And that would make an extension to Turkey much easier. Ankara and Washington would win. Washington because its whole energy strategy in Southwest Asia since the Clinton administration has been to bypass, isolate and hurt Iran by all means necessary.
The MB has already conquered the presidency in Egypt. It is strong in Libya. Compound it with the Palestinian refugees that came in waves during the crucial phases of the Arab-Israeli war, in , and Then add a solid contingent of Salafi-jihadis fighting Damascus. Only a few days ago one Abu Usseid was arrested.
His uncle was none other than Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, the infamous former head of al-Qaeda in Iraq, killed in Usseid was about to cross the desert from Jordan to Syria.
Amman has been mired in protests since January — even before the spread of the Arab Spring. The MB in Jordan is not the only player in the protest wave; unions and social movements are also active. Most protesters are Jordanians — who historically have been in control of all levels of state bureaucracy. But then neo-liberalism reduced them to road kill; Jordan went through a savage privatisation drive during the s. Parliament is a joke — dominated by tribal affiliation and devotion to the monarchy.
Reforms are not even cosmetic. In an Arab world classic, the regime fights demands for change by increasing repression. Into this quagmire steps Qatar.
Doha wants King Playstation to embrace Hamas. It was Qatar that promoted the meeting in January between the King and Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal — who had been expelled from Jordan in That left indigenous Jordanians wondering whether the kingdom would be swamped by yet another wave of Palestinian refugees.
Fresh back from Damascus, I was taking my coffee on the Beirut Corniche this week when a neat little Greek warship hove into sight. It was stooging along the Lebanese coastline on an utterly useless task and was supposed — along with other naval vessels of the UN force — to be preventing Hezbollah from shipping weapons into Lebanon. That was the whole idea conceived by the UN back in after the latest Hezbollah-Israeli war which Hezbollah did not win and which Israel definitely lost — and which also finally did for Tony Blair the following year, we might remind ourselves — and which brought yet more international troops to Lebanon.
But for some strange reason, it was assumed back in that Iran was sending weapons to the Hezbollah across the Mediterranean, even though everyone in Lebanon knows that Iran is to the east of Lebanon and that its weapons have always reached Lebanon via Syria — which, since it is also to the east of Lebanon, makes sense. In any event, now that Syria is playing the civil war role that Lebanon played between and — with the Russians, the Americans, the Iranians, the Lebanese Hezbollah, the Iraqis, Afghan militiamen, Isis, Al-Nusrah, Kurds, Turks and Uncle Tom Cobbly all playing their various roles — it might surprise readers to know that it is to yet another country that the Syrians have recently been paying attention.
For some days ago, Bashar al-Assad held a private meeting of Syrian journalists in Damascus and informed them that relations had resumed — at a very low and humble level — between Qatar and Syria. They were not under any circumstances to quote him as saying this, nor to give any presidential credence to the story. But they could mention it in passing, stressing that this was not a resumption of relations, merely two nations maintaining contact.
But it makes an intriguing story. For years ago, nearer the start of the Syrian war, a clutch of nuns were released by their kidnappers in Syria through the joint intervention of Assad, the Emir of Qatar and General Abbas Ibrahim, the doyen of the Lebanese intelligence service.
Indeed, the said nuns actually expressed their appreciation to both Assad and the Emir. Rumour had it that a lot of money was paid for their release — so much that, as I have reported before, they must have been the most expensive nuns in the world. But it is Qatar which we should be thinking about. Qatar is great because it has oil and liquid gas and the al-Jazeera television channel.
Its royal families might be emperors but they have no empire; imagine Britain without India. Syrian civil war in photos — Syrian rebel fighters clash with pro-government forces in Aleppo on Wednesday, December Syrian civil war in photos — A woman weeps inside a damaged vehicle after forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad captured the town of Nabak on Monday, December 9. Syrian civil war in photos — A rebel fighter takes position during fighting with government forces in Deir Ezzor on Monday, December 2.
Syrian civil war in photos — A rebel fighter holds his position in a damaged building during clashes with government forces in Deir Ezzor on Monday, November Syrian civil war in photos — A rebel fighter fires during clashes with government forces in Deir Ezzor on November Syrian civil war in photos — A rebel fighter prepares an improvised mortar shell in Aleppo, Syria, on Saturday, November 9.
Syrian civil war in photos — Two injured men are transported on a cart in Aleppo, Syria, following shelling as fighting between pro-government forces and rebels continues on Saturday, October Syrian civil war in photos — An opposition fighter stands in the doorway of a building as he smokes a cigarette in Deir Ezzor, Syria, on Tuesday, October Syrian civil war in photos — People use buckets as they try to extinguish a fire that ignited at a fuel station in Aleppo, Syria, on Sunday, October Syrian civil war in photos — A Syrian opposition fighter aims a catapult toward regime forces in Aleppo, Syria, on Thursday, October Syrian civil war in photos — Firefighters extinguish a burning vehicle after two mortar rounds struck the Abu Roumaneh area in Damascus, Syria, on Saturday, October Syrian civil war in photos — An opposition fighter aims as others run for cover while they hold a position behind burning tires in the Salaheddin district of the northern Syrian city of Aleppo on Wednesday, October 9.
Syrian civil war in photos — An opposition fighter smokes a cigarette as he takes a break following the injury of his friend in the Salaheddin neighborhood of Aleppo on October 9. Syrian civil war in photos — Smoke rises after a mortar shell hit a residential area during fighting between Syrian government forces and rebels in Maaret al-Numan, Syria, on October, 9.
Syrian civil war in photos — Rebel fighters cover a car in mud for camouflage at an undisclosed location in Syria's northwestern province of Idlib on Tuesday, October 8. Syrian civil war in photos — Masked female rebel fighters walk alongside their trainer on a street in the Salaheddin district of Aleppo, Syria, on October 8.
Syrian civil war in photos — A rebel fighter prays moments before heading into battle in Maaret al-Numan, Syria, on Monday, October 7. Syrian civil war in photos — A mother comforts her baby in an area where she and her family have taken shelter after fleeing their village turned battlefield in Syria's Idlib province on Sunday, September Syrian civil war in photos — Free Syrian Army fighters take cover moments after firing a rocket toward government forces in the Idlib province of northern Syria on Friday, September Syrian civil war in photos — Rebel fighters inspect a stairwell amid fighting against Syrian government forces on Thursday, September 19, in the Saif al-Dawla district of Aleppo, Syria.
Syrian civil war in photos — A Syrian child sits in a village in the Idlib province countryside on September Syrian civil war in photos — Opposition fighters react after returning from the battlefield in the Idlib province countryside on September Syrian civil war in photos — Smoke rises after a bomb was thrown from a helicopter, hitting a rebel position during heavy fighting between troops loyal to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and opposition fighters in the Idlib province on September Syrian civil war in photos — Rebel fighters duck behind a barricade from firing in Aleppo on Wednesday, September Ketz and a photographer were reporting on the ancient Christian Syrian town northeast of Damascus.
Syrian civil war in photos — A Syrian opposition fighter takes a break on a mountain near a rebel camp in Idlib province on September Syrian civil war in photos — A Free Syrian Army fighter rests inside a cave at a rebel camp in Idlib province on Tuesday, September Syrian civil war in photos — Volunteers wear protective gear to show a class how to respond to a chemical attack in Aleppo, Syria, on September For two months, Mohammad Zayed, an Aleppo University student, has been training a group of 26 civilians to respond to a chemical attack.
Syrian civil war in photos — Syrian soldiers take aim at rebel fighters positioned in the mountains of the Christian town of Maalula on September Syrian civil war in photos — Rebels parade at a former military academy north of Aleppo during a September 13 ceremony to mark an agreement to unite two rebel brigade forces.
Syrian civil war in photos — A fighter of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine General Command squats next to the covered body of an alleged foreign rebel fighter in the Yarmouk refugee camp in the Syrian capital of Damascus on Thursday, September Syrian civil war in photos — An opposition fighter runs in front of a sniper curtain in the industrial area of Deir Ezzor, Syria, during clashes with regime forces on September Syrian civil war in photos — A sheet hangs across an alley way to shield fighters from sniper fire as a fighter of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine General Command walks past destroyed buildings in the Yarmouk refugee camp in Damascus, Syria, on September Syrian civil war in photos — Free Syrian Army fighters climb a flight of stairs to take positions near the Hanano barracks on September Syrian civil war in photos — A funeral is held on September 11 for three Christian Syrians killed during battles with an al Qaeda-linked rebel group that took control of the historic Christian town of Maaloula from regime forces during the weekend.
Syrian civil war in photos — A man walks through a destroyed residential area of Saraqib, Syria, on Monday, September 9, following repeated airstrikes by government forces. Syrian civil war in photos — A soldier wears a picture of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad on his chest while at a market in old Damascus on September 8.
Syrian civil war in photos — Buildings are heavily damaged in the Salah al-Din area of Aleppo on September 8. Syrian civil war in photos — A boy named Issa , 10, carries a mortar shell in a weapons factory of the Free Syrian Army in Aleppo on Saturday, September 7. The boy works with his father in the factory. Syrian civil war in photos — Issa fixes a mortar launcher in the Aleppo weapons factory on September 7. Syrian civil war in photos — A bedroom lies in ruins after clashes between government forces and rebels around Ariha on September 7.
Syrian civil war in photos — Syrian forces are seen in the Syrian Christian town of Maaloula on September 7. Syrian civil war in photos — A Syrian soldier prepares large-caliber bullets for a machine gun in Maaloula on September 7.
Syrian civil war in photos — A man stands inside a home damaged by heavy shelling in Arbeen, a suburb of Damascus, Syria, on September 7. Syrian civil war in photos — Men gather on the remains of a destroyed building after reported airstrikes by Syrian government forces in the rebel-held northwestern Syrian province of Idlib on Thursday, September 5. Syrian civil war in photos — Free Syrian Army fighters walk inside a damaged house in Aleppo on September 3.
Syrian civil war in photos — Free Syrian Army fighters talk inside a burnt house in Aleppo on September 3. Syrian civil war in photos — Free Syrian Army fighters take their positions behind piled sandbags, as one of them points his weapon, in Deir ez-Zor on September 2.
Syrian civil war in photos — A rebel fighter points his weapon at Syrian regime forces in Deir ez-Zor on September 2. Syrian civil war in photos — Syrian firefighters try to extinguish a fire after a missile hit a residential building in Damascus, Syria, on September 2. Syrian civil war in photos — A U.
Syrian civil war in photos — People search for belongings in rubble in Raqqa, Syria, on August Syrian civil war in photos — A Syrian Kurd uses hay to hide another woman in a training session organized by the Kurdish Women's Defense Units on Wednesday, August 28, in a northern Syrian border village. They're preparing if the area comes under attack. Syrian civil war in photos — Free Syrian Army fighters escort U.
The team was to investigate an alleged chemical attack that killed hundreds last week in a suburb of the Syrian capital. Sniper fire hit a vehicle used by the U. Syrian civil war in photos — A Syrian soldier walks down a street in Damascus on Saturday, August Syrian civil war in photos — Pigeons lie dead on the ground on August 24 from after what activists say is the use of chemical weapons by government forces in the Damascus suburb of Arbeen.
Syrian civil war in photos — Columns of smoke rise in Barzeh after heavy shelling on Friday, August Syrian civil war in photos — A young Free Syrian Army fighter is reflected in a mirror as he takes position in a house in Aleppo on Thursday, August Syrian civil war in photos — Rebels move around a building in Aleppo on August Syrian civil war in photos — Syrian rebels claim pro-government forces used chemical weapons to kill citizens outside Damascus on Wednesday, August People inspect bodies in this photo released by the Syrian opposition Shaam News Network.
Syrian civil war in photos — People search the rubble of a bombed building in Aleppo, Syria, on Friday, August Syrian civil war in photos — Men bury the bodies of six members of the same family killed in a bombing in Raqqa on Saturday, August Syrian civil war in photos — Syrian Army soldiers patrol a devastated street in Homs on Wednesday, July Syrian civil war in photos — Free Syrian Army fighters move through a hole in a wall in Khan al-Assal on Monday, July 22, after seizing the town.
Syrian civil war in photos — A rebel fighter walks past swings in a deserted playground in Deir al-Zor, Syria, on Sunday, July Syrian civil war in photos — A rebel fighter speaks with a fellow fighter through a hole in a wall in Deir al-Zor on July Syrian civil war in photos — A Free Syrian Army fighter casts a shadow on a wall as he carries his weapon in a shelter in Deir al-Zor on Thursday, July Syrian civil war in photos — Yahya Sweed, 13, is comforted by his father as he lies on a bed in Kfar Nubul on Tuesday, July The boy was injured by shrapnel, resulting in the amputation of his right leg.
Syrian civil war in photos — A rebel fighter naps in a trench about feet from the Syrian government forces' positions along the highway connecting Idlib with Latakia on Monday, July Syrian civil war in photos — A rebel fighter uses a hole in the wall of a destroyed school to aim at Syrian government forces in the Izaa district of Aleppo on Sunday, July Syrian civil war in photos — Syrian rebels leave their position in the northwestern town of Maaret al-Numan on Thursday, June The White House said that the Syrian government has crossed a "red line" with its use of chemical weapons and announced it would start arming the rebels.
Syrian civil war in photos — Syrian rebels take position in a house during clashes with regime forces in the old city of Aleppo on May
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