ISIL playing a dirty game

The Syrian and Iraqi regimes’ support to the so-called Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) has exacerbated the situation in Syria. Due to this assistance, this terrorist group is locking horns with fighters of the Free Syrian Army particularly in the eastern parts of Syria. However, the Free Syrian Army has succeeded in repelling the ISIL attacks on Deir Al-Zor and A-Bukamal and pushed the terrorist group to Al-Hasakah province bordering Iraq.

According to credible reports, the ISIL is receiving reinforcements from Iraq. In addition to militants entering Syria through Iraq, extremist elements supporting the Assad regime are joining hands with the ISIL. To make things worse, there are reports that Tehran is also supporting the ISIL both militarily and financially. With the emergence of these reports, it has become crystal clear that the ISIL is actually working for the Syrian regime and helping it gain a stronghold in the various parts of the country. The ISIL’s tactics also support this argument, as instead of fighting the Syrian Army it is more interested in blocking the way of the Free Syrian Army. The ISIL’s dubious role has affected the revolution against the regime and caused many defections. This group is trying to impose strict rules and regulations on Syrians. It has gained notoriety for killing people without any discrimination. Apparently it is following one simple rule: You are with us or against us. Al-Nusrah Front has reportedly lost many of its members at the hands of the ISIL.

Observers are questioning the ISIL’s ties with the regimes in Damascus, Baghdad and Tehran. Interestingly, all three claim to be fighting the ISIL. However, the ground reality is otherwise. Observers may recall that when the ISIL started making waves in Syria, it was the same time when hundreds of hardcore militants were released from Iraqi and Syrian jails.

— By Jaser Abdul Aziz Al Jaser


Nasrallah calling the shots

As a matter of fact, Hassan Nasrallah of Hezbollah is the de-facto rule of Syria, managing the battles in favor of Bashar Assad. In this scenario, Nasrallah’s candidacy for the upcoming Syrian presidential polls is the only missing piece in this puzzle.

Nasrallah, recently joined by his deputy Naim Qassem, have been talking about the situation in Syria for a week now. They, not Assad, are discussing the crisis in Syria, the future expectations and the bounding conditions. Nasrallah’s confident, detailed speeches imply he is the ruler of Damascus. Recent events only confirm what I had written in a previous article entitled “Will Nasrallah call Assad to Dahiye?” last May. Nasrallah rules over Assa. He says the latter’s regime won’t fall.

Two days ago, Hezbollah deputy chief Qassem said: “The option is clear.” “Either an understanding reached with Assad or keeping the crisis open with Assad having the upper hand in running the country.” He threatened the West saying even if they continued this approach for 10 years, the situation will remain the same. These statements mean that either Syria faces destruction or Assad stays in power. Syria, in fact, is under Iranian occupation with Hezbollah’s leadership. The cooperation over this issue, as New York Times reported, include Tehran-Hezbollah camps training around 100,000 fighters in support of Al Assad. Why won’t Nasrallah run in the next Syrian elections and run Syria? After all, this is what he is doing now.

— By Tariq Al-Homaid

Safety measures at stadiums

Tens of thousands come to watch football matches in our stadiums. Sometimes the numbers are bigger and exceed the stadiums’ capacity depending on the importance of the game. But reports showed that 80 percent of the Kingdom’s playgrounds lack safety certificates.

Safety and Security Committee member at the International Football Federation Salman Al-Namshan says that the Civil Defense Department provides periodical reports on the condition of sports facilities in the Kingdom, but the General Presidency of Youth Welfare (GPYW) doesn’t actively respond to these reports. There is no safety and security committee in the GPYW, there is no commitment to implement the civil defense conditions and the FIFA security measures are not met.

What is left, then? What is left is a danger against all crowds gathering every game. The mere crowding or pushing of these masses in a safe playground is dangerous, let alone of the stadium lacks the safety measures. Isn’t this scary and alarming? It is very weird that the GPYW doesn’t meet the Civil Defense and the FIFA safety measures. The Civil Defense should take up its role and not allow games on insecure stadiums because in case of emergency or catastrophe, the Civil Defense will be held responsible.

No one will remember the Civil Defense’s observations, remarks and criticism but will only remember its inability to save the situation and people’s lives. The Civil Defense needs to take a firm stand on this matter to protect lives.

— By Qenan Al-Ghamdi

A new form of unemployment

More than 400,000 Saudi female workers have been employed in the private sector during the past two years. This may sound like a big achievement of the Labor Ministry but in reality it is not happening because of the false Saudization practices followed by some private companies.

This fake Saudization, alongside with granting employers visas to recruit foreign labor, shows a strategic flaw in the ministry’s work as it ignores the damages caused by such manipulations. One of the potential damages is pushing hundreds of thousands of Saudi youth to a situation similar to that of Red Indians in America, who were unemployed, got used to laziness and stopped knowing how to work. Millions lived in poverty, lost opportunities to advance and improve their living standards as a result of the sedating effect of aid.

The involvement of our youth in fake Saudization where they don’t work in exchange for a small amount of money they get for using their data in the working files, make them lose any motivation for real work. Getting a monthly salary of SR2,000 just sitting at home can’t encourage anybody to start looking for a real job. The money they get is not in exchange of work but of using names. This phenomenon represents a new type of unemployment that we economists do not know what to call.

— By Dr. Abdul Rahman Mohammed Al-Sultan

Peace unifies nations

There have been calls for a culture dialogue in hopes to find global peace and stability and avoid clash of civilizations. The Islamic Committee in Spain has published a book to strengthen the understanding between the Islamic world and other nations. The aim of the book was to highlight the importance of peace and denouncing violence and terrorism.

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah initiated a dialogue between followers of the various faiths to promote world peace. Writer and philosopher Roger Garaudy was the first to call for cultural dialogue qualifying him for King Faisal International Prize for Service to Islam in 1985.

Throughout history, 10 bloody wars claimed the lives of a large number of the world’s population. These wars have affected the humanity as a whole.

— By Maha Mohammed Al-Sharif