Maher's Blog

Ever since the Egyptian uprising I predicted Libya and Syria will follow.  I also predicted that the uprising in these two -dictatorial- countries would not be as peaceful as the uprisings in Tunis and Egypt.

What is happening now in Libya is mirror image of what could happen in Syria; with even more savage response from the government of Syria and the ruling monarchy-like Assad family.  Even more sadly would be the lack of response from the international community.  True that the UN, US and France called on the Syrian government to allow peaceful demonstration and went as far as condemning the Syria’s crack down on demonstrators.  But the condemnations –including the high chair of UN Human Rights- and the calls from Sarkozy of France and Hillary Clinton of US, fell on deaf ears.  Instead, the Syrian authorities blamed the uprising in the south on foreign agents and thugs.  If this claim sounds familiar; is because it was reverberated first by Tunisian officials, then by Egyptians, Libyan, Yeminis, Bahrainis and others to come.  In other words; these oppressive madmen of the Arab world always blame foreign agents – thanks to Israel- and thugs –thanks to Islamic radicals- when they are faced with any opposition.  Incidentally, these leaders cherish the existence of Israel on one side, and the Islamic radicals on the other side; that’s why they stay in power for decades and rule with iron fist; by spreading fear and propaganda amongst their people, jailing or killing their opposition in the name of national security.

Bashar Assad was interviewed by The Wall Street  Journal back in January, where he said that Syria is immune to “oppositions” because “I am in touch with the people and the people of Syria love me”.  Now again, this cliché of absurdity has been heard many times before from the –now- ousted leaders of the Middle East.  It is incomprehensible how one would phantom the idea that he is loved after 48 years- yes 48 years of emergency law; 48 years of one family ruling; 48 years of oppression and human rights violations.  According to Human Rights Watch, Syria was the worst violator in 2010 with human rights abuses, disappearances and jailing of human rights activists and human rights lawyers.   I am confident that 2011 would not be any better, and the same award would be given to the Syrian government.   Who could justify the arrest of nine children in the city of Daraa for painting graffiti calling for free society.  This incident was the impetus of the uprising in city. And the security forces responded more savagely and killed so far 100 and injured many more (that’s only one week of demonstration  and one city-imagine when it all breaks out across Syria?.  Off course these figures cannot be confirmed, because no one is allowed to report it, and no human rights representatives are allowed nearby.  Hell, no human rights representatives were allowed to check on political prisoners before; sort of the same story as in jailed Palestinians in Israel or Jailed Muslims in Guantanamo Bay-stuck in a limbo, no trial, no rights, and in solitary confinement due to –you guessed it- national security.

One thing you can be sure of; the Syrian populous are well armed unlike the Libyans who are struggling with finding weapons and the know-how; the Syrians are experts in weaponries, and when the opposition spreads across; THERE WILL BE HEAVY CASUALTIES on all sides.  Additionally, the “civil war” would last for several months and possibly years with no intervention from outside.  Why? Syria lacks the resources like the Libyan gas & oil and lacks the supporrt of western powers like Egypt and Bahrain.  More alarming though, is the division amongst different factions and the deep-seeded hatred  for  Alwaite ( Assad’s minority).

 Actions must be taken quickly and immediately at the onset of the revolution in Syria.  Many competing powers domestically and internationally are eager to play a role in Syria’s politics with one scary scenario; The Alawaites will not give up power and will be ready to go all the way including the use of chemicals like Saddam did against the Kurds.    

The latest announcement by Syrian government spokesperson that the government promises to study the possibility of lifting emergency laws and licensing political parties is utterly absurd.  To promise to study the possibility?  Heard that before!

So it is passed; the bill to defund NPR which is admired by 170 million Americans with variety of programs stretching from classical music to news and commentaries. This $500 Million does not make a dent in balancing the budget. What would really make a dent in reducing our debt, is to cut foreign aid or at least reduce it to a sensible amount. So here is a brief of the foreign aid we give other countries, and please remember to count our benefits in returns:
According to 2010 figures:
Israel receives $10 Billion
Egypt $1.5 Billion
South and Central Asia $ 3.3 Billion
Africa $ 648
Europe and Eur-Asia $ 650
Near East $1.7 Billion
Not included in these figures the decade old wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.
But indeed the NPR funding was a major burden on the economy, or a major burden on certain politicians. You decide!

Webster dictionary defines McCarthyism as: “..political attitude characterized chiefly by opposition to elements held to be subversive and by the use of tactics involving personal attacks on individuals by means of widely publicized indiscriminate allegations especially on the basis of unsubstantiated charges; broadly: defamation of character or reputation through such tactics”

These hearings should not be labeled as such.  Homeland Security committee in the house must conduct findings relating to our nation security.  Security related matters may include but not limited to; process improvement on: immigration screening, goods imports and exports, charities fund raising, industrial/commercial and financial trading with foreign governments, foreign aids to governments with history in human rights abuse and/or terrorist activities like Israel and Pakistan, and a host of other issues.

Hearings on Islam radicalization and laying the ground for passive or callous bigotry should not be the role of Congress.  Further; being led by IRA strong and unashamed supporter, is utter hypocrisy.  These hearings should be labeled as discriminatory and the people who lead these hearings should be investigated for their role as not being fit to govern.

It is indeed a shame that for the last 10 years and particularly during the last two – since the election of President Obama- that the voices of these bigots and their hatred to non-WASP communities have become louder, articulated and broadcasted with no fear of isolationism, violence and demagogy.

So now that we entered a civil war chapter in Libya; Kaddafi and his loyalists are gaining some grounds.

This chapter should not be allowed to be a lengthy one.  The UN resolution which passed unanimously condemning The Kaddafi regime, and the recent ICC Chief Prosecutor statement on possible issuance of arrest warrant for Kaddafi and some of his top Officials, the continuing calls from defected Libyan officials to the international community to intervene should be the signal for NATO, US or EU to fully engage in toppling Kaddafi and bringing him to justice.  The evidence which is floating out there, that Kaddafi was directly responsible for PanAm bombing should be the go-ahead for the US to engage.  This evidence is clearly solid evidence along with allegations from defectors which propelled the ICC to make such statement.  After all this is not Rumsfeld’s and Cheney’s evidence to invade Iraq.

Like it or not; US has taken the role as the world’s watch dog.  This role however should not be tainted with self-interests.  This role should be a humanitarian watch dog.  Let’s not repeat the events of the uprising in south Iraq by the Shiites when we stood by allowing Saddam to massacre the opposition.

This is the ideal time for the US to start a new chapter of GOOD  relations with the Middle East.  Otherwise we will miss our calling.  What will we do if the populous in Iran started an uprising? How about Cuba? Or even North Korea? ( assuming off course the UN, ICC, or the International Human Rights Commission pleaded to intervene to save civilian casualties or to avert humanitarian crisis).  Clearly; OPEC has a lot of cloud to influence –behind the scenes the ongoing Libyan crisis.  After all; billions of dollars are being profited from selling a barrel of crude oil at over $100 up from mid $60’s to low $70’s. 

Still though; if you want to argue “self interest”; then I say: we will benefit from saving Libya.  Kuwait had settled their tab with us after we liberated Kuwait. Iraq should start paying their tab soon.  Saudi Arabia and the rest of the Gulf Emirates have been always paying –call it an advanced payment- for their security (most of these payments came in the form of military and arms purchases), and so we will benefit from Libya’s business-deal.  On the other hand; we are losing hand over fist in Afghanistan.  This region never pan out for the Soviet Union, the Brits, or others before.  And don’t be fooled with the notion of fighting terrorism in Afghanistan.  The fact and the reality of it; Madrassas and Opium production have more than quadrupled since our involvement.   

 The time is ripe to intervene, or at the least, impose a no-fly zone.  Robert Gates testimony that we have to declare war on Libya in order to impose a no-fly zone is not entirely correct – Humanitarian crisis permits us to impose a no-fly zone without declaring war.   USS Liberty and others are now in the Mediterranean and AWACS are all over the Libyan skies.  It takes one squadron and two drones to impose the no-fly zone and possibly take out Saif Kaddafi during one of his appearances in public; since Muammar is hiding in bunkers.  This action would curtail the civil war and the humanitarian crisis.  This would send a clear message to the Arab world that we are starting a new chapter with you, and that we will not tolerate oppressing regimes, be it Libya, Egypt, Jordan or even SA or UAE.  We will get involved, and you will have to pay-up the cost of our involvement.