Jonathan Cook

‘Omar’: The First Wholly Palestinian Movie On Occupation

‘Omar’: The First Wholly Palestinian Movie On Occupation

JONATHAN COOK: It is written by Palestinians, stars Palestinians and is funded entirely by Palestinian money. Welcome to ‘Omar’.

 Tabsir

Forget the Debates: Let’s Just Play ‘Survivor’

Forget the Debates: Let’s Just Play ‘Survivor’

DANIEL M. VARISCO: The format is stale, it’s all so controlled and choreographed that very little of substance will be revealed. So why bother?

 Mich Cafe

Dead Tweets: Citizen Journalists Pay the Price

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.

 Editor, MEP

The Battle for Aleppo

VIDEO: In the last few hours, Syrian state media said the military had retaken the area, killing dozens of rebel fighters. But the rebels deny this.

 David Roberts

Syria in Balance: Broken Borders, Unbroken Alliances

Syria in Balance: Broken Borders, Unbroken Alliances

DAVID ROBERTS: Russia is unfazed about alienating swathes of the Middle East not to mention the majority of Syrians, believing in time their position can be reasserted

 Tabsir

When Will West Have Its ‘Road to Damascus’ Moment?

When Will West Have Its ‘Road to Damascus’ Moment?

DANIEL M. VARISCO: The only narrative seems to be ‘we can’t get involved in Syria because we’ll create another Iran’. There are alternative scenarios

 Eman-Al-Nafjan

No More ‘Jaw-Jaw’ on Syria: Action Needed

No More ‘Jaw-Jaw’ on Syria: Action Needed

EMAN AL-NAFJAN: Syria seems to have captured the attention of the region’s religious leaders but still the international community just talks

 Michael J. Totten

Humour: A Potent Weapon Against Assad?

Humour: A Potent Weapon Against Assad?

MICHAEL J. TOTTEN: There isn’t a lot to laugh about in Syria at the moment but try telling that to the Syrians themselves.

 David Roberts

Syria: The Argument Against intervention

Syria: The Argument Against intervention

DAVID ROBERTS: Working out exactly what must be done is fiendishly difficult; anyone who says they have a solution is grossly underestimating the complexities.

 Juan Cole

The Signs Are Ominous for Assad: Even Russia is Wobbling Now

The Signs Are Ominous for Assad: Even Russia is Wobbling Now

JUAN COLE: The departure of the Arab League delegation has led to an uptick in repression by the authorities. Will Assad’s friends now desert him.

 Syria News Wire

Assad, the Arab League and More Death in Syria

Assad, the Arab League and More Death in Syria

SYRIA NEWS WIRE: The Arab League mission is close to collapse;physically attacked on the streets, verbally attacked by Assad. And the killing continues.

 Michael J. Totten

The Maths of Death: Assad Treads Fine Line

The Maths of Death: Assad Treads Fine Line

MICHAEL J. TOTTEN: Cool calculation lies behind Syria’s targetting of protesters. Too many dead and calls for foreign intervention grow.

 Syria News Wire

The Dramatic ‘Volte-Face’ of Syria’s Bloggers

The Dramatic ‘Volte-Face’ of Syria’s Bloggers

NEWS FROM SYRIA: The former Chairman of the Syria Computer Society, a certain Bashar Assad, had a lot of support from the blogosphere in his first decade. Not any more.

 James Mullan

News Analysis: Assad Speaks to UK Media

News Analysis: Assad Speaks to UK Media

President Assad has ended his purdah with the international media and conducted an interview with a UK newspaper. Let’s see what he had to say.

 James Mullan

News Analysis: Arab League Gives Syria Heave-Ho

News Analysis: Arab League Gives Syria Heave-Ho

It’s crunch time for Syria at the Arab League and they’ve decided not to turn up to the Moroccan get-together. Hardly a major surprise.

 James M. Dorsey

Syrian Regime Looks to Soccer for Support

Syrian Regime Looks to Soccer for Support

JAMES M. DORSEY: ‘Bread and circuses’ are what the Roman emperors offered the people. ‘Bullets and soccer’ are what the Syrian regime appear to be offering today.

 Chris Keeler

Is Syria Set to Become ‘the new Libya’?

Is Syria Set to Become ‘the new Libya’?

CHRIS KEELER: Non-violent protest appears to be nearing its end in Syria and there are signs that groups are organising an armed resistance against the regime.

 The Ajnabi

Flash Mobs: The Changing Tactics of Syria’s Protesters

Flash Mobs: The Changing Tactics of Syria’s Protesters

THE AJNABI: With the sustained and brutal crackdown on opposition protests continuing, Syrian activists have had to adopt new tactics.

 cupofcardamom

‘Roll Up for Assad’s Magical Mystery Buses’

‘Roll Up for Assad’s Magical Mystery Buses’

CUPOFCARDAMOM: Buses are a common, unremarkable sight in virtually every city in the world but in Damascus recently they’ve become a signal of fear and impending violence.

 The Ajnabi

The Chants for Change Reach Loyalist Damascus

The Chants for Change Reach Loyalist Damascus

THE AJNABI: It’s a cry that’s familiar from viewing images of Tahrir Square, Yemen and Hama but it’s the first time I’ve heard it in a wealthy, Damascus suburb.