Stagnant Syria
SYRIA WAS IN THE NEWS A LOT BUT NOTHING REALLY HAPPENED
A bunch of people spoke about intervention, but no one’s really made their mind up about anything
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In regards to intervention in Syria, this weekend was one of much talk and little action.
On the domestic front, Foreign Secretary William Hague said that military inaction would be an “alarming moment“, stating that “the world must stand up to the use of chemical weapons”.
Hague’s American counterpart, John Kerry, said that he and Arab League foreign ministers have agreed that Bashar al-Assad’s alleged use of chemical weapons crossed a “global red line”.
On the other side of the debate, Assad told PBS that, “There has been no evidence that I used chemical weapons against my own people,” and refused to confirm or deny whether he had any chemical weapons, before – highly cryptically, you’ll notice – stating that if he did happen to have some, they were under “centralised control”.
A German newspaper has backed up his statement, claiming they have evidence from an unidentified, high-level national security source that Assad himself was not personally responsible for the attacks, but suggested they had been authorised by someone in his regime.
For now, the US will continue to seek the support of Congress to authorise military action.
More Crises
EGYPTIAN ACTIVISTS ARE WORRIED THAT THE NEW REGIME WILL PERSECUTE EGYPTIAN ACTIVISTS
They say the army-backed regime don’t like being challenged
Muslim Brotherhood supporters in Cairo. (Photo by Tom Dale)
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Following a crackdown on Islamist allies of former President Mohamed Morsi, Egyptian activists have warned that the country’s new army-backed regime will continue their crackdown – this time on anyone opposed to both Morsi and the military.
After a leading activist from the 2011 revolution was arrested on charges of attempting to topple the government – and after it was reported that 35 more secular activists are under investigation – the activists fear that the new regime is likely to try to intimidate anyone they feel might want to speak out against them.
Wael Abbas, one of the activists said to be under investigation, suggested that the government had leaked the investigation to gauge public support for a crackdown on dissidents.
This is the latest dick move from the increasingly authoritarian government, who have already reinstated secret police units, killed hundreds in state-led massacres and used unregulated military trials to fast track the sentencing of Muslim Brotherhood members.
Friendships
THE SPECIAL RELATIONSHIP IS APPARENTLY STILL VERY MUCH ALIVE
I think we can all breath a little easier now
Matthew Barzun, the American ambassador to Britain. (Photo via)
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The American ambassador to Britain has denied that the “special relationship” between the two countries has been damaged by the vote in Commons against UK military intervention in Syria.
Matthew Barzun described the “rush to declare this relationship dead, damaged or diminished” as “strange” and said it lacked perspective, claiming that, “Debate and disagreement have always been features of the relationship between our two countries.”
So, people of the UK, have no fear – the relationship is still very much alive and will continue to constantly underwhelm you until we do something truly unforgiveable.
Tragic Ends
REMEMBER THE SPY SWAN THAT WASN’T A SPY OR A SWAN?
It’s dead now
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You might remember the story from last week of the swan accused of spying in Egypt that actually turned out to be a stork with a tracking device on its leg?
Well, it’s dead now.
According to Nature Conservation Egypt, the stork was released into a conservation area in southern Egypt but flew to an island in the Nile where it was caught and eaten.
The group said, “Storks have been part of the Nubian [a region along the Nile river] diet for thousands of years, so the actual act of eating storks is not in itself a unique practice.”
Third Child Syndrome
BUCKINGHAM PALACE GUARDS ACCUSED PRINCE ANDREW OF BEING AN INTRUDER
Which must have knocked his self esteem a little
(Photo via)
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The Duke of York has said that he is “grateful” for an apology from the police after officers apprehended him in the grounds of Buckingham Palace.
Prince Andrew was stopped while walking around the gardens after the patrolling officers didn’t recognise him as the Queen’s third child and a man who has an apartment and an office in the palace.
The incident came two days after a man was arrested on suspicion of burglary inside the palace.
The duke said, “The police have a difficult job to do balancing security for the Royal Family and deterring intruders, and sometimes they get it wrong.
“I am grateful for their apology and look forward to a safe walk in the garden in the future.”
