The pertinent question is: How many Arab summits neither the head of Egypt not the head of Saudi Arabia attended?

I don’t know, but I would guess very few. Not all Arab countries carry equal weight.

The pertinent question is: Why is the pertinent question related to Egypt and Saudi Arabia?

Exactly how influential has Egypt been lately?

And how successful was Saudi Arabia is doing anything right in managing the Middle East?

I think that using the number of “heads of Arab countries” should not be the only indicator to measure the success/ not success of the Summit.
1. Please specify the level of representation for countries that were not attended by “head of state”. How many were represented by “vice” head of state vs by an ambassador?
2. Quality of countries attend: please tell us which summit were not attended by major “super” countries: Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Jordan. Years ago, Iraq and Algeria were major countries. Not any more, due to obvious reasons.

Because Alex, Egypt is the leading Arab country and Saudi is the richest Arab country.

I agree … but for now Egypt is NOT “the leading Arab country” … Mubarak did not attend because he is weaker than Qatar … The Emir of Qatar was “strong” enough to ignore Cheney’s request .. but Mubarak was not.

This has to Change. Egypt must be allowed to play again the role of “the leading Arab country”… or one of the leading Arab countries.

Alex,
Mubarak did not attend because it was against his interests to attend. Mubarak did not attend because Asad is exporting unrest to other Arab countries in order to maintain his regime at home (“half men” and other resistance talk). Nobody has patience for that.

You really think that if the US told Qatar not to attend that it would attend? The US base in Qatar is the enabler of its security and prosperity. Who would dare invest there knowing that the Kuwait takeover scenario could happen again?

You really think that if the US told Qatar not to attend that it would attend? The US base in Qatar is the enabler of its security and prosperity. Who would dare invest there knowing that the Kuwait takeover scenario could happen again?

Doesn’t AIG the prosperity of Qatar come from oil and trade through its location? The US bas certainly doesn’t generate wealth on the contrary Qatar probably is forced to pay for the “US defence” (= costs of the bases) like Japan and Germany have to pay.

By the way who would invade Qatar if there would not be a US base. Saudi-Arabia? Look AIG from the map where Qatar is located. It has one land neighbour. Guess what? Or do you suggest that Iranians jump in their sailing boats and invade it?

PS
Why AIG are the people of Qatar twice as rich as the people in Israel? They do not have there democracy and they are Arabs. 🙂

Sim,
What are you talking about? The latest UN Human development report ranks Israel 23 and Qatar 35. With all the oil you would imagine they would beat Israel hands down because Arabs are just as smart as Israelis. But lack of democracy means lack of human development.
Source: http://hdr.undp.org/en/media/hdr_20072008_en_indicator_tables.pdf

Anybody could invade Qatar including Iran. Qatar has no military and could be taken over by a mercenary army that somebody could organize or by a determined militia from any Arab country. Qatar is able to trade freely and be safe because of American provided security, just like Europe could prosper during the cold war because of US provided security.

All of the above points are well taken. I�m not suggesting that Damascus wasn�t snubbed. However, the question remains: Why did 11 Arab heads of state show up when the Saudis and the Americans were putting MAJOR pressure on all of them not to attend? The data on past summits shows that Arab leaders skip them at the drop of a hat � why not skip this one, ingratiate themselves to Washington/Riyadh, and send a powerful message to Syria that it had better play ball in Lebanon? What could they possibly have at stake in showing up under the present climate?

Gary,

Might I borrow a concept from linguistics, and suggest that — for this year’s summit — the choice of not attending was a marked one. In other words, given all the hype during the build-up to the summit about whether or not Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, and Lebanon were going to attend, it became impossible to regard inattendance with ambivalence.

Leaders who may have otherwise skipped this summit “at the drop of a hat” didn’t want to look like they were making the conscious and pointed decision to snub Syria, so they came when they otherwise might not have come for unrelated reasons. Under this interpretation, skipping the summit is the marked action, attending is unmarked.

I’d also add that some leaders probably thought that, given that the Bush administration is on its way out, ingratiating themselves with Washington would net very few short-term gains for them.

So, I think it’s less about having something “at stake” in showing up, but rather about having something “at stake” in not being seen to be blindly following Washington/Riyadh’s orders.

off topic, but perhaps more urgent:

anyone care to pick up the reported house arrest of asef shawkat?

lebanese outlets have been picking this story up today. seems as if khaddam is talking about this and the regime is not, but there are reports that bushra is in paris and that shawkat has been banned from traveling. also, the story is that it is related to the assasination of imad mughniyeh.

this is undoubtedly big news.

its definitely a Bizarro world.

The israeli friendly media in the US has as a modus operandi to regularly define the “enemy” of the US and its only ally in the Middle East as murderous Jihadists and/or islamofascists. The inference being that the Muslim and by implication the Arabs have one uppermost and dedicated goal.

Just the few relevant facts as represented in the attendance figures of the Spring get to gether of the Heads of State of the Arab League attests to an altogether different reality than the one publicised in the US israeli friendly media that all Arabs are terrorists and are mouthbreathing murderers.

But then its like the Indian legend of six blindfolded individuals describing what an elephant is.

If Joe M on this blog is Prof. Joseph Massad of Columbia Univ., then this is very instructive:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YCVzbGEoAzU&NR=1
Particularly noteworthy is the comment around minute 18:57
The analysis of history and characterisation of how Israel came into being clearly has much elucidation needed to truly reflect in a completely objective way what happened. Prof. Massad is clearly contributing to this in a pioneering and probably invaluable manner.
Still, if we then morph to the present, to the facts on the ground, to what realistically can be achieved by way of peace given the balance of power and a brutally honest assessment of each party’s capabilities – presented and projected for the future – an accommodating approach seeking first and foremost a rapid peace that would shift the focus from politics to improvement of life in the Middle East is what I see as the best option – perhaps the only otpion that stops the bloodshed and avoids catastrophic wars.
The debate is clearly a very emotional one – and as such is an extremely difficult debate. To some extent, those of us on this blog who live in North America or in Europe, and are therefore immune from the negative consequences of the conflict in our own lives, should probably take a backseat allowing those on the front line – if they could come forth – to make the definitive statements. The local leaders are clearly doing so – Abu Mazen, Hamas, etc., but sadly without much progress or success.

HP,

Joe M. is not Joseph Massad. (Or so he says)

????? ????? ????? ??? ?????: ?? ?? ??? ????? ?? ?????????
???? ??????? *
?? ???? ????? ????? ?????? ????????? ???? ??? ??? ????? ?????? ?????? ??? ??????? ?????????? ?????????? ?? ???? ????? ?? ???? ??????? ????? ?? ????? ???? ????? ????? ??? ?????????? ?????? ????????? ?? ?????? ????? ????? ??????? ???? ???? ???????? ??????? ????????? ??? ??????. ??? ???? ??? ????? ???????? ??? ???????? ??????? ????????? ?? ????? ???????? ????? ?????? ?? ??? ?????? ?????? ??????? ??? ????? ????? ???????? ?? ????? ????? ??????? ???? ???? ??? ??????? ????????? ???? ??????? ??????? ?? ????? ???? ???? ?????? ?????????.

[read the rest]

Gary,
The Egyptians and Saudi’s had to balance two conflicting interests:
1) Snubbing Syria
2) Keeping intact the facade which is the Arab League

If a very large number of heads of states would not come, the legitimacy of the league and the hope of Arab unity that it exemplifies would be completely shattered. They wisely chose a middle ground. The number of head’s of state that arrived was just a little less than average but the two heavyweights did not attend. A very real message was sent to the Syrians and yet Arab League was not compromised as a functioning institution.

Ya Alex,

So … unless Egypt does what you, Alex, think is the “right” thing (which coincidentally happens to be “recognizing Syria’s God-given position as ‘important country that always does the right thing and never does anything bad – but only a few “mistakes”‘) … it is not playing a role of “leading Arab country”.

Hmmmm.

As for the Arab Summit, right now there seems to be a mini-Cold War within the Arab League between Saudi/Egypt on the one and Syria on the other side. All other Arab countries are either (weaker) supporters of one of the sides or bystanders (which would make them into possible mediators, like Qatar). Saudi/Egypt’s non-attendance on any but the lowest level meant that the issues at the heart of that mimi-Cold War were not truly addressed or discussed.

I would compare it to the 80s, when Egypt was banned. Yes, there was an Arab League but without Egypt anything that was done on, say, the Palestine issue, was meaningless.

Similar now.

Btw, interesting that everyone above forgot that Iraq also only sent a lower-level delegation — and that from “Syria’s friend” Jalal Talabani …

Dear Gary,

I would go with quality, not quantity. Do you happen to have the statistics of which heads of state attended the respective Arab Summits, and of those who didn’t what level of representative they sent (PM, FM, etc)? I think that would give us a better idea.

Dear Ibrahim Hamidi (via Josh),

Kozzor al-Qamar = Comoros. (Yes, they’re in the Arab League.)

Cheers,

–MSK*

Article in Ha’aretz this morning: http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/972232.html

It is hillarious that people here are referring to Egypt and Saudi Arabia as “heavyweights” or “super countries”. Please tell me what any of these two countries has ever done or what stand have they ever taken in clear support of “Arab” interests? Saudi Arabia gladly allowed US troops to use its country as a lauching pad in its attack and invasion of Iraq, and then felt powerless in front of the growing Iranian influence in the region. Egypt can’t even move its own troops without permission from Israel. These two countries are a joke to say the least. They have no independent positions and are clearly controlled by the US and Israel. Imagine the uproar amongst the Arabs if Syria, like Egypt, had told the Palestinians or Iraqis that they would “break their legs” if they cross the Syrian border. Imagine what people in the Arab World would be saying if Syria had closed its borders to Iraqi refugees, as Saudi Arabia did, or if the majority of the wahhabi terrorists in Iraq were Syrian rather than Saudi.

The fact is that out of this summit only one fact came to light. While Saudi Arabia and Egypt are proving themselves to be mere US puppets in both their actions and rhetoric, Syria is demonstrating an independent position that is representative of its interest, as well as the interest of the people in the region at large. As such, the true heavyweight today is Syria and not Egypt or Saudi Arabia.

Iraq sent its Vice President with a huge delegation and bent over backwards explaining that the reason Talibani could not show up was only a health problem…! Oh the current crop of orientalists makes one nostalgic even for the likes of Bernard Lewis…!! (Did not mean you Josh, of course.)

Saudi and Egypt “heavy weights”… now-a-days…???! Their regimes have become the flunkeys par excellence of the Arab world� the laughing stock of the Arab street, the butt of every joke, � a wounded scared prey stalked by their people, disrespected by their enemies, and despised by everyone else� By trying to isolate Syria, they further isolated themselves from their neighbors (except Israel, may they enjoy each other’s company) and their people, and are now tottering at the edge of collapse under the sheer weight of their servile treachery, corruption, senility, vice, and the ineptitude of their masters�!! Get an update people�!!!

I have posted the following article before. It was the kindest I could find in any credible Arab press. I post it again for the sake of balance�

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??? ???? ??? ??????? ????????? ???? ??? ???? ?????? ??????? ???????. ???? ?? ???? ?????? ?????? ?????? ?? ????? ????????? ????????? ??? ???? ??????? ??? ???? ??? ????? ?? ??????? ??? ????? ????? ??????? ??????????… ????????. ???????? ?????? ???????? ?? ????? ???? ?????? ?? ?????? ??? ???????? ?? ??????? ???? ??????? ?? ?????? ??? ???????? ?? ????? ?? ???????? ??? ??? ?? ??????? ????.
?? ??? ?????? ?? ??????? ?? ?????? ?????? ?? ?????. ?????? ?????? ????????? ???? ?? ???????? ??????? ?????? ?? ????? ????? ?? ?????. ???????? ??????? ??? ???? ????? ??????? ??? ?????? ?????? ??? ??? ??????? ???????? ???? ????? ????? ?????????. ??????? ?????? ?????? ??? ?????? ?? ????? ??? ???? ? ???????? ?? ?????? ????? ???????? ? ??????. ????? ??? ????? ???? ?? ?????? ??????????? ?? ?? ??? ??????? ????? ????? ??? ????? ??????? ??? ??? ??????? ????? ???? ?????? ??? ???? ????? ??????? ???? ???? ???????? ????????? ??? ??�???? ??????� ???? ????? ?? ??? ?? ???????? ?? ?????.
???????? ?? ???????? ??? ??? ??? ????? ??????? ?? ????????? ?? ?????? ????????? ??? ????? ??????? ??? ???? ?? ????????? ???? ????? ?????? ????????? ??? ????? ????? ???? ?????? ???????? ???? ??? ???? ?????? ?? ??? ???? ???????. ???? ??????? ?? ??? ?????? ? ??????? ???????? ? ???? ??????? ?????? ?????? ?????? ??????????? ???????? ??? ??????.
??? ????????? ?? ???? ??? ???????? ?? ????? ?????? ?????? ??????? ????? ??????? ??? ???? ??????? ?? ???? ?????????? ?????????. ?????? ??? ???????? ?? ???????? ?? ???? ?????? ??????? ?? ?? ?????????? ?????????.
???? ?????? ???????? ??? 1973? ????? ??? ?????. ???? ?? ???? ?????? ?? ????:
1 ? ????? ???????? ?????? ?????? ???? ????????? ????????? ?? ????? ??????? ?? ???????? ????????? ??????????? ??? ??????? ??? ??? ??? ?? ?????? ????? ?????? ?????? ???? ?????? ???????.
2 ? ???? ??? ???????? ?????? ?????? ?????? ??????? ????? ??? ?? ????? ??????? ??????? ???????? ???????? ?????????? ??????? ??????????? ?? ???? ????? ??????? ???????? ?? ?????? ?????? ?????????.
3 ? ?????? ??? ???????? ??? ??????? ????????? ?? ???? ???????? ?? ????? ??????? ?????? ?? ?????? ????? ???? ????? ???????? ? ???????
4 ? ??? ????? ?????? ?? ???????? ?????? ??? ???? ????? 1978 ? 1979? ???? ???? ????????? ???????? ??? ?????? ??????.
5 ? ????? ???????? ???????? ??????? ???????? ?? ?????? ?? ???????? ?? ?????????.
6 ? ????? ???????? ????????? ???? ????? ??????? ?????? ?????? ??? ?????? ???????? ????????.
7 ? ??????? ?????????? ??? ????? 1982? ?? ???? ????? ???????? ???????? ?????? ?? ??? ??? ?? ????? ?????? ????????? ??????? ???????? ???????.
8 ? ????? ??? ??????? ??? ??????? ??????? ?????? ???????? ???????? ?? ??? ???? ?? ???? ????? ???????? ???????? ?? ?????? ??? ???? ????? ??? ????????? ???????? ??????? ??????? ??? ????? ?? ???????? ????? ????? ??????? ????????? ??????? ?? �??????� ??? ???? ????? ?????? ?? ??? ????? ??? ?????? ?????.
9 ? ????? ?????? ?? ??? ??????? ??????? ???????? ??? ?????? ??? 1991? ??? ??? ????? ?? 2003? ???? ?????? ?? ?????? ????????? ??? ?? ???? ????????.
??? ??? ?? ???? ????? ??? ?????? ???? ????? ???? ??????? ?????? ??????? ????? ????????? �??????� ??????? ??????? ????????. ??? ?? ??? ???????? ???? ????? ???????? ??? ?????? ???????? ???????? ?? ??????. ????? ?? ???????? ???????? ???? ????? ?????? ????? ?? ?????? ????????? ?????? ????? ????????? ?? ?????? ??? ??? ??????. ??? ????? ????? ???? ??? ?????? ??? ??????? ?? ????? ??????? ????? ????. ????? ??? ????? ?? ????? ?????? �????� ?? ???????? ?? ????? ???????? �??????� ?? ??????? ???? ???? ??? ?????? ?? ???? ????? ??? ????? ?? ?????? ????? ???? ???? ???? ????? ??????? ??? ????? ????? ?? ???? ????????? ?? ??? ?????? ?? ?????????? ????? ??????? ??????????????? ??????????? ?????????.
?????? ??????? ??????? ????? ??????? ?? �???? ?????� ???? ??? ??????? ??? ?? ???? ???? ?????? ??? ???? ??????? ?????????? ?? ?????? ??????? ??? ???? ??? ??? ???? ??????? ?????? ??????????? ??? 2006? ??? ??????? ??????? ?? ?????? ????? ????? ??????? ???????? ?? ????? ?????. ??? ???? ????? ?????? ??? ??? ???????. ?????? ?? ????? ????? ?????? ???? ???????? ???????? ????? ??? ???????? ?? ?????? ????? ?????? ?????? ?? ??? ?????? ??? ????? ????? ?? ????? ??????? ???? ?????? ??? ???? ?????? ?? ???????? ???????? ??????? ???????? ??? ???? ????? ????? ???????? ??????? ???????? ???????? ??? ???? ????? ???????? ???????? ?????????? ????? ???????? ????? ?????? ????????? ??????? ?????? ??? ???????? ???? ?????? ?? ?????? ??? ????? ????????? ??????? ?? ?????? ?????????? ????? ????? ????? ?????? ?? ??????? ????????? ??????? ????????? ?? ??????? ???????? ?? ??????.
?????? ???????? ???? ?????? ???? ?????? ?????????? ????? ???????? ????????? ???????? ????? ????? ?? ??? ??????? ?????????? ???????? ????????? ???? ?? ??? ????? ??? ???? ??????? ?? ???? ?????? ????? ??? ?? ???. ?????? ?? ????? ?? ???????? ????????? ???? ???? ???? ???????? ?????? ????? ?? ????? ?? ?????. ????????? ????????? ?? ??? ????? ??????? ?? ????? ???????? ?? ????? (?? ??????? ????????)? ????? (??????? ???????? ?? ??? ??????)? ???? ??????????? ?? ??????? ???????? ????????? ??? ????? ?????????? ????? ??????? ?????? ???????? ???????? ???????? ??????? ??????. ????????? ???????? ????? ??? ???? ????? ???? ?? ???? ??????. ??? ????? ???? ??? ????? ??????? ????????? ??? ?????? ?????? ????????? ???? ????? ?????? ?????? ?? ?????? ?????? ??? ????? ???? ????????? ??????? ??????? ?????????.
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Qifa Nabki:

Brilliant analogy! By making such a fuss about the issue, the Americans and Saudis made it impossible for Arab heads of state to quietly blow it off.

However, I’m not sure the desire not to be “seen as blindly following Washington/Riyadh�s orders” is a sufficient explanation. I would suggest that few really buy the claim that Syria is primarily responsible for the logjam in Lebanon. If it were otherwise, I think many Arab heads of state would be perfectly willing to offend the Syrians (and be seen as following Abdullah’s lead) by not showing up.

Following on Gary’s comment: Arab leaders are not all as stupid as they look… They can see which way the tide going…!!

If you want to see a “Summit of the Snubbed”, wait for next Wednesday’s Cairo summit between Mubarak, Abdullah, and their boy the Siniora… Talk about pitiful…!

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????? ????????? ??? ???? ??? ?????? ??? ?? ?????? ?? ???? ??????? ??? ?? ?????? ???????? ????????? ??? ????? ?????? ????? ??????? ?????? ??? ??? �??? ?? ?????? ???? ???? ?????? ???????? ??????�. ???? ?? ?? ???? ?? ??? ?????? ?????? �????? ????? ?????? ???? ????????? ???? ????? ?? ?????? ?? ??? ??? ???? ??? ???? ?????? ??? ??? ????? ????????�.
?????? ???????? ?? ????? ??? ???????? ????????? ?? ???????? ??????? �??? ???? ?????? ??? ??????? ???????? ????????? ?? ????? ?????? ?????? ??? ??????�. ????? ?? ????? ??????? ?????? ??? ?????? ??????. ???? ??? ????? ?? ????????? ???????? ????? ???? ???? ?? ????? ???? ?????? ??????? ??????? ??? ????? ????? ???????? ???? ????? ????? ???????? ????????? ?? ???????.
?? ??? ?????? ???? ????? ??????? ??�???????�? ?? ????? ?????? ??? ???? ???????? ??? ?? ???????? ???? ?????? ???????? ????????? ????? ??????? ???????? ??????? ?? ????? ?????? ??? ?????? ???? ???? ??????.
?????? ??????? ??? ?? ????? ??????? ?? ???????? ??????? ???? ????? ??????? ??? ???????? ?????? ?????? ?????????? ??????? ??????? ????????? ??? ???? ??? ??? ???????? ???????? ??? ??????? ?? ????? ????????. ?????? ????? ???? ??????? ??? ????? ??????? ?? ??????? ?? ?????? ???????? ??? ?????? ???????? ???? ?????? ??? ???? ?????? ??????? ????????? ????? ???? ?????????.
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???? ??? ????? ????????? ?? ?????? ?????? ?? ????? ???? ?????? ?????? ????? ???????? ??? ???? ???????? ??? ???? ????? ?? ????? ???? ?????? ??? ??????? ???? ?? �???? ????? ????? ?????? ?? ?????? ?????? ????? ?????? ?????? ??? ???? ????? ?????? ?? ???????? ???????? ?? ???????? ??????? ???????? ??? ??????? ???????�.
??? ???? ???? ??????????? ???????? ?? ????? ??????? ?????? ????? ???? ????? ????? ?? ???????? ??????? ????? ???????? ?????? ?????? ????? ??? ????? ?????? 1701. ?????? ?????? ??? ???? ???? ?? ???????? ???????? ??? ??? ????? ???? ?????? ???????? ?????? ??? ?????? ?????????? ??????? ??? ????? ????? ??? ????? ????????? ?????? ?????????? ???????? ?? ??? ?????.

——————————————————————————–

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�?? ???? ???? ????? ??? ?????? 1773 (2007)? ???? ?????? ??????? ?????? ?? 3 ?? 2007 ?????? ?????? ?????? ????? ?????? ?????? 30 ????? ????? ?28 ???? 2008. ??? ???? ????? ??????? ????? ?????? ???? ?????? 1701 (2006) ?????? ???? ????? ????? ?????? ????? ?? ??? ?????? ??? ????? ???? ????? ?????? ???? ????? ???? ????? ?? ??????? ???? ???? ???? ?????? ????? ?? ????? ?????? 1701 ????? ??? ?????? ??? ???? ?? ?????? ?? ??????? ??????? ???????? ????? ??? ???? ????? ???? ???? ????? ??? ???? ?????? ????? ?? ????????
1?? ???? ???? ??????? ???????? ??? ???? ?? ???????? ?????? ?????? ?? ????? ?????? 1701 ???????? ????? ?? ?????? ????? ?? ??? ??????.
2?? ????? ???? ????? ?? ???? ???? ?? ??? ????? �??? ????� ???????? ???????????? ?????? ????????? ?? ??? ????? ????? ??? ????? ?? ?????? ??? ??? ??????. ????? ??? ??????? ????? ????? ?? ??? ??? ?? ???. ??? ???? ?????? ??????? ??? ??????? ??????? ????? ??????? ?????????? ????????? ?? ???????.
3?? ?????? ???? ????? ??????? ?? ???? ?????? ?? ??????? ??????? ?? ?????? ??????????? ?????? ????? ???????? ?????? ???? ??????? ??????? ???????? ????? ???? ??????? ???????? ????? ??????.
4?? ???? ???? ??? ???? ????? ??????? ?? ????? ?? ????????? ???????? ?????? ?????? 15 ?? ?????? 1701 (2006) ???? ??? ??????? ?????? ??? ??? ?? ????? ??????? ?? ???? ?????? ?? ??? ????? ???????? ?? ?????? ??????? ?????????. ????? ?? ???? ?? ???????? ?????????? ??????? ???? ???? ??? ??? ????? ??? ??????? ?? ??? ??? ?????? 1701.
5?? ???? ????? ???? ?????? ????? ????? ??????? ??????? ?? ????? (???????) ?????? ???? ??????? ????????? ????????? ?? ?????? ????? ????? ????? ???????. ??? ???? ?????? ??????? ??????? ??? ???? ????????? ??????? ??????? ?????????.
6?? ???? ???? ????? ?? ???? ?? ????? ??????? ?????? ??????? ?? ?????. ????? ????? ???? ???????? ?????? ??? ?????? ?? ??? ?????? ??????? ?? ????? ??????? ????????? ??? ??? ???? ?? ????? ?????? ???????? ??? ???????? ?????????. ????? ??????? ????????? ???????? ??????? ??? ???? ???? ??????? ???????? ?? ??? ?????? ??????? ????????? ??? ???? ????? ?? ???? ??? ?????? ????????.
7?? ???? ???? ????? ?????? ??????? ??????? ?????? ???? ???? ????? ?? ????? ?????? ????? ??? ??????? ??? ?????? ??? ???? ???????? 242 (1967) ?????? ?? 22 ????? ?????? 1967? ??????? 338 (1973) ?????? ?? 22 ????? ????? 1973�.
(???????)

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A number of interesting headlines on Syria’s economy:

Official Report on the increase in prices of basic consumer products 2007/2008

Syrian wheat production will witness a major 30% drop in 2008. It seems that Egypt and Jordan will face more political problems this year as they had been relying on imports of Syrian wheat with preferential rates for years. The angry and hungry Egyptians seem to have reached the tipping point

A decades-late anti-monopoly law is finally issued in Syria:
President Bashar al-Assad on Saturday issued Law No. 7 on Competition and Prevention of Monopoly: Assistant Minister of Economy and Trade, Ghassan Eid, indicated that the law will meet the urgent need for competition control in the light of transition to the Social Market Economy which will gradually lead to liberation of the prices, allowing a growing role for the private sector in the current comprehensive economic development in Syria. He also indicated that the new law will also meet the urgent need to ensure the prices actual subjugation to free equal competition which is unaffected by market forces monopoly practices that may harm the economy and consumer at the same time.

And Finally.. Official Report: GDP grew to 6.5 percent in 2007 and Exports grew to 770 Billion SP – Some interesting breakdowns (the English version is yet to be published):
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???? ?? ??? ??????????? ?? ??? 2007 ??? 2?68 ?????? ?? ????? ????????? ????? 2001-2005 ??????? ??????????? ???????? ????? ?? ?? ???? ?? ????? 2007 ?? ?????? ?????.

??? ????? ??? ???????? ??????? ?? 250 ????? ???? ????? ??? 2004 ??? ???? ?? 500 ????? ???? ????? ??? 2006 ?????? ?? ????? 2007 -600 ????? ???? ?????.. ???? ????? ???????? ??????? ???????? ?? ????? ?????? ????? 770 ????? ???? ????? .

?????? ????? ??? ????? ?????? ?????? ????? ?? 52 ?????? ??? 2005 ??? 54 ?????? ??? 2006 ????? 36 ?????? ??? 2000.

???? ??? ??????? ?????? ??? 9 ????? ??? 2007 ???? ?????? ???????? ??? 66 ????? ?? ????????? ???? ??????? ?????? 6 ????? ?????? ??? 330 ????? ?? ????????? .. ??? ???????? ??? ??????? ??????? ?? ??????? ??????? ??????? ???? ??? ?? ????? ??????? ????????? ?????? ???????? ??????? ?????? ????? ????? 30-9-2007 ???? ??? 265 ????? ???? ?????.

?????? ??? ??????? ??????? ??? 2006 ???? ??? ??????? ?????? ????? ????????? ??????? ??? ?? ???? ??????? ??????? ????? ??? 2007 ???? 89 ???? ????? ?????????? ?????? ????????? ??????? ?????? ???? ???? ?????? ?????? ?? ?????? ?????? ???????? ????4 ?????? ????? ????.

???? ?????? ????? ?? ????? ??? ??????? ???????? ??????? ?????? ??????? ?? 3?12 ?????? ??? 2004 ??? 13?8 ?????? ??? 2006 ????????? ??? 3?8 ?????? ???? ????? ????? ?? ??? 2007 ??????? ???? ????? ??????? ?? ?????? ?????? ???????? ??? 2?17 ?????? .

???? ????? ???? ????????? ?????? ???? 2006 ?? ????? ???? ?? 12 ???? ????? ???? ?????? ??? ?????? ???? ????? ??????? ??????5?4 ?????? ????? ???? ???????? ?? ???? ??? ???????? ?? ?????? ?????? ???????? ?????? 1?78 ?????? ?????? ???? ??????? ??????? ??? ?????? … ???????? ?? ???? ?????? ?? ?????? ??????? ??? ?????? ????? ????? 1?31 ???? ????? .

??? ??? ??????? ?????????? ???? ?????? ????? ?? ?????? ?? ??? ?????? ???????? ??? ??? ???? ??? ???? ?????? ???? ???????? ??????? ????????? ???????? ??? ????? ??????? ????? 15 ??? ????? ?????? ???????? ??? ????? ?????? ?? ???????? ???????? ?????? ?? ????? ????? ??????? ?????? ??????? ?????? ?????? ???????? ????? ????? ?? ???? ???????? ?????? ??? ?????? ???? ?????? ????? ??????? .

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In a depressing finding, a new report issued by a committee of survivors of Israel’s landmines victims in the Arab world claims that the victims of Israel’s landmines in the Arab countries reached 10,000, among them 531 Syrians living in the Golan heights alone.

Reportedly, the village of Majdal Shams in the Golan alone is surrounded by 1 million Israeli landmines.

IDAF,

Don’t get distracted. Those 10,000 do not count.

You, and everyone around the globe need to stay focused, every day of the year, on the Hariri murder. Finding and punishing the real (i.e. Syrian) killers is the only ticket to salvation for Lebanon, and the whole Middle East.

Gary,

When can we expect a fresh edition of Mideast Monitor? There’s nothing like it.

Alex,

Going back to the two wrongs make a right argument?

It is really high time that the Arab governments get their act together and removed the mines. There were plenty of Syrian mines in the Golan when Israel took it over and they were removed or areas were cordoned off where removing them was impractical.

In all war zones mines are a problem. But the people laying the mines as part of war are not to be blamed. It is those that don’t make sure their citizens are safe after the war that should be blamed. The Arabs laid as many mines as Israel yet Israeli casualties are much lower. But as usual, some Arabs find it easier to blame Israel instead of their own inept governments.

AIG,

I believe that the Syrian government will be more than happy removing the one million landmines surrounding the Syrian village Majdal Shams. Why don’t your IDF move out and allow the Syrian minesweepers to go in?

Of course, I’m sure that the humane Israeli government will move out of its way to supply the mines distribution maps to the Syrian and Lebanese governments. While we’re at it, I’m also sure that the Israeli government will supply the cluster bombs maps in Lebanon in response to UN demands.

Idaf,
The areas with mines around Majdal Shams are well marked. I have been there and know. Are there any statistics about people from Majdal Shams being hurt by mines? If you have them, please post and let’s discuss.

Really, all you do is complain. You think the Syrians provided Israel with their maps? Take care of the mines on your side like Israel took care of the mines on its side. What is the problem? Why so much lack of initiative on your side except when it comes to complaining about Israel?

AIG,

I’m sorry. Just remembered that you don’t understand Arabic and couldn’t have read the article about the report.

The report I noted above clearly say that among the 10,000 victims of Israel�s landmines in the Arab countries, there were 531 Syrians (who rejected the Israeli nationality that was forced on other Arabs in Israel) living in the OCCUPIED Golan heights alone.

The report also say that there are one million landmines surrounding occupied Majdal Shams (under Israeli control). So, I’m giving you my solution once more… pressure your government to get the IDF out of the Golan, so the Syrian government can protect its citizens (which are currently being forced to live under Israeli occupation) from the landmines by sweeping them, even if the Israeli government does not provide the maps to the landmines in the OCCUPIED Golan.

Understood? I hope this solution would prove satisfactory for you.

Idaf,
How many people were injured in the Golan by mines last year or the year before that? Are you giving me total statistics since 1967? What is the breakdown by year. I don’t recall the last time I read about any injury in Majdal Shams.

Thanks for your great advice. Why don’t you get some democracy in Syria and then I will believe you that the Syrian goverment really cares about its people? If the Syrian government cares so much about its people, how come the OCCUPIED Syrians in Majdal Shams are 6 to 7 times richer then their average fellow Syrians in Syria? How come the Israeli OCCUPIERS take care of Syrians better than the Syrian government? I’d really like to know. Can you please enlighten me?

AnotherIsraeliGuy said:

Alex,

Going back to the two wrongs make a right argument?

1) AIG … going back to your Netanyahu tactics?

You can’t control yourself, can you?

I explained a hundred times that “two wrongs make … two wrongs” … I am not against investigating Hariri’s murder if they are willing to investigate every other murder by the “Syrian regime”, Israel, America … etc with the same passion and dedication.

2) 10,000 dead civilians and one dead politician are not “two wrongs” .. they are not comparable.

Alex,
You are right, you have moved from the two wrongs make a right argument to the “if you cannot have justice in one case you should not have it in other cases”. If one thief goes free, does that mean all thiefs should go free? And if you Syria thinks that there is some other murder to be investigated, Syria should investigate it. Who said otherwise? If the Lebanese want to investigate a certain murder then they have every right whether other murders are investigated or not. If Syria does not like the selction, it can select other murders to investigate. How about the 20,000 dead Syrians in Hama? Is that worth an investigation. Doesn’t seem so. And then you complain with a straight face about the choices of others.

AIG,

Again you are acusing me of things that you insist on not seeing.

How about the 20,000 dead Syrians in Hama? Is that worth an investigation. Doesn�t seem so. And then you complain with a straight face about the choices of others.

I already mentioned “the Syrian regime” next to Israel and America.

With Hama, Iraq, and the many sites and occasions when Israel murdered huge numbers of innocent civilians, we know who did it .. we should start with those.. starting with the biggest crime … Iraq…then the next two… and when we are done with those, let us go back to the impossible challenge of finding who killed Hariri.

I don’t feel like wasting more time on your cheap tricks… I hope this is clear this time.

AIG,

I really doubt that you want or can be enlightened, but here goes..

Some facts about the landmines in the Golan first:
– Before the 1973 liberation of part of the Golan, Israel planted around 1 million mines in Quneitra and destroyed and looted every single building in the city. The Syrian government removed those mines after its liberation WITHOUT getting the mine maps from Israel.

– According to the report, there are more than 2 million landmines in the occupied parts of the Golan.

– The Syrians casualties of Golanis who live under Israeli occupation is 531 most of them children.

– 329 Syrians in the occupied Golan have been injured with permanent disabilities because of Israel’s landmines in the Golan.

– This is not counting the Syrians who were injured or killed by Israel’s landmines while the 1 million mines around Quneitra were swept in the liberated part of the Golan.

Now, let’s assume that I agree with your twisted logic, NGOs exist that want to remove landmines Israel’s landmines in the Syrian Golan. This has nothing to do with how democratic the Syrian government is. They are Arab and international NGOs. Will your government allow them to remove the mines?

Now to debunk your endless disinformation..
“OCCUPIED Syrians in Majdal Shams are 6 to 7 times richer then their average fellow Syrians in Syria”. This is a big lie. It might be close to reality about Israeli Arabs in Haifa, but not about Syrians who live in the Golan (who have rejected the Israeli nationality even when the Israeli government brutally tried to force them to accept it in the eighties). These are few of the facts for your reference:

– The Syrian government has just issued its annual report on the state of Golani Syrians labor. According to the report, the Syrian government is trying for years to push a program for micro-finance for small and medium startups in the Golan through international organizations to support Syrian in the occupied Golan to be able to live despite the economic pressures put on them by Israel. Of course such program is rejected by Israel through endless excuses.

– Israel has also rejected Syrian initiatives to build health and cultural centers in the Golan through the International Red Cross.

– Israel continues to confiscate land from Syrians in the Golan since 40 years now.

– Israel does not allow the Syrians in the Golan to access water for irrigation in their own land. Moreover, Israeli increased the price of water recently several folds for the Syrians living in the Golan.

– Israel does not allow the Syrians farmers in the occupied Golan to market and export their crops.

– Israel continues to imprison and torture Syrians in the Golan.

– Israel does not allow Syrians from the Golan to come back to their land and villages after they study in Syrian universities or get married to a Syrian outside the Golan.

After all of this, I can’t believe that you ask a question such as “How come the Israeli OCCUPIERS take care of Syrians better than the Syrian government?”
I now understand why people on SC can’t stand arguing with you.

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Idaf,
When you quote Sana and believe their baseless propoganda you are being very naive. Majdal Shams is a rich village. They export apples worldwide. If you don’t believe me, go and visit them.

Why is it that Syrians do not believe a word their government says about things in Syria yet every crap the Syrian government says about Israel you believe?

Anybody could invade Qatar including Iran. Qatar has no military and could be taken over by a mercenary army that somebody could organize or by a determined militia from any Arab country. Qatar is able to trade freely and be safe because of American provided security, just like Europe could prosper during the cold war because of US provided security.

Well AIG as usual your facts do not “match”. Qatar has an army, check your self. You read to much cheap novels AIG. Qatar is not a small tropical island, which can be invaded by 30 “Israeli” super mercenaries. Qatar is halve of the size of Israel. You would need several divisions with heavy equipment and a huge fleet with landing capacity. The only one in the area is USA which such capacity. So stop feeding that “Mossad” crap.

Qatar is actually probably less safe because “US security” as it would be as a neutral country.

By the way AIG Finland has been always a neutral country and USA has not protected us neither saved us. Still we have managed rather well as a nation, despite we live in a very strategic important area as a neighbour of a extremely powerful big nation.

“Strange criteria”?! … starting with the easy investigation of the million times bigger crime is “strange criteria”?! … starting with the murder of a million Iraqis is “strange”??

You have no shame? Again you are trying to discredit me?

Please read the list I sent you because you know what is coming next otherwise.

Sim,
If you take Doha, you have taken Qatar.
Qatar signed a defense treaty with the US because it had problems with almost all its neighbors including the Saudis and Bahrain. And there is always the Iranian threat or the threat of a militia taking over.

Do I need to teach you Finnish history (from wikipedia):
The treaties signed in 1947 and 1948 with the Soviet Union included Finnish obligations, restraints, and reparations as well as further Finnish territorial concessions (cf. the Moscow Peace Treaty of 1940). Finland ceded most of Finnish Karelia, Salla, and Pechenga, which amounted to ten percent of its land area and twenty percent of its industrial capacity. Some 400,000 evacuees, mainly women and children, fled these areas. Establishing trade with the Western powers, such as the United Kingdom, and the reparations to the Soviet Union caused Finland to transform itself from a primarily agrarian economy to an industrialised one. Even after the reparations had been paid off, Finland continued to trade with the Soviet Union in the framework of bilateral trade.

There are 400,000 finnish refugees, why aren’t you demanding the return to their lands in the 10% of Finland Russia took? If the Finns had an agreement with the US in the 1940’s, they would not have lost so much of their territory nor would have been blackmailed by the Soviets.