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If you want to end a revolution, accuse it of terrorism

December 22, 2014 at 5:03 pm

We all know that the Arab tyrants used terrorism more than the US did; no one is better than the other. We have noticed that, over the past few years, the accusation of terrorism has slowly and gradually taken the place of treason and spying, a favourite amongst Arab dictators. Why wouldn’t they when anyone claiming to combat terrorism, even if they are exercising the worst and ugliest forms of violence in the world, are immediately given international support to eliminate their opponents. They may even get international help as long as they are claiming to combat terrorists. We have also noticed recently that the world has forgotten what the tyrant in Syria has done to the country and coordinated with him to fight terrorism; as if using chemical weapons on children, displacing millions, and destroying three quarters of the country is a noble and legitimate national act while killing a journalist is a dangerous terrorist act. Is there such a thing as permissible terrorism and impermissible terrorism? Isn’t the terrorist act of killing equal to the terrorist act of destruction, starvation, displacement and the use of internationally banned weapons?

It is clear that the term terrorism has become the secret word used by the enemies of the people to thwart any popular demands and to end any revolution. Just as they had labelled anyone who resists the occupation and defends their land a “terrorist”, they are now brandishing the sword of terrorism in the face of the revolting nations in order to subjugate them once again. It is appalling that the terrorist Arab generals are receiving support from the hyenas of the world who welcome organised state terrorism against any nation calling for its basic rights. If we take a look at modern history, we would find that the Arab tyrants and their masters abroad started to use the terrorism bogeyman decades ago, not only now to thwart the revolutions and rein in and subjugate the masses.

In this regard, Dr Abdel-Fattah Mady poses the questions: “Isn’t this at least the third time in the last four decades that war is declared on terrorism in the wake of the emergence of popular demands to make a real change in the authority of the region’s governments that have known nothing else but tyranny, corruption and gagging? Wasn’t the first time we saw this after the role of those known as the ‘mujahedeen’ in Afghanistan was over? Wasn’t there a popular movement calling for political reform in several major Arab countries, but some of these governments used the return of the Arab mujahedeen to their countries to start the war on terror, thus ending talk of reform?”

When talk emerged once more regarding political reform at the beginning of the new millennium, the 11 September, 2001, events occurred, allowing the Western and Arab governments to wage their war on terrorism. Now, after the Arab Spring, they have portrayed the revolutions and struggle for freedom, dignity and social justice as a form of terrorism. Some may ask: Why would the governments of the region get involved in the new coalition for the war on terror instead of reconciling with their people and making real reforms based on the rule of law, state institutions, citizenship, peaceful circulation of power, and the separation of public and private funds?

Hasn’t the slogan of combatting terrorism become the magical solution for the problems of Arab dictatorships? Any tyrant facing popular revolution immediately yells “Terrorism! Terrorism!” even though they are the ones committing terrorism. For example, since the beginning of the Syrian Revolution, the regime played the same card it always does and released prisoners with jihadist backgrounds from Sednaya and Tadmor Prison. Meanwhile, it arrested doctors, journalists, and those with strong opinions and created terrorist groups in an attempt to create global contradictions and kill the freedom revolution in its cradle. By doing so, the Syrian regime renews its contract to occupy Syria as a fighter of terrorism.

The Syrian regime and its allies have tried to portray the Syrian revolution merely as terrorist operations since its beginning. They even resorted to every trick, lie, and fabrication in order to make the revolution seem like an act of terrorism carried out by terrorists. Four years later, it seems like the world has believed them and are dealing with the Syrian events as acts of terrorism after the regime and its allies succeeded in transforming Syria into an arena of chaos, blood and destruction.

There is no doubt that the hyenas of the world know the truth that Bashar Al-Assad and other criminal generals are the reason behind, and the creators of, the terrorism, but they do not mind trading the commodity of terrorism as long as they thwart revolutions and destroy the dreams of the people to be free from tyranny. This allows the tyrants to serve their masters in Moscow, Washington and Tel Aviv. The global superpowers are monitoring even the footsteps of ants and, by means of their satellites, they know every little detail and they know the truth. However, despite this, they support whatever suits their interests. They are not concerned with blood, destruction, or chaos as long as the Arab tyrants help them achieve their goal of domination and looting in the name of combating terrorism.

The hyenas of the world and their tails have portrayed, for decades, all those who say “Allahu Akbar” as potential terrorists. Now will all those calling for freedom, dignity and their livelihood be labelled terrorists, even if their names are “the slave of Satan”?

Translated from Al-Sharq newspaper, 21 December, 2014

The views expressed in this article belong to the author and do not necessarily reflect the editorial policy of Middle East Monitor.