Now that the Islamic State has been driven out of the last town it controlled in Syria, the question must be asked: who will reconstruct the country? Estimates for the reconstruction of Syria range from $250 billion to one trillion dollars. Where will that money come from? Nothing will come from the deep-pocketed Saudis, Emiratis, Kuwaitis, or Qataris, all of them Sunni countries, and all but Qatar openly hostile to Iran-allied Syria. What about Russia? The Russians see themselves as contributing, but only if Europe, and especially the United States, agree to participate as well in financing the reconstruction. The Russians have already spent billions in helping to prop up Assad during his seven-year civil war; they are unwilling, and likely unable, to spend much more. Certainly nothing in the neighborhood of tens of billions.
Now comes Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who has announced that not a penny will come from the American government to help in the reconstruction of Syria as long as Iranian forces remain in Syria. The Iranians, of course, have spent directly, and through their aid to Hezbollah, huge sums on supporting Assad. There are several estimates as to the total Iranian aid to Syria. According to Staffan di Mistura, the U.N’s envoy to Syria, the Iranian government spends at least $6 billion annually on maintaining Assad’s government. That aid began in 2012, less than a year after the civil war began, and if Di Mistura is correct, Iran has spent $42 billion on Syria to date. But other figures are far higher. Nadim Shehadi, the director of the Fares Center for Eastern Mediterranean Studies at Tufts University, said that his research puts the actual number at $15 billion annually. That would mean Iran has spent $105 billion on Syria. And the civil war is not over yet.
In Iran, protesters in the streets this past summer shouted “Leave Syria alone and deal with Iran” as well as “Death to Palestine” and “Death to Gaza.” By this, they meant “stop spending money abroad on military adventures, we Iranians are suffering economically.” And Iran is suffering. The rial has sunk to historic lows. Of Iran’s 2.5 million barrels of oil production, Iran now manages to sell only about 1.5 million barrels, thanks to the re-imposition of American sanctions. Iran has just suffered its worst drought in more than a half-century, significantly damaging Iranian agriculture and the raising of livestock. This is another body blow to the economy.
Meanwhile, along with the sums — between $42 billion and $105 billion — that it has been spending on Syria annually, Iran also supports Hezbollah with about $1 billion a year. It is also involved in supporting the Houthis in Yemen. It is believed to supply them with several billion dollars in money, and especially weaponry, including ballistic missiles, each year. Iran is also the largest contributor to Hamas, giving it and Islamic Jihad $100 million annually. And in Iraq, Iranian militias are helping out the Iraqi Shi’a with training and weaponry.
At the very moment when crippling economic sanctions are being re-imposed on Iran, when Iranian oil is difficult to sell and must be offered at a discount, when a catastrophic drought has dealt a severe setback to Iranian agriculture, Iran — still expensively committed in Yemen, Iraq, Lebanon, Gaza, and Syria — is in no position to pay for any part of Syria’s reconstruction. Iran, in fact, having helped to rescue Assad, was looking forward to finally reaping the benefits of all that help, by being granted permanent bases from which to threaten Israel.
But the Israelis have been bombing Iranian bases in Syria with impunity. When Russia told Israel that it would prevent Iran from establishing any bases within 60 miles of the Golan, the Israelis made clear that was insufficient, and that they were going to hit Iranian bases wherever they were in Syria.
And Pompeo says there will be no American money for Syrian reconstruction unless the Iranians pull completely out of Syria. The Israelis were glad to hear that promise, though a few were apparently hoping he might make a threat of taking military action against Iranian bases. That would have been too dangerous, given the possibility of accidentally hitting Russians and forcing Putin to retaliate. Besides, the Israelis are systematically hitting those bases, and don’t look like they need any help.
What can Assad now do? If the Americans are not going to participate in the reconstruction, with their usual generosity, the Europeans will not, and the Russians have made clear that they are not going to participate without the involvement of Europe, and especially of America. Long before Pompeo’s remark, last April the House passed a bill that forbade any aid to reconstruct any part of the territory held by Assad, and it did not matter whether Iran remained in Syria or not. This No Assistance for Assad bill (H.R. 4681) was meant “to keep taxpayer dollars out of the hands of the murderous Assad regime and its proxies.” Speaking in support of the legislation, the Chairman of the Committee on Foreign Relations Ed Royce observed that “it would be unconscionable for U.S. government funds to be used for stabilization or reconstruction in areas under control of the illegitimate Assad regime and its proxies. We are not going to support the building of infrastructure that will benefit Hezbollah, Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, or foreign militias.” That bill hasn’t passed the Senate, and with Pompeo’s remark, it has been superseded.
The Iranians, I suspect, are not about to pull completely out of Syria. The top regime figures have invested far too much in Syria to allow themselves to be shown the door by a seemingly ungrateful Assad. They need to keep a presence in Syria to show their own people that it was all worthwhile. And they don’t want America helping to reconstruct Syria, and perhaps taking Alawite-ruled Syria out of the “Shi’a axis” altogether. Assad is a slippery fellow; he’s likely to go with whomever offers him the most aid at the time. Now that he’s secured his country, he no longer needs Iran, but he does need a few hundred billion dollars to pay for reconstruction.
There is one country that, to date, hasn’t spent a cent on either side in the Syrian civil war, has a lot of money, has more experience in giant construction projects than anyone else, and has been showing a deep interest in expanding its presence in the eastern Mediterranean, by acquiring a controlling share in the port of Piraeus, the largest port in Greece and the largest port for containers in the whole Mediterranean. That country would be delighted to take “a leadership role” in the reconstruction in Syria — especially if the money is spent largely on its own nationals, who would be doing most of the work and receiving most of the pay. That country could, in rebuilding Syria, gain a foothold in the Middle East, and another outpost, along with that in Piraeus, on the Mediterranean. That country, waiting in the wings for its Syrian closeup, is China.
VultureTX says
Kind of surprised Hugh left out the best solution. Kurdistan.
The kurds from Iraq secede with the oil fields to joins the Syrian Kurds and use the promise of the oil money to rebuild destroyed lands under a Kurdish government.
/problem is it would require PKK to stop attacking Turkey.
jellydonut says
It would require the civilized world to recognize the Turkish regime for what it is – an islamofascist ethnocentric terror state.
The Turkish regime ought to be ostracized completely, sanctioned to death, and shown the door in every international body. The aspirations of the Kurds should be supported in *all four countries* that currently occupy Kurdistan, not only in those in which it is politically convenient.
At the same time, the West should offer flagrant support to the oldest Christian country on earth, the parliamentary democracy of Armenia, and stop its inexcusable support for the Turkey-aligned Islamic dictatorship of Azerbaijan.
The Christian Syriacs in Syria and Iraq should also not be forgotten in this effort.
Of course, as seen with Trump’s patently evil act these last few days, the exact opposite is happening instead. Secular, multi-ethnic, Kurdish-led allies are being thrown to the wolves, with active support being given to Erdogan, his insane ethnocentric army, and his jihadist pets.
Kurds, Syriac Christians, Yezidis and other minorities will suffer under Erdogan’s bloodthirsty Sunni jihadis and his idiotically overfunded military.
Terry Gain says
Vulture TX
No. It would require the cooperation of Trump’s buddy Erdogan who, when he isn’t jailing journalists and getting a big woody over his caliphate-in-progress, is busy denying Kurds in Turkey any local autonomy. With Trump giving Erdogan the go ahead to invade Syria it doesn’t appear that peace will break out anytime soon.
Hari Singh says
The Kurds should do what the Irish did in 1922. Accept a semblance of a state that does not include all of its national territory. The Irish did this with the ‘’Irish Free State’’. For all intents and purposes it was a country. The Irish Parliament members were supposed to take an oath to the Queen of England but none did.
If the Kurds accepted what they have with promises not to attack turkey they might keep what they have. Otherwise they will have endless war and end up with nothing.
christianblood says
(…Who Will Reconstruct Syria?…)
US, France, UK, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, UAE, Israel, EU and Nato who destroyed Syria by using, sponsoring, arming, funding, training and facilitating hundreds of thousands of Islamic jihadists from around the world to move into Syria should now reconstruct Syria provided they own any sense of moral responsibility! Or they should rather back up and leave Syria alone and let her deal with remaining islamic terrorists that are now concentrated in Idlib province!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YfXSYkFZPKM&feature=youtu.be
gravenimage says
Yes–because the US defeating ISIS was such a terrible thing…sarc/off
Janwaar Bibi says
China has always been the main beneficiary of American stupidity. In any case, the US has no money left so quit worrying about who will rebuild Syria. You can’t even rebuild your own country’s collapsing infrastructure and you are in no position to do jack about Syria’s infrastructure even if you wanted to.
Solomon says
China just does business with everybody and takes care of its own turf. That’s sound foreign policy.
gravenimage says
Here’s another tool claiming that the US–with the most robust economy in the history of the world–has no money.
His fellow Muslim apologist Ibrahim itace muhammed claimed about six months ago that the US dollar is worth $0.
They just *really really* hope the “Great Satan” is a failure–all evidence to the contrary…
Janwaar Bibi says
Then why are you $20 trillion in debt and why is the debt growing by $1 trillion each year? Why are a third of US citizens without access to regular medical care?
gravenimage says
Both the second and third figures here are utterly ridiculous. Where is Janwaar Bibi getting this claptrap from? Citations, please.
Janwaar Bibi says
Always happy to continue educating gravenimage (ugh!):
https://www.thebalance.com/current-u-s-federal-budget-deficit-3305783
“The U.S. federal budget deficit for fiscal year 2019 is $985 billion. FY 2019 covers October 1, 2018, through September 30, 2019. The deficit occurs because the U.S. government spending of $4.407 trillion is higher than its revenue of $3.422 trillion.
The deficit is 18 percent greater than last year. The FY 2018 budget created a $833 billion deficit. Spending of $4.173 was more than the estimated $3.340 revenue.”
https://www.pbs.org/healthcarecrisis/uninsured.html
“About 44 million people in this country have no health insurance, and
another 38 million have inadequate health insurance. This means that
nearly one-third of Americans face each day without the security of
knowing that, if and when they need it, medical care is available to
them and their families.”
gravenimage says
Here is growth of the US debt:
https://www.thebalance.com/national-debt-by-year-compared-to-gdp-and-major-events-3306287
Too damn high, but the claim that it grows by a trillion every year is clearly ridiculous.
And here is census information about those with health insurance:
https://www.census.gov/library/publications/2017/demo/p60-260.html
Is Janwaar Bibi implying that the economy and health care are best under Shari’ah law? Whatever problems the West may have, they are *nothing* compared to the horrors of Islam.
Helen rose says
I’m surprised George Soros hasn’t been mentioned. It’s his kind of arena.
CogitoErgoSum says
The Chinese are good at building cities. Apparently, they have many new ones sitting empty just waiting for people to come and live in them. Did you hear that, Syrian refugees? The Chinese have new cities just waiting for people to come live in them.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TiTDU8MZRYw
PRCS says
Make it a bumper sticker.
Hugh Fitgerald says
A great idea. Nice big empty buildings to fill. Low rent. And just some re-education to undergo.
CogitoErgoSum says
Well, maybe it would take more than just a little re-education. But I believe the Chinese are good at that too.
Renate says
Now that the West has been stupid enough to take in the “Syrian refugees”, send them back to Syria to rebuild their country. Why should the West pay for everything all the time? Syria might find the Chinese aren’t good partners. Look at how the Chinese treat the Uyghurs in China. They send them to “re-education” camps. African countries who do business with China accuse the Chinese of being racist towards Africans, too. China may not be Syria’s best option.
Janwaar Bibi says
A good start would be for the West to stop attacking countries all over the world. Who asked you to attack Iraq, Libya and Syria? The neocons. So stop listening to neocons.
Renate says
Every time some little country gets into trouble, the world sits and waits for the US to step in as though the US is supposed to police the world. Then, as soon as that happens, they all criticize the US. Solution: Don’t expect the US to get involved to save everybody unless the US has skin in the game. Let them fight it out on their own.
ismail says
i agree trump must bring back all the troops home from all countries america create the wars n then make hollywood movies out of them IRAQI WAS A BIG LIE BY THE NEO CONS SO MANY LIVES LOST N AMERICA DESTROYED THE COUNTRY saddaam hoosian was a never thtreat AMERICA i s a threat to world peace taliban is not the enemy they want occupying countries out of their country AMERICA TAKE HEED u will never win your war in afghanistan ….easy to get in very difficult to get out please leave that country it was the SAUDIS WHO FLEW INTO THE TWIN TOWERS NOT …..THE TALIBAN
Terry Gain says
Ismail
The Taliban gave sanctuary to al Qaeda. as you well know.
christianblood says
Ismail
Taliban+Al-Qaeda+Saudi-Arabia=ISIS
Avenger says
It’s not all Western nations but the USA in particular who has its nose in everyone else’s business. The USA under Obama, funded and militarily aided the rebels in Syria. Now that the Syrian government has defeated the rebels the UN should make the USA pay war reparations
Terry Gain says
The war in Syria is a Muslim civil war. This is how Muslims solve their differences. The blame lies with Muhammad and Allah, who never taught their adherents how to solve differences without violence and carnage. Since they are not available some of the blame rests with the world’s Leftists who think Islam is fine just the way it is and that Muslims don’t need to be encouraged to enter the 21st century.The biuden therefore should be shared by Muslims and Leftists.
gravenimage says
Avenger is upset when anyone fails to support Hizb’allah.
christianblood says
Thanks to Russia, Iran and Hezbollah Syrian Christians are able to celebrate Christmas in Damascus today:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JGxct865vYY
Avenger says
I hope Trump stays true to his campaign promises and removes military forces from Syria and Afghanistan. I know there is concern for the Syrian Kurds if this pullout materializes but I think Erdogan would be a fool to attack. That action would only bring back US troops who would crush Turkish positions. Please remember that Assad protected the Kurds from turks before the phony Arab Spring uprising sponsored by Saudi Arabia and Qatar.
If you really want to bring stability back to Syria, the US should give military and economic aid to the legitimate government of Syria with the caveat that Iran must remove all military personnel. Syria would return being a secular nation, allowing all religions and ethnicities to live in peace and the US could start preparing for war against their real enemy, the Chinese.
christianblood says
Avenger
I don’t trust Trump! He is owned by the globalists!
Terry Gain says
No one forced Muslims to attack America in 1993 and 2001.
If Saddam had not been kicked out of Iraq his next target was KSA. And if he had not been eliminated, then today he would have or would be developing nuclear weapons. He signed a ceasefire agreeing to desroy his WMD in front of UN inspectors. He didn’t do so.
Stop blaming America for the problems created by Islam. Muslim countries are human rights cesspools.
gravenimage says
Sounds as though Janwaar Bibi is *enraged* that we defeated ISIS. No surprise there, though…
Janwaar Bibi says
“We” defeated ISIS? Who is “we”, kimosabe?
thebigW says
ISIS lost the battle but had a win in the war we ain’t acknowledging exists, if you consider that the goal of ISIS all along wasn’t REALLY to conquer the world or even restore the Caliphate but to force the West to accelerate the invasion of the West by forcing them (and manipulating them) to take in a flood of millions of Muslims, a necessary step in their longer strategy.
Avenger says
The Syrian Army and Russia defeated ISIS not the USA. The USA used ISIS to destabilize the government of Syria.
gravenimage says
“We” certainly does not include the Islamophilic Janwaar Bibi.
christianblood says
Janwaar Bibi posted
(…A good start would be for the West to stop attacking countries all over the world. Who asked you to attack Iraq, Libya and Syria? The neocons. So stop listening to neocons…)
Well-said, Janwaar Bibi!
US invaded and bombed more countries and killed more people (millions of them) than any other country since 1945!
See the FACTS below:
https://wikispooks.com/wiki/US/Bombing_campaigns_since_1945
gravenimage says
Is anyone surprised that christianblood is happily allying with pro-Jihadist Janwaar Bibi? Sadly, I am not.
Terry Gain says
New people who are not Muslims. The Chinese aren’t stupid.
abad says
Who Will Reconstruct Syria?
PMSL
They’re Moslems. Let them start used camel businesses, build some grass huts and tents, that’s all they need.
Renate says
That’s all a lot of them want, too. They never wanted to progress past the 7th century anyway.
abad says
True that.
The #1 reason not one single Moslem belongs in the civilized world.
christianblood says
Satanist, Anti-Christ and EVIL Hollywood who are the drivers of Godlessness and DEMONIC moral relativism in the West gave an Oscar to Al-Qaeda White Helmets! It doesn’t get more clearer that that! SHAME ON THE WESTERN SOCIETIES! SHAME ON THE US! SHAME ON THEM ALL!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D_MZKRG3frQ
Avenger says
I almost vomited watching this charade. Talk about fake tears for the biggest lie (White Hats) of the decade. I never watch Bullshit progaming like this, thanks for posting it CB.
Avenger says
There can be zero US Taxpayers money to rebuild Syria – No Assistance to Assad Bill. Instead, the US State Department can lavish taxpayers money on Sunni terror groups like the Free Syrian Army, Syrian Liberation Front, Ahrar al-Sham, Nour al-Din al-Zenki, Martyrs of Islam, Muslim Brotherhood of Syria, Kurds, Saudi’s and Turks. I included the Kurds because they murder Christians with vigor too.
The US also inadvertently funded ISIS by doing nothing to stop the flow of stolen Syrian oil into Turkey. We wouldn’t dare harm John McCains and Lindsey Graham’s butt buddy Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.
American foreign policy is duplicitous and vile. I would never allow anyone in my family to serve in its military establishment. I feel terrible for Americans who have lost their sons in the support of Saudi Arabia’s hegemony.
Janwaar Bibi says
The US also inadvertently funded ISIS by doing nothing to stop the flow of stolen Syrian oil into Turkey.
There was nothing inadvertent about it. ISIS is the creation of Saudi Arabia, UAE, US and Israel. They were defeated by the Syrian government, Russia and Iran. That’s why Bibi and his pal Salman are besides themselves in rage, not to mention the swamp in Washington.
Terry Gain says
Janwaar Bibi
Your comment is nonsense. The Islamic State was first formed by in 1999 by Jordanian Jihadist Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, who was instrumental in the Iraq insurgency in 2005 and 2006, when it was afiliated with al Qaeda. He was killed in June 2006 by an American airstrike. After they were driven out of Iraq into Syria his organization re-emerged under the name ISIS or ISIL
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abu_Musab_al-Zarqawi
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islamic_State_of_Iraq_and_the_Levant
Janwaar Bibi says
https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/hillary-clinton-wikileaks-email-isis-saudi-arabia-qatar-us-allies-funding-barack-obama-knew-all-a7362071.html
“Going by the latest leaked email, the State Department and US intelligence clearly had no doubt that Saudi Arabia and Qatar were funding Isis. But there has always been bizarre discontinuity between what the Obama administration knew about Saudi Arabia and the Gulf states and what they would say in public. ”
https://oilprice.com/Geopolitics/Middle-East/Why-Is-The-US-Reluctant-To-Bomb-ISIS-Oil-Fields.html
“There has been some revealing new information coming out recently regarding the strategy against ISIS. One aspect many find troubling is the apparent failure of U.S. and coalition forces to sufficiently target and destroy oil infrastructure located in ISIS territory, which accounts for a significant portion of the terror group’s annual income.”
************
If it had not been for Syria, Russia and Iran, ISIS would still be running its caliphate, the Saudis, Qataris, and Turkey would still be funding it, and the US and UK would still be making speeches about how they are moving heaven and earth to destroy ISIS.
christianblood says
Janwaaw Bibi
US-backed Al-Nusra and FSA terrorists executing Allawite Syrian soldiers. That is what immoral and satanic US and Nato governments support and arm! The are indeed the true Anti-Christ! (Graphic clip below).
https://www.liveleak.com/view?t=809_1395163651
christianblood says
Terry Gain
US & EU backed “White Helmet” jihadists cheering execution of minorities in Syria. SHAME ON THE WEST! SHAME ON THE US!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DPgOnD0n9uw
gravenimage says
I see that Janwaar Bibi is now claiming that it was the US and the ‘filthy Jews’ who created Jihad. Nice try…
Janwaar Bibi says
If you can’t rebut what I actually wrote, don’t write anything. The fact that you have to put words in my mouth says more about you than me.
christianblood says
gravenimage
US has always backed, armed and funded islamic jihadist groups all around the globe! Osama Bin-Laden was in fact America’s hero before turned its most wanted!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A9RCFZnWGE0
gravenimage says
More demands from Janwaar Bibi that others not be allowed to speak. What rot.
christianblood says
Avenger posted
(…The US State Department can lavish taxpayers money on Sunni terror groups like the Free Syrian Army, Syrian Liberation Front, Ahrar al-Sham, Nour al-Din al-Zenki, Martyrs of Islam, Muslim Brotherhood of Syria, Kurds, Saudi’s and Turks. I included the Kurds because they murder Christians with vigor too.The US also inadvertently funded ISIS by doing nothing to stop the flow of stolen Syrian oil into Turkey. We wouldn’t dare harm John McCains and Lindsey Graham’s butt buddy Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi…)
Exactly so, Avenger!
Just as Reagan courted extremists based in Pakistan to destroy secular Afghanistan in the 1980s, Obama used al-Qaeda to destroy Libya and Syria, and now Trump continues to back al-Qaeda in Syria’s Idlib! USA and Nato are eternal buddies for global islamic jihadist groups and states like Saudi Arabia, Taliban, Al-Qaeda and ISIS. More below
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H86B-7fbqD0
Savvy Kafir says
The U.S., and the West in general, should not spend one cent rebuilding Syria or any other Muslim-majority country.
eduardo odraude says
a trivial grammar question for any grammar experts out there, including Hugh:
Hugh writes above
“…with whomever offers…”
Shouldn’t that be
“…with whoever offers…”
?
The grammar question arises because In the phrase in question, the pronoun “whomever” (or “whoever”) is two things at once. It is 1) the object of the preposition “with”, and 2) the subject of the verb “offers”. Seen as object, it should be “whomever”, but seen as subject, it should be “whoever”. So in this kind of situation, which takes priority? I think it must be “whoever”, because the pronoun does not stand alone but is considered grammatically part of a unitary phrase, “whoever offers”. What do the experts say?
CogitoErgoSum says
I would not call myself an expert by any means but it seems to me as though “whoever offers” would be correct. In cases such as this where I am unsure I usually (but not always) try to re-write the sentence so as to avoid any uncertainty. So in this case I would make the sentence read, ‘…..he’s likely to embrace as an ally the country that offers him the most aid at the time.”
Hugh Fitzgerald says
I think you are right, and I was wrong. Although one part of me still wants to go with “whomever” I must yield to your elegant and convincing analysis.
Terry Gain says
It all comes down to understanding how who functions. Who and whoever are subject pronouns. In sentences, they function the same way as I, he, she, we, and they. Subject pronouns refer to the person or thing that is performing the action of a verb. Notice how who and whoever act just like the other subject pronouns in these examples:
I opened the door to see whether it was still raining. Who opened the door to see whether it was still raining? Whoever brought these brownies to the party should be commended! He brought these brownies to the party. He should be commended!
In contrast, Whom and whomever are object pronouns. They function the same way as me, him, her, us, and them. (We left you out of this list because it’s formed the same way for both subject and object cases.) An object pronoun can serve as the direct object of a verb (something that receives the action of a verb), or the object of a preposition. Let’s look at a few sentences with these pronouns:
I decided to buy a present for her. I decided to buy a present for whomever I am assigned in the gift exchange program. He will recommend whomever you suggest. If you suggest him, he will recommend him.
https://www.grammarly.com/blog/2-effective-ways-to-deal-with-whoeverwhomever-confusion/
eduardo odraude says
An acquaintance tells me that “whoever” is correct. He writes an explanation I don’t entirely follow, so I don’t know if it will be useful to anyone, but here it is:
gravenimage says
Yes, “whoever” is correct–since the reference is to “he” and not “him”.
But, stickler for correct grammar that I am, I find that one of the less important aspects of this article.
lebel says
” Nothing will come from the deep-pocketed Saudis, Emiratis, Kuwaitis, or Qataris, all of them Sunni countries, and all but Qatar openly hostile to Iran-allied Syria.”
I like how Mr. Fitzgerald does not even bother to fact check because he knows that no one cares about facts at jwatch.
https://syrianews.media/syria-war/uae-pledges-usd-50-million-for-east-of-syria-reconstruction/
https://www.businesslive.co.za/bd/world/middle-east/2018-08-17-saudi-arabia-offer-100m-to-rebuild-syrias-shattered-northeast/
According to Trump, Saudi has agreed to go all the way on reconstruction.
https://www.newsweek.com/trump-saudi-arabia-us-rebuild-syria-1270653
Time spent: 2 minutes on google
Hugh Fitzgerald says
$150 million was pledged — not much, either for the donors, or for Syria which, as the recipient, has more than $150 billion in physical damage alone. But these tiny sums were pledged only to reconstruct areas in eastern Syria still under the control of opposition forces. If the Assad regime manages to secure all of Syria, I don’t think the UAE will honor its promise even of that paltry $50 million, nor Saudi Arabia honor its promise of $100 million. At the very least, these stingy donors will demand that Iran pull out completely from Syria, and Assad return to the Arab fold. How likely are either of these demands to be met?
As for Saudi Arabia agreeing to rebuild all of Syria, that only means the Saudis told Trump — if indeed they did –whatever they thought he wanted to hear. Nothing will come of it. In five years, most of Syria will remain rubble.
gravenimage says
Spot on, Mr. Fitzgerald.
CogitoErgoSum says
Let’s also not forget Saudi Arabia’s offer to build 200 mosques in Germany for all the Syrian refugees who fled to that country. How is that plan coming along?
Prabh says
This is MalthusianDystopia – why destroy in the first place? – a car accident is “economic growth” in dystopian economics of KaliYuga according to a documentary on Happiness I viewed a few years ago.
Desert creeds create deserts – this region of Greater Historical Persia (Iran)was once Zarathustran Paradise: The Fertile Crescent.
Off topic: Stalinist-Islamist India trying utmost to create a desert out of Panjab and trying to get Bengal (aka “wasteBengal”) to fall into the HindMahaSagar ocean. (Benelux nations face fate of rising waters also – Benelux countries providing comfort to islamojihadists – this is wrong.)
Treasonous woeman politician MadamMamtaBanerjee has blood on her hands – why is she betraying ideals of India? Friend of India Francois Gautier has rightly identified her as one of the leading enemies of BharatVarsh.
Real name of Syria is Suriya- this is word for ‘”Sun” Suraj- are Syrian peoples Suryavansh descent? Solar dynasty of India from ancient times) UK news reported years before any war that large deserts were forming in Syria- I’m not a fan of Israel but at least Jews greened the deserts created by vile Turkish Tree Tax – turki tried to ruin India but u failed dirty turk – diseased male of the many countless multiverses is the turk.
Off-topic: Turkey bird is sacred for Red Indian (‘first nations’) as Peacock is Sacred For BharatVarsh. Alive trees outdoors decorated with popcorn and berries are much more appealing than dead trees, dead birds etc. Norfolk pine is great tree to decorate for indoors. Best part of Winter is waiting for spring. Remember for all the peoples of the world who enjoy wearing sporty summer clothing: “summer bodies are built in the winter” – be fit -Learn from History- we must ensure global caliphate never (not ever) comes into being.
Prabh
Janwaar Bibi says
Are you off your meds?
gravenimage says
This post might make sense, coming from any other source…
prabh108 says
u belong in hindmahasagar kuti – u need vitamin d – moslem kuti
Carolyne says
That “hot-dogging ” hero John McCain is one of those responsible for the mess in Syria. He said, and I heard him say it, that “The rebels in Syria are not terrorists. I had lunch with them and they told me.”
Terry Gain says
McCain didn’t start the war in Syria. This is the way Muslims solve their differences.
christianblood says
Terry Gain
John McCain poses with Al-Qaeda and ISIS leaders in Syria, including Abubakar Al-Bagdadi, the ISIS leader! See it below:
https://www.globalresearch.ca/did-john-mccain-meet-with-abu-bakral-baghdadi-the-alleged-head-of-the-islamic-state-isis-isil-daesh/5498177
Ibrahim itace muhammed says
Fitzgerald, obviously no one will expect wicked evil United States to pay for reconstruction of Syria or Iraq ,Libya and Yemen, it masterminded in destroying, it rather thinks of recovering over $5 trillions it lost in the brigandage.Remember,when Dick chiney was asked about plan to reconstruct Iraq, he said :”it is not our business to reconstruct nations, but destroy them “.wicked scums of evils inspired by one-eyed Satan god mithraist christians Call Holy Spirit!!
gravenimage says
Of course, “Dick chiney”–or Dick Cheney–said no such thing. Why do Muslims have to lie all the time?
And it is ISIS that has been the chief destroyer of much of Syria–Ibrahim itace muhammed’s pious coreligionists. He is just angry that the US dismantled the “Caliphate”.
Ibrahim itace muhammed says
Liar Gravenimage, ask your one-eyed Satan god you call Holy Spirit to tell you if you cannot recall what Dick chiney said when he was asked about plan to reconstruct Iraq. It is beyond dispute that it was your brigand evil United States and its master of all evils the fascist evil Zionist State of Israel of Israel who sponsored the so-called Arab spring uprisings that gave rise to terrorist groups like Isis and supplied them with arms.
gravenimage says
Ibrahim itace muhammed wrote:
Liar Gravenimage, ask your one-eyed Satan god you call Holy Spirit to tell you if you cannot recall what Dick chiney said when he was asked about plan to reconstruct Iraq.
……………………………
Dick Cheney–there is no “Dick chiney”–never said any such thing. Provide citations. Of course, Muslims never think they have to provide proof for anything. They just have to scream “Liar” and then threaten violence.
More:
It is beyond dispute that it was your brigand evil United States and its master of all evils the fascist evil Zionist State of Israel of Israel who sponsored the so-called Arab spring uprisings that gave rise to terrorist groups like Isis and supplied them with arms.
……………………………
What crap. These uprisings were Islamic Jihad.
And Ibrahim itace muhammed has said that the US is involved in “international brigandage” for not allowing Muslims to enslave them.
Older Canadian says
I am sure that trudeau would be willing to toss in a few billion to help out, after he gets re-elected.
Terry Gain says
A Turkish journalis tells some truths about Turkey and criticizes Trump’s decision to withdraw.
https://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/13470/turkey-turns-on-america
Ibrahim itace muhammed says
liar gravenimage, who created the So-called Arab spring uprisings that gave rise to terrorist groups like Isis and supplied arms to them and coordinated their activities ? was it not your brigand evil United States and wicked master of evils the fascist evil Zionist State of Israel ?Ask your satan pagan god you call Holy Spirit you say jesus left behind to tell you if you are not up to date
gravenimage says
Once again, Ibrahim itace muhammed is claiming that it is America and the Jews who created Jihad–that is, when he isn’t praising it. Who says pious Muslims have to be rational and consistent?
jack says
no aid from Australia. Are you listening Scott Morrison? No aid.
Helen rose says
I’m surprised we haven’t lumbered in there giving away hundreds of millions we don’t have. We probably will though.
Nadir says
In my view, the USA has 2 legitimate interests in Syria which conflict with one another:
1) removing an ally of the theocratic, exterminationist Iranian regime which has openly stated its desire to “wipe Israel from the map” while spending years supporting jihadist groups like Hezbollah and Hamas and attempting to develop nuclear weapons
2) stabilizing a volatile area of the world, destroying Sunni jihadist groups like IS and al-Nusra, reducing the flow of Islamic invaders into Europe and protecting minorities like Christians and Druze (which al-Assad has undoubtedly done)
These objectives compete because in order to achieve (1), the US would try to destroy the al-Assad regime while in order to achieve (2), the US would either support al-Assad or remain neutral. Overall, I think we should choose objective (2) for the following reasons:
a) the insurgents have no realistic hope of accomplishing their politico-military objectives, i.e. displacing al-Assad and establishing their own government
b) even if (a) were to be achieved, an insurgent-led government would likely support global jihad as well as oppress or exterminate Christians and other minorities. We’ve seen this exact phenomenon before, namely when the US-backed Afghan mujahideen defeated the Soviets and went on to form the Taliban
c) vis-a-vis Iran, al-Assad remaining in power is simply maintenance of the status quo – we still have overwhelming military superiority, plus the ability to pressure the Iranian regime with sanctions. Meanwhile, Israel has shown itself to be more than capable of defending itself from Hezbollah and Hamas
Finally, please note that I do NOT see spreading “democracy” in the Islamic world as a legitimate US objective.