Archive for 2010

Happy New Year

Posted by Joshua on Friday, December 31st, 2010

Ford Made Ambassador to Syria in Recess Appointment

Posted by Joshua on Thursday, December 30th, 2010

“Syrian Corruption” by Lina Sinjab; Tourism and Preserving Syrian Heritage; Stateless Kurds

Posted by Joshua on Thursday, December 30th, 2010

George Saghir and Bassel Hamwi Launch Independent Economic Index to Assess Syrian Economy

Posted by Joshua on Wednesday, December 29th, 2010

Wikileaks: “Syrian-Iranian Relations return to normal”; Jordan, Turkey, and US Seek Improved Iran Relations; Hariri Tribunal Delayed;

Posted by Joshua on Saturday, December 18th, 2010

Syria first bond issue – A first round win for the Ministry of Finance

Posted by Joshua on Tuesday, December 14th, 2010

Landis Debates Steven Heydemann: “Syria and Islamism.” BloggingheadTV

Posted by Joshua on Sunday, December 12th, 2010

Assad in France: “There is no peace process; Europe’s stance cannot remain tied to the US role”e

Posted by Joshua on Saturday, December 11th, 2010

WikiLeaks: Saudi Proposed Arab Force to Invade Lebanon; Makhlouf Sanctions; Mughniya Murder

Posted by Joshua on Saturday, December 11th, 2010

Wikileaks: Bellemare “has no case” against Syria

Posted by Joshua on Tuesday, December 7th, 2010

Wikileaks: “General Rifi is convinced that Syrian authorities are directly responsible for all three crimes,” said a cable classified by Jeremy Feltman

Posted by Joshua on Sunday, December 5th, 2010

Should A Resurgent Syria Give Alarm?

Posted by Joshua on Sunday, December 5th, 2010

Elias Murr: “If Israel has to bomb Shia areas, that is Hizbullah’s concern… The Lebanese Army Forces will stay on their bases …. and take over once Hizballah’s militia has been destroyed.”

Posted by Joshua on Friday, December 3rd, 2010

Assad: ‘Golan Heights “is our issue”‘

Posted by Joshua on Thursday, December 2nd, 2010

Interview with Bashar al-Asad – Wikileaks 18 February 2009

Posted by Joshua on Monday, November 29th, 2010

Wiki Leaks: First Cut

Posted by Joshua on Sunday, November 28th, 2010

“Defining a Constructive Role in the Middle East,” by Ahmed Salkini

Posted by Joshua on Wednesday, November 24th, 2010

Disapearing Golan; Hariri Murder; Iran

Posted by Joshua on Tuesday, November 23rd, 2010

Can the US Convince Hariri to Stand up to Hizbullah with the Lebanese Tribunal?

Posted by Joshua on Thursday, November 18th, 2010

China’s Rise Undermines Power of Sanctions as US Diplomatic Tool

Posted by Joshua on Wednesday, November 17th, 2010

Syria’s Challenge: A Modern Secular Family Law, by Elie Elhadj

Posted by Alex on Tuesday, November 16th, 2010

Assad Grants State Employees a 50% Bonus as Job Creation Lags

Posted by Joshua on Sunday, November 14th, 2010

What is Behind the Uproar in Syria’s Labor Relations? The Reform Process and Jobs?

Posted by Joshua on Sunday, November 7th, 2010

More WikiLeaks – Kerry: “Israel should return Golan”

Posted by Joshua on Monday, November 1st, 2010

“Why Lieberman?,” by Shai

Posted by Alex on Sunday, October 31st, 2010

Water: “Syria Should abandon its Policy of Food Self-Sufficiency,” Elhadj and Al-Khouli

Posted by Joshua on Wednesday, October 27th, 2010

News Round Up (24 October 2010)

Posted by Joshua on Monday, October 25th, 2010

The Average Arab Has Grown Poorer Since 1980; Oxford Analytica and EIU Reports (24 Oct. 2010)

Posted by Joshua on Sunday, October 24th, 2010

“The Sin in Syria is Low Wages,” by Ehsani

Posted by Joshua on Monday, October 18th, 2010

Ahmedinejad in Lebanon

Posted by Joshua on Friday, October 15th, 2010

Drought, Water Management, and the Kurdish Question

Posted by Joshua on Friday, October 15th, 2010

Tuykey and Syria Struggle to Resolve Their Kurdish Question

Posted by Joshua on Wednesday, October 13th, 2010

“Damascus art gallery ignites Syrian culture war,” By Khaled Yacoub Oweis

Posted by Joshua on Tuesday, October 12th, 2010

Turkey Continues to Look East; Iran Hit by Sanctions

Posted by Joshua on Monday, October 11th, 2010

“The Qubaysiyat are Feminists,” by Serene Taleb-Agha

Posted by Joshua on Friday, October 8th, 2010

The Special Lebanon Tribunal Power Play – The End of the Bush Agenda

Posted by Joshua on Thursday, October 7th, 2010

Igraa and Male Hypocrisy; Censorship; Divorce; Two New Ministers

Posted by Joshua on Sunday, October 3rd, 2010

Syria Faces Economic Hurdles

Posted by Joshua on Saturday, October 2nd, 2010

Encouraging Israel not to Settle; Encouraging Iran to Go Nuclear

Posted by Joshua on Friday, October 1st, 2010

Women and the Rise of The Religious Conservatives

Posted by Joshua on Wednesday, September 29th, 2010

U.S. Saves Talks but Not Palestine

Posted by Joshua on Saturday, September 25th, 2010

Can Syria Attract $55 Billion in Foreign Investment in 5 years?

Posted by Joshua on Saturday, September 25th, 2010

“Syria’s Improved Relations with Turkey is the Center-Piece of Bashar Assad’s New Foreign Policy,” Joshua Landis

Posted by Joshua on Wednesday, September 22nd, 2010

Memorizing is Out in Syrian Schools? Poetry is In.

Posted by Joshua on Tuesday, September 21st, 2010

Syria Gets Better Russian Missiles

Posted by Joshua on Sunday, September 19th, 2010

“New Media is Straining Government Tolerance In Syria,” by Deb Amos

Posted by Joshua on Thursday, September 16th, 2010

Islam Comment – A New Forum by Alex

Posted by Joshua on Thursday, September 16th, 2010

What Does Turkey’s “Yes” Vote Mean for Democracy

Posted by Joshua on Tuesday, September 14th, 2010

News Round Up (13 Sept 2010)

Posted by Joshua on Monday, September 13th, 2010

Muhammad al-Habash Resigns from all Religious Activities

Posted by Joshua on Sunday, September 12th, 2010

“Why Does Syria Do So Badly in World Economic Rankings,” by Ehsani

Posted by Joshua on Friday, September 10th, 2010

Drought Hits East for Forth Year Causing More Distress

Posted by Joshua on Wednesday, September 8th, 2010

Lebanon PM: I was wrong to accuse Syria of Rafik Hariri murder

Posted by Joshua on Tuesday, September 7th, 2010

Is Syria Cracking Down on Religious Groups? Why?

Posted by Joshua on Sunday, September 5th, 2010

“Bush White House Wanted to Destroy the Syrian State by Force and With Urgency,” Tony Blair

Posted by Joshua on Friday, September 3rd, 2010

News Round Up (1 Sept. 2010)

Posted by Joshua on Wednesday, September 1st, 2010

Will Obama Abandon the Bush Policy of Punishing Mid East Countries that Oppose Israeli Expansion?

Posted by Joshua on Tuesday, August 31st, 2010

News Round Up (29 August 2010)

Posted by Joshua on Wednesday, August 25th, 2010

“The Syria Muslim Brotherhood: Leadership Transition from Bayanouni to Shaqfa” by Aron Lund

Posted by Joshua on Saturday, August 21st, 2010

News Roundup (August 20 2010)

Posted by Joshua on Friday, August 20th, 2010

Will rising tensions in the Middle East lead to another catastrophic war?

Posted by Alex on Tuesday, August 3rd, 2010

The Hariri Tribunal and Hizbullah; Syria Loves Turkey

Posted by Joshua on Sunday, July 25th, 2010

“Stop Wahhabi Indoctrination of Syrian Youth,” by Elie Elhadj

Posted by Joshua on Sunday, July 25th, 2010

News Round Up (22 July 2010)

Posted by Joshua on Thursday, July 22nd, 2010

“Syrians Were Not Behind the Hariri Assassination,” Former US Offical to as-Safir

Posted by Joshua on Tuesday, July 20th, 2010

The Niqab and Syria’s Private Girls Schools

Posted by Joshua on Tuesday, July 20th, 2010

Human Rights Watch “A Wasted Decade”

Posted by Joshua on Friday, July 16th, 2010

Syria Bans the Niqab in Schools

Posted by Joshua on Friday, July 16th, 2010

News Round Up (14 July 2010)

Posted by Joshua on Wednesday, July 14th, 2010

Is the Obama Peace Effort Over?

Posted by Joshua on Tuesday, July 13th, 2010

“A Peace Crime” by Levy; Will Turkey be Punished?

Posted by Joshua on Sunday, July 11th, 2010

Hizbullah Arms; Senator Specter to Damascus; Cordesman: “Iranian Threat Exaggerated”

Posted by Joshua on Saturday, July 10th, 2010

Syrian Cinema; American Soldiers and Torture

Posted by Joshua on Friday, July 9th, 2010

Lesch Article on Assad; Syria Worst at Anti-Corruption; Bush Nixxed Israel 2007 Bombing

Posted by Joshua on Thursday, July 8th, 2010

Skewed Balance of Power between Israel and Syrian Impedes Peace

Posted by Joshua on Tuesday, July 6th, 2010

Real GDP Growth 5.9%? Turkey and Change in the Region; Fadlallah Dies

Posted by Joshua on Monday, July 5th, 2010

“Why Reforming the Hadith is so Difficult,” Elie Elhadj

Posted by Joshua on Saturday, July 3rd, 2010

What Effect will Turkey’s Switch to Israeli Opponent have on Syria and the Regional Balance of Power?

Posted by Joshua on Friday, June 25th, 2010

News Round Up (25 June 2010)

Posted by Joshua on Thursday, June 24th, 2010

What Are US Tech Firms Doing in Damas? NeoCon Dreams of Regime Change

Posted by Joshua on Saturday, June 19th, 2010

Overview of Syrian-US Relations

Posted by Joshua on Thursday, June 17th, 2010

Uri Saguy on Barak’s “Missed Opportunity” with Syria – Didi Remez trans.

Posted by Joshua on Thursday, June 17th, 2010

US-Syrian Diplomatic War; US Tech Firms to Syria; Trade Union w. Turkey

Posted by Joshua on Monday, June 14th, 2010

Syria Comment Clean

Posted by Joshua on Thursday, June 10th, 2010

Israel Pays High Price for Attack on Turkish Flotilla with Aid for Gaza

Posted by Joshua on Tuesday, June 1st, 2010

Israel Wins Twice

Posted by Joshua on Saturday, May 29th, 2010

Bashar al-Assad Interview on Charlie Rose

Posted by Joshua on Friday, May 28th, 2010

President Assad Interview with La Repubblica Translated in Full

Posted by Joshua on Tuesday, May 25th, 2010

News Round UP (23 May 2010) Kerry in Damascus

Posted by Joshua on Sunday, May 23rd, 2010

OneMideast.org Written up by Blanford, CNN and All4Syria

Posted by Joshua on Thursday, May 20th, 2010

OneMideast.Org Written up by Ian Black and Joe Macaron

Posted by Joshua on Wednesday, May 19th, 2010

Medvedev’s Visits to Syria and Turkey – News Round Up (14 May 2010)

Posted by Joshua on Friday, May 14th, 2010

“Middle East Art” by Brook Anderson and Don Duncan

Posted by Joshua on Friday, May 14th, 2010

“Will failure to solve the Arab-Israeli conflict mean a new Cold War in the Middle East,” By Joshua Landis

Posted by Joshua on Wednesday, May 12th, 2010

“A Brief Introduction to the Shebaa Farms Problem” by Matthieu Cimino

Posted by Joshua on Saturday, May 8th, 2010

Beyond Image: The Effects of the Visual Noise in the City of Damascus. By S. Farah for Syria Comment

Posted by Alex on Thursday, May 6th, 2010

News Round Up (May 6, 2010)

Posted by Joshua on Thursday, May 6th, 2010

Who is Changing the Regional Balance of Power?

Posted by Joshua on Tuesday, May 4th, 2010

Iran, Syria, and US in War of Words as West Bank is Digested by Israel

Posted by Joshua on Saturday, May 1st, 2010

Freeman: Israel is useless to US power projection

Posted by Joshua on Saturday, May 1st, 2010

Ketan Gajria’s Photo – the Aleppo Souq – is a Winner

Posted by Joshua on Friday, April 30th, 2010

Is a Hizbullah – Israel War Likely?

Posted by Joshua on Thursday, April 29th, 2010

Turkish-Syria Military; How to Sanction Syria? Obama Keeps Jewish Leaders Happy

Posted by Joshua on Wednesday, April 28th, 2010

Seguy: “It Was Not about Dipping Assad’s Feet into the Water of the Kinneret that Prevented Peace”

Posted by Joshua on Tuesday, April 27th, 2010

US and Israel Agree; Missile Controversy Plays Out

Posted by Joshua on Monday, April 26th, 2010

Why are US Analysts Surprised that Syria Arms Hizbullah?

Posted by Joshua on Sunday, April 25th, 2010

“Syria’s National Day Celebrations at the Library of Congress”, by Ford Prefect

Posted by Alex on Sunday, April 25th, 2010

Missiles and More

Posted by Joshua on Friday, April 23rd, 2010

News Round Up (22 April 2010)

Posted by Joshua on Thursday, April 22nd, 2010

The Scud Issues Has Legs – State Dept Summons Syrian Diplomat

Posted by Joshua on Tuesday, April 20th, 2010

News Round Up (19 April 2010)

Posted by Joshua on Monday, April 19th, 2010

News Round Up (18 April 2010)

Posted by Joshua on Sunday, April 18th, 2010

“What is Behind the Syria Scud Scare?” By Joshua Landis on Foreign Policy

Posted by Joshua on Thursday, April 15th, 2010

Why Having a US Ambassador in Damascus is Important

Posted by Joshua on Thursday, April 15th, 2010

News Round Up (14 April 2010)

Posted by Joshua on Wednesday, April 14th, 2010

Ambassador Ford’s Confirmation Delayed

Posted by Joshua on Tuesday, April 13th, 2010

The Coupling of Iran and Israel Policies- Criticized

Posted by Joshua on Monday, April 12th, 2010

Netanyahu: “We will oppose an imposed solution”

Posted by Joshua on Thursday, April 8th, 2010

Will Obama Unveil a Peace Plan?

Posted by Joshua on Thursday, April 8th, 2010

The Great Mending of Fences – Arabs Find Some Order

Posted by Joshua on Tuesday, April 6th, 2010

Renewed talks between Israel and Syria unlikely

Posted by Joshua on Sunday, April 4th, 2010

“The Turkish Judicial System: Guardians of the Ancient Regime,” By Firat Demir

Posted by Joshua on Friday, April 2nd, 2010

Kerry Creates Good Will in Damascus

Posted by Joshua on Friday, April 2nd, 2010

Kerry to Syria Keeps Hope Alive

Posted by Joshua on Wednesday, March 31st, 2010

Why Syria Must Burnish its “Resistance” Credentials in the Face of Obama’s Inaction on Settlement Expansion

Posted by Joshua on Tuesday, March 30th, 2010

Moshe Ya’alon, Israel’s Vice Premier, Explains How Netanyahu “Maneuvers” to Avoid Agreement

Posted by Joshua on Sunday, March 28th, 2010

Assad Interview on al-Manar – 24 March 2010

Posted by Joshua on Thursday, March 25th, 2010

“Nationalist First, Islamist Second: The Armenian Issue Shows the Limits of the Erdogan Government,” by Firat Demir

Posted by Joshua on Tuesday, March 23rd, 2010

News Round Up (21 March 2010)

Posted by Joshua on Monday, March 22nd, 2010

News Round Up (March 19, 2010)

Posted by Joshua on Friday, March 19th, 2010

Syrian Economy; Israel – US Clash

Posted by Joshua on Friday, March 19th, 2010

Ambassador Ford Hearings; Petraeus’s Testimony; Hof in Damascus to Discuss Peace

Posted by Joshua on Friday, March 19th, 2010

“Why Doesn’t Washington Give Syrian Internet Users a Thumbs Up Too?” by Laura Pitel

Posted by Joshua on Thursday, March 18th, 2010

Mearsheimer and Bacevich on Petraeus and the Clash of US-Israeli Interests

Posted by Joshua on Thursday, March 18th, 2010

A New Study Abroad Program in Aleppo – CET

Posted by Joshua on Tuesday, March 16th, 2010

Will Israel Flex Its Muscle Further?

Posted by Joshua on Tuesday, March 16th, 2010

Petraeus Asks that Palestinians be Considered Middle Eastern and Not European – Politics Prevail over National Interest

Posted by Joshua on Sunday, March 14th, 2010

Syria NOT Pursuing Nuclear Power, Biden Flounders, Ford to Confirmation

Posted by Joshua on Sunday, March 14th, 2010

Nuclear Power Plants Fashionable in Middle East; Israel Pokes Fun at Biden

Posted by Joshua on Wednesday, March 10th, 2010

“The Armenian Genocide: The Islamist and Kemalist Consensus,” by Firat Demir

Posted by Joshua on Wednesday, March 10th, 2010

Devastation in the North East; Left Laments Israel; Right Laments Syria

Posted by Joshua on Monday, March 8th, 2010

“Erdogan and the Military: One Authoritarianism for Another” by Serdar

Posted by Joshua on Saturday, March 6th, 2010

News Round Up (6 March 2010)

Posted by Joshua on Saturday, March 6th, 2010

“Turkey at a Crossroad: Democracy or Military Rule?” by Firat Demir

Posted by Joshua on Friday, March 5th, 2010

Elaine Imady: “A Damascus Life: Walking a Tightrope, How a Multi-cultural Family can Thrive”

Posted by Joshua on Thursday, March 4th, 2010

John Kerry and Leveretts Talk to Assad

Posted by Joshua on Tuesday, March 2nd, 2010

Clinton to Damascus?

Posted by Joshua on Monday, March 1st, 2010

Reactions to the Assad-Ahmadinejad Summit

Posted by Joshua on Sunday, February 28th, 2010

Assad and Ahmadinejad – “There is No Separating Iran and Syria”

Posted by Joshua on Friday, February 26th, 2010

Turkey’s “Tulip Revolution”?

Posted by Joshua on Thursday, February 25th, 2010

“Arab Democracy is Fantasy,” by Elie Elhadj

Posted by Joshua on Tuesday, February 23rd, 2010

Austrian FM and James Baker III on Syria-Israel Peace Talks

Posted by Joshua on Tuesday, February 23rd, 2010

Assad Reaches Out to Business, Turkey, France and the US

Posted by Joshua on Monday, February 22nd, 2010

New Books on Syria by Imady, Ellery, and Saldaña

Posted by Joshua on Saturday, February 20th, 2010

Will Engaging Syria deal a “Blow to Iran”? Not Likely.

Posted by Joshua on Friday, February 19th, 2010

US Economic Sanctions on Syria Have Failed

Posted by Joshua on Thursday, February 18th, 2010

Obama Nominates Ambassador to Syria as Businessmen Rush in

Posted by Joshua on Tuesday, February 16th, 2010

News Round Up (15 February 2010)

Posted by Joshua on Monday, February 15th, 2010

The Case for Syria

Posted by Alex on Tuesday, February 9th, 2010

Economy Grows at 4%ish; Saudi Handshaking; Israeli-Syria Verbal Jousting

Posted by Joshua on Monday, February 8th, 2010

More on New US Amb., War Bluster, Hariri Court

Posted by Joshua on Saturday, February 6th, 2010

Israel and Syria Threaten War as US Pushes for Talks: Feltman and Abrams Explain US Policy

Posted by Joshua on Thursday, February 4th, 2010

Has Washington Decided to Focus on Syrian-Israeli Peace?

Posted by Joshua on Monday, February 1st, 2010

Robert Ford Named US Ambassador to Syria

Posted by Joshua on Saturday, January 30th, 2010

Syrian Growth Figures; More Scary Drought Figures from the East

Posted by Joshua on Thursday, January 28th, 2010

Economics, NGOs and More

Posted by Joshua on Wednesday, January 27th, 2010

“Ecological Peace between Syria and Israel?” by Saleem H. Ali

Posted by Joshua on Tuesday, January 26th, 2010

“The US Censors Syrian Internet,” By Idaf

Posted by Joshua on Monday, January 25th, 2010

NGO’s in Syria; Mitchell Should Resign; Egypt and Syria Feud; Assad to Libya

Posted by Joshua on Monday, January 25th, 2010

“Syria: the prospects for political change” by Landis; Ilyas Maleh on his father

Posted by Joshua on Saturday, January 23rd, 2010

Al-Waleed Bin Talal: “Assad… we are getting him back in the fold”

Posted by Joshua on Friday, January 22nd, 2010

“The Real Debate the Syrian Economic Team Should be Having” by Ehsani

Posted by Joshua on Thursday, January 21st, 2010

Mitchell on the March, Muslim Brothers in Egypt, Makhlouf Man of 2009

Posted by Joshua on Wednesday, January 20th, 2010

News Round up (20 January 2010)

Posted by Joshua on Wednesday, January 20th, 2010

American Sanctions on Syria: Godsend to Hardliners, Hell for Liberalizers – By Ehsani

Posted by Joshua on Wednesday, January 20th, 2010

“Greater Syria” and “Turkey’s slide toward Syria and Iran” by Rabinovich, Maoz, Moubayed et al.

Posted by Joshua on Tuesday, January 19th, 2010

Economic Policy and Amer Lutfi as Head of State Planning Commission

Posted by Joshua on Monday, January 18th, 2010

Has Obama Outsourced the Job of Chastising Israel to Turkey?

Posted by Joshua on Saturday, January 16th, 2010

“Has President Assad Stepped Up Economic Reform?” by Ehsani

Posted by Joshua on Tuesday, January 12th, 2010

Radwan Ziadeh on “Syria’s Democratic Past: Lessons for the Future”

Posted by Joshua on Monday, January 11th, 2010

Deborah Amos on the Water and Food Crisis

Posted by Joshua on Saturday, January 9th, 2010