In this very important article, Arwa mentions her charity INARA. Please support this wonderful charity that helps children in all the war torn countries. ❤️❤️❤️. It is a worthwhile contribution to help some of the pain these children are going through.
Yes of course Syria and Syrians need and deserve all that. The point I’m trying to make though is that optimism is irrelevant at this point, action is needed to ensure that Syrians have the tools they need.
I fear that so many around the world are unable to focus on more than one geopolitical situation at a time. Tunnel vision seems to be a common theme these days. With the war in Iran, then add Israel’s genocide of the Palestinians and Lebanon, the fascism that’s taken over the US and we can never forget the plight of indigenous peoples around the world. But at the top of the list, if we don’t start paying attention to our planet and how our own negligence has left it in pretty dire straits, there won’t be anything left to fix. Too much for so many to bear let alone give serious consideration to even one.
It’s as if the world is paralyzed by so much trauma and tragedy, and the futures of the young are what’s really at stake. They are the ones who will have to pick up the reins once these crises are settled. And we’re not leaving them with much to work with.
Syria deserves so much attention and focus after everything the Syrians have been through over so many years. I hope there are enough people with the courage and determination to help them create a new and better nation. They really do deserve it.
I don’t know anything about the current president of Syria. The only interview I’ve heard him speak about is wanting to set up a banking system so they have access to credit. Do you believe he or anyone in their government would be a great motivator for the people?
Let’s talk about basic operational literacy, since your '20+ years in the field' apparently omitted the fundamentals of asymmetric warfare, state security, and personal professionalism.
First, let’s clear up your profound confusion about border crossings. When an Israeli soldier conducts a thorough physical search on you, she isn't interested in your anatomy or trying to 'be a bitch.' She is doing a high-stakes, standard tactical search for explosives, suicide vests, or illicit smuggling devices. For someone who boasts about warzone experience, the fact that you interpret a standard anti-terrorism security check as a personal, petty grievance rather than a vital life-saving protocol is remarkably amateur.
Second, your claim that Hamas 'wasn't there' because you didn't see uniforms is the pinnacle of willfully blind 'storytelling.' Asymmetric insurgents explicitly discard uniforms to blend into civilian populations, weaponize Western media optics, and use gullible journalists to validate their narrative. If your investigative standard requires terrorists to march around in matching corporate outfits and nametags to be recognized, your reporting isn't journalism—it's a creative writing exercise.
You left CNN to build an independent brand around emotional narratives, but let’s not pretend your career has been a shining beacon of integrity. If we want to talk about 'unruly and abusive' behavior, we can look directly at the public record of July 2014, when you were hit with a million-dollar lawsuit after a drunken, violent rage at the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad, where you furiously bit two medical workers on their forearms while screaming about being a 'major reporter for CNN.' You were forced to send a groveling email to embassy staff admitting to your 'disastrous behavior' and taking responsibility for actions you called 'inexcusable.'
You have a documented history of throwing elitist, abusive tantrums when professionals are just trying to do their jobs around you—whether they are EMTs in Iraq or security forces at a border checkpoint. Shifting the conversation now to 'misdirected anger' is just a convenient, passive-aggressive escape hatch because you got called out on your blatant blind spots. I don't need a lecture on productivity from an ex-correspondent who mistakes a standard bomb sweep for a personal insult and fumbles the most basic realities of a guerrilla war zone.
No it’s not & Syrians know that bitter lesson well. I would think by now world leaders would recognize that a stable and prosperous Syria is in all our interests & have the bare minimum of understanding that Syria cannot accomplish that with paralyzed decision making & half-hearted efforts
Today’s world leaders are a bunch of self centred idiots who only care about themselves. There is no solidarity to alleviate the suffering of the many.🙈
Am going to start using rolodexing.
YES! can we make it a thing please!
Is so good! YES!
100%! So glad you’re on substack and writing more.
Awwww thank you!
In this very important article, Arwa mentions her charity INARA. Please support this wonderful charity that helps children in all the war torn countries. ❤️❤️❤️. It is a worthwhile contribution to help some of the pain these children are going through.
Helen your support over the years is just so moving. Thank you with all my heart
Syria needs stability, recognition, justice and growth. Ofcourse, we should be optimistic.
Yes of course Syria and Syrians need and deserve all that. The point I’m trying to make though is that optimism is irrelevant at this point, action is needed to ensure that Syrians have the tools they need.
I fear that so many around the world are unable to focus on more than one geopolitical situation at a time. Tunnel vision seems to be a common theme these days. With the war in Iran, then add Israel’s genocide of the Palestinians and Lebanon, the fascism that’s taken over the US and we can never forget the plight of indigenous peoples around the world. But at the top of the list, if we don’t start paying attention to our planet and how our own negligence has left it in pretty dire straits, there won’t be anything left to fix. Too much for so many to bear let alone give serious consideration to even one.
It’s as if the world is paralyzed by so much trauma and tragedy, and the futures of the young are what’s really at stake. They are the ones who will have to pick up the reins once these crises are settled. And we’re not leaving them with much to work with.
Syria deserves so much attention and focus after everything the Syrians have been through over so many years. I hope there are enough people with the courage and determination to help them create a new and better nation. They really do deserve it.
Yes there is a lot of trauma and yes it is paralyzing but we need to snap out of it. Inaction has consequences as we know only too well
I don’t know anything about the current president of Syria. The only interview I’ve heard him speak about is wanting to set up a banking system so they have access to credit. Do you believe he or anyone in their government would be a great motivator for the people?
Let’s talk about basic operational literacy, since your '20+ years in the field' apparently omitted the fundamentals of asymmetric warfare, state security, and personal professionalism.
First, let’s clear up your profound confusion about border crossings. When an Israeli soldier conducts a thorough physical search on you, she isn't interested in your anatomy or trying to 'be a bitch.' She is doing a high-stakes, standard tactical search for explosives, suicide vests, or illicit smuggling devices. For someone who boasts about warzone experience, the fact that you interpret a standard anti-terrorism security check as a personal, petty grievance rather than a vital life-saving protocol is remarkably amateur.
Second, your claim that Hamas 'wasn't there' because you didn't see uniforms is the pinnacle of willfully blind 'storytelling.' Asymmetric insurgents explicitly discard uniforms to blend into civilian populations, weaponize Western media optics, and use gullible journalists to validate their narrative. If your investigative standard requires terrorists to march around in matching corporate outfits and nametags to be recognized, your reporting isn't journalism—it's a creative writing exercise.
You left CNN to build an independent brand around emotional narratives, but let’s not pretend your career has been a shining beacon of integrity. If we want to talk about 'unruly and abusive' behavior, we can look directly at the public record of July 2014, when you were hit with a million-dollar lawsuit after a drunken, violent rage at the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad, where you furiously bit two medical workers on their forearms while screaming about being a 'major reporter for CNN.' You were forced to send a groveling email to embassy staff admitting to your 'disastrous behavior' and taking responsibility for actions you called 'inexcusable.'
You have a documented history of throwing elitist, abusive tantrums when professionals are just trying to do their jobs around you—whether they are EMTs in Iraq or security forces at a border checkpoint. Shifting the conversation now to 'misdirected anger' is just a convenient, passive-aggressive escape hatch because you got called out on your blatant blind spots. I don't need a lecture on productivity from an ex-correspondent who mistakes a standard bomb sweep for a personal insult and fumbles the most basic realities of a guerrilla war zone.
Great question - will the world continue its paralytic inaction? Or will the world finally act to truly invest in Syria? Its a good demand to have.
Well said 🫶🏻
Not the first time to world failed to show up for nations needing support
No it’s not & Syrians know that bitter lesson well. I would think by now world leaders would recognize that a stable and prosperous Syria is in all our interests & have the bare minimum of understanding that Syria cannot accomplish that with paralyzed decision making & half-hearted efforts
Today’s world leaders are a bunch of self centred idiots who only care about themselves. There is no solidarity to alleviate the suffering of the many.🙈