[This is a roundup of news articles and other materials circulating on Syria and reflects a wide variety of opinions. It does not reflect the views of the Syria Page Editors or of Jadaliyya. You may send your own recommendations for inclusion in each week`s roundup to syria@jadaliyya.com by Monday night of every week]
Regional and International perspectives
Urban Warfare: the Modern Arab Scourge Rami Khoury ties the regional phenomena of urban warfare to “the absence of fairness and equal opportunity in the public life.”
Why Does the Syrian Opposition Remain Fractured? Shane Farell provides a list of major political opposition parties inside and outside of Syria.
A Surprise from Syria and Israel? David Ignatius on the dialogue between Israel and Syria
Trouble in Tripoli: Syria Crisis Shifts the Stage According to some in Tripoli, people opposing the Syrian regime were “armed to the teeth” before the arrest of Shadi Mamlawi.
The Hamas-Syrian Split: A Dilemma for Iran`s Palestinian Strategy Mohammad Ataie argues that “the Islamic Republic saw its relationship with the Palestinian (…) from a Syrian perspective.”
Syria to send 10 athletes to London Olympics Albert Aji writes that the “Syrian body remains fully recognized by the IOC.”
Amin Gemayel to March 14: Keep Out of Syria Gemayel wants Lebanon to display “positive neutrality” when it comes to Syria.
Lebanon’s Little Syria Emile Hokayem on the recent violence in Tripoli.
Prepare for the Long Haul in Syria Michael Young argues that it is too late for a diplomatic movement.
Nonviolent Tactics may be Syria’s Only Path to Freedom The Christian Science Monitor on why violent tactics on both sides will not bring peace.
Syria Kurds Fleeing to Iraqi Safe Haven Samer Muscati on Syrian Kurds ’displacement to Northern Iraq.
Imperialism and the Left
The Trouble with Syria Matthew Bugden considers the Syrian case “holistically” and explains why an important segment of society still supports Assad.
Syrian Rebels Get Influx of Arms with Gulf Neighbor’s Money, U.S. Coordination The West and its allies operate outside the Annan Plan
Major war games on Syria border ‘have nothing to do’ with Syria “Eager Lion 2012” is a warfare simulation operation currently being conducted by nineteen countries in Jordan.
Terrorism, the Last Resort Against Syrian Resistance The Syrian people pay the price of extremist activities in Syria.
The Americans’ hypocrisy vis-à-vis Al-Qaeda and their predicament in Syria Wassim Raad argues that the presence of armed gangs was known and supported by the Western regimes from the beginning.
Russia warns against training Syrian rebels in Kosovo According to the Voltaire Network, Kosovo is to become an international training ground for Syrian militias.
Military Intervention and Syria Robert Matthews on the historical complex that favors arming the opposition in Syria
Penetrated Opposition and Failure of Consensus in Syria: Interview with Haytham Manna`(Part 4 of 4) Haytham Manna’ on the National Coordinating Body and its relationship with the SNC and other opposition groups.
On Syrian narratives
Homs Opposition: Al-Farouq Battalion is Killing Us Sharmine Narwani reflects on the offensives of the armed opposition inside Syria.
On the Syrian Frontline James Bays talks about his experience with the FSA in Homs’ al-Qusayr
Bloody new campaign to oust Assad Brian M. Downing’s hypothesis that the Damascus twin bombings were neither from the regime nor from the FSA
Kofi Annan’s Syria Peace Plan has Been Blown out of the Water Abdel Bari Atwan on the extremist element that “crept” into the Syrian crisis and threatens to further deepen the sectarian divides.
Voter Turnout 51% Despite Election Boycott According to the Syrian election committee chairman Khalaf al-Izzaoui.
Taking Syria`s Elections Seriously Ellen Lust argues that “the significance of the seemingly insignificant elections lies in the crucial battle over expectations about the regime`s future.”
Interview with Head of UN Syria Mission Gen. Robert Mood General Mood claims that people across the political spectrum in Syria want the Annan Plan to succeed
Largely Unseen, Syria Carries out Arrest Campaign NPR on this silent repression forgotten amidst the violence in Syria.
Art and social media
Syria Refugee-Wounded al-Harabi al-Hor, in collaboration with Jadaliyya, presents a short piece on a Syrian family who fled to Lebanon’s Wadi Khaled.
Even Under Threat, Syrian Artists Paint in Protest Revolutionary artists exhibit their work in Beirut.
In Syria Layla al-Zubaidi’s “cultural visit” to Syria and her creative piece on the people of the revolution.
Assad Still Standing Stuart Draper’s short documentary about Assad’s ability to survive through “the Arab Spring.”
Local Elections in Syria Gari Sullivan’s latest radio piece in which he interviews people in Damascus who did not vote in the latest parliamentary elections.
Inside Syria:
Syria’s New Parliament: From Baath to Baath Members of various parties discuss the flaws of the electoral system which reelected the Baath Party.
The Syrian Exodus Syrians met in Damascus contemplate leaving their homes because of the growing instability in the capital.
Free Syrian Army fights on with `shotguns, sticks and knives` – video Patrick Wells meets with members who say they are part of the FSA.
Policy and Reports
Divided They Stand: An Overview of Syria`s Political Factions The Foundation for European Progressive Studies provides a list of opposition political factions inside and outside Syria.
Arabic
أضحوكة لا تُضحك أهلها: `مجلس شعب` النظام السوري
Subhi Hadidi on the amusing Syrian People’s Assembly elections and the regime’s weak plans to gain and maintain support
الانتخابات السورية: إمعان في الأزمة
Saad Allah Mezraani on the Syrian People’s Assembly elections.
هل سينجح «المنبر الديموقراطي»؟
Michel Kilo asks if the Syrian democratic platform will succeed in shifting the balance of power and aid the revolution in achieving its goals?
المسألة الكردية في سورية: مقاربة عامة
Badrakhan Ali reflects on the Kurdish case in Syria.
Haytham Mannaa argues that the international community is giving up on the Anan initiative hastily without providing a proper alternative.
صيف سوري ساخن على نار هادئة
Fadi Al-Ahmar argues that the people in Syria need to learn from the Lebanese case.
تشاؤم حيال مهمة المراقبين الدوليين في سوريا
The Damascus Bureau on how the Kofi Anan initiative failed before it had even started.
الفضائيات ذات السطوة الأكبر على المشهد السوري
الأزمة السورية وبوادر التسوية
اليهود المحافظون ومعاداة الثورة
Subhi Hadidi on the recent supportive statements made by the French-Jewish historian and journalist Alexander Adler regarding the Asad regime.