tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-253864662011-11-15T18:45:17.972+02:00The ranting and raving(!) of a young Englishman living in Damascus.Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02228328319533200432noreply@blogger.comBlogger331100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25386466.post-4386374079767461402011-04-02T15:00:00.002+03:002011-04-02T15:19:48.564+03:00

Wow - protests in almost every major city in Syria. It is easier to list the cities without protests (Aleppo - surprising - and Tartous - not so surprising) than to list the ones where there were protests. The "pro-Assad" crowds a few days before may have been much much bigger but make no mistake: given the fear, intimidation and violence used to suppress dissent in Syria the fact that thousands

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02228328319533200432noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25386466.post-64988296851591515302011-03-30T16:53:00.002+02:002011-03-30T16:58:24.954+02:00

So, clearly Bashar didn't read my blog post of 28th March (no need to write me to apologise, mate. I understand that work's been putting you under a lot of pressure recently. It's fine). Bashar al-Assad made an eagerly awaited speech in the Syrian Parliament today - his first since mass protests began on 15th March.  With this speech he had a great opportunity to regain the initiative and win

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02228328319533200432noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25386466.post-61809899466461104982011-03-29T15:29:00.002+02:002011-03-30T01:58:10.850+02:00

Guys, I may as well just let Maysaloon take over this blog! I urge you to read his most recent post: A Very Syrian Way of Doing Things. Just as an aside, Joshua Landis is really slipping these days isn't he? He always was a little bit of a regime apologist but he may as well be on the Assad payroll the way he's been talking since 15 March kicked off. He's certainly not describing the situation

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02228328319533200432noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25386466.post-1727277312854744472011-03-28T03:35:00.007+02:002011-03-29T15:34:07.920+02:00

Watching hand-held videos of crowds and death and destruction in various parts of Syria that have been engraved across my memory and feeling all used up. I've so much to say but I don't know where to begin. I'm not a Syrian, so I kinda feel like my voice is intrusive. All I'll say is, I love you Syria, you're my second home, and I see great promise and optimism in you now. I also see the

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02228328319533200432noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25386466.post-31135760518998267612011-03-22T22:29:00.002+02:002011-03-28T03:51:11.892+02:00

Protests continue to happen across Syria. The most serious are happening in the Houran region (Daraa and surrounding towns and villages), where the Syrian governments efforts at a mix of repression and conciliation have so far failed to dispel anger over the arrest of children and the subsequent killing of protesters. Maysaloon, a Syrian blogger has written an analysis of the situation which I

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02228328319533200432noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25386466.post-9362646953952326532011-03-21T04:22:00.002+02:002011-03-26T02:14:33.554+02:00

The large demonstrations in Der'a continued today, with the Syrian government employing both stick (tear gas and live ammunitition, killing at least 1 protester today) and carrot (promising talks, offering to release the arrested schoolchildren). However, these measures were not enough to conciliate the people of Der'a. Instead, they destroyed several symbolic buildings within the city - the

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02228328319533200432noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25386466.post-47931019518689858932011-03-19T23:24:00.008+02:002011-03-20T13:56:22.667+02:00

Today the focus of the protests in Syria has been Der'a. Der'a is a small city in southern Syria, just a few miles from the Jordanian border. Aside from its status as capital of the eponymous province in which it's located, it's a fairly nondescript Syrian town. Nevertheless, over the last few days it has been the scene of large and angry demonstrations against the Syrian government. This has

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02228328319533200432noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25386466.post-25089451197575440492011-03-18T20:20:00.013+02:002011-03-20T05:43:22.693+02:00

Phew, it's been a full day... Last night, the UNSC authorised a No Fly Zone and additional measures against Col Gaddafi. Meanwhile, the crackdown continues in Bahrain, where the government has demolished Pearl roundabout, the symbolic landmark which demonstrators calling for reforms had adopted as their gathering place. Ironically, the statue was intended to symbolise the unity of the GCC (

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02228328319533200432noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25386466.post-21822681704833624392011-03-17T14:12:00.003+02:002011-03-17T20:23:43.728+02:00

I've been super impressed with a number of recent articles published by Jadiliyya. Of particular note: Maya Mikdasi writes how the latest Wikileaks release implicates the Lebanese govt under Sinioura in the Israeli attacks of 2006. Sherene Seikaly and Pascale Ghazaleh look at the issue of paternalism/infantilism in Middle Eastern political culture. Last, but certainly not least, Hannes Baumann

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02228328319533200432noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25386466.post-44591960746621801362011-03-15T22:42:00.013+02:002011-03-19T14:03:08.758+02:00

So, the Syrian Day of Rage v2 actually delivered something. However, quite what this thing is remains a little uncertain. Reports about demontrations in Aleppo, Qamishle and even Latakia, that Deir Az-Zur and towns in the Hauran (south of Damascus) had been cut-off and surrounded by security forces, or that gunfire could be heard in Aleppo tonight, all these remained mostly unverified (and

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02228328319533200432noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25386466.post-76611679346702584932011-03-04T22:36:00.014+02:002011-03-07T20:00:52.731+02:00

A few days ago, allegations emerged suggesting that an Israeli (in)security company, Global CST ("a fix-it firm for ailing nations"), has been supplying the mercenaries which Gaddafi has deployed against his opponents inside Libya. Press TV claims that Global CST were authorised by Tel Aviv to provide Gaddafi with 50,000 mercenaries. Because Press TV is connected to the Iranian government, and

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02228328319533200432noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25386466.post-66789466810489138812011-02-26T12:53:00.005+02:002011-02-27T00:56:07.990+02:00

I have a list compiled by hospitals in Benghazi of all the medical supplies they URGENTLY need. In the last 24hrs I have been emailing the major aid agencies I could think of to try to get in contact with them so I could pass on this list (plus contact number on the ground in Libya). If ANYONE can help please contact me (via comments or direct email). Thank you. PS. You can donate money to the

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02228328319533200432noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25386466.post-57270910079190574552011-02-22T04:53:00.017+02:002011-02-24T17:56:11.840+02:00

So, this is what it looks like, a crime against humanity. Blood and guts, fire and dirt, cracks and bangs, blinding flashes and crawling darkness. Shaking and stillness. And this is what it feels like. The shock, the awe, the tightening stomach, the creeping nausea. The scream that is silenced and the tears that won't come. The futility, the frustration, the utter fragility. The terror and the

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02228328319533200432noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25386466.post-1150629934518960472011-02-20T13:43:00.002+02:002011-02-21T05:49:38.781+02:00

I like this article by Qandaz: Syria speeding up. Just to add my twopence worth (why not?): I think Syrians do, ultimately, want democracy, but not at any price. Bashar is relatively popular (or at least not too unpopular!), and people are very wary of the alternative leadership (in particular, the opposition in exile has almost no credibility inside the country). I agree that Syrians have

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02228328319533200432noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25386466.post-25652567188243198472011-02-17T20:30:00.011+02:002011-02-21T17:33:12.969+02:00

Was it really 3 years ago? I remember standing in Bab Touma square, on the edge of the Old City of Damascus, saying goodbye to a group of friends at the end of a pleasant evening spent in one of the city's many restaurants. It was about 11.00pm when a loud bang came echoing towards us from the direction of Mount Qasioun. Our conversation abruptly halted, everyone was momentarily shocked,

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02228328319533200432noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25386466.post-22724864788818832992011-02-16T13:49:00.004+02:002011-02-16T14:18:19.476+02:00

There were overnight clashes between security services and anti-Gaddafi protesters in Benghazi, Libya, two days ahead of mass protests planned for 17th Feb. There have also been further protests in Iran, Yemen and Bahrain (and possibly in Algeria which has been ominously quiet for last couple of days). Bahrain, in particular, is attempting to follow the Tahreer Square model, with protesters

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02228328319533200432noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25386466.post-45499084448196945452011-02-15T19:45:00.002+02:002011-02-15T20:28:12.818+02:00

Check out this footage of Ramy Essam and his band, Meshakel performing in Tahreer Square, Cairo last week. I love the sense of atmosphere the footage gives you - it almost seems like an impromptu rock festival! Translation of lyrics [as presented in Youtube comments] We are all united as one, And what we ask for, Is just one thing: GET OUT! GET OUT! (x3) Down, Down Husni Mubarak! (x4) The

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02228328319533200432noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25386466.post-49975564987937596412011-02-13T15:06:00.010+02:002011-02-13T22:12:58.915+02:00

Nice little article putting events in Tunisia and Egypt into the context of Pan-Arabism, that most well-worn of Middle Eastern political footballs... The resurrection of pan-Arabism - Opinion - Al Jazeera English In the meantime we are seeing that any 'transition' period is sure to be anything but smooth sailing. In attempting to clear Tahreer Sq and restore 'normality' the army has provoked

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02228328319533200432noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25386466.post-48709355779001252482011-02-12T18:41:00.009+02:002011-02-15T01:34:49.367+02:00

Here's a little taste of the optimism which is emanating from Tahreer Square, Cairo and now spreading across the region - Sout al-Horeya (the Sound of Freedom). [Enable CC for English subtitles] Recent events in Tunisia and Egypt have shown that a new Middle East is possible. These are incredibly exciting days. I hope to bring you more first hand information in the coming months. Salaam.

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02228328319533200432noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25386466.post-61187677332781975362007-10-25T20:45:00.007+03:002011-03-20T14:08:17.828+02:00

Many posts have been deleted or have been heavily edited. This is merely to protect the identities of the guilty by association. Normal blog archives may resume at some time in the future...

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02228328319533200432noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25386466.post-75209670509860742332007-04-29T18:31:00.002+03:002010-08-09T19:38:14.413+03:00

Sorry about the delay folks - I've been busy with teaching. Anyways, here's part two of my adventures in Jordan.KarakAfter two nights in Petra I caught a bus north to Karak. Karak is a pleasant enough little town, sitting atop a hill which holds a commanding position over Wadi Araba. For millenia this hill has been the site of fortifications and the most recent occupant is a large castle built

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02228328319533200432noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25386466.post-62646874155317423562007-04-12T11:10:00.001+03:002007-04-12T11:24:30.411+03:00

This morning I stumbled upon this thoughtful interview with Damascus-based American photographer Daniel Demeter. Aside from the failure to draw a clear distinction between tourists (those passing through for 7 days-2 weeks) and the many foreigners who stay in Syria for extended periods (to work, to study, to hang out), I think it is well worth your attention because it covers a lot of ground.

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02228328319533200432noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25386466.post-59805895088412675552007-04-11T22:42:00.000+03:002007-04-11T23:15:46.772+03:00

I have spent the last two weeks visiting Jordan - and what an amazing time I have had. Apart from visiting all the main attractions (detailed below), I leave Jordan having made many new friends, had several (mis-)adventures, spoken a lot of Arabic and generally recharging my batteries after a gruelling couple of weeks trudging around the Damascus property market.Here is part one of the

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02228328319533200432noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25386466.post-1150103993701845202006-06-12T11:54:00.000+03:002006-08-01T14:05:46.670+03:00

For anyone who spends even the briefest period of time in the Middle East, it quickly becomes apparent that music is hugely important to the people here. Obviously, five times a day there is the songlike call to prayer, but otherwise, wandering through Damascus you are confronted with a whole host of sounds blasting from cars, houses and cafes. Some is familiar (50 Cent, Metallica, Pussycat

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02228328319533200432noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25386466.post-1148042372896993532006-05-19T15:39:00.002+03:002011-03-18T16:48:57.591+02:00

Last week C-lo and I took a trip out to the desert to visit the ruins of the ancient city of Palmyra. A brief history lesson: Palmyra was an important caravan city, located besides an oasis along one of the main trade routes linking the East (Persia, India, China) with the Roman Empire in the West. It reached a peak of wealth and importance in the 2nd and 3rd Centuries AD, culminating in Queen

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02228328319533200432noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25386466.post-1147684429108881772006-05-15T11:38:00.001+03:002011-03-18T16:40:49.230+02:00

So far I have tried to avoid going too deeply into political issues on this blog, but as Bush and Ahmadinejad - is it just me, or has anybody else noticed the uncanny 'simian-arity' of the two? – prepare to go head to head, I often think of the effect this might have on this part of the world. I don't want to discuss what I think of the current sabre-rattling and the complexities involved (not

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02228328319533200432noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25386466.post-1146746780780089662006-05-04T15:12:00.001+03:002011-03-18T16:39:58.760+02:00

Last week we went to see a dance called 'Stillness' - a fusion of contemporary and traditional Arabic dance with a great soundtrack. Now, I'm no expert at dance, but I was impressed by how accomplished and moving the pieces were. It seems to me that it wouldn't have seemed too out of place in London. To cap it all, admission was free! This was one of those events that, in my ignorance, I would

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02228328319533200432noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25386466.post-1146062237463288372006-04-26T17:16:00.001+03:002011-03-18T16:39:04.199+02:00

Friday 21st April Still feeling a bit ill so I took it easy. In the evening we managed to wrangle free tickets to the album launch concert of a Syrian singer called Lena Chamamyan. A couple of hundred invited guests - Damascene movers and shakers, probably, though they meant nothing to us - crowded into the courtyard of the house of the artist Mustafa Ali, often checking each other out as much

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02228328319533200432noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25386466.post-1145898841884830712006-04-24T20:12:00.003+03:002011-03-20T14:21:29.506+02:00

Tuesday 18th April 2006 In the morning C-lo and I departed Damascus with four friends for a three day trip to the north of Syria. In late morning we arrived in Homs – Syria’s unloved third city – where we hired a taxi and driver for the day. As we departed for the Crusader castle Krak Des Chevaliers we were holding our breaths – partly at anticipation at seeing one of the most majestic and best

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02228328319533200432noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25386466.post-1145897230892136042006-04-24T19:47:00.001+03:002011-03-18T15:56:19.866+02:00

Monday 17th April 2006 Our Arabic teacher invited us to join him and his other students on a picnic trip to the Golan Heights. 17th April marks the withdrawal of the last French soldiers from Syrian soil in 1946 and every year the Syrian Government allows people to enter the Golan in order to call for an end to the continued Israeli occupation of Syrian soil. Associated Press reported that

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02228328319533200432noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25386466.post-1145126561886000732006-04-15T21:30:00.001+03:002011-03-18T15:55:02.019+02:00

It was the birthday of the Prophet on Monday - most of the streets have been strewn with banners and people were handing out coffee and sweets. C-lo and I ended up making some new friends... On that topic, it is striking how friendly many of the people here are - we have been given so many phone numbers accompanied by offers to help us with anything we need in Syria. The one English word that

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02228328319533200432noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25386466.post-1144594630027304222006-04-09T17:57:00.002+03:002011-04-04T13:16:51.045+03:00

C-lo and I took our first trip outside the the noise and pollution of the big city to Maalula, a predominantly Christian village built into the mountains about50 miles north of Damascus where many of the inhabitants still speak Aramaic. There were a couple of convents built into the hills which were dotted with clefts and caves, it was nice to see the place being used by groups of Syrians having

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02228328319533200432noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25386466.post-1144170262347191102006-04-04T19:58:00.003+03:002011-04-04T13:16:04.786+03:00

Well, here it is, the eagerly (!) anticipated blog documenting Dave's adventures in the venerabe city of Damascus. I can almost feel your sense of excitement. Here's the story so far. 1) We have now been in Damascus for two days and we are having a fantastic time. Yesterday morning was a little manic, arriving in a sleepless daze and being ambushed by a horde of taxi touts. It was too much to

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02228328319533200432noreply@blogger.com0