Hi everyone!
First of all, I hope you enjoyed the music video I posted last night. "Smile" is a new song and collaboration between two of world music's biggest stars: Tamer Hosny, the Egyptian pop singer who is about to embark on a tour of the U.S. and Canada next month, and Shaggy, the critically-acclaimed reggae singer. I got turned on to Mr. Hosny's music after reading Robin Wright's book "Rock the Casbah" about the origins of the protest movements that have resulted in the Arab Spring. Mr. Hosny's been criticized by some within the Arab world for not initially embracing the protest movement but then making a point of being in support of it, staging appearances in Tahrir Square, etc. Regardless, his music is poppy and infectious, and frequently alternates between Arabic and English-language lyrics. It's dance music with a slightly exotic Middle-Eastern flair that's right at home in any club from Cairo to London to New York to Chicago. "Smile" is one of my favorites. Although the song is not available on iTunes yet, Mr. Hosny's extensive discography is. I encourage you to check it out if you haven't already done so.
Unfortunately, though of no surprise, world leaders in the news today aren't subscribing to the song's upbeat and positive mantra: "We share love and joy, love and joy and happiness." Yesterday saw Bashar al-Assad making his first public appearance in months, addressing tens of thousands of his supporters in Damascus's Umayyad Square. In the ten minute address, he reiterated his "iron hand" stance against the protesters and the increasingly violent insurgency, telling them "I belong to this street...I came here to draw from your strength." This is rather rich coming from a leader who rarely appeared before "his people" before and, to many critics, seemed to prefer to hide behind advisors and sycophants (and perhaps other family members) than take center stage.
It was yet another day of tragedy in the beleaguered nation as word came of the death of respected French journalist Gilles Jacquier. Mr. Jacquier was reportedly killed by an exploding shell as he reported on a pro-government rally in Homs. It is unclear whether the shell was fired by government troops or the insurgency, such is the rather confusing situation on the ground. Meanwhile, Anwar Abdel Malik quit the the Arab League observer mission, claiming on Al Jazeera that "the mission was a farce and the observers have been fooled. The regime orchestrated it and fabricated most of what we saw to stop the Arab League from taking action against the regime." This is what I--and many others--have been saying all along. I'm starting to feel like a broken record where this whole issue is concerned. The Arab League observer report is due on January 19th. At this point, why bother? Assad is clearly unconcerned with anything the report might reveal, although the mission itself at least has a bit more credibility given the fact that Mr. Malik and others like him are finally coming out and saying they've seen atrocities first-hand. Syria is already under the crunch of sanctions as well as having lost its position on the League. Still Mr. Assad seems determined to keep his chin up and lead. Nothing short of direct foreign military intervention will stop him.
As for sanctions, I've always been kind of skeptical about their overall effectiveness. Look at Iran, for example. Recent reports say the economy has been severely affected by all the sanctions imposed upon it, yet Ahmedinejad and the ayatollahs seem just as determined--if not more than ever--to continue to subvert the West's desire that it end its pursuit of nuclear weapons. The only people who seem to suffer are everyday Iranians going about their lives. Sanctions only work if they incite the "street" to rise against their government in protest...that doesn't seem to be happening.
And I'm also skeptical of these targeted assassinations of Iranian nuclear scientists, like the one that occurred yesterday. It is a well-known fact that Israel has been chomping at the bit to bomb Iran's nuclear facilities into the oblivion and that while the U.S. doesn't necessarily advocate military action, it probably doesn't disagree with it all too vociferously. Iran claims yesterday's assassination was the work of Israeli and American agents. Some Iran watchers have said it isn't completely out of the question that Tehran isn't responsible itself for these attacks given the fact that these scientists are pretty closely monitored and that it would be fairly difficult to successfully mount an operation against them. Who knows?
I agree that we don't want nuclear technology to fall into the hands of terrorists or rogue nations. There needs to be some semblance of checks and balances here. But I hold to the belief that nations should be allowed at least some level of self-determination. Were the roles reversed, I don't think the U.S. would react kindly to another country dictating how it defends itself. As people, if we feel like we're coming under attack, our natural reaction is to defend ourselves. Countries and governments are no different.
Iran should continue to be closely monitored, but I don't advocate murder. We look with horror at events unfolding in places like Syria, where the ruling autocrats kill dissenters with abandon. How is the West any different when it assassinates foreign citizens who flout Western ideals and norms?
Agree or disagree with me, it does give food for thought. But in the meantime, I'm putting on my ear buds and listening to Mr. Hosny and Shaggy sing about "love and joy and happiness." If only it could be. We'd all be much better off.
Ciao.
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