“We Win or Die”: Syrian Conflict Is a Matter of Existence
SYRIA NEWS WIRE: A new documentary examines both sides of the conflict through the eyes of its combatants. It’s a grim story.
Syrian Refugee And Family Receive Kindness of Strangers
MICH CAFE: It’s a touching story that has captured hearts around the world – the story of one woman and her family’s flight from Syria to Turkey
Syria’s ‘Florence Nightingales’: U.S Medics Go To Front
KIRAN ANSARI, CGNEWS: Tired of watching the horror unveil on television a group of American medics have decided to take direct action
Tangled: The CIA’s Confused Middle East Web
The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) has got itself into the confused position of fighting Sunni fighters in Iraq, but supporting some of them in Syria.
FRANCIS MATTHEW: The CIA is in the position of fighting Sunni fighters in Iraq, but supporting them in Syria.
Syria US Foreign Policy: Assad Seizing Opportunity
FRANCIS MATTHEW: The problem with this approach is that by going gently, it allows Al Assad to think that he might still win by fighting. And it also places a huge strain on the opposition not ready to fight a long war of attrition.
Zeinab and Iyad: Love Across the Syrian Divide
MICH CAFE: They met, fell in love and got married. A simple story but not so simple when you’re on two sides of a sectarian divide in the midst of a civil war
‘Charlie’ Had His ‘Angels’, Now Assad Has ‘Lionesses’
MICH CAFE: It seems to be a common theme among Arab dictators – recruiting women to front up the military in your regime.
Syrian Football Victory ‘a Unifier’? Afraid Not
JAMES M. DORSEY: This weekend’s Syrian victory over Iraq in a soccer match is being seized by the regime as ‘a great national achievement’.
Drowned in Blood: It’s Time to Lower the Flag
NEWS FROM SYRIA: There was a time not too long ago when it was a symbol of our unity and of hope. Not any more.
Syrian Opposition ‘Finally Gets Its Act Together’
NEWS FROM SYRIA: The discredited SNC has finally been subsumed by an organisation that has genuine potential to shape a new Syria
Two Syrian Female Activists Receive Global Recognition
MICH CAFE: One is a lawyer and human rights activist the other is a leading author but the bravery of both women has been acknowledged by a wider audience
Rape: The Culture of Impunity That Exists in Syria
MICH CAFE: The catalogue of brutal rapes and sexual assaults of women, men and children grows by the day. A new documentary makes grim viewing
Oqda: “I Will Film Until My Last Breath”. He Did.
MICH CAFE: Abdelkareem al-Oqda was a Syrian blogger and citizen journalist who exposed the horrors of the Syrian revolution and for that he has been killed.
Hollywood Stars Join Call to Free Syrian Filmmaker
MICH CAFE: Orwa Nyrabia has been missing for almost three weeks. Pressure is mounting to find out where he is though it’s being led from outside the Arab world.
Aleppo: Favourite City Under Attack ‘Familiar Sight’
ALEXANDER MCNABB: As a long term resident in the Middle East you become used to seeing favourite places under bombardment
Syria: We All Have 20:20 Vision in Hindsight
SYRIA NEWS WIRE: Eight years ago the prevailing opinion about the future of Syria was optimistic. A British journalist knew better than everyone apparently
‘This Is Not A Time for Fiction’: Arab Novelists’ Crisis
M. LYNX-QUALEY: Ahdaf Soueif said it first but many of her peers agree that the tumultuous events wracking the Arab world leave fiction irrelevant.
Dead Tweets: Citizen Journalists Pay the Price
MICH CAFE: With traditional media officially locked out of Syria since the start of the revolution there in March 2011, citizen journalism has taken over the mantle, at a great cost.
Foreign Powers Take Positions, Eye End Game in Syria
FRANCIS MATTHEW: The continuing fighting in Syria is a golden opportunity for foreign governments to put military forces on the ground in advance of any political end-game.
