Mr. "Voice of Israel"/Youssef Haddad. He did not say the Arab Spring is a conspiracy. He said the West is trying to employ it to their benefit, which implies it is a genuine uprising.
The Arab people are not so naive. They know that their uprising is really not against their despots, but really against the Western powers who created and supported them for decades, so they will not let these powers change the course of their freedoms. Look at Egypt and you will see that this is happening right now.
@peace: It seems you have been hibernating for the last 7-8 years, since you don't know that Gadhafi had become a pawn in the hands of the West in the last decade. Your own example, Libya, is another good example how the west turned against an ally in order to steal the uprising and contain it from inevitably turning into a regime against the West. The same thing applies to Egypt and Tunisia. Obama asked Mubarak to step down at the last moment when he did not have another choice. If the West was so pro freedom and democracy for the Arabs, why did they support and protect Mubarak for 32 years? Why are they still supporting and protecting the despots of the Gulf?
Re Syria, yes there is a genuine opposition movement but the problem in Syria is that Assad has a lot of popular support also (much more than Gadhafi has). Assad's support is not limited to the Alawis. He enjoys the support of all the Christians, the wealthy businessmen and the intelligentsia, which all together form a large chunk of the population. So to topple him by force as it is being attempted now will create a civil war and the total destruction of Syria (much like Iraq and worse). I am sure this is not what you desire, but I have no doubt that this what the Americans/Isarelis are working on. They could not care less about the people's demands for democracy. They just want to weaken Iran by breaking its ally Syria. In the process they are hoping that Assad will capitulate and submit to their will (i.e. break his alliance with Iran). If he does, I guarantee you that he will then have the full support of the Americans to crush the Muslim Brotherhood even more harshly.
@peace:
Re whether the uprising is against the West or against the local despots, I don't see it as a mutually exclusive issue. I believe people are uprising against BOTH. Against the despots and against the powers who put them in place and supported them for decades.
One thing younger fellows like you need to understand: The American values (freedom, democracy, etc.) are great values but the Americans want them for themselves only. When it comes to other countries, they support whoever ruler and whatever regime serves their interests. So far, especially in the Middle-East and Latin America, they have supported dictators, and history has shown that when the Americans win, the local people lose (and sometimes vice-versa as is the case in Iran).
If only Naharnet did not bore us with Geagea's news such as this article. Is this a news article? Why do they have to report the supposed content of a causal meeting with an ambassador? I understand that a website tried to promote a regressing political person, but Naharnet is overdoing it, to the point that the next time we see a picture or the name of Geagea we will skip the article knowing it is a bla bla article.
This story does not wash. It sounds like a Hollywood movie. But if it is true, it would mean that Iran has decided to retaliate for the killing by the Americans of Iranians nuclear scientists on Iranian soil. Iran has shown in the past that it is capable of tit-for-tat retaliation.
Raad: Global Powers Seeking to Employ Arab Spring for Own Goals
08 October 2011, 17:14Mr. "Voice of Israel"/Youssef Haddad. He did not say the Arab Spring is a conspiracy. He said the West is trying to employ it to their benefit, which implies it is a genuine uprising.
The Arab people are not so naive. They know that their uprising is really not against their despots, but really against the Western powers who created and supported them for decades, so they will not let these powers change the course of their freedoms. Look at Egypt and you will see that this is happening right now.
Raad: Global Powers Seeking to Employ Arab Spring for Own Goals
08 October 2011, 18:49@peace: It seems you have been hibernating for the last 7-8 years, since you don't know that Gadhafi had become a pawn in the hands of the West in the last decade. Your own example, Libya, is another good example how the west turned against an ally in order to steal the uprising and contain it from inevitably turning into a regime against the West. The same thing applies to Egypt and Tunisia. Obama asked Mubarak to step down at the last moment when he did not have another choice. If the West was so pro freedom and democracy for the Arabs, why did they support and protect Mubarak for 32 years? Why are they still supporting and protecting the despots of the Gulf?
Sfeir Doesn’t Object to al-Rahi’s Remarks, Stresses Bkirki Hasn’t Changed
09 October 2011, 14:00This tells us that Al-Rahi made his remark with the Vatican's approval and blessing.
This also tells us that the Vatican has realized that the Christian Sunnis are taking the Middle-East Christians to the Abyss.
Raad: Global Powers Seeking to Employ Arab Spring for Own Goals
09 October 2011, 19:30@peace:
Re Syria, yes there is a genuine opposition movement but the problem in Syria is that Assad has a lot of popular support also (much more than Gadhafi has). Assad's support is not limited to the Alawis. He enjoys the support of all the Christians, the wealthy businessmen and the intelligentsia, which all together form a large chunk of the population. So to topple him by force as it is being attempted now will create a civil war and the total destruction of Syria (much like Iraq and worse). I am sure this is not what you desire, but I have no doubt that this what the Americans/Isarelis are working on. They could not care less about the people's demands for democracy. They just want to weaken Iran by breaking its ally Syria. In the process they are hoping that Assad will capitulate and submit to their will (i.e. break his alliance with Iran). If he does, I guarantee you that he will then have the full support of the Americans to crush the Muslim Brotherhood even more harshly.
Raad: Global Powers Seeking to Employ Arab Spring for Own Goals
09 October 2011, 19:33@peace:
Re whether the uprising is against the West or against the local despots, I don't see it as a mutually exclusive issue. I believe people are uprising against BOTH. Against the despots and against the powers who put them in place and supported them for decades.
One thing younger fellows like you need to understand: The American values (freedom, democracy, etc.) are great values but the Americans want them for themselves only. When it comes to other countries, they support whoever ruler and whatever regime serves their interests. So far, especially in the Middle-East and Latin America, they have supported dictators, and history has shown that when the Americans win, the local people lose (and sometimes vice-versa as is the case in Iran).
Al-Rahi: The Patriarch Follows no Party
09 October 2011, 22:46Yes, the Patriarch should belong to the party of God only. :)
Geagea: If Only Hizbullah Would Leave the Lebanese People Alone
11 October 2011, 21:42If only Naharnet did not bore us with Geagea's news such as this article. Is this a news article? Why do they have to report the supposed content of a causal meeting with an ambassador? I understand that a website tried to promote a regressing political person, but Naharnet is overdoing it, to the point that the next time we see a picture or the name of Geagea we will skip the article knowing it is a bla bla article.
Saudi Arabia Condemns 'Abhorrent' Plot to Kill Envoy
13 October 2011, 05:41This story does not wash. It sounds like a Hollywood movie. But if it is true, it would mean that Iran has decided to retaliate for the killing by the Americans of Iranians nuclear scientists on Iranian soil. Iran has shown in the past that it is capable of tit-for-tat retaliation.
Amnesty Calls on Canada to Arrest Bush
13 October 2011, 15:28This is like asking the Lebanese authorities to arrest President Assad when he comes to Lebanon. LOL
UK: U.S. Plot a 'Major Escalation' in Iran Terror Sponsorship
13 October 2011, 15:45If I say the story does not wash, some jerk here is going to say it is dogma.
What about these experts? Are they driven by dogma also?
www.cnn.com/2011/10/12/us/analysis-iran-saudi-plot/