Saudi Arabia’s push to bring Syria back into the Arab League is facing resistance from a few countries, The Wall Street Journal reported Thursday.
The report named Qatar, Morocco, and Kuwait as opposing normalization between Syria and the Arab League, which suspended Damascus in 2011. Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani publicly expressed opposition to the idea on Thursday.
“There were reasons for the suspension of Syria from the Arab League and the boycott of the Syrian regime in that time and these reasons still exist,” he said. “(Qatar’s) individual decision is not to take any step if there is no political development or solution to the crisis.”
According to the Journal, the Arab states that oppose the normalization are making demands of Damascus, including “calls that Damascus accept Arab troops to protect returning refugees, crack down on illicit drug smuggling, and ask Iran to stop expanding its footprint in the nation.”
But overall, regional countries are accepting that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad isn’t going anywhere and are upgrading ties with his government. Despite the opposition from a few Arab states, the Saudis seem determined to move ahead as they hosted Syria’s foreign minister on Wednesday for the first time since 2011.
Have the Saudis finished creating that moat around Qatar for disobedience yet? Cause last I checked they were major sponsors of ISIS and all the violence they created in Syria.
From https://realalexrubi.substack.com/p/leaked-cia-pressured-yemen-to-release
“Houthi media says al-Shami [ Deputy chief of Yemeni Security Service] “pointed out that the Americans used to train their individuals in Yemen and send them abroad to carry out operations for them, and then affix the accusation to Yemen as an excuse to come under the cover of fighting those individuals.
“Saudi-born Ali al-Ahmed of the Gulf Institute, a leading expert on Saudi politics and terrorism, told me that he is not at all surprised by the phone call between George Tenet and Yemen’s former president.
“I’ve been saying this for a long time,” al-Ahmed told me. “People that think that these organizations; al-Qaeda, ISIS, are organic, non-state-backed organizations are either lying or are completely stupid. The fact that ISIS had all these American weapons, they didn’t come from thin air. This was part of a plan. The same thing with al-Qaeda; the fact that this organization which has been attacked all over the world continues to survive 20 years on, and spread, it’s not by accident. It’s done by security and intelligence organizations in Washington, D.C. and in Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE, and by Ali Abdullah Saleh.”
“This recording,” he said, “fits the bill; that Anwar al-Awlaki and others, they were sometimes knowingly or unknown being used as a tool.”
It makes sense, for the other Arab countries to bring Syria/ Assad, back into the fold… Alliances are only as strong as their numbers.
Its a terrible idea. First off not one of those countries have apologized for the demonization of Syria and its people, not to mention the geopolitical backstabbing and sponsorship of terrorism via ISIS and Al Qaeda affiliates. The lives lost, the infrastructure destroyed. Now that Assad has more clout and leverage with Moscow and Saudi finds itself in some kind of reallignment (to what degree still unknown), all of a sudden, Assad should be brought back into the fold (from the cold), so they can all share in his new better looking future. Not one of these sniveling, conniving fvckers have made any public condemnation of any events of the Syrian war, not the destruction of Palymyra nor the massive killings of Christians. These GCC nations were/are so PRO US vassalage and stand on the wrong side of history and Assad joining them is to absolve them of their sins and guilt. He should remain neutral and chart a new course for his nation.
Fair points, fair points.
Well said.
Remain neutral?
He’s Putin’s boy and now is Saudi Arabia’s.
His course is tacking towards those two along with China and its endless willingness to use its money to buy nations and people.
…”with China and its endless willingness to use money to buy nations and people”… I think you don’t care to learn anything and are so deeply immersed in western ideology that you think in such patterns (otherwise known as projection). Either that or your ill informed or lack a lot of information. In bi-lateral relationships between states, there have been plenty of examples of mutual benefit aka win-win situations. Capital exists in more forms than money. Only a western empire brainwashed person would think that the rest of the world operates under such stringent capitalist guidelines: throwing money at everything and hope it all works out. Well…take a look at the achievements of Afghanistan and Iraq nation building and the price tag for it. I suggest you make an effort to de-program yourself and see whats what free of that neo-libral toxic outlook of the world.
Western media?
Here is today’s news from Asharoq Al-Awsat:
Gulf-Arab Agreement on Political Solution to Syrian Crisis
Gulf Arab foreign ministers and their counterparts from Egypt, Iraq and Jordan confirmed that “a political solution is the only solution to the Syrian crisis.”
The ministers emphasized the importance of having “an Arab leadership role in efforts to end the crisis in Syria.” They also discussed “the necessary mechanisms for this role” and agreed to intensify “consultations among Arab countries to ensure the success of these efforts.”
Foreign ministers of Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, Jordan, Egypt, and Iraq held a consultative meeting on Friday hosted by Saudi FM Prince Faisal bin Farhan in Jeddah to discuss efforts to resolve the Syrian crisis.
At the meeting, the top Arab diplomats “agreed on the importance of resolving the humanitarian crisis” in Syria and securing conditions that would allow for refugee returns, according to a Saudi Foreign Ministry statement.
The foreign ministers also condemned Israel’s illegal practices that undermine the two-state solution and the opportunities for achieving a just and comprehensive peace based on it.
The two-state solution ensures an independent and sovereign State of Palestine with East Jerusalem as its capital on the borders of June 4, 1967, in accordance with international legitimacy decisions and the Arab Peace Initiative.
Additionally, they condemned Israel’s attacks on Al-Aqsa Mosque and its violation of the sanctity of holy places.
They stressed the need to respect the historical and legal status quo at the holy site and maintained that the Al-Aqsa Mosque is a purely worship place for Muslims.
The top diplomats asserted that the Jordanian Awqaf and Al-Aqsa Mosque Affairs Department is the authorized body with exclusive jurisdiction to manage the affairs of the mosque and regulate entry into it under the historical Hashemite guardianship of Islamic and Christian holy places in Jerusalem. https://english.aawsat.com/home/article/4274741/gulf-arab-agreement-political-solution-syrian-crisis
If you don’t understand that China and their buddy Saudi Arabia is running the show over there right now you must be the one reading only “Western Media”
First off, I never once mentioned western media yet you keep injecting it. In this context it may apply, but I was referring to ideology. The one that suggests either with us or against us, exceptionalistan, rules based order. You are infected with it. Its in your snarky remarks about China (and Saudia). I can extract the nuances. China willingness to buy nations and its people, China and its buddy Saudia. Being a resident of the global south, I m adept at distinguishing a condescending tone when ideological driven westerners are discussing matters outside of their favourable outlook. US buys (throws money) nations and people, and when it can’t it organizes coups, color revolutions and hybrid warfare or lawfare to undermine nations. When other nations are fostering cooperation, it thumbs its nose at them or outright rebukes their effort because Mr. Exceptional was not invited. My main issue is that Saudia Arabia is not the most reliable of partners. It, as well as the the Gulf Cooperation Council are all complicit in the Syrian War. They have yet to make any show or statement of an apology or regret. The GCC pays vassalage to the US Empire. Despite China’s well meaning diplomacy, Saudia does things for Saudia’s interest, noticeably on a different vector currently. And to add to the insult, all this talk of Syrian Crisis and NONE of these conniving members have dared mentioned THE elephant in the room: the occupant at Al-Tanf (The Oil Bandits of America). Syria Crisis needs to be resolved but lets be realistic, all or 90% of the stakeholders were involved in sponsoring/supporting the war in one form or another. Needless to say they are all hypocrites and their inclusion will only guarantee the non resolution of the crises. I think China is either being setup to fail or being used by the Saudis and their GCC for an ulterior motive.
Lol
Your imaginings is not the reality.
Anyone who believes the Chinese are so hapless that they could be set up by Saudi (their gas station) really has no grasp of the situation at hand.
Ok lets just lay out a few facts. Syria survived an atracked organized and trained by the West & Israel, Sponsored by UAE, Qatar, Jordan, S.Arabia and supported by Bahrain & Kuwait. All stakeholders of the pipeline syndicate with US& Israel. Assad refuses to play ball because he had other vested interests that involved Russia and wanted independence and room to operate free of the Iron hand of S.Arabia and its geopolitical tool the GCC. They all ( Iraq was facing its own dilemma at the time) mauled Assad. He invites Russia and Iran and prevales and its the beginning of the end of these endless wars& coups of the Empire, culminating in Ukraine and unrealistic hopes of climaxing in China. US stays to steal oil after cover of Isis is eliminated. Then Turkey enters into the mix. Fast forward Turkey makes overtures to Syria, to reconcile and work together as Turkey has seen the light and is angling towards multipolarity on team Russia-China. Syria is in that team. US losing geopolitical clout everywhich way you look. So Saudia had to make some choices. Whatever Saudia chooses thats what the GCC does for most parts. There was a brotherly tiff couple of years back between Qatar and SA which culminated in sanctions. Who came to offer support…Turkiye. Turkiye and Qatar are both muslim brotherhood. Syria is neutral in so far as being in no organization currently but having once been GCC before being scorned like Qatar and possibly falling into the brotherly arms of muslim brotherhood a la Turkiye via team ChinRuss. If you know anything about West Asia regional politics you would know thats a no no for the GCC. They abhore the Muslim brotherhood and its already intolerable presence in Qatar and Egypt. These are the ulterior motives I was inferring to. China wants peace and business to be prioritised. Even managed to pull a win with the Saudi-Iran detente, then I m sure Saudi requests they do another one this time with Syria, to prevent Syria from falling into enemy camp, but they haven’t been too kind to Syria infact unapologetic and rude and smug but if they present all their ugly disgusting backstabbing selves as one unified front as GCC agreement capable (see we are with China, same team), Syria would be more inclined. Yet even in the early stages, there are other members in that den of snakes already hissing unfair (very familiar in tone) demands at Syria and the gaping absence of the mention of the US base in these crisis negotiations not to mention all kinds of correspondences with Washington leads me to believe this is all an elaborate ruse. Do you see the threads that I m pulling at? Anyway time will tell. I hope I m wrong and peace be attained.
Sure …
Assad is not Russia’s b itch, Saudi Arabia is not inviting China in to invest billions in various projects nor build their first nuclear reactor.
Despite that they are throwing money around to buy influence Assad will turn down the billions China will be offering to him as he will to Saudi Arabia because he truly is as you imagine him to be.
He also plans to kick the Russians out because he was just playing them for fools….right?
You are hell bent on injecting your condescending ideological nonsense into this argument. I don’t doubt Saudia has bi-lateral agreements with China, and China has made massivr investments in that region much the same way it has ALL OVER the world as far back as an EU bailout during the 2008 Economic Bubble Bust. Whats your point? I m failing to extract a coherent argument from you. Russia’s bitch, China buying nations as opposed…I bet you if it was US or EU doing it there wouldn’t be all this negativity coming from you. Alas, you made me lose sight of my point. Though I understand the undercurrent of the geopolitics events in that region, I m saying a nation, Syria, its leadership, its people were brutally and mercilessly beseiged by groups of nations that you don’t even acknowledge. China was not involved in that War in any way, but Qatar, Saudia Arabia, in short GCC were left right and Centre of it. Russia and Iran imtervened upon invitation. All I hear from you is Assad is Russia’s bitch and China is buying nations. Incoherent, childlike temper or should I say butthurt because the reality doesn’t favour your outlook.
Assad is not Russia’s bitch?
Is he not doing their bidding as they prop him up?
You seem to be lost in your imagination of what you wish.
China is now involved and if you are so uninformed and unable to read the myriad of regional news sources that detail the arrival of the Chinese (and their money) that has been occurring, your fantasies won’t replace actual facts. https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202304/1289119.shtml
https://www.middleeastbriefing.com/news/china-and-the-developing-multipolar-order-in-the-middle-east/
https://www.asiabriefing.com/store/book/chinas-silk-road-economic-belt-608
Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani publicly expressed opposition to the idea on Thursday.
Right after getting a call from the state department.
It’s actually more closely dependent of Ankara, which has a long history of cooperating (along with Morocco) with Islamo-fascist terrorism, first DAESH, now by other labels.
When Saudi Arabia was apparently going to invade Qatar a few years ago, on discrepancies re. Iran and Yemen, Turkey quickly intervened deploying forces and consolidating the alliance (or protectorate or whatever you want to call it).
Right now, after Riyadh moved towards China and Russia, it’s likely that the USA is also in that line but there’s a regional autonomous distinct dynamics. Don’t forget that in 2016 Obama tried to have Erdogan removed and openly sided with the Kurds (for a brief but decisive change that meant the destruction of DAESH).
If there was not someone pushing back on Saudi Arabia’s plans they’d just Zoom today’s meeting.
Promises will be asked today and assurances will be given.
I really don’t believe our State Department can stop their reentry in the very near future despite their press releases being regurgitated by our press.
“resistance from Qatar, Morocco, and Kuwait”
Anyone believe that these countries really care about what happens in Syria? They are terrified of the U.S.
They are allied to Turkey, Israel and the USA.
Resistance is from Israel and USA
From Turkey primarily.
Saudi Arabia obtained last month dialogue partner status in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization https://amwaj.media/article/saudi-arabia-s-integration-into-the-shanghai-cooperation-organization
(SCO is a Eurasian political, economic, and security institution established in 2001. Led by China and Russia, the bloc also includes four landlocked Central Asian nations—Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan—along with India, Iran, and Pakistan. Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey also have dialogue partner status. )
I have a belief that the wishes of Saudi Arabia and their friends might have some weight in Syria’s quest for re-entry.
Qatar, Morocco, and Kuwait bow to US demands. Qatar and Kuwait are occupied by major US military bases, the latter having obligations to the US for the Gulf War, and Morocco (in Africa) has long had ties with the US.
on Morocco–
The US State Department recently approved the potential sale of some $750 million dollars in arms to Morocco, including HIMARS launchers, ATACMS missile systems and Joint Stand Off Weapons (JSOW), in what analysts say reflects a natural modernization push for the North African nation but also signals some concern over tensions in the region.
“The Moroccan authorities perceive that there is a need to augment their defense and security capabilities in light of the sensitive regional environment and the desire to plan for various types of scenarios which include worst-case scenarios that involve a breakdown in relationships with neighboring states, however low the probability of that happening may be,”
Qatar is a Turkish protectorate, it’s doing Erdogan’s dirty job.