The Saudi challenge to US Syria policy
AL MONITOR – 6.1.2014 – Saudi Arabia begins 2014 with plans for an assertive regional policy which include continuing the war in Syria until president Bashar al-Assad is deposed. – Nawaf Obaid, a fellow at the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs at Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government and a senior fellow at the King Faisal Center for Research and Islamic Studies, and someone with deep knowledge of Saudi decision-making, writes this week: “Of utmost importance for stability in the Arab world is the creation of a military force that can successfully deter Iranian activities and assist the Syrian rebels in bringing down the Assad regime in Damascus. A military command based at its new headquarters in Riyadh will be established in 2014. The Gulf command will be built into a 100,000 standing military force with the Saudis contributing anywhere between 50,000 to 75,000 troops. The ultimate objective is to guarantee that this new global powerhouse bloc will effectively dominate and significantly alter the political, economic and security landscape of the MENA region.”
Syrian opposition re-elects Qamishli-born Jarba as leader ahead of Geneva talks
BEIRUT – Agence France-Presse – 6.1.2014 – Syria’s main opposition National Coalition re-elected Ahmad Jarba as its leader during a general assembly meeting in Istanbul on Jan. 5, the coalition said in a statement.
Jarba reelected as leader of Syria Coalition
Wining 65 votes, former Leader of National Coalition of Syria Ahmad Asi al- Jarba was reelect as the opposition body’s chief.According to Anadolu news agency, the 118- member coalition held a conference on Sunday in Istanbul and voted for Jarba as its leader.Jarba’s rival and former Syrian Prime Minister Riyadh Hijab won 52 votes.No candidate gained enough votes to become the coalition’s deputy leader or its secretary general. The two-day gathering will end today.
TODAY’S MESOP QUOTATION : WESTERN CONFUSION
Left Party: Kurds should go to Geneva II as an independent delegation
ANF – QAMISHLO 05.01.2014 – The Kurdish Left Party in Syria General Secretary Muhammad Musa has stated that the failure of the talks in Hewler between the West Kurdistan People’s Assembly (MGRK) and the Syrian Kurdish National Council (SKNC) to produce sound conclusions was down to the SKNC being part of the Syrian National Coalition, and was therefore unable to make independent decisions.
TODAY’S MESOP SHORT CUTS WEST KURDISTAN
Attack on Asayish in Qamishlo
ANHA reports attack on Asayish (security police), no deaths.
Jabhat al-Akrad Fights ISIS in Aleppo?
It seems Jabhat al-Akrad (Kurdish front) is back again in Syria and fought ISIS in Aleppo ANHA.
WATCH VIDEO : YPG Capture Al Qaida weapons in Tel Hamis
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BYsQ70JrAwU
ISIS executes 6 Mujahideen
Hawar news reports ISIS executes six members of the anti Al-Qaida group, the army of the Mujahideen.
Six groups join self-management project
Six groups join self-management project. – Posted 2 hours ago by Wladimir van Wilgenburg – http://hawarnews.com/index.php/component/content/article/43-2013-02-24-21-16-12/9317–6-
Kerry: US open to ‘helpful’ Iran input on Syria / Don’t worry – be happy !
“We’re happy to have Iran be helpful,” he told reporters in Jerusalem.
JERUSALEM – 5-1-2014 – The United States is open to “helpful” Iranian input during an upcoming peace conference in Switzerland aimed at ending Syria’s war, US Secretary of State John Kerry said on Sunday.
https://now.mmedia.me/lb/en/international/528658-kerry-us-open-to-helpful-iran-input-on-syria
Syria Daily: Growing Campaign v. Islamic State of Iraq – Updated !
By Scott Lucas – eaworldview – 5.1.2014 – Updated – The state of the conflict between the Islamic State of Iraq and insurgent factions, which flared into widespread fighting and arrests on Friday, is confused this morning.There are unconfirmed claims that the ISI killed 30 people in one incident or that the group had been forced out of several towns in northern Syria. Another doubtful assertion was that the Islamic Front, the largest insurgent bloc, had given ISI 48 hours to leave Syria entirely. – What we do know:
TODAY’S MESOP COMMENTARY BY TONY BADRAN : White House sees a partner in Assad – Dining together again!
2014 may be the year when the White House drops all demands for Assad’s departure from office. As 2013 drew to a close, the Wall Street Journal published a lengthy and damning chronicle of President Obama’s handling of Syria. And while 2013 was a particularly catastrophic year for US policy in Syria, 2014 promises to be even worse. For if last year marked Washington’s official abandonment of the Syrian opposition, this may well be the year the White House begins the process of re-engaging Bashar al-Assad.
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