Tag: chemical weapons

Hello everyone, how are things going where you are? The weekend seemed painfully short for me this time, although I really would have a lot of things to rest upon both at work and in life. Maybe some other time. Progress on Syria was so fast this week, that even yesterday’s articles seem outdated. Unfortunately, dynamism does not equal improvement. Nevertheless, I came accross a few good reads.   On world affairs: Did The World Just Legitimize The Assad Regime It Spent Years Discrediting?  I start with this, because this is actually a really good point. Does the international community…

Happy September, people! How do you feel about fall approaching? I am half sad and half happy as always at this time of the year. Summer is my absolute favorite season, I love the hot weather and oh how I will miss my summer wardrobe! 🙂 But then I am also eagerly waiting for ‘the season’ to begin and for things to re-accelerate. We could call this one a Syria special issue since the news and world affairs blog posts were all about Syria this week. I found some really good analysis among them. On world affairs: Congratulations President Obama…

breakingnews: Obama to seek congressional approval for military action in Syria President Obama will seek approval from US Congress for military action in Syria, he announced Saturday from the White House Rose Garden. “We are the United States of America,” Obama said. “We cannot turn a blind eye to what happened in Damascus.”  Follow the latest at Breaking News.  Photo: NBC News

9 questions about Syria you were too embarrassed to ask I’ve never imagined there could be anything entertaining written about Syria at this point, but this one is the best I’ve read so far. Informative and entertaining at the same time.

theatlantic: The Authority to ‘Declare War’: A Power Obama Does Not Have The prime minister of the United Kingdom, armed with the Royal Prerogative, does not need Parliament’s assent to lead Britain into war. The president of the United States, holder of an office designed to keep “prerogative” powers in check, assuredly does. Yet history will apparently write that, in the late summer of 2013, the prime minister sought permission and, when Parliament denied it, receded from the field — and that a president scorned to ask, and went ahead with an act of war.  This paradox shows that American intervention…

breakingnews: Kerry: ‘Must be accountability’ for chemical weapons use in Syria NBC News: U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said chemical weapons were used in Syria and that President Barack Obama will be “making an informed decision about how to respond.” In a speech delivered on Monday, Kerry said President Barack Obama believes “there must be accountability” and that the administration is consulting with members of Congress.  He spoke hours after a United Nations team investigating claims of a poison-gas attack in a rebel-held suburb of the Syrian capital collected blood samples and interviewed survivors despite being temporarily turned back by sniper fire. UN Secretary…

After last week’s four-day-long weekend this one lasts only one day in Hungary. A pretty annoying practice really, although I have to add yesterday was the first “working Saturday” when I actually worked. On past ones I only went to work or not even that. The one day weekend turned out to be quite unpleasant though, so I don’t even mind it’s almost over already.  Unfortunately, I also had some major PC issues this past week and I wasn’t even able to use my laptop for a couple of days. Lessons learned: 1. A dysfunctional keyboard for a graphomaniac like…

Pillay says Syrian chemical weapons allegations “exceptionally grave,” investigation essential “These allegations are exceptionally grave and need to be comprehensively proved or disproved as soon as is humanly possible. Whether or not chemical weapons were in fact used, it seems that once again in Syria many civilians have been killed in flagrant contravention of international law.” /Navi Pillay, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights/

Geneva, 6 May 2013 – The Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic wishes to clarify that it has not reached conclusive findings as to the use of chemical weapons in Syria by any parties to the conflict.  As a result, the Commission is not in a position to further comment on the allegations at this time. The Chair of the Commission of Inquiry, Paulo Sergio Pinheiro, reminds all parties to the conflict that the use of chemical weapons is prohibited in all circumstances under customary international humanitarian law.  In line with its mandate, the Commission is…

united-nations: Monday’s annual Day of Remembrance for All Victims of Chemical Warfare is especially timely as the spectre of chemical weapons is once again casting its ominous shadow. According to Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, “Recent allegations of the use of these indiscriminate and morally repugnant weapons in Syria serve as a reminder of the continuing vital importance of the Chemical Weapons Convention.” Related United Nations News Centre story: http://j.mp/184vkli