Imperialism on Trial: writers and activists convene in Derry, Ireland

Last week I had the honour of joining a number of incredible writers and orators in Derry, Ireland, in a panel, “Imperialism on Trial”. The five speakers were: John Wight, writer and host of Hard Facts; the former British Ambassador to Syria Peter Ford; author, journalist and broadcaster Neil Clark; former MP and host of Sputnik Orbiting the World, George Galloway; and myself.

Organized by Derry resident Gregory Sharkey, the panelists addressed a wide range of issues. As one of the speakers, author Neil Clark, wrote:

“Five passionate and well-informed speakers, who included the former British Ambassador to Syria Peter Ford, detailed the carnage and chaos that has been unleashed around the globe by the aggressive, warmongering policies of the US and its closest allies.

The full panel is online from RT’s livestream recording:

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Please Support My Syrian Voices Book Project

*photo: Resilience of Syrians, Old City of Homs, December 2015.

As many readers will know, I have visited Syria four times, between April 2014 and December 2015—independently on a journalist’s visa and as part of two peace delegations. When in Syria as a writer, I visited key places—including liberated Homs and Ma’loula, terror-bombed regions of Homs, and the Yarmouk district, which has been focus of slick propaganda by anti-Syria corporate media and so-called human rights groups—and have conducted numerous interviews, with Syrian political and religious leaders, as well as Syrian civilians.

I have taken many photographs and videos, collected numerous personal testimonies, undertaken my own research and investigations, visited hospitals and refugee centres, and—in every area that I visited—have conversed with Syrians about what they feel is the cause of the problems in Syria, the solution, and on their insistence for Syria’s sovereignty, and on their support for the Syrian Arab Army and their president.

In the months since my last trip, I have been transcribing interviews and testimonies and writing articles based on them, writing about my personal impressions based on my visits to Syria, and challenging the latest corporate media lies and propaganda campaigns.

I will be returning to Syria, as soon as possible, and for that I must ask for financial assistance to make this trip possible. [see:  Syrian Voices Book Project on GoFundMe ]

Why am I compelled to go to Syria?

In order to write a book that prioritizes Syrian voices from Syria: truths from some of the most highly-misrepresented, lied about or plainly ignored areas of Syria.

To do justice to the full spectrum of the stories of Syrians as told by them, it is essential that I visit areas I not previously been to, areas that have been liberated since I was last there and areas that are enduring especially egregious suffering—such as in Aleppo under terrorist bombs.

Sara Flounders Speech on Syria at Left Forum 2016

In this forum, particularly interesting is the speech given by Sara Flounders, of the International Action Center, on her visits to Syria, on the reasons behind the global war on Syria and the documentation of US planning the destabilization of Syria since at least 2005. Flounders also gives historical context to the lead-up to the 2011-begun war on Syria, as well as the many reasons why the NATO-GCC-Zionist alliance want to destabilize and break apart Syria.

 

Related:

–Excerpts from US delegation visit to Syria, Feb 2015, In Gaza

-The Real Syrian Moderates: Voices of Reason (Mufti Hassoun & Dr Bouthaina Shaaban), Mar 15, 2015, Russia Today, in Arabic at Dr. Shaaban’s FB page, Dissident Voice, Uprooted Palestinians, In Gaza

-University Hospital, Damascus: Meeting Victims of Western-backed Mortar and Rocket Terrorism, Mar 3, 2015, In Gaza

-The Terrorism We Support in Syria: A First-hand Account of the Use of Mortars against Civilians, Sep 11, 2014, Zero Anthropology, Global Research, Rabble, Dissident Voice, In Gaza

–Deconstructing the NATO Narrative on Syria, Oct 10, 2015, Dissident Voice, Syrian Free Press, Sott.net, World News, Uprooted Palestinians, prominent Norwegian blog, Steigan blogger, prominent Swedish blog, Anders Romelsjö Jinge.se *in Polish: Medium Publiczne and Wirtualna Polonia, In Gaza

-Syria Dispatch: Most Syrians Support Assad, Reject Phony Foreign ‘Revolution’, Mar 7, 2016, SOTT.net (in Spanish; in Turkish; republished at: Off Guardian, Dissident Voice, Strategic Culture, Global Research, In Gaza) (cited in: “Western Reporter in Syria Finds U.S.-Backed Fighters Are Jihadists”, Washington’s Blog; “Contrary to West’s Humpty-Dumpty Allusion Syria is ‘Coming Together Again’”, Sputnik News)

-Western media ignoring reality on the ground in Syria: terrorism and anti-Syria sanctions which help terrorists, Mar 3, 2016, Russia Today, (republished at: SOTT.net, Dissident Voice, 21st Century Wire, Global Research, The Vineyard Saker In Oceania, In Gaza)

-Where is the West’s compassion & condemnation following terror attacks in Middle East?, Jan 30, 2016, Russia Today ( Global Research, 21st Century Wire, Sott.net, In Gaza)

SYRIA: my published articles and other musings from and on Syria (2014/2015/2016)

*The permanent page to this post can be found HERE

*see also: My short video/audio from/on Syria and Syrians (many links)

*see also: My Interviews on Syria

*see also: Glimpses from Syria (December 2015)

ARTICLES FROM AND ON SYRIA:

Where is the West’s compassion & condemnation following terror attacks in Middle East?, Jan 30, 2016, Russia Today, Global Research, 21st Century Wire, Sott.net, In Gaza

Not-Tweetworthy: UN selectively tweeting, ignores Foua, Kafarya, Nubl, Zahraa, Jan 15, 2016, re-published at Global Research, In Gaza

Propaganda alert: Madaya media fabrications; recycled photos, Jan 10, 2016, Dissident Voice, In Gaza

Christmas Celebrated in Terror-Ravaged Syria: Christmas trees, carols, church services, and the resilience of the human heart, Dec 29, 2015, Dissident Voice, Global Research, In Gaza

Deconstructing the NATO Narrative on Syria, Oct 10, 2015, Dissident Voice, Syrian Free Press, Sott.net, World News, Uprooted Palestinians, prominent Norwegian blog, Steigan blogger, prominent Swedish blog, Anders Romelsjö Jinge.se *in Polish: Medium Publiczne and Wirtualna Polonia

Untold Suffering in Foua and Kafarya, Part Two, Aug 20, 2015, Counter Punch, (In Gaza)

Untold Suffering in Foua and Kafarya: Two Northwestern Syrian Villages Under Siege and Assault by NATO’s Terrorists, Part One, Aug 18, 2015, Counter Punch, (In Gaza)

The Real Syrian Moderates: Voices of Reason (Mufti Hassoun & Dr Bouthaina Shaaban), Mar 15, 2015, Russia Today, in Arabic at Dr. Shaaban’s FB page, Dissident Voice, Uprooted Palestinians, In Gaza

Scoundrels & Gangsters at UN: Silencing the Syrian Narrative, Feb 4, 2015, Russia Today, Global Research, Uprooted Palestinians, In Gaza

Interview: Syrian Ambassador to the UN, Dr. Bashar al-Ja’afari on Sovereignty, Terrorism, and the Failure of the UN, Jan 17, 2015, Al-Akhbar, in Arabic, Global Research, Medhaj News, Counter Punch, Consortium News, Rabble.ca, Oriental Review, Uprooted Palestinian

The Dirty War on Syria: interview with Professor Tim Anderson (RADIO)

Absolutely imperative listening on Syria, with important historical context.

Feb 10, 2016, Unusual Sources

“Brendan Stone interviews Tim Anderson about his important new book, “The Dirty War in Syria,” which addresses the monumental lies and profound propaganda that has accompanied Washington’s regime change operation in Syria.”

Click HERE to listen

PROFESSOR ANDERSON’S BOOK – The Dirty War on Syria: Washington, Regime Change and Resistance- is available online HERE

RELATED CONTENT:

-The Dirty War on Syria: Interview with Tim Anderson, Feb 11, 2016, Global Research

-The Syrian Endgame, “A Lost War is Dangerous”. US-NATO, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, “Losers on The Rampage”, Feb 14, 2016, Global Research

Peace activists demonstrate against the US Ramstein Air Base in Germany

Robin Nibur
https://www.facebook.com/robin.nibor0

“On Saturday about 2000 peace activists demonstrated against the US Ramstein Air Base in Germany.
The biggest US air base in Europe is not only responsible for the coordination of the “drone wars” in Africa and Middle East. Every day huge military machines take off from Ramstein loaded with soldiers or tons of military equipment and weapons which are sent to the war zones of the US foreign war policy.

The drone wars in Yemen, Pakistan and many other countries would not be possible without Ramstein. The German peace movement is aware and tries to mobilize all citizens against the imperialistic war machine.

Most German mainstream media ignores this important event. Just like the government which tolerates the US war politics or even supports it. Just a few days ago it was made public that 20 new atomic bombs from the US will be stationed at Büchel airbase.

Germany and whole Europe has to stand up. Time is running.

In solidarity with the people in Syria, who are victims of those imperialistic wars like in Yemen, Iraq and Libya.

Statement of Palestinian groups and individuals in the occupied homeland, refugee camps and the diaspora about the global war on Syria

UPDATED

via the Syria Solidarity Movement

**please visit the SSM website to sign the statement

Boston: “Peace for Syria” Rally

Friends in or near the Boston area, please attend this rally for peace and in support of sovereign Syria.

When: Sat July 25 at 1:00 pm-3:00 pm EDT

Where: Copley Square, Boston (at intersection of Boylston street and Darymouth street)

FB event page

Syrian American Forum website

“Peace in Syria is long overdue. The conflict is in its fifth year and going unabated. Terrorism is on the rise, extremists are recruited all over the world, including in the U.S. Some are from here, our town of Boston. It is high time the administration acknowledges that its Syria policy has to change.

speeches at Toronto Al-Quds Day Rally – 2015

I’m very honoured to consider these three fine human beings as close friends. They speak the truth on the Zionist project of stealing all of Palestine, as well as neighbouring countries, and of so-called “israel”‘s treating and funneling of terrorists into sovereign Syria as part of the NATO-alliance war ON Sryia.

http://player41.swf

Speech by Br. Zafar Bangash at Toronto Al-Quds Day Rally 2015

the road to Palestinian liberation lies…where?

 

I’ve expressed the similar sentiments to these below in the past, but the subject came up again today on social media and, as it is of utmost importance, I’m posting the commentaries here.

Navid Nasr began the needed exchange with these words:

“Apparently, for a lot of both Palestinian and non-Palestinian advocates for Palestine and the Palestinian people, the road to Palestinian liberation lies through the destruction of Libya, Syria, Iraq, Lebanon, Yemen, Tunisia, and now Egypt. Good to know.”

Ahmad Barqawi:

“Islamist Palestinians… and that’s a direct outcome of saudi indoctrination, this is in fact a very familiar tune that we’ve all heard before during that woebegone cold war era when, at the time, the road to palestine essentially went through “communist afghanistan”; except that palestine was never at any point intended to be the destination of their GCC/CIA-sponsored jihad after the “liberation of kabul” just as it will never be their destination after their intended “liberation of damascus”; that was basically one of saudi arabia’s (and other gulf reactionary regimes’) main calling cards to recruit thousands of “arab mujahideen” to fight the soviet presence in afghanistan on behalf and at the behest of the reagan administration, and at the same time ensure the continued deliberate marginalization of palestine as a central cause for the arab and islamic worlds.

it’s the same brand of insidious indoctrination that prevails today and relegates palestine to the back burner while giving credence and urgency to whatever rotten cause that the saudi ruling dynasty chooses (or is instructed) to champion in their ever onward quest to serve the imperial interests of the west; everything takes a back seat to their unrelenting efforts to plant the seeds of discord and fan the flames of an all-out sectarian war across the region.”