Nov 07 2011
Dispatches from the Arab Spring: Veteran Foreign Correspondent Reese Erlich on Syria, Libya, Tunisia, and Beyond
Nearly 20 Syrian protestors were killed on Friday by government security forces less than two days after an Arab League brokered cease fire went into effect. Security forces opened fire on thousands of protestors who gathered after Friday prayers. Mass demonstrations to test the Syrian government’s commitment to peace were called for by opposition groups. The Syrian government announced a week-long amnesty period beginning Saturday, urging anti-government protestors to turn themselves in to police with the promise of immediate release. The US state department Spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said on Friday that while she hadn’t been informed of the amnesty deal, “[t]his would be about the fourth amnesty that they’ve offered since I took this job about five months ago. I wouldn’t advise anybody to turn themselves in to regime authorities at the moment.” Syria’s government lashed out at what it called the “interference” of the US, and condemned Nuland’s statement as “irresponsible.” A UN estimate last month put the number of Syrians killed during the 8 month uprising at 3000. The capture and killing of Moammar Gaddafi in Libya last month has reportedly boosted the morale of the Syrian opposition. Meanwhile, the Libyan National Transition Council, which declared the nation officially liberated on October 23, has announced free elections will take place in 8 months. The AP reported last week that the NTC also estimated disarming rebels will be a slow, cooperative process. A spokesman said the body hopes economic incentives, including employment opportunities, will motivate rebels to return to civilian life. There are fears that the current instability will spur a civil conflict among highly armed Libyans. Meanwhile, in Tunisia, where the first overthrow of the Arab Spring occurred, a new government is forming after last month’s elections. Last week officials with the Islamist Ennahada party, which won 90 seats in the new 217 member parliament, reiterated a commitment to a secular constitution, expected to be adopted in a year.
GUESTS: Reese Erlich, veteran freelance foreign correspondent, recently traveled across Middle East on assignment for The Guardian (London), Christian Science Monitor and ABC (Australia) Radio. He is also the author of “The Iran Agenda: The Real Story of U.S. Policy and the Middle East Crisis” and his latest book is called “Conversations with Terrorists: Middle East Leaders on Politics, Violence, and Empire.”
Reese Erlich Speaking Events:
Wednesday November 7th, 6:30pm, at Denny’s Restaurant Conference Rm, 10700 Jefferson Bl. in Culver City @ Overland Ave. Call (310)559-5351 for more information. Sponsored by the Society for Democracy in Iran
Thursday November 10th, 6 pm at UC San Diego’s International House, Great Hall. Click here for more information: http://calendar.ucsd.edu/DisplayEventDetail.asp?iEventID=25234&iSubCatID=1&iRoomID=
One Response to “Dispatches from the Arab Spring: Veteran Foreign Correspondent Reese Erlich on Syria, Libya, Tunisia, and Beyond”
I wish Arab people to be successful and getting a 21 century life quality, a democratic system endorsing freedom and equality between all people, genders and religions.
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The Arab spring used cleverly Facebook to spread the word and organizes.
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I am an Israeli Jew.
For the day I remember myself I am used to hear and read that whatever wrong is going around the world it is because the Jews.
Facebook founder is a Jew!
Facebook is one more Jewish contribution to mankind.
Hey ! – You missed blamimig the Jews of founding Facebook!
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The Arab and Muslim leaders from all the political wings traditionally blame the Jews for all their problems.
In the Arab spring they forgot to blame the Jews!
The so called human rights activists are using Facebook to organize anti Israeli demonstrations, flotillas, boycodes and they are blaming the “Jewish international lobby”.
Not blaming the Jews?
This is the real revolution