The New Dark Age

28 July 2011 — williambowles.info

Tough bipartisan questioning by Congress of US policy on Syria
Los Angeles Times
Republican and Democratic members of a House panel complain that the effort to calibrate a message on Syria has failed to make it clear the US stands with protesters against an oppressive regime. By Paul Richter, Los Angeles Times Senior State …
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-us-syria-20110728,0,5960400.story

Almost 3000 missing in Syria crackdown: NGO
The Daily Star
NICOSIA: Almost 3000 people have gone missing in Syria since the start of anti-regime protests more than four months ago, the Avaaz non-governmental organization said in a statement Thursday. “Avaaz has today revealed the identities of 2918 Syrians who …
http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Middle-East/2011/Jul-28/Almost-3000-missing-in-Syria-crackdown-NGO.ashx

Middle East drama on Capitol Hill
Ha’aretz (blog)
Middle East policy is a hot topic in Washington, from congressmen calling on Obama to adopt a more decisive stance toward Syria to conflicting views on how to solve stalled Palestinian-Israeli talks. By Natasha Mozgovaya
http://www.haaretz.com/blogs/focus-u-s-a/middle-east-drama-on-capitol-hill-1.375675

Early ‘Arab Spring’ results divide Western opinions on Syria and Lebanon
The Daily Star
The situation in Lebanon, however, is different than Syria’s: Unlike Assad, whom the US has described as “not indispensable,” Prime Minister Najib Mikati still has an opportunity to enjoy strong ties with Western countries. Despite its reservations on …
http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Politics/2011/Jul-28/Early-Arab-Spring-results-divide-Western-opinions-on-Syria-and-Lebanon.ashx

Israeli army charges border lookouts with shirking duties
Reuters
JERUSALEM (Reuters) – Israel court-martialed three intelligence soldiers on Wednesday for shirking surveillance duties on the volatile northern front with Lebanon and Syria, saying they had endangered national security. The case highlights challenges …
http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/07/27/us-israel-lebanon-military-idUSTRE76Q6F920110727

Syria to Increase August Souedie Crude Daily Exports by 44%
Bloomberg
By Sherry Su – Wed Jul 27 14:42:34 GMT 2011 Sytrol, Syria’s state-run oil company, will increase daily exports of its Souedie crude for loading in August by 44 percent from July, according to a shipping schedule obtained by Bloomberg News. …
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-07-27/syria-to-increase-august-souedie-crude-daily-exports-by-44-.html

Tikkun Daily Blog » Blog Archive » What About Syria?
By Craig Wiesner
The New York Times posted a good article on what’s happening and what could happen in Syria on Sunday July 24th. The one paragraph that struck me the most affirmed what a good friend had told me when I asked for a solid idea of what was …
http://www.tikkun.org/tikkundaily/2011/07/27/what-about-syria/

Al-Qaeda’s Zawahiri Backs Syria Protests — News from Antiwar.com
By Jason Ditz
Al-Qaeda’s leader Ayman al-Zawahiri has issued a new video today praising the pro-democracy demonstrations in Syria, saying that the anti-Assad demonstrators are “standing up against his oppression.” Zawahiri also said he wished his …
http://news.antiwar.com/2011/07/27/al-qaedas-zawahiri-backs-syria-protests/

Inside Assad’s Syria — War in Context
By News Source
Inside Assad’s Syria. by News Source on July 27, 2011. (H/t Robin Yassin-Kassab.) Share · print this post.
http://warincontext.org/2011/07/27/inside-assad%E2%80%99s-syria/

Songwriter of Syria uprising meets gruesome death | The Associated …
By The Associated Press
Ibrahim Qashoush’s lyrics moved thousands of protesters in Syria who sang his jaunty verses at rallies, telling President Bashar Assad, “Time to leave.” So when his body was dumped in the river flowing through his hometown, …
http://washingtonexaminer.com/news/world/2011/07/songwriter-syria-uprising-meets-gruesome-death

Terrorism: Syria Transfers Advanced Missiles To Hezbollah …
By Claudia
Terrorism: Syria Transfers Advanced Missiles To Hezbollah Terrorists · Iran: Authorities order the destruction of pre-Islamic symbols · Afghanistan: Taliban hang 8-year-old after his father didn’t meet their demands · Norway: fighting …
http://teaandpolitics.wordpress.com/2011/07/27/terrorism-syria-transfers-advanced-missiles-to-hezbollah-terrorists/

Syria to Allow Political Parties Alongside Ruling Baath | Middle …
The Syrian government has endorsed a draft law that would allow the formation of political parties in addition to the ruling Ba’ath party, which for decades …
http://www.voanews.com/english/news/middle-east/Syria-to-Allow-Political-Parties-126103838.html

27 July 2011

Syria forces ‘kill eight in raid’
BBC News Yesterday at 13:21
Syrian security forces kill at least eight people in a raid on the town of Kanaker, close to the capital, Damascus, rights groups say

26 July 2011
Interview with Jihad As-Saad Mohamad, a Syrian Communist leader
The Greanville Post 26/07/2011 at 21:23 Posted by Addison dePitt
‘All weapons must come off the streets’: Jihad As-Saad Mohamad, chief editor of the Syrian communist weekly Kassioun

$10 billion Mid-East gas pipeline aims at EU markets
Russiatoday.ru26/07/2011 at 09:34 RT
The oil ministers of Iran, Iraq and Syria have agreed on the construction of a 5,000-km pipeline, which is designed to transport Iranian natural gas westwards. The project will compete against the European Nabucco…

25 July 2011
Syria allows political parties
Russiatoday ru25/07/2011 at 22:56 RT
Syria’s government has approved a law that allows for the formation of political parties other than President’s Bashar Assad’s ruling Baath party. Opposition movements were banned when the Baathists came to power in…

Middle Eastern pipe dream is almost a reality
Morning Star 25/07/2011 at 16:55
Tehran signed a preliminary £6.1 billion deal with Syria and Iraq today to export its natural gas, in a move to boost its energy sector despite Western sanctions.

Government back draft law for political reforms
Morning Star 25/07/2011 at 16:49
Syria’s governing National Progressive Front (NPF) has endorsed a draft law that paves the way for the formation of new political parties.

Syria to ‘allow political parties
BBC News 25/07/2011 at 10:55
The Syrian government has adopted a draft law that allows the formation of political parties other than the ruling Baath party, state media report.

23 July 2011
Puppets in Revolt
Dissident Voice 23/07/2011 at 16:00 James Petras
Empires are built through the promotion and backing of local collaborators who act at the behest of imperial rulers.

22 July 2011
Thousands take to streets as uprising continues
Morning Star 22/07/2011 at 17:08
Tens of thousands of anti-government protesters flooded the streets of Damascus and other Syrian cities today.