the post-cold war international order and politics is very prospective in the direction of more role and influence for the rising China and its forming international camp, as the victorious western powers couldn't maintain their political and economic paramount strengths, which limit their rivals respective strengths. </p><p>- In my opinion, the main problem of the current western-led international order is that it is actually based on and structured with an advanced and sophisticated kind of 'covered imperialism', which maintains, takes advantage and benefits from economic disadvantage and inequality of formerly occupied countries (colonies).</p><p>- Intertwined with the unleashed version of capitalism, the leading powers' foreign policies are strictly complying with their national interests at the expense of the values underpinning their liberal democratic ideology that plays at the theoretical sphere rather than the practical field.</p><p>- These policies in Libya and Syria, for example, serve as a solid example of this reality, which resulted in the destruction of the very promising international norm of 'Responsibility to Protect' due particularly to their Syria policies. The tremendous prolonged suffering of the Syrian people that lasted for over a 12 years is a living testimony to this fact. </p><p>- This cynicism entails supremacy in terms of power, assets and means that creates dependency on the leading powers for stability and economic security, which mainly requires to install and support agent regimes in countries of concern and interest.</p><p>- The current world developments indicate that this system is not sustainable for multiple national and international reasons and political and economic factors, then, change is coming according to these facts and realities. </p><p>- Chinese-Russian understanding and partnership will lead and pave the way for an aimed change in the current western-led international order. The rising role of China assisted by its relation with Russia will affect the geopolitical realities of the world alongside creating a change in the values system.</p><p>- Consequently, a key question would arise about the direction and shape of the prospective change. Getting two authoritarian or semi-authoritarian powers into the equation, which didn't internationally result in or bring about a genuine democratic effect in the first place puts it beyond our scholarship's ability to predict, so we need to observe the realities and analyze respectively.</p><p>- Meanwhile, we can explore the outline of changing balance of power and its implications. As the outcomes of the prospective change are unpredictable, I can expect, or even wish, that this change may affect the cynical nature of the western powers' foreign policies towards a genuine adherence to democratic and human rights values and norms as a deemed national interest to counter and balance the nascent international power of the new authoritarian player or players.</p><p>- Moreover, pro-democracy and human rights activists should take advantage of this international change to get a real and effectual support for their causes and activities, and thereby get availed of the changing world order and politics after frequent and significant setbacks they have been suffering, and this is the bottom line for me. </p><p><br></p><p><i>More updates will be available at <a href="https://nyaziji.wordpress.com">https://nyaziji.wordpress.com</a></i></p>Nassim Yazijihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08286807488014247311noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13969720.post-52508702618185166442023-03-16T20:10:00.003+00:002023-03-17T18:45:18.831+00:00Middle East's New Era: China's Prominence and the U.S. Retreat<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMTdqrwFqp9UcRSxsP715CCim3xxUg_VkrqhBtuhQnYl0V9-8_Xh3cpq-_Rn2R3vp1EQbb1eCGVXsaFfSbNY6KZbwaZBn_QPOfoMqeLMTvEwj8OHa-P5i-vVaDSS3vFz06IRhXq2PMMH6vL2RnybOxP7p_jed_F8HPpV3HMjGBhtFaGag1Z9U/s720/1150x732-2023-03-14T143730.178-720x460.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="460" data-original-width="720" height="255" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMTdqrwFqp9UcRSxsP715CCim3xxUg_VkrqhBtuhQnYl0V9-8_Xh3cpq-_Rn2R3vp1EQbb1eCGVXsaFfSbNY6KZbwaZBn_QPOfoMqeLMTvEwj8OHa-P5i-vVaDSS3vFz06IRhXq2PMMH6vL2RnybOxP7p_jed_F8HPpV3HMjGBhtFaGag1Z9U/w400-h255/1150x732-2023-03-14T143730.178-720x460.jpg" width="400"></a></div><span style="background-color: white; color: #384143; font-family: "DM Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 18px;"><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #384143; font-family: "DM Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 18px;"><br></span></p>Less than 3 months before this major development, I wrote this </span><a href="https://nyaziji.wordpress.com/2023/02/02/the-middle-east-is-heading-east-ending-the-western-era/" rel="noreferrer noopener" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "DM Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 18px; text-underline-offset: 0.15em;" target="_blank">commentary</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #384143; font-family: "DM Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 18px;">, which was faced with underestimation by many western fellow scholars. They wouldn't believe it considering the announced strategic partnership between China and Saudi Arabia as just tactical maneuver by Saudi Arabia the well-established US backyard ally for timely purposes and gains. This position was widely adopted by the US political and governmental circles as well. I can understand this western stance as a typical behavior because the leading powers along with their mentalities are usually reluctant to recognize and acknowledge ‘change’ that affects their supremacy in general.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #384143; font-family: "DM Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 18px;"><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #384143; font-family: "DM Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 18px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #384143; font-family: "DM Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 18px;">This </span><a href="https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20230310-made-in-china-saudi-iran-deal-goes-beyond-middle-east-say-analysts" rel="noreferrer noopener" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "DM Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 18px; text-underline-offset: 0.15em;" target="_blank">Chinese-backed agreement</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #384143; font-family: "DM Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 18px;"> constitutes a double blow to the US stand and interests in the Middle East in political terms for the following reasons. Firstly, China has shown and proved in the most practical and factual way that it has interests wide beyond the previously-established renown and accepted economic interests in the Middle East, and most importantly, that it has power and means to achieve them. Given that this Chinese reality extends to the both sides or axises of the Middle East, this makes the Chinese regional presence and influence of much more significance, as it included the key regional powers of the both vying camps, the pro and anti-US sides. Secondly, on the Saudi Arabian side, this move towards Iran in this very particular time of high nuclear and political tension between Iran and the US-led west significantly amplifies its political and strategic impact on the US regional stand and influence and reinforces the political independence and national interests of Saudi Arabia the ever-being US ally. Moreover, it strengthens the Iranian position in front of the current western pressure as well.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #384143; font-family: "DM Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 18px;"><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #384143; font-family: "DM Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 18px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #384143; font-family: "DM Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 18px;">These regional developments indicate a strategic change and transparently mark the start of a new strategic and geopolitical phase in the Middle East. In this regard the US needs to reassess its Middle East policy and realign the wider scope of its interests in the region with its regional allies of states and substate actors’ interests to maintain its interests and uphold its regional influence, and needs also to recalibrate its regional strategy with the same actors and to the same end, The same advice also roughly applies to Israel, the key US-led camp’s regional power, with one essential addition that it needs to play with different cards in the region. Otherwise, it will be a key loser in the prospective regional change. In this regard, I believe that Israel’s Syria policy and role is a must and due course for Israel’s new deal to avoid a much-probable strategic loss or even defeat in the changing Middle East. The prospective implications for the region, the US and Israel will be addressed in future articles.</span><p></p>Nassim Yazijihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08286807488014247311noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13969720.post-16627092878813659822023-03-14T19:20:00.001+00:002023-03-14T19:28:25.293+00:00Syria Earthquake and the United Nations' Failure and Impunity<p> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie4ScM_DEVD1wcZrQpJmL4iF-dLDjeY3YtXRbl-A7ZQpfAvH5IZygdNKEUV5g5D9DcaRLmb1QQy8TNKlM3WsKUNY4u5AbxnwAsLK1Pt-oEnv1oFMS2RZ9MvkiRgpDUVDyKdMmJfpt88kW2G-_PuhDUL7Wg7cPb_jdVwrAYAIhsQkP8RHWOsgg/s1502/20230216_160843.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1502" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie4ScM_DEVD1wcZrQpJmL4iF-dLDjeY3YtXRbl-A7ZQpfAvH5IZygdNKEUV5g5D9DcaRLmb1QQy8TNKlM3WsKUNY4u5AbxnwAsLK1Pt-oEnv1oFMS2RZ9MvkiRgpDUVDyKdMmJfpt88kW2G-_PuhDUL7Wg7cPb_jdVwrAYAIhsQkP8RHWOsgg/w230-h320/20230216_160843.jpg" width="230" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Comparing aid offered by Deirezzor tribes and UN after Syria earthquake, calling on the UN to elect his grandfather instead of Mr. Guterres.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p>A very informative material about the failure and impunity of the UN in the aftermath of the Syria earthquake, which led me to a substantial question about the dire negligence of the essential human rights by the UN vis-a-vis politically-biased norms and rules. This is a major blow to the rights-based approach of human rights achieved after long struggle. </p><p><a href="https://syriaaccountability.org/too-little-too-late-for-northwest-syria-lethal-un-negligence-and-the-imperative-of-an-accountability-process/">https://syriaaccountability.org/too-little-too-late-for-northwest-syria-lethal-un-negligence-and-the-imperative-of-an-accountability-process/</a></p>Nassim Yazijihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08286807488014247311noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13969720.post-80299135624574665232023-03-13T20:41:00.000+00:002023-03-13T20:41:30.894+00:00<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcOGNvt4WEFZz_eSJUFN8YPHYEcVbvT1VHGUaaaAnfuPD7d4xsvZySO2DHUDUrNkI0Gb5sBa5tLx4fJJlfhZRdnb8z2_Qqcj_EyZxUwqmQAavr5tPAeDWRkQdFMdY3vTy6CT4b9RCkM56vn5ZyAj8TQ_QB2BUIrRW2liLeKUWUaGuW-lw3ITw/s1280/IMG_20230311_154709_531.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="694" data-original-width="1280" height="348" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcOGNvt4WEFZz_eSJUFN8YPHYEcVbvT1VHGUaaaAnfuPD7d4xsvZySO2DHUDUrNkI0Gb5sBa5tLx4fJJlfhZRdnb8z2_Qqcj_EyZxUwqmQAavr5tPAeDWRkQdFMdY3vTy6CT4b9RCkM56vn5ZyAj8TQ_QB2BUIrRW2liLeKUWUaGuW-lw3ITw/w640-h348/IMG_20230311_154709_531.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>I can understand this position by Amb. Ford supporting US withdrawal from Syria as an outcry after years of disappointment with US Syria policy, which I share with him. </p><p>Can the US no-policy serve as a policy? NO, it is counterproductive and will eventually backfire on US interests and Syria's situation--many scholars and I have been crying out. </p>Nassim Yazijihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08286807488014247311noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13969720.post-85485945286730424102023-03-07T18:35:00.003+00:002023-03-07T18:36:28.693+00:00Syria, Under 12-Year Rubble!<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7Sygu87xAKSBZCupGAxBdP4ayGq84zdI1uCP7zdp8vtY7mwZU6DGPf6uK2wLreJ2Dnh2GCZfWDAyg7wTgiS557a1LB04aS3CqEi9BHfbdIPyhdajIjETgTNApiH254HdTdM867j5ei1IAOcFKr0fj1VPJwPKLH-b04iYJCKxKszoMj_W3NGE/s1280/IMG_20210417_190938_904.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1280" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7Sygu87xAKSBZCupGAxBdP4ayGq84zdI1uCP7zdp8vtY7mwZU6DGPf6uK2wLreJ2Dnh2GCZfWDAyg7wTgiS557a1LB04aS3CqEi9BHfbdIPyhdajIjETgTNApiH254HdTdM867j5ei1IAOcFKr0fj1VPJwPKLH-b04iYJCKxKszoMj_W3NGE/w400-h240/IMG_20210417_190938_904.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /> In solidarity and companionship with our sisters and brothers who have been let and abandoned under rubble in northen and north western Syria, and to remind the heinous world we are living in that we, the Syrians, who have been abandoned under rubble for about a 12 years, are not dead yet and still have voices to scream and claim, I am launching an initiative calling on my fellow Syrians to sign all their letters and statements with the phrase "Syria, Under Rubble" before their names. In this initiative, we are seeking neither acknowledgment nor assistance, but rather we are condemning the world powers' policies, and standing up for our dignity and freedom as have previously done and will always do. <p></p><p>Syria, Under Rubble, </p><p>Nassim Yaziji </p>Nassim Yazijihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08286807488014247311noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13969720.post-91466975460447776402023-03-03T09:42:00.007+00:002023-03-03T09:45:44.095+00:00Syria Earthquake and its Political Seismic Reflection<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXOeNJ7DvA1M5c0qNxsDTQVJgdjD7Vam9ZItaJ2qacER-WWPJzX9rDNwElXoQf7Zndwu0I5yT_CNnTq9LAhQgMG5T0BAqP3shBJ_pr3MF6xm5u-WhXCuj7jkeTciWilLdq55dn--PWlCzcxAQe69Ob8iKpPKqqL_ZdkHY-EZ84NS5HtbJ_9nY/s960/330045192_559859349411384_6208667875442948119_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="960" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXOeNJ7DvA1M5c0qNxsDTQVJgdjD7Vam9ZItaJ2qacER-WWPJzX9rDNwElXoQf7Zndwu0I5yT_CNnTq9LAhQgMG5T0BAqP3shBJ_pr3MF6xm5u-WhXCuj7jkeTciWilLdq55dn--PWlCzcxAQe69Ob8iKpPKqqL_ZdkHY-EZ84NS5HtbJ_9nY/w400-h266/330045192_559859349411384_6208667875442948119_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p><br /></p>As the dust clears from the scene of not just the one month earthquake, but most importantly of our 12-year persistent earthquake in Syria, the political earthquake should start soon by the always-abandoned Syrian people. <p></p><p>Our desolation should serve as the seismic power for our prospective earthquake, which should shake the heinous world we are living in to attain our salvation. Our sisters and brothers who have been let under rubble for 5 days in Idlib and the countryside of Aleppo in the aftermath of February 6 earthquake while the world is watching the #White_Helmets digging the rubble almost with their bare hands to save a life, has opened the great wound of being, as a Syrian people, under rubble for about a 12 years. </p><p>What happened in these 5 days only proves and affirms what happened and found out through that 12 years that we are a people with no friends including Turkey and its mercenaries in the illegitimate political and executive institutions and the so-called "national army" who literally let people die under rubble. Then, this is not the time to consider our sectarianism or political and ethnic divisions or how different we might be, but it is definitely the right time to realize our actual destiny as a people who is doomed unless unifiedly fights for its salvation and existence.</p><p> </p><p>Syria, Under Rubble,</p><p>Nassim Yaziji </p>Nassim Yazijihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08286807488014247311noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13969720.post-56145591773463332552023-01-16T15:41:00.000+00:002023-01-16T15:41:17.271+00:00Syria in Reality: Iran's Power and Israel's Policy<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOX3U4RttqiWlyNV4J3kYteg9gnSFq1ydiajdHzQwMOS9_RP3W2NV3iBMQFCSga-bl_Kw9nzEXtqtkCm9fMj6MnrxIqc4CtcR9-KFATe08SZppK1BXfMFJVIl5sjvFNtIsbtjEaownI_VGblKLOaUADEZDNtAlEXcteRfvV1tzw3BtB_QHCqc/s1462/bigstock-flags-of-israel-and-iran-paint-240290356-e1534510655790.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="771" data-original-width="1462" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOX3U4RttqiWlyNV4J3kYteg9gnSFq1ydiajdHzQwMOS9_RP3W2NV3iBMQFCSga-bl_Kw9nzEXtqtkCm9fMj6MnrxIqc4CtcR9-KFATe08SZppK1BXfMFJVIl5sjvFNtIsbtjEaownI_VGblKLOaUADEZDNtAlEXcteRfvV1tzw3BtB_QHCqc/w400-h211/bigstock-flags-of-israel-and-iran-paint-240290356-e1534510655790.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p><br /></p>Israel army chief has made a <a href="https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-723879" target="_blank">statement</a> about his country's achievements in preventing "Hizbollah 2" project in Syria. Apart from the motives behind this misleading or self-deluded statement, there are key facts should be stated and clarified concerning Iran, Israel and Syria's war and crisis. <p></p><p>- Iran is the most powerful actor in the regime-held part of Syria in terms of military and economic resources and associated parties. Territories deemed vital for Iran in there are under direct and explicit control of Iran, especially the region that extends from Qalamoon to Deir ezzor. </p><p>- Iran invested in a complex infrastructure in Syria consisting of military forces, paramilitary militias, economic networks, military and security personnel, and religious and social institutions.</p><p>- Iran is working to strengthen its on-ground presence in SDF-held region and even in factions and Turkish-controlled areas.</p><p>- Iran has a real presence and influence in the southern Syria neighbouring the Israeli border taking advantage of the complexity and diversity of this important region and especially of the reconciliation agreements since 2018 there. </p><p>- Iran enjoys the ability to deploy military assets and resources almost anywhere in the regime-held areas in a short timeframe, although with various ranges or limited firepower. This includes the southern region that can threaten and reach the Israeli lands. Furthermore, in case of a renovated domestic clash or war, Iran definitely would have the upper hand through its associates and proxies in the current status quo in the regime-held areas. </p><p>- Iran is not likely to hand over the valuable card of its presence in Syrian regions that threaten northern Israel for free after the huge resources it spent to get there. The dreamy or aspiring Israeli statements can not change these facts and reality. The utmost achievement that can be attained through Israeli continuous airstrike campaign is to prevent Iran from establishing permanent full-fledged military bases near the Israeli border in military terms. However, the Iran's relations with Syrian military forces in this region should be visited to check this reality. I don't know what the Israelis mean with "Hizbollah 2" term, but I definitely know that Hizbollah 1 and many mini Hizbollahs are already there. </p><p>- Reaching Mediterranean Sea has always been a key aspiration and goal in Iranian history. Iranian success in obtaining a corridor to the Mediterranean through Syria has a considerable and substantial implications for the Middle East's geopolitics and the Iranian power and influence considering that there was no secured land route between Hizbollah-controlled Beirut port and Iran.</p><p>- Iran's withdrawal from Syria has never been a goal of any international power. At the contrary, the United States, for example, permitted a wide Iranian engagement in Syria for many objectives including the exhaustion of Iran, and it is actually employing a tamed Iranian role in Syria within its regional policy as it always did. Moreover, the reports and analyses of a conflict or competition between the Russian and Iranian roles and interests in Syria have been proven totally baseless during a decade of the crisis before and after their direct engagement. There are always boundaries within which, all parties tolerate if do not even cooperate. This also applies to the regional powers excluding Israel the only quite loser of a substantial Iranian presence and influence in Syria. </p><p>- One major consequence of the aforementioned realities is the case of Iran moving forward to some advanced structure of controlling Syria, which revolves between dominance and de facto partition. This depends on the international and regional political contexts besides the deteriorating economic and humanitarian situation and circumstances inside Syria, which are collapsing and approaching the threshold of the failed state. Possible scenarios in this regard will be discussed later in future articles. Meanwhile, we should keep an eye on two kinds of developments in this regard, the first is related to Turkey's initiatives and moves, the rising loser of the current balance of power and the leaked proposed solutions in Syria, while the second is the relations between Iran and the Syrian Muslim Brotherhood, the only natural, or even possible, Sunni ally of Iran in Syria should Iran decided to move further in its way. </p><p>Let us move to the analysis of the aforementioned realities in the part related to Israel and its policy in Syria during the crisis.</p><p>- It is widely accepted and believed among Syrians that Israel opted for two pillars in its Syria policy after the uprising and even before its advent particularly in the aftermath of the Operation Iraqi Freedom (US Iraq invasion). These pillars are maintaining the inherited governance structure and weakening Syria at the furthest of the threshold before state failing. </p><p>- Israel ignored the Syrian people's aspirations of freedom and good governance, so they can have a normal life with dignity and reasonable level of prosperity. Israeli decision-makers missed the fact that this aspired reality is an indispensable ground for an active, productive and sustainable peace between the two neighbors, who live on the same geographic region beside each other and will stay so for life. </p><p>- Then, Israel did not invest in a sustainable peace with Syria, but rather, with a very short-sighted policy, it contributed to the destruction and chaos in its neighbor with the previously-mentioned two pillars of its policy. No need to remind here of Israel's wide resources and means, especially the considerable leverage it holds in terms of influencing the relevant US policies. </p><p>- The consequent realities in Syria, particularly the significant level of devastation and chaos were the requisites for Iran's current power and abilities in Syria, which were explained earlier. Then, the Israeli policy was a key enabling factor for Iran's current influence in Syria.</p><p>- Getting Iran out of Syria has become an unrealistic goal given the current status quo and balance of power. In fact, no party of the international and regional powers involved in the Syrian case has the ability to achieve Iran's withdrawal, if it had such interest and intention in the first place, which is doubtful for all of them excluding Israel. Moreover, expecting from Syrian parties, especially the regime, to do so is totally unreasonable, and all related efforts in this regard yielded only disappointment, failure and waste of time if were not even counterproductive. </p><p>- The containment of Iran's power in Syria rests basically on two kinds of engagement, the deprivation of economic resources and means of funding, which unfortunately has humanitarian consequences on the population residing in the regime-held region, and the military pressure campaign undertaken continuously by Israel and occasionally by western allies mainly the United States. The economic pressure makes it hard to control and dominate with a stable and secure governance system and government besides putting any ruling regime in front of the population's endless needs, and the military pressure makes it hard to build a permanent reliable military bases and power with sustainable supply chains of military resources. However, containment policies are always limited by the characteristics of the status quo, which should be reasonably stable, as they usually fail with deteriorating situations. </p><p>- There is a significant widely-overlooked consequence related to the various Syrian actors. As the situation in Syria has been considerably deteriorating through the last year, many Syrian national and local actors may eventually seek solutions on their own after they have been failed by the US and its western allies. This may include various kinds of engagement with the parties that have influence, power or economic means on the ground. Such engagement will make any influence or power of foreign parties more profound, secure and sustainable, which will make it very hard to make any change for other parties and will eventually endanger their interests.</p><p>- Syria is becoming one of the most dangerous places on earth. With world-class Syrian brands of Captagon, jihadists, militants and many other kinds of troubles including a new prospective huge wave of refugees, Syria will be an international source of instability, dangers and problems, which will definitely not be limited to the Middle East region, especially as it is approaching the failed state threshold. Then, it is the due time for a situation-evaluation followed by a reconsideration and a substantial policy change at the earliest for all parties and actors, particularly the states that are sharing influence in Syria and responsibility in Syria's disaster. </p><p>The implications of the current situation at the Syrian side and the possible scenarios and analyses of the Syria policies of the involved states will be discussed in future articles.</p><p> </p>Nassim Yazijihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08286807488014247311noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13969720.post-72856231220339241302022-12-11T20:24:00.003+00:002023-03-20T13:03:06.165+00:00The Middle East is Heading East: Ending the Western Era? <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.arabnews.com/sites/default/files/userimages/17/ann_p04_10122022_ed1_000001_0.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="503" height="800" src="https://www.arabnews.com/sites/default/files/userimages/17/ann_p04_10122022_ed1_000001_0.jpg" width="503" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;">This may be the beginning of the end for the West's supremacy in the Middle East, especially for the United States. It is actually the harvest season for what the US policies has planted in the region, in particular the #Obama administrations' policies.</span></div><p>We can't understand the current developments in the Middle East without getting back to Obama's policies there. Obama was the ultimate sponsor of the region's terror organizations, especially #ISIS and #al-Qaeda, which controlled northern Iraq and the most of Syria during his terms, and in the same time he was also the ultimate supporter of the Iranian regime, which controlled four Arab countries and Gaza strip as they publicly claim. #Biden administration is staying the course of course. Now we know that this is a natural policies of the US #Democrats and expect these results from Democratic administrations by default. In general, they betray their values and norms, particularly the liberal democracy and human rights, and sell their allies for even the narrowest interests, as we suffered in Iraq, Syria, and Yemen and as we saw in the infamous Iranian nuclear deal. </p><p>It took some time for the US regional allies to realize these facts, but eventually they leaned the lesson and acted accordingly by <a href="https://www.arabnews.com/node/2213766/saudi-arabia" target="_blank">welcoming the Chinese dragon</a> in the US playground and strengthening relations with the Russian bear. They also acted, for the first time I guess, to safeguard their national interests by their oil production policies and independent position towards the war in Ukraine. </p><p>Regional liberals also got the same lesson as well; trust the Western world in general and the US in particular and get besieged by some jihadi terrorists on one side and some Islamic revolutionary guards on the other side. In result, the free world policies were the most effective factors in the destruction of the nascent liberal movement in the Middle East. </p><p>As we have seen, the Arab countries <a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2022/12/07/xi-jinping-china-saudi-arabia-summit-00072784" target="_blank">led by Saudi Arabia</a> moved from facts comprehension to taking action by this <a href="https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202212/1281544.shtml" target="_blank">strategic partnership</a> with China and Russia. It is time for the Arab liberals to move to taking action by decoupling with the US-led Western camp and start to think and act realistically and intelligently building on their actual realities to restructure the liberal role and weight, and take part in the regional developments and future. </p><p>To be continued... </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXj0JrqEZzf-79t4Szyp140hySkRgl1LmsKazuJ_xplhVECrI_MYXoF9M-B7PDzZwR01XHTjc3p3Kv-A3p5YVVdynzSleSA3CkWZviQ0EJzKSoDydpsclgLdb8P-QzDEcjNfQoQS7o6QwRa7BY-eDN0oWI-lRYIWRNhiZxsxvL93B-JDqi2ew/s1200/economy-2_2.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1108" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXj0JrqEZzf-79t4Szyp140hySkRgl1LmsKazuJ_xplhVECrI_MYXoF9M-B7PDzZwR01XHTjc3p3Kv-A3p5YVVdynzSleSA3CkWZviQ0EJzKSoDydpsclgLdb8P-QzDEcjNfQoQS7o6QwRa7BY-eDN0oWI-lRYIWRNhiZxsxvL93B-JDqi2ew/w369-h400/economy-2_2.png" width="369" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLtERe7jSrG0ePCa0i-MUFl6VG2nhn6SG66qbNux1viAuDADdukuX6PzSocsC7rgRVW4fdUQjIMQyGDmYlmWOtJhrmuFjj-VHcVxyxTj8_7X5mGwUAVSZI0Sd3Q4Q2kH4SNGdmdga2YveL3zqsk685y8T62rSHcTP8KogFT9P80sz0wVQIj5s/s1200/xi-2_1.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1052" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLtERe7jSrG0ePCa0i-MUFl6VG2nhn6SG66qbNux1viAuDADdukuX6PzSocsC7rgRVW4fdUQjIMQyGDmYlmWOtJhrmuFjj-VHcVxyxTj8_7X5mGwUAVSZI0Sd3Q4Q2kH4SNGdmdga2YveL3zqsk685y8T62rSHcTP8KogFT9P80sz0wVQIj5s/w351-h400/xi-2_1.png" width="351" /></a></div><br />Nassim Yazijihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08286807488014247311noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13969720.post-71031993431745477252022-11-26T03:48:00.003+00:002022-11-26T03:48:35.913+00:00U.S. Elections and Republicans <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfAXAcOwAsmywyLeAFXy-Dp8Ix2gm5gspMnG4yBzv45cfRuunDGcz829T1Nx-sWSXaB2Pt9VlU2P-U_5hNlAPekLJcJ3QpYtOKzrRt6zOPMy_0kynUpSRhFYOB29ZPcXYcWFeHRklHyeMpH1Dys8st0ou0caVMqqfrM4KN8e60dtxqcQIfJ8Y/s1220/IMG_20221125_184442.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="813" data-original-width="1220" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfAXAcOwAsmywyLeAFXy-Dp8Ix2gm5gspMnG4yBzv45cfRuunDGcz829T1Nx-sWSXaB2Pt9VlU2P-U_5hNlAPekLJcJ3QpYtOKzrRt6zOPMy_0kynUpSRhFYOB29ZPcXYcWFeHRklHyeMpH1Dys8st0ou0caVMqqfrM4KN8e60dtxqcQIfJ8Y/w400-h266/IMG_20221125_184442.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p>In the current vulnerable electoral system and its application, it is getting much harder for the #GOP to win national elections. Unless it is amended towards strict voter and ballot verification as exactly as other well-established democracies, they will keep losing key swing states. </p><p>Otherwise, they need to work on demographics and mail-in ballots in swing states. Get their voters registered there and manage to get more ballots counted via bureaucracy. Simply learn from Dems in the internationally well-known counties. PS: baseless database accusations! :D</p>Nassim Yazijihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08286807488014247311noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13969720.post-59944925793839454702022-11-19T20:36:00.001+00:002022-11-25T21:06:31.560+00:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzj4cz2LqEIzA2ZZIhBkIsQSh9qdiwczzvPXU1ioj5lfEU2KnBlTnI-yVLeJ8_LY_na_4TrwXNWdx8O00dIgVALrcL8n7ZCgbG4okB19PyirZVaJDdVBjbLxFHt3huK2tWSFz5d0H0C0UaLKR4qNXfOzBMogzW2ZUPXmhGjEKsmfCkZ9xaiU8/s3212/IMG_20221119_191352.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3212" data-original-width="2861" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzj4cz2LqEIzA2ZZIhBkIsQSh9qdiwczzvPXU1ioj5lfEU2KnBlTnI-yVLeJ8_LY_na_4TrwXNWdx8O00dIgVALrcL8n7ZCgbG4okB19PyirZVaJDdVBjbLxFHt3huK2tWSFz5d0H0C0UaLKR4qNXfOzBMogzW2ZUPXmhGjEKsmfCkZ9xaiU8/w285-h320/IMG_20221119_191352.jpg" width="285" /></a></div><p>After so many years, and with much excitement, the <i>Middle East Policy</i> is back. I will resume posting to the renovated weblog by the end of year. It is definitely a new Middle East with much of chaos, violence and authoritarian abuse. My advocated values-based Neo-Internationalism has been overrun by standard pragmatic and opportunistic national interests by the Western states, especially after their Libya and Syria policies, which resulted in the death of the 'Responsibility to Protect' (R2P) once promising international norm, and in more chaotic international order and security. </p>Nassim Yazijihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08286807488014247311noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13969720.post-277051249872206262009-03-25T16:55:00.003+00:002022-11-18T14:59:59.908+00:00Press Release: New Book by Nassim Yaziji<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/in-defense-of-the-new-middle-east-nassim-yaziji/1139202973?ean=9781409271727" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="576" data-original-width="384" height="400" src="https://assets.lulu.com/cover_thumbs/1/w/1w4g5rzd-front-shortedge-384.jpg" width="267" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><h3 style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-size: 130%;">Change and Democracy in the Middle East:
Middle Eastern Researcher Defends the New Middle East</span></strong></h3>
<div align="justify">Aleppo ― March 25, 2009 ― In one basic center of the old Middle East, <strong>Nassim Yaziji</strong> the Syrian researcher specialized in international relations and the Middle East defends and advocates, through a new book, the new Middle East with an empirical, realistic and modern perspective, originated in and from the Middle East itself. His research on the Middle East and international Middle East policies has contributed to producing a significant and unique book.
Mr. Yaziji's second book "<strong>In Defense of the New Middle East: A Neo-Internationalist Perspective</strong>" has been published, advocating the new Middle East as a domestic and international necessity through the due change and democracy, and explaining this change through the Middle East's key realities and political developments the book analyzes.
This 264-page book includes more than 100 articles classified into several themes include the Neo-Internationalism, the Middle East geopolitics, Iraq, Lebanon, Iran, the Palestinian question, Syria, international affairs and finally a tribute to freedom, applying a unique and advanced methodology.
As reflecting the author's modern perspective on the contemporary international relations, the international order and the Middle East, this book produces a transparent and realistic insight into the post-Iraq Middle East, its key realities, geo-strategic changes and geopolitics in the current international context, and significantly contributes to reaching an advanced realistic Middle East approach and strategy.
Mr. Yaziji welcomes and appreciates all reviews and comments. He can be reached via <a href="mailto:info@yaziji.org">email</a>, or via <a href="http://www.yaziji.org/contact.htm">e-contact form</a>. His book can be found at:</div><div align="justify">
<a href="http://www.yaziji.org/newmiddleeast.htm">http://www.yaziji.org/newmiddleeast.htm</a> </div><div align="justify">
<a href="https://www.lulu.com/commerce/index.php?fBuyProduct=4581849">https://www.lulu.com/commerce/index.php?fBuyProduct=4581849</a>.</div><div align="left"></div>
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<div align="justify"><a href="http://www.yaziji.org/about.htm">Nassim Yaziji</a> is a Syrian researcher specialized in international relations and the Middle East. His research interests include the international order and organization in the post-9/11 era, Middle East geopolitics, Middle East policy and Middle East democratization. Mr. Yaziji adopts scientific realism. He adopts a perspective rests on the principles of Neo-Internationalism as defined by Yaziji himself. He advocates the acknowledgement of the human liberty at the international organization level, and advocates the promotion of freedom and democracy worldwide, especially in the Middle East. He fights totalitarianism and authoritarianism in all their religious and secular forms, and considers them as aggression against humanity. </div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">
</div><div align="left"><strong>For more information about the book, please click </strong><a href="http://www.yaziji.org/newmiddleeast.htm"><strong>here</strong></a><strong>.</strong>
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<div align="left"><strong>For a preview, please click </strong><a href="http://www.lulu.com/browse/preview.php?fCID=6420136"><strong>here</strong></a><strong>.
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<div align="left"><strong>To buy the book, please click </strong><a href="https://www.lulu.com/commerce/index.php?fBuyProduct=4581849"><strong>here</strong></a><strong>.</strong></div>
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<div align="left"></div>Nassim Yazijihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08286807488014247311noreply@blogger.com