the objective from the beginning was to destroy Syria and create a situation where Syria,as a state, has no influence in the region especially in regard to Lebanon and Palestine. The regime was instrumental in the destruction process because of its nature and the animalistic desire to dominate and crush any opposition, then came the violent rebels joined by Talibani islamists who have little interest in the health of the nation. Syrians are pressed between a rock and a hard place,some of you are born to be unable to comprehend, I can not blame those, but others know very well that the country is on the wrong track but they are still defending the indefensible, how can anybody defend this regime or the thugs using religion to justify murder and destruction?
Ali asked where I stand, the problem is that I have no floor to stand on,many Syrians feel like orphans with no hope of adoption, the country all of you claim to love is becoming like Somalia while you are busy finding ways to insult or hurt other Syrians.

ذكرت وكالة رويترز للأنباء أن المسلحوين السوريين أطلقوا قذائف الهاون على قصر الرئيس السوري بشار الأسد في دمشق إلا أنهم لم يصيبوه بأضرار. ويؤكد هذا القصف الالجرأة المتنامية للقوات التي تحارب من أجل الإطاحة بالنظام السوري وإنها حكم عائلة الأسد الذي امتد 42 عاما.
وقال شهود عيان لبي بي سي إن قذائف ثقيلة قد سقطت على حي المزة التي تضم الكثير من العلويين.
وقال مراسل بي بي سي العربية في دمشق، عساف عبود، إن 3 أشخاص قتلوا وأصيب ستة آخرون بجروح إثر قصف بقذائف الهاون استهدف حي مزة 86 وسط العاصمة السورية دمشق.
وقال شهود عيان إنهم شاهدوا أعمدة الدخان تتصاعد بعد سقوط نحو اثنتي عشرة قذيفة على الحي الذي تقطنه غالبية علوية.
وكان الحي قد شهد يوم الاثنين الماضي تفجير سيارة مفخخة ما أسفر عن مقتل 14 شخصا وإصابة نحو ستين آخرين بجروح.
where are the rebels supporters to help us understand how shelling a reseidential area will serve the country or the opposition cause?

Allah Hu Akbar alek ya Bashar
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=iw8PzaGt3gc#!
.

We’re getting an important clue that the people having egotistical tantrums and undermining efforts to create a united opposition are terminally UNFIT to be involved in any sort of public office.

Also on show is their emotional immaturity and paranoia in their inability to trust and work with others.

They should be cursed for their indifference to the future of Syria and what is happening to Syrians on the ground. They are too lost in fantasies of their own personal futures and defending their own irrelevant marginal patches of ground.

Syria does not need them. May they live the rest of their lives in disrespect and failure, exiled from anything that matters.

(Re-posted from end of last thread)

Great, a calm, intelligent comment on Islamist elements in the revolution. It should be compulsory reading for all the “informed” commentators on the Syrian situation.

By Qunfuz, worth reading:

http://qunfuz.com/2012/11/01/the-revolution-becomes-more-islamist/#more-2025

Ghufran,

I respect what you stated above, Syrians have been taken for a long ride using high speed rail leading directly to one station called “Somalia”.

The question is whether the slaves of (Gulf, NATO, Iran and Russia) are ready to stop this madness?

Wake up Syrians wake up!!

Visitor:

I hope you don’t mind taking our conversation to this thread.

Thanks for your answers in relation to FSA I find them quite helpful to understand this militant entity which every armed group uses it as a shelter to hide within.

“The non-Syrians joining the FSA based on Religous beliefs are welcome. We have no problem with that. They are our brothers in faith and are simply answering the call of duty.”

Does your support to Jihadists actions come from you being Jihadi (0r sharing the sect) yourself? Applying the same concept, does that mean you would understand why Shia of Hizboallah are coming to support Assad?

Cameron eager for reprise of Blair’s role, evidently. I guess he would find waging war in Syria much easier than trying to balance his own country’s budget.

Ali 7,

You are completely wrong and crossing all lines of reason when you disparage the FSA as a shelter that everyone hides in.

If you do not hold the FSA in the highest regard, then simply get out of this revolution. You have no business in it.

This simply exposes your apologetic tendencies. I am more convinced now than ever that you are closeted regime supporter.

Of course Hezbistan has no business whatsoever supporting this criminal thuggery of a regime and as such it should be treated as an arch-enemy of the Syrian people. I also have no qualms whatsoever labelling members of this criminal organization of Mullah-stan as the worst heretics that have no affinity whatsoevr with the Syrian people and its history. They should be routed out completely.

As for your Jihadi label, I simply find it laughbale, and as such, it deserves no consideration whatsoever.

I strongly second Amjad of Arabia in a comment he made in a previous thread when he stated that our Saudi, Pakistani and other fighters who came to join the revolution will be rewarded afterwards by the Syrians by housing them in the best seaside mansions in Qurdaha once we get rid of the abominable regime currently occupying Syria.

Our great leader is Muawiya Radiya’lahu 3nho and all his family and descendants and all of Umayya.

You want Hizbistan, go with them to the hell-hole of Qom in your Mullah-stan. I cannot make it any clearer to you.

Fouad H’maira ( a drama writer from the alawi sect):
وكتب حميرة : “أدين تفجيرات المزة التي وقعت بالأمس بأشد عبارات الإدانة والشجب، وهي عملية إجرامية”
ويتابع في انتقاده ازدواج المعايير لدى شبيحة النظام : “إذا كانت إنسانيتكم قد استفزت بسبب التفجير، فأين هي هذه الإنسانية حين يقصف الطيران ريف دمشق وإدلب وحلب وحماة وحمص؟ لماذا لم نقرأ لكم كلمة واحدة تدين قتل المدنيين في بابا عمرو والتريمسة ومئات المجازر؟، هل تعتبرون دمكم درجة أولى، ودمنا من الدرجة العاشرة ولا يستحق الإدانة؟ أم أن الإنسانية عندكم يقبل القسمة على اثنين وربما على عشرة ؟”.

Ali,

“3- Or does it mean i should applaud the FSA’s hiding in densely populated areas and then “tactically” withdrawing leaving widows and orphans stranded in streets?”

Interesting point and a topic of a significant discussion between my husband and I. I do not know what is right and what is wrong here. Honestly. Had my children or my parents being stranded in Bab Amro while the regime is shelling it in revenge for having the FSA amidst them, would I still support the FSA? I honestly do not know? I certainly would have hated the regime even more but not sure if I then would have approved the FSA tactic. Yet, at the same time, who am I to offer a critical opinion of those who are risking their own lives for our future? Had it not been to the FSA, Syrians would have remained slaves forever..

After all, my opinion is irrelevant…it is Syrians’ in Syria opinion that matters.

Visitor:

I’m doing my best to understand your position but sometimes I find it quite challenging to get it right especially when i feel people getting a bit angry, so apologies for driving you crazy and please stay patient with me.

The thing is that you’re explaining things as if we’re on the same page, while on reality we’re not. I’m genuinely struggling to understand how could anybody support killing especially for his own people, I was hoping your answers will help me so.

You jumped ahead and put me in a box and labelled it as an “apologist”! I find it quite weird how you jumped into this conclusion straight away without even asking me if I’m an apologist or not? is it the nature of my questions that made you think so? Did you feel challenged and deiced it’s the easiest way to accuse me of nonsense and not explaining what I’m after?

You keep saying the revolution does not need me, how did you know that? is there some criteria i need to meet in order to be accepted such as endorse nonsense killing?

What’s the logic behind rewarding Jihadists? I was under the impression that those people fight and expect no reward. Beside, what will you do with the people of Qurdaha? Are you planning to displace them in order to reward Jihadists?

Assad is an incompetent leader and he hardly could manage one household so definitely he should go home and brought to justice for all his inhumane action, but that does not justify favoring foreign Jihadists over our Syrian brothers.

Ghufran

With all due respect, And I do not mean you personally because you do not fit the group I am addressing this to. Alawis and Christians who never uttered a word criticizing the slaughter of the 30.000 Syrians murdered by the regime, should now shut up. Crying mezza 86 by them is as low as prostitution if not lower.

11. Tara said:

“”” After all, my opinion is irrelevant… “””

You got that right 8)

Tara:

Thanks for your comment I find it quite sincere, and made me a bit confused of how a sensible person could support killing and make such comments at the same time.

You made a good point of saying who are we to decide what’s good and bad. However, we’re all Syrians and we know for fact that most of the times your simple flat is all what you own in this life. So if i may flip the question and ask who gave the right to armed groups to come and fortify within populated middle-poor class areas? who gave them the right to mandate on the vast majority of Syrians their actions and take them as human shields?

If FSA and OSA wanna play rough then they both should take somewhere outside instead of flexing muscles on poor people.

Tara,
Thousands of alawites were killed since March,2011, the popular belief that this is an alawi war against Sunnis is not supported by the facts, Syrians from all walks of lives are dying daily in Syria,only the rich and the connected are getting away, the rebels only manage to kill poor and ordinary Syrians with no hope in sight to end this bloody mess, the old slogan of protecting civilians and punishing regime thugs is only good for PR campaigns targetting people who either do not know or are too angry and miserable to think, this violent strategy endorsed by both sides is simply not working, the garbage coming from talibanis on this forum is only worthy of trash cans. Expats should focus on one thing: helping Syrians in need, that help is the least we can and should do. Assad, his thugs and all thugs have a short shelf life, the rest of the country should not be held hostage to opposing parties.

Western efforts on Syria shifting
http://www.mercurynews.com/breaking-news/ci_21946886/uk-talk-directly-syrias-rebel-fighters

Expanded Conflict in Syria Promised by Romney Will Proceed Under Obama
http://fromthetrenchesworldreport.com/expanded-conflict-in-syria-promised-by-romney-will-proceed-under-obama/25288/

NATO Terrorists Twisting in The Wind – Guess Those Stinger Missiles Did Change The Fate Of Those Cold Blooded Killers 8)

Battle for Maaret al Numan reveals Syrian rebels’ weak spots – November 7, 2012

http://www.adn.com/2012/11/07/2685384/battle-for-maaret-al-numan-reveals.html

MAARET AL NUMAN, Syria — The fight for the strategic city of Maaret al Numan on Syria’s main highway lays bare the challenges faced by the “rebels” who are fighting the Syrian government.

Hobbled by a lack of supplies and a confused chain of command, rebels here said Wednesday that they feared they might lose the city without reinforcements and ammunition.

That’s a reversal from a month ago, when at least five groups of fighters coordinated to attack this city from three sides and clear it of army and security forces. They also laid siege to Wadi al Deif, a nearby military base, driving government forces to the eastern side of the highway that runs from Aleppo, the country’s largest city, to Damascus, Syria’s capital.

According to “rebel fighters”, the operation took less than 24 hours and was followed by a successful attack on a convoy that was approaching the city to resupply the besieged forces.

“At first we were successful, but then some of the groups left,” a “rebel fighter”, who asked not to be identified for security reasons, said Wednesday. “Some of the groups that were fighting left because they said it was too costly. Others just didn’t have enough ammunition.”

The fighting has indeed been costly. The government’s air force has targeted not just Maaret al Numan but also nearby cities that rebels used as staging grounds. DOZENS, if not HUNDREDS, of fighters and civilians have been killed, and the population of the city, about 150,000, has largely fled under the onslaught. Entire districts lie in rubble, and bodies remain underneath. Cleanup is possible only after dark, when the airstrikes stop.

The rebel ran for cover a few minutes later as a jet flew low overhead and fired at a building a few streets away.

Fighter jets flew regular sorties over the city Wednesday morning and into the early afternoon as tanks and artillery on the eastern side of the highway lobbed shells.

Rebel fighters said the shelling was heavier than usual and that it coincided with an advance by government troops, who were attempting to cross back to the western side of the highway.

“If we could keep them from resupplying the base for even two days, they would give up,” the fighter said. “But they have been able to keep it supplied.”

He lamented the lack of rebel supplies coming in from outside Syria, despite what he described as rebel commanders’ frequent trips there.

“We may have to consider withdrawing,” he said.

Haithem Afisi, a defected army colonel who leads a local battalion of fighters who were using a museum in the city as a base, said his group was officially part of the Free Syrian Army, a rebel group headquartered in Syria. He answers to the Idlib military council, which directs Free Syrian Army operations in Idlib province, where Maaret al Numan is.

Two other groups that were key to the rebels’ taking of Maaret al Numan fall outside the Free Syrian Army – the Syrian Martyrs Brigade and The Hawks of Damascus Brigade – and coordination with them can be spotty.

Many Free Syrian Army fighters also have been forced to use the meager salary they received for the first time this month – about $150 each – to buy ammunition.

[…]

http://www.adn.com/2012/11/07/2685384/battle-for-maaret-al-numan-reveals.html

Ali,

May I ask where do you really stand? You made your views in regard to the armed struggle clear but missed to elaborate on your feelings in regard to the criminal behavior of Batta and company. Tell us how you feel in regard to the last 40 years of Syrians’ lives..

How US Ambassador Chris Stevens May Have Been Linked To Jihadist Rebels In Syria

http://www.businessinsider.com/us-syria-heavy-weapons-jihadists-2012-10#ixzz2AR6J4HxM

11. TARA said:

” Had it not been to the FSA, Syrians would have remained slaves forever..”

Well technically Syrians will always be slaves as Allah said in His book, Surat Al-Towbah verse 111. We Christians were elevated by the Messiah as it it is written in Allah’s book Surat Al-Imran verse 55.

Then we were falsely dragged to be slaves again as Allah did not realize what He did when He finalized His revelation in Surat Al-Towbah.

Obama would make his first foreign visit to Turkey
The US Ambassador to Turkey said on Wednesday that US President Barack Obama who was re-elected on Tuesday for second term would make his first foreign visit to Turkey.
Turkish media outlets reported that Francis J. Ricciardone stated that Turkey would be the country for Obama’s first foreign visit after US presidential elections.

This came as Turkey has stepped up its diplomatic efforts to convince its Western allies to take bolder action in order to bring an end to the bloodshed in Syria.

If Obama visits Turkey, dealing with the festering Syrian conflict would be the main topic in his agenda.

US and Turkey both are critical opponents of the Beshar al-Assad regime and push Syrian opposition to broaden its coalition to appear as a cohesive and inclusive organization in 19-month-old uprising.
http://www.todayszaman.com/newsDetail_getNewsById.action?newsId=297516

Tara:

I respect your conversing skills, you do know how to dodge a question by another one shifting the topic from A -> Z. Actually I admire that and hope Bouthaina Shaaban could learn a bit of you.

I fully condemn all atrocities committed by Shabeeha & armed groups, and anybody who committed inhumane sectarian actions against civilians.

I fully hold the government responsible for not taking actions to help Syrian refugees abroad and displaced poor people within Syria.

I fully hold Assad and opposition leaders responsible for every drop of Syrian blood.

I fully hold Gulf sates, NATO states, Russia and Iran responsible for fueling the civil war in Syria.

I hope for an icebreaker in the current situation allowing a new school of though to emerge which believes in stopping killing and allowing dialog to end up this bloodshed

Where do you stand?

Ali

Where do I stand?

I stand with the downtrodden and the underdogs whatever their colour is. It is the Sunnis this time around and might become the Alawis later on.

“Ambassador Ford told Syrian Opposition leaders that the international community will NOT create a “no fly zone” over Syria and will NOT support the Free Syrian Army militarily.”

No. Not. Forget it.

No one in the West wants any part of the Syrian train wreck. Israel and Turkey are on their own on this. Saudi Arabia, the West’s other good friend, is far enough away from Syria that it won’t be affected by any spillover from the violence.

This is what you get for 40 years of nastiness and hostility toward the West. Next time, after you clean up this mess and start over, try to be nice to other countries…at least occasionally. It doesn’t hurt to smile, even if you don’t mean it.

Tara:

Nicely said.

I’m happy to hear that you have no problem in supporting Alawis if they go under oppression.

My views that both Sunnis and Alawis will fight together for their lives against Jihadists when we reach phase 2 of destroying Syria.

4. Syrialover

“We’re getting an important clue that people having egotistical tantrums are UNFIT to be involved in any sort of public office.”

Are you referring to Richard Nixon?

Syria’s main opposition bloc fails to elect women to leadership team – November 07, 2012

http://www.foxnews.com/world/2012/11/07/syria-main-opposition-bloc-electing-new-leaders-under-international-pressure-to/

DOHA, Qatar – Syria’s main opposition bloc elected an all-male leadership team early Thursday, undermining its own bid to showcase itself as a more diverse group that can represent all those trying to oust President Bashar Assad.

“This is a big problem,” Rima Fleihan, a Syrian writer and women’s activists, said of the marginal role of women in the political opposition in exile.

SNC spokesman George Sabra said he believes the U.S. and Qatar support a new opposition leadership along those lines, even if the final details still need to be sorted out. He said the opposition is under intense pressure to conclude a deal before leaving Doha.

SNC leaders met Tuesday with U.S. diplomats on the sidelines of the Doha conference, said Sabra, who attended the discussions.

The diplomats, including the U.S. ambassador to Syria, Robert Ford, told the SNC that Washington wants to see a unified opposition negotiate a political transition with members of the Syrian regime who don’t have blood on their hands, said Sabra and another participant, SNC political strategist Louay Safi.

The U.S. diplomats reiterated that the Washington would not intervene militarily, either by sending weapons or enforcing a no-fly zone to assist the rebels, said Safi and Sabra. Assad and members of his inner circle would have to leave before such talks can begin, they said of the U.S. position.

[…]

http://www.foxnews.com/world/2012/11/07/syria-main-opposition-bloc-electing-new-leaders-under-international-pressure-to/

Dear Ali,
Please forgive my silence. I did not ignore your invitation to talk. I had just left my computer and did not read your comment.
When I bring about what you call “history” , I am actually describing the background of the Syrian life that directly lead to the disaster that we are facing today. Years of injustice that left many people with nothing to lose. I am always astounded by how otherwise seemingly smart and sensitive people like you and Ghufran, can so nonchalantly equate the regime with the rebels. The situation in Syria, as complicated as it is, really boils down to the simple truth that this regime is comprised of thugs who are willing to do anything to stay in power. There is nothing that they have not tried so far: they opened direct fire on unarmed demonstrators, they detained children, they kidnapped intellectuals, they tortured anyone they could, they raped women, they slaughtered people in their homes, they bombed cities, they destroyed historical monuments, they burnt valuable forests….. Need I continue? We all watched and lived the horror “movie”. These thugs are organized in a so called army, have control and command structures and communication abilities. The FSA on the other hand is the quintessential reactionary counter-balance mechanism of the Syrian people in an effort to try to defend themselves against this barrage of attacks by land and air. This is a group that consists of mostly army defectors, some civilians and very few foreigners. They have limited weapons, although this is changing by the day, chaotic command and control and no communication channels to speak of. No reasonable peson can hold such group to the same standards as an official army. As for the claim that the FSA should not enter the cities and bring destruction, I ask you: where else can this weak group fight the army? Go to the open desert where they can be prime targets? This is the signature move of any revolution. Nothing new there, but what is new is the willingness of our regime to bomb densely populated cities with war jets to get the rebels. What is destroying the cities is not the existence of the FSA, rather the criminality of this regime.
I can go on forever, but the bottom line here is very simple the violence was started by the regime and the people were left with no choice but to defend themselves. As we say in Arabic لولا هالغيم ما أجا هالمطر.
As for a political solution to the Syrian disaster, I say it is an inevitable next step, but can only start after the murderer-in-chief is gone.

“Syria rebels” appear to be shifting strategy in Damascus – November 7, 2012

Bombings and assassinations seem to be less about holding territory than making guerrilla-style strikes, some of which have caused civilian casualties.

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-syria-damascus-20121108,0,618701.story

The new rebel strategy appears to be less about holding territory than conducting something closer to guerrilla-style strikes, including powerful car bombings that have caused civilian casualties.

The rebel tactics could complicate efforts to build international support at a time when Western governments are worried about an influx of militants. Car bombs and sectarian-tinged attacks appear to many outsiders as the domain of extremists, not democracy-seeking revolutionaries.

Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton last week urged the opposition leadership to be “on record strongly resisting the efforts by extremists to hijack the Syrian revolution.”

On Wednesday, a leading pro-Assad Palestinian faction, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine-General Command, issued a statement saying “armed gangs” had waged a “vicious attack” on refugee settlements in the Yarmouk area on the capital’s outskirts. The group said it repulsed the assailants, resulting in scores of mortar shells being fired in retribution. There were no confirmed reports of casualties.

Along with bombings, targeted killings of government figures and supporters also appear to be on the upswing in the capital.

On Wednesday, the state news agency reported that “an armed terrorist group” assassinated a judge, Abad Nadweh, using an explosive attached to his car.

The judge’s killing came a day after the brother of the speaker of parliament was shot to death in his car in Damascus as he headed to work, according to official accounts.

Last weekend, rebels in Damascus abducted and executed a well-known Palestinian Syrian television actor, Mohamed Rafeh. Rebels accused Rafeh of being a government informant and enforcer. Friends and family say the actor was killed in retribution for his outspoken support of Assad.

[…]

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-syria-damascus-20121108,0,618701.story

The Syrian opposition is stuck in their dead end narrative

http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/how-can-turkey-buy-into-the-federal-syria-idea.aspx?pageID=449&nID=34184&NewsCatID=419

The opposition groups in Syria are still in disarray. Since most of the political and military organizations are “fabricated,” there is no prospect for a united political-military front. They have no capacity to carry the “revolution” to the next phase.

Moreover, this incapacity is damaging not only the “future of the revolution,” but also the “ideology of democracy and freedom” and its allies. As armed groups commit “war crimes,” both the legitimacy of the struggle and the regional faith in “democracy” are being questioned. Let’s not forget the jihadists who are taking root in the region by systematically using violence which, in civil war, forces everyone to join a group.

These concerns are definitely shared by the politicians of the United States and the United Kingdom. They feel the need to intervene more decisively to end political and military polarization, prevent the war crimes of the opposition groups and end the jihadist presence. Of course, as demonstrated by Hillary Clinton’s recent remarks, their ultimate aim is to save the reputation of those countries who supported this “dead-end revolution.”

Moving the debate from Istanbul to Qatar and opening criticism toward the Syrian National Council, which is supported by Turkey, brings forth the question of Turkey’s future role. Managing badly what comes after the meeting could lead to crisis and tension among allies.

Turkey has acted in close cooperation with the U.S. and the U.K. since the beginning of the Syrian crisis. It played a central role in pressuring and delegitimizing the regime, providing aid for the refugees and armed movements, all of which resulted in high economic, diplomatic and political costs in both the domestic and international arenas. It is now obvious that the limit of the contribution Turkey could make to the political and military developments in Syria has been reached. This limit was defined by the passage of time, Turkey’s ethnic and sectarian structure and Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s resilience.

Uniting the opposition is only possible through the formulation of a clear political objective. It is no secret that the political objective that can satisfy all the ethnic, religious and sectarian groups in post-al-Assad Syria is regarded as federalism and that this idea, though not clearly formulated, has strong supporters. It is also known that the Turkish government is not very eager to see Kurds and Alawites acquire federal rights in Syria.

On the other hand, any progress in Syria will depend on increasing the military capacity of the armed opposition. This means more powerful weapons and more functional organization. Who will get the weapons and how, and who will control this process – these questions remain.

The meaning of the Qatar meeting for Turkey depends on the answers given to these questions. Let’s wait and see.

November/08/2012

Sheila:

Thanks for your reply, I was really looking to your reply and I feel quite satisfied that I’ve received a good one.

The emotions are pouring out of your reply and I must appreciate that, seeing your and our mother “Syria” sinking in this moving sand called civil war is surely heart breaking.

I was watching closely SyriaComment for a decent period of time till I decided to post yesterday. The generic theme of this blog is the “blame game” where bloggers support blindly and unconditionally there respective parties while pointing the faulty finger to others, pretty much everybody is a master in playing this game.

I have no intention of blaming the oppositions nor I’m planning to equate prisoner with the jailor neither the victim with the executioner. I did declare loud and clear that Assad is responsible, however, at the same time I’m afraid that we’ve gone so far and grown another monster called militant groups including Jihadists which we will fight next undoubtedly.

You can tell yourself all sorts of reasons and excuses to justify your stand which is quite understandable as a human nature, but for me I can’t see any hope of prevailing unless we go back to our conscious realizing how far we’ve gone on the road to Somalia.

I decided to start with myself and look for those who condemn the killing machine in Syria as a foundation for a dialog which might lead to nowhere but might also lead to convert at least on Syrian individual back to our original nature away from the path of death and hatred.

From the FSA fantasy world: The regime sacrifices its own members.

FSA denies assassinating al-Assad loyalists, accuses regime

07/11/2012
By Caroline Akoum
http://www.asharq-e.com/news.asp?section=1&id=31727
…
For his part, Rami Abdul-Rahman, director of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, announced that he had received information from Syrian activists that the forthcoming days will see more Syrian regime figures being targeted.

Speaking exclusively to Asharq Al-Awsat, Free Syrian Army [FSA] Chief of Staff, Colonel Ahmad Hijazi, strongly denied that the FSA was responsible for this assassination campaign. He stressed that “the FSA is not responsible for these assassinations and does not depend on this policy in its military strategy.”

It’s refreshing to read the truth in the LA Times for change!

In Syria, small-town rebels are stuck in big-city Aleppo – November 5, 2012

The OUTSIDERS, who entered Aleppo in July, have fought to a deadlock with government forces. MANY RESIDENTS of the once-prosperous city [ALEPPO] RESENT the fighters’ PRESENCE.

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-syria-aleppo-20121106,0,3747163.story

ALEPPO, Syria — They are this ancient city’s bedraggled warriors: plowmen and laborers, mechanics and carpenters who came from the countryside this summer to “liberate” this formerly freewheeling town attuned to the rhythms of commerce.

Now they’re stuck here.

Bogged down by a relentless urban combat they’re ill-equipped to fight, the rebels daily endure both government bombardment and thinly veiled hostility from the resentful residents of a mercantile hub turned dystopia.

These rebels who entered Aleppo from semirural, tradition-bound suburbs and agricultural areas found no spontaneous outpouring of support, no waves of sleeper cells yearning to join the revolution. Many shopkeepers in the historic Old City seem to avoid eye contact with the scruffy legions strutting along the cobblestoned streets of this former Silk Road terminus.

A reporter escorted by rebels on a recent visit couldn’t escape the sensation of accompanying an occupying force.

The widely divergent backgrounds of fighters and Aleppo residents underscore a continuing tension that probably contributed to the stalling of the rebel advance.

Some rebel commanders openly regret the decision made in mid-July to attack the city directly. Filled with false confidence after chasing government troops from nearby districts, rebels eschewed a more classic guerrilla strategy of gradual advance via strikes on police stations, military posts and other security targets.

“We gave the regime an excuse to attack civilians,” laments Ahmed Obeid, who heads the Amr ibn al-As Division, one of perhaps 10 major rebel groupings fighting here. “We are not military men. We have made mistakes.”

Despite their initial miscalculation of swift victory, Obeid and other insurgent commanders now insist retreat is impossible.

“If we pull out, any civilian who gave as much as a glass of water to one of our men will face execution,” says the soft-spoken Obeid, known as “the Teacher” because of more than 20 years spent as a high school math instructor in the agricultural town of Azaz, 30 miles to the northwest, a major feeder zone for insurgent forces.

Many combatants say without hesitation that they don’t expect to survive this battle. Religious belief seems to sustain them.

On the serpentine streets of the Old City, traversed by generations of invaders, adventurers and traders, many residents hardly hide their disdain for the disheveled legions who have come to occupy their previously prosperous town. The district is home to many Christian and Sunni merchants, whose clientele included middle- and upper-class Syrians and foreign visitors.

Here, many applauded government economic initiatives that benefited Aleppo’s urban commercial class but further marginalized the rural poor, creating fertile ground for revolt in the countryside.

[…]

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-syria-aleppo-20121106,0,3747163.story

“….Emphasizing the wild reaction of the Hebrew media and Israel’s upper echelon of politicians to Obama’s victory, Mossad opened on the same day a recruiting campaign over the internet. Its ads appeared next to pictures illustrating the victory, creating an eerie image. Is Mossad about to gear up sinister old plans for a presidential assassination? Beginning this article in such a fashion is justifiable due to the violent reactions voiced in Israel. One of the softest belonged to Yedioth Aharonot—Israel’s largest newspaper—which read “An Ugly Victory.” The most quoted reaction belonged to Likud Knesset Member Danny Danon, who said “the State of Israel will not surrender to Obama. We have no one to rely on but ourselves….”

__________________________________________________________________

Read more:
http://www.roitov.com/articles/obama2.htm

‘Flexibility’ With Russia Might Not Come Easy for Obama in 2nd Term – 08/11/2012

http://en.rian.ru/world/20121108/177282904.html

WASHINGTON, November 8 (By Carl Schreck for RIA Novosti) – US President Barack Obama famously told the Kremlin earlier this year that he’d have more “flexibility” dealing with Russia should he win a second term and be freed from the constraints of reelection concerns.

With Obama’s victory in Tuesday’s US presidential election, the next four years will show whether the American president can make good on this assertion.

The ongoing civil war in Syria, for example, has sharply divided the two countries, with the United States insisting Syrian President Bashar al-Assad step down and Russia warning that Assad’s ouster by armed opposition groups could plunge the country—and the region—into further chaos.

“It’s not clear what either side thinks the appropriate outcome in Syria is,” said James Collins, a former US ambassador to Russia under President Bill Clinton and director of the Russia and Eurasia Program at the Carnegie Institute for International Peace in Washington.

[…]

http://en.rian.ru/world/20121108/177282904.html

Syria Pledges No Use of Chemical Weapons – Russia – 06/11/2012

http://en.rian.ru/russia/20121106/177226774.html

AMMAN, November 6 (RIA Novosti) – The Syrian authorities have assured Moscow that there will be no use of chemical weapons against rebel forces, Russia’s foreign minister said on Tuesday.

“I rule out the use by the [Syrian] regime of chemical weapons,” Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told journalists. “We have received the appropriate assurances.”

Lavrov said Russia had also asked Syria to make a similar pledge to Western powers.

Lavrov accused unnamed Western countries on Tuesday of sending weapons, including Stinger ground-to-air missiles, to Syrian rebels. “There are some 50 Stingers on Syrian territory,” he said.

Russia’s top diplomat also called for the return of UN observers to Syria, where tens of thousands of people have died since the onset of a civil war 18 months ago.

“Part of our position is that the UN observers should return to Syria, and in largest numbers,” Lavrov said.

[…]

http://en.rian.ru/russia/20121106/177226774.html

Ali 12,

I put you in a box?
Really?
And you don’t think we’re on the same page? What a surprise? Neither do I!!

Well, here it is in a nutshell. I do not need to ask you if you are an apologist. This is not something that can be answered by you. It can only be inferred from your narrative by me. Does that help you? Simply speaking, you narrative sucks.

You contradict yourself in one and the same paragraph. Here

”
The thing is that you’re explaining things as if we’re on the same page, while on reality we’re not. I’m genuinely struggling to understand how could anybody support killing especially for his own people, I was hoping your answers will help me so.”

You do not ask this question to imply spreading blame, a technique well known to have been employed by the killing machine regime from day one.

You want to come and pretend concern for human life. Well kiss my behind first. All your comments smack with hypocrisy. There is one and only one killing machine in Syria. It the regime of thugs that needs to be destroyed. If you speak outside these parameters you are a fake and a cheap apologist. Period.

If you do not treat the FSA as real heroes of this Revolution by your words and deeds, you are also fake and do not belong n the revolution, period.

And no there is no such thing as Jihadists. And no, Syrians will not fight these brothers of ours who came to our help in times of need. Your Alawite thugs have by in large been silent on the massacres and quite often active participants. Rest assured there will be accountability in due time.

You may think I am angry, but sorry again to deflate your cockiness and larger than necessary ego.

This is my style. Put up or shut up.

Visitor:

Now I’m quite convinced that you’ve lost it. Only a couple of questions made you scrambling like a slaughtered chicken showing all your impressive civilized manners and a stark reflection of your up bringing.

I have no doubt that you’re a disturbed soul looking for an identity to cover your insecurity, unfortunately you did find some of your wet dreams coming through while enjoying the scene of our Syrian fellows getting slaughtered by your foreign brothers in faith “Jihadists”.

I find your attitude of “I’m always right and you’re a piece of sh1t” quite funny and actually it reminds me of somebody who was labelled as a dictator mmmmmmm, ah true reminds me of Assad and his Shebeeha. Now, in case you still wondering why you have not won the majority of Syrians, just look at the mirror and open your mouth.

I wounder if your faith allows you to be rude to people,? I’m sure not, but I do hope that you don’t treat your family members in such bad manners.

Apologies if I pushed the wrong button Mr. Brother in Faith with Jihadists.

So far the debate on this forum has shifted considerably.

1. Among regime apologists there is now a clear recognition that a quick solution as the regime touted is not in the offing.

2. There is also a shift whereby even regime supporters have recognized the illegitimate use of force.

3. There is also recognition that the so called reforms are no longer capable of even be used as a starting point of negotiations.

4. The Iran Russia strategy is now in my opinion an effort to rescue whatever is left of the regime structure for the day after its demise.

5. The support that the regime getting is clearly finite, for the decision by Russia to give a 5 billion loan is an indication that the Iranian cannot give more and certainly not on any sustainable basis

6. A loan means that there is no more money and this evidenced even further by the break down of law and order as the regime is no longer capable of paying salaries of the thugs.

7. The military is spread too thin to create a continuity of coastal areas that are contiguous enough to be together, to receive maritime shipments and to be connected to the Hermel region of Lebanon to insure continuity with HA fighters.

8. The SNC is dead and these professors can go back to their cafes to pontificate again and they should elect Man’aa as the head butler in my opinion for their meetings.

Now, the country will disintegrate and maps will be redrawn and forces on the ground will force a new modus vivendi.

The supremacy of the Alawite community is over, the Christian community will be marginalized at best, and in this the regime was able to link its political and now physical survival to theirs.

Russia is left with a garbage can filled with stinking rotting corpses called Somaria Alathad. Turkey has effectively carried out a buffer zone in the north. Once Aleppo falls the business will start again.

It has allies that will counter balance the kurds and will continue to favor Barzani over Iraq and can forget about the rest of Syria.

Jordan will find itself squeezed and Lebanon will remain on a knife’s edge for some time.

I am cynical, but this is a golden opportunity to give pay back to Iran and Russia.

ALI you are coming across as a spectator at a sporting event.

You are having a nice debate about the competitors, but coolly detached and unconcerned about the human element, which is what the Syrian conflict is really all about.

And you are getting a very fair run with TARA, SHIELA and VISITOR, all of whom are genuinely engaged and affected by what is happening to Syrians and their country.

They are giving honest responses, not just striking debating postures; and showing intellectual substance as well as the “emotion” you dismiss*. You are not matching it.

Before you make any more sweeping comments about Jihadists in Syria, I recommend you read the thoughtful piece by Robin Yassin-Kassab on his Qunfuz blog I mentioned in #5 above. (http://qunfuz.com/2012/11/01/the-revolution-becomes-more-islamist/#more-2025)

*That was true of Visitor in his response to you in the previous thread. But you just went on and on pushing his pro-FSA buttons (which are good buttons and I have them myself) until he lost his cool then you started insulting him.

The regime and its thugs only understand force. So force should be applied to them, to their families, their livelihoods, and to their children. Maybe after they’ve suffered enough, they’ll learn to behave better in the future.

Every destroyed house and family by a regime plane or shell is another potential suicide bomber. Call down the thunder, and reap the whirlwind.

With each passing day, more Sunnis leave the regime. Assad wanted a sectarian war. He shall get it.

The death of innocents is always unfortunate, but a war is a war. And in this war, except for little children, there are no innocents.

The sidelining of Riad Seif is very disappointing and shames those responsible.

Let’s have a look at the faces and cvs of those who couldn’t respect and cooperate with him. He is someone who would have better credentials and be more worthy of respect than a roomful of them put together.

He has also been physically engaged in the revolution, made sacrifices, actually took on jobs and paid a high price for his intellectual integrity, courage and persistence over many years.

Riad Seif made it clear he wasn’t interested in future power because of his age and health – all he was aiming for was to lead the process of working on a solution to the present impasse.

And for those who snipe at US representative Ford, he is a person who while living in Syria demonstrated infinitely more concern for Syrians and care about the country than Bashar Assad ever did!

Syrialover:

Thanks for dropping by and sharing your thoughts.

I’m still unable to understand why it’s so sensitive to talk about Jihadists on this blog? I like to call a spade a spade that’s all.

Could you help me and explain why it’s a “red-line” to criticize FSA? Isn’t it exactly what apologists and Shabeeha do with Assad?

However, I do believe that emotionally driven thinking could lead you nowhere. You need to bite on your wound and sit with your foes in order to save something more important called Syria.

Observer:

Very good observations.

I wonder how you could not observe the high speed rail towards Somalia?

41. OBSERVER

Apart from your usual efforts at creative analysis, let’s consider the following statements:

“Russia is left with a garbage can filled with stinking rotting corpses called Somaria Alathad. Turkey has effectively carried out a buffer zone in the north. Once Aleppo falls the business will start again.

It has allies that will counter balance the kurds and will continue to favor Barzani over Iraq and can forget about the rest of Syria.

Jordan will find itself squeezed and Lebanon will remain on a knife’s edge for some time.

I am cynical, but this is a golden opportunity to give pay back to Iran and Russia.”

_______

When you finally realize that the “garbage can filled with rotten corpses” primarily affects Turkey, not Russia or Iran, you may start to have a better understanding of the situation. You acknowledged that the country is disintegrating, and this my friend, is nightmare scenario for Turkey, not a win by any stretch of the imagination.

If you searched about Turkey’s demographics, you’d find that ethnic statistics are a state secret. No reliable figures are available, and the practice reminds us of a country where such issues have long been extremely sensitive: Lebanon. And that clearly stinks for Turkey. There is no question that in a future Kurdish Spring, Turkey will be much more affected than Syria, Iraq or Iran.

http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2010/08/31/turkey_s_silent_crisis

And resuming business with Aleppo? As if the city was really productive by world standards, its only real strength was its commercial position, and commerce isn’t the forte of fragmented, warring regions. And it’s not like Turkey has an interest in encouraging any Syrian particularism, for the reasons mentioned above. This is why they are trapped.

Let’s hope Clinton finally gives up on social engineering and accepts the fact that Assad represents a significant segment of the Syrian population and that no manipulation on her part will change that.

Maybe she can then finally start to support honest negotiations about Syria’s future in which the fear of both sides are addressed.

ALI,

It’s the lightweight and ill-informed way you talk about Jihadists. If you’ve bothered to read the article I recommended, you’ll notice how closely you are mimicking the Assad line.

And your comments on the FSA make it look like your knowledge is limited to headlines in SANA and the Russian stories provided by “ANN” and Citizen.

There’s no excuse, because VISITOR took the time to give detailed and reasonable answers to your questions on the FSA, which you seem to have ignored: https://www.joshualandis.com/blog/?p=16658&cp=all#comment-333942.

Tell me, what do you think of closet shabeeha sitting on the fence whilst pointing the finger at the victims? Do you disapprove of them?

You are up on a very high horse there.

VISITOR,

You said all that needs to be said with the words:

“If you do not hold the FSA in the highest regard, then simply get out of this revolution. You have no business in it.”

I am very proud of them.

20. TARA said:

“Ali,

May I ask where do you really stand? You made your views in regard to the armed struggle clear but missed to elaborate on your feelings in regard to the criminal behavior of Batta and company. Tell us how you feel in regard to the last 40 years of Syrians’ lives..”

You singled out others sects, but your hypocrisy can only go so far. Do you deny that plenty of Sunnis have happily collaborated with the regime for decades? That’s probably more people than the total of non-sunnis Syrians.

You couldn’t get rich in Syria without being cozy with officials, that’s a reality. And there always were lots of Sunni businessmen. And to my knowledge, it was never a secret that Sunnis owned all the Souqs in every big city, that means plenty of middle class shop owners. Now they want us all to believe that they were lifetime dissidents, but the reality is that they had it good and didn’t miss any opportunity to collaborate.

I don’t think you’re a bad person Tara, but sometimes your emotions are taking over, which is understandable, but you should reflect more on what you say from time to time. You have been calling for attacks on civilians repeatedly. I could tell you that it’s morally indefensible, but I’ll simply say:
If you think that it’s legitimate to do that, then other people will say that bombing rebel families is also legitimate. How can you still present the conflict as a revolution, and not a civil war then? That’s completely self-contradicting.

TARA, hey, guess what, ALBO is breaking the news that some Sunnis collaborated with the regime and lived many years without dissenting.

AlBO, why are you now joining ALI in being patronizing and moralizing to TARA?

I’d argue from reading her that she’s at least your peer and knows as much as you do.

Assad to RT: ‘I’m not Western puppet – I have to live and die in Syria’
http://rt.com/news/assad-exclusive-interview-syria-240/

Dear Ali,
There is a big difference between blindly supporting one side and taking a stand. I take a firm stand with the people of Syria and the FSA. I realize that there are problems, but I also understand that there is no practical way to solve these problems at the current time and under the prevailing circumstances. The train wreck to “Somalia” will not be stopped if we magically turn the FSA into the Swiss army. They are not the side that will effect matters on the ground. If you remove the FSA from the ground today, we all know what will happen. Especially those of us who lived through the eighty’s uprising. We all know what our regime is capable of. So if your goal is to stop the train wreck, you need to take a stand and work on removing the only side that can stop that, the regime.
I do not condone violence. I am against stereotyping and criminalizing of the entire Alawi population for the crimes of some (or even many). If there is one Alawi standing against the regime (and we know there are many), then in my book, you can not condemn the entire group.
I understand that the conflict in Syria can be classified as a civil war, but in my book it a prolonged revolution.
I also am thankful to those young men who are coming from other parts of the world and risking their lives to help us topple our dictator. They are putting their words into action while the rest of the world sits back and watches our kids torn to pieces by TNT barrels. I am a liberal person and do not believe in the mixing of religion and state, especially in Syria. It is not a homogeneous society. We need the right person for the job regardless. I thing that Syria will go through the Islamized period due to the state that we have reached, but that period will not last for too long.

Juergen! for your attention !
http://www.jpost.com/NationalNews/Article.aspx?id=270291
http://www.jpost.com/HttpHandlers/ShowImage.ashx?ID=193993

This is what the daughter of someone slain by the regime recently wrote on her Facebook:

سلام عليك يا دمشق … سلام عليك يا سوريا . سيعم السلام علينا قريبا . قريبا جداً . استعدوا للحب ، استعدوا البناء ، استعدوا للمسامحة ، استعدوا للصلح . سلام عليك يا من قتلت أبي ، لأنك ستأتي لتقبل التراب اللتي فوقه . شكرًا لك على هذه الهدية ! اهديته هدية لم يحلم بها. اهديته الشهادة ، اهديته البطولة ، اهديته حب الناس . سلام عليك يا من قتل روحه الطاهرة . الحرية عل باب ! افتحولا البواب و

استقبلوا بالورود ….

A lesson in forgiveness and love….necessary ingredients for our future Syria. It is inspiring!

Syrian rebels root for Romney in hopes of US military intervention

Desperate for foreign intervention, some rebels say they hope the party that brought on the Iraq war might also bring America to Syria.

Seldom do you find Arabs anywhere in the Middle East who have warm feelings about America’s most recent war with Iraq, especially in Syria where many people were actively involved in supporting the Iraqi insurgency.

Yet as Syria’s upheaval nears the two-year mark, many of those who are increasingly desperate for a foreign intervention to end the conflict now reference Iraq as a seemingly positive example of why America might decide to help. With an eye on the US elections, they say they hope the party that brought them the Iraq war might also bring America to Syria.

http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Middle-East/2012/1105/Syrian-rebels-root-for-Romney-in-hopes-of-US-military-intervention
__________________________________________________________________

Romney won’t be coming to the rescue of the Fundamentalist Sunni Army now, lol

Typical Tayyiqqa Sunnis, the liberation of Iraq is a “crime” yet these same Sunnis want the United States’ help to liberate Syria from another Baathist dictator? lol

Can anyone take these clowns seriously? lol

Damascus Demonstration: To Hell with Freedom, We Want an Islamic Caliphate and Weapons

http://www.memri.org/clip/en/0/0/0/0/0/0/3632.htm

__________________________________________________________________

So much for democracy, freedom and equality.

As I have always said, the Sunni insurgency has one agenda, one objective: establishing a Sunni dominated dictatorship!

In words and in deeds, its clear for all to see!

Islamists Set ‘Million-Man’ March To Defend Shariah Law in Egypt

Islamist forces have decided to organize a million-man march on Friday [Nov. 9] to defend Islamic Shariah law.

The call for the march, which would start from several mosques in Cairo and other provinces, was made following a meeting of representatives from Islamist forces yesterday [Nov. 6]. The meeting was attended by the Building and Development Party alongside a variety of movements, including Samidoun, Students of Shariah, Hazimoun, Together to Support Shariah and the Bearded Officers coalitions.

Participants in the meeting said that the march is calling on the Muslim Brotherhood to return to God, “after the group were sidetracked in the application of God’s Shariah,” according to Hazem Khater, spokesman of the million-man march. He said that Islamist forces agreed to deliver a strong message to the Brotherhood, adding that “we call on the Brotherhood to return to God, because you are the ones most affected by the non-application of Islamic Shariah law.” The march’s organizers have decided to call on the Brotherhood to once again participate in the million-man march.

Read more: http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/politics/2012/10/egyptians-march-for-shariah.html#ixzz2BdNvBDw7

__________________________________________________________________

No doubt something Syria can look forward too in the future, if the FSA putsch succeeds.

52. SYRIALOVER said:

“TARA, hey, guess what,…”

Excellent that you’re here, Mr Sanctimonious, because you have exposed yourself once more in the last page:

“That was true of Visitor in his response to you in the previous thread. But you just went on and on pushing his pro-FSA buttons (which are good buttons and I have them myself) until he lost his cool then you started insulting him.”

“There’s no excuse, because VISITOR took the time to give detailed and reasonable answers to your questions on the FSA, which you seem to have ignored”

And here’s what visitor’s responses, detailed and reasonable answer boil down to:

—–> “I strongly second Amjad of Arabia in a comment he made in a previous thread when he stated that our Saudi, Pakistani and other fighters who came to join the revolution will be rewarded afterwards by the Syrians by housing them in the best seaside mansions in Qurdaha once we get rid of the abominable regime currently occupying Syria.”

—————————————————————

Give us a fuckng break, Syrialover. You moral posturing is 100% fake, you are just a small sectarian revengist. At least with Visitor we know what we’re dealing with, he has cut the crap and that’s something that is to be appreciated. You on the other hand like to pose as some humanitarianist. It appears you’re completely full of it, and I’ll gladly remind any newcomer about you true self whenever you claim some moral superiority, or constructive attitude, with your usual straight face no less.

Report: Turkey and Iran leaders hold unannounced talks on Syria

Turkish PM Erdogan and Iranian President Ahmadinejad began their conversation on the sidelines of a conference in Bali.

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan met Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad for an unannounced talk on the sidelines of the Democracy Forum in Bali on Thursday, the Turkish daily Hurriyet reported.

The two had not been expected to hold any talks over the course of the conference.

The two leaders began talking on their way to dinner, continuing their conversation at the table, according to the daily. The conversation centered around the crisis in Syria, the report said.

Erdogan earlier this week sharply criticized the UN Security Council for its failure to agree on decisive steps to end the 19-month civil war in Syria.

http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/report-turkey-and-iran-leaders-hold-unannounced-talks-on-syria-1.476177

Assad Vows To ‘Live And Die’ In Syria

Syrian President Bashar al Assad has told Russian TV he will “live and die in Syria”.

Earlier this week, Britain’s Prime Minister David Cameron suggested that Mr Assad could be allowed safe passage out of the country if it would guarantee an end to the nation’s civil war.

But appearing on the Russian Arabic-language channel Rusiya al Yaum, Mr Assad said he was not a puppet of the West. “I am Syrian, made in Syria, and I will live and die in Syria,” he said.

“I think that the cost of a foreign invasion of Syria – if it happens – would be bigger than the entire world can bear … this will have a domino effect that will affect the world from the Atlantic to the Pacific,” he said.

“I do not believe the West is heading in this direction, but if they do, nobody can tell what will happen afterwards,” he said.

http://news.sky.com/story/1008707/assad-vows-to-live-and-die-in-syria

Beleaguered Syrian Christians Face Growing Threat From Jihadists

Amid the ongoing Syrian civil war, Syria’s Christian community has come under growing threat as foreign jihadists and Muslim radicals increasingly play a role in the rebellion against President Bashar al-Assad.

The Syrian Christians, who comprise 10 percent of the population, have been put into a difficult situation by the conflict. On one hand, many support the rebellion against the ruthless Assad. At the same time, however, under Assad they were a protected minority. Many Christians fear that if Assad is overthrown and replaced by Islamists, they will face greater persecution. Signs of that are already beginning to appear.

“They wanted to kill us because we were Christians. They were calling us Kaffirs [infidels], even little children saying these things. Those who were our neighbours turned against us,” said one Syrian Christian to the UK’s Independent.

Syrian Christian religious leaders blame recent influx of Islamic radicals. Responsibility for the attacks lay with “an influx of jihadists in the rebels in the last six, seven months,” Archbishop Issam John Darwish said.

Another prominent and widely respected Arab Christian leader, Mother Agner-Mariam, claims that many of the jihadists are affiliated with al-Qaeda and the Muslim Brotherhood and are veterans of Afghanistan and Iraq. And now, “their cause is being recycled to kill Syrians,” she said.

http://www.algemeiner.com/2012/11/05/beleaguered-syrian-christians-face-growing-threat-from-jihadists/

Jihadists’ Rise in Syria Complicates Options for Israel and the West

As the conflict in Syria continues to escalate, there are growing fears of an increasing radical jihadist role in the rebellion against President Bashar al-Assad’s government—complicating options for the West and presenting new threats for Israel.

Syria’s beleaguered Christian community, which comprises 10 percent of the population, is witnessing the growth of radical jihadists firsthand.

“They wanted to kill us because we were Christians. They were calling us Kaffirs [infidels], even little children saying these things. Those who were our neighbours turned against us,” one Syrian Christian told the UK’s Independent.

Syrian Christian religious leaders blame recent influx of Islamic radicals. Responsibility for the attacks lay with “an influx of jihadists in the rebels in the last six, seven months,” Archbishop Issam John Darwish said.

Another prominent and widely respected Arab Christian leader, Mother Agner-Mariam, claims that many of the jihadists are affiliated with al-Qaeda and the Muslim Brotherhood and are veterans of Afghanistan and Iraq. And now, “their cause is being recycled to kill Syrians,” she said.

But Syrian Christians are not the only ones detecting the rising tide of Islamists in Syria.

Jackson Diehl, in a recent column in the Washington Post, pointed out that as the Syrian conflict drags on, “the more likely it is that what began as a peaceful mass opposition movement would be hijacked by extremists, including allies of al-Qaeda.”

http://www.algemeiner.com/2012/11/08/jihadists%E2%80%99-rise-in-syria-complicates-options-for-israel-and-the-west/

US anti-Islam filmmaker Nakoula Basseley Nakoula jailed

A US man behind an anti-Muslim film that led to mass protests in the Middle East has been sentenced to a year in jail for probation violations.

Nakoula Basseley Nakoula was sentenced by a judge in California after admitting four violations which stem from a 2010 conviction for fraud.

None of the charges was connected with the content of the controversial film, Innocence of Muslims.

Dozens of people died in the Middle East in protests over the film.

US District Judge Christina Snyder said Nakoula, 55, must spend 12 months in prison followed by four years of supervised release.

Prosecutors had been seeking a two-year sentence.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-20247187

News from La-La-Land:

-As soon as Batta/Bashar gets on the plane with his mother, brother and dudes, no local warlord will decide to fight it “till victory” in an attempt to imitate Ratko Mladic;

-Syria will be ruled by the Islamists “for a short while” but they will vanish into the opium smoke of their dreams before the country gets into a new Iran or alternative model, Somalia.

Three Qaida suspects killed in Yemen drone strike

A drone strike near the Yemeni capital killed three suspected Al-Qaeda members including a militant wanted for a deadly attack on the US embassy in Sanaa, security officials said on Thursday.

They said the drone strike, believed to have been carried out by the United States, targeted a car near the village of Beit al-Ahmar in the Sanhan region, 15 kilometres (nine miles) southeast of Sanaa.

Three people were killed and two wounded, they said.

Among the dead was Adnan al-Qadhi, a former jihadist fighter in Afghanistan and al-Qaida member wanted for a 2008 car bomb attack on the US embassy that killed six Yemeni soldiers and four civilians.

US drones deployed in the region have backed Yemeni forces in combating militants of al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula, the group’s Yemen branch, considered by Washington to be the most active and deadly.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/middle-east/Three-Qaida-suspects-killed-in-Yemen-drone-strike/articleshow/17142012.cms

__________________________________________________________________

Obama doesn’t waste anytime! Al Qaeda remains a clear and present danger to the United States. These extremists need to be exterminated.

It won’t be long before these drones are deployed to Libya & then Syria.

Salafis storm church property

The diocesan headquarters of the Coptic church in Shubra Al-Kheima was stormed by Salafis on Monday after afternoon prayers. The group raised a banner reading “Rahma Mosque” and remained on the premises until prayers at dawn, when the Interior Ministry intervened and removed the group.

The Salafis took over an area of the diocese headquarters used for services, that had been governmentally licensed, and claimed it as a Muslim place of worship, said Bishop Morcos of Shubra in a telephone interview on Al-Tahrir channel. “We want to know what the government will do.”

“They claimed that the land is owned by a Muslim, despite the issuance of permits for the service building of the church,” said the Maspero Youth Union (MYU) in a statement.

“As a party and coalition refuse any assaults, because they provoke sectarian strife,” said Amir Boshra, a member of the Free Egyptians Party (FEP) and the MYU. “We don’t want things to escalate, but there are Muslims and Christians and parties who are against this situation, and will resolve it by force if necessary.”

http://dailynewsegypt.com/2012/11/06/salafis-storm-church-property/

__________________________________________________________________

Sunnis doing what they always do: persecute people who differ from them. This is what awaits Syria; if the Sunni insurgency is not quashed.

Mina

Indeed, the country ain’t disintegrating we’re told, that’s just rebel groups fighting each others, kurds against rebels, palestinian against palestinians, warlords in every corner of Syria, thugs abducting all sorts of folks, islamist crazies beheading at will…nothing to worry about, the regime is bad so everything is excused, right?

Ali and the 40 thieves @40!!

(What a coincindence?)

Said,

“Now, in case you still wondering why you have not won the majority of Syrians, just look at the mirror and open your mouth.”

The only thing I am wondering about is whether the Revolution would need any Johny Come Latelies to lecture it from above about so-called jihadists.

And you seem quite disturbed by my success in busting your whole mission on this forum by dashing in to talk about nothing but so-called jihadists while offering snake’s tears over fake concerns to human lives.

Yes those non-Syrians who joined the Revolution are first our brothers in faith, and secondly our brothers in the Revolution. And we will reward them afterwards as I mentioned. Thanks Amjad. How cool?

But honestly, I am really amazed at your saviour-ability skills. Wow, you must be born with the gift. Man, you wanted first to save Syria from itself and now you just switched to a psychoanalytical mode trying to save ‘troubled’ souls. You must be DA MAN!

But after second thoughts I kind of figured that Johny Come Latelies are not needed in this greatest of all Revolutions. They will simply turn into barking dogs behind a marching caravan.

How is that for psychoanalysis?

Find a mirror quickly and watch out for a protruding long nose.

What does our Goofy Palestinian on this forum have to say about this?

http://www.aljazeera.net/humanrights/pages/dc5a31d3-d299-4072-9b6d-e31424bf7548?GoogleStatID=1

There’s the sensationalist, lightweight, Assad version of the Jihadist issue: ALBO/ALI/WARREN

and there’s the intelligent, realistic, well-informed one: http://qunfuz.com/2012/11/01/the-revolution-becomes-more-islamist/#more-2025).

Take your pick.

SAMI #56 (Son of Damascus)

Very moving and inspiring.

While some continue to dream of their dystopian future with Talebans and other jihadists, dancing Gagnam Style on Syrian beaches with burqa-ed women under the watch of western drones, back to reality:

http://blog.lefigaro.fr/malbrunot/2012/11/syrie-londres-nexclut-pas-une.html

I missed that one while we focused on Cameron’s other statements, John Wilks the guy in charge of Syria in the Foreign Office warned the opposition about the increasing likelihood of a rebel defeat. He compared them to the insurgents of the failed iraqi uprising.

He is perfectly fluent in Arabic and knows Syria very well, (plus has complete access to British intelligence reports, might I add). He is blaming their divisions, the anarchy in the country and the absence of a political program. It is reported that a few days ago, he asked them to “stop demanding a external intervention over and over, there won’t be any, we made that clear time and time again”.

I hope Mr. Riad Seif keeps on fighting for a wide majority to accept a plan in the future. He is a consensus person, he can do it.

In the meanwhile rebels seem to get control of some small missiles to put more pressure on the criminal regime …

72. SYRIALOVER

Qunfuz would be kind to explain us where are the Egyptian or Pakistani Assads, to explain why these countries are so filled with crazy islamists.

Or for that matter, where is the Canadian Assad, because as we experience here it seems that the fresh, democratic atmosphere of that country doesn’t cure islamism either.

Excellent piece, worth reading in full

Syria: Art, creative resistance and active citizenship

Excerpt:

Many new formed Syrian creative groups are sprouting out on the Internet, carrying a unique message which combines irony and satire with non-violent resistance and civil disobedience. Although, as Top goon’s director Jameel recently clarified in a public event held at the Hermitage museum in Amsterdam, “non-violence does not mean that the Syrian people should not have the right to legitimate defense when they are brutally attacked. Pacifism should stay as the ultimate goal and should always inspire and guide the Syrian uprising”.

Many artists are trying to use creativity and art as an antidote to a much feared disintegration of the Syrian society, exposed to daily violence and threatened by sectarian hate. The Facebook group Syrian Animation’s latest cartoon, called ‘My home is my brother’s home’, suggests helping those who lost their homes and who are in need of humanitarian aid.

Many humanitarian campaigns that use creativity and art to engage Syrians in nation building and cross-sectarian solidarity are populating Facebook, calling for mutual help. Yet, this humanitarian and creative side of the Syrian uprising is almost unknown to the majority of Arab and international media, too concentrated on images of civil war and sectarian strife to be able to scout these little gems of innovative creative resistance.

http://artsfreedom.org/?p=3589

ALBO #76,

I suspect from reading him that Qunfuz could explain it to you very well and help unravel your confusion about Islamists.

But you could also explain it to yourself with more reading, thinking, listening and discussions with people who know those countries.

Listen, do you hear it – the tap, tap, monotonous drumbeat of negativity and criticism against everyone and everything in the Middle East by our resident drumbeater MINA (#66).

It’s a very simple tune to maintain, it requires no thinking or effort.

Syrian rebels kill prisoner as war fuels hatred

HAREM, Syria (Reuters) – Unarmed and cornered by Syrian rebel fighters, the man seemed to accept his death with more silent sorrow than surprise; his killers did not hesitate as they shot their prisoner.

The incident, filmed by a Reuters video crew, happened last week in Harem, near Aleppo, where rebels have surrounded hundreds of troops and militiamen loyal to President Bashar al-Assad. Taking one neighborhood after days of bitter street fighting, opposition fighters went from house to house.

From one building they hauled a man in middle age, dressed in casual clothes, black bearded and without a weapon. He seemed anxious and shied away as he stumbled into the street. Three rebels fighters casually raised their Kalashnikov rifles. A shot rang out, then another. A third. The man began to fall. Still silent. More shots. He lay still. A final round hit his head.

http://news.yahoo.com/syrian-rebels-kill-prisoner-war-fuels-hatreds-150936923.html

ALI,

I realise you’re probably absorbed in reading those pieces by Qunfuz and Visitor I gave you links to, but I’d still appreciate your views on the following.

To repeat my inquiry:

Tell me, what do you think of closet shabeeha sitting on the fence whilst pointing the finger at the victims?

Do you disapprove of them? Admire them? Do you see them as naughty or nice?

SL 78,

You must realize that not every comment deserves the effort to make a response to as in the case of your response to Albo 76.

You see I talked to this entity once or actually he/she talked to me by injecting him/herself into a conversation. So, I found out he/she is suffering from cognitive deficiencies, a case widely spread and prevalent among Love-you-forever-worship-you-always, which I felt at the time I have no time to waste with him/her.

The moral of the story is that the problem he perceives is related to this deficiency. He/she is the only one who can come to terms with what he/she defines as a problem.

So, I would say ignore him/her.

Light relief, the sendup of Robert Fisk reporting on Syria by the witty Karl Sharro:

http://karlremarks.blogspot.co.uk/2012/08/robert-fisk-reporting-from-syria-with.html

Visitor #82,

I’m not sure what you’re saying, but I’m only trying to help. Just like you were with that good explanation on the FSA you wrote in response to ALI in the last thread.

But we know you can lead a dehydrated and dizzy horse to water, but you can’t always expect it to drink.

Hey Visitor, buddy, I already told you that an airhead like you can’t assess other people’s cognitive abilities, but we on the other hand can clearly discern your retardation.

SL 84,

If you said the following,
“But we know you can lead a dehydrated and dizzy horse to water, but you can’t always expect it to drink.”

Then you must know what I am saying.

————————

Albo 85,

See the above.

To go from A to C you must go through point B.

Try to learn from the dehydrated horse example

In your case cognition is missing. So you cannot do any assessments.

You can only do Love-u-forever-worship-u-until-hell-freezes.

I can’t assess your stupidity, indeed, because it is limitless.
Though I know the saying “Don’t argue with idiots. They’ll drag you down to their level and beat you with experience”. Indeed internet warriors like yourself deserve no attention, but it’s hard to resist sometimes.

No Albo 87.

You CANNOT asses period.
You do not have the means.

Negotiations advance in Doha, instead of alleged collapse campaign:

http://www.youkal.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=68635%3A2012-11-08-18-05-42&catid=54%3A2011-04-29-12-25-44&Itemid=126

Yeah sure, I should be dancing and laughing while most Syrians I know are trying to get out of the country, when Jürgen posts regularly pictures of “free Kafrabel” where women have simply disappeared from the picture.

Check that, and don’t read the comments if you can’t survive to humans negativity and their capacity to destroy themselves and each other.
http://blog.lefigaro.fr/malbrunot/2012/11/syrie-pourquoi-les-americains.html

Mina,

After Assad dies inside Syria, Hezballah gets trashed and Iran collapses, will you keep on posting defending what cannot be defended?

Assad says he won’t leave. The rebels will not negotiate with Assad. We have a long war ahead of us. It looks like Assad will die in Syria.

Syrialover is kind, which is a good quality, but wars are not won by kind people. Ali, I understand your desire to talk. But it’s too late. Much, much too late.

MINA #90

To put a sophisticated concept simply: wherever you are living in safety and comfort, whatever freedoms, opportunities and privileges you’ve enjoyed in your life, it’s due to so many people in human history having a far more generous, can-do and positive take on the world than you.

If your negative, critical, sour mindset had been the norm, it would have been all over 40,000 years ago.

“You CANNOT asses”
Since I can’t ass the way he “asses”, I’ll just abide by 87 now.

____________

Mina, no surprise, but the readers are rather rightist there. In other outlets the picture is often different.

Let’s hope that someone in Assad’s inner circle who begins to personally fear and distrust him will decide to get in first before he turns on them.

The attack on Shawkat and Maher showed anything’s possible.

Doha conference has failed already, opposition from expat groups seems to be unable to win support from Syrians and non Syrians alike:
“اتهمت مجموعة من المعارضين أندادهم المشاركين في مؤتمر الدوحة بما أسمته”الإصرار على إقصاء أبناء الثورة الصادقين والجيش الحر”، معتبرة أن ذلك استمرار في السير على “ذات الخطى التي لم تقدم ما هو إيجابي للثورة”.
و شككت المجموعة في بيان اصدرته بـ”الأجندات التي يتم تحضيرها لما أبعد من ذلك من حكومة ووزارات وقيادات تريد فرض نفسها”، مذكّرة بأن الثورة لن تسمح بفرض أمرعلى الشعب “فقد ولى زمن الطغاة”.
وكشف البيان عن محادثات تجري بين المدنيين والعسكريين في الداخل لتأسيس “مجلس وطني حقيقي” يعبر عن رغبات ومتطلبات من هم داخل الوطن “أبطال الخنادق” لإنهاء المعاناة الطويلة، غامزاً من قناة بعض المعارضين من”نزلاء الفنادق” في تجاهل “آلام أهلنا في الداخل و على المعابر الحدودية و ضمن مخيمات اللجوء”.
و كان وقع على البيان المذكور كل من”: د.وائل الحافظ عن التحالف الوطني السوري، العقيد رياض الأسعد من الجيش السوري الحر، العميد حسام العواك من تجمع الضباط الأحرار في الجيش الوطني السوري، ثائر الناشف عن تجمع القوى الوطنية السورية، سعد العقيدي من الكتائب الميدانية المقاومة في سوريا، د. محمود سيد الدغيم عن التجمع الوطني السوري الحر،الشيخ نواف البشير من كتلة التحريروالبناء، صلاح الدين بلال رئيس مجلس الإدارة المحلية، بهية مارديني من التجمع الوطني لحقوق المراة والطفل، مهيمن الطائي عن لواء درع الجزيرة،الشيخ ابراهيم الزعبي من حزب احرار الشام،عمار القربي عن تيار التغييرالوطني”.
sidelining expats is not necessarily a bad thing, after all it is Syrians inside Syria who should decide how to proceed,they are the ones who are paying with their blood,health and nerves, they are the ones who stand up in lines to get bread and home natural gas,etc.
this may be the end of the SNC.

Small Wars Journal.

Chairman Mao vs. President Assad: People’s War in Syria
November 5, 2012

The last few weeks of the war in Syria have seen a lot of back and forth action and big body counts, but between the lies and the omissions and the fog of war, it’s hard to perceive a narrative. But look closely and apply a bit of military history, and it comes through clearly: the war is in what Mao called the second phase of people’s war.

[…]

This may sound premature, but we can make a sweeping generalization: no matter the outcome, these battles {Damascus/Aleppo} were strategic wins for the rebels.

Why? The battles of Damascus and Aleppo are strategic victories for the Free Syrian Army because they are completing the second stage of Maoist people’s war.

[…]

Maoist people’s war is a process of coiling like a snake around conventional forces that can beat you in a stand-up fight after forcing them to spread thin. The Maoist combination of positional and guerrilla warfare maximizes the attrition price that conventional forces pay to supply and move, and chips away at the territory they hold. By taking towns and government positions along the motorways, the FSA is tightening the snake’s coils of Maoist second-state encirclement. Imagine an anaconda taking down large prey: with the prey in its coils, the snake just sits there and lets it struggle to break free. The prey’s own struggles tire it out and it weakens slowly, until finally it can’t resist when the anaconda snaps its neck, with not much more effort than it took to hold the prey in place. When the government forces struggle to break free of the second-stage people’s war encirclement, as the Syrian Army is doing right now in Aleppo, his struggles are like those of the snake’s prey. To break free he has to wreck his own strategic position by abandoning the countryside and shelling his own supporters. The third stage will come when the FSA engages in open positional warfare to seize and hold territory in conventional fights against concentrations of heavy Syrian Army forces, after Assad’s forces have been further degraded and the FSA has gained in strength. By then it will be too late for Assad.

http://smallwarsjournal.com/jrnl/art/chairman-mao-vs-president-assad-people%E2%80%99s-war-in-syria

GHUFRAN #96

Do you want nobody to even try?

And where is there a clear precedent and template for this effort to start working on a transitional government? One based on a universal consensus that the current “government” is not sustainable, and while the conflict still rages?

This is pioneering stuff.

The world is trying to help Syrians, and every comment you read from those suffering inside pleads with it to do so and to hurry up.

Try to get a bigger picture in focus.

Watch out Assad…! They are coming..

Here’s a good insight into efforts being made to coordinate and strengthen the FSA’s efforts.

Those defecting senior army officers are Syrian heroes!

Story: As opposition argues in Doha, battle tests bid for unity

* Senior army defectors seek to forge disciplined force

* Siege of key town shows rebel fighters coordinating plans

http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/11/08/syria-crisis-discipline-idUSL5E8M50GG20121108

HANZALA #99

Assad’s latest statement has more or less invited them to come and get him. Whether he was aware of that or not.

But he’s a liar, coward and poor decision maker with a head that’s shrinking daily. So he’s still likely to make a rush to the airport.

Especially if Iran and Russia start finding him too high maintenance – which they might if the FSA gets it together in a rush (see story above #100)

HANZALA, I watched that video twice of the huge group of FSA on the march (your link in #99). Fantastic!

But there’s a baffling mystery – where are all the Jihadis? I couldn’t spot a single one.

Al Qaeda Training Camp in Syria

Jabhat Al Nusra (Al Qaeda in Syria) now arguably the most powerful segment of the Syrian opposition recently released new images said to be taken at their Al Faatih training camp in late October. The photos were presented as an ‘Eid Al Adha gift’ to Jihadists frequenting Al Qaeda forums. The camp appears to be located in Jabhat Al Nusra’s stronghold somewhere in Northern Syria.

Perhaps the most significant aspect of the images if the quantity of Al Nusra recruits being trained at any one time, in this instance the number could easily reach 50. The growth in Al Nusra’s power has been exponential over the past few months and the rapid expansion of the organisation has pushed it to the forefrton ofn the Syrian insurgency to the extent that the majority of major attacks on Syrian troops and government facilities can now be directly attributed to Al Qaeda.

Here is a collection of opposition comments about the latest SNC stunt:
ليس فيهم ولا واحد حوراني”. حوران التي انطلقت منها شرارة الأحداث في سورية لم تعد ممثلة في المجلس
لم يكن عدم تمثيل “حوران” هو السبب الوحيد للحملة المكثفة التي شنها هؤلاء المثقفون على انتخابات المجلس
قالت حركة ائتلاف اليسار السوري المعارضة “أن المجلس الوطني سطَّر بحروف من دولار إعلان وفاته”.
وأضافت الحركة في بيان نشر على صفحتها: “أُعلنت في العاصمة القطرية مساء اليوم وفاة المجلس بعد معاناة وصراع طويل مع المرض، وذلك اثر انتخابات “حرة”، أطاحت بمن يعرفهم الشعب السوري على أنهم معارضة وأبقت على رجال الاعمال ومن لف لفهم”.
أما الصحفي السوري المعارض إياد عيسى المقيم في القاهرة فقد كتب باختصار عقب سماعه بنتائج الانتخابات: “المجلس الوطني عارياً إلا من لباس الاحرام”.
أما هافال بوظو فقد كتب: “الخطوة الجاية للمجلس الوطني ان يضع عبد الباسط سيدا الحجاب تماشيا مع سياسة الإخوان” في إشارة إلى التمثيل الكبير الذي حظي به الإخوان المسلمون داخل الأمانة العامة للمجلس الوطني حيث حصلوا على 32 مقعداً من اصل 42 وهي نسبة كبيرة تتيح لهم التحكم بكافة مفاصل عمل المجلس والهيمنة على كل قراراته.
أما الفنانة السورية المعارضة ليلى العوض فقد صدمها ألا ترى اسم ولا سيدةٍ بيم اسماء الناجحين في انتخابات المجلس، فكتبت مستنكرة لهذه الزلة الخطيرة: ” كل التضحيات التي قدمتها المرأة في الثورة السورية والنكبات التي تعرضت لها وكل السيدات اللواتي شاركن بالحراك الثوري وعلى كافة الاصعدة مابتستاهل منكن يكونوا عدد منهن بالامانة العامة للمجلس”.
وأعلنت العوض نيتها في الثورة على هذا الواقع الذي أفرزته الانتخابات وخاطبت نساء سورية بالقول: ” ياسوريات الثورة حضروا حالكن لثورة جديدة عالفكر المحنط وقلة الوعي”.
أما الناشط أحمد صلال فقد كتب عن نفس النقطة التي أثارتها ليلى العوض واعتبر أن المجلس الذي لا يؤنث لا يمكن التعويل عليه، إلا أنه استطرد واستثنى بعض الأسماء النسائية قائلاً: “بشرط أن لا تكون مرح بقاعي وغالية قباني”.
أما لبنى زاعور فقد اتهمت المجلس بالمتاجرة بدماء السوريين وقالت: “عندما يتوقف المجلس الوطني وبعض المعارضة الخارجية الاستفادة من دماء السوريين واستغلالها عندها يومض لدينا أمل بمستقبل حر و غير خائف !!!”.
وأخيراً لاحظ الناشط المعارض مصطفي علوش والذي تحظى صفحته بتفاعل عدد كبير من المتابعين بأن “المجلس الوطني السوري نال من النقد والسخرية والتهكم في الساعة الأخيرة بمقدار ما ناله نظام الأسد في عامين”.

@GUHFRAN 104
What did I tell ya man, more than a year ago, DEAD ENDERS.

Any news about the “brilliant and beautiful” Shushu and her father?

Another confrontation is looming:
أصدرت الهيئة الكردية العليا، التي تضم ممثلين عن المجلس الوطني الكردي و حزب الاتحاد الديمقراطي، بيانا مساء اليوم الخميس طالبت فيه الجيش الحر بالخروج من مدينة رأس العين، التي سيطر عليها صباح اليوم، كي يجنب المدينة قصف الجيش النظامي.
و دعا البيان أبناء المدينة من مختلف مكوناتها إلى الحرص على العلاقات الأخوية، وتقرير تشكيل لجنة مشتركة من مجلسي “شعب غرب كردستان والوطني الكردي” لإدارة الأزمة في المدينة.
حيث جاء في البيان “منذ بداية الثورة السورية والمناطق الكردية تشهد حراكاً سلمياً وتقدم دعماً كاملاً للثورة السورية السلمية كونها جزءٌ منها، وباتت تلك المناطق ملجأً آمناً للنازحين من المناطق الأخرى في جميع أرجاء البلاد، ودعت الحركة الوطنية الكردية على الدوام إلى الحفاظ على سلمية هذه المناطق”.
وأشار البيان بأنه “في صبيحة اليوم 8-11-2012 قامت وحدات من الجيش الحر بالدخول إلى مدينة سريه كانيه (رأس العين) ، حيث تحولت المدينة على إثرها إلى ساحة قتال أدت إلى نزوح الكثير من أهاليها نحو القرى المجاورة أو خارج الحدود إلى تركيا”.
Kurds are being pushed out only to fall in the regime’s lap

Also, I have been shopping for shoes lately for an important occasion. Christian Loboutin’s collection for the winter is to die for, literally! I just do not understand his “spikes” taste. I did not like any “spiky” shoes, Asma’s style..

I wonder what has Asma been wearing lately? Shahattas made in Harami’s souk?…

I ended up buying Jimmy Choo’s

#99 Hanzala

I saw this earlier too. Don’t know if it’s the same group:

____________________________________________________

Abdullah ‏@SyrianSmurf

OH MY GOD!! An announcement for a brigade formation in #Idlib..there must be thousands and thousands of fighters here!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=MUJ7Y14SSus

http://yallasouriya.wordpress.com/2012/11/08/abdullah-%e2%80%8fsyriansmurf-oh-my-god-an-announcement-for/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J6PSvEjIhzY
Patriot Games: Turkey seeks NATO missiles on Syrian border – report

UZAIR8, HANZALA (#109 & #99)

Looking at those FSA videos from you guys above would make Assad wet his pants, just to see the huge number of Syrians in one group prepared to fight him.

What a terrific show of strength in numbers! Add to that some good strategies and better allocated weaponry, and well …the legacy and legends of the FSA will live forever.

But back to Assad. He is probably now at the stage of the Saddam Hussein and Hitler syndrome i.e. in a bubble where nobody dares to tell him bad news or the truth.

Former Prime Minister Mahmoud Jibril: Libya Is a ‘Stateless Society’

WASHINGTON — Former interim Prime Minister Mahmoud Jibril described Libya Thursday as a “stateless society” requiring assistance from the United States and other Western nations to begin a national dialogue among its disparate factions and to stabilize the country.

In an exclusive interview with Al-Monitor, Jibril acknowledged that the security situation in Libya remains fragile amid widespread militia violence and attacks such as the one that killed US Ambassador Chris Stevens and three other Americans in Benghazi last month. Jibril indicated that armed groups, including remnants of Moammar Gadhafi’s regime, are able to stage attacks and smuggle weapons across Libya’s borders almost at will.

“There is a lack of a controlling power on the ground,” Jibril said. “I don’t think it’s fair to assign all that’s happening to a certain group because it’s a golden opportunity for everybody. It’s a fragile environment and everybody wants to mold it toward his own direction.”

Read more: http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2012/al-monitor/libyajibrilinterview.html#ixzz2Bh7CyZdG

Assad: “Come and get me.”

Everyone else: “Ok.”

The rebels have the numbers. They just need better weapons.

The video of the brigade formation also says how confident they are if they can cluster in a large group for an hour and stand in front of a camera, with the open sky on top of them.

Assad’s air force really can’t keep up.

That’s better!

Syrian Opposition Upbeat on Unity Talks

Excerpt:

Representatives of Syria’s opposition say they have made progress towards forming a new leadership body.

They say they hope to reach an agreement on the second day of a meeting in Doha.

Syrian dissident Riad Seif said progress had been made in Doha. The aim is to produce a unified, credible opposition leadership rooted inside Syria, which would then be recognised by the Friends of Syria.

So far, the Syrian National Council has been the most prominent opposition group, but it has failed to produce a united front.

The BBC’s Jim Muir reports from Doha that the SNC is wary of signing up as a minority element in a new leadership, without clear guarantees that the new body will be given the kind of support needed to tilt the balance against the regime.

Mr Seif said opposition leaders had made progress on the first day of talks, and that some SNC members had indicated their acceptance of a plan to set up a new leadership group composed of 60 members.

Veteran opposition figure Haytham al-Maleh told AFP news agency: “We hope we can reach an agreement [on Friday] after the Syrian National Council has succeeded in selecting a new leadership.”

Burhan Ghalioun, ex-leader of the SNC outside Syria, said the atmosphere was “positive” and that failure was “forbidden”.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-20263663e

(Section of story on humanitarian aid for Syria is posted separately below)

Regime supporters say, “if Assad goes, the Islamists will take over.” But at this stage it becomes difficult to imagine that an Islamist take-over can be any worse than what is happening right now.

Maybe if a person is a Christian or an atheist, it’ll be worse for them than under Assad. Too bad they’re the minority.

Man, it must really suck to be a Christian or an atheist in Syria right now. I feel sad for them. Warren, don’t you feel sad for them too?

Excerpts from BBC report:

Meanwhile, UN agencies are to discuss the aid operation in Syria, with access for aid workers top of the agenda.

The sixth meeting of the Syrian humanitarian forum, which brings together UN aid agencies and member states, will be held in Geneva.

The Syrian government has strictly limited the presence of foreign aid agencies.

The meeting on aid access in Geneva comes after the head of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said it could not cope with the growing needs in Syria.

There are currently “a lot of blank spots”, and an unknown number of people were not getting access to the aid they needed, said Peter Maurer.

The ICRC has not been able to get to certain parts of the country, he added, giving as an example the city of Aleppo, which has been badly hit by violence in recent months.

The BBC’s Imogen Foulkes reports from Geneva that Syrian diplomats are expected to attend the UN meeting, where they will be asked to help speed up visas for foreign aid workers,

So far this has been a slow process, she says, with UN aid agencies like the World Food Programme relying on the Syrian Red Crescent to distribute food.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-20263663e

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=4821430862960&set=a.3551825803627.2159409.1512099602&type=1&theater

JUERGEN

That link isn’t working

re:109

20+ months since the beginning of the crisis and it looks like the size of the armed terrorist groups is only getting larger and larger, despite all efforts and promises by the regime. To regime supporters who still believe in the regime’s story regarding “armed gangs”, isn’t that a clear evidence of its utter failure to deal with the issue, and therefore it must by thrown out and replaced?
Other than being afraid of what could happen next, do you have any other reason to keep supporting a failed regime and a failed corrupt system?

About the vid, nice display, that’s not the first time they do such a propaganda stunt. I ‘ve seen something similar before.
When it comes to win wars, there is a lot more involved than just numbers, but I know that this still makes an impression on some people.
Someone like John Wilks, who oversees the conflict (quoted in the last page), has a clearer picture of the situation and a much dimmer view of the rebels.

The rebels have the numbers. They just need better weapons.
Blowing in fire
desire is understood as a quick departure to the heaven !

Syria in ruins
http://m.theatlantic.com/infocus/2012/11/syria-in-ruins/100402/
.

MOSCOW, November 8 (Itar-Tass) — External players who exert influence on the Syrian opposition are acting inconsistently, and this inconsistency may be conscientious, Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov told the Echo of Moscow radio Thursday.
“Russia is doing everything in its power to stop bloodshed and to launch an inclusive political process,” he said. “There’re no magic formulas in that sphere. There is common sense, but it’s rather difficult to attain agreement proceeding from its precepts.”
“However, common sense prevailed in Geneva June 30 and Moscow is convinced that the Geneva communiqu· remains topical,” Ryabkov said.
“We don’t think unilateral concessions on Assad’s part might open up the way to normalization,” he went on. “The countries that have big influence on the Syrian opposition are apparently acting inconsistently. Maybe, they have a calculus envisioning an eventual victory of the irreconcilable opposition.”
“It’s a rather bizarre thing to hear the claims from Western capitals “that Russia is standing on the wrong side of history, as it were.”
“No one but History itself will show who is right and who is wrong,” Ryabkov said. “Moscow’s position is based on a correct and unambiguous interpretation of the norms of international law.”
“Yet we don’t throw up our hands, as we feel confident the chances for peace settlement /in Syria/ still exist,” he said.

UK’s Cameron to push for end of arms embargo for Syrian rebels – report
http://rt.com/news/cameron-arms-opposition-syria-292/

surprising that Cameron can not find himself a useful work! probably a little bit of a tsunami or hurricane help him in this quest!

‘Assad is completely demonized by the press’ – RT’s interviewer
http://rt.com/news/assad-demonized-media-interview-281/

http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/pictures/2012/11/8/1352402812795/Steve-Bell-09.11.2012-013.jpg
Steve Bell on David Cameron’s rethink on Syria – cartoon

ALBO #121

1. If we agree with your (and Assad’s) thesis, we can automatically treble their numbers and expensively arm that FSA group if we add in all the Jihadists who must have been off getting extra training while those videos were shot.

2. UK Syrian representative Jon Wilks and his bosses have now committed to the on-the-ground push to oust Assad, pledging to work around arms embargoes etc.

Mr Wilks seems to be focused on solutions and a way forward.

He tweeted the other day: “There is more FoS (Friends of Syria) consensus on the Syrian opposition than ever before. If they raise their game this week, greater support will follow.”
(https://twitter.com/JonWilksFCO)

Missteps by Rebels Erode Their Support Among Syrians
The New York Times
Published: November 8, 2012
By ANNE BARNARD

BEIRUT, Lebanon — Syria’s rebel fighters — who have long staked claim to the moral high ground for battling dictatorship — are losing crucial support from a public increasingly disgusted by the actions of some rebels, including poorly planned missions, senseless destruction, criminal behavior and the coldblooded killing of prisoners.

The shift in mood presents more than just a public relations problem for the loosely knit militants of the Free Syrian Army, who rely on their supporters to survive the government’s superior firepower. A dampening of that support undermines the rebels’ ability to fight and win what has become a devastating war of attrition, perpetuating the violence that has left nearly 40,000 dead, hundreds of thousands in refugee camps and more than a million forced from their homes.

The rebel shortcomings have been compounded by changes in the opposition, from a force of civilians and defected soldiers who took up arms after the government used lethal force on peaceful protesters to one that is increasingly seeded with extremist jihadis. That radicalization has divided the fighters’ supporters and made Western nations more reluctant to give rebels the arms that might help break the intensifying deadlock. Instead, foreign leaders are struggling to find indirect ways to help oust Syria’s president, Bashar al-Assad.

And now arrogance and missteps are draining enthusiasm from some of the fighters’ core supporters.

“They were supposed to be the people on whom we depend to build a civil society,” lamented a civilian activist in Saraqib, a northern town where rebels were videotaped executing a group of unarmed Syrian soldiers, an act the United Nations has declared a likely war crime.

An activist in Aleppo, Ahmed, who like some of the others who were interviewed gave only one name for security reasons, said he had begged rebels not to camp in a neighborhood telecommunications office. But they did, and government attacks knocked out phone service.

One fighter shot into the air when customers at a bakery did not let him cut into a long line for bread, Ahmed recalled. Another, he said, was enraged when a man washing his car accidentally splashed him. “He shot at him,” Ahmed said. “But thank God he wasn’t a good shot, so the guy wasn’t hurt.”

Twenty months into what is now a civil war, both supporters and opponents of the government are trapped in a darkening mood of despair, revulsion and fear that neither side can end the conflict. In recent months, both sides adopted more brutal — even desperate — methods to try to break the stalemate, but they achieved merely a new version of deadlock. To many Syrians, the extreme violence seems all the more pointless for the lack of results.

The most significant shift is among the rebels’ supporters, who chant slogans not only condemning the government but also criticizing the rebels.

“The people want the reform of the Free Syrian Army,” crowds have called out. “We love you. Correct your path.”

Small acts of petty humiliation and atrocities like executions have led many more Syrians to believe that some rebels are as depraved as the government they fight. The activist from Saraqib said he saw rebels force government soldiers from a milk factory, then destroy it, even though residents needed the milk and had good relations with the owner.

“They shelled the factory and stole everything,” the activist said. “Those are repulsive acts.”

Even some of the uprising’s staunchest supporters are beginning to fear that Syria’s sufferings — lost lives, fraying social fabric, destroyed heritage — are for naught.

“We thought freedom was so near,” said a fighter calling himself Abu Ahmed, his voice catching with grief as he spoke via Skype last month from Maarat al-Noaman, a strategic town on the Aleppo-Damascus highway. Hours earlier, a rebel victory there ended in disaster, as government airstrikes pulverized civilians returning to what they thought was safety.

“This shows it was a big lie,” Abu Ahmed said of the dream of self-government that he said had inspired him to lead a small rebel fighting group from his nearby village, Sinbol. “We cannot reach it. We can’t even think of democracy — we will be sad for years. We are losing victims from both sides.”

A chain of calamities has fueled disgust and frustration on all sides, dozens of interviews with Syrians show.

In July, a rebel bombing killed four senior officials in a heavily guarded Damascus building, bringing new insecurity to government supporters. The rebels’ growing use of large bombs that kill bystanders spurred concerns on both sides.

Poorly executed rebel offensives brought harsh consequences. In September, rebels launched an offensive in Syria’s largest city, Aleppo, an ancient town that stood for centuries as the proud legacy of all Syrians. The fighting failed to achieve the turning point the rebels had promised.

The government, trying to curb soldiers’ defections and reduce the strain on the military, kept more forces on bases and turned to air power and artillery, flattening neighborhoods with abandon. But the change in strategy did not restore control or security.

After seeing a rebel bombing and small-arms attack on a downtown Damascus government building, a chauffeur for a wealthy businessman complained that conspicuous security measures made him “live in fear” — without being effective.

“I want someone from the government to answer me,” he said. “The government cannot protect its key military and security buildings, so how can it protect us and run the country?”

Even within Mr. Assad’s most solid base, his minority Alawite sect, discontent spilled over last month in a clash that began in a coffee shop in the president’s ancestral village, Qardaha. Some were shaken recently by heavy casualties in the disproportionately Alawite military and militias, according to Fadi Saad, who runs a Facebook page called Alawites in the Syrian Revolution.

On the rebel side, the Aleppo battle catalyzed simmering frustrations among civilian activists who feel dominated by gunmen. One Aleppo activist said she met with fighters to suggest ways to cut government supply routes without destroying the city, to no avail. “You risked the lives of the people for what?” the activist asked. “The Free Syrian Army is just cutting the nails of the regime. We want results.”

Nominal leaders of the Free Syrian Army say they embrace ethical standards, contend that the government commits the vast majority of abuses and blame rogue groups for bad rebel behavior.

But that did not ease the disgust after last week’s video. It shows men writhing on the ground, staring up and screaming in terror. Rebels stand over them, shouting a cacophony of orders and insults. They move like a gang, not a military unit, jostling and crowding, kicking prisoners, forcing them into a pile. Suddenly, automatic weapons fire drowns out the noise. Puffs of dust rise from the pile, now still.

“All the ugly stuff the regime practiced, the F.S.A. is copying,” Anna, a finance worker in Damascus, said of recent behavior.

She blamed the government for making society abusive, but she said the rebels were no better. “They are ignorant people with weapons,” she said.

In Maarat al-Noaman after the airstrikes, the disappointed fighter, Abu Ahmed, said Syrians would weep to see destruction in the city of “our famous poet and philosopher,” Abu al-Alaa al-Ma’arri.

The poet, a skeptic and rationalist born in the 10th century and buried in the town, wrote often of disillusion, and of the fallibility of would-be heroes: “How many times have our feet trodden beneath the dust / A brow of the arrogant, a skull of the debonair?”

Abu Ahmed said he found the town’s mosaic museum looted and littered first by soldiers, then by rebels. “I saw bodies of both rebels and regime forces, I saw beer bottles,” he said. “Honestly, honestly, words are stuck in my mouth.”

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/09/world/middleeast/in-syria-missteps-by-rebels-erode-their-support.html?pagewanted=2&_r=0

My comments in brackets. Photos of the event show his head has continued to shrink.

Assad: There is no civil war in Syria

BEIRUT (AP) — Syria’s president said in an interview broadcast Friday that his country is not in a state of civil war, and that he has no regrets about any decisions he has made since the uprising against him began nearly 20 months ago.[Delusionary, lying performance, copying the style of Saddam, Gaddafi and Hitler as the game was up]

Asked if he has any regrets, he said: “Not now,” although he acknowledged that “when everything is clear” it would be normal to find some mistakes.[He’s leaving the inventory of mistakes to the war crimes court]

Sophie Shevarnadze, the journalist who conducted the 26-minute interview, said during the broadcast that she met Assad in a “newly renovated” presidential palace in Damascus. [Asma is still happily entertaining herself online buying luxury furnishings with Syrian state funds]

She added that she spoke with Assad for about 15 minutes before the interview started and he told her that his three children still go to public schools in Damascus. [Sure, very public those schools. Not to be confused with the thousands of schools he’s had destroyed in his Syria-burning campaign].

Shevarnadze quoted Assad as telling her that he is a young man who loves sports and life and “I could have just picked up and left like Ben Ali did,” referring to former Tunisian President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, who left to Saudi Arabia in January last year weeks after protests against his regime began.[Creepy. Flirting and showing his skinny, weak muscles to the Russian woman journalist! Let’s hope she’s paid well]

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5iCl_pdLsT5bE2iOem3bBhlFt8Hsg?docId=f62ca58c8003457baeafe859ebd980e4

“If we agree with your (and Assad’s) thesis, we can automatically treble their numbers and expensively arm that FSA group if we add in all the Jihadists who must have been off getting extra training while those videos were shot.”

This is my thesis, not Assad’s, numbers don’t matter (and it’s not like some video proves something in a direction or another anyway, we aren’t kids) and expensive arms are nothing when not properly used, that is if they get significant delivery of heavy weapons which isn’t the case anyway. But thank you for showing your true colors once more, by telling us that you count on the jihadis.

125 Citizen
The new British-made nail in the EU coffin?

128 SL
And it doesn’t cost Wilks too much to have people like you believe him… for 20 months!

129. MAJED97 said:

“Missteps by Rebels Erode Their Support Among Syrians
The New York Times”

As we’re noticing for a while, the tide is turning in the western commentariat, it’s very rare to see the rebels depicted as freedom fighters without growing caveats now.

ALBO (#131), come on, stop plagiarising. Assad had that thesis out there from day 1. Don’t try to take the credit for that away from him.

And as for numbers and weaponry not guaranteeing anything, that’s been strongly demonstrated by the regime’s performance in this struggle. There’s been lots of commentary by military experts on witnessing the incompetence of the airforce, the poor decisions on army deployment etc

I’m genuinely interested in seeing what is that plagiarising you’re talking about.

The NY times article states simply what is now common knowledge:

”
The rebel shortcomings have been compounded by changes in the opposition, from a force of civilians and defected soldiers who took up arms after the government used lethal force on peaceful protesters to one that is increasingly seeded with extremist jihadis. That radicalization has divided the fighters’ supporters and made Western nations more reluctant to give rebels the arms that might help break the intensifying deadlock. Instead, foreign leaders are struggling to find indirect ways to help oust Syria’s president, Bashar al-Assad.

And now arrogance and missteps are draining enthusiasm from some of the fighters’ core supporters.

“They were supposed to be the people on whom we depend to build a civil society,” lamented a civilian activist in Saraqib, a northern town where rebels were videotaped executing a group of unarmed Syrian soldiers, an act the United Nations has declared a likely war crime.

An activist in Aleppo, Ahmed, who like some of the others who were interviewed gave only one name for security reasons, said he had begged rebels not to camp in a neighborhood telecommunications office. But they did, and government attacks knocked out phone service.

One fighter shot into the air when customers at a bakery did not let him cut into a long line for bread, Ahmed recalled. Another, he said, was enraged when a man washing his car accidentally splashed him. “He shot at him,” Ahmed said. “But thank God he wasn’t a good shot, so the guy wasn’t hurt.”

Twenty months into what is now a civil war, both supporters and opponents of the government are trapped in a darkening mood of despair, revulsion and fear that neither side can end the conflict. In recent months, both sides adopted more brutal — even desperate — methods to try to break the stalemate, but they achieved merely a new version of deadlock. To many Syrians, the extreme violence seems all the more pointless for the lack of results.
”

——————————————————
“Twenty months into what is now a civil war”. Everything is perfectly summed up in these few paragraphs. Notice how all that is taboo to some here, reporting these facts on Syriacomment only led to tantrums and invective, denial of reality. Civil wars are always polarizing like that, yes, but that doesn’t mean people must live in some alternate universe and avoid reality checks.

If the FSA has “liberated” and now control “70%” of the North of Syria, why are all these civilians abandoning them?

8,000 Syrian refugees flee to Turkey overnight: official

http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/Default.aspx?pageID=238&nID=34308&NewsCatID=352

BetaAB-500 Russian unguided bombs are being used on the residents of Houla, here is what Jane’s had to say regarding this armament:

This family of penetration bombs was developed to give Russian and allied air forces a capability of attacking concrete and hardened structures such as airfield runways, concrete shelters, dams, sluices and other solid objects. Before the 1990s, the only known bombs in this family were the BetAB-150 DS and the BetAB-250. However, in the early 1990s limited details were released on two larger and more up to date bombs designated BetAB-500 and BetAB-500 ShP. The designation letters BetAB stand for betonoboynaya aviatsionnaya bomba meaning ‘concrete-piercing aircraft bomb’. The designation numbers refer to the bomb size category, and any further letters signify special applications. The BetAB-500 ShP was primarily developed for cratering airfield runways and is delivered at low level and high speed. It is thought that this bomb is rocket-assisted which could account for the ShP designation. All the bombs are designed to withstand the high g forces encountered by combat manoeuvres of high-speed attack aircraft, and are fitted with standard Russian spaced suspension lugs allowing them to be carried under the wings or fuselage of some aircraft, or in the bomb bays of larger bombers. The bombs are believed to be cleared for carriage on MiG-21 ‘Fishbed’, MiG-27 ‘Flogger’, MiG-29 ‘Fulcrum’, Su-22 ‘Fitter’, Su-24 ‘Fencer’, Su-25 ‘Frogfoot’, Su-27 ‘Flanker’, Tu-95 ‘Bear’, Tu-16 ‘Badger’, Tu-22 ‘Blinder’ and Tu-22M ‘Backfire’ aircraft of the Russian and allied air forces.

http://articles.janes.com/articles/Janes-Air-Launched-Weapons/BetAB-150250500-Penetration-Bombs-Russian-Federation.html

Here is a picture of one that did not explode after impact with members of the FSA dismantling it:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/chroniclesyrianuprising/8167763935/in/set-72157631967508874

While here is the aftermath of ones that actually did explode (a set of 128 pictures showing the smoke plumes from the explosions, Syrian civilians running for their lives, and the almost total annihilation of the town of Al-Houla, as well as the scene at a field hospital afterwards): http://www.flickr.com/photos/chroniclesyrianuprising/sets/72157631967508874/with/8167763935/

I wonder what apologist of this criminal regime will do to justify this….

Another Qatar bankrolled “success”? The SNC is dead, long live to the QNC..

Syria opposition seen uniting after US, Qatari push

http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/11/09/syria-crisis-doha-idUSL5E8M95L620121109

Main round about in Houla one moth ago:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/chroniclesyrianuprising/8066976425/in/set-72157631721310752

Same round about after the BetAB-500 bombs exploded:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/chroniclesyrianuprising/8167794096/in/set-72157631967508874/

Islahaat Bashar at its finest!

If Sh. Yaqoubi is correct* then this interview could be the last time we see or hear from Bashar Assad. We could still hear from him again as a ‘friendly power’ intervenes and as rebels close in.

* I’m going by an online translation of the Shaykh’s quote.

Leaks : losses in the Army for the past 3 weeks 80 and 300 wounded in Eastern AL Ghota only

thuwwar
ريف دمشق – تسريبات: خسائر جيش نظام الأسد خلال الأسابيع الثلاثة الماضية بلغت حوالي 80 قتيلاً و300 جريحاً في الغوطة الشرقية وحدها. #سورية

http://yallasouriya.wordpress.com/2012/11/09/leaks-losses-in-the-army-for-the-past/

To those who like to try their luck and predict stuff, like Uzair’s Sheikh: there is a website where people actually bet real money on the outcome of future events, intrade.com

Let’s see the odds on Syria: http://www.intrade.com/v4/markets/?eventClassId=82

Select “charts” to see the odds that Bashar goes. The one for DEC 2012 has sharply declined with time. Actually, they did the same bets for JUN 2011, DEC 2011, JUN 2012 It’s always the same trend, see the trades http://intrade-archive.appspot.com/event.jsp?event=90802

And actually, the bets for 2013 are starting to decline in the same way. They did predict Obama’s victory in most states quite accurately, but are so wrong about Syria. Remember the “It’s a matter of days/weeks now” crowd, repeating their forecast each passing week? Well that’s exactly what we can visualize on these charts.

And yet Bashar’s departure in itself wouldn’t change much, most people are clueless about Syria, or have their judgement severely distorted.

Latest,
http://angryarab.blogspot.de/2012/11/your-esteemed-syrian-rebels.html

http://angryarab.blogspot.de/2012/11/rebels-kill-unarmed-man-in-harem.html

http://angryarab.blogspot.de/2012/11/the-uae-and-twitter.html

http://angryarab.blogspot.de/2012/11/small-acts-ofatrocities.html

Latest news of the media forgotten fight of Maaret al Numan:
“We may have to consider withdrawing,” he said.

Battle for reveals Syrian rebels’ weak spots
By David Enders – McClatchy Newspapers
http://www.thestate.com/2012/11/07/2511259/battle-for-maaret-al-numan-reveals.html#.UJ1As2dKrD4

MAARET AL NUMAN, Syria — The fight for the strategic city of Maaret al Numan on Syria’s main highway lays bare the challenges faced by the rebels who are fighting the government of Bashar Assad.

Hobbled by a lack of supplies and a confused chain of command, rebels here said Wednesday that they feared they might lose the city without reinforcements and ammunition.

That’s a reversal from a month ago, when at least five groups of fighters coordinated to attack this city from three sides and clear it of army and security forces. They also laid siege to Wadi al Deif, a nearby military base, driving government forces to the eastern side of the highway that runs from Aleppo to Damascus.
..
Rebel fighters said the shelling was heavier than usual and that it coincided with an advance by government troops, who were attempting to cross back to the western side of the highway.

“If we could keep them from resupplying the base for even two days, they would give up,” the fighter said. “But they have been able to keep it supplied.”

He lamented the lack of rebel supplies coming in from outside Syria, despite what he described as rebel commanders’ frequent trips there.

“We may have to consider withdrawing,” he said.

Read more here: http://www.thestate.com/2012/11/07/2511259/battle-for-maaret-al-numan-reveals.html#storylink=cpy

Read more here: http://www.thestate.com/2012/11/07/2511259/battle-for-maaret-al-numan-reveals.html#storylink=cpy

Could a similar outcome happen in Syria?

Two long wars coming to a pragmatic ending
By Gwynne Dyer

More or less at opposite ends of the world, two very long wars are coming to a negotiated end, with no victors and no vanquished…
Neither deal is yet complete, and in both wars there have been several previous peace deals that failed. But the omens are better this time, mainly because there is a lot more realism about what is possible and what is not.
…
There are exceptions, of course, like the Sri Lankan government’s recent victory over the Tamil Tigers, but in most cases the wars get closed down when both sides recognize that a decisive victory is impossible. Or rather, they get shut down when the participants finally recognize what has already been plain to most outsiders for decades.

The extra time is required because the people directly involved have already paid such a price for that elusive victory that they just cannot bear to admit to themselves that their sacrifices were wasted. Does this have any relevance to the horrors that are now unfolding in Syria? A great deal, I’m sorry to say.

142 ALBO

“most people (in the world) are clueless about Syria”

Correction. It’s not clueless, it’s “care.” Most people don’t CARE about Syria because Syria never cared enough to inform the world about itself.

It’s a two-way deal, Albie

“If the FSA has “liberated” and now control “70%” of the North of Syria, why are all these civilians abandoning them?”

I find it disgusting that a so called “Syrian” would take delight in the misery of thousands of Syrian civilian refugees. To the repulsive sectarian Qurdahans, there is no such thing as a “Syrian” identity, only those who would live as serfs under the Assad mafia, and those who dont.

Tell me, did the Nazis ever occupy London? You probably dont know this, but no they didn’t. And yet thousands of civilians had to be evacuated when Hitler starting indiscriminately bombing the city. During the first Gulf War, nary an Iraqi abandoned Baghdad, so accurate and precise was the Coalition’s bombing that a civilian could usually feel safe in their homes.

Why haven’t the disgusting Qurdahan regime set up a single refugee camp inside Syria? Why have the Red Cross and UN WFP accused the regime of stealing the vast majority of aid sent to Syrians in need? Why has Asma never been to a single refuge camp, and the job is left to Angelina Jolie? And why dont the nawar peasant Qurdahans on this forum ever ask these same questions?

This war will end when we see 50,000 Qurdahans running screaming to their co-religionists in Lebanon and Turkey. Only then will the Russians start to consider that their immoral policy maybe needs to be reconsidered. Anything that increases the pain and suffering of the Qurdahan villagers is a step towards the right direction, whether that involves executing shabiha criminals or firing mortars into their towns.

the cackling witch couldnt create a puppet syrian govt out of donkeys.

what a surprise.

friday, day of rest for muslims. blessings to all real muslims.

the desperate stooges, fools, idiots,donkeys fighting israel’s war ask for forgiveness for your terrorist actions.

the govt of syria is kinder and more humane than judaized amurderka.

fight those using you like toilet paper.

that’s what you are.

US Initiative to Set Up Syrian Opposition Council Collapses
One day before the official start of the conference, opposition leaders selected by the US began to drop out
by John Glaser, November 08, 2012
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The Obama administration’s initiative to set up a new Syrian opposition council, possibly to serve as an interim government following the fall of the Assad regime, appeared to have failed on Thursday before the convention in Qatar even began.

One day before the official start of the conference, at which Syrian opposition activists selected by the State Department were to meet, ”three of the dissident bodies included in the US-backed initiative refused to attend,” diplomats and opposition figures told the Daily Telegraph.

“There are too many people against this initiative for it to work now,” said a western diplomat who chose to remain anonymous.

News of the US’s latest failure in solving the Syrian crisis came as Turkey said it was aiming to deploy NATO’s Patriot missiles on its border with Syria as a response to the alleged cross-border threat posed from Syria. But talk of that threat is incomplete without mentioning the fact that Turkey has been aiding the rebels and aiming for regime change in Syria.

This is only the most recent failure in a catalogue of past US failures to gain control of Syria, going back several decades. But it seemed doomed to failure from the beginning, as the technocrats in Washington have very little local knowledge of the internal dynamics in Syria.

Many opposition activists not included in the Doha meeting expect the effort to be another failed attempt to unify the opposition.

“Right now, the opposition groups are very vague and there’s no agreement on who’s representing who and what and where,” one opposition activist told The Cable last week. “Right now there is a lot of risk that this will be another failed approach that will not achieve anything.”
http://news.antiwar.com/2012/11/08/us-initiative-to-set-up-syrian-opposition-council-collapses/

on this day of rest for muslims, let us pray for the sunnis and shias and others standing up to israel and its tail, amurderka.

for those stupid puppet-dogs fighting for jewish imperialism, creating misery for the innocent,

hell is waiting.

The conversation on the comments section of this blog is similar to the ground situation in Syria. Everyone has a different side, though there are alliances.

Still, it’s time to arm the opposition. Even if there are jihadists among them, it’s difficult to imagine them doing any worse in power than Assad’s government. Say what you want about Libya’s current government, but IT’S BETTER THAN THE PREVIOUS ONE. The same will be true of Syria.

Once again, even regime supporters are unable to provide a positive defense of the regime. They can demonize the opposition, but they cannot provide a positive reason why Assad should stay.

And Assad should leave, either in exile or more permanently. This won’t end the war, but at least it opens the door to negotiation. As long as Assad is in power, there will be no negotiation.

Assad says:

“The problem is not between me and the people,” insisted Assad. “I do not have a problem with the people because the United States is against me and the West is against me and many other Arab countries, including Turkey, which is not Arab of course, is against me.

If the Syrian people are against me, how can I be here?”

….
….

Answer:

You’re here because you inherited your position from your dad. Which you have squandered. AND YOU WON’T BE HERE FOR LONG.

In the same report it said that “at least 26 military officers, including two generals and 11 colonels, fled across the border.”

The army’s collapsing.

“Still, it’s time to arm the opposition. Even if there are jihadists among them, it’s difficult to imagine them doing any worse in power than Assad’s government. Say what you want about Libya’s current government, but IT’S BETTER THAN THE PREVIOUS ONE. The same will be true of Syria.”

Libya is a mess, currently. And Libya has no religious diversity, a flat geography. Neighbors much less troublesome than Syria’s.

Embarking on a Somalian future won’t bring any good to Syrians, sorry. Countries that morphed into failed states, thanks to Jihadists, Mali, Yemen, Somalia and Afghanistan are the worst places to reside in on this planet, by far. The Syria we knew was a paradise compared to what these nutcases promise us.

After Obama’s reelection, the opposition seems more isolated and in disarray than before.

Why Obama will keep ignoring Syria in his second term

http://theweek.com/bullpen/column/236098/why-obama-will-keep-ignoring-syria-in-his-second-term
….
Another reason to doubt U.S.-led intervention: The near-complete absence of international support for such action. Except for the Gulf monarchies, there is no real appetite among U.S. allies for intervention in Syria, and there is likewise little or no support in the region as a whole.
The Gulf states that are most interested in more U.S. action are the same ones most insulated from the consequences of an internationalized Syrian conflict. By contrast, the states that have the most to lose from an escalated and internationalized war are U.S. allies and clients on Syria’s borders.

Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan has tried to deflect attention from the failings of his own policy toward the U.S., but that masks the political reality that most Turks don’t support military intervention. Indeed, the Turkish public is strongly against a war in Syria even with NATO involvement, and the Turkish government’s policy of aiding and sheltering the Syrian opposition has already gone beyond what many Turks support.

For their part, NATO’s European members have neither the means nor the desire to wage a war that will be even more demanding than the one waged in Libya in 2011, and so any Syrian war waged under NATO auspices would rely even more heavily on U.S. forces than was the case in Libya. Considering the regional effects of the Libyan war and the politicized debate surrounding the attack in Benghazi two months ago, it is doubtful that Obama would want to expend any political capital on mobilizing support for a more activist Syria policy.

After the “regime change’ in Yemen gloriously brokered by Qatar, KSA and the USA, Yemen is now a failed and threatening state

Why Yemen is the Scariest Challenge Facing Obama Abroad
Nov 9, 2012 4:45 AM EST
The scariest terrorist challenge facing the reelected President Obama comes from Yemen. Bruce Riedel on a new book’s terrifying account of Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula—and why the real prize for the organization is Saudi Arabia.

Obama will have to face the growing menace of Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) and the failing state in Yemen that it thrives on.

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2012/11/09/why-yemen-is-the-scariest-challenge-facing-obama-abroad.html

Syria’s opposition SNC elects Christian George Sabra as new head

DOHA(Reuters) – The Syrian National Council, the main opposition body outside the country in the uprising against President Bashar al-Assad, elected veteran activist George Sabra as its head on Friday.

Sabra, a Christian, takes over a body that has come under heavy criticism from international allies for being ineffective in the fight against the Syrian government and for being riven by personal disputes.

Sabra immediately appealed for arms to fight Assad’s forces. “We need only one thing to support our right to survive and to protect ourselves: we need weapons, we need weapons,” he told reporters after his election by the SNC’s executive council which has met this week in Qatar.

The SNC will start talks on Saturday with other Syrian factions including representatives of rebel groups inside Syria on forming a new, wider body that hopes to gain international recognition as a government-in-waiting.

Sabra beat one other candidate to succeed Abdulbaset Sieda, a Kurd resident in Sweden, who took over from the SNC’s first leader Burhan Ghalioun.

Muslim Brotherhood figure Mohammed Farooq Taifoor was elected as Sabra’s deputy. The Brotherhood, a moderate Islamist group with affiliates around the Arab world, is seen as the dominant force within the SNC.

Sabra said his election showed that there was no sectarianism in the SNC. “The people here are Muslims and they elected a Christian,” he said.

Sabra comes from the mixed Damascus suburb of Qatana and marched in early street demonstrations demanding Assad’s removal last year before fleeing the country when secret police began targeting prominent pro-democracy campaigners.

A 65-year-old geography teacher, Sabra was known as a fierce critic of Assad before the uprising began. He is close to Riad al-Turk, a famed opposition figure who still operates underground in Syria.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/11/09/us-syria-council-head-idUSBRE8A81EA20121109

After 2 years from hotels to hotels, billions of dollars of destruction, more than 30,000 Syrians dead and 200,000 displaced, the opposition is still in quest for a convincing narrative

Burhan Ghaliun failed to appeal to the Sunnis, Saida failed to appeal to the Kurds, will Sabra succeed in appealing to the Christians by calling for weapons and more violence? Will the next leader be a alawite?

The opposition leadership merry go round continues while all Syrians are suffering.

The SNC needs 24 hours more before accepting/refusing its demise.

Syrian opposition defers unification plan
Gulf News Report
Published: 18:40 November 9, 2012
Gulf News

Dubai: The Syrian National Council, vying to keep its leading role and under US pressure to unify, on Friday called for a delay to a decision on bringing together all groups opposed to President Bashar Al Assad.

Meeting in Doha, the SNC sought to have the decision made on Saturday after it chooses a new chief, having already elected a 41-member secretariat, a third of them Islamists, and as it faces charges of not being representative enough.

“We requested a postponement of 24 hours — we are in the electoral process,” Ahmad Ramadan, a member the new team, said. The umbrella group yesterday elected 11 members to sit on its executive committee, including Christian dissident George Sabra. Four members are new and three others are Islamists.

A source privy to meetings said SNC members had shifted views and were coming to accept the need to form a wider body. “The body will be the sole legitimate representative of the Syrian people. Once they get international recognition, there will be a fund for military support.”

It may be a Druze next time, an Alawi seems too sensitive…

ALBO, the following is from posts above:

I said: “If we agree with your (and Assad’s) thesis, we can… add in all the Jihadists who must have been off getting extra training while those videos were shot.”

ALBO said: This is my thesis, not Assad’s

I said: Come on, stop plagiarising. Assad had that thesis out there from day 1. Don’t try to take the credit for that away from him.

ALBO said: I’m genuinely interested in seeing what is that plagiarising you’re talking about.

My answer: See above points.

Though Assad’s al Qaeda fantasies and excuse-and-exaggeration about foreign Jihadists was not original either.

I remember Gaddafi quacking those lines too as he unleashed the army on the Libyan people.

What is OSOS?

Report of Senator Dick Lugar, potential replacement to Hillary Clinton

http://lugar.senate.gov/issues/foreign/syria/syria.pdf
….
To combat the current political fragmentation, the U.S. State Department, through its Istanbul-based OSOS (Office of Syrian Opposition Support – a creation of State’s bureau of Conflict and Stabilization Operations (CSO)) is training Syrian activists in the use of secure communications and providing them with Arabic-language laptops and mobile satellite up-links.

This training is based upon the Obama Administration’s policy of “non-lethal aid for non- lethal actors.” The training – thus far in groups of a dozen – must be held in Istanbul, a city of 10+ million in order to provide both the trainers and the trainees greater anonymity. While it is certainly more expensive to run the training from Istanbul rather than closer to the border, this blending-in allows OSOS to keep a low profile and maintain better security. Trainers switch to another of the city’s countless hotels every few sessions; such anonymity would be impossible in the tiny, tightly-knit villages near the border.

Younger trainees (all of whom must be smuggled from Syria to Istanbul), however, want more than the limited data package offered with the computer/antenna. The YouTube generation believes it can win greater international support (and possibly intervention) by continual uploading of graphic videos showing Syrian atrocities.
US sponsored trainers stress there are already enough videos out there. They argue, rather, the need is to create nascent political networks using the equipment to link up with fellow activists in neighboring towns (instead of transmitting the large, and costly, video file s which the OSOS package will not support).
Trainers dangle rewards of increased data pack ages (which can be paid for in Istanbul) for activists who contact OSOS upon their return to Syria and report on their location, conditions, etc. OSOS will expand training to larger classes and more direct democratic transition activities in the coming weeks.
….
Conclusion:
With more than 20,000 dead so far in Syria, Assad must go sooner rather than later. In addition to the humanitarian catastrophe he has created, Syria’s role as Iran’s client has endangered our allies in the area and led to its support of groups actively seeking to kill Americans. America’s current policy of only providing hum anitarian assistance addresses real needs and is appreciated by our allies in the region. It does not address the issue of shortening the conflict. A NATO-imposed no fly zone might tilt the military advantage in favor of the insurgents, but it may be deemed too costly or risky. Another option is to provide the FSA with arms capable of shooting down Syrian fixed and rotary wing aircraft. However, our own experience in providing MANPADs to various groups over the years has yielded mixed results. In this situation, Turkey could balk for fear that these weapons would fall into the hands of its Kurdish separatist insurgency – the PKK. Our own fears of Al-Qaeda affiliates achieving the same are not unwarranted. Supplying such weapons after careful vetting of the recipients might level the field enough to allow the uprising to succeed.

SL
I didn’t mention nor did I allude to jihadists in the first post you reacted to. I was simply saying that the gathering was filmed to convey an impression of strength and ubiquity for propaganda purposes, and that it was just that, an impression.

About islamist militants, we have read countless reports of their presence, your thesis apparently is that this is all exaggerations. Yet we all saw this testimony, from someone unambiguously sympathetic to the rebels http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/09/08/syria-crisis-jihad-idUSL6E8K80WG20120908
among others. As they aren’t Syrians, and sometimes don’t know Arabic it made sense that he saw much more of them around Aleppo, since they are mostly coming from Turkey. Importing one of these guys is already too much, they are a poison, but the rebelling Syrians still look the other way or cooperate with them.

I have a revulsion-shutdown reflex with any pictures of Assad.

But I did notice the other day apart from the further shrinking of his head, that he is still struggling to grow even a small mustache.

God knows why his incompetent image minders don’t attend to it.

They have a lot of options – testosterone shots (probably tried and failed), painting or glueing a mustache on, or just removing that weak fuzz under his nose altogether.

Now Saddam Hussein and Hitler, there were some real mustaches!

Ah ALBO,

I can assume you endorse Iranians and Russians getting involved in the destruction of Syria, and anyone else is just insolently undermining their expensive efforts.

I’ve read some stuff too (apart from Qunfuz’s excellent piece I keep referring you to). For example:

“The jihadist phenomenon in Syria, however, is not only exaggerated, but reversible – at least for now.

“Of an estimated 100,000 people involved in hostilities against the Assad regime, only several hundred seek to turn Syria into phase one of a global Islamic caliphate, according to Syrian social media and contacts on the ground. On the other hand, several thousand adhere to a moderate-Islamist ideology similar to that of the Muslim Brotherhood. This shows that the vast majority of those fighting Assad did not enter the conflict to promote a particular stream of political Islam, but rather to defend their neighborhoods from Assad’s military.

“After decades of secular rule, the majority of the Syrian civil and armed opposition still seeks a relatively civil state under some influence of Islamic sharia law.

“Meanwhile, jihadists are only a fraction of the foreign fighters streaming into Syria to support the rebels. Many moderate Islamist and secular fighters continue to join rebel ranks with pan-Arab motivations brought about by the Arab Spring. Expatriate Syrians are also returning home to fight.

“Across Syria, many moderate rebel militias are growing beards and taking on other Islamist features in order to compete for funds donated by jihadists and their supporters in the Persian Gulf.”

http://www.csmonitor.com/Commentary/Opinion/2012/1101/Lack-of-US-Western-intervention-in-Syria-helps-jihadists

The U.N. said 11,000 refugees had fled in 24 hours, mostly to Turkey.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/11/09/us-syria-crisis-idUSBRE88J0X720121109

Rebels overran the frontier town of Ras al-Ain late on Thursday, continuing a drive that has already seen them push Assad’s troops from much of the north and seize several crossing points, a rebel commander and opposition sources said.
….
The Kurdish Council, a coalition of Kurdish parties opposed to Assad, called on rebels to pull their fighters out of Ras al-Ain, saying the clashes and fear of Syrian bombardment had prompted most of its 50,000 residents to flee.

“One fighter shot into the air when customers at a bakery did not let him cut into a long line for bread, Ahmed recalled. Another, he said, was enraged when a man washing his car accidentally splashed him. “He shot at him,” Ahmed said. “But thank God he wasn’t a good shot, so the guy wasn’t hurt.”

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/09/world/middleeast/in-syria-missteps-by-rebels-erode-their-support.html

Liberation.

Sheila:

My apologies for the late reply, I was on a long flight and got a little bit jetlagged.

I deeply admire your way of thinking and as stated earlier it reflects nothing but a good person behind it, I’m not sure if you’re a gal or lad but for sure you’re a sensitive soul. There’s too much in common between you in Tara but I would imagine Tara is a bit tougher from the inside.

First of all, there’s nothing in your reply to disagree utterly with, I highly appreciate the effort done by everybody on every level to achieve the goal of ousting this regime. However, I surely don’t appreciate criminalized inhumane actions by any side.

Sheila, I didn’t ask to remove the FSA from the equation of current uprising! That would be quite incomprehensive if I did, didn’t it? What I was prolonging about is that it’s about time to put an end to this misery. Some have assumed that I’m speaking no sense and I’m just enjoying the game from far while hypothetically assuming the possibility of dialog. This is not true and the dialog is the only practical way.

I’m not planning to assess the ethics of FSA as I’m sure you’re quite aware of all the reports and shocking facts of its members.However, FSA is still a necessity for opposition to start a dialog, because in politics you can’t negotiate unless you have a stronger upper hand. The issue is there’s no negotiation occurring in parallel to the killing on ground, and I’m sure you’re quite aware of the well known rule of “any militant action is not followed by a political gain is just a mere criminal act” and that’s exactly where we depart paths, and that’s why I have no worries in calling FSA just a “militia”.

I’m no military expert, as many on this blog claim, but from my point of view and giving the well-known surrounding facts that FSA is not capable of ousting the regime and toppling the temple of Assad, and that’s why the opposition needs to capitalize on the current gain achieved by FSA and start a dialog. That’s surely after finishing slicing the cake in Qatar.

It concerns me how you’re thankful for all these Jihadists to come and practice bombing and killing on your own Syrian fellows, and I have to admit that I find it quite contracting to what you stated in the previous paragraph of you don’t hold the whole sect responsible for the act of few of them. Keep in mind these Jihadists are killing everybody with no distinction to their sects or backgrounds; I’d call that social justice killing.

You didn’t finish your reply with a question so I’m assuming you have no interest to keep conversing with me which is ok. However, I must ask, where are you getting your confidence from for “the Islamized period due to the state that we have reached, but that period will not last for too long”?

I did skim through the replies of Syrialover and Visitor and I have to admit that there’s no real substance in them (sorry guys), just accusing nonsense and unconditional support to FSA militia including jihadists; very typical response of sectarian thinking. So I’m not keen to converse with you guys anymore, so please refrain from addressing me.

However, I could spot a couple of interesting behaviors. First of all, Syrialover jumped to defend Visitor while the latter has zero interest in acknowledging him, I’d assume Syrialover has a crush of some sort on Visitor so I’ll call him Visotorlover from now on. On the same note, Visitor kept quoting and praising “Amjad (Ajrab) of Arabia”, he even was trying to exceed his master in showing his sectarian skin towards the people of Qurdaha. I’d say it’s a student-teacher crush relation.

اعلنت لجان التنسيق المحلية السورية المعارضة انسحابها من “المجلس الوطني”، بعد نتائج اعادة الهيكلة “المخيبة للآمال” بحسب ما جاء في بيان صادر عنها.
واوضحت المتحدثة باسم اللجان ريما فليحان ان “هناك سيطرة شبه كاملة لجماعة الاخوان المسلمين على المجلس”، والانسحاب جاء بعد ان تبين ان “شيئا لم يتغير في اداء المجلس رغم مشروع الاصلاح، وان التركيبة الجديدة كرست سيطرة فئة معينة وغلبت طابعا واحدا”.
The SNC is now a cover for the MB. Sabra is the fig leaf, why not try to respect our intelligence and call it what it is?

Ali Johny come lately,

I hope you found your mirror and recognized your canine features that I described to you earlier.

I am glad you decided to shut up because you couldn’t put up. In fact, we recognized the extreme shallowness of your argument from day one. That’s why I decided to shoot them down. As I said we do do not need Johny come latelies lecturing the revolution.

As for Syrialover, your attempt is futile. He does understand what I am saying and we’re on the same page. He does not need any support from me. But if the need arises I will definitely support him.

I am sure Amjad can handle your swipe quite easily. So brace yourself.

We would like to extend our congratulations to our Iraqi brothers on forming their Free Iraqi Army.

The Syrians and the Iraqis are fighting the same rogue elements of this region of ours. As such there will be plenty of room for cooperation between the two Free Armies.

We also advise our Iraqi brothers to eliminate the middle man and send their support directly to the FIA just like the Syrians with their FSA.

No to Red Cross, no to red crescent, no to agents of ‘charity=defeat’.

Yes to Action Direct.

GHUFRAN said: “Sabra is the fig leaf”

What a dismissive remark to make about a courageous, active, unelfish man from your armchair.

From report published above:

“Sabra comes from the mixed Damascus suburb of Qatana and marched in early street demonstrations demanding Assad’s removal last year before fleeing the country when secret police began targeting prominent pro-democracy campaigners.

“A 65-year-old geography teacher, Sabra was known as a fierce critic of Assad before the uprising began. He is close to Riad al-Turk, a famed opposition figure who still operates underground in Syria.”

ALI #168

You are showing what a raw newcomer you are here. VISITOR has also punched me out on repeated occasions after I voiced objections to his statements.

But that doesn’t stop me appreciating and applauding his high regard for the FSA.

This is a time of war and real life issues, not a little debating distraction for someone who doesn’t understand a lot of what is being said, but feels free to pompously pontificate to a contributor of the calibre of SHEILA.

You wish any or of all of us to take seriously what you write?

OK, then respond to my repeated inquiry which I will re-post below.

Test time, ALI,

Here’s my sincere inquiry again. I would appreciate your views on the following:

Tell me, what do you think of closet shabeeha sitting on the fence whilst pointing the finger at the victims?

Do you disapprove of them? Understand them? Do you see them as nasty or normal? Naughty or nice?

Waiting to hear.

Mr Sabra is clearly a facade that the opposition think they can fool the international community with to hide the overwhelming presence of the islamists bankrolled by Qatar and KSA.
Everybody is bound to loose. The Christians, once united, will now divide. The Kurds, obviously sidelined after their blatant treason, will rally against the opposition and the Sunnis have now the representative they called for : a Moslem Brotherhood VP

A recipe for another disaster.

ZOO #175,

Another armchair dismisser of those who are making an effort to move Syria forward.

I know you’d prefer everyone to drop dead or run away and just leave Assad and his criminal associates alone with Syria, which they consider their personal property and plaything.

Quit fighting reality ZOO, even if you want things to stay the same, nobody can respect a “man” who can’t even grow a mustache. (See #163)

Hama Echo: Back from the Front
http://freehalab.wordpress.com/2012/11/10/hama-echo-back-from-the-front/

Light relief, Bashar Assad’s imagined twitter account:

https://twitter.com/AssadPresident

148 5 Dancing Shlomos

“the desperate stooges, fools, idiots, donkeys”

Most of whom are your relatives. Right, Shlomie?

How surprise gesture secured Sabra’s victory

http://blogs.aljazeera.com/blog/middle-east/how-surprise-gesture-secured-sabras-victory

George Sabra is a fig leaf?

(Best part is when he breaks from the classical Arabic into the colloquial Shami just after 4:40 mark in the video)

Having said that I do think the SNC is a miserable failure, and appointing George Sabra is a case of too little too late (should’ve been done back when Ghalioun was appointed to lead the council the third time), and now the fact the LCC has withdrawn from the SNC I don’t see them having any actual legitimacy within Syria…

https://www.facebook.com/notes/لجان-التنسيق-المحلية-في-سوريا/the-lcc-withdrawal-from-the-snc/553838537976620

أول زواج بين مثليين جنسيا “على سنة الله ورسوله” في فرنسا ، وأحد العريسين سلفي بينما الآخر وهابي ، أما المأذون فمجهول الاسم

__________________________________________________________________

Read More:

http://www.syriatruth.org/الأخبار/أخباروتقاريرأخرى/tabid/94/Article/8595/Default.aspx

Since this impostor regime apologist in disguise, Johny come lately (aka Ali and the 40 thieves) has made a show of tautological mumbo jumbo @167, in order to create a cheap diversion that would tax our resources (our precious time), I found it important to re-link Amal Hanano’s Womb of Murder that should become the Idiot’s Guide to the very origin of crime which gripped our Syria for the last half century,

http://www.ayyam.org/english/?p=535

Any idiot who after reading this concise exposé still contemplates any room for compromise or negotiations with the most abominable regime in the history of mankind, should know that his/her idiocy is one of a kind and incurable. But lest you fake idiocy based on the above and get away with it, you would also qualify as an incurable love-u-forever-worship-u-always.

To us Revolutionists, both of the above belong to the idiots category. But the ever-loving idiot has a special quality. He/she is a full partner and conscious participant in this history of crime of the last 50 years. After the Revolution prevails he/she will pay for all the crimes.

——————-

Say no to Red Cross, no to Red Crescent, no to agents of ‘charity=defeat’

Be an Action Direct agent. Send your support directly to FSA. Eliminate middlemen and get maximum benefits for your contributions.

The rebels can definitely defeat Assad. Look at the progress they’ve made over the last 7 months. The regime’s army is incapable of re-taking territory except in areas next to Damascus. They can bomb, but they don’t have the soldiers to attack the FSA.

Everywhere, the FSA is on the offensive. They’re attacking in Raqqa, they’re attacking in Idlib, they’re attacking in Aleppo, they’re attacking in Deir El-Zour, and they’re attacking in Damascus. Where is the regime attacking?

The regime is WEAK. All it can do is bomb.

And once again, to all the regime supporters:

No matter what happens in the future, for the majority of Syrians, IT CAN’T BE ANY WORSE THAN THE PRESENT. As I’ve said before, Libya may be a mess. BUT IT’S BETTER THAN IN THE PAST. And that’s why you will lose. You have nothing to offer for the future.

France 24 reports from Harem:
http://www.france24.com/en/20121109-syria-rebel-brigade-commander-last-days-exclusive-report
(Sabra should leave the SNC if he is really a patriot, let the SNC be what its creators want it to be: a collection of Islamists who have the right to gather support among Syrians but should not be given a pass on SC as a “diverse” party. BTW, I support the MB right to form a party and run for elections as long as they renounce violence,all political parties must do the same,you can not put democracy and violence in the same sentence).

a must read report from NY Times:
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/09/world/middleeast/in-syria-missteps-by-rebels-erode-their-support.html?ref=world&_r=0
(included is a video about civilian death in Deir Azzour after regime forces reportedly bombed a village there)

Kafranbel

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=447683791934400&set=a.186824541353661.34965.182806365088812&type=1&theater

“Burhan Ghaliun failed to appeal to the Sunnis, Saida failed to appeal to the Kurds, will Sabra succeed in appealing to the Christians by calling for weapons and more violence? Will the next leader be a alawite?”

And why should the search for new leadership be a bad thing? One of the advantages the Syrian revolution has is that we are not tied down to any one personality, with whom we either swim or sink. If a politician is found to be incompetent, he can be replaced, unlike the ball and chains that is Batta, who is clearly going to take down every Alawite with him.

You see, in the initial stages of a movement, changes in leadership are quite common. Its only been a year since serious efforts were made to forge a political opposition. Abraham Lincoln went through numerous incompetent generals before he found Grant. Stalin had to go through several layers of generals before he found some competent enough to stem Hitler’s advance. The British changed commanders in North Africa numerous times before Montgomery. Heck, they even changed Prime Ministers three times during the war.

Of course, while the search for a competent leadership goes on, tragically people die and wars grind on. But it is better than the alternative, to be handcuffed to an inept, incompetent, clueless squeaky voiced amateur whose only “qualification” is that he was the son of the murderous ibn gahbi who came before him.

The regime just carpet-bombed Al-Tadamon in Damascus. You can find the video of the destroyed suburb on YouTube.

Looks like the regime is going to use everything to fight the rebels. And yet the regime continues to lose. With each escalation, the Sunnis only get angrier.

The only thing left after carpet bombing is chemical weapons.

Is this what a “secular” government does? Is this what it means to be secular? I’m no fan of the Islamists, but even an Islamist government will be better than this regime.

Where next?

People who claim that demonstrations should be forbidden are demonstrating by thousands on Tahrir square
http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContentMulti/57660/Multimedia.aspx

Whoever does not agree with them is a spy for foreign interests
http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/1/64/57646/Egypt/Politics-/Secularists-carry-a-foreign-agenda-Salafist-Imam-t.aspx

Gulf countries (and Turkey) who call for democracy in Syria arrest people if they address the Prophet or the rulers in tweets or private FB pages
http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/2/8/57645/World/Region/Kuwait-arrests-two-royals-over-critical-tweets.aspx

http://angryarab.blogspot.de/2012/11/the-uae-and-twitter.html

http://ca.omg.yahoo.com/news/tweeting-pianist-denies-turkish-religious-insult-charge-194049436.html
(In jail in Turkey for tweeting a verse of Omar Khayyam)

If I were Petraeus, I would indeed quit under any excuse!!

Congratulations President Al Wahash, the Syrian Pound is selling at government rates of 89 for 1 €. Money Exchangers in Syria stopped selling “hard” currencies.

http://www.orient-news.net/?page=news_show&id=455

MG
“And once again, to all the regime supporters:
…
And that’s why you will lose. You have nothing to offer for the future.”

repeating the same stuff again and again won’t make it right. You’re currently offering something worse than any dictatorship: anarchy and a failed state. Syrialover is dismissing the fanatic and terrorist component of the insurgency, while one of their favorite tactic on the battleground has been human bombs. Seriously.

Ali came here with the position of a moderate middleman, one can verify his posting history. Yet trying to be moderate, trying to reconcile Syrians isn’t enough for our “revolutionaries”, so they started to call him a regime stooge, a shabeeh and insulted him while he had been very civil all along. That behaviour isn’t new, anyone bringing some nuance to the debate was dismissed and attacked with such tactics. Nope, rejecting the clusterf*ck that is the rebellion never meant we are regime stooges, sorry to destroy your manichean narratives.

Bashar Assad has managed it. He’s performed an even more bizarre comical delusionary act than Gaddafi did in his final days.

The world is presented with the spectacle of a lisping, weird-looking creaure with a tiny head and failed mustache, saying that there is no civil war in Syria, a country smashed up beyond anything seen since WWII. Just trouble from unnammed “terroriths” and “foreign proxthies”.

Thaths right, all that genocide and urbicide down to roving troublemakers. All the attacks on civilians by military weaponry and airstrikes, tens of thousands killed, hundreds of thousands imprisoned and tortured or missing, millions displaced, all the handiwork of unspecified “them”.

You can imagine him when he was a weedy child, standing in a puddle on the floor squeakily insisting “teddy did it”.

188. AMJAD OF ARABIA

The difference with the American Union, the Soviets and the British during the wars you mention is that these were sovereign, independent powers. They decided their policy themselves and waged war because they had a powerbase and ample means to do so.

The SNC on the other hand is completely powerless without foreign sponsors and attention, and thus is and always will be the lackey of foreign countries. Not that it matters now, they are largely discredited.

ALBO #192,

“Reconciling Syrians”, of course. That’s a task for the “moderate middlemen” the ALIs and ALBOs of this world. Everybody get out of the way, leave it to them.

They have the magic words to make everything all right with the millions whose lives have been wrecked at the hands of the Assad regime (and I include members of the armed forces and their families).

Even more miraculously they will use “dialogue” to deliver the Assad regime to the table in a tamed and conciliatory state.

Then, no doubt they’ll have all the get-up-and-go, vision and know-how needed to rebuild the burned and broken country.

The bottom line about the ALBOs and ALIs is their subtle endorsement of the Assad line (plus the involvement of Iran and Russia), and the unnerving absence in their posts of any expressions of respect, concern or sympathy for the people of Syria.

“The SNC on the other hand is completely powerless without foreign sponsors and attention”

The same could be said of every revolution fighting to overthrow a tyrant, the American Revolution being just one example. The exception was the Bolsheviks, but they by no means had the support of the majority of Russians when they seized power, an inconvenience they overcame by imposing a brutal police state.

At this stage the SNC has more credibility in Washington than it does with Syrian activists, who wrote off this organization long ago. Hillary Clinton has just now woken up and smelled the coffee.

But it doesn’t matter, Obama is too weak and indecisive to make the bold decisions the times demand. Squabbling politicians? And what do the Americans call their primary election process, with a gazillion Republican candidates all vying for a job only one man can win. But the difference is that in America there is a process to weed out candidates, otherwise American politics would very much be like Syrian ones.

When one considers the hopelessly dysfunctional governments the Obama administration has been backing and bankrolling, the SNC appears downright enlightened. Pakistan is a country where half the government and intelligence services are in bed with Al-Qaeda, and yet that hasnt stopped Obama from giving massive amounts of aid to that country.

Nouri Al-Maliki is a man firmly in the Iranian sphere of influence, and yet that hasnt stopped Obama from continuing American aid to Iraq.

The Afghan government’s writ and power does not extend much further than Kabul, and yet American troops continue to prop up that government.

And the Palestinian National Authority is just one friday sermon prayer from declaring outright war on Israel and the USA, and yet Obama continues to bankroll that entity to the tune of $800 million a year (“muqawama” LOOOOL!). So frankly, Clinton can spare us the preachy sermons, as we all know her boss’s favorite position when it comes to tackling foreign challenges is the fetal one.

195

a) I didn’t claim to be a moderate middleman. In all honesty, I would follow Ghufran’s line were it not for the idotic posts I encounter here. I just can’t help it, and react aggressively.

From those against the rebels, apart Ann, I haven’t seen anyone calling for violence or cheering massacres these last few weeks.
Your side on the other hand is doing it daily, with people insulting the other posters and even making calls to murders and death threats. Support ethnic cleansing. And braindead and failed ideologies like islamism. It’s very clear which side on this forum deserves more moral lecturing (your speciality by the way). It is patently clear that, to make up for this discrepancy, they will always call the others shabeehs, menhebakjis and other labels.

b) Russia and Iran? International relations between sovereign states can never be compared to foreign meddling, what Turkey, Qatar, the KSA and much of the West are doing right now.
The reason why Syria couldn’t develop normal relations with them was because Turkey had designs on Syria, and the western alliance at large was hell-bent on supporting Israel. Thus being a Soviet then Russian ally was a no-brainer, as well as befriending Iran to counter Saddam and Turkey. This is dictated by geographic and startegic concerns. This has nothing to do with religion, even if Iran was Hindu, it would still make more sense to have them as allies than Turkey, which eye our water resources, occupy Syrian territory and has always been cozy with Israel. That’s all.

Now that the State is being destroyed, the fact that Iranian advisers and some militiamen, would be operating in Syria is another story. This wouldn’t be happening if the rebels didn’t invite foreigners themselves. If you don’t believe it, think again, because the regime had no interest in being so indebted to them (this is why he tried to balance his alliances with many regional powers, including Turkey, tried to open up to the west while keeping privileged ties with Iran).
Anyway, I have already said that all foreign meddling is bad, but not bilateral relations between sovereign states in times of peace.

That’s good to know.

Story: NATO could arrest Assad in Syria: ex-ICC prosecutor

Excerpt:

Moreno-Ocampo, an Argentine lawyer who was the ICC’s first prosecutor, said given “it was absolutely clear” that as Syria’s commander-in-chief Assad’s forces had killed civilians, NATO could execute such a warrant.

He told Canadian broadcaster CBC such a warrant, carried out by both international and Syrian forces, was “one possible solution to the problem” of Assad, but the world community must first reach a consensus on Syria.

“We can have a new, more innovative approach, combining justice and a real effort to implement the warrant and then (have) negotiations at the same time,” Moreno-Ocampo told CBC on Friday, as long as Assad had the presumption of innocence.

Such a move would force Assad to negotiate, the former judge said, and possibly achieve a breakthrough in the near 20-month uprising, but he noted that the shadow of “regime change” hung over world leaders, noting that the protection of civilians was the official reason for NATO intervention in Libya

http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5joN3kVmjCfNsiH0nxCEK_046lKpQ?docId=CNG.d22309f5782cf0512fdb38a53ad03e60.1d1

Amjad

“At this stage the SNC has more credibility in Washington than it does with Syrian activists, who wrote off this organization long ago.”

Correct.

You wonder why the US is aiding financially many dubious partners? Because the paycheck was always one of their foreign policy tool, be it aid, investments or choosing to open their markets or not. Soft power is often moneyed.
Pouring money on Iraq, Pakistan and the PA will always buy some influence and clients, and remains useful.
The problem for the US is that because of their financial condition, they are cutting their military expenditures (while Russia’s and China’s are growing). Add to that their decision to focus more on the Pacific, the economic center of the world, and you find that they have no interest in getting bogged down in Syria. (Ditto for Iran, it appears). Especially not if they found the Syrian insurgency too chaotic, distrust radical elements within it and judge that their geopolitical enemies are ready to raise the bids.

Syria and Iran appear more and more like symptoms of the American decline, that they are no longer the undisputed superpower, which used to impose its will easily (Iraq, Yugoslavia etc…)

ALBO #197,

I have mocked foreign jihadists more than anyone in this forum and consistently expressed distress at the death of ordinary Syrians serving in the Syrian army.

So I am not sure of your assumptions about “my side”.

But I see you sensationalising, simplifying and exaggerating the Islamist threat, echoing the Assad line.

And I do not share your geopolitical assessements.

It is disengenuous to say Syria was “prevented” from having better relations with the west. Assad in the 21st century disregarded the ramifications of the collapse of the Soviet Union and made a clear and determined choice to continue a relationship with Putin. And to strengthen and flaunt his alliance with Hezbollah and the pariah regime in Iran. And all the while continuing shadow boxing with Israel as an excuse for repressive domestic policies. And let’s not get into his “policies” on Lebanon.

None of the above brought Syrians any benefit, and is now contributing to the country’s current prolonged misery. Assad’s vicious idiocy is endorsed and underpinned by the leaderships of Russia and Iran, who see it as model they wish to remain free to carry out on their own populations. Plus their geopolitical motives for having “influence” on that part of the map.

And let’s not overlook the fact that the Assad regime by its very nature lacks strong legitimacy and credibility in the eyes of the free world.

Well Albo, I hope the menhebakjis don’t hate you when I say this, but you do actually raise some interesting points regarding America’s perceived decline standing in the world. And the diminished prestige of America has nothing to do with any supposed diminished military or economic capacity, but is entirely due to the mental state of its ruling political class.

“Syria and Iran appear more and more like symptoms of the American decline, that they are no longer the undisputed superpower which used to impose it will easily ”

Yes, a decline directly attributed to Obama’s timidity. China only has one aircraft carrier, a throw away that Ukraine didn’t want any more. Russian military capabilities are nowhere near to reaching that of the USA’s. America can still wield unrivaled and unmatched influence, if only its POTUS wasn’t such a pansy. We’ve all seen the weak manager type who hates to take hard decisions that involve risk, and keeps burying his head in the sand and delays taking any decision, hoping that the problem will go away or someone else will solve it for him.

Nothing in Obama’s past prepared him to take on the weighty and hard choices that an American president faces, and the Russians and Iranians know that. They have the full measure of Obama. Putin would not be grandstanding the way he is if he thought for a moment that there would be a price to pay for his actions.

$40 million? What the hell is $40 million? Qatar and Iran spent billions rebuilding the Dahiya after it was leveled by Israel (otherwise Hizbollah’s political support among the Shias would have evaporated). 40 mill is what Mahmoud Abbas spends on his gold plated shower taps. Obama was never going to support the Syrian revolution, for all the whining the anti-imperial Left keep making about an imminent NATO ground invasion of the Levant.

Just ask America’s allies in Lebanon what American support is worth; zilch. Hizbollah can plant bombs in Beirut and kill senior Lebanese officials, and America will do jack-sh*t in response. Reagan and Bush junior would have leveled Hizbollah’s HQ by now.

So since Western aid will never be forthcoming, f*ck the moral high ground. Even Churchill once went on record as saying that if Hitler invaded hell, he’d talk favorably of the devil. The regime’s power base in Syria must be made to live with the fear of random, unpredictable and disproportionate retribution everytime a Sunni village or town is carpet bombed. A piss-sh*t shabih actor got killed? Then don’t go shabihing you moron.

It is interesting that its been months since we last saw a staged pro-Batta demonstration. Understandable, as in 70% of the country it is a very, very bad idea to be known as being pro-Assad. The Assadstanians must be confined into their ever shrinking enclaves, until they are surrounded and not a loaf of bread or bottle of water gets through to them without the permission and blessing of Adnan Ar’our. And THEN you’ll see them eager to discuss power sharing with even the most quarrelsome SNCer

SL

I won’t lie and have to recognize that you did mock Islamists at times. I personally think that you’re most likely a moderate sunni.

However, I’m Syrian, and since you claim to be someone who wants to find solutions, to be constructive, I’ll tell you directly that there will be no solutions where any islamist tries to impose its will on others. If you’re Sunni, fine, you’re my brother. But if someone is an islamist sunni, he isn’t just a Sunni, he’s a Sunni supremacist. This won’t be accepted, and there won’t be compromises with supremacists. It’s akin to a situation where you would be a white, tolerant American but some of your friends are KKK militants. No minorites would trust you.

So it appears it’s you who are minimizing the issue. Islamism can’t be overlooked, it’s the most backward and absurd force in this world. It has decayed so many societies, has killed so many people (most of them being other muslims) that it can’t be taken lightly. Thus, when posters here say it’s ok to have them, the regime is worse, when people endorse human bombs targeting mostly civilians, when you pat a militant Islamist on the back, I won’t trust you, and you won’t build a new Syria this way.

As for geopolitics, which of the following is wrong?
“The reason why Syria couldn’t develop normal relations with them was because Turkey had designs on Syria, and the western alliance at large was hell-bent on supporting Israel. Thus being a Soviet then Russian ally was a no-brainer, as well as befriending Iran to counter Saddam and Turkey. This is dictated by geographic and startegic concerns. This has nothing to do with religion, even if Iran was Hindu, it would still make more sense to have them as allies than Turkey, which eye our water resources, occupy Syrian territory and has always been cozy with Israel. That’s all.”

You see, I believe that if you SL became Syria’s dictator tomorrow, these constraints would remain the same and compel you to make the same choices. If not, you would be a sell-out and the lackey of foreign powers, and another dictator more conscious of national interest would soon take your place.

No more 24 hours of reflexion as announced yesterday…
The SNC resists its sidelining by asking for ‘days’ of negotiations with the West about joining the new “group” in minority and for millions of dollars of weapons without any conditions.
Is the West ready to be bullied and blackmailed by an non-representative and failed group?

http://news.yahoo.com/syria-opposition-chief-wants-no-strings-aid-093401721.html
…
Senior SNC figures suggested Saturday’s meeting would be the start of several days of negotiations over the size and mission of such a group. They said they are willing to join a larger group, but that the details need to be worked out carefully.

In September, the FSA announced that it moved to Syria. Now on December, it is re-announcing that it will ‘soon’ be moving its leadership from Turkey to ‘liberated’ Syria as well as promising again to restructure to get more money from Saudi Arabia.

http://rt.com/news/syria-opposition-fsa-relocate-371/

Mustafa Sheikh, who heads the military council that presides over the Free Syrian Army (FSA), said that Saudi Arabia had promised more support on the condition that the group becomes better organized.

And now, he says the FSA is doing just that. According to Sheikh, the group has started to restructure itself into five divisions over the past ten days – north, south, east, west, and coastal. He also said the group plans to elect new leaders.

The FSA’s leadership is currently based in Turkey, but Sheikh says the headquarters, along with around 200 officers, will soon move to “liberated” parts of Syria. “For a better organization, for better morale and for better control on the field, [the move] is preferable,” Sheikh told AFP.
…….
September 22 Sept
http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/09/22/us-syria-crisis-idUSBRE88J0X720120922
The rebel Free Syrian Army (FSA) has moved its leadership for the first time from Turkey to parts of Syria that are now controlled by rebels, the group’s commander-in-chief said on Saturday.

Collusion between the Syrian army and the Syrian Kurds?

The Syrian Kurds backed by the PYD seem to have colluded with the Syrian army so it leaves them the control and the defense of strategic towns in Hassaka to prevent the rebels advances and the fleeing of the civilians to Turkey.

Kurds ‘seize two towns in Syria’s northeast’

http://www.asharq-e.com/news.asp?section=1&id=31758
10/11/2012

BEIRUT, (AFP) – Kurdish residents backed by militia have taken control of two towns in northeastern Syria near the border with Turkey after convincing pro-government forces to leave, a watchdog said on Saturday.

The region’s Hasakeh province has seen heavy fighting in recent days between forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad and rebels, with 46 combatants killed in two days as the opposition seized the border town of Ras al-Ain on Friday.

The Kurds took control of the towns of Derbassiye and Tall Tamr late on Friday, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.

They were backed by militia from the Democratic Union Party (PYD), which has links with Turkey’s rebel Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), it said.
…
Tall Tamr is located at a strategic crossroads. The road from provincial capital Hasakeh to Ras al-Ain meets the region’s main east-west highway at the town.

Government forces now control just two major cities in the province, Hasakeh itself and the far northeastern border town of Qamishli, the Observatory said.

The LCC, the major local network of activists withdraw from the SNC

Syrian opposition: LCC pulls out from SNC
November 9, 2012 ⋅ 10:06 pm ⋅
http://www.yalibnan.com/2012/11/09/syrian-opposition-lcc-pulls-out-from-snc/

The Syrian National Council on Friday asked for a delay to a decision on uniting President Bashar al-Assad’s foes but a major activist network quit the bloc and other groups went ahead with a unity meeting.AFP.

But the Local Coordination Committees, a major network of on-the-ground activists, said it had withdrawn from the SNC over its failure to adopt “serious and effective” reforms to make it more representative.

“It is clear to us now that the Syrian National Council is not fit to assume such a role, especially after the disappointing results of its restructuring attempts,” said the LCC.

“The Local Coordination Committees hereby declares its withdrawal from the Syrian National Council.”
…
However, another opposition figure, Haytham Maleh, criticised the SNC.

“The SNC’s request for a deal is a bad thing because it wants to control everything, and the only thing that’s important to them is to lead, when Syrian blood being spilt should be our first consideration,” he said.

Suicide blasts in Syria kill at least 20 troops

The early morning blasts in Daraa targeted an encampment for government forces in the city, according to the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which relies on a network of activists on the ground.

http://www.boston.com/news/world/middle-east/2012/11/10/blasts-syria-kill-and-wound-dozens-troops/gvv1Bd7TQawf0GTDnWgwHL/story.html

-201

Amajad the salafi catamite sophist is whinging about President Obama again, pathetic!

The United States has no obligation to you, if you want regime change in Syria do it yourself!

Syria is simply not a priority for the US public; the US people are rightly more concerned about: jobs, economy and debt. The US public has no interest in supporting a Sunni putsch in Syria.

The United States spent approximately $2 or $3 trillion in its wars against sunna terrorists in Afghanistan and Iraq. 10 years where US priorities were misdirected away from Asia and Europe, 10 years for Russia and China to take advantage of the United States’ distractions.

Amajad you salafi catamite as you are such an armchair general, why don’t you lead Wahhabistan’s army into Syria, and establish sharia compliant regime in Damascus? After all Wahhabistan has spent hundreds of billions of US dollars on your armed forces. Are we to believe that Wahhabistan and its GCC allies are incapable of defeating the “soviet” Syrian army, after all that money has been spent?

Typical Khaliji Wahhabi: too lazy to work and too cowardly to fight!

The United States will fight and strike at its choosing, the US will continue to kill Sunni terrorists via drones just like they are doing in Yemen, Somalia and Pakistan. The US doesn’t want to engage in expensive nation building anymore!

The US public has already seen what regime change have brought in Tunisia, Libya, Egypt: Ikhwanis and Salafis to power!

The United States under President Obama is pivoting to Asia, the US is now permanently stationing Marines in Darwin Australia. The US is strengthening its ties with old allies like the Philippines, with the real possibility of US forces returning to Subic bay! President Obama will be making a historic visit to Burma/Myanmar later this month. This is a big deal, as Burma/Myanmar has been a Pariah state for decades and has been under the Chinese orbit for years. The US is confronting China in many fronts in Asia. The US is supporting the smaller Asian states in their maritime disputes with China.

The United States is returning to Asia, the US does not need the Middle East, the US is a net exporter of oil thanks to shale! The Arabs and their psychotic religion is a problem the US public does not want to deal with! Who can blame them?

AMJAD 201

” A piss-sh*t shabih actor got killed? Then don’t go shabihing you moron.”

Ah so you’re convinced he was a criminal shabih because? Ah yes, the self-appointed, impartial rebel justice.
I’m reminded of the guy who was washing his car and accidentally splashed a rebel (“[The rebel] shot at him,” Ahmed said. “But thank God he wasn’t a good shot, so the guy wasn’t hurt.”) If he died, rebel justice would surely have found a proof somewhere that he was a shabih and informant.

But since you no longer claim any moral higher ground and don’t mind dealing with the devil, all is fine.

”
The Assadstanians must be confined into their ever shrinking enclaves, until they are surrounded and not a loaf of bread or bottle of water gets through to them without the permission and blessing of Adnan Ar’our. And THEN you’ll see them eager to discuss power sharing with even the most quarrelsome SNCer
”

Alright, then put your money where your mouth is http://www.intrade.com/v4/markets/

Regarding the US, let’s talk numbers:

– Counted on Parity Purchase Power dollars and growth rates in both countries as expected, the IMF schedules that the Chinese economy will overtake the American by 2016
– military expenditures: http://www.sipri.org/research/armaments/milex/resultoutput/milex_15/the-15-countries-with-the-highest-military-expenditure-in-2011-table/view
the relevant figures are in the last column Billion $ PPP, which can lead to confusion (the figure in PPP is always higher for developping economies, but it is the only appropriate way to compare things)
The US is at 711$B, China at 228$B, Russia 93,7$B for 2011
Because of the budget deficits and the mounting debt, Obama already decided cuts for the US military budget http://blog.heritage.org/2012/05/02/in-pictures-defense-spending-plummets-under-obamas-budget/ With the US growing as expected, the American military budget should be at around 550b$ by the end of the decade (forecast by the Economist )
While, the Russians budget will have grown by 53% in 2014
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/apr/17/russia-overtakes-uk-france-arms
The Chinese budget is growing at 11,2% a year
http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/0fb36dfa-65be-11e1-acea-00144feabdc0.html#axzz2BpN8RnYA
Which means that at this rate it would double in less than 7 years.
I let you make your calculations. By the end of this decade, American military might will have drastically shrinked. The world is growing multipolar and the US will never afford to be the world’s policeman anymore.

Hey Warren, do you know what 72 virgins are? Its what’s in heaven. It’s also what your local KKK chapter consists of. Hehe.

Do you know what Taqiya is? It’s when I tell your crack-wh*re sister I’ll marry her, then use her for my pleasure and dump her at some redneck gas station.

Anyone who believes that Warren is in fact a Canadian right wing Christian does not apparently know what right wing Christians are like. They are not nuanced. They do not differentiate between “good Muslims” and “bad Muslims”. Ask Profeasor Landis if he’s ever heard or seen of a right wing Christian saying that Shia and Alawites are the “good kind of Muslims”, and the Sunnis are the bad ones. Daniel Pipes has never made that distinction in his life. In fact, right wing Christians hate liberals more than they hate Muslims.

No, Warren is just another pretend wannabe Qurdahan hiding behind the Internet. I at least am frank about where I am and what I do, which is more than can be said for Warren. “Arm chair general”, where have I heard that before *cough Mjabali*

“The United States has no obligation to you, if you want regime change in Syria do it yourself!”

Uh, the US also wasn’t obliged to spend billions on the Marshal Plan, but they did. It wasn’t obliged to fight in Korea and Vietnam, but it did. It wasnt obliged to airlift food to a blockaded West Berlin in 1948, but it did. Know why? Because its opponents challenged it, and the America of the day rose to the challenge. Unlike today, where the disgraceful Ayatollahs are openly murdering America’s allies in the region.

Obama apparently thinks that there will not be any long term fallout from America’s collapse of prestige in the Middle East. Deluded, but I’m past caring. Obama is a man who would look for reasons to avoid a confrontation with Iran even when the Ayatollahs are sending their flees and ships to occupy the Gulf’s oilfields while under the cover of an Iranian nuclear bomb, which Obama let them get.

One would expect a superpower to act in its best interests. Other than a few tin foil hat Leftists, there is not a single serious or veteran political analyst who thinks that Obama’s policies in this vital oil region has been anything but disastrous. Rely on Russia, and you get cluster bombs and veto cover. Rely on the USA, and you get a puny POTUS with his thumb in his mouth.

” By the end of this decade, American military might will have drastically shrinked.”

Really? An astounding statement that you can’t backup. How many tanks will be cut? How many ships? How many submarines? Etc etc. Wishful thinking is not really analysis.

Suppose I have the tallest building in the world. I would naturally cut my spending on new buildings, while my competitors will have to increase theirs to catch up. China has a looooooong way to go to come close to matching the US’s military might, but it doesn’t matter in any case. The strongest army in the world is useless if its leader is as timid as a lonely minority child in a playground on his first day at a new school.

As to what the US owes China, let me enlighten you. When you owe the bank a million dollars, you got a problem. When you owe the bank a billion dollars, it’s the bank’s problem. I just hope someone tells Obama that sooner rather than later. What are the Chinese going to do, haul away the Statue of Liberty?

Hey guys, remember back in 2007 when all the talk was that the Euro would replace the dollar as the world’s reserve currency. He he he. He he he he. He he he he he he.

Hey guys, remember back in the late 80s when all the talk was that Japan would eclipse the USA? He he he. He he he he. Heeeeeehehehehe.

Hey guys, remember in the early 80s when the conventional thinking was that the American century was over and that USSR and communism would overtake capitalism? *side splitting laughter*

And now its China’s turn. Seriously dudes, has anyone ever won when betting against Uncle Sam? Just like Europe, the seeds of China’s downfall have been planted, only none of us are clever enough to see it. The only people who can cause America to decline are the Americans themselves, and unfortunately that’s exactly the road Obama has taken the country towards. But, they elected him. The Ayatollahs could not have asked for a more obliging opponent.

Hey guys, did you notice how worked up the so called Canadian right wing Christian “Warren” is in defending Obama? What a peculiar spectacle. First, I’ve never known a Canadian to care so passionately about an American president. And second, all the right wing Christian nutheads think that Obama is an Islamic anti-Christ.

No, it makes more sense when you consider that Warren’s fake outrage is actually a cover for his indignation at how someone daaaares to speak ill of the Persian Ayatollahs. Look at his vocabulary; Sunni this and Wahabi that. There doesn’t exist a ring-wing Christian nutter who can make that distinction.

Hey Warren, do you know why the Hibollah and Ayatollah dudes wear turbans? To hide their lobotomies (heheh, old Mad Magazine joke).

Is Warren mjabali as Amjad surmised?

I see similarity in themes but not in style.

But definitely he is not a so-called right wing Canadian Christian.

I never heard of such a wing in Canada.

He could be a Qurdahan hiding in disguise as Amjad suggested. We already noticed Ghufran and Mina using different camouflages but in fact are Alawites. Warren may also be a Lebanese Christian of the Aouni type. But I am leaning towards the Qurdahan.

As I said before, I would pay all the legal fees to make sure he ends up behind bars in a maximum security prison if I uncover his/her identity.

Al-Rashed presents an accurate analysis of an Assad on deathbed in his final hours,

http://www.alarabiya.net/views/2012/11/10/248714.html

Interview Peter Harling of the International Crisis Group

The Religious Narrative of Syria’s Armed Opposition

Harling: In Syria all those positions which have been taken vis-à-vis the conflict date back to a period of this conflict where jihadists were absent and where fundamentalism was not the issue…

Syria has always been something of an embarrassment, it’s a complicated case. It’s a country which is very central to a very volatile and sensitive region, numerous issues tie in to be the Syrian conflict. This simply makes it difficult to mount this kind of instinctive intervention we saw in Libya.

How should the international community deal with Syria, how could the international community help to alleviate the situation on the ground?

Harling: Basically, I think, it’s impossible for the time being to broker a dialogue, a negotiation between the two sides on the ground. They are too far apart, there is too much hatred, too much blood has been spilt, and it will take time before we can bring them to sit at the same table. And to do so I think their allies abroad have to start working on how to transform their own partners on the ground.

president assad negotiates, is willing to negotiate.

the judaized u.s. and its puppets and its proxy terrorists do not negotiate.

they only bray like donkeys, yap like dogs, and create misery.

and

they lie like the dogs that they are.

their bravery is like the bravery of jewry: attack kids, women, the elderly, bomb the innocent. make sure you are at least 100 to 1. anything less and you run like cowards that you are.

this is the day of rest for your master, shabbos terrorist.
do your little doggy thing – bark, roll over then lick yourself. smile that satisfied smile of the house puppet.

”
Really? An astounding statement that you can’t backup.
”

Can you count?
You were talking of wishful thinking, that’s exactly what you’re doing.

”
Hey guys, remember back in the late 80s when all the talk was that Japan would eclipse the USA? He he he. He he he he. Heeeeeehehehehe.

Hey guys, remember in the early 80s when the conventional thinking was that the American century was over and that USSR and communism would overtake capitalism? *side splitting laughter*
”

Ah I see. The problem with crying wolf, is that at the end the wolf still eats you.
You can’t even remotely compare China to Japan, as for a start China has ten times as much people. So it suffices that their GDP per head attains 1/4 of the American, and their economy is bigger than the american. When your economy is middle income like that, it’s still very easy to improve productivity and have stellar growth rates, unlike developped economies (example: Turkey’s economy is at this stage and still growing fast). And by the way, I gave you PPP numbers by the IMF, but PPP are estimates and are inaccurate by nature. In fact, some argue that China’s already bigger http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-01-14/china-tops-u-s-as-biggest-economy-by-purchasing-power-update1-.html
Don’t dismiss it, he’s a serious economist with good credentials, and Bloomberg ain’t Voltaire Network. In any case, whoever is right, the overtaking is impending if not already done, even if China had a big crisis this year it’s still destined to be larger than the US. It’s a fact of life and you should cope with it.

The second irony is that you mention the USSR. The USSR was poor, and devoted far too much of its resources to its military. Central planning sucked like that. Nothing of the sort with China’s state capitalism, if you check the numbers I give, you see that China’s military budget is still a small percentage of its economy. And this time it’s the US that risks exhaustion if it starts any kind of arms race with China. It doesn’t matter how many tanks, submarines, and ships you got if they’re outdated junk. Meanwhile, both Russia and China work on their own 5th generation fighters, among other things. Yes the US still has large stocks, but quantity doesn’t matter as much as the generation of your hardware. They will probably sell a lot of them to third world countries to avoid maintenance costs just like ex-USSR countries did.

But in reality, no one is talking of a Chinese domination. Those pesky Chinese aren’t interested. They simply want dominance in their region for now, not take over the world. This is why the US is focusing its attention precisely there. But with the rise of many other countries, India, Brazil, Russia, the US will not be overwhelming anymore, it will be one player among others, this is why they’re a cutting their spending and will probably resign themselves to their isolationist stance of yore. They aren’t stupid enough not to know about imperial overstretch. Afghanistan is a military failure, Iraq a strategic failure, that gave them a bloody nose. So they know better, they “led from behind” in Libya and don’t move on Syria. Netanyahu whines all day about Iran.
If you don’t see the facts, yes you’re into wishful thinking.

But I must say I was moved to tears by your defense of the good old Uncle Sam “the Americans are the only ones that can screw their own country”, if only they hadn’t been screwing Syrians all these years. But I guess that puppets like the Saudis cough when their puppet master catch a cold, so no surprise.

AMJAD & VISITOR,

Interesting what you are saying about Warren.

I’ve encountered Iraqi Christians who are very Warrenish in their rabid negative opinions of Sunnis while tolerant of Shia.

Plus their version of “Christianity” is remote from the mainstream western-derived one.

Look Albo, if dreaming of the imminent demise of the USA is what helps you sleep at night, then far be it from me to deny you that fantasy. “The USSR was poor” blah blah “Japan’s population is elderly” yada yada “The Euro was never workable to begin with” etc etc…yeah, everyone is a genius in hindsight. I wonder what “obvious” hindsight we will have missed about China when the day comes.

Let me relate to you a story I heard on the BBC once. A reporter was in China, staying at an upscale hotel. While sitting in the lobby, a worker at the hotel came up to her and asked her, using a phrase memorized in English, whether she would like a cushion. She said no, but if it were possible to get an extra pillow for her room. The worker just looked at her with a blank, uncomprehending look. His entire job consisted of memorizing a phrase, and acting on whether he got a yes or no. Anything else was totally beyond him, and left him totally at a loss.

THAT is how they create employment in China, by devoting one guy to getting pillows, with not even the training to understand any phrase in English other than “yes” or “no”.

“Can you count?
You were talking of wishful thinking, that’s exactly what you’re doing.”

I asked you to backup your statement that the US defense capabilities will shrivel in the near future. A few percentage cuts in defense spending isn’t exactly earth shattering, not when you already have the world’s most powerful military force. But show me where it says the USA is mothballing tanks, aircraft, missiles, ships etc, and I’ll take you more seriously.

Syrialover

“I’ve encountered Iraqi Christians who are very Warrenish in their rabid negative opinions of Sunnis while tolerant of Shia.”

Cool, then he’s an immigrant with an agenda, like that retarded Copt of the “Innocence of Muslims” infamy, and who is now serving a year in jail for breaking parole. Karma, biatches. I sure as hell never heard of an Iraqi called Warren though. Why are these people always so afraid of telling us who they are. I have no problems in saying I am a Homsi who lives in Saudi.

By the way, the “live in Saudi” part is the one thing I say about myself that none of the menhebakjis ever try to dispute. It’s telling. I’ve been accused of being British, or American, or on the CIA payroll, or a number of things but apparently if I tell them Im in Saudi, my word is suddenly good enough LOL!

Hey Salafi dudes visitor and amjad;

I write under one name. Both of you munafiqin wrote under different names.

My religious background is from a “Muslim” small sect that you consider infidels. I write in my own style ya tyaz.

I see your texts and laugh .

A rebel leader threatens that rebels will become terrorists:
In an interview with The Daily Telegraph in his base in rebel-occupied Syria, Gen. Mustafa al-Sheikh:
“If there’s no quick decision to support us, we will all turn into terrorists,” he said. “If you apply the pressure that’s been applied to Syria, it will explode in all directions. Terrorism will grow quickly.”
(rebels broke their promise not to be engaged in politics, they now demand leadership positions in any future government or being given the right to appoint their “representatives” in the government, translation: a new military dictatorship dominated by thugs and GCC pimps)

YOU WILL BE DEFEATED, YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE, YOU WILL BE REDUCED TO GARBAGE THAT YOU AND YOUR DEVIL SATAN ARE. I AM NOT TALKING ABOUT IRAN, HIZBULLAH OR SYRIA’S GREAT PRESIDENT ASSAD. WATCHED YOUR HANDYWORK FOR MONTHS, TODAY’S TELEPHONE SERVER HACKING AND FAKE BILLING OF SERIAL 5810 MINUTES LONG EACH CALL, INITIATED AT THE SAME TIME GAVE ME THE DEFENITIVE CLUE ABOUT YOUR IDENTITY. DENIAL OF SERVICE ATTACK IS CRIME. BUT I WILL NOT WASTE MY TIME ON U.S COURTS. I WILL RETALIATE WHERE IT WILL HURT YOU THE MOST.

Syrialover 221,

Good observation. I know the Iraqi Christians you’re talking about. I have a good friend of one of them. He might one of a kind.

It is possible this so-called Canadian right winger is such an Iraqi.

But if you noticed we have awakened by our speculations the slumbering canine from Zebla or Zabala. You know the Zeblawi/Zabali thing we thought we got rid of long ago?

You know the saying: the canine barks very good on its mazbala. So what’s in the name?

“THAT is how they create employment in China, by devoting one guy to getting pillows, with not even the training to understand any phrase in English other than “yes” or “no”.
”

Ok, I deal with statistics and hard facts, you deal with anecdotes. Nevermind.

________

Syrialover “I’ve encountered Iraqi Christians who are very Warrenish in their rabid negative opinions of Sunnis while tolerant of Shia.”

It has somehing to do with their ethnic cleansing from Iraq by Al-Qaeda and the like, I think. They were a fascinating community, descending from the original Assyrian population. The rest of Iraqis, of course, Sunni and Shia are also largely descended from the same population with small inputs from the various invaders but they converted with time. It would be ridiculous to call them fundamentally different peoples, genetically.

So you had an age-old population of the fertile crescent, heirs of one of the earliest civilization known to mankind, they persisted for millenia, were around when the Achaemenids, the Macedonians invaded. And now they are almost all gone. Usually people are rabidly negative for less than that, don’t you think?

Millions or Billions?
Syrian opposition leader calls for foreign help without conditions

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/nov/10/syria-opposition-leader-foreign-help

George Sabra says western powers need to be true to their word and give rebels aid and support against Assad regime
guardian.co.uk, Saturday 10 November 2012 12.14 GMT

….
“He said the Syrian opposition needs hundreds of millions of dollars in aid and weapons to defeat regime forces.”

;;;Riad Seif, another veteran dissident who presented the reform plan, has said the new group would be recognized as the sole legitimate representative of the Syrian people and would receive billions of dollars in aid.

That’s a good start for George Sabra, putting the blame on the international community and ignoring the millions of dollars poured by Qatar and KSA and the huge media costs the West provided to create momentums with videos and stories of massacres as well as the non-lethal weapons and training they give to rebels in Turkey..

For sure, he will make them feel guilty and force them to support actively this disastrous “revolution”. A winning strategy.

DOHA, Qatar (AP) — The newly elected leader of Syria’s main opposition bloc in exile struck a combative tone Saturday, saying international inaction rather than divisions among anti-regime groups are to blame for the inability to end the bloodshed in Syria.

http://news.yahoo.com/ap-interview-syria-opposition-blames-west-132856444.html

“YOU WILL BE DEFEATED, YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE, YOU WILL BE REDUCED TO GARBAGE THAT YOU AND YOUR DEVIL SATAN ARE”

Hey Warren/Mjabali, the SNPer is talking to you. Hehehe.

“My religious background is from a “Muslim” small sect that you consider infidels”

I wouldnt dignify you with the term “infidel”. Murderers,rapists, war criminals, dead enders with no future in the region, sure. When the revolution wins, we are going to turn that perverted mausoleum where the turd is buried into a public toilet.

“A rebel leader threatens that rebels will become terrorists:”

One man’s terrorist is another’s freedom fighter. Bomb villages and towns from the air, expect to get your officers’ clubs blown up by car bombs. Today was a great day in Dar’a, it is a text book example of what an operation should be.

Why the Free Syrian Army in Hasakah causing harm Kurds who sympathize with him?

ALBO #227,

You’re right, and I should have said I understand where such Iraqi Christians are coming from.

But you will not get them criticizing Saddam Hussein’s Sunni regime, it was al qaeda-style activities in their homeland that traumatized them against Sunnis.

Yet they fail major tests of fairness and reason when they earnestly spout Assad’s line on Syria and endorse Maliki’s sell-out to Iran because of “Sunni dangers”.

Especially since so many of those Iraqis know first-hand the tolerance, normality and decency of ordinary Sunni Syrians after they poured into Syria to find refuge.

I find their indifference to the sufferings of ordinary Syrians now fleeing danger actually disgusting. It’s certainly “un-Christian”.

هناك أخبار تفيد أن اجتماعا سريا بين حلف الناتو و الرئيس أوباما تناول برنامج القيام بسيناريو عسكري ضد سوريا !
George Sabra will lead Syria, which is not in geography.Let province of the territory of Qatar!

http://xrepublic.tv/node/929
CNBC: BENGAHZI IS NOT ABOUT LIBYA! “It’s An NSC Operation Moving Arms & Fighters Into Syria”

Amjad al munafiq
فشرت يا منافق

You wrote under different guises ya munafiq.
Why are you that desperate?
As for what your like consider me: my actions and words define me . Your opinion is zero to me.

As for your uncle Warren. The man is speaking his mind . Why can’t you and your lackey debate him about religion instead of your
You are nothing but an attention whore .

Dude why you guys are dying to manipulate the thumbs up system? I asked my dog and he said that you suck. Plain and simple.

Are you ready to talk about how your religion destroyed the lives of people in the middle east?

Do you have the balls or knowledge to talk about this ya walad?
You and your lackey visitor can not answer to Warren and therefore you are going nuts. Let the man speak his opinion . Why connect me to him? Because you boys could not answer his criticism to your religion .

You asses should know that I write about .

If I want to attack your religion like Wareen I will make sure to let you bastards know,

As for the lackey visitor, munafiq number two, I read his hateful writings and laugh . Do you both belong to this day and age? I doubt that.

Any of you bastards ready for a religious debate ? Can you bastards take any criticism to your religion ?

I must say that I read with amusement the exchange that took place between ALBO and Amjad.  It only helped to confirm my earlier observations about ALBO’s chronique case of cognition deficiency or in layman’s terms the dehydrated horse that cannot be brought to drink the water.

Let me begin by saying that the notion of an America approaching demise is nothing but wishful thinking, as Amjad correctly observed, of individuals due to the unique case inflicting their cognitive faculties, a condition that would leave them prone to such wishfulness or put them in a state of hallucinating stary-like dreams of sleep walkers at noon-time.

Well, the truth of the matter is in simple terms, if there was no America, then the world will have to invent one.  Now, is the America that we know in its present form on the road to a terminal demise?  

By no means this is the case.  So what really happened last week in America?  What does the Obama win signify to America and its future, knowing that Obama has not shown the leadership qualities expected from a leader of a country such as the US?

You have to review the developments of the last twenty years at least in order to answer the above questions.  But, I will tell you right away that such a win is the natural thing to happen disregarding my own personal preferences.  How is that so?

Simply speaking, the Republicans screwed it up big time?  They are only left with corporate America to support them which has a completely different agenda than keeping America as the one and only super power. They are simply driven by greed.  The American voters which brought Obama, a Democrat, back to the White House, are the auto workers of Ohio, the Latinos of the southern belt states, the blacks and in short the immigrants and the blue collar workers, who realized after several years of economic meltdown that Corporate America has become corrupt, and in the process put their jobs and livelihoods at risk by exporting their means of livelihood overseas to none other than China, India and other third world countries for the one and only reason which is profit.

So, Amjad was correct.  China, India and other such so-called rising economies can creat squat of jobs without the entrepreneurial spirit of the US.  

Despite Obama’s shortcomings, his win will be beneficial to the US itself because he will be implementing policies that will continue to benefit the middle class instead of the corporate few.  The corporations want the best of both worlds.  They want the American enerprise twinned with cheap labor from overseas.  That is not going to work because what that means you will have to strip America of millions and millions of jobs.  That also means that within a generation or so you will lose the highly trained pool of labor that the US uniquely possesses which is the actual capital and wealth of the greatest economy and power on earth.  So the Republicans shot themselves in the foot.  Corporate America developed this attitude of having it both ways in the early nineties with the onset of free trade between Canada, the US and Mexico, which translates to limitless resources from the north and cheap labor from the south.  Well, that worked for a while because of more or less coherent economic cultures and other factors.  Trying to extrapolate the same conditions to the rest of the world simply backfired and will not benefit America as a superpower.

Of course, Obama’s foreign policies are not going to change in the next four years.  Syria was never a US problem and never will be.  It is only a problem as far as NATO Turkey is concerned.  As long as that is not threatened, Syria will not become an American problem.  However, in Iran’s case, the US under Obama or any other president will be dealt with as the circumstances may require.  Today, Iran is on the verge of economic collapse and Obama can take much of the credit.  The time may come when, the Iranian people may be left with no options but to rise due to the economic squeeze.  In this case, the US can simply sit back and watch and pull the proper strings.  But, if the Iranian mullahs take the misstep of threatening the strategic waterway, then all hell will be set loose and not even the grand idiot khamenei will be immune from the wrath of the American power.  Have no doubts about it.

On the other hand, it is useless to argue in terms of military prowess, since there is not even room for comparison.  Neither Russia, nor China, nor any European power can present a match to the military of the US now or in the future.  I would even go further and say not even a combination of the aferementioned powers can put up to the plate.  Forget it.  When you see the Taiwanese lining up on American embassies seeking immigration visas, then come and talk to me about such comparisons.  Since the Taiwanese are so much at ease and peace in Taiwan at the present, I would say that those who are making the comparisons are indeed in wishful thinking mode, starry-eyed noon sleep walkers and in need of a major overhaul of the cognitive faculty if such overhaul is actually feasible.

America is resilient and is designed to be so.  Russia and China need only one downturn to go back to irrelevance, but not the US.

God bless America and KSA.

Glory For Syria and Russia fnd China!
Shame for the United States of America and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia!

MJABALI, VISITOR,

No, no, please no, no more religious debates. There are no winners or listeners on either side.

Syrians need headspace and energies devoted to other things – the things that make sectarianism die a natural death: social, political and economic development.

Re what’s going on in Doha, I recently re-read an excellent think piece from a few months ago by Karl Sharro:

“The ‘Arab Spring’, or the ‘Great Arab Secularist Disappointment of 2011/2’”

http://karlremarks.blogspot.co.uk/2012/02/arab-spring-or-great-arab-secularist.html

Read also the comments that follow and his responses to them.

About the current situation in the world must believe that the United States is preparing the grounds for starting World War III. Their plan is to combine all local conflicts together. The United States, when speaking about the fight against terrorism, in fact relies on extremism and terrorism.

Currently, the world is slipping into a complete destabilization that will inevitably end in a World War. This is precisely why many powers now are testing the ground. This is similar to the situation when the Soviet Union, fighting in Afghanistan, dealt not with the Mujahideen but with the Americans, Bin Laden and the American Stinger missiles.

This was an element of the global opposition and, in fact, a World War between the Soviet Union and the United States of America. The Soviet Union lost the war, was eliminated and enslaved.

The next part of the script is launching a global fire, unleashing a world war, uniting local conflicts into a single system of instability. For this we need to dramatically increase funding for terrorism.

We now see that the United States has dramatically increased the funding of terrorism around the world. The Americans will now act indiscriminately, that is, without consideration of whether they are giving to allies or not allies, friends or not friends.

Take, for example, the situation in Greece. Is Greece an enemy of America? But the Americans lowered its ratings and launched a European crisis.

Is Egypt an enemy of America? No. But the funding was provided, the “Orange Revolution” was organized, and now there are talks about a death sentence for the president of Egypt, who, in principle, was amicable towards the Americans. He was replaced by a more extremist oriented President, and not by accident.

That is, to implement the American idea, they will need a full rise of extremism in the world. The United States will continue with this plan. The growth and rise of extremism is part of the course towards World War III that the Americans need.

أبدى الرئيس الجديد “للمجلس الوطني السوري” المعارض، جورج صبرا، تحفظه على المبادرة المطروحة خلال اجتماع الدوحة لتوحيد صفوف المعارضة السورية, رافضا الانضواء تحت لواء جهة اخرى, مشيرا الى ان المجلس “أقدم من المبادرة السورية أو أي مبادرة أخرى”.
وقال صبرا, في اول مؤتمر صحفي, بعد انتخابه, نقلته وكالة الانباء الفرنسية (ا ف ب), ان “المجلس الوطني اقدم من المبادرة السورية او اي مبادرة اخرى والمطلوب منا جميعا الذهاب الى مشروع وطني وليس مطلوبا من اي جهة الانضواء تحت راية أي هيئة سياسية أخرى”.
The SNC is afraid of losing those petro dollars and the open tickets to expensive hotels and VIP seats on airplanes,etc
diluting the opposition will also mean reducing chnaces of those dinasours getting appointed for future dream jobs in Syria, at the end of the day,Syrians have to receive bombs from the regime and explosive garbage from the opposition.
A unified rebel force and a unified opposition make sense but sensibility is lost in translation and is replaced with irresponsibility.

The opposition is coming close to unification . Suspect we will hear good news tomorrow. It is long due for them to quit their interest in the chair and to start thinking about all the dead and the refugees.

I recommend that some of the opposition members go on Weight Watcher to lose some of the weight that may clog the arteries.

Citizen 240,

You should not plagiarize and claim articles as in your comment 240. We know for a fact that your original comments, that is the ones that you author yourself, cannot exceed a one sentence paragraphs and the rest is usually copied from well known sources with a link at the end.

The source of this comment of yours is this,

http://english.pravda.ru/world/americas/18-10-2012/122493-third_world_war-0/

Shame on you. You see how you were shamed in no time after you tried to raise your eye above its eyebrow as in 237 ?!!

To all,
Please refrain from personal insults. Most of you are smart and educated individuals. Can we disagree without being disagreeable? I feel that your message is lost when you start throwing mud at each other.

When Soulaiman Alhalabi, a Syrian from Aleppo, killed the commander of the French army Jean Baptiste Kleber in Egypt, he was not called a Jihadi. He was called a hero. When Izz Aldeen Alkassam, a Syrian from Jableh, fought the British in Palestine, he was not called a Jihadi. He was called a hero. We have a history of Arabs rushing to the aid of other Arabs in need that continues till this day. Why do we, all of a sudden, call those coming to the aid of the Syrian people, who are standing alone in the face of a state army bent on killing as many as it can, Jihadis is beyond my comprehension. Are we just parroting the Western line? Or succumbing to the Syrian regime propaganda machine? Have you ever wondered?
By all accounts, the number of those so called “Jihadis” is in the hundreds. Let us assume, for the sake of argument, that they constitute 10% of the rebel fighters. Why is it that all anyone can talk about is this small portion, when the other 90% are all pure Syrians either defected soldiers or civilian volunteers who have just about had enough of this regime? Have you ever wondered?
It has been confirmed that the Iranian Republican Guard and Hezbollah members have been actively helping the Syrian regime on the ground. Why aren’t we calling those “Jihadis”? Do they not deserve the coveted label? Have you ever wondered?

To Albo: The purpose of repeating the same things is to make sure it sticks in the other person’s mind.

To repeat: “The regime’s going to lose.”

I’m glad that you remember it now.

On the issue of Syria, I’m with Amjad. The regime’s behaved horribly, so it deserves horrible things to happen to it. Officers’ club got blown up? Good. They got exactly what they deserved.

*********************************************

The only thing worse than to have bad things happen is to have bad things happen, and then everyone else goes:

“Well he deserved it.”

That’s the situation the regime is in right now.

Marigolran 246 said,

“To Albo: The purpose of repeating the same things is to make sure it sticks in the other person’s mind”

In the case of the subject in question, repitition is more than recommended. It is mandatory!

Of course, for obvious reasons of certain definciency that has been clearly identified.

However, the effect of repitition and whether it will achieve its intended purpose are yet to be determined with concensus pointing towards futility of the effort.

Bassel 7hamadeh, a high ranking criminal in the criminal organization of 7hizbistan has been eliminate in 7Homs In a fight in حي الصفصافة at the hands of our heroes of the FSA.

Good riddance and speedy transport to lowest of جهنم.

244 SHEILA

“Please refrain from personal insults”

Go to hell, Sheila

SHEILA #245

Say it, and please say it again!

“By all accounts, the number of those so called “Jihadis” is in the hundreds. Let us assume, for the sake of argument, that they constitute 10% of the rebel fighters. Why is it that all anyone can talk about is this small portion, when the other 90% are all pure Syrians either defected soldiers or civilian volunteers who have just about had enough of this regime?”

It’s beyond disgraceful how the “Assad version” of the rebellion is parrotted by people who actually know better, or can’t be bothered to get across the facts.

And it’s sinister how they choose to deny the huge effort and sacrifice and courage by ordinary Syrians in the FSA and those supporting them.

The FSA are my heroes, every single one of them.

Dear Johannes De Silentio,
When I said most of you are smart and educated, you were one of the excluded. I wish I had your mother’s phone number. I am sure she raised you better than that.

The SNC is the shame of all Syrians. Never have we seen a bunch so infantile, egomaniac and corrupted hoping to get a legitimacy and making a revolution.
When I see these puppets agitated by the strings they are attached to, I am not wondering why Bashar al Assad and the Baath party are still popular and probably more popular than they have ever been, not out of fear anymore, but out of recognition of its coherence and unity.
After smooth Ghaliun, incolore Sayda and now bellicose Sabra, the opposition has no real leader and is a dead cow.

A Syrian Soldier in Aleppo 10 November. Depressed?

http://static.olj.me/images/news/large/787044_70605089579.jpg

Dear Zoo,
I guess you have not watched parliaments in action before to see how they really do not differ from what is happening in the SNC. Having all members of parliament on the same page is not a healthy sign, against popular belief. Parliaments are created to debate and then hopefully come to some sort of compromise. I know it is hard for most Syrians to grasp this concept, but I am hoping that this will change after we get rid of the murderer-in-chief.

Where is Moza?

4 killed, 26 wounded in Israeli tanks shelling on eastern Gaza: medics
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/world/2012-11/11/c_123938533.htm

254. Sheila

Do you mean that in the Syrian parliament there are Qataris, Saudi, Americans, British present who are influencing the debate and pressuring the deputies with money and promises to execute their own agendas?

Sorry, but the SNC is proving everyday that it is not Syrian anymore and that it is polluted to its bones, no remission is possible, it is too late, it is agonizing.
The SNI , another oxymoron created by the USA and Qatar will probably, in time, get the same fate.
A revolution that begs and relies on external support of suspiciously motivated countries has no chance to succeed.
Libya and Yemen are good recent example…

Al munafiq visitor:

It was fun reading your childish response to Albo.

By the way Albo destroyed you and your master amjad of harabia.

Still defending Saudi Arabia the most backward country in the world .

Warren gave you and your master general har har a response you boys could not answer to.

By the way your cognitive prowess is letting you down .

Syrialover:

There should be a genuine talk about religion for the future of Syria, that if you are really into saving Syria and the Syrian identity.

Do not shove the religious debate under the rug . Religion is major player in what is going on in Syria today .

ZOO #256,

We know, we know, nothing is as meaningful and worthy of respect as a hereditary dictatorship. Gets the job done much better than a diverse representative group accountable to others.

SHEILA, your excellent point in #254 is not comfortable or convenient for some here.

MJABALI #258

Religious debate is fine, but it is by definition idiosynctatic, interpretive and personal, and comes a long way behind all the other things that Syrians need to focus on, debate and resolve.

In fact, it’s only healthy where the stakes are not high – in settled and peaceful societies where it is not connected to power. Otherwise it can become toxically divisive and distracting.

 
أوضح مصدر مطلع في المعارضة السورية لصحيفة “الأهرام” أن “روسيا تسعى حاليا للترويج لحل للأزمة السورية يقوم على أساس تشكيل حكومة جديدة، تضم وزراء من النظام والمعارضة معا، على أساس المحاصصة الطائفية، أو من خلال اتفاق جديد علي غرار اتفاق الطائف في لبنان”.
وأوضح المصدر أن “أحد المقترحات هو أن يتم تشكيل حكومة يكون فيها وزيرا الدفاع والداخلية من النظام ومن الطائفة العلوية كضمان لهذه الطائفة، على أن يكون باقي الوزراء من المعارضة، وأن يبقي الرئيس بشار الأسد في السلطة حتى نهاية فترته الرئاسية الحالية في2014”.
وأضاف أن “هناك اقتراح آخر بتوقيع اتفاق سوري مماثل لاتفاق الطائف، ويقضي بأن يكون رئيس الجمهورية من الطائفة العلوية، بينما يكون رئيس الوزراء سنيا مع منحه سلطات رئيس الجمهورية، على أن “تتم الدعوة الى انتخابات مبكرة لتشكيل حكومة جديدة، وأن يظل الأسد حتى نهاية دورته الحالية أيضا”.
وأكد المصدر بشكل قاطع أن “المعارضة السورية لا سيما الفصائل العسكرية منها سوف ترفض أي اتفاق أو مبادرة لاتنص على خروج الأسد من السلطة”.
I am not sure the leaks are true but the idea of providing Syrian minorities with incentives to get rid of this regime has been on the table from day one but it was rejected by the regime, the opposition and many Syrians, I am afraid that Syria as a unified country is now a thing of the past, having a majority Sunni population is not enough to unify the country regardless of what Islamist clowns on this forum say, alawites in particular are not about to accept a situation where hundred of thousands of their sons who work for the state army and security forces are treated as traitors or “French”. Look at Maliki, a PM from the majority sect, and let me know if you want another Maliki Sunni PM in Syria.

Syrialover @238,

Quite often you disappoint me by your unjustified zeal trying to make a point which sometimes turns out to be relevant, but quite often despite your best efforts turns out to be irrelevant. As in the case of the comment I am addressing it is completely irrelevant.

Did I not tell you you should always trust my judgement?

How can you entertain the suggestion that I would even grant this Zabali the satisfaction of thinking that he is fit for debate? Have you not been following? The guy before he went on his last slumber literally went down on hs knees asking for exactly that and was turned down resolutely. He even pleaded with his master, the dog he learns from and which I hold in higher regard than this Zabali himself, to no avail. He gives himself the credit that we call him infidel, but thanks to Amjad again, he doesn’t even have a religion to begin with in order to be given the higher status of an infidel. He is just a member of a low life criminal gang that knows nothing about religion.

يا حيف عليك يا سيريالوفر

You should know better next time.

SHEILA,

Another point is that the LCC (Local Coordination Committees inside Syria) have rejected the SNC for not being inclusive and equal enough in its makeup.

Understandable and probably true. And particularly exasperating for the frontline LCC in the current circumstances. But as you say, an ideal that does not automatically exist in political systems anywhere, which is why they have invented legitimate government, party politics and free elections.

The answer lies in the system not the players. Syrians have to learn to trust each other with a new system and work together following that system.

But it can’t happen with Syrians overnight after 43 years of living with illegitimate government that operated through lies, exclusion, injustice, brutality and refusal to recognise citizens’ rights.

VISITOR,

You’ll probably not want to hear this, but I recall MJABALI making constructive and interesting non-combative comments here. He had some worthwhile perspectives to contribute – saying things that helped me see a fuller picture.

I just wish he would stop taking and throwing out the religious bait and go back to that mode if he could.*

I suppose that is what I was saying to him. (And indirectly to you too.)

* Like it was before the dog came into it and the dogfighting started.

Syrialover @264,

Ya Syrialover I remember him trying to behave himself but it was all fake and pretense. I could see through it easily. In fact, the only positive thing he had about him was this dog which he brought up. There was nothing of value that he spoke when the dog was not speaking for him.

It is not that I would shy away from a religious debate or even suggest as you said it should be avoided. On the contrary I think it is very relevant. But the point is you cannot enter into such debate with such low lives as the criminal gangs.

With Compliments From George Sabra!

Damascus: residential neighborhoods under mortar fire – 11 November 2012

http://en.trend.az/regions/met/arabicr/2086455.html

Armed extremists continue to carry out terrorist sallies in Damascus.

On Saturday a car bomb went off, injuring dozens of people in the southern part of the city. In the Christian sector of the Syrian capital militants fired homemade rockets at residential homes, leaving several people in grave condition.

Shells exploded in an elite quarter of downtown Damascus, damaging several buildings.

Meanwhile, the Syrian military continue an operation against terrorists in the capital. At least 80 mercenaries were wiped out in the last 24 hours.

[…]

http://en.trend.az/regions/met/arabicr/2086455.html

Syria lover:

There should be a religious debate to see what is in the future. The relation between the role of religion and the state should be defined.

All of this should give birth to real political parties. Here one can not also rule out religion. Therefore, the role of religion in the society should be discussed especially with Syria containing many religions and sects.

Hajji visitor:

I read your اسهال كتابي, and I laugh.

I see your lectures to other commentators and also laugh.

I see your nifaq regarding me and I also laugh.

Therefore I will grant your wish and leave you alone.

Mjabali 268,

I am all tears.

Syrialover:

Visitor is a munafiq and let me prove it to you quickly.

I represent and has no connection to anyone. The nifaq of visitor want to make his escape the religious debate and therefore they would label you whatever deems fit.

I always called for a civilize solution for Syria, unlike blood thirsty visitor. We represent tow different lines: one wants to save Syria, while the other is hell bent on revenge trying to spread a religious supremacist ideas that would destroy Syria that we know.

Visitor and his vengeful crew are danger to this world and time. People like Warren calls to have them in check .

Visitor and his ideology is danger because it does not see anything but through revenge and violence. His ideology has no place for any minority in the Middle East.

You say the Alawites will not accept being labeled as traitors and so will fight to the death? Well, the Sunnis will fight to the death too because they will not accept being slaves.

This is the result of 40 years of “secular” and dictatorial rule: two communities fighting to the death. Oh regime supporters, where is this security that you were promised? It was all just a big lie.

Syria must be Islamic. The only question is: how Islamic? Everyone can see where the secularism of the last 40 years has led us. Trying to impose a secular government on a Muslim population is one of the stupidest ideas in the 20th century.

A secular government in the Middle East is a government without a soul. And it will always be dictatorial because the majority of the population is Muslim. Anyone who supports a secular government in the Middle East is also a person who supports dictatorships. And that’s why Warren and others are wrong.

MJABALI is a munafiq and he thinks he is superior being, what leads to the consequence that he is an inferior one. Go you and your religion and diappear and take all rest of religions that aspire to have a public role with you.

We are fed up of the president who thought he is the messenger of God. And we are fed up of all those who believe their religions will save us from human mistakes.

New SNC leader wants international aid without conditions, FSA says Assad ‘doomed’
http://rt.com/news/syria-opposition-meeting-qatar-409/
Banshee George Sabra and Shatila wants more blood
…./../…
Criticism from the Western world
Last week, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton suggested a “shakeup” of the Syrian opposition, accusing the SNC of not representing the fighters on the frontline of the conflict. She added that the SNC “can no longer be viewed as the visible leader of the opposition.”
The group was quick to respond to Clinton’s criticisms.
“Any discussions aimed at passing over the Syrian National Council or at creating new bodies to replace it are an attempt to undermine the Syrian revolution by sowing the seeds of division,” the SNC said in a statement.
Sabra acknowledged that some of the criticism was justified, but said the SNC’s flaws should not be a reason to withhold international aid.
“Don’t hang [your] delay to provide Syrians what they need, what they want, on the neck of the opposition…We have our responsibility, no doubt about that, and we will carry this responsibility, but we need the international community to carry their responsibility also,” he said in a statement.
Criticism within the SNC
Western countries are not the only ones becoming increasingly critical of the SNC. One of the group’s founders, Adib Al Shishakly resigned Friday, citing the organization’s lack of transparency and failure to reform.
The group also came under fire two days ago after the SNC elections failed to promote a single woman to a panel of 41 decision-making roles.
Female delegates rushed to the podium to protest the results, claiming the new leadership fails to reflect the key role of women in the push to topple Assad.
Looking ahead
Whatever the outcome of the conference,the opposition likely faces a long and difficult road ahead.
In an exclusive interview with RT earlier this week, President Assad showed no sign of backing down, saying he will “live and die in Syria.”
The comment prompted threats from Fahad Masri, the head of the FSA’s media department.
“In his statement to your channel, [Assad] said he would not leave Syria. We know this very well…He and his people will not manage to leave the country. The Free Syrian Army will not let him do this. He will not get out of Syria alive. He will be lucky if he meets the same fate as Muammar Gaddafi,” Masri told RT’s Arabic channel.
The Free Syrian Army is another Syrian opposition group that has vowed to restructure its organization in an effort to secure more international aid.

What’s up with the spam que? Seriously it’s a big pain in the neck, youd think it could have been fixed by now.

Agreement reached in Doha. One step further to the end of the House of Assad.

http://www.youkal.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=68818%3A2012-11-11-08-00-50&catid=54%3A2011-04-29-12-25-44&Itemid=126

OK,Ive just spent 20 minutes trying to fix whatever it is the spam que found objectionable (this in a system where the repeated use of the term bastard is acceptable apparently). Im not spending that much time again, it’s really not worth it.

Mjabali, a religoous debate? How primitive and backwards are you? I dont care what your rituals are, as long as they dont prevent you from being a pleasant person to deal with. In your case, and in the case of your beloved raping and murdering shabiha criminals, that simple test has clearly failed.

It is interesting to see the repeated use of the word “bastard” by Mjabali. That’s the Alawite inferiority complex rearing its head. Im sure aldendeshe’s granddaddy made many a bastard with his female peasant farm workers. The areas around Talkalak must be filled with them hehehe.

And when we see the day when American millionaires are paying half a million dollars for Chinese citizenship, instead of the other way round, then I’ll start to take seriously all this talk of “America’a imminent demise”.

(…)
Abdel-Basit Seda, SNC former head, disclosed that the aim of forming such an entity was to prepare the ground for an interim government that will take over when the regime falls. Seda, nonetheless, sounded frustrated with the way the international community has been handling the Syrian crisis. “We will form this entity and we, the Syrian opposition, will reach an agreement. But then what?” he told London-based Al-Hayat newspaper.

Seda pointed out that such an entity would require international political and financial guarantees.”This interim opposition government should be under international protection so it can operate, and it needs financial resources to conduct relief efforts, and lastly international recognition that this entity is the sole representative of the Syrian people.”

According to researcher and activist Hamza Al-Mustafa, the initiative is Qatari in origin and aims to forge an alternative to the SNC. The Qatari initiative has the blessing of the Arab League and aims to reach a consensus over a unified political leadership that could speak in the name of activists inside and outside Syria. But the initiative has been subject to much criticism within the SNC itself, which argued that as it stands as a Qatari project, does not provide a clear-cut roadmap for a transition, and does not go beyond the usual rhetoric of bringing down the regime. (…)
http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/2/8/57710/World/Region/Syrian-opposition-still-fragmented-after-unity-mee.aspx

I am still astonished at Mjabali’s primitive and backwards thinking. A religious debate? How so 6th century. In a year when for the first time America saw an election where none of the presidential or vice presidential candidates were a WASP male, certain people want to obsess over the distant past.

When it comes to rituals, the difference between the Islamic sects are minor. Entire institutions have been set up to debate the merits of different economic systems, People are debating climate change and wellfare. And yet still some primitives want to argue about whose fatwa is “bigger”. A fatwa pissing contest, so to speak. Dreadful, terrible.

“The FBI became interested in the hundreds of letters that Petraeus received on your e-mail. mail. “That is almost the head of the CIA was transparent to the FBI?

Let’s see if they can seal the deal at today’s meeting

Groups seek consensus at Qatar talks

Syrian opposition groups are set to resume talks in Qatar to try to form a united body in the fight against President Bashar al-Assad.

Delegates were quoted as saying that main points had already been agreed.

The talks in Qatar’s capital Doha continued into the early hours of Sunday.

“We have agreed on the main points of the formation of a Syrian national coalition or the forces of the opposition and revolution,” opposition member Suhair Attassi told the AFP news agency.

“We will continue our discussions on the details on Sunday,” he added.

Meanwhile, leading dissident Riad Saif was quoted as saying that there was a 90% chance of clinching a deal.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-20285898

Meanwhile also keep an eye on the reorganization and uniting of the FSA as reported in #177 by Hamoudeh al-Halabi after his return from the front.

VISITOR

“America is resilient and is designed to be so. Russia and China need only one downturn to go back to irrelevance, but not the US.
”

I don’t expect from Visitor, who actually had good words about salafis and is probably one, to present any kind of coherent argument. SBV, Salafi Brain Virus has such effects.

It would be great if anyone here could muster the beginning of an economic argument, but alas that overestimates my opponents.
They’re in disbelief mode, but mainstream media are starting to to pick up the same economic numbers I have been monitoring for years. (about the same time I posted them here, ironically).

http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2012/nov/09/china-overtake-us-four-years-oecd

So I’m basing my views on actual data, they base theirs on hot air. But I’m still the one doing wishful thinkin. Mm’kay.

I won’t bother to explain how economic catch up works, that South Korea and Taiwan used to be backwaters but developped in few decades. That even the British mocked Germany in the 19th for remaining an agrarian country, which belatedly started the production of cheap products of dubious quality, that they all copied from British blueprints. A few decades after the German unification of 1870 however, Germany sidelined Britain and became the greatest economy in Europe just before WWI, with the most powerful industry and the most advanced products in the world. And with an advanced industry comes advanced arms, and their formidable military forces.

But that would be casting pearls before swine.

”
God bless America and KSA.
”

God bless America for having such obedient lackeys, sure.

271 MG
”
Syria must be Islamic. The only question is: how Islamic? Everyone can see where the secularism of the last 40 years has led us. Trying to impose a secular government on a Muslim population is one of the stupidest ideas in the 20th century.

A secular government in the Middle East is a government without a soul. And it will always be dictatorial because the majority of the population is Muslim. Anyone who supports a secular government in the Middle East is also a person who supports dictatorships. And that’s why Warren and others are wrong.
”

Ok, you don’t have an idea as to how a democracy works.
I may have seemed disdainful when I complained about the lack of political culture in Syria, but I see proofs of that all the time.

“From 1945 to 2003, the United States attempted to overthrow more than 40 foreign governments, and to crush more than 30 populist-nationalist movements fighting against intolerable regimes. In the process, the US bombed some 25 countries, caused the end of life for several million people, and condemned many millions more to a life of agony and despair.”
William Blum
Shame for USA

” Rollback as a foreign policy … causes untold devastation and misery for millions overseas, and hinders any potential positive U.S. influence in world affairs… To the extent the U.S. public backs rollback, this support is rooted in a misguided sense of patriotism. Patriotism itself – love of one’s country and one’s people – is a natural and reasonable human feeling. But patriotism which measures one’s country by military superiority over all rivals regardless of consequence is irrational… There is surely a more rational form of patriotism that searches for excellence in social, economic and moral spheres rather than in weapon systems. ”
Thomas Bodenheimer and Robert Gould
Shame for USA

” … there is a system of terroristic states — the real terror network — that has spread throughout Latin America and elsewhere over the past several decades, and which is deeply rooted in the corporate interest and sustaining political-military-financial propaganda mechanisms of the United States and its allies in the Free World.”
Edward Herman
Shame for USA

Amjad said:
• Seriously dudes, has anyone ever won when betting against Uncle Sam? •

China does have some advantages over the U.S.

One is population, which is 4 times greater. The other is IQ, because Chinamen average 105, and white people 100.

So I do see China overtaking the U.S. in terms of Total GDP.
America will have to merge with other countries (Mexico, Canada and EU), to eke out 1 billion (“The Atlantic Union”).

But the reason we find China objectionable, is because it’s a dictatorship. Once it becomes a democracy around year 2020, we will all hate China less.
 

ALBO, who knows, at some post-Assad SC get-together in Damascus VISITOR might turn out to be an understated and engaging guy in a suit and tie who is friendly to everyone, include Mjabali.

And some others here could turn up in high school uniform.

I suspect “ANN” would be in drag or a KKK outfit.

Zoo said:
• A revolution that begs and relies on external support of suspiciously motivated countries has no chance to succeed. •

Well they need outside help because the minority Nusayгis have fighter planes and tanks.

So the correct course of action is to smash the regime, by deploying military force from the outside.

Unfortunately Obama is too weak to give the Syrians heavy weapons.

Luckily, the FSA has achieved some results even with light weapons.

Sergeant amjad of Arabia :

A religious debate should center around modern issues. It should be about how the law is going to deal with people from different religious backgrounds.

About being primitive ; isn’t you salafis want to go back to the 7th c?

The religious debate also should be about the wrong history they taught people. The list is long but that debate should happen.

As for self esteem: dude please …,,

Secularism is the best solution for all of the middle east because of the diverse religious and ethnic groups that live there .

Amjad

Did you notice that “religious debate” for people on SC means attacking the other’s religion while flipping out when their own religious creeds including their concept of reincarnation and their views of women being “things” without souls, not even worthy of learning the “religion” being discussed.

Now I couldn’t care less of what the other’s beliefs are..but the hypocrisy is so balatant when they call for a “religious discussion” while they almost get a cardiac arrest when someone discuss theirs. It is just a cover up to spew their hatred. They need to look at themselves in the mirror very closely and see if they can do that while the light is on…

Additionally, Warren’s hatred may indeed represent the need to overhaul the ME Christian church. This hatred is not coming out of vacuum. It must be incorporated into the teaching of some Syrisn Christian church and we must change their curriculum in the new Syria.

A wonderful read by Alia Malek.

Syria: When Official Memory is Amnesia

With those who would kill him waiting at each of the gates of Damascus should he try to escape, Saul of Tarsus, the man who would come to be known as Christianity’s St. Paul, fled nonetheless. Crouching in a basket, he was lowered over the city’s walls by his supporters, and he fled into the Syrian night.

It was nearly two-thousand years ago that Saul, a soldier, came from Jerusalem to Damascus, dispatched and hell-bent on a mission to arrest followers of Jesus Christ—a man who, among other things, had led an affront to the ruling regime of Rome and the Jewish clergy. But instead, along the road to Damascus, his journey was interrupted by what Christian lore describes as the appearance of Jesus (post-crucifixion) in a light so strong that Saul was blinded.

Crippled, his men had to lead him into the city. He took refuge in a house on the Street Called Straight. For days, he refused food or water. His eyes were useless, covered in scales, until a Damascene disciple of Jesus miraculously restored his sight. Saul was re-born as Paul. He now joined those he had been sent to persecute.

Immediately after his defection, he began preaching of his conversion to the Syrian people. Having betrayed those whose cause he had previously served, they soon came for him.

It was a pursuit rooted in a belief—which appears to persist today—that keeping Damascus secure from revolutionary ideas was merely a matter of getting rid of the people that held such thoughts in the first place.

I wonder if those who feared what Paul was preaching breathed a sigh of relief once he was gone—did they think that now they could keep what was brewing under control?

[…]

http://www.jadaliyya.com/pages/index/8276/syria_when-official-memory-is-amnesia

After 2 years of incompetence and political prostitution that lead only to the escalation of violence in Syria, the SNC is now declared dead.

Let’s see how long that new Qatari-US-Turkey initiative will last.

Syria dissidents sign unity deal: opposition official

http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/syria-dissidents-sign-unity-deal-opposition-official.aspx?pageID=238&nID=34396&NewsCatID=352

DOHA – Agence France-Presse
Syrian opposition groups meeting in Qatar have signed a unity agreement and agreed to form a national coalition to fight against President Bashar al-Assad, a delegate said today.

الاجتماع كان امريكيا بامتياز ولا يمكن بأي شكل من الأشكال ان يكون للاستهلاك في الداخل السوري.
المعارضة السورية تتفق على ائتلاف موحد.. وفشل المجلس يدفع معارضا بارزا الى الاستقالة
http://arabic.rt.com/news_all_news/news/599360/

Zoo,

Now that the opposition has united, and support will pour in…, you may want to get used to…life without Assad and Asma.

Shaykh Yaqoubi tweet yesterday:

هل اجتماعات الدوحة هي فعلا لنصرة الثورة السورية وإسقاط النظام؟ أم أن هناك مؤامرة أخرى يجري إعدادها لبيع القضية وإجهاض الثورة؟

Google Translation: Is the Doha meetings are actually in support of the Syrian revolution and the overthrow of the regime? Or is there another plot being prepared to sell the issue and abort the revolution?

https://twitter.com/Shaykhabulhuda/status/267395204816986112

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Lnd3233dXQ&feature=share&list=UUwRudqD0bS_hrA0DfU4BwOw
In a narrated demonstration, ISW Research Analyst Joseph Holliday presents his methodology to identify and track rebel groups in Syria. Using international media, YouTube videos, and Facebook pages, he verifies and describes rebel activity and assigns responsibility to named rebel groups.

Often publishing records of their attacks, rebel groups provide a wealth of information about their capabilities, key personalities, principal values, and locations through film and other digital media.

Analyzing these films and verifying observations through additional sources, Joseph Holliday has been able to describe changes in rebel capability, objectives, and limitations over time with a high degree of accuracy.

It seems that Zeblawi now consulted with his dog and got new ideas. He wants to discuss history seemingly to correct it. I can deal with that. It should be a piece of cake.

Well, we do know our history. Here it is. Our great leader is معاوية رضي الله عنه and all his family and his descendants and all of Umayyad.

End of discussion.

Hajjeh Tara:

You also could be included in the muafiqin group. Wasn’t it you were calling the other day to kill the Iranian Shia hostages one after the other?

Please do not insert your self into other people’s conversation especially when both parties have a clear attitude towards you.

Dolly Buster

“So I do see China overtaking the U.S. in terms of Total GDP.”

Im sure you are right. Im sure all the smart economists that predict China overtaking the US in total GDP are all correct. But so what? Economic power has not always translated into political dominance. Kuwait was a far richer place than Iraq, but that didn’t stop the former from becoming a province of the latter for around 6 months.

Likewise, Saudi Arabia in the 90s was an economic powerhouse, but was powerless to defend itself against Saddam if it wasn’t for the grace and mercy of Bush senior.

Now, as to all the whining we have been hearing from the memhebakjis about the “support” the SNC gets from the outside. Seriously, I just don’t know where to begin with their hypocrisy. Or maybe they just don’t know how politics works. Hizbollah could not survive a year without Iranian support. The PLO was wholly dependent on GCC money. Same with Hamas. Heck, even great powers like Britain and the USSR would have been sunk by Germany had it not been for the astonishing and amazing generosity of the Americans during World War 2. Lend-lease saved the free world. Even the Chinese, both Nationalists and Communists, were wholly dependent on Allied aid to fight Japan.

So you see, getting outside aid to balance a disparity of power is not unprecedented. $40 million? That’s nothing. A mere half a drop in an ocean. Im astonished the revolution has managed to achieve so much and take such a large part of the country on what really amounts to a shoestring budget.

Visitor :

So your leader as you claim is mu’awiyah, the question here is don’t you think you are going against the FSA who made it clear that their leader is Mohammad. The have a chant that goes ; قائدنا للابد سيدنا محمد

There is a big difference between claiming your leader to me mohammad or mu’awiyah. One established a state and the other stole it.

بالسوري : شو جاب الطز للمرحبا؟

ALBO 283,

It is amazing the amount of pretense you can present. Man, you’so proud of your statistics and think crunching numbers should qualify you for a Phd in economics! But the only thing you did with those numbers is jump straight to the only expression I made which causes a prick under your armpit: God bless America and KSA.

So,KSA is the prick that stimulates you most. Should I say now that my observation about your cognitive deficiencies was in fact an understatement.

I gave you the whole economic developments that took place in the last twenty years in America in a nutshell and that’s all you have to say? Not only that but, I even showed you the impact of this development on current American politics and you didn’t even have a clue! You just don’t get it!

You’re mesmerized by your preconceptions about so-called salafists and KSA and you simply cannot see beyond your nose.

You are indeed dehydrated horse incapable of swallowing water even when it is brought up straight to its mouth.

Your case is hopeless.

Here is the prick again for your armpit: God bless KSA.

“Please do not insert your self into other people’s conversation especially when both parties have a clear attitude towards you.”

Dude, kindly speak for yourself and your criminal shabiha sect. Don’t assume to speak for anyone else. Tara’s comments are always welcome, and are far more intelligent than anything you’ve managed to come up, Mr fake secular. Why didn’t I see you once denounce Batta’s new constitution which bans Christians from the presidency?

Why didn’t I see you once denounce Batta for getting aid from the very non secular Iranian theocracy and Hizbollshaytan?

Heck, if I had to count all the ways you’ve been a naughty little hypocrite on this forum, I’d be here until Hafiz junior was old enough to start drinking.

” The have a chant that goes ; قائدنا للابد سيدنا محمد”

I’d rather have as my role model a man who taught that the ink of a scholar is more sacred than the blood of a soldier, who exhorted his followers to seek knowledge even unto China (and wouldn’t have blocked Amazon.com like your Batta does), or said that a person who lets his neighbor go to sleep hungry isn’t a true Muslim (as opposed to “spy on your neighbor and send in a report on him before you go to bed”), or said that being kind to animals is a form of Jihad (as opposed to “shoot the donkeys,they are Salafi conspirators”).

To people of Mjabali’s political persuasion, “secular” is just an excuse to impose a different kind of religion; worship of the Assad family. Afterall, Batta closed down the country’s only casino, but that’s something the Alawite seculars don’t want anyone to remember.

Zabali 301,

Tell your dog that the FSA also have a battalion which they call يزيد ابن معاوية رضي الله عنهما.

287. Syrialover said:

“””I suspect “ANN” would be in drag or a KKK outfit.”””

Eat fertilizer and die!

#295 Tara

Let’s talk about it in 2014..

5 Dancing Shlomos said:
► blessings to all real muslims.

► the desperate stooges, fools, idiots,donkeys fighting israel’s war ask for forgiveness for your terrorist actions.

► the govt of syria is kinder and more humane than judaized amurderka.◄◄

Islamic scholars have declared that Alawites are not muslims.
So, from both the democratic standpoint, and the Shari’a standpoint, the Baas government is no good.

Zoo,

You think?

It might take till 2014 but will be either a violent death or an exile deal.

In any case, will be here for you..to help you through that difficult time.

Meet Abu Abdo, a former school teacher turned smuggler, and mind you, being exceptional at it.
From AFP

Abu Abdo says he makes no profit, but is instead motivated by the dream of turning Syria into a “democratic country with rights for everyone.”

He deeply opposes any potential break-up of the country, calling secession or federation “a waste of the blood and sacrifice”.

VISITOR
“I gave you the whole economic developments that took place in the last twenty years in America in a nutshell and that’s all you have to say? Not only that but, I even showed you the impact of this development on current American politics and you didn’t even have a clue! You just don’t get it!”

more like a long and poorly written rant. Obama may support more social spending, but don’t expect for a minute that his policies will resemble anything found in Europe. He may not have been the candidate of choice for most corporations, but it’s completely delusional to expect him to rein them in, it’s still America.
Besides there’s much more than the corporations when it comes to explain the current economic woes and their political aftermathes, regarding their causes in the last 20 years, you didn’t even touch monetary policy, budgetary discipline, stalling productivity growth, oil prices and so on. Talk about pretenses…

And it’s not exactly on topic, which according to you is a sign of mental deficiencies. The difference being that, last time I made valuable comments on islamic sciences and wasn’t interested in the rest of your exchange, while here you explicitly adress the very subject I raised by making completely irrelevant points, and that yes is retarded.

For your information, even if the American economy heals and grow normally now (not a given), China will still grow faster thanks to it being low to middle income. We’re talking of *relative* decline, not absolute.

Oh and screw the KSA, parasitic lackeys devoid of any intelligence and merit, the shame of Arabs.

261. GHUFRAN
ماك كين = صابرا و شاتيلا
العمل البناء لايوكل لدعاة سفك الدماء !

AMJAD

“I wouldnt dignify you with the term “infidel”. Murderers,rapists, war criminals, dead enders with no future in the region, sure. When the revolution wins, we are going to turn that perverted mausoleum where the turd is buried into a public toilet.”

“Mjabali, a religoous debate? How primitive and backwards are you? I dont care what your rituals are, as long as they dont prevent you from being a pleasant person to deal with. In your case, and in the case of your beloved raping and murdering shabiha criminals, that simple test has clearly failed.”

Coherence, please. Why do you even bother to look tolerant in one post to spew sectarian hatred in the others? Who are you fooling?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eSQMzesSv5M&t=160s

So, now that we have agreed that the government of Syria is neither democratic nor islamic, we have to ask: What kind of tool still supports Asad?

Well my research shows that his supporters rely only on false conspiracy theories: Rothschild, UFO, banksters, Yeti, etc.

So, they acknowledge Asad is a hereditary dictator, but he must stay because otherwise “some awful conspiracy” will materialize.

But → if you consider the Fact that those conspiracies don’t exist, then the supporters of Bashar al-Kalb are left looking like idiots.

أعرب تيار ” بناء الدولة السورية” المعارض، يوم الاحد، عن رفضه المطلق لتشكيل حكومة من شخصيات سورية في المنفى، واعتبره انتهاكا لحق السوريين في اختيار قياداتهم ومستقبل بلادهم، مشيرا الى إن تشكيل مثل هذه الحكومة يساهم بشكل مباشر في زيادة حدة القسمة في المجتمع السوري، وبالتالي تزكي نار الحرب الأهلية وتدفع السوريين أكثر وأكثر لاستقطاب يكرس الاقتتال الاهلي.
The language in article-2 about dismantling the regime with all of its symbols and the breakdown of security forces,etc make that announcement another extension of the war that is already going on. Another article prohibits negotiation with the regime ( those guys only want to negotiate among themselves), finally, after failing to secure any support from minorities and even the LCCs,the announcement keeps the door ” open” to other opposition parties to join later.
Translation: another Tozz that is well deserved for another stunt that takes us nowhere.
This theatrical meeting is a piece of black comedy.

#309 Tara

It’s reciprocal.

#315 Ghufran

When looking at that farcical ‘preliminary’ agreement concocted mainly by Qatar, I always thought HBJ was a rich and arrogant idiot, now I am convinced he is a dangerous moron.
The same as the UN resolution he tried desperately to pass at the UNSC after bribing the AL, he thinks he can fool the international community.

Another resignation from the SNC:
استقال أديب الشيشكلي، احد مؤسسي “المجلس الوطني السوري” المعارض، مؤكدا ان المجلس اخفق في اصلاح نفسه بل واستبعد النساء من المناصب القيادية خلال اجتماع عقد في قطر حيث من المفترض ان تعاد هيكلة المجلس.
وقال رجل الاعمال الشيشكلي، وهو حفيد للرئيس السوري الراحل الذي يحمل الاسم نفسه، ان المجلس الذي يمثل المعارضة الرئيسية في الخارج، فشل في ان يصبح مؤسسة وان الاسلاميين هيمنوا على امانته العامة المنتخب حديثا والمؤلفة من 41 عضواً.
وأضاف الشيشكلي في بيان انتقد ما انجز في الدوحة “رغم أهمية توسيع المجلس ومحاولة اصلاحه التي كنا نراهن عليها لتعزيز وحدة الصف السوري ودعم الثورة بفاعلية، لكن الخطوة جاءت مبتورة لعدم تمكن المجلس من استقطاب شخصيات معارضة بارزة اثرت البقاء خارجه لأسباب لم تعد تخفى على أحد، فضلاً عن تلاشي الامل من امكان اصلاحه نتيجة اصرار ادارته على الاستئثار بالسلطة واستبعاد عناصر شابة وحيوية وذات دور فاعل في الثورة”.

314. Dolly Buster

The idiots are the ones who still think that this “revolution” is about the ‘freedom and dignity’ of the Syrians and the toppling of a ‘cruel’ secular dictator.
ALL analysts agree unanimously that this is all about weakening Iran and the Palestinians resistance to protect Israel as well as allowing a pro-Israel ‘moderate’ Sunni Islam to rule the region.

You need to do more research..

What’s wrong with Qatar, it is one of the richest countries.

You should be more critical of russia ← a third world s–hole where musicians and chess players are routinely arrested.

So if Russia is supportive of the Nusayгi, then we know what time it is.

Amjad of Arabia : aka corporal har har Ibn hurayahar:

My type of secularism has nothing to do with your cousin Bashar al Asad .

My type of secularism is simple and based on human rights first and foremost. Your version is har har har kill them har har har kill them har har har

Secularism scares systems like the one from the stone age in Saudi Arabia where har hat of Arabia lives . Go figure .

Albo 311,

You never fail to confirm my observations about you. You do not even know your own topic which you started. You suggested and continue to suggest that America is doomed.

I was saying that’s up in your hallucinating brain and showed you why. I even took into consideration your limited abilities and presented it to you in a nutshell as I said, and even so you were not able to drink. You do not want to choke, do you?

Your whole misconception ( understandable as we know by now why), is based on this so-called globalization which started 20 years ago, and that’s where corporate America octane so prominently into play. Why do I or any one want to indulge in tangents such as monetary policies, oil prices and all the rest? We always seek the source of the problem, identify it and deal with it. But this is what you’re incapable of and that’s why you turned me off when you went on a tangent with your so-called science history last time. I cannot waste time on tangents and they never serve any purpose in discussions. You need to remain focused on the problem.

Anyway, KSA is blessed. And as I told you when we first met, we and our next of kin in Arabia have a bond that transcends time and history. It is simply unbreakeable.
The truth is we have nothing in common with remnants of شعوبية, your mullah-Stan. So screw them. These are the real parasites

Lieutenant-Colonel Hussein Harmoush, one of the first Syrian army officers to defect, was contacted by the Muslim Brotherhood shortly after he arrived at a refugee camp in Turkey’s Hatay province in June of 2011. He was one of a small group of defectors, the Free Officers

Brotherhood members visited him several times and promised him logistical, financial and material support in exchange for “cooperation”.

Lt Col Harmoush replied “tell me what you want and I will decide accordingly”, Lt Basim Khaled, speaking for the Free Officers, told me in an interview. “They wanted him to follow their directions and support them politically.”

No agreement was reached but the Brotherhood members stayed in touch with Lt Col Harmoush. They also contacted a more recent, higher-ranking defector who agreed to cooperate.

That officer, Colonel Riad Al Asaad, formed a new entity, the Free Syrian Army, without informing the Free Officers. The Brotherhood then abruptly dropped contact with Lt Col Harmoush, who was captured by Syrian authorities under mysterious circumstances in August 2011, after disappearing in Turkey.
[…]

Read more: http://www.thenational.ae/thenationalconversation/comment/how-the-brotherhood-builds-power-in-syrias-opposition#ixzz2BwBcTxdy

“Free Terrorist Army” Leader: “We Will All Turn Into Terrorists” – November 9, 2012

http://www.infowars.com/free-syria-army-leader-we-will-all-turn-into-terrorists/

Gen. Mustafa al-Sheikh, head of the Free Syria Army’s military council, has warned the West that if the CIA (and MI6 and British SAS) supported rebels trying to overturn the rule of Bashar al-Assad in Syria are not supported soon, his mercenaries “will all turn into terrorists.”

“If you apply the pressure that’s been applied to Syria, it will explode in all directions. Terrorism will grow quickly,” he said during an interview with the Daily Telegraph.

In October, the New York Times admitted that “hard-line Islamic jihadists” are receiving most of the arms shipped into Syria by Saudi Arabia and Qatar.

According to Halil Karaveli, Senior Fellow with the Turkey Initiative at the Central Asia-Caucasus Institute & Silk Road Studies Program Joint Center, it makes sense that “hard-line Islamic jihadists” – in other words, al-Qaeda – are receiving weapons.

They “are the ones who know how to fight,” Karaveli told The Voice of Russia last month. “They have the fighting experience from Afghanistan and other places and they have been pouring in to Syria from Afghanistan, Yemen and Caucasus. This has become a gathering for Jihadists. Of course there is a big prize for them to win if they would be able to establish a base of the new al-Qaeda within the Arabs and the Muslim Middle East – that would be a huge victory and their biggest victory so far for al-Qaeda.”

In Syria, the Salafi strain of Sunni fanaticism dominates the so-called rebels, according to the International Crisis Group. They “seek to replace the secular regime with an Islamist form of governance” and are mesmerized by al-Qaeda’s “concept of global jihad.”

[…]

http://www.infowars.com/free-syria-army-leader-we-will-all-turn-into-terrorists/

216-Salafi VATTY

“As I said before, I would pay all the legal fees to make sure he ends up behind bars in a maximum security prison if I uncover his/her identity.”

How are you going to do that? Next time I’m in Toronto, and passing through Pearson try getting your salafi ikhwani contact to detain me! You pathetic cretin!

I’m sure the CSIS would be interested to know a Salafi cretin like you is soliciting to bribe airport staff at the nation’s largest airport. Canada knows how to deal with Syrian sunni terrorists, just ask your Ikhwani: Maher Arar!

Zoo said in 319:
♦ ALL analysts agree unanimously that this is all about weakening Iran ♦

This crisis has proven that Iran is malignant, because they sent Shia troops to kill for the ‘Alawites.

If Syria was as democratic as Norway, then you could say its problems are foreign-made. But actually Syria is one of the worst police states in the world. So, its problems aren’t foreign-made. There is a defect in the country itself. Why should 1 family be in power for 50 years, is that a requirement?

As for the jews being happy about the revolution, that is uncertain. Maybe the whole thing endangers Israel. Egypt has become more anti-Israel after it stopped with hereditary rule.

Sunnis are the greatest threat to Canada’s national security: this is the assessment of the CSIS!

Sunni Islamist extremists remains greatest threat to Canada’s national security

Mr. Fadden told senators that terrorism – and in particular the threat from “Sunni Islamist extremists” – remains the greatest threat to Canada’s national security.

http://www.examiner.com/article/sunni-islamist-extremists-remains-greatest-threat-to-canada-s-national-security

Assad Vows to Remain in Syria – November 8, 2012

http://www.infowars.com/assad-vows-to-remain-in-syria/

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said he will not leave his country and warned against foreign military intervention in Syria. Meanwhile, Syrian rebel fighters are reportedly intensifying attacks, claiming to have captured another border post with Turkey in the Kurdish northeast of the country.

President Assad told Russia Today TV that he has no intention of leaving Syria, despite recent comments by British Prime Minister David Cameron that a deal could be arranged for him to go into exile.

“I’m not a puppet, I was not made by the West to go to the West or any other country. I’m Syrian, I’m made in Syria and I have to live in Syria and die in Syria,” he said.

Assad also said that his country is the “last stronghold of secularism and stability in the region,” and that he did not expect any Western intervention in his country, because it would have a “domino effect” across the world.

Inside Syria, bombing missions have reportedly intensified. Amateur video showed Syrian government warplanes flying over parts of the capital, Damascus Thursday. Witnesses said schools were closed for the second straight day as the situation remains tense.

[…]

http://www.infowars.com/assad-vows-to-remain-in-syria/

Salafis in Egypt Want to Destroy Pyramids & Sphinx – What Will they Destroy in Syria?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vBJE6wUm-cA

__________________________________________________________________

More Sunna barbarism!

Earlier I predicted that Alawite supporters only have False Conspiracy Theories to stand on. And now Lobotomy Ann has confirmed this, by linking to Alex Jones news.

322, Salafi Brain Virus strikes again.

I said America is in relative decline, not doomed. Which has a meaning for countries that completely lack any technical expertise, any military capability and rely on them and the western alliance for all their needs.
Without the huge American base on its soil, the Amir of Qatar is a nobody; without western expertise his gas would remain buried under the sea forever. If they magically left tomorrow, he would immediately go and kiss Ahmadinejad foot, shaking with terror. Same story for the other GCC countries.

“We always seek the source of the problem, identify it and deal with it”
In your perverted imagination. China opened up in 1978, and the Americans were never alone to invest in their markets and provide them with the technologies they needed. The Germans are very happy to sell them advanced machinery to this day and the Japanese did the same to a great extent despite the risks. The US isn’t alone in the world and its corporations would have lost enormously to their competitors had they not participated. That is globalization. Evidently you can never see the big picture, only tangents.

Sexual Harassment in Egypt: Are Women People Too?

I know a young woman in her twenties who dresses modestly, with her head scarf always firmly planted around her hair and neck. She was walking in the streets in broad daylight when a young man began to harass her viciously. She attempted to ward him off, but he was stronger than she and persisted in his harassment. To her good fortune, a policeman happened to be standing nearby. He arrested the young man and took him down to the local police station. On their way to the precinct, the young woman was surprised to find that everyone she encountered — both men and women — attempted to convince her to abandon the proceedings against the harasser out of concern for his future. One woman who had witnessed the exchange even spoke harshly to the victimized woman and angrily said to her: “Shame on you! Let the boy say he’s sorry and go on his way. Better that than ruin his entire future!”

Read more: http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/culture/2012/11/sexual-harassment-in-egypt-are-women-people-too.html#ixzz2BwIHUbBP

Warren 325,

So, how do you know there’s a Salafist/ikhwani at Pearson airport and has the authority to detain?

You must be privy to some highly classified information.

Hmmm.

And we thought all the time you’re some lost Christian soul or a Qurdahan thug from the old country!

You do not want to know how I am going to go about arresting you. There will be charges ready to detain you on the spot.

New laws are coming onto effect regarding dissemination of mateial on the Internet. You are an ideal candidate to begin trials.

Massive Rally for Shariah Law Divides Egypt’s Islamists

Unlike other protests organized by Egypt’s Islamist currents, the Muslim Brotherhood’s Freedom and Justice Party and the Salafist Nour Party, who dominated more than 70% of the 2011 parliament, announced boycotting the protest and left Tahrir Square with several thousand protesters demanding a puritanical Islamic constitution.

Read more: http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2012/al-monitor/egypt-islam-protest.html#ixzz2BwIrV45h

330. Dolly Buster said: “”” Lobotomy Ann “””

Crawl back into your `tel aviv bunker and die.

“New laws are coming onto effect regarding dissemination of mateial on the Internet. You are an ideal candidate to begin trials.
”

Hilarious coming from the same genius who praises jihadists all the time on this board.

Vatty

“You do not want to know how I am going to go about arresting you. There will be charges ready to detain you on the spot.

New laws are coming onto effect regarding dissemination of mateial on the Internet. You are an ideal candidate to begin trials.”

Looking forward to this!

You a pathetic sunna Salafi cretin is going to arrest and put me on trial? This is going to be fun!

I will be in Toronto in January ’13: so lets see if you can back up your salafi threats!

Our Einstein doesn’t realize that western patience with islamism is wearing very thin. Far right parties are on the rise everywhere in Europe, American whites are becoming increasingly radicalized, racist and hostile to Islam.

He is complicit with the rise of fascism in the west. People should go read their boards and blogs, they are calling for the deportation of all minorities and muslims now.

UK may send forces to Syria
For wich purpose? to support further bloodshed or you think that your troops ready to die?House of Commons can criminalize you and wrapped the rope around your neck
http://english.ruvr.ru/2012_11_11/UK-may-send-forces-to-Syria/
The Chief of the UK Defense Staff David Richards said that the UK may send its forces to Syria. The fact that the situation in Syria is worsening with every coming day is a reason for that, General Richards believes. He says that small detachments may be sent to Syria already in winter.

If the Americans don’t move, I don’t see the UK moving. Same for the Turks, they stated it themselves.

Albo

“Oh and screw the KSA, parasitic lackeys devoid of any intelligence and merit, the shame of Arabs.”

Let me tell you what Saudi has done for Syrian refugees. Before, a Syrian resident in Saudi would need a stack of paperwork a mile high to bring his family over. Now, the Saudi embassies just take a person’s word for it that the women folk applying for a visa are his wife/daughters/mother etc.

Saudi Arabia has suspended all deportations of Syrians for any reason whatsoever. In the past if you lost your job, you were out of the country. Syrians in Saudi are in the enviable position of being free agents in the richest economy in the region, thanks to this unprecedented decision on the part of the Saudis.

Saudi schools and universities are now open to Syrian students for free. Meantime, Syrian schools in Syria are used as shabiha barracks or refugee camps.

Saudi Arabia is the shame of the Arabs? Actually, that would be your president, the man who has not opened a single refugee camp inside Syria, and whose thugs prevent the Red Crescent and Red Cross aid from getting to those in need, and who disgracefully told foreign media that the people who left Syria were part of a “cleansing proecess”. The shame of the Arabs are the Hizbollshaytan sectarian turds who have prevented aid from reaching Syrian refugees in Lebanon. And the shame of the Arabs are people like you, who support and cheer these murderous juntas, all the while having wet dreams of the magic moment when China’s GDP passes that of America’s on some accountant’s chart.

And what a terrible let down that moment will be. Japan for decades had the world’s second largest economy, and yet did it ever have much political power? France doesn’t have the economy of Japan, and yet wields far greater military and political influence.

Qurdahan Warren

Your beloved Newsweek has stopped selling a print edition. What’s the matter, sensationalist covers not working well for that rag? LOL! I love how the MuslimRage hashtag was hijacked by hilarious Muslim Twiterers. That must have really gotten to you.

“Crawl back into your `tel aviv bunker and die.”

Wow Lobotomy Ann what an awesome put down….not. Geesh, the one moment when you get a chance for an original line, instead of your spammy copy/paste, and you blow it. Fail dude. Epic, epic fail.

Rami Makhlouf is the main shareholder of AL MAYADEEN TV according to information revealed by a European MP; EU is running an inquiry.

DoumaRevolution
[Arabic]

[…]

http://yallasouriya.wordpress.com/2012/11/11/rami-makhlouf-is-the-main-shareholder-of-al/

338-ALBO

True, the West’s patience and tolerance towards Muslims is wearing thin.

Right wing parties with anti-immigrant and specifically anti-Muslim platforms are on the up all across Europe!

Greece: Golden Dawn
France: National Front
Germany: National Democratic Party
Italy: Northern League/Lega Nord
Belgium: Vlaams Belang/Blok
Holland: Freedom Part/PVV
UK: English Defence League & BNP
Finland: True Finns

Just to name a few.

Thankfully under Prime Minister Stephen Harper, Canada has now taken a more robust and pro-active attitude in confronting Islamic radicalism. That’s why I find the arrogance and belligerence of Vatty so amusing. Its people like him, Radical Sunni Islamists that are the greatest threat to Canada. Yet the cretin wants to and thinks he can silence and imprison me; for exposing his vile theology! lol

Wow Bashar, it’s happening, you’ll be facing up to Israel like you always said you would!

Great timing.

Story: IDF fires warning shot into Syria after shell hits Golan

Excerpt

The IDF fired a warning shot, in the form of a guided missile, at the Syrian military on Sunday after a Syrian shell exploded in the Golan Heights for the second time in recent days.

Israel has not fired at Syria since the 1973 Yom Kippur War.

Military sources said the IDF fired an advnaced Tapuz-type missile at a Syrian artillery cannon.

At the same time, Israel sent a warning message to the UN, saying that any further firing into Israel will result “in a real response,” sources added.

Sunday’s scuffle came a week after three Syrian tanks entered the demilitarized zone on the Golan Heights on Saturday afternoon, and remained there for several hours into the evening. The tanks, which were involved in heavy clashes with Syrian rebels, encroached the decades-old cease-fire agreement between Jerusalem and Damascus

http://www.jpost.com/Defense/Article.aspx?id=291326

“Far right parties are on the rise everywhere in Europe, American whites are becoming increasingly radicalized, racist and hostile to Islam.”

HAHAHAHAA! Another “golden age on the horizon” moment? Habibi, take a look at how your beloved BNP have fared in British elections recently. Fail dude, faaaaaaaail.

And what’s your beloved neo-Nazi parties going to do about the massive birthrates of the Muslim communities in Europe? Not much they can do, considering your skinheads are unemployable, dateless and probably have not known the touch of a women since Enoch Powell hired some prostitutes.

Albo, a man forever destined to be disappointed, forever stretching for a golden tomorrow that will never come.

Wow Bashar, you’ve done it now, you’ll be facing up to Israel like you always said you would!

Great timing.

Story: IDF fires warning shot into Syria after shell hits Golan

Excerpt

The IDF fired a warning shot, in the form of a guided missile, at the Syrian military on Sunday after a Syrian shell exploded in the Golan Heights for the second time in recent days.

Israel has not fired at Syria since the 1973 Yom Kippur War.

Military sources said the IDF fired an advnaced Tapuz-type missile at a Syrian artillery cannon.

At the same time, Israel sent a warning message to the UN, saying that any further firing into Israel will result “in a real response,” sources added.

Sunday’s scuffle came a week after three Syrian tanks entered the demilitarized zone on the Golan Heights on Saturday afternoon, and remained there for several hours into the evening. The tanks, which were involved in heavy clashes with Syrian rebels, encroached the decades-old cease-fire agreement between Jerusalem and Damascus

http://www.jpost.com/Defense/Article.aspx?id=291326

“And the shame of the Arabs are people like you, who support and cheer these murderous juntas, all the while having wet dreams of the magic moment when China’s GDP passes that of America’s on some accountant’s chart.”

I didn’t support murder of Syrians here, not once. You on the other hand do it every other post. The Saudis and other Gulf Arabs are the shame of the Arabs because their riches are completely wasted for ridiculous purposes. If the Arabs could have used these resources adequately, that is to fund the development of Arab contries, their infrastructure, their education, they could have become a power to be reckoned with in this world, again, and their children lead much better lives.

Instead of which, the West played divide and rule and created mini-states to enrich some corrupt sheiks and divert much of the wealth from the rest of Arabs. In a nutshell, Kuwait and Iraq.

I’m not impressed by your humanitarians claims; KSA is playing the arsonist firefighter. They should damn well pay for the refugees they help create.

“UK: English Defence League & BNP”

Uh, Qurdahan Warren, there have been a number of Muslims in British Parliament. There has never been a single BNPer elected to parliament. Good job, keep backing the wrong horse 🙂

344 Try again.

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_P3zGkhjpiks/TKL3QLazJnI/AAAAAAAACU8/EnbrQlFHnTU/s1600/image-136031-galleryV9-nutt.jpg

Bait the racists long enough, and their true colors are exposed. In this case, we know that Albo is a fan of resurgent neo-Nazism. I’ve been very open about where I am and where I come from, I wonder if Heir Albo will dare do the same. Ein Volk, Ein Reich, Ein Besho mutha fugga?

And where did you see that I was somehow supportive? I’m a target too, smart*ss.

Nick Clegg: Let’s end ‘abhorrent’ prejudice against Muslims
November 08, 2012

Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg was today calling for an end to religious hate crime during a visit to Manchester’s Muslim community.

Mr Clegg told the M.E.N he wanted to see acts of hatred against Muslims wiped out – as he pledged to do all he could to put an end to ‘abhorrent’ prejudicial attacks.

[…]

Mr Clegg said: “The reason I’m doing this is because I have for sometime now been very worried about the prejudice, religious hatred and racially motivated violence directed at many Muslims in Manchester and elsewhere. There’s absolutely no place for hate crime in modern society. Its an abhorrent thing.”

Read more:

http://menmedia.co.uk/manchestereveningnews/news/s/1593293_nick-clegg-lets-end-abhorrent-prejudice-against-muslims

Wikileaks once leaked the names of 10,000 BNP members. The party immediately advised those people to deny their membership. Seriously Albo, how can you possibly defend and admire a party whose members are too ashamed to admit being members of it, and this in a free and liberal place like the UK.

Bigotry, Islamophobia and racism is the last refuge of the incompetent, society’s failures who have run out of excuses to blame their parents for their miserable lot in life. It is sad, pathetic shell of a human being who has to seek refuge in admiring far-right neo-Nazi organizations.

But let’s compare Jihadis with the neo-Nazis. Jihadis get on a plane and go right into a fight. Neo-Nazis like Warren and Albo, on the other hand, sit behind a keyboard and whine about “Muzzleeeeems taking our jobs and women!”.

Like the song goes, “Onward Christian Soldiers…troll on your blessed keyboards! Spam the forums for Christ,and smite the infidel Moors on Twitter! Amen”

🙂

Here’s where Warren lives. He lives in a hole in Scarborough, east Toronto along with 3 other thugs from Qurdaha. And he himself is a Qurdahan. Sorry guys he is neither Lebanese, nor Iraqi nor Syrian Christian.

He is skimming the welfare system of Ontario while getting paid from nearby Syrian consulate located at Baramalea Rd. Not far away from his Scarborough hole.

His job is to impersonate some middle eastern Christian to voice woes and pleas through his home terminal into the internet to deaf ears in Canada about the plight of so-called minorities in the middle east.

This guy knows zilch about Canada, it’s PM or how it functions. The only thing he learnt to do quite well since he landed at Pearson was how to skim the welfare system of Ontario.

What gave him away?

It was not my second announcement of my willingness to pay all legal fees to arrest him. He only responded to my latest comment about him because of KSA, معاوية and يزيد رضي الله عنهما.

Abjad
Did you read me? Are you on acid?

At least KSA has established some aspects of the religion. People don’t have to be pestered by Crosses!
I heard that even swiss airlines was not allowed to fly its logo in KSA because it’s a Cross.

So I applaud Saudi Arabia for banishing the Crucifix.

Also Riyadh is backing the good guys in Syria.

As for Bashar, he might be delusional/insane. I remember watching an interview with him around 2007, and he couldn’t stop SMILING when he talked about his BROTHER DYING.

So it could be that he needs help.

But, he is going to have to die for his collaboration with the Kremlin.

EDL & BNP.

The English Defence League are a joke. Their own supporters have been criticising the leader Tommy Robinson and wanting their money back. He produced a youtube video to have his say and it’s worth a watch.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bqi73ExXbnc&feature=player_embedded

In the video he also responds the British National Party’s (BNP) accusation that EDL is zionist funded. He refers to the BNP leader Nick Griffin as ‘Hawkeye’, possibly a reference to his uneven eyes.

Syrian groups in Doha agree to unite, have elected new leader …details coming

Syrian Arab Airlines using its planes for transporting arms to Syria. Video registered inside the airport:

Amjad, you may want to retract your name-calling.

May be you missed post 350. I don’t take the issue lightly as I clashed with skinheads before. Otherwise you’ll see what I’ll call you, I’ll find ways to bypass the filter believe me.

Dolly Buster

“At least KSA has established some aspects of the religion. People don’t have to be pestered by Crosses!
I heard that even swiss airlines was not allowed to fly its logo in KSA because it’s a Cross.”

A pity, crosses repel vampires.

The name game is only fair.
Albo is a neo-nazi as Amjad observed.

Warren is a pathetic Qurdahan turned neo-nazi.

So, go ahead Albo and show us your name calling skills. We got sooooooo excited.

We too can bypass the filter.

The Americans have two dogs continued in the region – Erdogan and Netanyahu. They say when you have to front. Another provocation fighters and the CIA, trying to drag the war. While in Turkey, they have failed, as the vast majority of the population was against intervention in Syria, Israel try to go to provocate war. it apparently is programmed to self-destruct.

361
We too can bypass the filter.

You’re welcome. How about you fu*ck off?

Cleric, Ahmed al-Khatib, elected as head of Syria’s new opposition bloc

Syrian opposition factions which agreed on Sunday in Qatar to form a new coalition to fight President Bashar al-Assad have elected cleric Ahmed al-Khatib to head the bloc, AFP reported dissidents as saying.

Khatib, a moderate originally from Damascus who quit Syria three months ago, will lead the National Coalition of Forces of the Syrian Revolution and Opposition, formed after the Syrian National Council (SNC) agreed to the new group.

http://english.alarabiya.net/articles/2012/11/11/248851.html

AND

Suhair Attasi a vice president along with Riad Saif.

A Christian, woman, enlightened clergyman and former political prisoners = good recipe to put the MB in its right place, the remaining thorn.

http://twitter.com/hhassan140/status/267709775935062017

(Other twitterers mention third vice presidency slot open for Kurds)

Albo the dawdler @363,

Yeah sure!

How about we go at it again to see if repitition works in your case:

Read after me: God bless KSA. And screw the parasites of mullah-Stan.

Repeat ten times.

I was about to take the bait, but once again will pledge to abide by https://www.joshualandis.com/blog/?p=16680&cp=2#comment-334034

Cheers.

Clue about US intentions?

The UK would not be saying anything about sending military into Syria if the decision hadn’t emerged from discussions with the US. That was made clear by UK leader Cameron a few days ago.

VISITOR, ALBO

Hush. Stop the scuffle. Concentrate on what’s happening.

Don’t worry SL, I know better.

Regarding the UK, I’m not convinced. You can be pretty sure that if Nato was to do something in Syria, you’d hear from Turkey and France. The latter never admitted their loss of influence in the Levant and still are very present in Lebanon. They wouldn’t let the Brits go alone, the same rivalry emerged in the time of the mandates and during the independence, so I’m pretty sure about that. The UK is simply seeking attention.

Did Israel Honey Trap David Petraeus? [To Replace Him with Pro-Israel Woman]
http://counterpsyops.com/2012/11/10/did-israel-honey-trap-david-petraeus-to-replace-him-with-pro-israel-woman/
Four stars General and CIA Director David Petraeus declared: “US support for Israel is a threat to US troops”

Panorama
http://arabic.rt.com/prg/telecast/657778/
خارطة جديدة لمنطقة البحر الأبيض المتوسط؟
المعارك الطاحنة في سورية وحالة الفلتان وعدم الاستقرار في أعقاب ثورات الربيع العربي في تونس ومصر وليبيا ..كيف يؤثر ذلك على أمن إقليم المتوسط؟ إلى أي مدى قد تتضاعف الهجرة غير الشرعية من الشمال الأفريقي والشرق الأوسط إلى أوروبا؟ وماذا عن رأي رائج يرجّح أن يكون نَسفُ الاستقرار وجلبُ المشاكل على القارة الأوروبية العجوز ينصب في مصلحة أطراف غربية بعينها؟

Albo

“Otherwise you’ll see what I’ll call you, I’ll find ways to bypass the filter believe me.”

That’s the funniest thing I’ve read all week, and I just watched this week’s SNL. Hehehe. Dude, who do you think you are talking to? I am the guy who was such a tsunami on this website the menhebakjis begged Landis to kick me out or else rename the website after me. Half the pro-Batta supporters who had spent years on this website left within six month of me arriving. Even when I’m away, I haunt the menhebakjis who see my sinister hand behind every post and every alias. And don’t even get me started to what I have done to racist trolls on Twitter, I am a legend within revo circles (and so modest too)

And you think I’m going to be hurt by “name calling”? Get on twitter, find me @amjadofarabia, and bring it on. Don’t worry about the filters on this website, if it’s name calling you’d like to indulge in. Aweeeee…what are you going to do, call me a gay Salafi Wahabi CIA stooge? Bo ho, that still won’t change the fact that three quarters of the hos working in the maqasif on the Homs-Rastan road were from Qurdaha.

Hey Warren, 1938 called, it is suing you for stealing the idea for kristallnacht

Mouaz al Khateeb was elected president of the unified opposition and Suhair al Attasi a Vice President. Who is Mouaz al Khateeb?

Here’s a taste of Ahmed al-Khatib, President of the new Syrian opposition bloc, saying things that clashed with Assad’s values and world view and got him locked up:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nQJfz1DtSpk&feature=youtu.be

Nothing there to give the MB much hope – quite the opposite.

Waiting to hear how FSA and LCC see this new group. Anybody seen any statements?

AMJAD,

Time to swing energies onto the situation and future of these people:

http://twitter.com/Omniyya/status/267664981321981953/photo/1

The speeches by George Sabra and by Mouaz al Khateeb are historical. Any one who has access to the YouTube link, please post it.

The next step is for the Western and the Arab governments to withdraw legitimacy from Batta’s regime and to declare the Coalition as the Only legitimate representative of the Syrian people. Nov, 11, 2012 might be a historical day for new Syria.

Taste of the new script:

Muaz Khatib praises the Syrian army which the regime “involved in the violence” and calls on soldiers to defect.

Muaz Khatib says many Christians joined in the anti-regime protests inside mosques. Our Islam is one that brings people together not apart.

“Syrian people are the summary of 10,000 years worth of civilisation. Everyone tried to get the regime out of its primitiveness, in vain.”

http://twitter.com/hhassan140

Also, More previous footage of him: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OuXm1pupEik&sns=tw

371
Dude, who do you think you are talking to?

Some dipsh*t on the internetz.
But sorry, I’ve lost interest. I realize you’re all talk, hence the need to build yourself some reputation online. I’ve actually opposed racist sc*m in real life and I’m pretty sure you’d have pussied out if you were around.
If you find it funny to badmouth me online, tough sh*t. I’ll answer in kind until I’m too bored.

Actually, if you lost interest you wouldn’t be responding to him. But you did respond to him, which means that you’re lying to yourself.

If you’re going to troll someone on the Internet, don’t write passive-aggressive things like, “I lost interest.” Instead, be honest about your emotions like Amjad, who by the way wants to beat the f- out of you, and shows it clearly too.

******************************************

The conversations on this blog have not greatly increased my enthusiasm for regime supporters. Regime supporters like Albo, Warren, and Ann spew hate. But can they provide any positive defense of the regime? I know I’m repeating myself here, but I have yet to hear a convincing POSITIVE defense of the regime. All of their posts can be summarized to the simple idea of:

“We support the regime because we hate Muslism/FSA,” which is an unconvincing argument because clearly the regime is doing more to destroy the country than the FSA, if the bombs and the shells are any indication.

Kick those paid traitors ass President Assad, EXTERMINATE them mercenaries and Attassi’s, your dad should have done that and saved Syria from this treatery. Jailing them for life was of no good, they have stinking runt left for now to deal with.

Posted by Iphone: 6628

After the agreement was signed, the foreign ministers of Turkey and Qatar, Ahmet Davutoglu and Hamad bin Jassim, joined the conference. Davutoglu said claims of divisions among the opposition “are over now.”

Tunisian Foreign Minister Rafik Abdessalem said the new coalition “is a major achievement on the road to a new Syria.” All opposition groups and figures taking part in the Doha meeting rejected any dialogue with Assad’s regime.

The Syrian government has dismissed the meetings in Doha. Information Minister Omran al-Zoubi called them political folly. In an interview on state-run Syrian TV aired late Friday, al-Zoubi said those who “meet in hotels” abroad are “deluding themselves” if they think they can overthrow the government.

[…]

I do not know much about Sheikh Al-Khateeb, the speech posted goes back to April,2011, I would like to hear him today, a lot of things changed since that time. Hawks in the MB are still in charge as far as I can tell, but it is clear that the SNC was “advised” to accept certain figures (a woman, a christian and a moderate sunni) to improve their image. Actions speak louder than words,I agree that political opposition should be given a chance but the new body is not inclusive and will not be able to claim representations of all or most Syrians,key ingredients are missing,it remains to be seen if the MB and Manaa (for example) can coexist in one body, Manaa’s group has decided to boycott the meeting.a bigger problem is the absence of minorities and the vague position of armed rebels who have yet to accept anything less than the total destruction of anybody who stands in their face. It is too early to pass a final judgement on this new initiative but anything that comes from Qatar has to be viewed with suspicion for very good reasons.
here is a fresh stetement by the man:
أشار رئيس الإئتلاف الوطني السوري احمد معاذ الخطيب إلى ان “الشعب السوري خلاصة الـ10 آلاف عام من الحضارة، ويتعرض للإبادة الممنهجة والتدمير الوحشي ولم يوجد شخص واحد لم يتعرض للأذى على يد النظام السوري”، لافتاً إلى ان “النظام السوري أفسد كل مقومات الحياة وعمل على مصادرة قرار الشعب منذ 50 عاماً”.
وبعد إعلان الائتلاف الوطني لقوى الثورة والمعارضة السورية في الدوحة، أشار إلى ان “رأس أولوياتنا وقف شلالات الدم التي تسري في الليل والنهار وبناء مجتمع صالح”، مشدداً على ان “ثورتنا سلمية والنظام وحده هو من يتحمل المسؤولية وهو الذي دفع شعبنا إلى حمل السلاح”، لافتاً إلى ان “هدفنا إسقاط النظام الإستبدادي بكل رموزه، فلا قرار إلا بإسقاط النظام السوري وبتفكيك بنيته المتوحشة بكاملها”.
وأضاف ان “الإسلام الذي نحمله يكرم الإنسان ويعانق المسيحية ويلم الناس ولا يفرقهم، ويعتبر ان القوة في التنوع لا في الإنفراد”، لافتاً إلى ان “سوريا القادمة ستكون بأبنائها وبناتها جميعاً”، داعياً المجتمع الدولي إلى “الوفاء بإلتزاماته بدعم شعبنا”، مطالباً بـ”كافة أنواع الدعم الإقتصادي والإغاثي”.

The problem with the regime and its supporters is they believe that anyone who does not support Assad is an enemy that deserves to be bombed and killed, as Aldenshe so convincingly demonstrated for us several comments above.

This is PRECISELY the reason why they should not be allowed to remain in power. It is this attitude that caused the civil war.

Today I have been told an interesting theory I had not heard about before.

It says after the Ukranian/Russian/European gas crisis some years ago Russia is trying by all possible means to avoid a new strategic qatari Gas Pipeline to cross Syria to Europe via Turkey. According to this theory Syria and Iran were asked by Rusia to deny the way to this pipeline that would let Europe not depend anymore exclusively on Rusia gas mafias. On return Russia offered militar and political support to both countries.

This is the reason why Qatar is so interested in ousting Assad and bring a more pro Arab pro western regime while Russia is fighting until the end for its monopoly of gas in north Europe which at this moment depends on Assad being kept in power.

Once Assad is ousted the new Qatar gas pipeline to Europe will be a reality. End of the theory.

This is not a comprehensive theory, it seems too much monothematic but it make sense to justify Russia and Qatar positions towards the syrian crisis.

Can anybody post some link about this issue?

“does not support Assad is an enemy that deserves to be bombed and killed, as ”

yeah whatever.

“Regime supporters like Albo, Warren, and Ann spew hate.”

I was never a regime supporter, princess. As for hate, your buddies are doing far more, but you won’t notice any of it thus the eerie feeling.

One last thing,
“you’re lying to yourself., be honest about your emotions, be honest about your emotions like Amjad, who by the way wants to beat the f- out of you, and shows it clearly too.”

Some bad words, princess. But we don’t need groupies here, and ones that can’t read furthermore. He invited me to squabbling on twitter, which is a waste of time only good for teenagers.
I’m not the one who started to troll, btw ” beat the f- out of me”? lol, that’s some groupie we have here. Internet warriors are a waste of everyone’s time, real life is another story. But then I’m the one who beats the cr*ap out of people irl, not the other way around.

See Albo? More hate is coming from you! Once again, to repeat myself:

Regime supporters are capable of only spewing hate and vitrol. They appear to be incapable of mounting a positive defense of their position.

“I’ve known him since before the revolution [Khatib]. How many imams do you know that shake an unveiled woman’s hand?”

https://twitter.com/NaziqAlAbed

Meanwhile, GUHFRAN, lie down with an ice pack to your forehead, see if you can get some relief from your negative thought patterns.

Assad Mafia Criminal Regime supporters are beginning to feel the heat. Rebels gave 72 hours for an all out war in Damascus. British army is getting ready for action. Turkey is saying enough is enough to NATO.

Putin is a stupid, Assad a donkey, Ahmadineja a thug, Nasrallah is a sionist.

MARIGOLDRAN,

Regime supporters have a lot to make them spit and hiss in anxiety. Possible inpouring of aid to the new Opposition Council, Israel shaping up on the border. Bad news by the hour.

I am wondering where are the female supporters of the regime on SC? It sounds strange that the closet shabeehas cite the oppression of women in mean stream Sunni as one of the reason why they support Batta’s brutality, yet ironically the only female presence on SC is Sheila, Tara, and may be cut-and-paste Ann. Both Sheila and I are born into traditional Syrian Sunni family. We both have a post-graduate degree and we both are beyond accomplished, and for sure anything but suppressed…and in all aspects.
Too much for the so-called “suppression” of women by the “Sunni ideology”.

How come there is no female voice supporter of the regime except perhaps for Spam Ann with no independent thoughts and and how should one interprets that?

“Regime supporters are capable of only spewing hate and vitrol. They appear to be incapable of mounting a positive defense of their position.”

Ridiculous, you bait me and expect me to send you flowers? You don’t even realize that it was the same with your buddies. I’m not the one who started to troll here.
I have long understood that there is absolutely no use in throwing ad homs on a forum, so I never initiate those quarrels. I attack one’s position and ideas, and that is the goal of online forums.
Some still haven’t figured out and didn’t learn to behave, unfortunately.

I must admit that I’m not fully without reproaches as I have a hard time not responding, though.

Tara @ 376,

كلمة معاذ الخطيب بعد انتخابه رئيسا للائتلاف الوطني

The recording is terrible, but this is the only copy available currently.

Sami

Thank you. I liked the most his thanks to the generic “Syrian woman” who manufactured the Syrian heroes.. And to whom all our appreciation and respect is due. I also liked when he pledged to be a servant of the Syrian people asking them to correct him when he errs, not to worship his toes and prostrate to his picture. What a difference from the half-man!

“388. SANDRO LOEWE said:

Assad Mafia Criminal Regime supporters are beginning to feel the heat. Rebels gave 72 hours for an all out war in Damascus. British army is getting ready for action. Turkey is saying enough is enough to NATO.

Putin is a stupid, Assad a donkey, Ahmadineja a thug, Nasrallah is a sionist.”

You’ll see that it won’t work out as you expect. World affairs don’t work like this. It’s puzzling to see that people expect the Brits to do anything on their own without more backing.

Aside from the garbage thrown at the messenger,versus the message, the race is,and always was, between guns and politics, from what I see, the thawrajiyyahs in Qatar chose violence and a holy war to solve the syrian crisis,that means more blood shed and an extension of civil war.can anybody with functioning brain cells tell me how those Qatari pimps plan to bring Syrians together if they want to dismantle the regime, security forces, the army, and anything that is remotely related to Assad government?
Qataris and their pimps have relations with Israel and want Palestinians to negotiate with israel but they prohibit their clowns from talking to fellow Syrians who happen to work for the Assad government (!!).
you can babble as much as you want,the truth is that a large section of Syrians is left out of this deal, and war mongers, domestic and foreign, are pressing for a new wave for blood shed,do not expect me to support that, a deal that divide Syria into winners and losers is a no deal.

Once Assad is ousted the new Qatar gas pipeline to Europe will be a reality. End of the theory.

_________________________________________________________________

Israeli and Neocon Lucifer worshipping Jews came up with this fiction to hide behind it. Qatar can supply Europe using Iraqi territory, Russia has zero influence on that Chevron colony. They can even tie up with Israeli gas route, they are not bashful about doing business with genocidal Khazzar-jews occupying Palestine. I am not gas transport expert, but if Israeli cannot deliver the gas discovered via under sea pipe route, then one can conclude that this whole mess in Syria is about Israeli gas delivery to Europe more than Qatari gas.

I noticed the block of 7 hacked thumb down. Do you want me to add 300 thumb ups, all it takes is one email. Ice Skating and young pretty blonds much more interesting to me than ugly dummies with di*ks on shoulder or in each others blowing each others; Let me know when you finished (all dead that is), I will cheer and promise to forget about your mayhem.

Posted by Iphone: 6628

TARA #390

There are others. Don’t forget ANNIE, and (now only occasionally posting)ZENOBIA, for example.

And are we 100% sure VISITOR isn’t some feisty georgeous gal?

You’ll find a number of women out there with their own tweet accounts on Syria.

“ANN” is likely to be an acronym for a group.

What is ad homs?

Is it an ad you distribute in Homs?

Is this what Albo (391) planning to do now?

Is he trying to do his name calling in Homs by spreading pathetic ad hominem?

395. GHUFRAN

About Qatar, its foreign policy, some perspective:

“SYRIA IS NO exception. For all the media attention, few of Qatar’s diplomatic initiatives have actually borne fruit. Lebanon’s 2008 political settlement, brokered in Qatar, looks like a rare success story, but the others remain question marks. In May 2011, Qatar walked away from its peacemaking efforts in Yemen, while Bahrain that same month brushed aside a Qatari offer to mediate its internal conflict. Doha has volunteered to house the Taliban-U.S. peace talks aimed at resolving the decade-long war in Afghanistan, but the Taliban have yet to open their office there and the U.S. Congress spiked a prisoner-swap deal that might have built confidence for further negotiations. The Darfur agreement, negotiated at the Sheraton over the course of more than a year, didn’t even include all the warring parties. Qatar’s promising efforts to wean Hamas away from Iran haven’t earned it any goodwill from its neighbors, either: A recent meeting of Arab leaders in Riyadh, focused on Iran, pointedly excluded Sheikh Hamad, distrusted for his warm(ish) ties to Tehran.

Nor is Qatar’s cash cow — natural gas — by any means secure. A global supply glut has sent prices plunging. Australia is projected to surpass Qatar in the production of liquefied natural gas by 2020, and the shale-gas revolution in the United States and Eastern Europe (not to mention out-of-the-way places like Mozambique and potential new players like Libya) threatens to extend the bear market far into the future.”

http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2012/04/23/the_qatar_bubble

GHUFRAN #395,

The race involves guns because Assad chose to make it that way. End of story. No point in blocking out how and why this nightmare happened.

The race is now to stop the guns and give Syrians something to rally around and hope for without fear.

You are sounding more than a bit paranoid…and nervous.

SL

I can never forget Sweet Annie. She is Belgian I believe. I was trying to make a point in regard to the so called “oppression” of women by Sunnism, and I am only familiar with Sheila.

Visitor is a gal and gorgeous??

Come on, distraction faction. Give us a break from theories about Qatar.

You should be paying attention to what is actually currently happening and thinking how you are going to respond to it.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-20285898

A leading Damascus cleric who fled Syria has been chosen at a meeting in Qatar to head a new coalition to oppose President Bashar al-Assad’s government.

A wave of hope : a woman, a cleric and a prominent opponent. Go for it.

Syrian lover : thank you for mentioning my name, but I do not fit this flattering quote : I am Syrian by heart not by papers and I hardly ever write anything.

TARA #401,

I was kidding about VISITOR – but hey, wouldn’t that be amazing if true.

(ALDENDESHE/SNP for one would fall down, hitting his head on the floor and never regain consciousness.)

There are plenty of un-oppressed young Sunni women active on the ground working hard with the opposition and supporting the FSA.

“Come on, distraction faction. Give us a break from theories about Qatar.

You should be paying attention to what is actually currently happening and thinking how you are going to respond to it.”

…actually currently happening in Qatar. We went through so much diplomatic and politic riffraff by the so-called friends of Syria that you should allow us to see a bit more of this one before passing judgement.

In any case, knowing more about Qatar is useful for everyone given all their designs on Syria.

He/she @401 said,

“Visitor is a gal and gorgeous??”

Gal? O’ no. I’ m Androgynous!

Gorgeous? You can bet you post grad on that!

Albo might be someone who could be reasoned with, when he’s not engaged in a flaming contest. Aldendeshe, Ann, and Warren? I’m not so sure. Especially Aldendeshe. His comments appear… unhinged, like that of a crazy person.

To Ghurfan and Albo:

In the end, the fault of the Syrian civil war was because of the actions of the Syrians. Does this make sense? The Syrian civil war, by definition, is a civil war of Syrians against other Syrians. In other words, Syrians are doing the fighting, Syrians are asking for guns, and Syrians are doing the killing.

Qatar, Iran, Hezbollah, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and the West may play a role in prolonging the conflict. But they’re minor players compared to the Syrians. As long as people in Syria blame outsiders, they will never most past the civil war.

ANNIE,

Syrian by heart is good enough. Syria is being put through hell and betrayed by a sick group who are Syrian by birth but not by heart.

TARA,

When you ask where are the female regime supporters on SC, I have my suspicions about the presence of superwitch Bouthaina Shaaban and superbrat Sherry Jaafari lurking here – probably part of their job descriptions.

Any guesses?

“271. MARIGOLDRAN said:

Syria must be Islamic. The only question is: how Islamic? Everyone can see where the secularism of the last 40 years has led us. Trying to impose a secular government on a Muslim population is one of the stupidest ideas in the 20th century.”

Dear Marigoldran, I am sorry for the late reply to you. Please read and dwell in some deep thought about what Allah said in His book Surat Al-Mujadilah (Sura 58) verses 12 and 13.

407. MARIGOLDRAN

I think we got off on the wrong foot.

About what you said, I disagree and here is why. I always compare the situation to Lebanon during their civil war. Beyond the warring factions, Lebanon seemed like a toy in the hands of regional and great powers.

I argue that in Syria, the internationalization of the conflict has also become the determining factor. It doesn’t really matter if the regime is based on minority rule and that potentially 15 million Syrians only wish to bring it down, when you consider it in the wider context: Iraq where the Shia are 2/3 of the population, 15% are Kurds, Lebanon where non-sunnis are probably 80% on one hand; consider also the Palestinians and the Jordanians.

Then there are the regional/international alliances: the Turkey-GCC-western alliance with NATO vs Iran-shia proxies-Russia with the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation. The two groups seem to balance out each other. So my point is that the strengths of both factions within Syria don’t matter so much now, it’s the struggle between the two blocks and how they move their pawns.

In my view, only an agreement between these two blocks can stop the bloodshed.

Visitor,

Good for you. Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder.

My eyes only admire the physical appearance of Dr. Roque.

—–

SL,

You think so? Shushu appears dumber than the dumbest of SC but hey..I think I know who you are referring to but I am not saying it.

“superbrat Sherry Jaafari lurking here –”

Sherry is hot, though. I think most Syriacommenters would agree to be called “menhebek” if referring to her, lol.

To Albo:

There is a surprising amount of agreement both in Syria and in the international scene on the crisis. Everyone, except the fanatics, agree that the war is a disaster, and the longer the war goes on, the bigger the disaster.

Both Iran and Russia want peace, as do the West and Turkey. Furthermore, most of the civilians on BOTH sides probably want peace at this point too.

However, peace is not going to happen for one reason: ASSAD. The opposition and the West will not negotiate with him under ANY conditions, and for good reason too. And Assad will not voluntarily leave. The Russians and the Iranians somehow think they can keep Assad in power up to the negotiation table. This is an IMPOSSIBLE condition.

The war is going to continue until Assad is removed, one way or another.

What the Russians, Iranians, and the regime does not understand is how much Assad is HATED by the majority of Syrians and by the West. They’re wondering why no one on the other side is talking to them about peace. They’re wondering why there is this fixation on Assad’s removal.

And they’re going to realize, a year or two from now, that no one is going to talk peace with them until Assad leaves. They haven’t reached that point yet.

Assad, in his delusional bubble, still thinks the majority of Syrians support him. This is unacceptable. Assad must go, or the war will continue.

After the forceps delivery of ‘a united opposition’ thanks to Qatar and the USA who acted respectively as the generous midwife and the conspiring surgeon, let’s see now if the oil money of the founders as well as the prayers and sermons of the Sunni Sheikh who is leading it will allow a Syrian secular baby to emerge.

This is why Ibrahimi is now public enemy for althawrajiyyah :
اكد الأخضر الإبراهيمي، مبعوث الأمم المتحدة وجامعة الدول العربية إلى سوريا في مقابلة على قناة “الحياة اليوم “المصرية  على أن الموقف داخل سوريا سئ بل ويزداد سوءاً، “فالثورة” تحولت إلى مواجهة حربية مسلحة، بدلاً من المطالبة بالتغير،  و المعارضة السورية تزيد من تسليحها بشكل كبير و اضاف الابراهيمي  “الكثير من الصحفيين والدبلوماسيين الذين زاروا سوريا يعترفون بأن الحل العسكري للثورة الثورية لا ينتج ثماراً و اكد الابراهيمي ان هناك فروق كبيرة بين الوضع الليبي والوضع السوري، أي أن التدخل الأجنبي في سوريا لن يحدث، وبالتالي لا بديل عن الحل السياسي للأزمة السورية  و اشار الى ان حل الأزمة السورية يجب أن يبدأ بوقف نزيف الدم وينتهي بالانتخابات، دون النظر إلى طبيعة الانتخاب  وما إذا كان رئيس أو مجلس تأسيسي أو تشريعي،وثانيا أن يقوم بهذا التصور السوريون أنفسهم بمساعدة من المجتمع الدولي والعربي. و حول الثورات العربية  و الاخوان المسلمين قال الابراهيمي ” الاخوان المسلمين الان في مصر بالسلطة و ننتظر ان يترجموا كيف سيحققوا مبدأ “الاسلام هو الحق ”
The same people who signed the Geneva accord and sent 2 UN mediators are doing everything they can to make sure that the accord remains on paper and that Ibrahimi after Annan fail.

دعا المجلس العسكري للجيش السوري الحر في دمشق وريفها جميع السفراء العرب والأجانب وكافة البعثات الدبلوماسية والهيئات والمنظمات الدولية العاملة في دمشق إلى مغادرة سوريا خلال 72 ساعة.
وحث المجلس كافة حكومات دول العالم ووزراءها وممثليها وجميع المبعوثين إلى عدم زيارة سوريا أو التواصل مع أفراد النظام، لأن ذلك يعتبر مشاركة في قتل الشعب السوري.
 دعا المجلس في بيان له كافة الشركات العربية والأجنبية إلى إيقاف عملها فورا وتسفير جميع العاملين الأجانب خلال اثنتين وسبعين ساعة.
ووجه المجلس نداء إلى جميع المستثمرين ورجال الأعمال العرب والأجانب والمغتربين السوريين الذين يمتلكون مشاريع اقتصادية واستثمارية في سوريا ولهم ارتباطات مالية مع النظام إلى وقف نشاطهم فورا.
واعتبر المجلس أن كل مخالف لما جاء في البيان يعتبر شريكا كاملا في سفك دم الشعب السوري ونهب ثرواته وتدمير آماله في الحرية والديمقراطية.
The plan for the next few days-weeks is to make another attempt to occupy Damascus.

Ghufran

Now that Qatar is officially taking over the reins of the opposition by rejecting any form of dialog, the UN and Lakhdar Ibrahimi’s mission is over.
Qatar is now the sole responsible for any development in Syria and is now its new colonizer with the tacit agreement of the USA who can’t be bothered.

Obviously the Syrians never expected that they will be lead by another family, this time rich, well connected and boorish.
Is Doha the siege of the new Syrian governement?

Zoo, does that mean that the opposition have an address that Syria can attack as the source of evil.

ZOO 419 #,

Er, it’s not Qatar that’s rejecting dialogue. You are spinning way off course with that one.

There are two groups that are not rushing to the table to talk:

1. Assad and co. They have made that clear many times by actions (ignore any words).

2. All those people in Syria who have suffered and sacrificed because of Assad. The millions who feel desperately angry and betrayed at the mess he has created and who can never again trust him or be unafraid while he is in power.

They just want it finished! And everyone knows there’s no “off switch” on Assad and he is now homicidally angry at a significant percentage of the Syrian population for disrespecting and embarrassing him.

It’s also become clear that he can’t protect them and keep Syria functioning normally. He’s a supermagnet for trouble with millions of new enemies inside Syria. No “dialogue” will ever change that.

And the cyber generation also know how much the world is shocked and disgusted with Assad and can no longer accept their homeland being represented by him.

The outcome of this conflict is military, not political anymore, so the unification of the political opposition is useless if it is not supported by a serious united military power.

As Qatar the colonizer of Syria has no army to invade and fight the Syrian army and cannot count on the USA to do that, it will push Turkey to be its military hand thus putting Turkey in conflict with Iran.
Good luck Erdogan!

US withdrawal from Mideast gives Turkey role: Ex-envoy

http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/us-withdrawal-from-mideast-gives-turkey-role-ex-envoy.aspx?pageID=238&nID=34454&NewsCatID=338

Victory for US President Barack Obama in last week’s presidential election means the United States is likely to continue its retreat from the Middle East, opening up a need for a partnership with Turkey, according to a former diplomat, who says Turkish-US cooperation has gained importance with the Arab Spring

The United States is turning its attention elsewhere from the Middle East, providing a chance for Turkey to step up and assume a greater role in the region, former diplomat Özden Sanberk has said.

Qatar is indeed the address of the financiers of the new middle east. If hammoudeh was interested in democracy he will at least introduce it in his own country,but Qataris do not have to work for a living,they just have to be born and breathe, I do not believe they will revolt or protest, it is up to Syrians to accept becoming the new pimps for Qatar and the GCC or not, most Syrians will eventually refuse to take that “honor” but that refusal requires a degree of security and hope,neither element is available now.
Qatar is also protected by the US army, the royal pimps know that their thrones are safe for now,however,an attack on Iran will change that,such an attack does not seem likely, NATO wants Syria first since Iran is a much bigger meal to swallow.
Obama holds the key but he is not likely to open new doors as long as he thinks that certain redlines have not been crossed, without a major escalation that affects Syria’s neighbors we will not see western troops in Syria. Despite major setbacks, it is premature to expect the collapse of the Syrian army, but it will be a major challenge for any future regime to neutralize hundred of thousands of armed Syrians who may not necessarily want Assad to stay but they are not likely to surrender to the Islamists and their backers, it is obvious that the destruction of Syria,not just the regime, is what is needed,that is why there was no attempt by freedom and democracy lovers to approach Syrians who want a face-saving solution,also,this is where you clearly see the finger prints of the GCC pimps.

Norman @420

Hamas refused to have their headquarter in Doha for good reasons.

Ghufran

Without NATO power, the TNC of Libya would have never succeeded in toppling Qaddafi.

If NATO, the USA and the EU are not able to launch a similar military adventure against Syria, the chance of a forced regime change in Syria is quasi null.

Not true at all. Look at Afghanistan. With the right weapons, the rebels beat the SOVIET army, who also carried out a campaign of mass bombing on the civilian population.

It took 10-15 years, and the result obviously was not a good one. But with the right mixture of fanaticism, anger, weapons, and time ANY Middle Eastern regime can be broken by large numbers of sufficiently motivated rebels, which Syria has in quantity.

 أفاد مصدر مقرب من الجيش الحر أن هجوما وشيكا ستشنه كتائب المعارضة المسلحة على المدن الرئيسية، و سيكون إحداها على القامشلي، التي تعد أكبر تجمع سكاني في محافظة الجزيرة، و ذلك مع تصاعد وتيرة الأحداث في المناطق الشمالية الشرقية في سوريا التي يسكنها خليط من الأكراد و العرب خلال الأيام الأخيرة،
و قال سكان من مدينة القامشلي أنها تعيش حالة ترقب يشوبها الحذر جراء الأنباء القادمة من الطرف الآخر من الحدود، التي تؤكد توافد اعداد كبيرة من مقاتلي الجيش الحر تمهيدا لاقتحامها.
و تجمع المدينة بالاضافة إلى تنوعها العرقي، عددا كبيرا من أبناء الطائفة المسيحية التي ما تزال تتخوف من سلوك المعارضة المسلحة التي يتزعمها الأسلاميون. و تتهم المعارضة السورية المسيحيين بمساندة نظام الأسد منذ اندلاع الانتفاضة في 15 آذار 2012.
Rebels want to impress NATO to give politicians something to talk about.

So, why are NATO and Qatar supposed to be offensive words? Nato is just a reference to the Atlantic Ocean. It’s just water, man. What would happen if hypothetically NATO occupied the whole world? Nothing. People would just live great.
You act as if you are averting a disaster, by stopping Nato and Qatar from taking over Syria. But in fact: Doha has a better standard of living than Homs. So your goal should be to extend Qatari influence, and cut back on Alawi influence.

ZOO and GHUFRAN

So Moaz al-Khatib, Suhair Attasi, Riad Saif and George Sabra are weak nobodies, with no profile, history or credentials in Syria. Just fake creations and puppets of Qatar.

You’ll have to try harder.

And what magical powers and unequalled global influence you give Qatar! I somehow think not even its leaders would believe that far about themselves.

GHUFRAN

There’s a lot of comment out there about Ibrahimi’s mission being now irrelevant/superseded. And in any case not feasible because of its failure to change anything with Assad.

American sex and politics. After the Clinton affair now the Petraeus saga: There was a third woman…

Petraeus scandal gets new twist

http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/petraeus-scandal-gets-new-twist.aspx?pageID=238&nID=34409&NewsCatID=358%5D\

The plot surrounding the resignation of CIA chief David Petraeus over an extramarital affair thickened Sunday amid reports that his alleged lover had sent emails to a second woman she viewed as a threat to her love interest.

Agreed. The Qataris have done a better job managing their country than the Alawites.

I think Syria would be a better place if the Qataris actually had the magical powers ascribed to them.

Hehehehehe. Just imagine any of those new opposition group leaders onstage in a public debate with Bashar Assad during an election campaign.

Or even any of them in a debate onstage with Manaf Tlass.

No contest.

The spectacle of a squeaky-voiced, lying Bashar with a damp patch on his trousers would be too pathetic.

And Manaf would contantly fidget with his hairdo and chew his cigar into shreds with nerves struggling to talk about real issues.

I am optimistic with this initiative, some rather great and seasoned people are at the helm, some of whom spent time in Assad’s dungeons in the past year and half and have genuine support within Syria.

Here is Moaz Al-Khatib’s full speech with much better audio:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ihiBBv670M&sns=tw

Someone asked about the LCC’s reaction to this initiative:

The National Coalition of Syrian Revolutionary and Opposition Forces: Legitimacy to Preserve the Goals of the Revolution and Achieve a National Decision

==================

After significant efforts by most Syrian opposition parties and the Syrian revolutionary movement, including the Local Coordination Committees (LCC), an agreement was reached in Doha, Qatar, to establish the National Coalition of Syrian Revolutionary Opposition Forces. This entity was established independently and outside the purview of any other nation. Moreover, the National Coalition was established in accordance with the principles and objectives of the Syrian revolution and activists’ demands to:
• Oust the regime (including its symbols and pillars of support);
• Dismantle the security services;
• Unify and support the military councils of the Free Syrian Army;
• Reject dialogue or negotiation with the criminal regime; and
• Hold accountable those responsible for killing Syrians, destroying our country, and displacing our people.

The National Coalition, in adhering to and fulfilling these requirements, will serve as the legitimate representative of the revolution and the Syrian people in their quest for freedom. In turn, the National Coalition, whose legitimacy as the sole representative of the Syrian people is also affirmed by the Arab and international community, can obtain the necessary support to protect civilians, oust the criminal regime, and reach the revolution’ highest goals to transition to a state of human rights, freedom, and citizenship.

The LCC reaffirms its participation in the National Coalition. The LCC has worked hard, and will continue to spare no effort, to ensure the success of the National Coalition in its service to the revolution. We congratulate the Syrian people, who have held steadfast in their efforts to accomplish this critical step in our revolution for dignity and in Syria’s history. The LCC affirms that it will always remain true to the objectives of our revolution for dignity, and will honor the hopes and sacrifices of our great Syrian people.

Glory and compassion to our martyrs. Victory for our Revolution.
The Local Coordination Committees in Syria
Damascus, November 11, 2012

http://www.twitlonger.com/show/jvkqll

ZOO #430,

I don’t want to buy into your distraction game, but I think the Petraeus thing will be a mild and passing little human frailty saga compared with the sordid revelations to come about the Assad family’s poor judgement and corrupt failings with women.

The fact that “head of state” Bashar eagerly admits young pushy females like Sherry Jaafari into his closest circle of advisers and then corresponds with them on the side is a clue to what’s in store.

I say family because from what I’ve heard Maher hasn’t been very careful sbout separating “state business” and personal pursuits.

SAMI #433, it was me who asked. Thanks. The LCC statement is very inspiring and heartwarming to read.

They are the ones doing the heavy lifting on the ground, kept going by a vision of the future. Getting their respect and trust for this new initiative is a true test.

Looks like we now finally have the right people in the right place at the right time saying the right things.

I think the gridlock is broken, things are now starting to flow.

Good video Sami.

I liked this guy Mu’az. He is good.

Also الله محيي الشيخ حمد طويل العمر and also his brother ابو متعب واللي مو عاجبو يشرب البحر.

Corporal amjad of Arabia aka har har the second :

You seem to have problems reading . Ya munafiq: I made fun of your lackey visitor when he said that his leader is mu’awiyah. Visitor barks everyday about the FSA. I told your lackey that FSA chant that their leader is Mohammad and not mu’awiyah. I went to say that Mohammad established a state and mu’awiyah stole it for himself and his family . You corporal har har came to list of the good deeds and sayings attributed to Mohammad . Ya munafiq do you think your reply reflect anything but nifaq ya legend?

Qatar is danger to the tranquility in the middle east. The money in the hands of it’s ruler and his thieves should be taken away.

As a matter of fact the oil and its money should be taken away from the rulers of all of the kingdoms and principalities of that region. This oil and natural gas should be used for developing and educating the poor around the world.

The progressive world should unite and take over stopping those idiots squandering the wealth and promote conservatism.

Those kingdomes and principalities are no good for this time. Also,they are no good for the future.

MJABALI #437

Regardless of what you say, when this is over, history and people’s memories will paint a very ugly and dirty picture of Bashar Assad and his associates and give sympathy and credit to the FSA.

Significant millions of Syrians from all walks of life already have that view.

And does your concern about the oil and gas money being in the wrong hands in #438 extend to Iran and Russia?

And we are about to see Israel get rich from offshore gas.

I just wish it was post-Assad Syria getting that chance. Though maybe it would prove divisive and corrupting, driving the current vermin to attempt to swarm back in with their guns tucked into their waistbands.

Horror in Syria: Executing Christians – 2 days ago

Video reveals targeted ‘soldiers’ actually civilians

http://www.wnd.com/2012/11/horror-in-syria-executing-christians/

Reports from Syria indicate members of the Free Syrian Army have started executing Christians while claiming they’re shooting Syrian soldiers.

A video of a Nov. 1 attack in which black-clad Syrian rebels reportedly killed 28 men has been posted on Youtube.com. An Agence France-Presse story on the attack identified the victims as Syrian soldiers.

But Religious Freedom Coalition President William Murray said two of the victims were associated with his cooperating organization in Syria, which distributes aid.

The victims were not soldiers, he said, but civilians from the same neighborhood, “so they were all probably Christians.”

He argued that even a brief review of photos of the attack indicates the victims were civilians.

“They were not armed and never were combatants,” Murray said.

A human rights activist working in Syria whose name has been withheld for security reasons said two of the men were Christians.

“Two of the men I am sure were Christians and were first kidnapped from their neighborhood, then taken out and shot,” the activist said.

Act for America President and Founder Brigitte Gabriel said it’s well known that the Syrian rebels are executing Christians.

“The Syrians without a doubt are executing Christians. They are notorious for their tactical torture of their enemies,” Gabriel said.

“Those people rising against Assad and being crushed are all Muslim Brotherhood whom Bashar Assad’s father, Hafez Assad, crushed 30 years ago in Hama,” Gabriel said.

Gabriel added that the rebels feel empowered, which only fuels their hatred of Christians.

“Now they are feeling empowered after what they saw in Egypt, Libya and Tunisia. They feel this is their opportunity. They despise the Christians living in Syria and would love to either convert them or kill them,” Gabriel said.

Murray said the executions themselves prove that it’s the rebels who are pulling the trigger.

“When the Syrian Army takes prisoners, they photograph them and display the photos,” Murray said.

The shootings took place as al-Qaida leader Ayman al-Zawahiri said in a radio message to boost the morale of Somali affiliate al-Shabaab fighters that the raids on the U. S. facilities in Cairo and Benghazi were “defeats for the U.S.”

“They were defeated in Iraq and they are withdrawing from Afghanistan, and their ambassador in Benghazi was killed and the flags of their embassies were lowered in Cairo and Sana’a, and in their places were raised the flags of tawhid (monotheism) and jihad,” the al-Qaida leader was quoted in a report by terrorism analyst and journalist Thomas Joscelyn.

Murray said that if any further evidence of the policy’s misguided nature was needed, it can be found in the latest edition of the Middle East Media Research Institute reports.

MEMRI reports Syrian rebels claim that ousting Assad is only the first step. The rebels want to impose Islamic law on Syria.

Murray said the rebels’ intentions are obvious because they fly the al-Qaida black flag.

“The fighters wear black bandanas inscribed with the Islamic declaration of faith. They fly the black flag of al-Qaida,” Murray said.

“If this were a real democracy uprising, there wouldn’t be the intense display of religious symbols,” Murray said.

Murray added that once again, the evidence shows Washington’s unwillingness to face reality.

“This proves again that we’re doing battle with an entity we truly do not understand,” Murray said.

Murray added that the executions along with the MEMRI report and al-Zawahiri’s message point to the dangerous course the United States was pursuing in Syria by allegedly assigning Ambassador Christopher Stevens to operate a weapons pipeline from Libya to Syria by way of Turkey.

WND reported recently that Stevens’ purpose for being in Libya was to move weapons to Syria.

Stevens’ involvement in Libya goes back over a year, when intelligence analysts reported that he was appointed initially as the official U. S. representative to the rebel army.

He was only elevated to the ambassadorship after the overthrow of Libyan strongman Moammar Gadhafi.

In Libya, Stevens’ major mission reportedly was to funnel weapons, including RPGs and other bigger weapons, to Syria.

WND reported in the same story that Stevens’ mission put him in direct contact with al-Qaida and other jihadist groups.

Center for Security Policy Senior Fellow Clare Lopez said that Stevens and top administration officials knew that Libya’s opposition movement was populated by elements of several radical jihadi groups including al-Qaida, Ansar al-Shariah and the Libyan Islamic Fighting Group.

[…]

http://www.wnd.com/2012/11/horror-in-syria-executing-christians/

I don’t see anything new or effective, just another Zionist ploy to insure continuation of the destruction of Syria. These foreign hired and paid terrorist thugs are not capable of ruling Syria, they have no support by the majority, they are not even acceptable to Syrians, they will take another 2 years to bring Assad (Syria) down militarily, so a vacuum and anarchy in Syria is the real intended goal for all that new fuss, serving Israeli interests, that is all. Otherwise, they will be an orderly transition of power by ballots not bullets. They don’t pursue this route because it is an orderly transition of Syria. The only legitimate leaders and government of Syria are those elected by the majority legally. Otherwise, they all fair game, mercenaries, they need to be held accountable for the war crimes committed against Syrians.

Shaykh Mouaz al-Khatib to Head a United Syrian Opposition
http://freehalab.wordpress.com/2012/11/12/shaykh-mouaz-al-khatib-to-head-a-united-syrian-opposition/

The North Sea between Norway and the United Kingdom is cold, windswept and unforgiving. But half a mile beneath its waves lie some of the planet’s richest reserves of natural gas. To tap that wealth, the Norwegian energy company Hydro has developed the giant Ormen Lange undersea gas field 60 miles offshore, and is now putting the final touches on a monster 746-mile undersea pipeline to connect it to processing plants in Britain. Technical challenges included working not only at depths up to 2953 ft., where the water pressure exceeds 1500 psi, but also on an ocean floor that in places was so rugged it required careful preparation by two remote-control robot digging machines. The pipeline sections were assembled and welded together aboard two of the world’s largest pipeline-laying ships and laid down continuously on the seafloor. When it’s completed this fall, the pipeline will supply about 20 percent of Britain’s natural gas needs — bringing some much-needed warmth from beneath a frigid sea

Read more: World’s Longest Underwater Pipeline Will Tap the Sea – Popular Mechanics

________________________________________________________________

No link provided, this trash fabricated 9/11 hoax. But as you can see the technical challanges and costs to move Israeli gas discoveries in the med is far more expensive and time consuming than an overland pipe to Europe via Syria or Lebanon-Syria.

This explain the sudden Zionist push on Syria, the attempt to remove Hezbollah control over Lebanon and the setting up of an Alawite State on the coast. Either send Qatari-Israeli pipelines through Syria or link it to Israel then send it north to Turkey and onward to Europe overland crossing Lebanon-AlawiState in Syria.

That is really what this all about, and a lot of money is being spent and betted on it because the future revenue is huge. The only other way this can happen, is for Israel to make peace with Syria and hand over the Golan to Assad. They don’t want to do that, so just install a puppet islamists regime in Syria that will forefit the Golan, or is so militarili devastated they can not even ask for Golan return, as well as a puppet that is so economically devastated that will take any offer from Jews for the pipeline transport.

Pipelines and geopolitics

Pipelines for major energy resources (petroleum and natural gas) are not merely an element of trade. They connect to issues of geopolitics and international security as well, and the construction, placement, and control of oil and gas pipelines often figure prominently in state interests and actions. A notable example of pipeline politics occurred at the beginning of the year 2009, wherein a dispute between Russia and Ukraine ostensibly over pricing led to a major political crisis. Russian state-owned gas company Gazprom cut off natural gas supplies to Ukraine after talks between it and the Ukrainian government fell through. In addition to cutting off supplies to Ukraine, Russian gas flowing through Ukraine—which included nearly all supplies to Southeastern Europe and some supplies to Central and Western Europe—was cut off, creating a major crisis in several countries heavily dependent on Russian gas as fuel. Russia was accused of using the dispute as leverage in its attempt to keep other powers, and particularly the European Union, from interfering in its “near abroad”.

Oil and gas pipelines also figure prominently in the politics of Central Asia and the Caucasus.

_________________________________________________________________

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pipeline_transport

Sorry Dendeshe but that is not a good plan. Who wants all this waste of reactionary energy anymore? in five years the world will no longer need gas or oil. We’re going to the moon to get all the helium-3 that’s stored up there. There’s enough to power this planet for 11000 years. No more green gases and no more pollution. It is all clean-sweep lunar fusion energy. Your Zionist conspiracy theories will go up in flames in million degrees K fusion reactors. It is not gonna be as frigid as you think.

OOOOOOOOOOOOh SUUUUUUUUUUUUURE. Why do we even need the moon, will just hire a bunch of beaners to fart in pipeline for you. If you don’t like the nasty odor, use compressed air technology to generate power, I have the patent and the bloody army to cover you and your investment. It is too bad that the Dollar/ U.S. economic survival is tied up to the fart smelling demand, so forget about anything else for future energy source for couple more centuries.

I see Dendeshe.

So now, you’ve become worried only about your own interests and your compressed air patent. You don’t care anymore about the Zionist plans or even the destruction of this panet with your continued use of wasteful energy?

Too late my friend. I made you an offer before. You didn’t take it. So we decided to go to the moon and have our own patent and our limitless, cleanest, inexhaustible energy source to keep mother earth warm and clean for generations and generations to come.

1. AMOUDEH AL-HALABI thanks for the links and coverage in #442 – a welcome touch of sanity among latest crazed postings here.

2. Tweets from Jon Wilkes the UK representative to the Syrian Opposition:

“UK will host a meeting in London on Friday with National Coalition Representatives and donors ready to move quickly to offer more support.”

“It’s good that the Coalition includes the SNC, internal councils, and prominent internal and external activists.”

https://twitter.com/JonWilksFCO

“Agreed. The Qataris have done a better job managing their country than the Alawites. ”

Indeed. Im also impressed with how much Saudi Arabia has developed its national workforce. Saudi Telecom is run almost wholly by Saudis and is far superior to Syriatel in everyway; calls are much cheaper, packages available are amazing, and its a joy visiting one of their offices, unlike the ridiculous “3alam foq ba3da” in all the Syriatel offices, where people line up out in the streets every month just to be able to pay their bills. Under Hafiz, people lined up for bread. Under Batta, they do the same at ATMs and Syriatel offices. That’s what a Qurdahan calls “progress”

But what do you expect when Rami Makhlouf staffs his company with Qurdahan sheep whose main concern isn’t telecommunication, but having religious debates about whose fatwa is “bigger”.

I once saw an interview the idiot Syrian Minister of Communication did. He said that Internet lines in Syria cost so much because there is so much demand. Which goes to show the imbecile has no idea how 21st telecommunications economy works. The lowliest Saudi staff worker at the STC knows that the more subscribers that use an infrastructure, the more people the cost of maintaining and expanding it can be spread across,so it becomes cheaper for the average user.

I hereby pass a fatwa saying that if you want to be minister of something, you have to know something about it first. Pretty radical stuff for the “the big bad eqta3i screwed my grandmummy felaha nawaria” camp.

Female Kurdish militia leader widely reported as killed by Syrian rebels turns up alive

– Expresses her support for Syrian resistance

– Kurdish rebel battalions to get involved in struggle in Kurdish suburbs in Aleppo

Excerpt:

ANTAKYA, Turkey — A female Syrian militia leader widely reported 10 days ago as killed by anti-government rebels has turned up alive and apparently well, according to a video posted on the Internet Sunday.

Nujin Derik was captured by rebels fighting to topple the government of Syrian President Bashar Assad late last month when rebels entered Kurdish neighborhoods in Aleppo and clashed with the militia she led – evidence of the complexities of Syria’s ethnic fault lines.

Her death, supposedly at the hands of the rebels, was widely circulated by news agencies after it was reported Nov. 2 by the PYD Kurdish militia and the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a London-based organization that tracks Syria’s casualties.

But on Saturday she was welcomed with tears and celebratory gunfire in the Kurdish town of Afrin, north of Aleppo. While she provided no details of her two weeks in rebel hands or how she came to be released, she offered support for the rebel cause in the video.

“I bless your struggle, I’m happy for you,” she said. “I thank the resistance and I like them and I will do whatever they want.”

Fighting between the rebels and the PYD broke out in Aleppo, Syria’s largest city, two weeks ago. The PYD said the clashes began when rebels fired on a demonstration against their presence in two neighborhoods. Kurdish supporters of the rebels claim the PYD manufactured the claims because of pressure from the Syrian government.

Whatever the truth, many Syrian Kurds are suspicious of the Arab rebels and their close ties to the Turkish government.

Kurdish opposition to the rebels is important strategically. The two neighborhoods in question, Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafiyeh, are all that stand between the rebel-held rural areas north of the city and contested neighborhoods in the city’s center and south.

A PYD decision to allow the rebels to occupy Aleppo’s Kurdish neighborhoods could be a major victory for the rebels.

“For a long time, the (rebels) delayed the battle in Ashrafiyeh and Sheikh Maqsoud because they realize what kind of tension there could be,” said Abdo, a pro-rebel Kurdish activist from Aleppo who declined to give his last name. “Many Kurds are neutral, not supporting any side. If the Kurds join, it could speed up the fighting.”

The leader of one Kurdish group fighting with the rebels said Sunday that the PYD has been given an ultimatum.

“They can fight with us against the regime or fight against us. They recognize we have good fighters, and they will be under siege if they try to fight us,” said Piwar Mustafa, a defected Syrian army officer and a leader of the Salahedeen al Ayoubi rebel battalion. Mustafa is from Anadan, north of Aleppo, and his battalion fights in Aleppo and the surrounding rural areas.

“We will go to Ashrafiyeh and Sheikh Maqsoud, but we are planning to go with Kurdish battalions,” Mustafa said.

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2012/11/11/174358/female-kurdish-militia-leader.html#storylink=cpy

RAF SET FOR SYRIA NO-FLY OP – November 11, 2012

According to Whitehall sources, British special forces are helping to train rebel assassination squads to target President Assad

http://www.dailystar.co.uk/news/view/281809/RAF-set-for-Syria-no-fly-op/

RAF Top Guns could soon be patrolling the skies over Syria under a new Cameron-Obama plan.

The Prime Minister is preparing to use the RAF to enforce no-fly zones across President Assad’s trouble-torn country in a bid to stop mass slaughter.

At this week’s National Security Council meeting in Downing Street Syria will be number one on the agenda.

According to Whitehall sources, British special forces are helping to train rebel assassination squads to target President Assad and his warlords.

Troops from the SAS, SBS and Paras from the Special Reconnaisance Regiment are in Syria helping show insurgents how to use new weapons and explosives.

Mr Cameron and newly re-elected US President Barack Obama are also ­considering military action and officially arming rebels.

The first stage of the plan involves a no-fly zone that will be patrolled by British, US and French forces. Safe havens will be set up in ­Syria, Turkey and Jordan.

[…]

http://www.dailystar.co.uk/news/view/281809/RAF-set-for-Syria-no-fly-op/

Britain Prepares Squads to Assassinate Assad in Syria – November 11, 2012

http://www.infowars.com/britain-prepares-squads-to-assassinate-assad-in-syria/

Saudi and Qatari funded Free Syria Army and al-Qaeda terrorists are being trained to assassinate Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad and his military leaders, the Daily Star reports today.

The newspaper reports British SAS, SBS and troops from the Special Reconnaissance Regiment are inside Syria “helping show insurgents how to use new weapons and explosives” and “train rebel assassination squads to target President Assad and his warlords.”

The British Chief of the Defense Staff, General Sir David Richards, said contingency plans are being drafted, including “limited” intervention by British troops in “areas where assistance was being provided,” the Press Association reports.

Britain considers itself a “full-spectrum player” in the Middle East. It was at the forefront of the military intervention in Libya that resulted in the death of more than 30,000 people.

The Telegraph reported on Saturday that the United States has balked at prime minister David Cameron’s proposal to further assist the FSA and al-Qaeda following reports that the CIA and MI6 supported mercenaries are killing unarmed civilians. The FSA has admitted killing civilians and captured Syrian soldiers.

According to the CIA-engineered propaganda outfit, the Voice of America, U.S. intervention in Syria is more urgent now that “extremist Islamist elements” are taking a more active role in Syria.

“The balance of forces in the Syrian opposition is such, that as time goes by and the radical Islamists are the ones who always seem to have the money and always seem to have the weapons, they will become much more dominant in terms of that opposition. That does not serve American interests and it certainly doesn’t serve the interests of stability in the region,” Dennis Ross told VOA.

Ross is a member of both the CFR and the Trilateral Commission. He works with the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, an Israel-centric think tank closely related to the American Enterprise Institute and other neocon organizations.

In September, al-Qaeda and the FSA offered a reward of $25 million for the assassination of al-Assad. Turkey’s Anadolou news agency quoted FSA commander Ahmad Hijazi as saying the money would be paid by “supporters and businessmen” abroad.

Saudi Arabia and Qatar are spending tens of millions of dollars to support the effort to depose and kill al-Assad. Military aid is brokered through Turkey and “a secretive group operates something like a command center in Istanbul, directing the distribution of vital military supplies believed to be provided by Saudi Arabia and Qatar and transported with the help of Turkish intelligence to the Syrian border and then to the rebels.”

[…]

http://www.infowars.com/britain-prepares-squads-to-assassinate-assad-in-syria/

Britain could intervene in Syria within months – top UK general – 11 November, 2012

http://rt.com/news/syria-uk-military-intervention-468/

The UK’s most senior general said on a BBC interview Sunday that Britain had in place contingency plans for a “very limited” response in the case of a worsening humanitarian situation in Syria within the next few months.

The admission from Chief of the Defense Staff General Sir David Richards is the most serious warning yet that Britain is preparing for some kind of military involvement in Syria.

It seems that British policy has now shifted from trying to support and organize the disparate rebel groups to considering full-blown military action.

“The situation this winter I think may deteriorate and may well provoke calls to intervene in a limited way,” General Richards told the BBC’s Andrew Marr Show.

“It’s my job, amongst other people in my sort of position, to make sure these options are continually brushed over to make sure we can deliver them,” he continued.

Defense Secretary Phillip Hammond, who was interviewed on the BBC’s Sunday Politics program, also confirmed that the UK had not ruled out military intervention – but was still focused on trying to overcome objections from Russia and China to get a strong UN Security Council resolution condemning the Bashar al-Assad government.

“At the moment we don’t have a legal basis for delivering military assistance to the rebels. This is something the Prime Minster keeps asking us to test – the legal position, the practical military position, and we will continue to look at all options.” he said.

However, he stressed that Britain’s main focus at the moment was making sure the crisis in Syria doesn’t spill into any neighboring countries like Lebanon, Turkey or Jordan.

General Richards added that there could be British troops posted in countries neighboring Syria.

“They’re allies of ours – we have small numbers of people routinely deployed there, and in the meanwhile we’re preparing plans to make sure that when some disaster happens, we’re able to deal with it.”

However, Marcus Papadopoulos, editor of magazine Politics First, told RT that he didn’t think the British announcement should be taken too seriously.

“I think it’s more designed to actually invigorate the Syrian militants – who are of course the proxies of the West – and at the same time to try and scare the government of President Assad and try and demoralize the Syrian armed forces, which of course are fighting a very long, protracted, bloody war,” he said.

Another option that London is considering includes amending a 2011 European Union trade embargo that would allow weapons to be sent to the rebels, for “humanitarian” reasons.

David Cameron wants to push for an end to the embargo, which does not allow either said to receive military aid from abroad. Cameron also wants to put more pressure on Washington to help the Syrian rebels, and if he is successful, it could see the UK supplying weapons directly to the Syrian resistance.

“Safe havens” for refugees are also being considered, but there are no plans to try and impose no-fly zones over Syria. Without a no-fly zone, a safe haven for refugees would be almost impossible to enforce.

Britain already has troops in Afghanistan, while its overstretched army, navy and air force face increasing budget cuts, so any credible military intervention would need to be in support of a larger US operation, or independently but on a minor scale.

British public opinion would also likely be firmly opposed to any new military intervention.

[…]

http://rt.com/news/syria-uk-military-intervention-468/

Syria Says Had UN “Oral Approval” For Tanks in Golan, UNDOF Caught a Jordanian

By Matthew Russell Lee, Exclusive

UNITED NATIONS, November 9 — Syria has filed another “urgent” letter with the UN Security Council, Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and UN Peacekeeping chief Herve Ladsous, explaining its tanks’ entry into and withdrawal from the Golan Area of Separation.

Syria stated that it got approval from the UN for “conducting a limited military operation to free two villages from terrorist groups.” The villages are Breiqa and Beir Ajam.

“As a result of this oral approval from UNDOF,” says the unofficial translation of Syria’s letter exclusively obtained by Inner City Press, “a small military force entered the mentioned area and chased the terrorists.”

Numerous statements of UN officials and diplomats have omitted this “oral approval from UNDOF.”

The letter recounts how “during the second half of October 2012, armed terrorist elements started to appear” in the two villages… Due to calls from the inhabitants of those two villages for the army to assist in chasing the terrorists out…. there was a need for a limited military operation to restore security to the area.”

UNDOF was contacted, and according to Syria gave its approval “after few hours.”

Syria’s letter says that “at 17:00 hours on Thursday November 8th, 2012, the tanks were withdrawn… while our law enforcement members remained inside the village of Beir Ajam… within the next 72 hours the military operation will be completed there.”

The letter concludes that “if some bullets crossed over to the Israeli side, those should be stray bullets, or bullets from the guns used by the armed groups.”

There is also a UN / UNDOF “Agenda Point” in which Maj. Gen. I.S. Singha, the Force Commander of UNDOF, states to Syrian Commanding Colonel Engineer Mazen Ibrahim Younes that “the only available information we received from A-Side is that they apprehended one JORDANIAN citizen on 20 September 2012

http://www.innercitypress.com/syria1golan110912.html

Syria’s Assad warns of Apocalyptic war – 12.11.2012

http://english.pravda.ru/hotspots/conflicts/12-11-2012/122765-syria_assad-0/

In a rare interview with Russia Today TV, President Bashar Assad vigorously clarified his stance on the current Syrian crisis created by the West and some regional states including Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Qatar and warned them of the apocalyptic consequences of any foreign intervention in Syria.

“I do not think the West is going [to intervene], but if they do so, nobody can tell what is next. I think the price of this [foreign] invasion if it happened is going to be more than the whole world can afford,” Assad said in a Thursday interview with Russia Today TV network.

Assad warned that the domino effect of any military attack on the country “will affect the world from the Atlantic to the Pacific and you know the implication on the rest of the world.”

Assad is well aware of what the West and their Arab allies are up to and what kind of scenario they are planning to follow in his country.

Syrian crisis has been dragging on for months now and a large number of people including civilians have been killed. The sabotaging efforts of the West and the financial funding of the insurgents by the regional states have not yet yielded any fruits whatsoever in helping these antagonistic forces to achieve their goals in Syria.

There was an initial assumption that President Assad would soon realize that a propitious escape would be the wisest choice. However, the speculation never transcended a merely idle notion. Thanks to Iran, China and Russia, Syria stood firm and a West-prescribed recipe for the so-called peaceful transition of power never materialized in the country. Quite unexpectedly, the plans of Syrian opposition fell apart on the eve of Doha conference. The initiative so vehemently backed by the West to form a united Syrian opposition practically went to waste on Wednesday night as the key opposition movements from inside the country pulled out. Opposition groups were scheduled to meet in Doha, the capital of Qatar on Thursday in order to appoint a new and strong leadership. However, three dissident bodies suddenly decided not to attend the meeting.

“There are too many people against this initiative for it to work now,” said a western diplomatic source in Doha.

Needless to say, the failure of the plan dealt a humiliating blow to US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton who was the one to announce it so unexpectedly as well as to Britain which had strongly supported the initiative.

It seems that the West and its regional allies are incapable of building a united front against the government of Bashar Assad.

In addition to the efforts of the West and its allies to take control of Syria, there is yet another danger which gravely threatens the country to an inconceivable degree: the influx of the Salafi-Jihadists into the country. Last February, al-Qaeda’s leader Ayman al-Zawahiri, who is reportedly in Jordan, urged his followers in Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon and Turkey to rise up and support what he called ‘their brothers in Syria’. Also, Abu Muhammad al-Tahawi, a leading figure in Jordan’s Salafi-Jihadist movement, told the BBC that “jihad in Syria is obligatory for any able Muslim in order to help his brothers there.”

The fact is that the al-Qaeda-affiliated Salafi-Jihadists have already swarmed into the country and are already fighting against Bashar Assad’s government; among the killed, some have been identified to belong to the Salafi cult. The grand plan is to turn Syria into a safe haven for the Salafis who are responsible for beheading Syrian troops and civilians. Ghastly videos have recently circulated on the internet, showing the Salafi-Jihadists beheading Syrian troops and civilians in cold blood.

Parenthetically, beheading is a ritual act rather than a way of killing in war. The act of beheading contains a symbolic meaning: the victim is relegated to the degree of a beast and he should be treated likewise. Further to that, this act of brutality inspires an atmosphere of horror and commotion in the viewer and quenches the bestial thirst within the decapitator.

From an anthropological point of view, many societies used to revere the head as the seat of wisdom and consciousness and believed it must be connected to the body in order for the soul to travel into the hereafter. Without it, the spirit would keep wandering restlessly. Based on this perception, the act of beheading is to be taken to imply that the victim would never regain peace as his/her spirit would wander for all the time to come.

After all, a display of atrocities has manifested itself in grisly different forms on the part of the insurgents in Syria. On Saturday, humanitarian organizations condemned video images of rebels executing captured Syrian soldiers after insurgents overran army checkpoints near the town of Saraqeb on the strategic highway linking Damascus and the port city of Latakia to Aleppo.

“This shocking footage depicts a potential war crime in progress, and demonstrates an utter disregard for international humanitarian law by the armed group in question,” Amnesty International said.

Rupert Colville, spokesman for UN human rights chief Navi Pillay, said this could amount to a “war crime” and that the video footage, showing soldiers pushed to the ground and kicked before being shot, can be presented as evidence.

In any event, a Syria without Assad would mean a country in the hands of the Salafi-Jihadists who will undoubtedly turn the country into a graveyard for the Alawites and the moderate Sunnis and a breeding ground for terrorism and extremism in the region. It goes without saying that the Middle East region is being systematically and consciously devoured by an act of extremism funded and promoted by Washington and some Arab regimes.

[…]

http://english.pravda.ru/hotspots/conflicts/12-11-2012/122765-syria_assad-0/

The commenter here I respect the most is Ghufran. He critisises both sides equally, and never preaches to the choir.

I will follow his example from now on, though my earlier comments might have come off as pro-regime.

I have never found it defensible to be “pro-Bashar”, since I don’t follow men, but ideologies.

Syria needs 100% secularism, and foreign backing by religious fundamentalists on either side is completely at odds with this.

A strong secular group free of Muslim Brotherhood and Ba’ath members is needed if Syria is to continue existing.

Habib, I agree.

About people discussing the merits of Arab states, one shouldn’t conveniently forget where the biggest oil reserves in the world are located and to which mini-state belongs half of the largest field of conventional gas on this planet…

Here are the scores of young Qataris at school in international assessments, and I have other data showing that the native Qataris score in fact even lower (ie the children of migrants raise the scores) http://www.oecd.org/pisa/46643496.pdf
no comment.

I just returned from the ME and I will share with you some facts.

There are at least 9 check points between the Lebanese border and Damascus

Searchers have lists of wanted persons and the names are checked against those lists.

A person I knew in his youth and now in his fifties was shot dead as he was distributing aid to the displaced populations around Damascus. His belongings were returned to the family by the rebels.

Nightly explosions are heard throughout Damascus.

The price of food is at least double what it was a year ago and some staples are lacking.

Damascus has been cut into four military districts to prevent a coordinated assault on it.

A Syrian worker working in the ME that I met told me that he is from Idlib province.

I asked about his family and he said that they are fine for the fact that the last 6 months the town where he comes from has been quiet and under the control of the FSA. Since regime troops left the area the situation is stable.

I also noticed since my return that there is a lot more anger and hate on this site and I am concerned about it. I think some calling names is a reflection of deep seated fear.

I agree with Ghufran that the situation is very bad but could get worse and there is a possibility that the security situation may become significantly worse and the country degenerate further into a Somalia like situation.

My questions though are as follows
1. What plan B does the Alawi community have in place?

2. How many of them overtly and how many of them covertly are against the regime tying their physical survival with its political survival.

3. How would they fare in the new Syria? Will they be excluded from security jobs? Will they be denied government jobs? Will their children be able to seek higher education.

4. Is the corridor Hermel Homs province Alawi villages and Tartus becoming a reality and hence an enclave for Iran Alawistan HA axis to remain in place?

The new opposition unity is finally a welcome relief but is also a great mirror of the diversity of Syria and I am very pleased to see that the tactics used by the MB as a copy cat of the Baath infiltration of all groups has not worked to insure their supremacy over any body.

This is a double win, one against the regime and second against any one group dominating the others.

Thoughts, ideas, and hopefully a new thread soon.

Well HABIB, a lot depends on what stake you have in what’s happening inside Syria, and your level of shock and anger about what Assad and the system he leads has done to Syrians and their country.

Ghufran can be a bad read because of his unrelenting pessimism and negativity about the fate of Syria, writing it off almost from the first shots fired by Assad.

While the MB issue is a complicated one, many see it as unlikely to emerge in Syria in the same way as in Egypt.

Mouaz al-Khatib is from a scholarly and moderate Muslim background which is very different from the Islamists. Listen to what he’s been saying all along and it seems doubtful he’d be interested in facilitating the MB.

But interestingly, I have heard cosmopolitan, non-sectarian Syrians say the MB would at least provide a correction to the social and economic distortions, corruptions and cruelty of the past decades.

Because, as some commentators here have pointed out, Syrians have suffered decades of an extreme form of sectarianism under the Assads. They feel a ballot-box conscious MB would be benign compared with that.

Thanks OBSERVER for the report in #458.

After being close to the action, it must seem like lifetimes away and on another planet to make any connection between the postive new opposition initative and what is happening on the ground in Syria.

But now at least there is hope. And a sense of purpose and growing clarity.

On the Alawis, good questions. People recently out of Syria have said to me: “those people have made a choice, and they are now doing terrible things that will make it impossible for other Syrians to include them”.

Worrying words.

459. Syrialover

Like the Ba’ath, the MB is too divisive to be acceptable for much of the population to be part of a viable for leadership.

If the part of the population that has supported the government until now are going to abandon their leader, they will have to be assured that they are not opening their arms to groups that have committed atrocities to them in the past.

Just like opposition members reject any role of the Ba’ath in the future of Syria. There has to be made painful compromises, otherwise this war will never end.

460. Syrialover

Worrying, because they are useless. Almost 3 million Alawis are not going to disappear just because some people want them to. Either they fight forever, or they are accepted as equals.

Habib,
Thanks for underlining that what is needed is 100 percent secularism. Same is true in Egypt.
How can a country be built with people of different communities growing up together and not being able to marry because self proclaimed clerics (be they Muslim or Christian) forbid them to and have the law with them for doing that?
A non-secular state can only be a weak state, since real power remain in the hands of clerics/families.

459. Syrialover

For whatever reason, my reply is awaiting moderation.

But in short, the opposition has to make compromises if they truly want the war to end and the Ba’ath to go. Since the MB has committed atrocities against Alawites in the past, they are as divisive to Alawites as the Ba’ath is to the opposition.

As for comment 460, 3 million Alawites aren’t just gong to disappear, so either they are embraced as equals, or you fight them forever.

By the way, the reason for me softening up has nothing to do with any current developments. I simply met some western Socialists by chance (one of them half Maronite, we were in a bar, and started talking because he wore a Pink Floyd t-shirt) who were planning to go and fight alongside the insurgents. They already had their doubts, and after talking to them for hours, they assured me they would not go, since the opposition did not truly reflect their ideology (they had been inspired by those European Socialists who joined the Spanish civil war).

Talking to them, I had to define my own views in more detail, and I simply couldn’t get my own beliefs to fit with downright support of either side. The fact that they changed their position convinced me that flexibility is key to peace.

Habib said:
• For whatever reason, my reply is awaiting moderation.•

I figured out that you have to keep the browser open for the 10 minutes, to ensure that your post is published. Took me about 50 times to figure that.

” I think some calling names is a reflection of deep seated fear.

I agree with Ghufran that the situation is very bad but could get worse and there is a possibility that the security situation may become significantly worse and the country degenerate further into a Somalia like situation.
”

I think I see what you mean, Observer. If you pay attention you’ll see who initiate every name-calling spats here. Not very complicated, there are two certain posters. Your diagnosis of “deap seated fear” is certainly of interest.

Anyway, if you agree that Syria is taking the road to Somalia, then you must agree as well that Ghufran was right and that a political agreement is the only solution to save Syria. The sycophants in Qatar are not working to salvage the Syrian people, they just work with one warring faction.

Brotherhood’s Syria Opposition Takeover –
Hassan Hassan, The National

The story shows how the Muslim Brotherhood – an Islamist group with little representation within Syrian society, due to decades of systematic cleansing by the Baathist regime – has successfully built influence over the emerging opposition forces.

The MB is viewed with profound suspicion by most Syrians. Despite 20 months of atrocious violence by the criminal regime, many Syrians – rightly or wrongly – still prefer the regime because they fear the Brotherhood more.

Activists downplay that fear, partly because the MB had acted behind the scenes. But its resistance to inclusiveness that would challenge its monopoly has become clear during the opposition’s meetings in Doha.

The Brotherhood has been resisting a US-backed initiative to form a more representative political entity, a plan that Syrians desperately need to reverse Brotherhood domination of the political process.

The Brotherhood will naturally cling to the influence it has built for itself over the past 20 months, because it realises the limits of its popular power and seeks to compensate by steering the political process, at least during the uprising and the coming transition.

Read more: http://www.thenational.ae/thenationalconversation/comment/how-the-brotherhood-builds-power-in-syrias-opposition#ixzz2C0rjycpx
Follow us: @TheNationalUAE on Twitter | thenational.ae on Facebook

In a democratic Syria, the Brotherhood would have the right to engage in politics and build support. But its current dominance is not justified by true representation and this is one of the major causes of rift and hesitation among Syria’s political and social forces. Its dominance needs to be addressed with urgency by activists and countries that have leverage in Syria.

Read more: http://www.thenational.ae/thenationalconversation/comment/how-the-brotherhood-builds-power-in-syrias-opposition#ixzz2C0r6VNCO
Follow us: @TheNationalUAE on Twitter | thenational.ae on Facebook

As a Moslem Brotherhood Sheikh, a communist and a westernized woman are leading the heavily mediatized NCSROF, it is doubtful that KSA will willingly collaborate in helping this organization in weapon funding and in influencing the FSA to accept their control.

It seems that Qatar-KSA are now in a collision course and Turkey in a state of confusion as it is expected to act militarily in the absence of any alternative military force.

One clause of the agreement specifically forbids dialog with Bashar al Assad about a transition.

With Eye on Aid, Syria Opposition Signs Unity Deal

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/12/world/middleeast/syrian-opposition-groups-sign-unity-deal.html?pagewanted=all

The hope among Western countries is that the new coalition, called the National Coalition of Syrian Revolutionary and Opposition Forces, can give local opposition councils the legitimacy to bring fighters under their authority. That would give an important countervoice to the well-armed jihadist commanders who in many places have set the pace of the fighting and created worries that Islamists will gain a permanent hold.

An important change in the new agreement is that revolutionary councils from 14 Syrian provinces now each have a representative, though not all live in Syria. The hope is that will bind the coalition to those inside the country.

Perhaps the most important body the new group is expected to form is a Revolutionary Military Council to oversee the splintered fighting organizations and to funnel both lethal and nonlethal military aid to the rebels. It should unite units of the Free Syrian Army, various militias and brigades in each city and large groups of defectors.
..
Given the distrust and ancient feuds among members of the Syrian opposition, there was no guarantee that the agreement would hold. But the fact that the death toll of the civil war has reached almost 200 Syrians a day was an important factor. As a reminder of that, the Qataris decorated the massive meeting hall with huge pictures of Syrians, some wounded, standing in the rubble of their homes and neighborhoods.
…
Some of the last holdouts said they suspected that the agreement was a sly way for the international community to negotiate with Mr. Assad about a transition to a new government. So one clause in the agreement specifically bars such talks.
Some of the last holdouts said they suspected that the agreement was a sly way for the international community to negotiate with Mr. Assad about a transition to a new government. So one clause in the agreement specifically bars such talks.

Albo says:
• The sycophants in Qatar are not working to salvage the Syrian people, they just work with one warring faction. •

That is because the other faction is The Bad Guys.
It is not a war between equals, you have a right side and a wrong side.

I saw some video of a guy being buried alive by the Bashar-KGB team.

As they buried him alive, one of the soldiers says: “Qul Laa ilaha illa Bashar, ya haywan!”
(“Say there is no god but Bashar, you animal!”)

Biography of new opposition leader
Ahmed Moaz al-Khatib, the 52-year-old former cleric elected leader of the Syrian opposition, emerges as something of a renaissance man, according to his CV.

He has had stints as an imam, activist, lecturer and he is a trained geologist who worked for an oil company.

A biography of the new leader, circulated by opposition member Mulham al-Jundi, said Khatib was arrested four times for supporting the Syrian uprising before leaving the country. 

He was mostly recently arrested in April, it says.

In his opening speech as leader Khatib called on all sects in Syria to unite. “We demand freedom for every Sunni, Alawi, Ismaili (Shia), Christian, Druze, Assyrian … and rights for all parts of the harmonious Syrian people,” he said.

Khatib, who comes from a family of Islamic scholars, has a reputation for rejecting sectarianism, according to the biography. He is a former chairman of the Islamic Modernisation Organisation.

He was an imam at the Umayyad mosque in Damascus 20 years ago. But he also worked for six years as geologist for the al-Furat oil company.

He has lectured all over the world including in Britain and the US.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/middle-east-live/2012/nov/12/syria-opposition-united-coalition-live#block-50a0e3c0b57908e185b9d6e8

Doll:

as opposed to: beheadings, abductions, summary executions, terrorism against civilians, senseless guerilla in the midst of human shields etc… which as everyone knows, are the hallmark of “good guys”.

I support Ghufran’s position for a reason, if you paid attention.

Prominent Saudi preacher tortures five-year-old daughter to death

A five-year old Saudi girl has died after she was tortured by her father, described as a “prominent” religious scholar who often preaches on numerous satellite television channels.

Lamaa breathed her last breath in an intensive care unit of a hospital in the Saudi capital Riyadh a few days ago, after weeks of suffering from broken arms, a skull fracture and head bruises, her mother told Al Arabiya.

“He used all sorts of torture and abuse against Lamaa,” the girl’s mother said, now divorced from her brutal husband.

The mother explained that after she was divorced she had an “agreement” with her former husband regarding the daughter they shared.

Recently, he took his daughter for two weeks as per “the agreement” but he never returned her back, the mother said, adding that she was “surprised” to receive a call from the public prosecutor in Hotat Bani Tamim, located 160 km south of Riyadh, asking her to go to Shamisi Hospital.

The medical report indicated that Lamaa was tortured with whips and electric shocks. She was even burned with an iron, the mother said.

The hospital matron said the man admitted to beating his daughter, but did not explain why.

“I was shocked and could not believe what happened to Lamaa when I saw her. I could not believe that is no mercy in people’s hearts,” Lamaa’s mother said.

When she asked her former husband at the hospital why he tortured Lamaa, he replied with a “chuckle only.”

The mother and the hospital refused to provide the name of the man and only described him as a “well known” television preacher.

http://english.alarabiya.net/articles/2012/11/11/249009.html

Saudi cleric backtracks on tweet describing Kuwait’s ruler as illegitimate

Controversial Saudi religious scholar Sheikh Mohammad al-Arifi who described the emir of Kuwait as an illegitimate ruler and who supported the pro-democracy protests in the oil-rich Gulf state surprised Kuwaitis in a recent tweet when he asked them to “let bygones be bygones.”

Arifi’s first tweet ignited various reactions in Kuwait after he encouraged anti-government demonstrations against the Emir Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad Al-Sabah’s decision to change the electoral law.

In a statement he published on his Twitter account, Arifi said “the Emir of Kuwait is not qualified,” and that the political struggle in Kuwait was “peaceful, permissible and a legitimate way of demanding one’s right.”

In another tweet, he questioned how “free Kuwaitis” were being opposed for demonstrating peacefully against a ruler who is not qualified for the job.

In his opinion, Emir Sheikh Sabah does not satisfy the religious conditions of an Islamic ruler.

Kuwaiti bloggers and activists on twitter have expressed resentment at what they called Arifi’s interference in Kuwait’s domestic affairs, which likely prompted the Saudi cleric to backtrack on his earlier tweets.

On Muslim holiday feast of Eid al-Adha last week, Arifi tweeted: “Eid Mubarak…For all Muslims everywhere, Eid Mubarak and for all Kuwaitis, their rulers and their people, Eid Mubarak let bygones be bygones.”

Last Sunday riot police used rubber bullets, tear gas and stun grenades and beat up hundreds of protesters in a bid to disperse what the opposition described as the largest demonstration in Kuwait’s history.

More than 100 protesters and 11 police were hurt in the unprecedented clashes in this oil-rich Gulf state. Around 70 activists were arrested, according to defense lawyer Mohammad al-Subaie.

The opposition said more than 100,000 people took part in the protest.

The opposition charged that “foreign personnel were part of the riot police” who clashed with protesters. The statement did not elaborate, but an opposition source said they were members of a foreign community in Kuwait.

The statement said the opposition was ready to wage a “long battle” for reforms, adding however that none of it is directed at the ruling family.

But the “popular protests are not directed against the Al-Sabah family,” which has ruled for more than 250 years unchallenged, the statement said.

“The demands of the Kuwaiti people are not confined to abolishing the (amendment of the electoral law) decree… but also include achieving political reforms that transform Kuwait into a democratic parliamentary state,” it added.

The new political crisis in the oil-rich emirate was sparked by a decision by the ruler to amend the electoral constituency law which the opposition says is aimed at electing a rubber-stamp parliament.

The opposition announced it will boycott snap parliamentary polls slated for December 1.

http://english.alarabiya.net/articles/2012/10/28/246400.html

Which party is teasing the Israelis to intervene?

Israel reports ‘direct hits’ on targets in Syria

Published November 12, 2012

Associated Press

JERUSALEM – An Israeli tank scored a “direct hit” Monday on a Syrian armored vehicle after a mortar shell landed on Israeli-held territory, the military said, in the first direct confrontation between the countries since the Syrian uprising broke out, sharpening fears that Israel could be drawn into the civil war next door.

Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/world/2012/11/12/israel-fires-at-syria-for-second-consecutive-day/#ixzz2C1eKqvXa

#469 Tara

This guy sounds like an honest and soft speaking intellectual but without any political or leadership background.
He may give humanist reassuring sermons to try to fix the mess the SNC and FSA have done with the minorities but I wonder if he’ll have the capabilities to deal with the wolves and snakes in Qatar, the humiliated SNC and the polluted FSA .

It is expected that Cairo Moslem Brotherhood will recognize the group and pressures from Qatar will force the AL to do so. Next will be the UN…

http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/281995/news/world/syria-s-new-opposition-coalition-seeks-recognition
Reformist Damascus cleric Mouaz al-Khatib flew to Cairo to seek the Arab League’s blessing for the new assembly that unanimously elected him as its leader the day before.

“The first step towards recognition will take place at the Arab League,” he told a news conference. The body would then seek endorsement from Arab and Western foes of Assad known as the “Friends of Syria” and from the U.N. General Assembly.

Zoo,

Yes. His leadership skills need to be determined and I am sure will be tested soon. The election of the trio made me pretty optimistic. Suhair will not let go on women’s rights and George should lay Christians’ fear to rest as he will make sure no institutionslized revengeful acts against minorities. Would have liked if someone like Samar Yazbek or Aref Dalilah being part of it as it appears to be missing Alawi representative. Their remains some, albeit small minorities, of Alawis who are against the killing and getting them included would’ve been a good thing as it may encourage future reconciliation.

There is a new post by JL.