Monday, February 4, 2013
Hope for Syria but Despair for European Football
It has been another weekend with lots of news. Let's cover two key pieces.
(1). The Syrian rebel leader has for the first time made overtures to the al-Assad regime. Mouaz al-Khatib, leader of the Western-backed Syrian National Coalition, said he is extending his hand to the regime to "facilitate its peaceful departure." And some anti-regime activists are behind him, threatening even deeper divisions in the already divided movement to oust al-Assad. Al-Assad has not responded to the request to sit down and discuss a way foward, although he recently made a similar suggestion, albeit one that would keep him in power, marking a departure from the prior regime position that there will be no discussions with the "terrorists". Regime spokesmen continue to say that al-Assad will not bargain away his presidency, set to end with new elections in mid-2014. Even if al-Khatib's request to sit down were accepted, he would not have broad enough backing among the opposition to make a final deal. However, the proposals of both al-Khatib and al-Assad offer some hope. Only if both sides come to believe that outright battlefield victory is impossible will they ever accept the compromise that discussion and negotiated solutions would inevitably yield. (2). An investigation that included Europol has uncovered evidence of widespread match-fixing in European football. Some 400 matches have allegedly been "fixed" by players and referees alike, who were paid off with envelopes of money in amounts up to hundred thousands of Euros. The matches included World Cup and European Cup qualifiers and Champions League matches. None of the clubs, players or referees - or club officials and criminals - have been named, but over 400 people are under investigation. This is indeed terrible news for one of the world's most popular sports but it points to the continuing problem of professional sports -- betting is permitted, indeed cannot be stopped -- and as long as betting occurs, putting money on already known results will remain extremely tempting. Sports analysts are saying that the money involved will dwarf prior match fixing affairs. These recurring football scandals always take away forever a bit of the magic of "the beautiful game." What a pity that criminal betting groups can find willing co-conspirators at the heart of European football. And what a shameful example to put before the young children who idolize European football teams and stars and who play the game from their earliest ages.
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"If you want to make peace, you don't talk to your friends. You talk to your enemies".
ReplyDeleteMoshe Dayan
Doesn't this really sum up a big part of the problem in the Middle East today. In all the conflicts that are going on for the last weeks, months, and years, NO ONE is talking directly with their enemies from across a conference. table.They are talking at each other, to somewhat uninterested 3rd parties, parties with "questionable agenda's", media outlets that will possibly distort their position for their own advancement.
If one wants a loan from the bank you don't talk to your barber about it, or take an ad out in the local paper. You go to your bank sit down and discuss it.
Isn't stopping the senseless killings of ten of thousands in Syria worth trying this approach. What's to loose ... a few weeks and a few less murdered civilians?
Sports seem to be in the way of all morality learning and hero worshiping that children once flourished in.
ReplyDeleteHere in the US we don't have many clean shaven, practice what they preach, down right hero material for youngsters to look up to any longer. Everyday another "hero" from the past and present falls off their throne face down in the mud. The list over the past 10 years is way to long to include, and to omit one name would be inexcusable on my part.
When a Tim Tebow comes along who lives what he preaches he is ridiculed for everything.
And the losers of this is none other than the youngsters.
The hope for Syria may proved to be nothing more than hope ... hope by all the civilized people in the world the murderous rampage that al-Assad has been on for nearing 2 years now. Hope for those that have survived in Syria that help is on the way.
ReplyDeleteHope springs eternal, but hope alone will not free the Syrians from the "Killing Fields of Syria" or their own version of the feared Phol Phot of Cambodia. What Syria needs is determined show of force by the western world.
Conversation in a swank hotel in some far off capital or grand ideas being spread via print and electronic news services will not do what is needed. What is needed is exactly what the world leaders seem to demonstrated daily via their lack of action is not forthcoming.