Ghaith Abdul-Ahad on Syria

If you've ever read anything by Ghaith then you'll realise I don't need to say much here.  He's a fantastic writer, perhaps the best journalist of our times.  I see him as a modern day Ryszard Kapuściński.

In this piece, the absurdity of war comes across perfectly as he discusses the new oil barons of Eastern Syria.  Could they end up seceding and joining their tribal brothers across the border in Iraq?  A fascinating article I recommend to everyone.

A northern wind had been blowing since early morning, lifting a veil of dust that had blocked the sun and turned the sky the colour of ash. Abu Zayed was sitting on the porch of his unfinished concrete home, watching the storm build. He loved sandstorms. They reminded him of Dubai, where he had lived before the war. He admired the people there for turning a desert into a paradise. They had vision, he told his followers.