Syria and Diplomacy 2917


The problem with the Geneva Communique from the first Geneva round on Syria is that the government of Syria never subscribed to it.  It was jointly chaired by the League of Arab States for Syria, whatever that may mean.  Another problem is that it is, as so many diplomatic documents are, highly ambiguous.  It plainly advocates a power sharing executive formed by some of the current government plus the opposition to oversee a transition to democracy.  But it does not state which elements of the current government, and it does not mention which elements of the opposition, nor does it make plain if President Assad himself is eligible to be part of, or to head, the power-sharing executive, and whether he is eligible to be a candidate in future democratic elections.

Doubtless the British, for example, would argue that the term transition implies that he will go.  The Russians will argue there is no such implication and the text does not exclude anybody from the process.  Doubtless also diplomats on all sides were fully aware of these differing interpretations and the ambiguity is quite deliberate to enable an agreed text. I would say that the text tends much more to the “western” side, and that this reflects the apparently weak military position of the Assad regime at that time and the then extant threat of western military intervention.  There has been a radical shift in those factors against the western side in the interim. Expect Russian interpretations now to get more hardline.

Given the extreme ambiguity of the text, Iran has, as it frequently does, shot itself in the foot diplomatically by refusing to accept the communique as the basis of talks and thus getting excluded from Geneva.  Iran should have accepted the communique, and then at Geneva issued its own interpretation of it.

But that is a minor point.  The farcical thing about the Geneva conference is that it is attempting to promote into power-sharing in Syria “opposition” members who have no democratic credentials and represent a scarcely significant portion of those actually fighting the Assad regime in Syria.  What the West are trying to achieve is what the CIA and Mossad have now achieved in Egypt; replacing the head of the Mubarak regime while keeping all its power structures in place. The West don’t really want democracy in Syria, they just want a less pro-Russian leader of the power structures.

The inability of the British left to understand the Middle East is pathetic.  I recall arguing with commenters on this blog who supported the overthrow of the elected President of Egypt Morsi on the grounds that his overthrow was supporting secularism, judicial independence (missing the entirely obvious fact the Egyptian judiciary are almost all puppets of the military) and would lead to a left wing revolutionary outcome.  Similarly the demonstrations against Erdogan in Istanbul, orchestrated by very similar pro-military forces to those now in charge in Egypt, were also hailed by commenters here.  The word “secularist” seems to obviate all sins when it comes to the Middle East.

Qatar will be present at Geneva, and Qatar has just launched a pre-emptive media offensive by launching a dossier on torture and murder of detainees by the Assad regime, which is being given first headline treatment by the BBC all morning

There would be a good dossier to be issued on torture in detention in Qatar, and the lives of slave workers there, but that is another question.

I do not doubt at all that atrocities have been committed and are being committed by the Assad regime.  It is a very unpleasant regime indeed.  The fact that atrocities are also being committed by various rebel groups does not make Syrian government atrocities any better.

But whether 11,000 people really were murdered in a single detainee camp I am unsure.  What I do know is that the BBC presentation of today’s report has been a disgrace.  The report was commissioned by the government of Qatar who commissioned Carter Ruck to do it.  Both those organisations are infamous suppressors of free speech.  What is reprehensible is that the BBC are presenting the report as though it were produced by neutral experts, whereas the opposite is the case.  It is produced not by anti torture campaigners or by human rights activists, but by lawyers who are doing it purely and simply because they are being paid to do it.

The BBC are showing enormous deference to Sir Desmond De Silva, who is introduced as a former UN war crimes prosecutor.  He is indeed that, but it is not the capacity in which he is now acting.  He is acting as a barrister in private practice.  Before he was a UN prosecutor, he was for decades a criminal defence lawyer and has defended many murderers.  He has since acted to suppress the truth being published about many celebrities, including John Terry.

If the Assad regime and not the government of Qatar had instructed him and paid him, he would now be on our screens arguing the opposite case to that he is putting.  That is his job.  He probably regards that as not reprehensible.  What is reprehensible is that the BBC do not make it plain, but introduce him as a UN war crimes prosecutor as though he were acting in that capacity or out of concern for human rights.  I can find no evidence of his having an especial love for human rights in the abstract, when he is not being paid for it.  He produced an official UK government report into the murder of Pat Finucane, a murder organised by British authorities, which Pat Finucane’s widow described as a “sham”.  He was also put in charge of quietly sweeping the Israeli murders on the Gaza flotilla under the carpet at the UN.

The question any decent journalist should be asking him is “Sir Desmond De Silva, how much did the government of Qatar pay you for your part in preparing this report?  How much did it pay the other experts?  Does your fee from the Government of Qatar include this TV interview, or are you charging separately for your time in giving this interview?  In short how much are you being paid to say this?”

That is what any decent journalist would ask.  Which is why you will never hear those questions on the BBC.

 

 

 


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2,917 thoughts on “Syria and Diplomacy

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  • Mary

    I have posted this before as the trolls, who sit on their arses writing their useless crap, very well know.

    My definition of fascism –

    ‘The subjugation of an individual’s will and freedom by an overweening state. Humanity withers, freedom of speech is stifled and the soul dies. Self preservation becomes a dominant drive.’

  • Beelzebub (La Vita è Finita)

    Perhaps we need a new term, here, Mary. “Bankism” comes to mind – the impoverishment of the many by the upward trickle of their resources towards those with more than enough than they could conceivably need. Or something like that?

  • nevermind

    Indeed Mary, paedo’s, like so many times before in this country, are making today’s headline, again.
    When I gnarled at our resident socket yesterday I did not know this was going to break today, but hey, this country is full of them by the looks of the cover ups, so there is plenty more to come out.

    The UN is lambasting the Catholic Church for all it deserves. It is making the humanitarian case for criminals being brought to justice, whatever higher morals prevented the church to act itself, to be silent for decades.

    The vatican has gone into damage limitation mode as news reports speak of tens of thousands of children who have been abused, whilst the church protected the perpetrators and hid the evidence for its own sake. (imho, these sums are a vindication of my question to Habby yesterday).

    Should the catholic church provide an open culture and platform for reform within? and to a set timeframe?
    Should it be regarded as a cult who’s priests are known to have abused/abuse children and adults? to others if these reforms are not forthcoming?
    Should the Catholic church be allowed to teach morals, run schools, kindergardens, colleges,etc.?
    Should the influences and access to the vatican by Opus Dei be curtailed? one dares to mutter, should Opus Dei be a prescribed organistation?
    Should Prof.Kueng be publicly vindicated by the vatican?

  • Mary

    Where is the justice?

    A Fathers for Justice protester has been sent to prison for defacing a portrait of the Queen. Some community service would have been sufficient.
    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-26053161

    The repellent LFoI Denis MacShane received the same sentence for massive fraud and deceit against the people and parliament. He is coming out after six weeks.

    ‘The Times Diary (TMS): Freedom for Denis MacShane, insurers applaud end of The Jump and Tim Yeo can go back to the golf course

    The ballad of Brixton gaol . . .

    News from the Brixton gulag, where Denis MacShane is nearing the end of his jail term for expenses fraud. The former Labour MP was given a six-month stretch only six weeks ago, but has told friends that he expects to be free by the end of this week. That would be in line with the discretion shown to his girlfriend, Vicky Pryce (she sure can pick ’em), who did eight weeks of an eight months sentence over the Chris Huhne affair…..’

    He apparently sees himself as another George Lansbury who also spent time in Brixton prison. He has been writing a diary. Who would be interested in reading it?
    http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/news/uk/article3994692.ece?CMP=OTH-gnws-standard-2014_02_03

  • Sofia Kibo Noh

    Thanks Mary…”The Vatican responded by saying it would examine the report – but also accused its authors of interference.”

    Well they know all about interference don’t they.

    And while we’re on the subject of interference, wtf is going on at Troll Central? There are so many genuine antisemitic posters infesting internet comment sections, but I never ever see Dad or his mates challenging them. Instead they crowd in here bleating on with the same tired old accusations, half truths and insults month after month. We never learn why they hold the opinions that they push with such an air of authority. In fact I can’t think of a single new or relevant bit of information that they’ve ever brought to the discussion.

    I’ve a mind to put in a formal complaint. What have we ever done to deserve being plagued by such a bunch of useless feckers? We deserve better. Maybe Dad can tell me who to send it to.

    So how about, for a change, one of you explaining how Isreali support for Al Nusra could ever bring democracy to Syria or security to Israel…. or how encouraging neo-nazis to riot in Kiev will benefit anyone in Europe or Russia.

    But before you all scramble to reply, please bear in mind the words of the mighty Mark Twain. “It is better to keep your mouth closed and let people think you are a fool than to open it and remove all doubt.”

    Finally, back to where I started, then I promise leave you all in peace, for a while…..

    Nevermind. 2 26pm

    ”Should the Catholic church be allowed to teach morals, run schools, kindergardens, colleges,etc.?” thanks for the laugh!

  • Habbabkuk (La vita è bella!

    Mr Scourgie

    “Habbabkuk:

    Everyone knows what happened in the Soviet Union and throughout Eastern Europe during the post-war period.”
    _______________________

    Thanks for that prompt reply, Doug.

    I should perhaps tell you that the book I referred to devotes as much if not more detail to what went on in the Soviet Union during the pre-war period (and even before).

    I really do recommend that you should read it. Even Harold Pinter would have benefited, but whereas it’s too late for him, there is still time for you to do so. So, bonne lecture!

    *********************

    La vita è bella, life is good!

  • Habbabkuk (La vita è bella!

    ESLO

    Perhaps I didn’t read your post carefully enough, but I don’t think you, I and Satter actually disagree on the essentials. I think we all agree is that there are many Russians who are trying to get at the truth and see the full picture (you correctly mention Memorial)and that they are not getting much help – quite the contrary, in fact – from what we might call “official” Russia – which of course includes Putin & Co.

    Satter does also make the point that there are very many Russians who – for a great variety of reasons, some honorable, others less so – prefer to let sleeping dogs lie. But this isn’t a point at issue between us, I think.

  • Habbabkuk (La vita è bella!

    “When Anon runs out of his drugs he gets vicious,…”

    and

    “Did they ask Habby for his sexual proclivities I wonder,…”
    __________________

    Drig taking, sexual deviancy – what’s the matter with you, Nevermind? You do seem to be losing it!

  • Habbabkuk (La vita è bella!

    The Great Imitator (Beelzebub – la vita è finita, candidate member of the Egregiousness of Excellences, inventor of ‘Excresences’):

    “Google is your friend, re Scargill. On whose emoluments I have nothing to say either. Answer your own bloody stupid questions.”
    ________________________-

    I think you misunderstand why I’m asking about Arthur Scargill’s NUM pension. I just want to be reassured that he is enjoying a reasonably comfortable retirement as a fair reward for his splendid stewardship of the NUM.

    You’ll have noticed that I held myself back from asking “Compare and contrast Mr Scargill’s pension with that of an ordinary retired miner”.

  • Habbabkuk (La vita è bella!

    Mr Scourgie

    Mary has kindly defined “fascism” even though who had’t got round to asking her. She says fascism is

    ‘The subjugation of an individual’s will and freedom by an overweening state. Humanity withers, freedom of speech is stifled and the soul dies. Self preservation becomes a dominant drive.’

    Does this definition past muster with you? Would you wish to add or subtract anything?

  • Habbabkuk (La vita è bella!

    Mary

    You were kind enough to define fascism as follows :

    ‘The subjugation of an individual’s will and freedom by an overweening state. Humanity withers, freedom of speech is stifled and the soul dies. Self preservation becomes a dominant drive.’
    ____________________

    Thank you for that definition, which I shall accept for the moment pending Mr Scourgie’s opinion.

    Could you now please explain how the removal of arch-Blairite Sally Morgan (no previous experience in education) from OFSTED and her replacement by a Tory donor (with experience in the field of education) serves as an illustration of the definition you gave?

    Thanks in advance.

    Mr Scourgie, feel free to interrupt.

  • doNNyDarKo

    As if the UN cared about children ! How many did UN sanctions kill in Iraq ? 500,000 ?
    So according to the Gospel of Ban, you can kill them but you cant abuse them.
    Drones can drop fire from the sky and kill and maim children in Jemen, Somalia,Afghanistan yet ban is quiet. Had they been abused first would he have spoken up ?
    What the Church has been covering up for years is awful but the UN should definitely not throw stones in their very thinly glassed house.From standing idly by watching hundreds of kids being murdered in Israels attack on Gaza to the spreading of disease in Africa with their inoculation programs to the 10 year sanctions on Iraq their conscience is far from clear.
    No idea why the sudden interest in the Church of Rome… it is as difficult to understand as his sudden invitation to Iran last week.He does nothing without the Nod from Washington.
    They are actively part of US foreign policy and should be broken up.Money for nothing.

  • Habbabkuk (La vita è bella!

    Nevermind doesn’t seem to be the only one losing it.

    From Mary in quick succession :

    “Damn them to hell.”

    and, on a lighter note,

    “..the trolls, who sit on their arses writing their useless crap,..”

    Sounds as if Mary’s getting a little rattled.

    ********************

    La vita è bella, life is good!

  • Ben

    DonnyDarko; I wonder what lit the backside of the UN for them to come out against child abuse by Catholic clerics? It hasn’t been a dirty little secret for decades. I read that Benedict was purging the Peds. Is that why he resigned? Francis seems to have been moving in the same direction.

    Is this the reason the UN suddenly found their nutz on this issue? They had to wait for the Leadership to begin the process?

    The UN is virtually useless.

  • doug scorgie

    ESLO
    5 Feb, 2014 – 1:25 pm

    @Scorgie

    “The systematic brutality, the widespread atrocities, the ruthless suppression of independent thought.

    All this has been fully documented and verified.

    (Harold Pinter)”

    ESLO says: “Well I’m afraid this just demonstrates Pinter’s ignorance – what has happened has been far from fully documented and there is hardly a Russian family that doesn’t have gaps and rumours in its family history.”

    ESLO let me help you:

    Harold Pinter was making a speech where he mentioned the systematic brutality, the widespread atrocities, the ruthless suppression of independent thought that went on in the USSR.

    When he said “All this has been fully documented he didn’t mean that everything that happened during that period had been documented and verified.

    He meant it has been fully documented and verified that the brutality, atrocities and suppression did happen and cannot in that general sense be denied.

    If you read his full speech the context will be plain to see (well maybe not to you)

  • doug scorgie

    Watch out there’s a copper about

    “Last week, the activist John Jordan was told his conviction (for occupying the offices of London Transport) would be overturned. The Crown Prosecution Service refuses to reveal why, but it doubtless has something to do with the fact that one of Jordan’s co-defendants turns out to have been Jim Boyling, a secret policeman working for the Met, who allegedly used his false identity in court.”

    “Jordan has now made a further claim. He alleges that the same man helped organise a street party that went wrong and turned into the worst riot in London since the poll tax demonstrations.”

    Read more:
    http://zcomm.org/znetarticle/an-undercover-riot/

  • doug scorgie

    Habbabkuk (La vita è bella!
    5 Feb, 2014 – 11:34 am

    “I recall that when I used the word “fascism” in a post of mine many moons ago, you were swift to ask me to define that word.”

    I don’t remember that Habbabkuk do you have the details to refresh my memory?

    Did you answer me?

    I do recall though asking you to define Zionism; you didn’t answer that.

  • Mary

    Every word true and applicable, if the cap fits.

    “Damn them to hell.”

    “..the trolls, who sit on their arses writing their useless crap,..”

  • ESLO

    “Satter does also make the point that there are very many Russians who – for a great variety of reasons, some honorable, others less so – prefer to let sleeping dogs lie.”

    I don’t think it is much of a preference in my experience – there is still a genuine concern that to be seen to dig into the past will not meet with the approval of those in charge together with a long established habit . Once Russians get to know you and have some confidence in you – it isn’t usually long before they will reveal their past family history. I can well remember very well one drunken evening where the grandson of one of Stalin’s better know victims divulged details of how is grandfather had been treated.

  • Mary

    One fire engine in one fire station for 96,000 people.

    Let’s hope that Cllr Hammond’s house doesn’t catch fire when the single engine is otherwise occupied.

    Population of Spelthorne Borough Council
    Total
    95,900

    Density
    4,900/sq mi

    Council votes for Spelthorne fire service cuts
    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-surrey-26033086

    Surrey County Council Tories have just announced another hike in their council tax precept of 1.99% this avoiding the need for a Pickles style referendum.

    Surrey to make third successive maximum council tax increase
    County proposes a 1.99% increase, the highest possible without a referendum, making almost a 7% increase over three years
    http://www.getsurrey.co.uk/news/local-news/surrey-county-council-make-third-6597774

    SAVE OUR SERVICES IN SURREY
    http://www.sosis.org.uk/index.html

  • doug scorgie

    From the “Land of the Free”

    “A record number of individuals who were convicted of crimes were deemed innocent in 2013, according to a report by the National Registry of Exonerations. “

    “Twenty-seven of the 87 known exonerations were in cases in which no crime actually occurred, almost half for non-violent crimes, primarily drugs.”

    “Murder and even death penalty cases continue to be over-represented in these exonerations. Among those who were deemed not guilty was David Ranta, who, a re-investigation uncovered 22 years later, was convicted based on witnesses who were bribed and pressured to testify against him in the quest to find a culprit for the high-profile killing of a rabbi.”

    http://www.law.umich.edu/special/exoneration/Pages/about.aspx

  • Mary

    Should David Cameron be Prosecuted for Recruiting Brits to Fight in Al Qaeda Ranks in Syria?
    By Prof Michel Chossudovsky
    February 05, 2014

    According to the London Evening Standard, a top British prosecutor has “warned that Britons who travel to join the Syrian conflict will face prosecution and potential life sentences on their return.”

    Sue Hemming said it was a crime to fight in another countryeven if it was to topple a “loathsome” dictator such as president Bashar Assad.

    The head of counter-terrorism at the Crown Prosecution Service said Britons could also face charges for attending rebel training camps.

    Her comments, in an interview with the Evening Standard, come as seven British residents including two London women await trial over charges connected to the Syrian conflict.

    They follow a recent surge in arrests by police and a warning by the Met’s counter-terrorism chief about the growing number of young Britons either traveling to Syria or attempting to go.” (Brits who fight in Syria face life in jail, London Evening Standard, February 3, 2014)

    What the British prosecutor fails to address is that the British “freedom fighters” are being recruited with the full support of the British government of Prime Minister David Cameron in defiance of UK laws.

    Does this mean that those who finance and recruit terrorists at the highest levels of the British government also “potentially face life sentences” as suggested by Crown Prosecutor Hemming? Or is Her Majesty’s Government immune from prosecution?

    Are we dealing with double standards in the application of British law?

    There is ample evidence that the training camps are set up by the Western military alliance.

    The important question for the British Crown prosecutor: who should be sent to jail? The British mercenaries or the British government?

    Amply documented, the Ministry of Defense and MI6 in liaison with US-NATO-Israel are behind the recruitment and training of terrorists.

    /..
    http://www.globalresearch.ca/should-david-cameron-be-prosecuted-for-recruiting-brits-to-fight-in-al-qaeda-ranks-in-syria/5367448

    EXCLUSIVE: Brits who fight in Syria face life in jail http://www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/exclusive-brits-who-fight-in-syria-face-life-in-jail-9104171.html

  • Habbabkuk (La vita è bella!

    ESLO

    “there is still a genuine concern that to be seen to dig into the past will not meet with the approval of those in charge together with a long established habit”
    _________________

    I agree. And therefore they keep quiet, at least in public and vis à vis the authorities (who, in fact, are the people in possession of most of the missing info). I was using “prefer” in that sense ( as I would if I wrote “I preferred to hold my tongue when the rozzer spoke to me” – I am not indicating a genuine preference but merely caution.) Hope we’re clear now, and I see this amical exchange as good practice for dealing with the verbal tricks of a few of the Eminences! 🙂

  • Mary

    Another one hits the dust. Will there be anyone left in the Tory Partei?

    Nazi stag-do Tory MP to step down
    Breaking news
    Tory Aidan Burley, at centre of row over Nazi-themed stag party, to step down as Cannock Chase MP at next election

    In the meantime, Agent Cameron is manipulating PMQs.
    http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/10617436/David-Camerons-attempts-to-stage-manage-Prime-Ministers-Questions.html

    Note Bercow’s put down of Poison Gove this morning. Video within the link above.

  • Habbabkuk (La vita è bella!

    SEVERAL QUESTIONS still awaiting a proper answer from the likes of Messrs Goss and Scourgie, Mother Mary, etc…..

    Should I be optimistic?

    Or should I assumle they have retired, bloodied and broken, from the field of battle (or discussion)?

    *******************

    La vita è bella, life is good!

  • Anon

    Habbabkuk

    “Drug taking, sexual deviancy – what’s the matter with you, Nevermind? You do seem to be losing it!”

    I recall Nevermind once likening me to an American serial rapist and mass-murderer after expressing a different political view, though to be fair I did receive an apology.

    I am now informed that,

    “When Anon runs out of his drugs he gets vicious, add to that his unfortunate family life, his constant refusal to perform when he rather bickers on the computer and you have him flailing out in all directions talking twaddle, alsmost as much as Habby.”

    A bizarre and rather unhinged outburst, wouldn’t you say?

    I will, of course, accept another apology from Nevermind, but I’m not sure we can remain friends after a third unwarrented outburst.

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