Author Archives: fatherdave

Being a Christian in Syria is a vocation!

There is a wonderful blend of realism and hope in this interview with  Father Sammour. Certainly the work of the ‘Jesuit Refugee Service’ is something to give thanks to God for.  Father Sammour’s reflections remind me of the words of … Continue reading

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Syrian Patriarch says that Christians are being targeted!

Gregarios III was our host in Lebanon and Syria earlier this year. He has been an outstanding example of Christian leadership throughout the current crisis. Rather than hide out in his palace in the (relative) safety of Beirut, the Melkite … Continue reading

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Middle East Turmoil and the Disintegration of a Nation State

The following paper by Professor Bill Stanley is as comprehensive as it is informative.  Bill covers everything from the tragedy in Syrian to the refugee problem in Lebanon to the history of Western intervention in Iran! Reading it, I am … Continue reading

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Mother Agnes highlights problems in the official videos of the Ghouta gas attacks

As Mother Agnes says in the interview, these videos became quite an obsession for her. Apparently she locked herself in a hotel room and studied them for days on end, highlighting inconsistencies and other signs of fabrication. The responses to … Continue reading

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The Grand Mufti of Syria forgives those who killed his son!

Dr Hassoun is one of the most impressive men I have ever met. Certainly no one has ever made a ‘first impression’ on me like this man did. I had the privilege of being Dr Hassoun’s guest at the Umayyad Mosque … Continue reading

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Archbishop of Russia tells Obama to get his hands off Syria!

While the media focuses its attention on tensions between Obama and Putin and the other key political players in the Syrian drama, the role of the church continues to be ignored! Never before in the history of the world, so … Continue reading

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Human-shields hold their ground in Damascus

Here’s a subject that is close to my own heart – the deployment of human shields in Damascus. Thank you to my friend, Franklin Lamb, who has joined these brave souls on the front line at Qasioun Mountain, most of whom … Continue reading

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The Syria Deal: Dangers and Opportunities

An excellent analysis by my friend, Dr Chandra Muzaffar THE SYRIA DEAL:  DANGERS AND OPPORTUNITIES by Chandra Muzaffar Commentators tell us that there is a palpable sense of relief in Damascus and in other parts of Syria in the wake … Continue reading

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How Obama Lost the First Battle for Damascus

How Obama lost the first battle for Damascus by Father Dave Smith A good propaganda system aims at controlling the public dialogue, and in the marketing of war one technique that has proven very successful in recent years has been … Continue reading

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Why the Saudis want to get rid of Assad

Here’s an excellent interview with Toby Jones (professor of Middle East history at Rutgers University) shedding light on the role of the Saudis in Syria. Most of Assad’s other enemies have clear motives. Doha wants to put a natural gas pipeline … Continue reading

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