Feb 2nd 2012, 20:10 by The Economist online
THE COUNSELLOR to the Washington Institute for Near East Policy on the diplomatic response to the violence in Syria.
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lol@ Mr Ross talking about russian paradox
The Arab/Muslim apologists … comrade joe and Omar Ibrahim … are like back-up singers for the Arab Spring!
Joe 'KNOWS' that "… this crisis was hatched and wholly funded & supported by the USA & NATO to bring about regime change …"
Omar 'KNOWS' that "… is primarily an overall USA/Zionist/Israeli attempt at public disinformation and deception …" and "… which is the fundamental Zionist objective here!"
These Arab/Muslim apologists are no better than the Egyptian or Syrian LEADERS who have blamed 'outside' sources … for their problems … these guys always ask the question of 'who benefits' from the turmoil in Egypt & Syria … they answer … the West and Israel … THEREFORE … IT MUST BE THE WEST & ISRAEL THAT CAUSED IT.
Hello? Is this the logic of a simpleton? Yes! Emphatically YES. Furthermore, the Arab/Muslim ME is awash with a lack of real information … therefore the conspiracy theories … without information one is left to point fingers in ALL THE WRONG DIRECTIONS … LOOK IN THE MIRROR … IT'S THE ARAB/MUSLIM CULTURE AND SOCIETY THAT'S … BROKEN … Dysfunctional … Fractured …
Look in the mirror – the problems are YOUR OWN … it's not about Israel or the Arab/Israeli Conflict or America's involvement …
Read Lee Smith … 'the Strong Horse' …
Mr Dennis Ross of course will say what everybody else in the USA & West will say, and he is as bias as one would expect. He & his like minded Westerners thinks that calling the rebels "the opposition" makes it sound as if this was a mere civilian Syrian "protest" but every body else knows that this crisis was hatched and wholly funded & supported by the USA & NATO to bring about regime change. They have succeeded in Libya but both China & Russia are now wiser for and they now know that giving the USA & NATO an inche and they will take it all the way to the end game, REGIME CHANGE !
A single shot solution should open the debate, both internally and externally. Don't debate at the civilians expense. Just take the shot. Now!
The choice of Dennis Ross is not only one of "a dirty man" for what parts of, namely:
the dismemberment of the Iranian/Syrian/Hizb Allah anti Israel axis,
is indeed a "dirty mission" but is primarily an overall USA/Zionist/Israeli attempt at public disinformation and deception of public opinion in the WEST!
Should his message reach Arab public opinion, which matters most in this context, it will be counterproductive and for the West it will further alienate the West from the Arabs and vice versa: which is the fundamental Zionist objective here!
Who ever made the choice of Dennis Ross for this video
either :
a-harbours a wish to "rub it in" ( with pepper into the wound) to the Arabs who care about freedom are against oppression and corruption and for the Syrian people and the future
OR
b-Is totally ignorant of what Dennis Ross stands for in Arab life, consciousness and comprehension of American/Western politics and policies.
Dennis Ross being and having consistently been the unambiguous champion, defender and facilitator in successive American Administrations of Israeli occupation and colonialism in all American, presumably even handed, " initiatives" for the resolution of the Arab/Palestinian-Israeli conflict.
As such his intentions will be rightly suspected and his words inevitably disparged and his advocacy rejected by Arab public opinion and consciousness!
BAD choice for poor suffering Syria and its rebels with a valid cause and considerable public support.
His message will warm Israeli and Zionist hearts only.
Why doesn't the Economist just interview Sheldon Adelson or Hiam Saban, and present the discussion as some kind of impartial analysis, with genuine humanitarian concerns, as it is doing with this talk with Ross?
Why?; because people like Ross, Indyk, Perle, Feith, and other members of the Lobby that Adelson and Saban are bankrolling are accomplished politicians, much better at affecting righteous indignation and selling their policy, which here is of course the same as it was ten years ago: regime change in Syria.
I'm sorry, but to package this interview as impartial analysis from a man whose prime motive is to end human suffering is a huge joke.
After Dennis Ross, a known zionist, who will be next to be interviewed by TE ? Why not Gennady Zyuganov giving his "impartial" views on Russian 'neutrality' ?
Dennis Ross is a zionist and everyone knows he is. He purposely played Israel's lawyer and he is the reason why Israel feels it can do whatever the heck it wants and be untouchable. It's people like Ross that make this world the disgusting place that it is.
I agree with you. He is a disgusting man.
He sits there talking with his fake sincerity and concern over the crimes of the Assad regime, when in reality what he's really interested in doing is using America's resources to smash Israel's enemies.
But at least we can talk about this now. A decade ago if you pointed out something like this that was staring you in the face, you would be labelled anti-Semitic.
Dennis Ross a Zionist? That is … he wants the State of Israel to exist as a sovereign state. Where's the news in that? He's working for the best interests of the USA … who share that same vision … that is a strong … sovereign … State of Israel.
I guess you'll have to suck it up and acknowledge that the agenda of the USA … is not anathema to Israel and its agenda!
Arab/Muslims can never understand why the USA continues to support the Jewish State seemingly against the Arab/Muslim agenda … which calls for the destruction of the Jewish State.
Get used to it … that's just the way IT IS.
Make peace with this … or continue to suffer the consequences.
As far as Syria is concerned … the USA wants the Assad/Alawite State dethroned … subverted … removed from power. This would definitely issue in a Sunni or certainly a less hostile regime to Western interests. Iran would be displaced as a strategic partner certainly … thereby in one fell swoop … removing Hezbollah from the Iranian Axis as well.
I don't see how this is bad for Western/American/Israeli interests. BTW … it also serves the interests of the Syrian People.
Russia and China have both voted to VETO the 'watered down' proposal put before the Security Council.
Russia has pushed ahead on its agenda to maintain a 'toe hold' on Syria … its last vassal state in the Arab/Muslim world … it needs the port on the Mediterranean … it needs Syria to exist as a vassal …
so … it's REALPOLITIK … suck it up …
The West will not attack Syria … they can attempt to destabilize Syria with arms and covert help to the so-called Syrian resistance … but it has got to be the Syrian People that can free themselves …
THERE WILL BE BLOOD …
Give the People the tools … not like Gadaffi/Libya … but by covert means … there's enough border area with Turkey … Iraq … Israel … Lebanon … to damage Syria … JUST DO IT! like the Nike commercial … no excuses … JUST DO IT!
http://www.voltairenet.org/Presidency-of-Arab-League-seeks-to
As I said in my last post, the world has changed.
All the countries I mentioned will eventually be carrying out their own independent policies (Economic and Foreign), a collective one initially.
The days when our countries in the west used to dictate IMF and WORLD BANK Loan to these countries are over.
The omission by many in denial, it that the Western countries are getting weaker and weaker every year.
Talking of Russian, it is absolutely clear that many in the west are believing their own propaganda:
Yes Russian depends on Oil and Gas - but who would oil and gas them and not sell?
Russia has a far more effective space technology, they now have their own Global Satelitte system; and are now launching the Gallileo Satellites for European Union. They will be there amongst top nations.
India's rate of illiteracy is known, but India will soon have more graduates than the United States can ever dream of. Besides, foreign students dominate the top universities in the US.
CORRUPTION is not limited to emerging countries:
To run for Office in the United States, a Congressman or Woman will need at least two million dollars. To run for Presidency, you will need up to a HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS, or more.
This is known to many ordinary American as corruption - taking donation for political favours.
The big corporate donors use lobbists to get something in return, that is know as corruption in most other countries on earth. This is illegal to do so in most European Union Countries.
American people will want Good Health Care, Good Infrastructure, more money spent on them, and not abroad on war.
Having multiple Parties (NOT TWO PARTIES) in the US political system is the only thing that will help. The US is a two-party state.
Don't want to sound anti-american, but I would rather be a European.
Why is Ross presented here as if he's giving some objective analysis? I really don't think he cares how many Arabs die.
Sorry to say that but I doubt many people in the West do...
WINEP is at the core of the Israel Lobby. Saying we can get some impartial analysis from Ross is as much of a joke as saying the US can act as an impartial arbiter in the Israel-Palestine dispute.
Just like in the dying days of the Roman Empire, the British, French and Spanish Empires; the rest of the world is slowly waking up. America's power is slowly being eroded, there is nothing that can be done to stop the emerging countries from developing their own capabilities (Economically and Militarily).
Propaganda aside, every empire has a period of decline. It starts with financial problems followed by social unrest. Citizens of the world are fed up of leader who take them for granted (Elected or Not). So please mark my word:
Americans have started showing more interest in Jobs, Health-Care, Infrastructure, Clean Environment. The American people will want very little of their Tax-Dollars spent on Missiles, or subsidising Allies such as Israel and others. They will feel particularly patriotic for helping fellow Americans, and not for bombing an entire country because they are told to hate some far-away dictator.
Russia, China, India, Brazil, Indonesia, Iran, etc. will start giving the western powers some headache - the western powers will have to be more diplomatic, and beat less of their war-drums.
The world changed in 2008, some countries are no longer seen as invincible. The future will have very little to do with past glory.
Not so fast. since 2008, US has shifted its power display from pure sole military (Iraq & Afghi), to more diplomatic one, and in concert with allies and friends to bring about changes throughout the Islamic stats.
"Russia, China, India, Brazil, Indonesia, Iran, etc. will start giving the western powers some headache - the western powers will have to be more diplomatic, and beat less of their war-drums."
Really?
Russia - Corrupt, weak country based on raw material export.
Brazil - Economy is a fraction of the one in the West. Inefficient, with high crime rates, weak
China - strong now, but with the fastest aging population in the planet and huge environmental issues.
India - so far failing to even eradicate illiteracy.
...
Historically countries that have challenged the hegemon had strong economies, RULE OF LAW, were attractive to immigrants and perfect internal organization.
Examples of the past are Germany, Japan, the Dutch against Spanish, England against French/Spanish.
Currently I think only China could do so...
If our media in the US would just show us more unbiased coverage about the atrocities taking place, we would willingly want to allocate our tax dollars to alleviate their suffering. We're all just so jaded that the money will be misappropriated abroad even more than it already is being mismanaged domestically. As an American/UN worker I do appreciate Russia's efforts to promote some sort of hegemonic stability with their veto, but I sure hope Russia is also prepared and ready to be instrumental in facilitating a reconciliation within Syria...sooner rather than later. Having lived myself in the middle east during mini-civil war outbreaks it really breaks my heart to see little children running for their lives under RPGs :(
You're touching on a 'touchy' subject when dealing with 'the Arabs' … in general …
What is Syria?
It was made up by the British and French after WWI when the French were given a Mandate … the various 'peoples' are Arab … but they're not homogeneous … as Straight Forward has pointed out … there are various and sundry 'groups' … whether religious … tribal … clans … racial … et al
See Lee Smith: 'the Strong Horse' … what's at play in Syria is a fight between these various and sundry groups … yes they're Arabs … but so what … that's the uniting factor … 'language'? (but not even when talking about the Kurds) … 'Arabness'? … food? … religion?
Dennis Ross said … 'there will be blood' … there will be plenty more until there's a fall of the regime … in Libya the toll was something like 30K … you'll need to triple that number before we'll see an end to the Syria YOU THOUGHT YOU KNEW …
the best bet would be to devolve Syria into its various groupings … Sunni … Alawite … Kurdish … Druze … Christian … each given a fiefdom to rule their own 'statelet' … without significant power … Syria will become calm and the insignificant state it needs to be.
Well, you just might have a working model for power sharing in Switzerland. Italians, French and Germans peacefully reside in cantons which form a confederation.
This model works in Judea-Christianity states - not with Islamic states, where religious factions (Sunni vs. Shi'ite sect) have been dancing the deadly duo of religious strife for more then 1300 years.
So have the protestants and the Catholics....
It can work!
Iranians ARE NOT ARABS but Persian and speak Farsi! Ross is the consistent tool of aipac and the selected Israeli gov't! To put him up as some sort of informative unbiased advisor is a fools errand!
Who said Iranians were Arabs?
Ross has had experience at the top of negotiations with Arabs and Persians … he's 'the man' for the Middle East as far as American leadership is concerned … frankly since moving out of government … he has a 'red line' telephone from HIS office to the WHITE HOUSE … in case they need HIS advice.
Whatever YOU think about him is not important … it's what the American leadership think of his advise!
Ross has no such phone but it is good that you want to believe it so,,, He is not in the circle but has be a back bencher for 5 years!
Good luck selling the repub aipac BS..
Well for one, presumably adult, to ask "what is Syria" in an Arab context must be proof definite that he never heard, forget about read, about The Umayyad Dynasty nor of the Moslem Arab Empire.
The man should be excused...he simply does NOT know anything
Here was the report …
See: http://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2012/02/state-departmen...
OK … but I read it.
Umayyad Shumuayyid …
You're still glorifying the great Muslim Period … of 1000 Years Ago? Go ahead.
I'm talking about the Syria of Mandate Syria … the new 'Syria' … the one that became independent in the 1940's …
Umayyad Shumayyid … we're talking about current politics … that doesn't relate to the Umayyad Period …
The article: " Pressure to do more.."
Sure, of course, Russia is determined to do more and more.
As reported in the media, Syria has taken delivery from Russia of two Bastion coastal missile systems equipped with SS-N-26 Yakhont supersonic cruise missiles.
The December 2011 delivery was part of the $300m Russia-Syria deal to supply several Bastion anti-ship missile systems armed with Yakhont missiles. The missile reportedly has a range of 300km, can carry a 200kg warhead and is designed for cruising several metres above the water surface, making it difficult to detect and intercept.
These anti-ship missile systems are supposed to defend Syria's entire coastline against potential seaborne attacks.
Russia has an agreement with Syria to expand Russian navy presence in the Syrian ports of Latakia and Tartous.
The Syrian Navy is also equipped with the Chinese anti-ship missiles with a range of 120km.
what are you talking about ?
an American F35 or a drone would bomb them in 8 second from 40 thousand feet above somewhere , all these shity missiles cant protect a syrian Hen House.
While the F35 may not yet be operational … the rest of your comment is 'right on' …
in 2007 … when Israel destroyed a 'nuclear site' in Syria … the Syrian/Russian radar systems were NEUTERED without the Syrian Defense even knowing they'd been had!
Look … the Americans could trash Syria and Assad in minutes but so what … the country would become the nightmare it will become that much sooner … that is, Syrian vs Syrian … whether Sunni or Alawite or Druze or Christian or Kurd …
The Syrian People are at heart … NOT A UNITED PEOPLE … their sectarian self-image will be the 'new' face of Syria … thank goodness … because Assad's ugly face has been enough to make one gag …
Another Yugoslavia?
Well not exactly but yes …
Yugoslavia was … Serbs (Orthodox) … Croats (Roman Catholic) … Muslims … and the rest …
While the clampdown existed under Tito … everyone 'got along' … but there was NO COHESIVENESS … in reality … they despised each other for long remembered grudges … whether from the 1920's or 1800'a … those grudges came out and ended what was a 'united' Yugoslavia …
At least … it wasn't imposed from without!
Every missile system is designed to take into account KNOWN defensive countermeasures. That applies equally to anti-ship missiles as it does to air launched missiles. I am no expert on 'relative' capabilities of the American vs Russian missile systems but I do hope the US navy captains sailing their ships in the Mediterranean know more about Russian missiles and other offensive capabilities than you do.
Dennis Ross, an AIPAC member and representative of the Israel-firsters in Washington couldn't care less to what happens to the Syrian people. He was one of the leaders of the neocon pack that orchestrated the war in Iraq and is now pushing yet another war based on lies with Iran. Shame on you for giving space to a warmongerer like Ross.