The breakdown in #Syria's presidential election:

Bashar 51%
Al Assad 49%

President #BasharAlAssad is in power for 21 years now. It will be 26 years if he completes the new term.
I still remember when he took oath in Parliament in #Damascus after his father's death in 2000. I was watching the ceremony on TV w/ a close Syrian friend, ex-army, served in Syrian military in #Lebanon. I was flabbergasted after his first live speech:
The new Syrian president spoke in perfect, incisive, articulate Arabic, without pauses. No teleprompter. Impeccable expression. He was the youngest Arab leader then (along Abdullah II of Jordan), a breath of fresh air (before Tamim, MBS, MBZ, Hariri, & Haitham).
Bashar Al Assad returned from London with fresh ideas, a different worldview than his father's, an airforce officer who seized power in a coup & lived in paranoia, fearing a counter coup. Bashar, a minority Alawite, married Asma from Syria's Sunni majority.
You could see the spark in his eyes in that first public speech, in 2000. Bashar Al Assad believed he could change Syria. He wanted strong ties with the West. Wasn't a socialist. Wasn't an uptight. And he probably was open to peace with Israel. But the Old Guard hit him smack in
the face. The Old Guard, his father's buddies, were corrupt but in control of the country. They played Bashar and drove Syria down a path of stagnation and unprecedented corruption in the past 21 years. Basically pushing Bashar and Syria into a deadend.
To sustain their wealth, corruption, and power, the Old Guard resisted peace even after Palestinians recognized Israel, and opened Syria to Iranian influence without check (even though his father kept the ayatollahs at bay while maintaining a strong alliance with them).
Come 2011 and the civil war, where Bashar gave in to hawks who used brutal, disproportionate, and excessive force to crush what initially were peaceful protests by Syrian civilians demanding better services and life.
Today, Bashar Al Assad had a chance to show his backers (like Russia) and his people that he changed. But instead of launching political reform, he wins 97% of the vote and becomes president again, leaving opponents to think there's only one way to bring change in Syria.

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More from @_AhmedQuraishi

30 May
Since 2019, every day in #Pakistan sees new red lines crossed in military-bashing. The latest involves ridicule of top spy chief amid rising impression of state-media open clash. No one expected this to happen in PM #ImranKhan Govt, which started as friendliest to media+military. ImageImageImageImage
This military-bashing, and dragging the top spy chief through the mud, is probably damaging for #Pakistan's military (both criticism & trolls-led defense). #PTIGovernment is distancing itself from this mess (Hint: see last grab here). ImageImageImage
This military-bashing and dragging of spy chief's name through the mud in the most personal way possible is a serious matter, underlined by this rare official public comment by #ISI on the controversy, and the pushback through trolls & allies.

ImageImage
Read 5 tweets
3 May
ہمارے میڈیا کی مشرق وسطی میں کوئی بیورو آفیسز ہیں نہیں، اور نہ پہلے کی طرح tentacles ہیں۔ گزشتہ آٹھ سالوں میں خطے کے حکام اور دانشور، ایران ترکی خازاخستان آذربائیجان عمان امارات سعودیہ عراق اردن مصر مراکش، سب میں اعتدال پسندی اور دنیا کے ساتھ اور خصوصا مغرب کے ساتھ مل کر چلنے /1
چلنے پر زور دیا جا رہا ہے اور اسی پر کام ہو رہا ہے۔ ہمارے ہاں الٹا حساب ہے۔ بتایا جاتا ہے کہ نیا اسلامی بلاک بنانے جا رہے ہیں اور چین ایران روس کے ساتھ مل کر امریکہ کو شکست دینے جا رہے ہیں۔ حالانکہ آدھی ایرانی کابینہ امریکی یونیورسٹیوں کی پڑھی لکھی ہے اور آج کل تو وہ ملا بھی /2
ہم سے زیادہ اعتدال پسند نظر آتے ہیں جب سے ایران نے ہماری فرانس کے خلاف مشترکہ محاذ بنانے کی پیشکش پیار سے رد کی ہے۔ وزیر اعظم پر آج کچھ اراکین یورپین پارلیمنٹ انتہا پسندی پھیلانے کا الزام لگا رہے ہیں، لیکن لبنان مصر دبی کے عربی اخبارات میں یہ بات گزشتہ سال سے ہو رہی ہے /3
Read 4 tweets
30 Apr
یورپ فتح کرنے کی تیاری. متحدہ عرب امارات میں پچاس سالوں میں پہلی مرتبہ پاکستانیوں کے ویزے بند. سعودیہ سے تعلقات خراب. عرب-اسرائیل تعلقات کے خطے میں ہم خود ساختہ سب سے بڑے دشمن. فرانس اور برطانیہ سے تلخی. امریکہ خاتمے کیلئے یوٹیوبرز کی مدد سے 'چین ایران روس' خیالی بلاک کی تیاری.
اسلاموفوبیا رہ گیا. عرض ہے کہ ایران اور ترکی نے بھی وزیر خارجہ کے دورے میں ہمارا فرانس/مغرب کے خلاف منصوبہ کی کھل کر حمایت کرنے سے گریز کیا. صدر اردگان اور فرانس صدر کی دوستی ہو گئی ہے.
'اسلاموفوبیا ٹی وی' کی تجویز کو مالیزیا+ترکی نے کبھی پلٹ کر نہیں دیکھا
کشمیر اور بھارت پانچ اگست 2020 سے غائب. جو کام ہوا وہ ریاست کے کچھ اداروں نے نبھایا. کشمیر کے سفیر کو دنیا نے کہیں نہیں دیکھا. اور 70 سال میں بھارت کو پہلی بار دنیا میں بیک فٹ ہونے کا موقع بغیر اچھی سفارتکاری کے تقریباً گنوا دیا گیا. تاریخی موقع تھا، لیکن مافیا زیادہ اہم تھا.
Read 5 tweets
29 Apr
The situation in #Pakistan. A quick update.

PM #ImranKhan's government is shaken by inflation and shortages, some out of its control but compounded by poor planning & governance. Here, long queues can be seen in some cities for govt-rationed sugar & flour in #Ramadan.
#Pakistan is currently divided between urgent issues and sideshows. Government is finally expediting vaccinations; the professionals at @OfficialNcoc are at it. But Govt also continues to push PM #ImranKhan's agenda against #France, #West on #Islamophobia.
One of the biggest sideshows in #Pakistan today is the explosive interview of a former spy chief who has blown the lid off alleged abuse of spy services by PM #ImranKhan to target his political opponents. Check this trend: #BashirMemonLeaks.

Read 4 tweets
26 Apr
Reports on #Iran-#SaudiArabia intelligence contact in #Iraq.

#Zarif leaves #Qatar. #Saudi FM lands in #Doha, invites Emir Sheikh Tamim to meet the King in #Riyadh.

#Tehran (& the #US?) appears to try to take the #Gulf on board.

This could isolate #Israel in a revived #JCPOA.
Some in #Vienna appear to want to isolate #Israel. But officials in #Gulf/#GCC face a difficult choice. They have to weigh if a compromise on #JCPOA and weakening Israel's position will resolve the problem of #Iran's malign activities? Or will it be a temporary solution?
The #US is directly engaging #GCC on #JCPOA, while FM #Zarif engages #SaudiArabia through #Qatar and #Iraq.

If the #Gulf comes aboard, #Israel and #Republicans will be effectively sidelined.

Read 7 tweets
21 Apr
#Pakistan FM seeks #Iran's support for PM #ImranKhan's agenda on #Islamophobia & #France, amid signs no #Muslim country so far supports this agenda.

In his public statement, Iran FM #Zarif has politely indulged Pak FM on this issue but without a clear commitment to this agenda.
#Pakistan Foreign Minister @SMQureshiPTI in #Tehran called on #Iran to support PM #ImranKhan's agenda on #Islamophobia & #France. He also invited #Turkey & #KSA to join in.

Seems difficult. Iran enjoys good ties w/ France. And so does Pres #Erdogan now.

FM @SMQureshiPTI in #Tehran said he will seek #Turkey Pres #Erdogan's support for PM @ImranKhanPTI's anti-#France agenda.

He might get little support beyond lip service. Presidents @RTErdogan+@EmmanuelMacron recently had recently had a good meeting:

Read 5 tweets

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