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Syrian Network for Human Rights: The Syrian Regime Uses Chemical Weapons again and Insults the Security Council for a 137th Time
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Salam Kawakibi: Manufactured Expertise: Selling Out Arab News Audiences
Since the onset of the “Arab Spring,” and through the development of revolutionary phases, with their violent consequences, Arab satellite TV stations, which reach millions of viewers, persistently devoted themselves to broadcasting interviews with “analysts,” “academics,” and “experts” on the issues surrounding various national uprisings.
As events continued to unfold, the demand for these types of guests increased, despite a structural supply shortage of serious and professional experts. Subsequently, some stations resorted to “manufacturing” their experts, inviting virtual unknowns and bestowing upon them supreme titles in an attempt to artificially qualify them for their roles as news analysts without having to go through the vetting process of reviewing their actual scientific or practical credentials.
As a result, many true experts – including those knowledgeable about the subject matter in question – simply refused to participate in the charade. Respect for the viewers, and their intelligence, as well as the experts’ own self-respect made them unwilling to be misrepresented.
Other groups chose to strictly confine their TV appearances within the limits of their expertise, avoiding pretensions, or the temptation to make claims of knowledge in areas outside their specializations or practical experiences. Nonetheless, a majority of the guests did willingly plunge into the maze of spotlights, exploiting the qualitative and quantitative shortage of truly qualified experts. They emerged as “stars” of the screen, triumphing at the expense of the viewer, regardless of the simplicity of his understanding and the shallowness of his knowledge.
The interviews varied from individual commentary on a specific event to confrontational conversations between two or more speakers. The moderator often actively stirred up the atmosphere, inducing shouting matches and raised voices in order to attract the largest number of thrill-seeking guests. Arabic-language satellites distinguished themselves in producing these types of talk shows, justifying the final product as a form of vigorous debate and diversity of opinion. Some of these programs gained wide popularity with many viewers anxiously awaiting their broadcasts, like people lining up to watch a street fight.
As the Syrian slaughter continued unabated, these talk show programs became profitable. Those searching for calm and deliberate analysis instead found guests engaged in shouting matches punctuated with harsh, reckless words, and thoughtless gestures. Originally exclusive to Arab TV stations, this practice was soon imitated by the new Europe-based Arabic stations. A majority of those managing the diasporic media still embrace a share of the authoritarian Arab media culture which they carried with them as they migrated to the West, releasing hidden desires to exercise power in doses of professionally unjustified aggressiveness. The image of the winner and the loser becomes clear in these conversations: whoever has the louder voice and the greater skill in mocking their opponent will emerge as the victor.
According to the old economic market doctrine, demand creates supply. On Arab satellite talk shows, this means a vast market of loud-talking “specialists” in the Syrian conflict who have just strolled into TV studios after practicing in other arenas. Both Syrian regime representatives and supporters start to psychologically manipulate their counterparts even before taking the stage. The regime representatives, polished, and professionally made up, face the opposition’s spokesperson as if to impart to him the ability to facilitate his “return to the homeland,” or they continue to make gestures that question his patriotism and nationality. Utilizing the Stasi method – according to the horrific East German intelligence service – he succeeds in aggravating the atmosphere, pushing the opposition debater to fall into the trap of entrenching himself in a defensive position, and resorting to verbal violence which causes him to lose control over his thought processes. On the opposite side, the loyalist guest, carefully trained, remains sufficiently calm when necessary, and adequately raises his voice when he becomes vindictive.
However, others, not just regime loyalists, find themselves guilty of hollow speech. The “revolutionary” voice or opposition falls into the trap of populism, and an empty rhetoric devoid from meaning, often reverting to repetition of already-stated sentences which they think, erroneously, will enable them to preserve their credibility and popularity. Ultimately, they distance themselves from actually delving into the subject, or properly analyzing it.
The first and the last victim remains the Syrian viewer who searches for intellectual assistance, or even truthful news assistance, to aid his own personal understanding of daily issues. The Syrians, and other Arabs, who live with great pain and deep wounds, constitute the real losers far more than all these guests on the satellite screens who are presumably considered “strategic experts.”
Edited translation from the Arabic by Elie Chalala. The author has granted Al Jadid magazine the right to translate and publish his essay. The Arabic version of Mr. al-Kawakibi’s essay appeared in https://hunasotak.com/article/21186.
This essay is scheduled to appear in the forthcoming Al Jadid, Vol. 20, no. 71 (2016).
Air Strikes Hit Aid Convoy in Syria Amid Collapse of Ceasefire
by Yesim Usluca
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East
DAMASCUS, Syria — On Monday, September 19th, an aid convoy near the Syrian city of Aleppo was struck by an air strike hours after the army declared the end of a U.S.-Russia ceasefire.
The aid convoy was intended to deliver aid to 78,000 individuals in Aleppo. A U.N. spokesperson confirmed that at least 18 of the 31 trucks in the convoy were destroyed. A witness at the scene indicated that the trucks were parked at a Syrian Red Crescent location when they were hit by approximately five missile strikes. The Red Crescent stated that approximately 20 civilians and at least one of its volunteers were killed in the attacks. It has suspended its operations for three days in protest. It further stated that the attack may have “serious repercussions” for its humanitarian work in the area. The U.N. has also suspended all aid convoy movement in Syria.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights stated that the attacks were carried out by either Russian or Syrian aircraft. U.S. State Department spokesman John Kirby noted that the destination of the convoy was “known to the Syrian regime and Russian Federation.” He further stated that the aid workers were “killed in their attempt to provide relief to the Syrian people.” The U.N. Aid Chief, Stephen O’Brien, declared that the “callous attack” would amount to a “war crime” if it was found to be deliberate. Russia has denied that its aircraft or those of its Syrian government allies were involved.
The ceasefire between the U.S. and Russia went into effect on September 12th. It was the most recent attempt to bring enough peace to the country to allow political negotiations to begin. A key part of the cessation involved humanitarian aid deliveries to civilians in besieged areas. The agreement further entailed halting fighting between government and rebel forces across Syria. If the ceasefire held, the U.S. and Russia were to set up a joint military cell to target the Islamic State group.
Despite an initial drop in fighting following the ceasefire, violence began to escalate late last week. The deal came under strain on Saturday, September 17th when a coalition strike led by the U.S. hit a Syrian army post near the eastern city of Deir Ezzor. The Syrian Armed Forces General Command issued a statement on Monday, September 19th declaring that the ceasefire had ended. Following this announcement, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that jets fired strikes, killing and wounding individuals in the Aleppo region. The U.N. Security Council is scheduled to hold a meeting regarding Syria and the ceasefire on Wednesday, September 21st.
For more information, please see:
CNN—Syrian ceasefire: Is it all over?—20 September 2016
Reuters—Russian aircraft believed to hit Syria convoy, U.S. officials say—21 September 2016
BBC News—Syria conflict: US ‘outraged’ over aid convoy attack—20 September 2016
NPR—Syrian Cease-Fire Negotiated By U.S., Russia Goes Into Effect—12 September 2016
United States Bombers Fly Over South Korea in Show of Force
by Zachary Lucas
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia
SEOUL, South Korea — United States’ bombers flew over South Korea as a show of force to recent military actions by North Korea. This was the second time in weeks that the US and South Korea have shown military force around the tense peninsula.
Two US B-1B Lancer strategic bombers flew over South Korea as a show of force and solidarity to protect their ally on the peninsula. South Korea officials stated the supersonic bombers flew from Guam and landed at the Osan Air Base, 75 miles from the North Korean bomber. The purpose of the mission, according to South Korean officials, was to preserve peace and security on the peninsula.
This is the second time in two weeks that US bombers have flown over the peninsula. On 13 September, two bombers flew over South Korea while escorted by South Korean fighter jets. The increase in military presence by the US is in response to continued military buildup by North Korea. On 9 September, North Korea conducted its fifth nuclear test and later stated they had successfully tested a new rocket engine capable of launching satellites. North Korea did not respond to the latest show of force but previously called the 13 September show of force as “ill-famed nuclear killing tools.”
US and South Korea also announced plans to run a simulated attack on a nuclear facility. This simulation will take place starting 3 October. South Korean officials said this was not related to recent nuclear tests by North Korea. US and South Korea will also run simulations on sudden missile attacks.
China and Russia condemned the show of force and asked all sides to deescalate rising tensions on the peninsula. China objected to the US recent decision to move THAAD (Terminal High Altitude Aerial Defense) anti-missile system in South Korea. Chinese officials called on all “parties to exercise restraint and to avoid any actions that could further escalate tensions.” China did not state if they would support increased United Nations’ sanctions against North Korea to prevent nuclear testing. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said that using the threat of a North Korean attack to militarize was dangerous.
Following the end of World War II, the Korean peninsula split into the communist north and the democratic south. After North Korea invaded South Korea in 1950, the UN intervened to support the South Korean government. The end of the war in 1953 marked a division of the country with a demilitarized zone running across the country. Both sides remain armed along the zone, but no serious altercations have occurred since the end of the war.
For more information, please see:
CNN — South Korea, US to simulate attack on nuclear facility — 21 September 2016
Fox News — US flies bombers over South Korea again in show of force — 21 September 2016
Reuters — Russia’s Lavrov says wrong to use North Korea to militarize NE Asia — 23 September 2016