[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.]
International and Regional Perspectives
Turkey, Kurds, Iraq, Syria: A New Regional Dynamic Bill Park says developments in Syria complicate the Erbil-Ankara axis that had emerged in recent years.
Syria`s Kurdish Challenge to Turkey Gonul Tol writes that Turkey has “leverage over both Barzani and the SNC,” but that its control is limited.
Syrian Refugees in Lebanon: Back to School Scramble Usama al-Qadiri on the challenges of absorbing Syrian children into the Lebanese school system.
The Love Affair with Erdogan (Part 2) Agnes Czajka suggests it is Erdogan’s “impressive performance in the international arena that sustains his international reputation.”
Can NAM Solve the Syrian Crisis? Vijay Prashad says “the NAM meeting was to be the setting to increase confidence for the Contact Group.”
American Journalist`s Family Calls on Damascus to Release Austin Tice “31-year-old former Marine” and photographer could be held by the Syrian regime.
Syrian Narratives
A Real Crisis in Syria Ibrahim al-Amin on the domestic, regional and international dimensions that contributed to the polarized discourse on Syria.
As Syria Free-Falls . . . A Return to the Basics (Part 1) Bassam Haddad argues that “the political polarization around Syria has produced an interestingly problematic phenomenon: analysis is no longer important.”
Syria: New US Middle East Project? Emiko Jozuka also returns to the basics of the Syria crisis, focusing on the international dimension.
Organisers of First Syria Protest - Where Are They Now? Sue Lloyd Roberts writes about three of the six figures known to have organized the 31 January protest in 2011.
The Syrian Summary Maysaloon looks at developments in Syria and speculates on the country’s uncertain future, assuming that “we have finally arrived at a civil war.”
Que Faire en Syrie ? Alain Gresh on the parrallel battles being waged in Syria and the impass created by the media war.
Assad`s Massacre Strategy Hassan Hassan says that “by making regular Syrians suffer greatly for hosting rebels in their neighborhoods, the regime hopes residents will reject fighters - a tactic that has already succeeded in several areas across the country.”
Lies! Michel Kilo says the regime is “desperately trying to utilize the regional and sectarian grudges it has sown into the souls in order to shatter popular unity and transform the struggle for freedom into a mad sectarian fight among Syrians.”
Bashar Al-Assad Interview by Ad-Dounia TV Voltaire Network provides an English translation of Bashar Al-Assad’s 29 August speech.
Imperialism and the Left
Syria: Neither Riyadh nor Tehran but Popular Revolution Jamie Allison criticizes the “anti-anti-dictatorship crowd” he says is mainly composed of “Anglophone leftists,” and emphasizes the need “to consult people within Syria” to understand the popular revolution that is being fought.
Jamie Allinson’s “Leftist” Take on the Syria Conflict: A Critique (Part I) As’ad AbuKhalil’s says Jamie Allison “is trying too hard to convince us not to believe our own eyes and to pretend that leftist revolutionaries are leading the “revolution” in Syria.”
Jamie Allinson’s “Leftist” Take on the Syria Conflict: A Critique (Part II)
The Time for Action James Traub says it is time for the US to “range itself on the right side of history.”
Syria’s Dismemberment: Dulfilling the French Mandate’s Vision? Dawn Chatty on the divisive nature of current international political interference and dangers of intervention
Inside Syria
People`s Committees in Syria: Patrolling Local Borders Marah Mashi on the role and reputation of armed groups forming in various neighborhoods of major cities.
In Maaloula, the Past Has Relevance to Syria`s Tragic Present Robert Fisk in another one of his government-approved journalistic adventures.
Syria`s Road from Jihad to Prison Robert Fisk’s sensational account of his encounter with Jihadis in Syrian military prisons.
Syrian Writer: Robert Fisk is Indoctrinated by Syrian Regime For those accused of “minor charges” like Yassin Al-Haj Saleh, “the imprisonment conditions were worse; no Western or local journalist could ever have visited me nor any human rights activists.”
Caught in Syria’s Propaganda War Al-Jazeera on the impacts of amplifying the foreign jihadist element of the Syrian crisis.
Golan Heights Divided by Support for Assad`s Syria
Political Islam Revisited Abdulhamid Qabbani and Alma Hassoun on the political future of the Syrian Muslim Brotherhood.
Inside Syria’s Fracturing Rebellion Sarah Birke and Katie Paul interview two warlords in Jebel Zawiya.
The Making of a Syrian Rebel: The Saga of Abboud Barri
The FSA: How to Lose Support and Alienate People in No Time Rita from Syria on people’s disenchantment with the armed opposition.
Darayya Razan Zeitouneh recounts her friend’s testimony on the Darayya killings.
Art and Social Media
Toronto Film Festival Concerned over Arrest of Syria Filmmaker Orwa Nyrabia, co-founder of independent production company in Syria as well as the Dox Box Film Festival, was arrested at Damascus airport.
Orwa Nyrabia and the Absurdity of Cinema Detention Mohammad al Attar addresses those who adbicated Nyrabia: “I will travel whenever I want with Orwa`s words and the films he introduced us to within the Dox Box festival.”
A young Homsi’s lens’: An Artistic Project Documenting the Streets of Homs through Photography
Al-Jazeera Websites Hacked by Assad Loyalist Group
Policy and Reports
Month-by-Month Summary of Developments in Syria (Updated)
The Syrian Opposition Linda Lavender issues this report on the SNC, grassroots opposition, FSA and other armed rebel groups.
Government Attacking Bread Lines Human Rights Watch on bombings that occurred in Aleppo.
Arabic
اللامنطق في “منطق الثورة والمعارضة”
Dr. Munther Khaddam responds to Burhan Ghalioun’s most recent article about “the logic of the [Syrian] revolution and opposition.”
Wessam Al-Abd Allah criticizes the Free Syrian Army.
مواطنون من سورية … ضد الطائفية
This articles recounts the stories of Syrian citizens who have rejected sectarian divisions during the Syrian revolution against the French occupation.
سوريا تعيش صراع مصطلحات: «حرب أهلية» أم «نزاع داخلي مسلّح»؟
Hayfa Zaatar writes about the difficulty in describing the situation in Syria as either a “civil war” or a “domestic armed struggle.”
Razan Zaitouna defends the non-militarized revolutionary movements and declares her affiliation with those who are planning on building the country, rather than destroying it.
رسالة من لاجئ فلسطيني إلى لاجئ سوري
Letter from a Palestinian refugee to a Syrian refugee.
Ward Al-Assi reflects on her visit to Deir Ezzor.
رجل يخسر قدميه للإشتباه بتعاونه مع النظام
An anonymous Syrian interviews a man who had lost his foot after being wrongfully accused of being a loyalist.
Mohiddeen Eisso interviews a defected Syrian soldier and tells his story.
ناشطون سوريون في الأردن يضربون عن الطعام
Ra’fat Al-Ghanem writes about the actions taken by Syrian activists in the diaspora, and focuses on those who have gone on food strike in Amman, Jordan.
Rasha Rami tells the story of how she fled Aleppo to seek refuge in Turkey.
داريــــــــــــــــا
Razan Zeitouna writes about the Darayya killings.
تفجير جرمانا: إستهداف السلم الأهلي
Shadi Azzam writes about the explosion that occured in Jaramana, and the regime’s targeting of peaceful neighborhoods in order to divide and scare the Syria population.
الحرب في سوريا كحرب "جديدة"
Albert Dagger describes the war in Syria as a “new” kind of war.
نقاش شيعي من بوابة ازمة دمشق
Hussam Matar discusses the problems of the Shiite sect in the context of the “Arab spring,” and particularly the Syrian revolution.
وقفة مع «الحليف الإيراني» حول «الصحوة الإســلامية» والإخوان وحماس
Nahed Hatr writes about Iran and its Islamic revival agenda in the context on the current politics in the region.