In the new Middle East, formerly suppressed political parties, movements, and ideas are increasingly shaping a political and ideological discourse that departs from previous paradigms. An equally important trend that is receiving less attention, however, is the mobilization of counter-revolutionary and reactionary forces opposed to the changes taking place in the region. In this regard, Saudi Arabia’s proposal to forge a formal union with Bahrain, a subject that topped the agenda in a summit of the leaders of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) member states in Riyadh last month, warrants a closer look.
The sudden death of the Saudi Crown Prince Nayef brings to focus the Saudi conundrum. The problems facing the country are challenging — archaic monarchic system, rampant corruption and venality, growing socio-economic challenges, Shi’ite empowerment, regional upheaval and a tough neighborhood. But the mother of all ironies is set to unfold in the next 30-day period when Nayef is laid to rest and a new Crown Prince to be selected.
A Melkite Greek Catholic archimandrite has denounced Western media coverage of the Syrian conflict.
“The reality on the ground is far from the picture that imposes disinformation in Western media,” said Msgr. Philippe Tournyol Clos. “Opposition forces have occupied two areas, Diwan Al Bustan and Hamidieh, where there are all the churches and bishoprics.
Les dernières nouvelles sur le front syrien tournent à l’avantage du président Bachar al-Assad. La multiplication des massacres de civils est un indicateur palpable de la situation qui échappe complètement aux bandes armées, obligées finalement, pour se faire entendre, de falsifier la vérité du terrain. Elles perdent patience après l’échec du coup d’état médiatique. Contrairement à la prose mortifère des médias “mainstream”, qui aiment dire ceci: “depuis plus d’un an, la communauté internationale s’efforce de mettre un terme à un bain de sang qui a déjà couté la vie à plus de 10 000 Syriens”, la vérité est ailleurs. Ces gens qui parlent de paix ne la veulent pas, parce que, la faire, il faut être à deux et non exclure de facto une des parties en présence.
After several months of aggressions against Syria and several billions invested, the balance sheet of Western campaigns is positive from a media point of view, but mediocre from a military angle. Worse!
Général Amin Hoteit
Voltairenet
17th June, 2012
The Chinese, Russian and Iranian determination to guarantee Syria’s safety and the observance of International Law would generate such war costs as to sink the economies of those allowing themselves to be drawn in. Those who claim that their country’s direct military involvement in the region would amount to a simple “intervention,” are either foolhardy or driven by an irrational agenda.
Influenced by the work of Immanuel Velikovsky a number of scientists have developed an elctric universe theory which has the potential to revolutionise our understanding of the universe and of human biology and history. This is an excerpt from a speech at the recent Electric Universe Conference. For more go to thunderbolts.info
Deputy Chairman of Turkey’s Labour Party Bulent Esinoglu affirmed that the the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) recruited around 6,000 people of Arab, Afghan and Turkish nationalities to commit terrorist acts.
In your most recent report on Syria you ask the UN Security council to impose an arms embargo on the Syrian government. You ask for no such arms embargo on the Syrian rebels and only ask that the Security Council “request” of states who supply the rebels that they put “mechanisms” in place to prevent the arms from being used to violate human rights.
On June 13 journalist Rainer Hermann confirmed his earlier report in theFrankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung refuting the official version of the Houla massacre in Syria.
The coordinated action by the Bank of England and Treasury will see billions offered to banks on condition they pass it on to businesses and households in the form of cheaper loans and mortgages.
Russia is trying to produce something out of the hat at next week’s meeting between P5+1 and Iran, which it will be hosting. Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov went to Tehran on Wednesday. He likely carried some fresh proposals. From Tehran he proceeded to Kabul to attend the conference there on Thursday (regarding Afghanistan’s future), for which US deputy secretary of state William Burns (former US ambassador to Russia) also arrived at the Afghan capital. Conceivably, Lavrov and Burns found time to exchange notes. Iranian FM Ali Akbar Salehi was also available at the Kabul conference.
In These New Times 