Afterthoughts, Ethics and values, International affairs, International law, Intervention, Media criticism, Middle East, Militarism, NATO, Peace, Peace illiteracy, Syria, Terrorism and fearology, The West's decline, U.S., United Nations, United States, US empire, War on Terror, Zeitgeist

How many Americans has al-Assad killed?

I read dozens of articles every day about various conflict zones, commentaries, war reports and – the few times it happens – possibilities of peace. I read about Syria in particular as I have since I visited Damascus and Aleppo in December 2016.

It’s important that one does not, over time, develop the disease called “psychic numbing” – an excellent concept developed by Robert Jay Lifton, a former TFF Associate.

Today I stumbled upon an article in the Omaha World Herald by Washington Post’s David Ignatius under the headline “The Star-Crossed History of CIA Paramilitary Action.”

I’m not going to discuss that article but would like to call your attention to this sentence – that Ignatius does not even dwell on:

One knowledgeable official estimates that the CIA-backed fighters may have killed or wounded 100,000 Syrian soldiers and their allies over the past four years.

I fail to understand it. I read it again. I’d urge you to do likewise.

JO25 July, 201724 July, 2020Leave a comment

Media criticism, Mediekritik, Middle East, Militarism, Militarisme, NATO, Syria, Terrorism and fearology, The West's decline

Peace plan for Syria – first steps

A quick comment – expressive of a slight frustration. It doesn’t even occur to the reporter – the Washington Post’s bureau chief in Beirut – that she is talking about international aggression. Can everybody just use Syria for whatever games they please? Welcome to follow me on my new public page. Continue reading Peace plan for Syria – first steps

JO9 March, 201724 July, 2020Leave a comment

Ethics and values, International affairs, Iran, Media criticism, Middle East, Militarism, Nuclear weapons, Sanctions, U.S., United Nations, United States

Comments to Charles Krauthammer, Washington Post

Today Charles Krauhammer – a well-known extreme rightist usually advocating war – writes in the Washington Post under the headline “The Iran deal: The anatomy of a disaster”. My comments under the article goes: The day Mr. Krauthammer will write about• sanctions on Israel for its nuclear weapons and international law violations;• anytime/anywhere inspections in all nuclear weapons countries including Israel (does he really believe … Continue reading Comments to Charles Krauthammer, Washington Post

JO10 April, 201524 July, 2020Leave a comment

Cultural matters, Ethics and values, International affairs, Iran, Israel-Palestine, Media criticism, Middle East, Militarism, NATO, Nonviolence, Nuclear weapons, Peace, Peace illiteracy, Peace proposals, Sanctions, U.S., Zeitgeist

Comment to Israel’s defence minister in Washington Post

Israel’s defence minister Moshe Ya’alon writes in Washington Post under the headline “Current Iran framework will make war more likely”When I wrote my comment there were already more than 1100 comments – so here it is: “Israel’s defence minister is an echo of PM Netanyahu. Nothing new, Israel’s official views are well-known, beamed out a thousand times more effectively than Iran’s to the world, not … Continue reading Comment to Israel’s defence minister in Washington Post