[This is a collection of news updates on Syria compiled from multiple sources by the editors.]
Developments
Syrian FM: We are ready to sign Chemical Weapons Convention
John Kerry Gives Syria Week to Hand Over Chemical Weapons or Face Attack “The US secretary of state has said that President Bashar al-Assad has one week to hand over his entire stock of chemical weapons to avoid a military attack.”
Give Up Weapons, Russia Urges Syria John Kerry’s words, which sounded like an offer, were allegedly only a “rhetorical argument.”
Manna Says Evidence US Talking With Nusra Front
Diplomatic Compromise? Syria, Iran and Russia Working on Counter-Proposal to US Strike
Kilo Sends Open Letter to Putin “Get to work, move Assad and his entourage from Syria to wherever you want, and we will declare acceptance of a political solution to put an end to this long tragedy devouring everything we have and which will reach everywhere in the world, including Russia.”
Assad Interview transcribed interview with Charlie Rose.
Private Security Companies to Begin Work in Syria “The decree is aimed at organizing the work of security companies operating in the field of ‘special protection and security’.”
John Kerry Under Fire For ‘Unbelievably Small’ Comment John Kerry maintained that the strike would be “unbelievably small.”
Report: Saudis Sent Death-Row Inmates to Fight Syria
Opinions
Oh, You Silly Man Michael Weiss on the US-Russia’s alleged rapprochement.
Why America Must Act on Syria Ahmad al-Jarba and Salim Idris “ask Congress and the American people to restrain Assad’s destructive capacities. Please authorize President Obama to act against Assad and to stop him in his deadly tracks.”
You Got a Better Idea? James Traub imagines an “alternative in order to examine whether Obama is, in fact, making a colossal mistake.”
Inside Syria
A Syrian’s Cry for Help Yassin Haj Saleh, an intellectual who resides in Damascus writes: “A half-hearted intervention will not be enough. The United States and those who join it must not simply “discipline” the regime for its use of chemical weapons alone, without making a decisive impact on events in Syria. To do so would be a waste of effort and send the wrong message.”
Waiting for the Tomahawk Rita from Syria writes: “The question remains about the efficacy of this predicted military intervention whose supposed aim is to punish the al-Assad regime for using chemical weapons. This amounts to no more than a slap on the wrist for the regime, which will survive – coming out of the attack with its “anti-imperialist” credentials intact and its narrative of the conflict confirmed.”
Journalist Italien Libere en Syrie: “Il Est Possible que Cette Revolution m’ait Trahi” The first declarations of the kidnapped journalist who was released a few days ago suggest he is back with a grim outlook on the revolution.
Syria’s Non Violent Resistance is Dying to be Heard Rania Khalek on the various instances of non violent resistance in Syria.
Analysis
The Strategic Interests at Play in US Debate Over Syria Douglas A. Ollivant says there are three issues that are of primary concern for the US, namely enforcing weapons convention, regime change, al-Qaeda-linked groups.
Policy, Statements and Reports
Elizabeth O’Bagy Changes Her Mind, She Decided to Not Answer my Questions Asad AbuKhalil posts the email in which she desists herself from the interview.
Where Congress Stands on Syria
La Lettre d’un Ancien Ambassadeur de France a Francois Hollande Pierre Charasse sends a letter criticizing France and its use of R2P to justify a strike on Syria.
Other/Resources
5 Dinner Party Rules for Discussing the Syria Crisis 1) Keep a map handy 2) Brace yourself for conflated use of the terms Islam, Islamic, Muslim, Arab, terrorist, and others 3) Prepare to show that Syrians are not a one-dimensional people driven solely by religion 4) Fight nonsense with nonsense 5) Have an exit strategy.
Arabic
Mohammad al-Balloot on the American vote and the political settlement in order to avoid the U.S strike on Syria.
دمشق توافق على المبادرة الروسية
al-Akhbar on Damascus accepting the Russian Initiative and giving up its chemical weapons to the international community.
المجتمع و توازنه vs سوريا: التدخّل الامبريالي
Ward Kasouha on the “imperialist intervention” and its possible effect on Syrian society.
سوريا، سلاح كيميائي وضربة عسكرية
Alain Gresh on the military strike on Syria.