Articles (322)
Operation Alpha, Version II Why “Normalization with the Regime” and Why “Normalization”?
Written by Kassioun Research Unit
Anyone who is aware of the political dictionary used in Syria, and indeed in most Arab countries as well, knows perfectly well that the word “normalization” is reserved in popular consciousness and memory, and even in the memory of official and unofficial political deliberations, to mean one thing: normalization with “Israel”. It suffices for someone in our region to say they are against normalization, to understand from this to mean that they are against normalization with the Zionist entity.
Raising Telecommunication Fees; Have Operating Expenses Really Increased?
kassioun
Over the past month, resolutions about raising internet, landline, and cellphone fees by the Syrian Telecom, “Syriatel” and “MTN” mobile network providers have taken place. As for landline and the internet, the increase included raising the prices of calls and corporate packages, as landline service fees has increased from 200 to 500 SP, while international calls and home fiber internet service have increased by 100%, whereas increase rates in internet packages have reached 40% to 70%. Also, the price of a cellphone minute for prepaid lines has increased from 13 to 18 SP, and for postpaid lines from 11 to 15 SP. In addition to increasing the prices of internet services for cellphone by varying rates and according to the service type.
Since mid-2019, hardly two months pass without al-Jolani makes an appearance to us with a new statement or move. While many see this as his way not to deprive us of his “amiability” and to remind everyone that he is still present and relevant, which is certainly one of the explanations, what is more important is that these appearances have also become one of the tools used by those who have worked tirelessly, and for years on end, on the efforts to whitewash al-Nusra. In addition, each new appearance carries with it its own significances within the timeframe in which it occurs, including the latest appearance.
1.8 Million Syrian Pounds is the average of the Living Expenses of a Family in September 2021
kassioun
Based on its issue No. 1036, Kassioun adopts a specific method to calculate the living expenses of a Syrian family of 5. This method consists in calculating the costs of the necessary food basket (according to the daily need of an individual for 2400 calories from various food sources). For this aim, Kassioun depended on calculating the main meal of an individual during one day, which was formulated by the Innovation and Self-reliance Conference of the General Federation of Trade Unions in Syria in 1987, and from which the productive citizen receives the calories that guarantee her/his life and reproduce her/his workforce again). It was also taken into consideration that these food costs represent 60% of the total living expenses of the family, while the remaining 40% represents other essential needs for the family (the costs of housing, transportation, education, clothing, healthcare, household appliances, tele-communications, and others).
The “Arab” Gas Pipeline… Governments are Merely Facades!
Written by Kassioun Research Unit
On the surface, the current version of the so-called “Arab gas pipeline” project is being presented as an agreement among a group of Arab governments: Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, and with the possibility of plans to include Iraq by way of electricity. However, this is only on the surface, because the scene is completely different for anyone who wants to look deeper.
The Constitution more of a Political and Social issue than a Legal One
Reem Issa
The constitution, in terms of its substance and its implementation in reality, was and still is one of the fundamental expressions of the landscape of dominant forces in the state and in the prevailing political space.
Anyone following the Syria file, is aware by now of the importance and impact of the Russian-Turkish relationship on Syria, whether the positive aspects of that relationship or the negative ones. This relationship tool a new direction in the formal framework through the Astana track, which was born at the end of 2016.
Three Tracks and Two Poles: “Strategic Dialogue”, “Astana”, and “Behavior Change”!
Written by Kassioun Research Unit
Since the beginning of 2017 and until the Putin-Biden meeting on June 16, 2021, the image of the international and regional conflict in and around Syria appeared in the duality of “Astana” (Russia, Turkey, Iran) versus the Western “small group” (the US, Britain, France, Germany, Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia).
What Does the West’s Behavior Change Towards the Regime Mean?
Imad Tahhan
Many Syria-related events and moves have taken place over the past two months, and they are worth contemplating to place them in a broader and more real context than what “officials” say publicly.
The “Arab” Gas Pipeline… How Does Jordan Produce its Electricity?
Written by Kassioun Research Unit
A set of Kassioun articles during the past weeks dealt with the issue of the “Arab” gas pipeline (you can refer to them via the following links 1, 2, 3, and 4). However, these articles did not ponder enough at the other aspect of the same project, which is related to the transmission of electricity from Jordan through Syria to Lebanon.
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A Look at How “Israel’s” Media is Dealing with US Withdrawal
Reem Issa
US withdrawal from the Middle East occupies a major position in the way various sides and countries in and around the region deal with their internal situations and their regional and international relations. This is particularly so as more tangible steps in the US’s repositioning of its presence in different parts of the world are crystalizing in more clear forms. Among those, for example, is the emergence of the AUKUS pact among Washington, London, and Canberra.
Working Against “Astana” As One of the Tools of “Normalization”!
Mohannad Dlykan
American policy has a set of general trends that remain the same across the various administrations. The policy has a strategic aspect that is directly related to the nature of the American understanding and definition of “American national security”. Among these unchanging policies is the hostile position towards the Astana formula, not only in its Syrian dimension, but immeasurably more important than that, in its regional dimension and international outlook.
Urgently Needed: More Contributors for Polishing al-Jolani
Reem Issa
Over the past two years and using different methods – official statements, research reports, and media materials – the US has made a great effort to whitewash and “Syrianize” al-Nusra and its leader Abu Muhammad al-Jolani.
Pulling Rabbits out of the Magician’s Hat… The “Arab” Pipeline as an Indicator of the Phase’s Nature
Written by Kassioun Research Unit
In the article entitled “7 Questions Regarding the ‘Arab’ Gas Pipeline”, published on September 8, Kassioun raised a set of questions about the so-called “Arab” gas pipeline, its relationship to US behavior in the region, especially the Caesar’s Act, as well as a number of other questions about the French roles and the nature of the Zionist position on the issue.