The problem with the Geneva Communique from the first Geneva round on Syria is that the government of Syria never subscribed to it. It was jointly chaired by the League of Arab States for Syria, whatever that may mean. Another problem is that it is, as so many diplomatic documents are, highly ambiguous. It plainly advocates a power sharing executive formed by some of the current government plus the opposition to oversee a transition to democracy. But it does not state which elements of the current government, and it does not mention which elements of the opposition, nor does it make plain if President Assad himself is eligible to be part of, or to head, the power-sharing executive, and whether he is eligible to be a candidate in future democratic elections.
Doubtless the British, for example, would argue that the term transition implies that he will go. The Russians will argue there is no such implication and the text does not exclude anybody from the process. Doubtless also diplomats on all sides were fully aware of these differing interpretations and the ambiguity is quite deliberate to enable an agreed text. I would say that the text tends much more to the “western” side, and that this reflects the apparently weak military position of the Assad regime at that time and the then extant threat of western military intervention. There has been a radical shift in those factors against the western side in the interim. Expect Russian interpretations now to get more hardline.
Given the extreme ambiguity of the text, Iran has, as it frequently does, shot itself in the foot diplomatically by refusing to accept the communique as the basis of talks and thus getting excluded from Geneva. Iran should have accepted the communique, and then at Geneva issued its own interpretation of it.
But that is a minor point. The farcical thing about the Geneva conference is that it is attempting to promote into power-sharing in Syria “opposition” members who have no democratic credentials and represent a scarcely significant portion of those actually fighting the Assad regime in Syria. What the West are trying to achieve is what the CIA and Mossad have now achieved in Egypt; replacing the head of the Mubarak regime while keeping all its power structures in place. The West don’t really want democracy in Syria, they just want a less pro-Russian leader of the power structures.
The inability of the British left to understand the Middle East is pathetic. I recall arguing with commenters on this blog who supported the overthrow of the elected President of Egypt Morsi on the grounds that his overthrow was supporting secularism, judicial independence (missing the entirely obvious fact the Egyptian judiciary are almost all puppets of the military) and would lead to a left wing revolutionary outcome. Similarly the demonstrations against Erdogan in Istanbul, orchestrated by very similar pro-military forces to those now in charge in Egypt, were also hailed by commenters here. The word “secularist” seems to obviate all sins when it comes to the Middle East.
Qatar will be present at Geneva, and Qatar has just launched a pre-emptive media offensive by launching a dossier on torture and murder of detainees by the Assad regime, which is being given first headline treatment by the BBC all morning
There would be a good dossier to be issued on torture in detention in Qatar, and the lives of slave workers there, but that is another question.
I do not doubt at all that atrocities have been committed and are being committed by the Assad regime. It is a very unpleasant regime indeed. The fact that atrocities are also being committed by various rebel groups does not make Syrian government atrocities any better.
But whether 11,000 people really were murdered in a single detainee camp I am unsure. What I do know is that the BBC presentation of today’s report has been a disgrace. The report was commissioned by the government of Qatar who commissioned Carter Ruck to do it. Both those organisations are infamous suppressors of free speech. What is reprehensible is that the BBC are presenting the report as though it were produced by neutral experts, whereas the opposite is the case. It is produced not by anti torture campaigners or by human rights activists, but by lawyers who are doing it purely and simply because they are being paid to do it.
The BBC are showing enormous deference to Sir Desmond De Silva, who is introduced as a former UN war crimes prosecutor. He is indeed that, but it is not the capacity in which he is now acting. He is acting as a barrister in private practice. Before he was a UN prosecutor, he was for decades a criminal defence lawyer and has defended many murderers. He has since acted to suppress the truth being published about many celebrities, including John Terry.
If the Assad regime and not the government of Qatar had instructed him and paid him, he would now be on our screens arguing the opposite case to that he is putting. That is his job. He probably regards that as not reprehensible. What is reprehensible is that the BBC do not make it plain, but introduce him as a UN war crimes prosecutor as though he were acting in that capacity or out of concern for human rights. I can find no evidence of his having an especial love for human rights in the abstract, when he is not being paid for it. He produced an official UK government report into the murder of Pat Finucane, a murder organised by British authorities, which Pat Finucane’s widow described as a “sham”. He was also put in charge of quietly sweeping the Israeli murders on the Gaza flotilla under the carpet at the UN.
The question any decent journalist should be asking him is “Sir Desmond De Silva, how much did the government of Qatar pay you for your part in preparing this report? How much did it pay the other experts? Does your fee from the Government of Qatar include this TV interview, or are you charging separately for your time in giving this interview? In short how much are you being paid to say this?”
That is what any decent journalist would ask. Which is why you will never hear those questions on the BBC.
‘Habbabkuk, Mr Barroso did not point to any FACTS. If you disagree please point out these “facts”.’
“Barroso told Andrew Marr an independent Scotland would have to reapply for membership and get the approval of all current member states.”
Sounds like a fact to me – even though I do live in a parallel universe.
Res Dis. 8 24pm
“Haven’t you read that Tolkien is all a bit BNP and not the sort of thing that a toy town revolutionary such as yourself should be reading.”
Thanks for your kind advice. It was a toss-up between Tolkein and Enid Blyton and just I didn’t have the heart to use her, even for you my friend.
Ben. Thanks for the reminder.
Meanwhile, a million miles from Toytown, plus ça change. Now who talked sense in either round Lavrov and Yi ,or Kerry?
http://sjlendman. blogspot.ie/2014/01/sham-syrian-peace-talks.html
Quite how the eminences believe I am able to maintain a myriad of identities as the universal evil one – is quite beyond me and my typing and IT skills as demonstrated earlier today. Although, who knows I may resurrect my official alter -ego – who I’m told has been sent to bed for refusing to singalong to Shoananas on the grounds that his new best friend at school Nicky Cohen wouldn’t find it very funny.
“Nothing to do with the Arab League acting in defiance of resolution 181 I suppose?”
The Arab League did not accept the resolution as those who drew it up knew all along they wouldn’t. The reason was that 85% of land in Palestine was owned by Arabs while Jews owned only 7% yet the plan awarded 55% of Palestine to the Jews.
The British government made it clear they would not implement a plan which was not acceptable to both parties, it was obvious from the start the Palestinians would reject the plan as is their right, General Assembly resolutions are not binding, they can only recommend.
Anon. 8 35pm
“Whereas you, my friend, are no cop.”
Well, we must be grateful for small mercies. Though, with my french roots, I have long suspected that, my keen insight, vast intelligence and unbridled modesty, is evidence that I must be some relation to the greatest under the covers cop of all.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-gU7XXzyT6k
In the aftermath of the 1948 war, and conditional on Israel’s acceptance and implementation of resolutions 181 and 194, the UN General Assembly voted, with the May 11, 1949 Resolution 273 (III), to admit Israel to UN membership.
and so the State of Israel was accepted by International Law – you may not like it but those are the facts.
British armed forces including are trained in crowd control. SERCO is training the reserves. SERCO had training by the U.S. army’s Army Asymmetric Warfare Group.
This recent Telegraph piece will give some insight. Thank-you?
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/10634411/US-army-builds-fake-city-to-shoot-at-during-training.html
Please do some lateral thinking.
Mark
You will be telling us that the British Army are trained to fire guns. I think you will also find that Russian troops are trained in crowd control – they are also trained in building as they are used as very cheap labour so as to provide nice kick backs to their senior officers, but that is another story.
Resident Dissident 16 Feb, 2014 – 8:56 pm
Aaahhh, I see. So sorry for jumping to false conclusions. OK, so let me see if I’ve finally got it right …..
For about a year now, there have been persistent attacks on Mary, mainly by yourself, Resident Dissident, and Habbakuk, but often joined by more ephemeral identities. Then today, yet another new contributor, Marys Love Child, joined in the attack on Mary, making slimy comments about her and Clark while you Resident Dissident, were seemingly being quite conciliatory, offering Mary gardening advice. And then, you accidentally reveal that Resident Dissident and Marys Love Child are both the same person. And then you explain you’ve never done it before and you’re surprised anybody could think otherwise, and any similarity between Marys Love Child and all those other people who made slimy comments about Mary is purely coincidental.
Is that it. Have I got your story right?
Well pardon me for being an old cynic but I don’t buy it. You’ve blown your credibility, Resident Dissident/Marys Love Child … and who else ….. Black Jelly????? ….
Mark, it is quite clear without lateral thinking to see that the US plans world domination. All empires fail in the long-term. They have created an enemy of Islam (a peaceful religion with some rogue elements). All the wars of this century have been created by the USA and its allies over a false war on terror. Anybody today who does not think the USA was not involved in 9/11 (with further involvement from the Israeli terrorist government or MOSSAD) has been watching the wrong television channels.
Download to Asymmetric warfare research guide: JSCSC in partnership with JSCSC & SERCO.
http://www.da.mod.uk/colleges/jscsc/jscsc-library/bibliographies/research-guides/asymmetricinternet.pdf
Marys Love Child, joined in the attack on Mary, making slimy comments about her and Clark
It was a reference to Clark liking a joint
The gardening reference was not at all conciliatory – why do you think she started to introduce these reference to deciduous trees?
NO other identities – I am afraid my ham fistedness exceeds your paranoia.
And what about those who make slimy comments about those who dissent – yourself included?
Great perspective John – indeed a step change in consciousness – bravo!
“All the wars of this century have been created by the USA and its allies over a false war on terror.”
Could you please explain how the US and its allies created the Chechen War – I don’t think even Putin goes that far.
“and so the State of Israel was accepted by International Law – you may not like it but those are the facts.”
Which law is that then?
Don’t you think that if those drafting 181 had even consulted the Palestinians instead of just writing what the Zionists told them to write the resolution might have been accepted by both parties? But then that wasn’t what the Zionists wanted was it? They wanted it all and they are well on their way to getting it.
No, there is no law to legitimise Israel and there certainly is no justice in the entire sordid affair. You should hang your head in shame for condoning such a blatant crime. The land belongs to those who’s forefathers have lived on and worked on it for generations and no one, not even the UN, has the authority to take it from them, no mater how convenient. Palestine was taken from the Palestinians by force, that is not legal.
Thanks RD although I had to meditate over four possible trains of thought.
1. You are trying to point me in the right direction.
2. You are educating me in a Russian conspiracy
3. You are a politician or post grad in political science
4. You are taking the piss.
http://www.strategic-culture.org/news/2013/04/29/washington-civil-society-cia-financing-chechen-other-regional-terrorists.html
Resident Dissident 16 Feb, 2014 – 10:01 pm
So you really are claiming that after x years of hanging about this blog, today you decided to sock-puppet for the very first and only time? What was special about today?
A Node
Yep – all that deciduous tree, you are foreigners stuff got up my nose – not that I expect you believe a word of what I say, but that is your problem rather than mine, just as is your rather pathetic support of the anti-Semite Dieudonne. When he said Shoananas was a childrens song were you really taken in?
Mark. 9:41 pm
“British armed forces including are trained in crowd control…
…Please do some lateral thinking.”
The the images of suffering refugees and mantra of “Assad must be stopped” coming to a frenzy again on all the corporate media. The message, “You want these people to starve or freeze to death if you oppose a military solution”. Well thanks MS journalists! It’s clear who you choose to serve.
Are the elites scared what might happen when…
…despite an ocean of propaganda, enough people cease to buy into the discredited “humanitarian war” model, and increasingly smell out the sociopathic corporate and currency scams that their “democratic” political elites have agreed to bankroll with loans to citizens yet unborn?
…enough people realize that societies don’t need to be lumbered with debt-cert currency because peer to peer has been flourishing as a new global phenomenon for the last four years?
…enough people decide that the legacy they want for their children is not more austerity and debt slavery in a degrading environment while the bankers and their servants live an increasingly isolated and protected lifestyle largely behind security walls and personel?
…enough people engage within their local communities and realise that livelihoods within the productive capacities of our regional land and seascapes keeps their societies more secure than armies?
Who are these ‘Takfiri’ monsters and from whence do they come? How chilling and cold-blooded.
Video: Takfiri terrorists strangulate Syrian girl in public
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/350558.html
The girl who they murdered was a child aged 13. Is this the sort that Cameron, Hague and Burt are supporting when they say Assad must go?
RD/MLC/BJ?….
“not that I expect you believe a word of what I say…”
Hey you finally got something right….
“… but that is your problem rather than mine”
Aaww, you got that one the wrong way round.
“Resolution 181 was the 1947 partition plan.
Israel accepted the plan the Arab states did not.
Israel unilaterally declared independence on 14th May 1948.
The US recognised Israel the day after followed by other UN members.
Just to put things straight: the UN did not establish Israel.”
__________________
The above is a fine example of the “Scourgie Gambit”, more vulgarly known as splitting hairs.
And, BTW, Mr Scourgie forgot the last line, viz:
“The UN General Assembly admitted the State of Israel to the UN in 1949.”
Residdent Dissident writes:
“Well spotted Flaming June or is it Foul February? How long did you keep that pretence going for? Rather more than the couple of hours I managed is my guess.”
_________________
May I immodestly remind everyone that ’twas Habbabkuk who first (and very rapidly) identified “April Showers” as the Mary who had stomped off, vowing never to darken the pages of this blog again?
I believe that thereafter she herself announced the change to Flaming June.
Deciduous ~ a haiku
shy of the forest
there is no resurrection
of unwanted tears
Fred. 10 28pm
“The land belongs to those who’s forefathers have lived on and worked on it for generations and no one, not even the UN, has the authority to take it from them, no mater how convenient. Palestine was taken from the Palestinians by force, that is not legal.”
Why does a statement of the obvious like that make some visitors here take the piss? Thanks Mark. 10 31pm
” more vulgarly known as splitting hairs.” Thanks absentee Dad. Once again you’ve helped expand my repertoire. Braiding was wearing thin.
Mary.
Re stranglers that our politicians want our taxes to be donated to.
Are the elites scared what might happen when enough people are repulsed by the knowlege that they are helping to pay for such monsterous acts to be done, whether by Takfiris or Special Ops. Both seem equally repugnent to me.
A Node
Whereas using italics is just about acceptable, using bold is vulgar and trite.
Please desist lest I accuse you of being a Zionist hasbara troll, an attender of Bilderberg meetings, an approver of genocide and US concentration camps every bit as bad as the Nazi ones and related to the Rothschild family.
(The above was a joke, as I am perfectly sane)
Scrutinizing Israel role in 2001 anthrax attacks
http://www.presstv.com/detail/2014/02/16/350954/israel-role-in-2001-anthrax-attacks/