Friday News Roundup - International
http://thedianerehmshow.org/shows/2012-12-07/friday-news-roundup-international
Egypt is in turmoil as its new leader tries to hold onto power. President Morsi is calling for dialogue as protests in Cairo turn deadly. There are fears Syria's besieged government is preparing to use chemical weapons. U. S. Secretary of State Clinton races the clock for a political solution to the Syrian crisis. Iran claims to have captured a U. S. drone. And from Bangladesh, new details on the factory fire that claimed more than 100 lives. James Kitfield of National Journal, Nadia Bilbassy of MBC and Matt Frei of the UK Channel 4 discuss the week’s top international stories, what happened and why.
Guests
James Kitfield
senior correspondent for National Journal.
Nadia Bilbassy
senior U.S. correspondent for MBC TV -- Middle East Broadcast Center.
Matt Frei
Washington correspondent of the U.K.'s Channel 4 News.
Help Syrian Refugees
A caller, Daphne, shared with Diane a church that helps Syrian refugees. Contributions can be mailed to:
Antiochean Archdiocese
358 Mountain Road
P.O. Box 5238
Englewood, NJ 07631
Comments
Please familiarize yourself with our Code of Conduct and Terms of Use before posting your comments.
There is a terrific piece by Paul Krugman in the NYT earlier where he stresses that while there has been a lot of bluster from the G.O.P. about how we should reduce the deficit with spending cuts, not tax increases, no leading figures on the Republican side have been able or willing to specify what, exactly, they want to cut.
They say they want to rely mainly on spending cuts. Which spending cuts?
I heard a story on Morning Edition yesterday that really touched my heart. It was about families that have made it out of Syria and that the children are now freezing because there is a severe lack of blankets and supplies. I have two questions: The first is "Why isn't the international community providing adequate support?" In the particular camp that was featured in the story there are no international aid agencies. And secondly, "Is there something that our family can do to help these children that are dressed in summer clothing and braving 40 degree weather?"
Willow Al-Shamma
As we experience the difficulties that Syria's regime change is creating, are there lessons to be learned for a very possible Iranian situation of a similar nature. As your panelists noted, Libya was an implosion, Syria an explosion. The Iranian state is perhaps even more developed, weaponized and self-sufficient than Syria is or was. Furthermore, Iran has a territorial history steeped in the cultural heritage of the Persian state - to me this means a people and culture even more willing to stand for their principles and beliefs. Don't get me wrong, I do not think the Persian culture is a violent or negative one - quite the opposite. But, history has shown when peoples have a past and commonality to draw upon they can withstand incredible events. So, in conclusion, although we cannot say the Iranian state is definitely going to fall at some point, we can imagine there is a good chance and therefore what we can learn now about this possible scenario?
Diane, your guest did not answer the question of what we can do to help the refugees in need of blankets, etc. She mentioned that the local agencies were overwhelmed. Is there a way Americans and others can support those agencies? If so, how?
Syria has sophisticated air defenses and a strong air force which make a "no fly zone" over all or a portion of Syria impossible.
An attempt would result in heavy losses with no possibility of success.
Why hasen't a guest or Diane mentioned the several hundreds of millions of humanitarian aid the US has/is sending to the refugees and opposition fighters?
A few weeks ago Diane Rehms corrected one of her panelist when he dismissively used the phrase "hogwash." I was a bit taken back when today she did not say anything to the panelist who said that "Russia is forever on the wrong side of history." Perhaps, Ms. Rehms could have quickly pointed out Russia's role in the Second World War. And suggest he watch Oliver Stones, "The Untold History of the United States," to better inform him. Additionally, she might have remarked that this year marks the bicentennial of the War of 1812, and Russia's role in that event. I would also point out the number of U.S. backed dictators across the world that this country has supported over the course of its two hundred year history. The Cold War is over! And it is time that such narrow minded commentators retire to their dens and write their memoirs. Its is precisely because of their history that Russia's diplomacy is more cautious than the U.S.
Debray
You can make a donation to a fund specific to Syrian Refugee Children through "Save the Children".
http://www.savethechildren.org/site/c.8rKLIXMGIpI4E/b.7998857/
"It's A Disaster: Life Inside a Syrian Refugee Camp" on Morning Edition focused on a camp where there are no international aid agencies and 3,000 children. Save the Children stated in a report yesterday that only one half of the money needed has been provided by the international community. Where is the support?
If individuals would like to make a DONATION, there is a fund specific to Syrian Refugees through "Save the Children".
http://www.savethechildren.org/site/c.8rKLIXMGIpI4E/b.7998857/
Willow
Matt Frei rocked on the show this morning. Very astute analyses. Go Matt!
In my short life (Im 27) it seems we all want to do something until we realize that our best intentions are "laid bare" as in; its complicated!!
Face fact, the Syrians don't want us there (no boots on the ground), but they want the weapons. Which we learned is probably a bad deal from the history of world. (Afganistan, vietnam, heck the french in the american revolution tried it and it didnt work, what did work; BOOTS on the ground)
OK, so your answer is provide only humanitarian assistance. Think hard, what is more persuasive, an MRE, a tweet, or a bullet. Those who want to want to save the people don't realize you need a soldier (or a couple hundred thousand) with a M16 to do it. Those who want to avoid the conflict and take the proverbial "Ron Paul" approach dont realize that the "hands off" approach actually has real consequences.
The answer is complicated but at the same time simple. Defend the "new" Syrian regime against the current regime right up until the point that they kill a "secular" civilian. Then we keep our friendship with Isarel (helpful) denounce that Islamist (who will take over) and save alot of money. After that we have a non-working Islamist state which makes our world view look correct(though we created it) and boost our allies.
Dirty politics solves problems.
PS: I really should say that I don't think my "solution" is a good one. In fact it is the most amazingly bad possibility. It just seems to be the most logical solution at this time.
OK final rant promise..
I love how the entire show was about how nothing other than it is the western world's (read US) fault that any other place on that planet is having problems. The 6ish billion people that don't live in the Us/Europe aren't grunts. They don't blindly believe any stupid commentary that is thrown at them by the regimes that happen to be in power. They do have cognitive abilities.
I find it amazingly ironic that during the domestic hour all I hear is about how the people voted in what they wanted and the evil capitalist are holding them back and almost in the same breathe we get accused of oppressing the rest of the world by trying to put them on the same EXACT path we followed. We had factory fires in the US, hence unions, the rest of the inhabitants of this planet are capable of doing the same thing in other parts of the world. We don't have a monopoly on common sense, although it seems this panel would have us believe that nothing can be done without the US and at the exact same time the US cant do anything right. Cognitive dissonance from Diane. . . . say it aint so.
I just listened to the last of the re-broadcast. The fire in Pakistan reminds me of the shirtwaist fire in NYC in 1911. I believe that the safety of their people is incumbent upon the government in Pakistan. If they put in place the appropriate safety regulations, then the prices of the goods are pushed up as a natural result of this. It then has the dual effect of improving the lives of the people there, as well as creating more jobs there. In fact, all of these countries participating in sweatshop labor should be brought to task on creating and enforcing the appropriate safety regulations. This is a human rights issue. If all of the countries were to bring these regs on-line, the prices would be pushed up more equally across the board. (BTW, not suggesting that any of this is easy.)