Qifa Nabki
Syria
Some Worthwhile Reading on Syria
I’ve got a good interview in the pipeline which will go live tomorrow. In the meantime, here are some links to a few worthwhile bits of analysis on Syria. Advice for the UN from a retired diplomat in Damascus, and for President al-Assad from David Lesch: Joshua Landis publishes two very interesting essays today; I recommend … Continue reading
How Sectarian is Syria?
A few days ago, I blogged about the debate that has begun to emerge among Mideast analysts with respect to the situation in Syria. One of the major sticking points in that debate is the question of what role Syrian “sectarianism” is playing in the anti-Assad protests and the regime’s counter-propaganda. A couple pieces of … Continue reading
The Syrian Culture Wars
A relative of mine was in Damascus last week on business, and he told me about a conversation he’d had with a government official. The official dismissed the protests as being organized by “terrorists” and “hoodlums” who had no interest in real reform in Syria. When I mentioned this conversation to a Syrian friend of … Continue reading
Bashar al-Assad’s National Address Disappoints
As I expected, Bashar al-Assad’s speech today was completely reactionary and devoid of any bold conciliatory gestures… Ok, so that’s not exactly what I expected. Let me be the first to admit that I was surprised by Bashar al-Assad’s disappointing (and, in my opinion, dangerously conservative) address to the Syrian people, earlier today. Rather than … Continue reading
Bashar al-Assad to Face the Nation
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad is scheduled to address his people tomorrow afternoon, one day after sacking his cabinet in the wake of increasingly bloody nationwide protests. Speculation is rampant on Twitter, Facebook, and the media about what al-Assad is likely to say. In my view, he has two broad options: He can play the blame … Continue reading
Qifa Nabki 
And the people say…