“We Will Have to Eat Brown Bread,” Adib Mayaleh, Head of Syria’s Central Bank
Posted by Joshua on Friday, August 26th, 2011
Adib Mayaleh promised Syrians “brown bread” rather than cake yesterday. Coming from Syria’s head banker, this is not reassuring. “It will be more and more difficult because of sanctions and the events. We will have to tighten our belts”, he said. “I say the opposite of Marie Antoinette who said that if the French have no bread they should eat cake. I think we will have to give up the cake to eat brown bread”.
Dr. Adib Mayaleh & Dr. Rateb Shallah, the son of Badr al-Din Shallah, who assured Hafiz al-Assad that the Damascene Sunni elite would not join the Muslim Brotherhood in their uprising against the regime in 1982. Photo taken in 23/4/2005 during the The first Tourism Investment Market in Syria.
Iran, Syria’s only backer and ally, is hedging its bets. It’s leaders no longer have confidence that Assad will survive. Ahmedinejad “warned” Bashar yesterday in an interview on Hizballa’s Almanar TV that “the people should have the right to elect and get their freedoms”. He also said that a timeline and deadlines should be put in place so the west can’t have an excuse to interfere. Iran is worried about throwing good money after bad.
The EU stopped just short of ordering a full oil embargo, but it cannot be far off. Syria only exports 110,521 barrels of oil a day. At $85 a barrel, this is just short of $10 million a day or $3.6 billion a year.This is the amount of Syria’s export revenues from oil. It is chump change for the international market. Italy has been buying half of all Syrian oil exports in an effort to make up for the Libyan exports that are no longer available to it. Replacing Syrian oil with another source will cause modest inconvenience and a small financial hit. Italy, it would seem, is being given more time by the EU to negotiate a favorable deal for a replacement source.
President Assad will not be able to survive this. It is not clear how he will be pushed out. Today, he appears strong militarily. The Syrian army has retaken Hama and destroyed large demonstrations in Homs, Deir and many other places, but the people are boiling. Anger is traveling up the Syrian social hierarchy. People cannot support this killing if there is no end in sight. Sunni merchants, the professional classes, and Christians stood by Bashar yesterday. They considered him Syria’s only option. They are rethinking. They can see that there is no light at the end of the Assad tunnel. They are beginning to pray that the change comes quickly. How that change will come remains unknown.
Will the Syrian opposition be able to rise to the challenge. That is the question that hovers over every discussion today. Can it resolve its internal squabbles in order to provide sober and disciplined leadership? Can it assume power without prolonging Syria’s agony? The Syrian youth have shown tremendous courage, but the time for wisdom and compromise has arrived.
[End of Landis Commentary]
News Round Up
Mayaleh Says $2 Billion Used to Back Syria Pound Amid Unrest
By Massoud A. Derhally, 2011-08-26 12
Aug. 26 (Bloomberg) — Syria has spent $2 billion defending its currency since the start of an uprising five months ago against the rule of President Bashar al-Assad, said Adib Mayaleh, governor of the central bank. The money came from a fund the government created two years ago that had $5 billion when the revolt began, Mayaleh said in a phone interview from Damascus today without giving details of the currency transactions. The Syrian currency has lost 3 percent against the dollar during the same period.
“These funds were for specific use in hard times like these,” he said. “As we say in Syria, save your pennies for black days.” He added, “We are in these times at the moment, these are hard days that Syria is going through and everyone is coming together to find solutions.”…
The European Union imposed sanctions against 50 people and nine entities in Syria and the bloc is preparing to prohibit imports of crude oil from the country. It has placed Assad on its asset-freeze and travel-ban lists. The EU imported 3.2 billion euros ($4.6 billion) in crude oil from Syria in 2010, or 88 percent of the total of goods shipped to the bloc from the country last year, according to the 27-nation European Commission, the EU’s executive.
“We hope the Europeans will stop these sanctions because they are imposed directly on the Syrian people,” Mayaleh said.“All countries that have had sanctions imposed against them, and the Europeans know this, it’s possible to go around them, but at a higher cost,” he said, adding, “that’s what happenedin Iraq and a number of other countries.” …
EU extends Syria sanctions but stops short of oil embargo
Tuesday, 23 August 2011
By AFP
BRUSSELS
EU governments formally adopted sanctions on Tuesday against 15 more people and five businesses, but stopped short of concrete moves to impose a full oil embargo on Damascus.
The list of names covered by asset freezes and travel bans now runs to 50 people and nine businesses, with legal enforcement entering play when they are published in Wednesday’s legislative log, the EU’s Official Journal.
But a diplomat told AFP on Tuesday that despite a first discussion in Brussels on the oil embargo, “no clear decision has yet been taken,” with London in particular determined to ensure that sanctions do not impact on the Syrian people.
The source said: “We are in a process of working through what further tools we want to use.”
“We are open to all options–the oil embargo, sanctions on banks and telecoms, in line with the Americans–but we want to make sure sanctions are targeted at the Assad regime.”
“We are acutely aware of the need to ramp up sanctions, but we don’t want them to impact on the Syrian people,” he underlined.
Some 90 percent of Syrian crude oil is exported to the EU, where the main buyers are Denmark, Italy, France, the Netherlands, Austria and Spain, in that order. …
Western Sanctions May Put Slow Squeeze On Syria = August 26, 2011, NPR
Syrian street vendors display their goods in downtown Damascus on Tuesday, Aug. 23. Syria’s economy was hit hard initially by the anti-government uprising. It has bounced back, but now the U.S. is urging the E.U. to join in banning import of crude oil from Syria.
The Syrian economy has so far weathered the mass protests and widespread violence that have rocked most every major city. But in a move that could increase the pressure, the European Union is considering a ban on imported Syrian oil, similar to sanctions the U.S. imposed earlier this month.
Western governments say the Syrian regime’s harsh response to an anti-government uprising has demonstrated that it is not fit to lead.
In March, when the uprising first began, Syria’s economy took a huge hit. Tourism — which accounts for a large segment of the economy — dropped to almost nothing.
But later, the economy bounced back a bit, and the middle and upper classes of Syria, based mainly in the city of Aleppo and in the capital, Damascus, recovered.
Guardian (GB): Bashar al-Assad’s fall is inevitable, 2011-08-26
by Salwa Ismail
Syrians will not stop protesting until the regime is gone. They don’t need military intervention….The uprising has entered a new phase, with the opposition and protest movement widening to include professional groups such as lawyers and doctors. This adds a new dynamic to confrontations with the regime. … Inside Syria itself, though, there has been no call for external military …
Syrian Arab Airlines A350s blocked by US sanctions: embassy cable
Syrian Arab Airlines had been in line to receive Airbus A350s as part of a broad fleet renewal covering 50 aircraft, newly-disclosed diplomatic cables reveal. But the airframer’s plan to supply the jets – a package which included 10 A330s and 30 A320s – foundered over US government sanctions on Syria’s administration.
Russia, China boycott sanction talks – Friday, August 26, 2011
Russia and China have boycotted UN Security Council talks on a proposal to impose sanctions on Syria’s President Bashar al-Assad, diplomats say. Their absence at the talks signalled the tough negotiations ahead on the move to act against Assad’s deadly crackdown on opposition protests, diplomats said.
DJ EU Embargo On Syrian Oil Would Hit Italy Hardest-Document
2011-08-25, By Benoit Faucon and Konstantin Rozhnov, DOW JONES NEWSWIRES
LONDON (Dow Jones)–A shipping document suggests a European Union embargo on Syrian crude oil–expected to be finalized next week–would hit Italy hardest,
even as the southern European country continues to make do without Libyan crude. Nearly half of the crude oil exported by Syria ended up in Italian ports last month–the equivalent of about 55,132 barrels a day out of 110,521 barrels a day of total Syrian oil shipments, according to a Syrian ports document reviewed by Dow Jones Newswires. Italian oil giant Eni SpA (E, ENI.MI) and refiners IES Italiana and Saras SpA (SRS.MI) said they do refine some Syrian crude as part of a broader slate of oil grades. ….“European refineries are already grappling with the loss of Libyan crude,” Barclays Capital said in a note last week. “Given that one half of Syria’s key production stream is the sweet and lighter Syrian Light grade, any loss in Syrian crude volumes can significantly jeopardise European refinery operations.”
The E.U. has condemned Syrian President Bashar al-Assad following recent violence and announced a series of sanctions against the government and senior officials there. The E.U. next week is expected to finalize a plan to extend sanctions on Syria to cover oil exports to the E.U., an E.U. official said Tuesday. EU officials didn’t return a request for comment Thursday. Apart from Italy, the Syrian port document shows Syria exported crude and products to Spain, France and Turkey, among others. And a spokesperson for OMV, who declined to comment on the list of Syrian loadings, said that 7.8% of the 7.8 million metric tons of oil refined at the company’s Schwechat refinery in Austria last year came from Syria.
Yet Syrian imports remain only a small part of the roughly 1.3 million barrels of oil Italy imports every day, and government officials and refiners in the country say they can cope.
Syria has ceased all transactions in dollars Tuesday in favor of the euro
26/08/2011
Syria opposition must learn from Libya’s council
National Editorial
Aug 24, 2011
The one lesson that Syrians must learn from Libya is this: set up a truly representative national council. The Libyan Transitional Council was formed on February 27, only 12 days after Colonel Muammar Qaddafi declared a war against his own people. Libya’s council, headed by an honest politician, Mustafa Abdel Jalil, then began rigorous diplomatic efforts to gain international legitimacy, support and access to funds. The council has done a good job overall.
In Syria, more than five months after the uprising began, no such body has been established, despite the killing of over 2,000 people. And the lack of an organised and united opposition makes the future of Syria after President Bashar Al Assad, well, oblique.
A national council including credible dissidents would convince many Syrians who currently sit on the fence to side with the protesters. By discussing post-Assad Syria, a council could also encourage the international community to move more aggressively against the regime. Military intervention is both unlikely and undesirable, but there is more to be done with smart sanctions and pressure.
In fairness, the opposition has little political or diplomatic experience, after decades of suppression. But although delay means more bloodshed, opposition figures are still disagreeing on lesser issues than the continuing killings. Some even pulled out of talks about starting a national council. If such discord continues, some in the opposition will bear some of the blame for a lack of success….. The heaviest blow to Mr Al Assad is an alternative to his rule. Only then will his regime surely crumble.
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After Arab Revolts, Reigns of Uncertainty
By ANTHONY SHADID,
August 24, 2011, New York Times
DJERBA, Tunisia — The idealism of the revolts in Egypt and Tunisia, where the power of the street revealed the frailty of authority, revived an Arab world anticipating change. But Libya’s unfinished revolution, as inspiring as it is unsettling, illustrates how perilous that change has become as it unfolds in this phase of the Arab Spring.
Though the rebels’ flag has gone up in Tripoli, their leadership is fractured and opaque; the intentions and influence of Islamists in their ranks are uncertain; Col. Muammar el-Qaddafi remains at large in a flight reminiscent of Saddam Hussein’s; and foreigners have been involved in the fight in the kind of intervention that has long been toxic to the Arab world.
Not to mention, of course, that a lot of young men have a lot of guns.
No uprising is alike, but Libya’s complexities echo in the revolts in Bahrain, Syria and, most of all, Yemen, suggesting that the prolonged transition of Arab countries to a new order may prove as tumultuous to the region as Egypt’s moment was stirring.
Unlike at the start of the year, when the revolutionary momentum seemed unstoppable, uncertainty is far more pronounced today, as several countries face the prospect of stalemate, sustained conflict or power vacuums that may render them ungovernable. Already in Yemen, militant Islamists have found a haven. Across the region, the repercussions of the uprisings are colliding with the assumptions of the older, American-backed system: control of oil, the influence of a reactionary Saudi Arabia, an Arab-Israeli truce, and the maintenance of order at the expense of freedom in a region that for decades has been, at least superficially, one of the world’s most stable.
In just the past week, Colonel Qaddafi lost his capital, Tripoli; the United States and European countries called on President Bashar al-Assad of Syria to step down; the president of Yemen, still recovering from burns suffered in an attack, has promised to return; and the relationship between Egypt and Israel descended into crisis, to the jubilation of many Egyptians who saw a more assertive government as a windfall of Mr. Mubarak’s fall.
“There is going to be a transfer of power in our societies, and a new order has begun to take shape in the region,” said Michel Kilo, an opposition figure in Damascus, Syria.
Aug 24 (Reuters) – Arab ministers will hold an urgent meeting in Cairo on Saturday to discuss the situation on Syria, an Arab League official said on Wednesday.
“The Arab League Peace Committee will hold an urgent meeting on Saturday on the latest events in Syria and the League’s secretariat is making calls to know the number of countries and the names of ministers to attend,” the official said, asking not to be named.
The United Nations says 2,200 people have been killed in Syria since the start of a five-month-old uprising against President Bashar al-Assad. (Reporting by Ayman Samir and Omar Fahmy, writing by Yasmine Saleh)
Experts Offer Guidance for President on Syria
4:57 PM, Aug 19, 2011 • By DANIEL HALPER in Weekly Standard
In a letter being circulated by the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, conservative foreign policy experts, including Bill Kristol and Lee Smith, urge President Obama take a series of actions that will hasten the fall of Syrian strongman Bashar al-Assad. The letter follows President Obama’s statement yesterday that “the time has come for [Syrian] President Assad to step aside.”
The primary recommendation in the letter is that the U.S., together with our European allies, should sanction Syria’s energy (especially oil) and financial sectors, as well as those individuals who are committing human right abuses and promoting terrorism. The experts also argue that the U.S. should “Engage Syrian opposition figures outside the country and ensure that all available aid and assistance, including secure communications and Internet circumvention technology is being made available to these groups” and recall Ambassador Robert Ford from Syria. Here’s the full text of the letter:
Maersk Cancels Tanker Calling at Syrian Port on U.S. Sanctions
2011-08-25, By Rob Sheridan
Aug. 25 (Bloomberg) — Maersk Tankers, a unit of A.P. Moeller-Maersk A/S, canceled a scheduled tanker loading in Syria because it would contravene U.S. sanctions. The Maersk Edward was due to pick up a cargo at the Syrian port of Banias, said Michael Christian Storgaard, a spokesman for the company in Copenhagen. Security was “not an issue as such,” Storgaard said by phone today.
Qatar Emir: Iran visit part of ‘friendly ties’, QNA/Tehran
HH the Emir of Qatar Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani and Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad yesterday held a session of official talks at the presidential compound in the Iranian capital Tehran. The session was attended by the members of the high-level official delegation accompanying the Emir
HH the Emir of Qatar Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani has said his visit to Tehran and meeting with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was part of the “friendly ties” with Iran.
“We have discussed bilateral relations and co-operation between the two countries besides matters of common concern,” the Emir said last night.
On his vision on the developments in Syria, the Emir said all countries that supported Syria in difficult circumstances have tried to encourage our Syrian brothers to take steps to implement a real reform process.
The Syrian people took to the streets in Syria on a real popular and civil uprising calling for change, justice and freedom, HH the Emir added.
The security solution has failed in Syria, the Emir said, noting that the Syrian people are not willing to back down after the price paid.
HH the Emir expressed hope that the decision-makers in Syria would understand the need for change in response to the aspirations of the Syrian people, adding that “we must help them to take such a decision.”
Visa, other cards not valid under Syria sanctions
By ALBERT AJI, Associated Press
Visa and MasterCard credit cards are no longer valid in Syria under new U.S. sanctions targeting Damascus because of its deadly crackdown on a 5-month-old uprising, officials said Thursday.
The Treasury Department this month added the state-owned Commercial Bank of Syria and its Lebanon-based subsidiary to its sanctions list, citing their links to human rights abuses and to illegal weapons trade with North Korea. The action freezes any assets the firms have in U.S. jurisdictions and bans Americans from doing business with them.
In a statement faxed to the AP, the state-run Commercial Bank of Syria said the victims of the sanctions would be Syrian citizens and foreign tourists who will be “obliged to deal in cash with all its undesirable problems.”….
“This will be the key point for Syria … if Arabs stop trading with” the country, said Said Hirsh, Mideast economist with the London-based Capital Economics. He said 60 percent of Syrian exports go to Arab countries. “It’s the Arabs that will be able to cripple (Assad’s regime) more than the international sanctions.”
The move to ban the credit cards, which Syrian banks began issuing in 2005 for local customers, may also affect the country’s influential merchant class – a wealthy cadre of businessmen whose support, or at least lack of outright opposition, is seen as key to Assad’s hold on power.
George Badi, a sales manager at the Dedeman Hotel in Damascus, said the measure will hurt business and wipe out many Internet-based reservations.
“It seems that the U.S. is slapping sanctions on the entire Syrian people not only the Syrian regime,” he said.
Inside Syria’s failed rebellion
Praveen Swami
ON THE EDGE OF AN ABYSS: Syrians demonstrate against the government, in this July 2011 file picture.
President Bashar al-Assad’s government has imposed order — but is yet to slay the three-headed dragon which threatens its survival.
Thick black lines had been scored over the graffiti under the cherubic image of President Bashar al-Assad that guards the road into Hama{minute}a. The military’s clean-up squad had been less than diligent though: the word kalib, dog, survived the paint-brush censorship, and the soldiers had forgotten to have the President’s gouged-out eyes repainted.
Inside the city, the rebels had left behind evidence no amount of paint could obscure: the burned-down military officers’ mess on the Ard al-Khadra street, which mobs stormed in the hope of seizing weapons; the gutted office block which housed the justice department; the charred walls of the al-Hadr police station, pockmarked with machine-gun fire, where 17 police officers were lynched, before their mutilated bodies were thrown into a nearby canal.
Behind the justice ministry’s office, a small group of young men described what happened when the military moved in on July 31, three months after rebel groups, armed with guns, knives and petrol bombs, seized control of much of the town. “They used snipers to shoot at us,” one says, and “more than a dozen people were killed.” The army, he claims, then tied the hands of local residents and forced them to roll on the street, all the while beating them with rifle butts.
Ever since the spring uprising in Syria, the most serious challenge to the regime since it took power in 1970, commentators had been predicting that President al-Assad’s regime was on the edge of collapse. In spite of an energetic western media campaign, largely based on overblown accounts provided by exiled opposition groups, it is in fact becoming clear that the rebellion has all but collapsed: Damascus, for example, is more alive with everyday civic life than New Delhi.
But there is no disputing that Syria’s government is far from slaying the three-headed dragon which threatens its future: a threat from the West; an economic crisis engendered by neoliberal economic reform; and a mounting Islamist threat.
The failed rebellion…..
Turkey’s ‘house of glass’
Thursday, August 25, 2011, Hurriyet
BURAK BEKD?L
Deputy Prime Minister Cemil Çiçek has an explanation for the most recent escalation of violence in Turkey’s southeast: Foreign powers!
Mr. Çiçek’s reply to a reporter’s question as to who these foreign powers are may well earn him a nomination for the 2011 Speech Apraxia Award: “We know who they are… Those who know who they are know who they are… And they (the evil foreign powers) know it’s them.”
In the previous rise of armed conflict between the Turkish military and the Kurdistan Workers’ Party, or PKK, the Turkish government subtly accused Israel for playing the Kurdish card against Turkey – while not minding to play the Hamas card against the Jewish state. Today, it seems, “those who know it’s them” are either the Iranians or the Syrians, or both. But is it not bizarre to see Israel, Iran and Syria in the same camp? A very rare gathering, indeed…
Syria-Russian Venture to Build Oil Rigs From 2016, Watan Says Bloomberg News
The Syrian-European Group for Heavy Industries plans to build a plant that will produce oil rigs from 2016, Al Watan reported, citing a government official.
The company is partnering with Russia’s Uralmash Machine Building Corp. to produce the country’s first drilling rig by early 2016 from the plant that will cost at least 250 million euros ($362 million), the newspaper said, citing Syrian Deputy Oil Minister Hassan Zainab. The factory will manufacture about 10 rigs a year and export some of them to Middle Eastern markets, according to the newspaper.
Syrian-European, established in Syria in 2007 and located in an industrial compound near the central city of Homs, will also produce the nation’s first locally made wind turbine to generate electricity in early 2012, Zainab said.
Libya Rebel Oil Official Says China, Russia Will Have Trouble Getting New Deals
LONDON (Dow Jones)–Global powers who took chilly positions toward Libya’s insurgents–such as China, Russia or India–will have trouble getting new oil contracts in the future, a spokesman for a rebel-controlled company said this week.
The US war of words against Syria is marred by hypocrisy and a lack of realism. al-Jazeera
You’d need a team of linguists to tease out the internal contradictions, brazen hypocrisies and verbal contortions in President Barack Obama’s call for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to relinquish power.
“The future of Syria must be determined by its people, but …”
The “but” belies the preceding phrase – particularly since its speaker controls the ability and possible willingness to enforce his desires at the point of a depleted uranium warhead.
“The future of Syria must be determined by its people, but President Bashar al-Assad is standing in their way. His calls for dialogue and reform have rung hollow while he is imprisoning, torturing and slaughtering his own people,” Obama continued. One might say the same thing of Obama’s own calls for dialogue and reform in Iraq and Afghanistan. Except, perhaps, for the fact that the Iraqis and Afghans being killed are not Obama’s “own people”. As you no doubt remember from Bush’s statements about Saddam Hussein, American leaders keep returning to that phrase: “killing his own people”.
The 5 Things Everyone Should Know about Syria
Robert G. Rabil, August 25, 2011, The National Interest
The Syrian regime is similar to a mafia regime, with al-Asads as the Corleone family…..
Jerusalem Post: Arab World: Is Bashar next?
2011-08-26 13:54:32.543 GMT
The apparently imminent eclipse of the Gaddafi regime in Libya has re-ignited hope among some Western commentators concerning the so-called Arab Spring. The entry of Libyan rebels to Tripoli is being depicted in some circles as the removal of a …
Comments (552)
BEAWARE PLUS said:
LANDIS ANALYSYS ALERT!
Qatari Emir Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al-Thani said on Thursday that the security solution failed to solve the Syrian crisis.
“The security solution failed and the Syrian people who started a real revolt asking for change do not seem to be going back on their demands after the price they paid,” the Iranian News Agency (IRNA) quoted him as saying after meeting with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
“We all tried to encourage the Syrian [regime] to take real reform [action],” Sheikh Hamad added.
What is your analysis today regarding this statement, has Qatar as you say quote: “ backed away from its anti-Syria diplomacy as its leader heads for a visit to Iran”?!?!? unquote.
Mr. Landis you cannot keep wrapping yourself with statements like I’m a historian, intellectual, observer, Syrian specialist, been there and done that etc. then you hide behind “well I’ve been wrong before” and expect us to swallow your objectivity in your opinions or the very questionable articles you post on SC. We really expect more from a Fulbright scholar.
I know that you aspired to build a career as a junior Assadologist, something akin to “Kremlinology” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kremlinology in its heydays. You never miss a chance in interviews to proclaim that Syria was a banana republic (coups and more coups… I know, I know) before the Assads, honestly Landis what fruit would you slap on this regime today? Junior’s world is crumbling and so is the future of Assadology, just like Kremlinology before it.
The regime is to blame first and foremost for the false stories out of Syria because the press is banned. Period! Splitting hair with they shelled, no they shelled not posts, and applying gymnastic logic to authenticate/dispel video is beyond absurd. The regime is very brutal and animalistic, using all the arsenal of the state for repression and repression only. The opposition on the other hand, is using the minimum tools available to them (thanks to the internet and technology) simply to make themselves heard. And may I add with all due respect, they also expect a Fulbright scholar to err on the side of what that title entails. A 2 year old will tell you that the odds on this regime shelling its own people are more likely than not. How did the mosque minaret go down? Besides, who’s to stop them? For god sake Landis, this regime is filming its own atrocities and posting them on YouTube!!! It’s a historical first!
Absent of credible witnesses (international press) the regime is playing the “doubt card” doubt is their friend and best friend at that. A large part of this blog is peddling in regime doubt; American Valerie! Give me a break!
Everybody has a bias Landis, including historians like you, and before accusing others of inflating their stories, try first to deflate yours. A future indicator of a healthy open society in Syria is when people like Patrick Seal, Joshua Landis and Juan Cole realize that there are no more “criminology” to study but for those on page six in local newspapers, and sticking to history would be best for them and Syria.
August 26th, 2011, 1:22 pm
Tara said:
To all
The attacks on Professor Landis need to stop. It is not descent. Opinions can’t be forced. They are shaped by past exposures and experiences.
How many of us supported Bashar in the past? Many.. We changed based on data on the ground. People’ s opinion constantly change based on what they are faced with.
I too do not like to live in lion’s den. Enough already. And for those who can’t handle different way of looking at things, please feel to leave.
August 26th, 2011, 1:48 pm
SYR.EXPAT said:
“I say the opposite of Marie Antoinette who said that if the French have no bread they should eat cake. I think we will have to give up the cake to eat brown bread”
Let me translate. What he means by “we” is the people. However, he and the ruling mafia will keep on eating cake.
Talking about brown bread, it’s actually very healthy. So not a bad thing.
August 26th, 2011, 2:29 pm
Akbar Palace said:
The attacks on Professor Landis need to stop. It is not descent. Opinions can’t be forced. They are shaped by past exposures and experiences.
How many of us supported Bashar in the past? Many.. We changed based on data on the ground.
Tara,
With al due respect, when I see something that isn’t right, I speak out about it.
Professor Josh has supported Assad STRONGLY in the past, and he is giving him a light “slap on the wrist” now.
Even you, yourself stated in post #7:
Stories like these help creating noise to blur the truth.
https://joshualandis.com/blog/?p=11611&cp=all#comments
In addition, in Post #29, Khalid Tlass said:
Dr. Joshua Landis, as educated and accomplished as you are, can’t you show a bit more respect to the 2,200 martyred souls ? By repeatedly parroting pro-regime versions of events in your round-ups, by repeatedly linking articles belittling the protesters, you are INSULTING the martyrs ( now I expect you to deny there are any martyrs).
I did not tell Mr. Tlass, you, Aboud, or anyone else what to write. It is obvious Professor Josh is lukewarm regarding what is happening in Syria. I wonder if he shows more passion in other areas of life.
August 26th, 2011, 2:32 pm
DIGGING FOR GOLD IN BOSRA said:
BEAWARE PLUS
Don’t be such a (edited for insult). Dr Landis is right to scrutinise everything that comes before him, he is merely interested in establishing the truth. This is what academics do in the developed world, where members of the state, church/mosque and academia aren’t all second cousins of each other and family trees aren’t inverted. (edited for insult).
August 26th, 2011, 2:34 pm
some guy in damascus said:
Give up our cake?!? What cake?!?!?!?!
August 26th, 2011, 2:35 pm
Tara said:
Dear Akbar Palace
You were not specifically meant by my post. It was addressed to all. Here is my 2 cents:
I encourage all of us to speak out, criticize the content, argue the point, point weaknesses and discrepancy, etc. We all should do that but at the same time refrain from personal attacks. We can all critique the opinion but should not criticize the person holding that opinion.
August 26th, 2011, 2:52 pm
sheila said:
To all,
Mr. Adib Mayaleh said. “I say the opposite of Marie Antoinette who said that if the French have no bread they should eat cake. I think we will have to give up the cake to eat brown bread”. And I say: what cake???????????? I guess members of the Syrian regime are eating cake, but are unaware that the vast majority of the Syrian people have been eating brown bread for a while and only if and when it is available. So, I say: Mr Mayaleh or rather “Mario Antonio“: please join the club.
August 26th, 2011, 3:12 pm
OFF THE WALL said:
Sorry to divert from this important topic, but Ali Ferzat has just sent his reply note to the hyena pack’s message warning him not to dare his masters ?????? ??? ??????.
August 26th, 2011, 3:28 pm
some guy in damascus said:
@ off the wall,
that drawing is awesome!!!!!!i hope it’ll become a symbol of the revolution
August 26th, 2011, 3:36 pm
Atassi said:
http://hotproxy02.twitpic.com/photos/large/382235040.jpg
Ali Firzat .. back online 🙂
August 26th, 2011, 3:37 pm
Aboud said:
HAHAHAHAHAHAH!!!! Best…cartoon….EVER!
Professor Landis, we want avatar pics! 🙂
August 26th, 2011, 3:40 pm
atassi said:
OTW..
perfect answer.. I love it..
August 26th, 2011, 3:43 pm
Afram said:
“I say the opposite of Marie Antoinette who said that if the French have no bread they should eat cake.”
I like to ridicule the falseness of Marie Antoinette saying,it costs more money wise to construct a cake from scratch than a loaf of bread,how the effff the french could put their hands on a slice of cake and then shove it in their pie hole?!
what a fairy tale,if cake was availabe,then logicaly cheaper bread ingrediant was also availabe!
Antoinette,said nothing like that,it was just a propoganda by the french aljazeera of that time inorder to agitate the populace
well,the syrian bozos can eat falafel…..
August 26th, 2011, 3:45 pm
some guy in damascus said:
@afram,
seriously? your bringing up the origins of the let them eat cake quote?
August 26th, 2011, 3:55 pm
Aboud said:
SGID, yes, and he just had to get a jab in at al-Jazeera LOL!
Fuming much Afram?
August 26th, 2011, 3:58 pm
NK said:
Dr. Landis and the SC community
The Syrian state TV earlier today aired the speech Bashar gave last night, just in case you missed it because it was not announced.
You can listen to it yourselves, and I will provide the transcript if asked. Regardless of what he said which I’m sure we will discuss in length, I doubt anyone will disagree that no one wants to hear the president of his/her country on national TV say things like
1- “to be honest we should have started with the constitution then followed up with new laws, this is the logical thing to do. However in a transitional period LOGIC IS NOT IMPORTANT”. (around 30-32)
2- “the article that gives Al Baath the leading role is not article 8, I DON’T REMEMBER WHICH ARTICLE IT WAS, but it was the article that said the regional command elects the president”. (around 35-36), He says it again around 38-39).
Finally to all the fake secularists Islamophobes, please enjoy it out of Bashar’s own lips starting at 35:50 … to sum it up
– The society in the Arab world is based on two basic foundations, Arabism, and Islam. The two can not be separated.
– In any new constitution these two points will be made crystal clear and are not open for debate, Syria is Arab and Islamic Sharia is the source of legislation.
– The 3rd Article (the president is Muslim, and Islamic Sharia is the source of legislation) will not be changed.
August 26th, 2011, 4:07 pm
Aboud said:
Thank you NK, now that’s the kind of intelligent analysis people come to Syria Comment for (but instead get spam after spam about French tanks in World War 2).
August 26th, 2011, 4:27 pm
jna said:
Democracy and human rights
A grisly scene was discovered in Tripoli today, when reporters came across a former Gadhafi camp in central Tripoli where pro-regime fighters were found massacred, including a number that were bound before their execution.
In a discovery the UN termed “alarming,” a number of the victims were also found in the field hospital, having been executed there while receiving treatment for wounds. Reports have the death toll in this single incident at over 30.
UN spokesman Rupert Colville promised an investigation into the killings, and urged rebel leaders to “take active steps to ensure that no crimes, or acts of revenge, are committed.” One rebel ambassador insisted the leadership had already ordered fighters “not to kill anybody” and that it couldn’t possibly have been the rebels who massacred the Gadhafi troops.
Yet the growing concern about the behavior of the rebels hardly begins or ends with this single incident. Amnesty International is also reporting that the rebel faction has been conducting mass arrests of black people across the nation, terming all of them “foreign mercenaries” but with growing evidence that a large number were simply migrant workers.
In rebel custody, the migrant workers are subjected to routine beatings and, according to testimony from one of them, they are told by rebel guards that they will be “eliminated or else sentenced to death.”
http://news.antiwar.com/2011/08/25/un-warns-rebels-amid-signs-of-tripoli-executions/
August 26th, 2011, 4:32 pm
Haytham Khoury said:
Dear NK:
It is usual Assad’s strategies of giving candies for everybody with no substance. It is as you said those “fake secularists Islamophobes” who label the Muslims with every label that they want, suits their interests of the moment.
August 26th, 2011, 4:37 pm
OFF THE WALL said:
Dear Joshua,
Thank you for the commentary and the links. I liked Salwa Ismael’s article in the Guardian very much because it identifies a critical issue that has not been addressed yet. Her thesis is rather simple, the level of derision the regime and its head has managed to attain from the Syrian people has reached a height which now makes the regime and Bashar Assad removal and departure as the only way out of this crises. This will bind Syrians to continue their actions, albeit with a longer time-frame until the regime, its head, its symbols, and its oppression apparatus are fully removed from the picture.
Second, Adib Mayaleh’s comment reflect a serious crisis for the regime. The problem, it appears, is not limited to the finances of the state, but also to the finances of the private sector. Manufacturing is slowing, demand for services including medical services is declining, restaurants are slowing down, partly because of Ramadan, and partly because of uncertainties and lower cash flow. Internal tourism is at all time low, and foreign tourist are now a rare commodity. I have relatives and friends who, while still gong-ho about Bashar (for reasons not far from those expressed by Samara), and who were vocally supportive of Rami Makhlouf’s campaign to shore up the Syrian currency, but who in fact limited their actions, as I suspect most of those like them, to hyperbole on face book arguments and never left the gulf to go to Syria, a country they only knew a few weeks a year, for one more summer. Same thing can be said about the menhebbak gang I know in my own town in the US and a lot of friends who now live in Europe as well.
This was bad news. The worst news is in the brown bread. Brown bread means different things to different people. For middle and upper middle class kids, whose life-style has been set for their entire teen years, it may mean less SYRIATEL or MTN phone units, or perhaps even no 3G access on mobile phone, a reduction of internet access, fewer cappuccinos, fewer or no dining in trendy restaurants, and fewer outings with their buddies. In all, it means a rollback of the “accomplishments” of Bashar because all of his accomplishments have been limited to the life-style of this particular group. Things despite of their availability, will become of lower affordability, and sanctions will even make some items harder to get. It is these kids who have formed much of the noisy recalcitrant groups in Aleppo and Damascus, and if they feel that the cakes they have been used to since they were teens are gone, they will abandon the regime in drove and provide both bulk and some moderating tone to the uprising due to their apparently secular life-style (emphasis on apparently). I personally do not trust them much, but I will not dismiss them, they are important as they have so far presented a very noisy group men7ebbak group, especially in Aleppo and Damascus. I am starting to see cracks mainly due to the regime violence. Once the bribes are gone, things will change.
Those who are already eating brown bread, but have been reluctant to join in on the action are mostly government employees. Some of whom, especially those who joined the “people’s committees” will also see their supplemental funds dry out. Private sector supplement to their workers are already dry, and the increasing reliance on the the special units of the army will mean that these units will have to be maintained happy, even if tired. Priority will be for them, and one would expect no new job opportunities even in the government, raising the ranks of unemployment by a large number representing this years’ graduate from both universities and high schools.
The picture is bad, Syria does not have Iran’s cushion. And even Iran, when it was able to withstand sanction, the country relied heavily on its agriculture, but at the expense of severely tapping and reducing ground water supplies. This is already the situation in Syria, and reliance on agriculture as a way out is out of question. The current prime minister had made sure of that when he was a Minister of Agriculture.
I only expect public anger to increase. Derision to increase, and the regime’s confusion to remain the same or perhaps to increase. The regime thought that by hitting hard at protest it can get back to December 2010. It only amplified anger. The longer the 15,000 detainees are held, the more young people go through what is becoming a revolving door of detention, harassment, torture, release, and then detention again, the more resentment they, their families, and their friends will have. Last but not least, there remain a large number of missing persons, who are not classified as dead or as detained in regular detention facilities. People are starting to talk about that, and i can’t wait for the stadium photos, hopefully from every major stadium in Syria.
August 26th, 2011, 4:42 pm
uzair8 said:
That Ali farzat reply. Did he actually draw it himself? With his broken figures and injured hands?
August 26th, 2011, 4:51 pm
hsyrian said:
Dear Joshua
Wikileaks has released a US embassy cable dated 2008 about the sale of commercial Airbus planes which has been blocked by the USA .
http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2011/08/26/361335/syrian-arab-a350s-blocked-by-us-sanctions-embassy-cable.html
The blockage was already a well known fact.
What was not known is :
”
It also stressed that the airframer had “no intention of structuring the deal to attempt to circumvent [US government] sanctions” – ruling out lease and purchase agreements with private third parties.
”
You did not answer my little academic question :
” How many ( 5000 ? ) INNOCENT victims has been killed by the terrorists of the Muslim Brotherhood between 1976 and 1982 until the Syrian Army terminated the Islamist armed uprising in Hama and the Islamist terrorist actions stopped in Syria.”
Including the slaughter of ( > 83 ) cadets at the Aleppo Artillery School in 16 June 1979.
Including the murder of the rector of Damascus University, Dr. Muhammad al-Fadl, killed in February 1977
Including the murder of the doyen of Syrian dentists, Dr Ibrahim Na’ama, killed in March 1978
August 26th, 2011, 4:52 pm
Afram said:
arboud plus somesome in shamsham
“??? ????? ????? ?? ???? ??? ??????? ?? ???? ????”
August 26th, 2011, 4:56 pm
ziadsoury said:
Prof Landis,
OTW comment #21 deserves to be the main topic of a post.
Mr. Ali Farzat,
you made me smile. Thank you
All,
Prof. Landis has the right to publish anything he wants. Deal with it and argue your points.
August 26th, 2011, 5:09 pm
some guy in damascus said:
@afram, i didn’t criticize you, i criticized your comment.
now you should criticize my comment instead of criticizing me.
and here why i criticized your comment,
in university i was taught something called narrative economy, where the author of a story would abstain from writing information irrelevant to the main topic. i know jaque was the guy that wrote that ,but it doesnt really matter, what matters is the concept.
August 26th, 2011, 5:10 pm
hsyrian said:
Dear Joshua
The photograph of Dr. Adib Mayaleh & Dr. Rateb Shallah you linked to in your today’s news round up
was taken in 23/4/2005
during the The first Tourism Investment Market in Syria
http://www.souria.com/em/sn/list.asp?oo=400
It is worth mentioning !
August 26th, 2011, 5:11 pm
OFF THE WALL said:
UZAIR8
YES, as far as I can tell. It is not on his official site, which is working again. I am trying to get a second and third confirmation. I would not be surprised it it was drawn with his left hand. I doubt that anyone would dare forge his most famous signature.
AFRAM
You broke the ??? of the poetry. It should be
???? ???? ????? ?? ????
??? ??????? ?? ???? ????
August 26th, 2011, 5:15 pm
Afram said:
20. Haytham Khoury said:
Dear NK:
“It is as you said those “fake secularists Islamophobes” who label the Muslims with every label that they want, suits their interests of the moment.”
here is the definition of phobia:irrational fear of something that poses little or no actual danger….
the right definition to islam should be:Islamofascism,muhamadism terrorisim,murder and dumping in the river…. islam is real danger
my chances are better with king cobra thAn a muhamadim cult follower
,
August 26th, 2011, 5:22 pm
hsyrian said:
La Syrie a cessé depuis mardi toute transaction en dollars au profit de l’euro
Since the link is not working :
La Syrie a cessé depuis mardi toutes ses transactions en dollars en raison des sanctions imposées par les États-Unis et s’est tournée complètement vers l’euro, a indiqué hier à l’AFP le gouverneur de la Banque centrale Adib Mayaleh.
« Depuis deux jours nous ne pouvons plus faire de transactions en dollars et nous nous sommes donc tournés vers l’euro. Depuis 2005, nous avions encouragé tous les secteurs économiques à faire des transactions en euros mais malheureusement ils continuaient dans leur très grande majorité à la faire en dollars », a-t-il dit.
« Maintenant c’est complètement arrêté. C’est la première fois dans l’histoire du pays », a-t-il ajouté.
Barack Obama qui a exigé la démission du président syrien Bachar el-Assad a également annoncé tout récemment avoir pris de nouvelles sanctions très dures contre le régime de Damas.
Le président américain a signé un décret interdisant l’importation de pétrole et de produits pétroliers de Syrie aux États-Unis et gelant tous les avoirs que l’État syrien pourrait avoir sous juridiction américaine.
M. Mayaleh a indiqué que les réserves du pays se montaient actuellement à 17,4 milliards de dollars, soit 800 millions de dollars de moins par rapport à la mi-mars, au début du mouvement de contestation contre le régime de Bachar el-Assad.
« Le taux de change de la livre syrienne est resté plus ou mois stable. C’est notre principal objectif depuis le début de la crise », a-t-il ajouté.
Interrogé sur un transfert de 6 milliards de dollars de l’Iran pour soutenir la livre syrienne, il a répondu : « C’est de la rigolade. C’est n’importe quoi. Les milliards sont venus comment?
En camions ? Par un transfert bancaire alors que les deux pays sont sous embargo ? La centrale des règlements interbancaires en a fait état ? C’est ridicule. »
« Nous avons créé il y a deux ans un fonds pour la fluctuation de la monnaie et la position des changes avec les banques. Il tournait autour de 5 milliards de dollars et depuis la crise, nous avons déboursé deux milliards pour protéger notre monnaie », a-t-il ajouté.
August 26th, 2011, 5:29 pm
OFF THE WALL said:
JNA
Thanks for your post. It is one of the main reasons for my insistence that the Syrian revolution, largely non-violent, remains so. Once arms are picked, atrocities can occur on both sides, albeit at much lower scale than those committed by the criminal regimes of the Arab world such as the one Syria is encumbered with.
In the end, violence is atrocity, and the Assad hyena pack of Syria have proven masters beyond comparison.
August 26th, 2011, 5:32 pm
BEAWARE PLUS said:
Dear Tara.
I have a lot of respect for you and every self respecting Syrian on this blog but neither you or anyone else here gets to publish his/her views in The New york Times or The Washington Post, Landis does. He has fought tooth and nail for the Assad regime during the Bush administration, he was accusing it of fumbling in Iraq and at the root cause of its civil unrest and in the same breath recommending that the solution in his view was to bring syria’s Assad in from the cold in order to help in securing Iraq. Please explain to me why would Syria be part of the security in Iraq? Is it because it was part and parcel in its insecurity? This is what advocacy is all about.
Landis was and still is the go to guy on Syria for many influential publications and media outlets in the USA. He was the quasi mouth piece for this killer regime. He nearly got his wish during the current Obama administration. For Landis the real success of ambassador Ford’s visit to Hama was the vindication of his recess appointment by Obama against congresses’ established Bush era neocon policy. Fortunately for Syria and Syrians things did not pan out his way.
Today he might say he was wrong, I don’t know, but when academics become policy activists, I humbly reserve the right to pow pow them.
August 26th, 2011, 5:33 pm
Afram said:
OFF THE WALL said:
“AFRAM
You broke the ??? of the poetry. It should be
???? ???? ????? ?? ????
“??? ??????? ?? ???? ????
???? ????? ??????? ?? ??????…. ???????? ?? ?????????
August 26th, 2011, 5:36 pm
Aboud said:
@29 Uh, you fake seculars aren’t too big on even pretending to be tolerant, are you? Although I’ve been accused of saying some nasty things, I’d never dream of generalizing as much as the so called secular menhebaks do freely. Shocking, absolutely shocking.
MLK quote;
“We must learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools. ”
Indeed. My prayers go out to the so called seculars, that their hearts may be healed from the venomous hate that blinds them so. May they find peace in the healing power of brotherly love and kinship.
Or failing that, they can keep hanging themselves with their own words 🙂
August 26th, 2011, 5:39 pm
ann said:
*** Prof. Landis is right about a solution in the making ***
*** To the dismay & bitterness of all blood thirsty NewCONS lol ***
*** Qatar’s prince, The President latest speech and now this! ***
http://www.innercitypress.com/syr1rusres082611.html
At UN on Syria, Russia Counters With Its Own Draft Resolution, Now the Battle for IBSA?
By Matthew Russell Lee
UNITED NATIONS, August 26, with full text below — Countering calls for a Syria resolution by the United Nations Security Council’s four European members and the US, Russian Permanent Representative Vitaly Churkin on Friday called a Council meeting and circulated Russia’s own draft resolution.
In the closed door meeting, he said he was putting Russia’s draft “into blue,” that is, that if votes are called, Russia’s draft should go first.
Churkin said it calls on the opposition to engage in a dialogue with the Syrian authorities, as well as calling on the government to “expedite the reforms they announced.”
The actual draft “urges all sides to act with utmost restraint, and to refrain from reprisals, including attacks against state institutions” and “reaffirms its strong commitment to the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of Syria.”
Inner City Press asked Churkin if Russia has other co-sponsors. Churkin replied, “From what I heard today I have a fairly good sense we are going to have at least several co-sponsors.”
European representatives acknowledged at least one supporter of Russia, spinning that it’s good that Russia and China now acknowledge the need for a resolution.
But the key will be toward which resolution the so-called IBSA — India, Brazail and South Africa — gravitate. Call it the Battle for IBSA.
German Deputy Permanent Representative Miguel Berger said Russia’s draft “does not even reflect the Presidential Statement of the third of August.” He said he hoped that on Monday, or even over the (Hurricane Irene) weekend, “we can engage.”
UK Deputy Permanent Representative Philip Parham said it “steps back from President Statement… since which things have gotten worse…. I’m not saying we want to take the two texts and negotiate. We are clear that our proposal is a good basis… that’s why we have put our proposal into blue.”
But who went first? Churkin said “it is clear” that Russia was first. A European spokesperson said that even as Churkin spoke in the meeting, the European and US draft was “submitted to the Secretariat.”
Churkin speaks in past to Ban Ki-moon: what does he think of 2 resolutions?
In the run up to the meeting, Syrian Permanent Representative Bashar Ja’afari said there would soon be “good news.” He denounced “former colonial powers” for a US-heavy litany including Abu Ghraib, Guantanamo and “the destruction of Viet Nam.” A Japanese journalist mused to Inner City Press, “Why not Hiroshima?” And so it goes at the UN.
Friday afternoon, as Ban Ki-moon convenes a video meeting about Libya — based, his departing deputy spokesman told Inner City Press, on the Martin report which Inner City Press exclusively published Friday morning — a UK proposal to unfreeze Libyan bank notes pends before the Council’s Libya Sanctions Committee. Inner City Press asked if the request mentions the National Transitional Council; the answer is no, it mentions the “Central Libyan Bank.” We’ll see.
Russia-introduced draft resolution, as re-typed:
The Security Council,
Recalling its Presidential Statement of 3 August 2011,
Deeply concerned by the continuing violence in Syria and the potential for its further escalation,
Calling for an immediate end to all violence and urging all sides to act with utmost restraint, and to refrain from reprisals, including attacks on state institutions,
Expressing profound regret at the death of many hundreds of people,
Stressing that the only solution to the current crisis in Syria is through an inclusive and Syrian-led political process,
Recalling the Syrian authorities’ responsibility to comply with their obligations under applicable international law and to bring to account those responsible for the violence,
Noting the announced commitments by the Syrian authorities to reform, and regretting insufficient progress in their implementation,
Calling on the Syrian authorities to alleviate the humanitarian situation in crisis areas, to allow expeditious and unhindered access to international humanitarian agencies and workers, and to cooperate fully with the Office fo the High Commissioner for Human Rights,
Mindful of the role which Syria plans in the maintenance of peace and stability in the region,
Reaffirming its strong commitment to the sovereignty, in dependence and territorial integrity of Syria,
1. Calls upon the Syrian government to expedite the implementation of the announced reforms in order to effectively address the legitimate aspirations and concerns of Syria’s people.
2. Urges the Syrian opposition to engage in political dialogyue with the Syrian authorities with a view to holding a substantial and in-depth discussion on the ways of reforming Syrian society.
August 26th, 2011, 5:48 pm
OFF THE WALL said:
AFRAM
Had you studied your Arabic history instead of wasting your time on crappy militant sectarian junk, you would have recognized that there was no formal grammar before Quran. Grammar is largely based on Quran, and if there are exceptions, then so be it. Try reading some of the ?????? and tell me how much would you really understand without dictionary.
If you are trying to argue the issue of Quran divinity, then I must tell you you are ……. at the wrong tree.
August 26th, 2011, 5:57 pm
SYR.EXPAT said:
Ali Ferzat describes his ordeal on Alarabiya.
http://www.alarabiya.net/articles/2011/08/26/164216.html
More bad PR for the Syrian government.
As for the cartoon being linked to, it doesn’t look like it was done by him. I didn’t see it on his website or the main Facebook page that provides updates about his condition. By the way, I don’t like this new cartoon. I don’t like vulgar cartoons. However, I understand the feeling.
August 26th, 2011, 5:57 pm
NK said:
Afram
It’s a little ironic when you post this poem
???? ???? ????? ?? ???? … ??? ??????? ?? ???? ????
then follow with your comment #29, don’t you think ? Anyways please keep those comments coming, I’m pretty sure others are enjoying your hysteria just as much as I am.
By the way 25% of the world’s population is Muslim, which means you gotta have at least one Muslim family in your neighborhood, actually I bet you have a Muslim living right next door. Sweet dreams LOL.
P.S. regarding your #33 comment to OTW
http://www.eltwhed.com/vb/showthread.php?t=21211
Next time google before you post idiotic statements, but then idiots cannot help but be idiots.
August 26th, 2011, 6:01 pm
Aboud said:
OTW is correct. Arabic grammar is based on the Quran.
But it’s still fun to watch yet another Menhebak Meltdown. Visitors to the website should start wearing radioactive suits from all the Besho-Rays being generated.
August 26th, 2011, 6:04 pm
beaware said:
No mercy in Tripoli fighting
http://news.yahoo.com/no-mercy-tripoli-fighting-195201010.html
AFP By Marc Bastian | AFP – 26 aug 2011
Beatings, lynchings and summary executions: Moamer Kadhafi’s fighters and their rebel opponents have shown little mercy for each other in the heavy battles for the control of Tripoli in the past few days.
In the southern district of Abu Slim, a generally pro-Kadhafi neighbourhood, scores of corpses rot in the sun near the Bab al-Aziziya compound from where the strongman ruled Libya for more than four decades.
“Kadhafi’s men, foreign mercenaries,” a rebel fighter, Ibrahim Abdulhadin, guarding a nearby checkpoint said.
Several bodies had been bound and shot in the back in what some of the rebels admitted in hushed tones had been a summary execution.
More…
August 26th, 2011, 6:09 pm
Tara said:
Dear Beaware plus
Thank you for your reply. My post was not meant to offend you. I very much hope that Joshua and everybody else in the whole world see our revolution for what it truly is: A longing for freedom and dignity in the eyes of the humiliated brutally oppressed average Syrian.
August 26th, 2011, 6:16 pm
OFF THE WALL said:
Dear BEAWARE PLUS
I don’t know, but when academics become policy activists, I humbly reserve the right to pow pow them.
By all means, pow pow you should. and this is an excellent and fair stance. Yet I do believe that fearing the pow pow has caused many academics to avoid advocacy when it is the right thing to do, thus rendering themselves mere technicians to policy makers rather than informants and advocates of enlightened policy. Alas, it is not because pow powing is wrong, for it is not, it is because of cowardice coupled with an academic system that is rigged to detach the best brains from decision making. In that sense, Landis is a brave man.
That said, I believe that on this forum, Joshua has tried his best to remain fair. There are times when the posts are tilted one way or another. Also, during the Bush Era, I supported Prof. Landis’s stance on the Ambassador, on rejecting Bush policy and strategy because i, and many Syrian expats did not think, and we still do not think, that bush was handling things the right way or was motivated by the right motivation.
August 26th, 2011, 6:22 pm
Mjabali said:
General Arboud
Seculars are here to stay. Salafi goons like you getting caught with one lie after another are nothing but a joke. Your argument has more holes than Swiss Cheezzzzzz. Say hello to the BBC idiots who are giving a prophet of hate like you a forum.
By the way your Mass Produced posts are nothing of value
August 26th, 2011, 6:25 pm
Mjabali said:
Mr Afram
Islamists like Arboud are no factor in modern times that is why they kill and destroy. They can contribute nothing but hatred and noise. ????? ?? ????? ?????? ???? ????? ???? ???? ??? ?? ?? ??
August 26th, 2011, 6:30 pm
Akbar Palace said:
Beaware Plus,
I agree with you 100%.
August 26th, 2011, 6:36 pm
OFF THE WALL said:
SYR.EXPAT
You were right, it is not his drawing.
????? ?????????????????????????
??????? ??????? ?? ??? ??????????? ??? ?? ??? ??????? ??? ????? ? ??? ?? ?? ????? ?? ????? ????? ??????? ? ????
??? ?????? ??????? ??? ?????
But the funny thing is that the drawing is now posted on the main page of Ali’s own website. The man is such a brilliant satirist.
August 26th, 2011, 6:39 pm
Tara said:
Has there been any international outcry in regard to Bashar’s recent crime against Ali Ferzat?
August 26th, 2011, 6:51 pm
najwa said:
Well.. There are good erason to think that the absolut majority of articles here are biased though, after all it does not take a genious to figure out this regime and mukhabarat are perfectly capable of shelling and killing and horrible crimes against ppl who are demonstrating against the dictator regime…it is, after all, a sick dictator regime..no wonder it will say that Aljazeera and all media saying that are “propagannda” , what did u expect???
If u r seriously afraid of Islamists, even a bigger reason to establish democracy and a dialoge, it is the only way u can protect yourself from it..But supporting this mad lunatic criminal regime bathing in blood and you dancing on the bodies of over 2000 killed, is really the last way to help, it is extreme violence and unjustice combined with isolation that can produce extremism, so you better get smarter and stop lying to yourself if you truley are afraid of extremism, and fast too! No wonder the regime here with all it’s media were so supportive of other brutal challanged tyrants by their ppl like Saleh and Qaddafi! I would’nt be surprised if Ibrahim Taleb, a regime so called “intellectual” would make a fatwa (after he did a fatwa on killing demonstrators )with Jihad on Switzerland just like Qaddafi did, I mean seriously: (http://bit.ly/nGHvE1)
August 26th, 2011, 6:55 pm
OFF THE WALL said:
Dear TARA
YES, there has been. The US state department had a press release on it. Also, many newspapers mentioned it. Just google his name and then select NEWS ABOUT ALI FERZAT (or FARZAT) from the search results and you can get an idea about the international outcry. It is turning into another major embarrassment for the hyena pack.
August 26th, 2011, 6:56 pm
NK said:
Dear Haytham
What pains me about the statements in Bashar’s speech, is the fact that a secular constitution is now out of the picture, and any chance we had for separation of religion and state is now gone, whether the new constitution is drafted while Bashar is still in power or after he’s gone.
The conservative Muslims in Syria (the overwhelming majority of the population) were not discussing this point at all, at least not in the open. Actually, in an attempt to gain the liberals and the minorities many if not most of the revolutionists declared they wanted a civil state hinting that Article 3 might be open for debate, however now that Bashar offered them this candy, it makes no sense for them not to double down, Bashar made sure this became a non-issue. Putting myself in my Christian friends’ shoes I can not help it but to feel betrayed by Bashar today.
August 26th, 2011, 6:56 pm
Tara said:
Dear OTW
Ann did not post any article in that regard. I guess… I am not surprised.
August 26th, 2011, 6:59 pm
OFF THE WALL said:
Dear TARA
Me neither, not surprised at all.
August 26th, 2011, 7:03 pm
BEAWARE PLUS said:
Dear OTW
What is the “right” motivation for getting rid of a tyrant who was responsible for a million or so deaths, many his own people? What is the the magic number of victims that would trigger a motivation?
Tony Blair was asked recently, after all we know today about the Iraq war does he still think he was right to go to war, and why? He answered: Yes, because every time you have a chance, any chance, to get rid of a tyrant, it is good for humanity.
August 26th, 2011, 7:04 pm
beaware said:
Syrian opposition tries to unite, Turkey pledges more support
25/08/2011
http://www.setimes.com/cocoon/setimes/print/en_GB/features/setimes/features/2011/08/25/feature-01
Syria’s fragmented opposition is on the edge of forming their leadership, as the unrest in the country is about to enter its sixth month.
The Syrian opposition gathered in Istanbul earlier this week and established the National Council after three days of meetings. The 120 members will be determined in two weeks.
“Options for the Assad regime are growing narrower by the day while the opposition is becoming bolder and more conscious of the pressing need to demonstrate that they are able to address the question of what happens after the collapse of the Assad regime,” says Amr al-Azm, a Syrian-American history professor.
The overall death toll has reached 2,200 in Syria so far, according to the UN.
Meanwhile, al-Azm adds, the opposition is unable to unite around a single representative body “that would then be able to speak on its behalf and articulate these demands in a cohesive and comprehensive manner”.
This is not easy “due to the unsettled relations between the various opposition groups and tensions that exist between those on the inside and the diaspora”, he tells SETimes.
“It is this daunting challenge of attempting to help the Syrian opposition coalesce around a representative body or council that Turkey may find a role to play in the coming days and weeks,” he adds.
Edward Dark, an activist from Aleppo and editor of the website Syrialeaks, said that Syrians perceive Turkey as a model they should follow, “especially in terms of its secular political system of democracy and strong economy”.
“We view Turkey as a big brother who should protect us in our time of trouble… maybe [our] expectations are too high and sometimes unrealistic,” he tells SETimes.
Turkey, however, finds itself in a difficult position on the Syrian issue, while it tries to juggle its relations with the regime and links to the people.
“Maintaining this balance is not possible anymore,” Dark says, “The activists demand that Turkey sever its ties with the regime and take a very tough line, with threats of military intervention, under the umbrella of the UN or NATO.”
But in Ankara, officials seem unsure about the next step in their strategy.
“Our diplomacy is the diplomacy of persuasion,” Canan Kalsin, ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) vice-chairman for foreign affairs, tells SETimes, adding that Turkey will continue its efforts to bring the sides together for dialog.
“[Erdogan] warned last week that unrest in Syria is part of Turkey’s internal affairs. That means the strengthening of the PKK in Syria is very sensitive for us,” she adds.
Oytun Orhan, Syria analyst at the Center for Middle Eastern Strategic Studies, an Ankara-based think tank, explains that some in Turkey blame the recent wave of PKK attacks on Syria, believing that the al-Assad regime is tacitly backing the rebels in response to AKP government turning against its former ally.
“The regional picture is more complicated,” he told SETimes. “Syria is a key ally of Iran, which has, in recent weeks, suddenly stepped up its own attacks on PJAK, the PKK’s Iranian wing. Apparently, Iran also influences Turkey in this matter.”
August 26th, 2011, 7:04 pm
beaware said:
MEMRI TV
Syrian Opposition Leader Riad Seif Recounts His Experiences in Prison and Says: ‘Dialogue Cannot Take Place between a Hangman and His Victim’
http://www.thememriblog.org/blog_personal/en/40132.htm
August 26th, 2011, 7:06 pm
Muhammad said:
Praveen Swami is a big Islamophobe who is also the Daily Telegraph Political Editor. The DT has generally maintained an anti-Assad editorial line (or let’s say kept closer to reality) so he might have found himself obliged to vent his venom in The Hindu. I would not be surprised if he turns out to be another fake secularist who worship cow’s dung at home and pretend to be a modern thinking liberal while at work. There are plenty of his types around on SC.
Of note: I thought the demos today are smaller than what they were. Even the flow of posting on facebook seem to have slowed. This was always going to be inevitable. When things reach a peak they can only go down. People would be mistaken to see this as a sign of weakness. I doubt a single demonstrator who witnessed police brutality can turn to be pro-Bashar. What is happening is that more and more people are realizing that peaceful activism has reached it’s potential and it is time to move on to the next stage. The Libyan Revolution did not generate 10% of the articles/videos of the Syrian Revolution yet it is now victorious while the Syrians are still struggling. The Syrians are taking on a much bigger beast of course.
The protests phase will slow but it will not stop. It was a very important phase. It has already achieved a lot: breaking the fear barrier, mobilizing the population, defining the goals of the revolution, exposing and isolating the regime and creating some form of organisation for the people on the ground that will be essential for future activism. The revolution would not have taken off the ground without this phase.
The regime today is much weaker than it was 5 months ago. It is seen as a liability for Syria both economically and politically. Why should the people starve for Bashar to remain in power ? The verdict to execute Assad regime has been issued by the international community and things are now the implementation stage. Russia and China are just bargaining and have no principle stance behind Assad (USA/Europe are little different with this regard). In few months time Arab countries where revolution succeeded will start seeing the fruits of their revolutions and Assad regime will look even more isolated. I doubt he will survive that long though.
The next stage will see militarisation of the revolution. Bashar will get what he asked for: Armed Resistance. Personally, I can’t wait.
August 26th, 2011, 7:08 pm
SYR.EXPAT said:
????? ??? ??? ?????? ????? ??????
????? ????? ???? ???? ??”???????” ?????? ???? ????? ????? ????? ??????
??? – ??? ??????
??? ???? ?? 120 ????? ?????? ??? ?????? ?????? ?????????? ?? ?????? ??? ?? ?????/????? ??????? ????? ???? ?? ????? ????? ????? ???? ?????? ?? ??????? ??? ?????? ?????? ????? ?? ????? ?????? ??????? ???? ?????? ????? ?? ???? ??? ?????.
???? ???? ???? ?? ???? ??”???????” ?? ????? ?????? ?? ???????? ?????? ????? ????? ???????? ???? ??? ????? ?????? ????? ????? ?? ?????? ???????? ?? ?????/????? ?????? ????? ??????? ??????? ??? ????? ?????? “????? ?????” ??? ?? ????? ??? ????? ?????? ????? ???? ??? ???? ????? ?????? ?????? ???? ??? ?????? ????? ????? ?????? ????.
????? ?????? ??? ?? ??? 300 ?????? ???????? ???? ????? ??????? ????? ???? ??? ?????? ????? ????? ??? ???? ??? ?????? ????? ???? ???? ???? ????? ?? ??? ??? ????? ???????.
??????? ????? ???? ?? ?????? ?? “???????” ?? ??? ????? ??????? ???? ??? ???? ????? ???? ?????? ??????? ?? ????? ?????: “?? ??? ??? ????? ?????? ?? ???? ?? ???? ??????? ???? ???? ???????”.
??? ??????? ????? ???? ??? ??????? ????? ?? ??? ??????? ?? ?? ??? ???? ????.. ??????? ?? ???? ?????? ?????? ?? ?????? ?? ?????? ???? ????? ? ??? ??? ???? ???? ??????.
????? ?? ????? ??? ??? ??? ??? ????? ??? ?? ???? ?????? ?? ????? ????? ???? ??? ???? ???? ??13 ????? ???? 8 ?? ????.
???? ??????? ???? ?????? ????? ?????? ?????? ????? ????? 120 ????? ????? ?? ?????? ???? ?????? ??????? ????? ????? ????? ?????? ?????.
http://www.alarabiya.net/save_print.php?print=1&cont_id=164209
August 26th, 2011, 7:10 pm
Tara said:
I never seen Ali Ferzat before. I just watched him on Aljazeera. He is pretty handsome.
August 26th, 2011, 7:12 pm
OFF THE WALL said:
Dear NK
I agree with you 100% and yet not even a single whimper out from the fake secularists camp. How pathetic.
Assad the father betrayed secularism first in 1973 when he yielded unnecessarily to adding the presidency clause in article 3 even though he could have passed the constitution without it but with a lower margin. Now his son is continuing with further cop-out to please clerics, whom his father and himself are the main factors in providing with too much power. He is a coward. But I do not think it will work.
August 26th, 2011, 7:14 pm
beaware said:
Nasrallah urges Arabs to end unrest in Syria
By Dana Khraiche
http://www.dailystar.com.lb/2011/Aug-26/Liberation-of-south-depended-on-Syrian-support-Nasrallah.ashx#axzz1WBBw4peT
BEIRUT: Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hasan Nasrallah called Friday on Arab and friendly states to combine efforts to end the nearly six-month unrest in Syria, adding Syrian support for Hezbollah had been essential in the liberation of south Lebanon from Israeli occupation.
“Everyone who is a friend of Syria and seeks to preserve the country and its unity should combine efforts to help push them toward dialogue and peaceful resolution,” Nasrallah said during a ceremony for the occasion of Jerusalem International Day in Maroun al-Ras, a village on the Lebanese border with Israel.
Nasrallah praised Syria’s support for the Lebanese and Palestinian resistance, noting that if it wasn’t for the support of the Syrian leadership, Hezbollah would not have succeeded in liberating south Lebanon in 2000.
“This land here [south Lebanon] would not have been liberated it wasn’t for the resistance and the resistance would not have won if it wasn’t for the Syrian support,” Nasrallah said, adding that the Iran had also provided support, via Syria.
In 2000, Israel withdrew from south Lebanon in what has been described by Hezbollah as a victory for the party, as has the 2006 war between Lebanon and Israel.
Nasrallah also warned that any positive or negative developments in Syria would affect the entire region, including Lebanon, and would harm the chances of liberating Palestine, praising Syria’s role in supporting the Palestinian cause.
The Hezbollah leader accused the West of plotting to divide Syria in an attempt to create a new Middle East. “There are some who are trying to create [sectarian] division in Syria in an attempt to serve the project of [creating] a new Middle East,” he said.
Hezbollah had previously described events in Syria as a foreign conspiracy, echoing the words of President Bashar Assad who has described some of the anti-government protesters as armed terrorist groups targeting the country.
Syria’s crackdown on protestors, which opposition and human rights group say has resulted in the death of over 2,200 people, has been harshly condemned by the international community and some Arab countries.
In his speech, Nasrallah also touched upon events in Libya, saying that one of Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi’s worst crimes was the detention of Imam Musa Sadr in Libya on Aug. 31, 1978. Ties between the two countries have been strained in the three decades since he disappeared along with his two companions.
“Today we are looking forward for the revolutionaries and mujahedeen [in Libya] to end this tragic case and we are full of hope that the Imam and his companions will return alive and safe,” Nasrallah said.
More…
August 26th, 2011, 7:14 pm
Haytham Khoury said:
Dear NK:
I can’t express it better than you did @49. If you think about all these candies that Bashar offered are not substantive. The real issues are economy and education. Bashar statements will create more divisions and more sectarianism. However, we still can do it in my opinion. We need just to work together. We should start to organize ourselves from now. Even after the regime falls the tasks are too big. The challenges are enormous.
I appreciated very much your comments at 49.
August 26th, 2011, 7:17 pm
beaware said:
Russia, China resist U.N. Syria sanctions push: envoys
By Louis Charbonneau
UNITED NATIONS | Fri Aug 26, 2011 5:53pm EDT
http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/08/26/us-syria-un-idUSTRE77P4X920110826
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) – A U.S. and European push to impose U.N. Security Council sanctions on Syria for its bloody crackdown on pro-democracy demonstrators is meeting fierce resistance from Russia and China, U.N. diplomats said.
The United States, Britain, France, Germany and Portugal have circulated a draft resolution that calls for sanctions against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, influential members of his family and close associates. They say they want to put it to a vote as soon as possible.
The measures are not as severe as U.S. sanctions in place and a proposed expansion of European Union steps against Damascus that would forbid the import of Syrian oil.
Diplomats said there were no plans for a vote yet.
Russia’s U.N. ambassador, Vitaly Churkin, has hinted that Moscow would use its veto power to knock down the draft if it were put to a vote at the current time. Western diplomats said Russia and China were refusing to discuss the draft.
“The Russians say they have no instructions,” a diplomat told Reuters on Friday on condition of anonymity.
As a result, Western diplomats in New York said their capitals would have to get involved to persuade Moscow and Beijing to join negotiations on the draft resolution to reach a consensus among the 15 Security Council members.
“Clearly we need this to be unlocked at the capital level because there is very strong resistance from Russia and China,” a diplomat said.
Brazil, India and South Africa have also been reluctant to sanction — or even condemn — Syria, whose five-month crackdown on demonstrators has killed at 2,200, according to U.N. figures from earlier this week.
But one diplomat said the three countries, all of which aspire to become permanent members of an expanded Security Council, were now “constructively engaging on the text.”
RUSSIAN COUNTERPROPOSAL
Russia on Friday proposed putting to a vote a rival resolution it has drafted on Syria, but one Western envoy described it as “toothless” and unlikely to get the support of the United States and Europeans.
The Russian text, obtained by Reuters, did not call for sanctions or other punitive measures, simply urging Syrian authorities to speed up their proposed reforms, and the opposition to engage in dialogue with the government.
U.S. mission spokesman Mark Kornblau said the Security Council should respond to the Syrian government’s continuing violence. “The draft resolution that we have put forward is the right basis for this response,” he said.
The council had scheduled an informal closed-door meeting of ambassadors on the draft sanctions resolution on Thursday afternoon, but the Chinese and Russian envoys boycotted the meeting, diplomats said.
“You see two permanent members of the Security Council who deliberately leave an empty chair,” a diplomat said. “We hope that they will engage constructively.”
Earlier this week, Churkin told reporters it was not the time to sanction Syria. After months of helping block any council action on Syria, Russia and China had backed an August 3 statement by the Security Council that condemned the government’s crackdown and called for it to end.
Russia, China, Brazil, India and South Africa have repeatedly complained that the NATO intervention in Libya has gone far beyond the U.N. mandate approved by the council in March to protect civilians from violence by the government. They say they do not want the same thing to happen in Syria.
Russia has long had close ties to Syria and is one of its main arms suppliers. One of the proposed sanctions is an arms embargo, which would make it illegal for Russian firms to sell weapons to Damascus.
The sanctions would impose a travel ban on 22 of Assad’s relatives and associates and an asset freeze on 23 Syrians, including Assad. Envoys said Assad was excluded from the travel ban in order to give him an escape route.
“We want him to leave the country,” a diplomat said.
The United States and EU have urged Assad to step down.
August 26th, 2011, 7:21 pm
SYR.EXPAT said:
???? ??????: ??? ????? ???????? ?????? ?? ?????? ????? ?? ????? ????
?????? ???
??????, 26 ????? 2011 22:03
??? ?????? ????????? ????? ???????? ????? ????????? ?? ????? ?????? ???? ?????? ?? “?? ??? ?? ??? ??? ?????? ?????? ?? ” ??? ????? ????? ???? ?? ??? ????? ?????? ??? ????? ?? ???? ?? ???? ?? ?????? ?????? ???? ????? ?? ????? ?????? ???? ????? ???? ???? ????? ?? ???? ?? ??? ????? ?? ???? ?? ???? ??? ???”.
???? ?????? ?? ???? ????? “??????” ?? ” ?????? ??? ????? ?? ????? ???????? ????? ????? ??????? ?? ?????? ?????? ?? ?????? ?? ???? ?????? ?? ????? ????? ??????? ?????? ??????? ??? ?????”.
??? ???? ????? ???? ?????? ??? ?? “???? ???? ?????”? ??? ????? ?? ??? ???????? ???????? ????? ?????? ???????? ???????? ????????? ??????? ?? ??? ???????? ?????? ???? ??? ??? ???????? ???? ????? ?????? ?????? ???????? ?????? ??? ?????? ??????? ???? ???? ??? ????? ?? ???? ??? ???? ?? ??? ???? ???? ??? ????? ?? ???? ?? ???? ????? “? ?????: “?? ????? ???? ???????? ??????? ???????? ?????????? ???????? ?? ????? “.
?????? ?????? ???? ?? ???? ????? ?? ???? ?? ????? ??? ??? ???? ???? ???????”? ????? ??? ?? “????? ??? ????? ???? ?????? ????? ???? ????? ?????? ??? ???? ???? ??????? ????? ?? ???”.
?????????? ?? ????? ???: “????? ????”? ?”???? ?? ???? ?? ????? ?????? ??? ????? ?????? ?????? ????? ?? ?????? ?? ?????? ????? “? ?????: “??? ?? ????? ??? ??? ?? ?? ??? ??????? ??? ??? ?? ?? ??? ??? ??????? ?????? ????? ??? ????? ????? ???? ????? ??????: ?? ??????”.
?????? ?? “?????? ????? ?? ?????? ??????? ????? ?????? ?????? ?????? ???? ??? ???? ?? ??? ?? ????? ??? ???? ?????? ??? ????? ?? ????? ???? ????? ?? ?????”.
???? ????? ?????? ??? “?????? ??? ?? ?????? ?????? ?????? ??????? ?????? ????? ??? ??? ???”.
http://www.watan.com/news/????-??????-???-?????-????????-??????-??-??????-?????-??-?????-????.html
August 26th, 2011, 7:23 pm
SYR.EXPAT said:
??? ???? ?????? ?? ?????: ???? ?? ???? (?????? ???????) ?? ??????? ????????.. ???? ??? ?????? ?? ?? ?????????
?????? ???
??????, 26 ????? 2011 19:00
?? ??? ??????? ???? ???? ???? ????? ??????? ????? ???? ?????? ???? ????? ??? ???????? ??????? ??????? ?????? ?? ???? ????? ???????? ?? ??? ??? ???? ????? ??????? ?????? ??? 2200 ???? ??? ??? ????? ????? ??? ????? ??? ??? ??? ????? ?????? ????? ???? ???? ????????? ??? ????? ??????? ???????? ????? ???? ??? ?????? ??? ?? ??????? ???????? ???? ????? ???? ????.
???? ??? ????? ?? ?????? ???? ?? ???? ????? ????? ??? ?????? ?? ??????? ??????? ??? ????? ????? ??????? ??? ????? ??????? ?? ????? ??????? ??????? ????? ??? ????? ??????? ????? ????? ?? ????? ????? ?? ??????.
???? ??? ???? ?? ???? ??? ???????? ??? ???? ??????: “???? ???? ????? ?????? ??? ??????? ????? ????? ?? ????? ?????? ?????? ???? ?? ??? ????? ??? ??? ????? ??? ??? ?? ???????? ????? ?????? ?????? ??? ???? ?? ????? ??? ?????? ??????. ???? ???? ????? ?????? ?????????? ???????? ??? ???? ??? ??? ?? ???? ?? ?? ???? ??????? ?????? ??? ????? ???? ????? ?? ?????? ?????? ?????? ??????? ?? ????? ????? ?????? ??? ?????? ????????? ???????”.
???? ???? ???? ?????? ?? ?????? “?? ?? ????? ??? ?? ???? ??? ?? ??? ??? ????? ???? ?????? ???? ?? ???????”. ??????: “????? ????? ??????? ????? ????? ??? ?????? (??? ???? ???????) ?????? ?? ????? ?? ????? ?????? ?????? ????? ?? ???????”. ????: “????? ?? ???? ????? ?? ???????? ?? ?????? ????? ??????? ????. ?? ???? ???? ?? ??? ????? ??????? ???? ??? ???? ?????? ????? ?????? ??????? ????”.
???? ??? ????: “?????? ?????? ???? ?? ??????? ??????? ??????? ??? ???? ???? ???????. ??? ?? ??? ?????? ?? ????????? ????? ?? ???? ???? ???? ?? ?????? ?????? ???????????? ?????? ??? ???? ?? ???? ?? ????? ???? ???? ?? ????? ?? ??????????? ??? ????? ??????? ?????? ??? ??? ??????? ???????? ?????? ???? ???? ?????? ?????? ?????? ?????? ????????? ??????. ??????? ??? ???? ????? ??????? ??????? ?? ????? ???????”.
?????: “??? ?? ??? ????? ?? ????? ??? ?? ??????? ????? ?? ????? ??????? ?????? ???? ????? ?? ????? ????????? ????? ????????? ?????? ???? ???? ??? ????? ??? ????? ?????????. ?? ???? ?? ???? ??? ????? ?? ??????? ??? ????? ??? ??? ???? ??? ?????”.
http://www.watan.com/reports/???-????-??????-??-?????-????-??-????-??????-???????-??-???????-????????-????-???-??????-??-??-?????????.html
August 26th, 2011, 7:25 pm
SYR.EXPAT said:
?????? ???? ?????? ???? ??? ???? ?????? ????? ??? ????? ???? ??????????
?????? ???
??????, 26 ????? 2011 18:00
???? ???? ???? ???? ?????? ???? ?????? ???????? ???????? ??? ???? ???????? ?? ??? ?????????? ????????.
???? ??? ?? ???? ????? ????? ???? ??? ???? ??? ????? ??????? ??????? ??????? ??? ????? ?? ???? “?????????”.
????? ?? ??? ??????? ???? ????? ???? ??? ??? ???? ???? ????? ??????? ????? ???????? ?? ???? ??? ???? ??????? ??????? ?????? ?????? ??????? ?? ????? ?? ???? ????? ????? ?? ??????? ?? ??? ???? ?? ???? ????? ??? ???? ?? ???? ?? ????? ??? ???? ?????? ?? ????????? ?????????? ?? ?????? ???????.
???? ??? ??? ???? ?? ???? ???????? ?? ?????? ?????? ?? ???? ????? ?? ???? ??????? ?????? ?? ???? ?????? ?????????? ????? ????? ?????? ??????.
???? ??? ?? ??????? ??????? ??? ??? ???? ?? ??? ????? ?????? ??????????? ?????? ??? ?? “???? ????? ???????? ??? ???? ???????? ?? ????? ??????? ?????? ??? ?????? ?????? ??? ???????.
????? ??? ???? ??? ????? ??? ?????? ?? ????? ??? ?????? ???????? ??? ?? ???? ??? ????? ??? ??????? ?????? ?????? ???????? ??? ?? ????? ?? ?????? ??? ?? ??????.
?????? ?? ???? ??????? ??????? ???? ??? ????? ????? ?????? ?????, ?????? ?? ?? ???????? ?? ????? ????? ??????? ????? ??????? “????? ???? ?? ????? ??????? ???? ??????? ????? ?????? ?? ????????????? ?? ?????? ???? ????? ???? ?? ??? ?????? ?? ????? ??? ?? ?????? ?????? ?? ????? ????????? ????? ?? ?? ????? ???? ?????????”.
http://www.watan.com/news/??????-????-??????-????-???-????-??????-?????-???-?????-????-??????????.html
August 26th, 2011, 7:27 pm
SYR.EXPAT said:
Iran stirs up new conflict: Its Iraqi terrorist arm shoots Scuds at Kuwait
DEBKAfile Exclusive Report August 26, 2011, 9:52 AM (GMT+02:00) Tags: Kuwait Iraqi Hizballah Iran Iraq
Kuwait’s Grand Mubarak Port under construction
Three Scud missiles flying from Iraq to Kuwait early Friday, Aug. 26 were launched by the Iran-backed Ketaeb Hizballah of Iraq, the first such attacks since the US invaded Iraq in 2003. It was also the first time any Middle East terrorist group had used Scud missiles.
They exploded on open ground, but DEBKAfile’s sources report that this round was meant as a warning for Kuwait to halt construction of the Grand Mubarak Port opposite the Iraqi shore – or else it would be followed by a massive volley.
In the second week of August, Kuwait massed troops on Boubiyan Island just across from Iraq to defend the huge $1.1 billion Grand Mubarak Port under construction there. The force was composed of Military Police of the Amoun Defense Organization, units of intelligence and air defense, the 35th Company, the 6th Brigade and naval forces.
This appeared to be rather a disproportionate reaction to Iraq’s demand that Kuwait freeze construction of the Persian Gulf port until guarantees were provided that the new facility would not hinder the operations of Iraq’s own planned harbor in the southern region of Basra. Iraq also fears it will block the main Persian Gulf gateway for its oil exports to reach the world’s shipping lanes from the Shatt al-Arb.
A government spokesman in Baghdad demanded assurances that free and safe navigation would not be affected by the Kuwait port which is scheduled for completion in 2016.
This dispute did not account for Kuwait’s heavy military deployment on its largest island.
What did is another factor DEBKA-Net- Weekly’s military and intelligence sources reported on Aug. 12: A threat from the Iraqi Shiite radical Ketaeb Hizballah, an arm of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Al-Qods Brigades, trained by the Lebanese Hizballah, to strike the new port with Scud missiles, a threat they started carrying out this Friday.
This followed Tehran’s discovery that Mubarak Port was also projected to house a large naval base to serve the fleets of Kuwait, the US and Saudi Arabia in the Persian Gulf, a project Iran is determined to put paid to by any means.
Until Friday, there was no confirmation of the group’s claim to have recovered most of the inventory of 250 Scuds held by Saddam Hussein before the US invasion of 2003. But now, is clear to Kuwaiti and Western intelligence officials in the Gulf that the Scud cache has indeed fallen into the hands of the Ketaeb Hizballah of Iraq and that there is a real danger of Tehran using Iraqi Shiite extremists to sabotage the Boubiyan Island project.
Last week, Iraqi Hizballah activities staged a demonstration against the port on the Iraqi-Kuwait border. Kuwait warned it would show zero tolerance for any border incursions.
http://www.debka.com/article/21244/
August 26th, 2011, 7:29 pm
Haytham Khoury said:
@54
Riad Seif is a courageous and very intelligent politician. Riad Seif was at the origin of this fight with the regime in 2002 when he objected offering the Syriatel contract to Rami Makhlouf. As a consequence, he was sent to prison on the false charges of “inciting sectarianism”. That contract was the omen of Bashar. Today, Bashar is facing the consequences. I hope he can overcome his cancer battle to be able to serve Syria more.
August 26th, 2011, 7:33 pm
Aboud said:
Thanks Muhammad for letting us know about Praveen Swami. His article did seem disjointed from reality. Today I posted a list of areas in Hama that came out to demonstrate. Instead of one massive demo in Al-Asi square, the demonstrations are dispersed throughout the whole city, the same way Homs has been demonstrating for months.
This evening is Laylat al Qadr, traditionally believed to be the holiest night of the year. Alot of people stayed home to read Quran, but from what I saw, the evening demonstrations in Homs were as big as ever. Are you judging from the ones after Friday prayers?
The demonstrators have been out every single night for the past 27 days, and on Fridays they go out twice a day, so I wouldn’t rush to judgement based on a single day.
“Russia and China are just bargaining and have no principle stance behind Assad ”
Exactly, they will sell out junior when the price is right.
“The next stage will see militarisation of the revolution. Bashar will get what he asked for: Armed Resistance. Personally, I can’t wait.”
It’s inevitable, and the more committed side always wins. From what I’ve seen of the Besho Brigades, they could never win against a professional, dedicated army.
August 26th, 2011, 7:33 pm
SYR.EXPAT said:
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2011-08-26
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??????? ???? ?? ?????? ?? ????? ????? ????????? ????? ???? ????? ??????? ???????? ?????? ??? ??????? ??? ?? ??????? ??????? ?????????? ???? ???? ?? ????? ?????? ????? ?????? ?????? ??????? ????? ????? ??? ???????? ????? ????? ??????? ??????? ????? ?? ???? ?????? ??????
???????? ?? ????? ??????? ??? ?????? ?????? ???? ??????? ??? ???? ???? ?? ??? ????? ???? ??????? ????? ??????? ???? ??????? ???????? ??????? ???? ???? ?????? ??? ??? ?? ????? ????? ????????? ????? ??? ?????? ?????.
??????? ?? ??? ?? ?????? ?????? ??? ???? ?? ??? ?????? ??? ?????? ????? ???? ??????? ????? ???????? ???? ??? ??? ????? ?? ?? ???? ?????? ???????? ?? ?? ??? ??????.
?????? ??????? ?? ?????? ????? ??? ???? ??????? ??????? ????? ??????? ???????? ?? ??? ???????? ?????? ??????.
http://www.alquds.co.uk/index.asp?fname=today\26qpt999.htm&arc=data\201188-26\26qpt999.htm
August 26th, 2011, 7:33 pm
Tara said:
Syrian Expat @ 62
And I invite ?????? ????????? ????? ???????? ????? ????????? ?? ????? ?????? ???? ?????? to read the Enjil one more time. I think he forgot Jesus teachings and he needs a reminder.
August 26th, 2011, 7:40 pm
Syria no kandahar said:
Cold Friday
???? ???? ???? ????
General Arbood watch your old clips
Keep boiling the urine
Keep dreaming of hanging
Keep barking
Pat yourself on the shoulder
The sun will keep rising
Syrians hate Fridays,but Friday like today they don’t mind.
Syrian criminals need resuscitation
Aljazera and Alarabia are watched by Hamad and Moza
General Arbood Hama was all in streets today,you are right general.Hurricane iren should have been called hurricane Aroor or Arbood.
August 26th, 2011, 7:51 pm
Haytham Khoury said:
I agree fully with Tara @ 69.
I know personally. He is nobody without his relationships with the Syrian secret service. However, I know why Syr. Expat. chose the article at 62. Do not worry about it. It is for good intention Syr. Expat. did.
August 26th, 2011, 7:58 pm
DIGGING FOR GOLD IN BOSRA said:
Off topic I know, but can anyone tell me if the man in the photo behind Dr. Rateb Shallah is Dr Nabil Sukar? I’m talking about the guy who has his eyebrows raised and whose mouth is obscured by Shallah’s head, he’s also wearing a greenish jacket. Thanks.
August 26th, 2011, 8:05 pm
Muhammad said:
Aboud
You are right. The demos has had an astonishing pace for the last 27 days. They have certainly reached a peak in few cities and from there they can only take a variable course. This is only natural. The demos will increase in areas where there is still reserve (Aleppo/Damascus) but in other areas will vary depending on the circumstances and pressure from security forces … etc. If something happen that brings the attention of people the demos will go up quickly again. The protesters have won the public space and therefore the “novelty” factor in the demos is now gone. This does not worry me in the slightest though. The demos will be more organised and you will find that the demonstrators are more careful in using their energy and time. This is not a bad thing.
BTW, I hear the regime is calling military reserve. This is an important sign. The military is stretched. This also means that civilians will now join the ranks of the military. Expect plenty of defections.
The Syrian army is useless as a fighting force. Outdated kit, corrupt officers, demoralised personnel and poor training. Any person who served in the army can tell you loads of stories about this. It is no coincidence that we have not won any wars since independence except against civilians (Hama, Tal Elza’atar, Dar’a .. etc). On the other hand any popular resistance will be very strong. It has the high moral grounds to start with. Even the mighty American and Soviet armies struggled against popular resistance. Taliban is estimated to be around 10,000 fighters who work part time and are on course to win by default in Afghanistan being the last to be there. This is despite the fact that they are fighting half the world. I think the regime will fall quicker than many people think.
I also want to add that I’m a big fan of you ! I have been reading this forum for sometime now and while I skip a lot of stuff I’d read most of your postings. 3rasi elhamasneh kolhoon.
August 26th, 2011, 8:07 pm
Aboud said:
What a festive atmosphere at Khaldia this evening. You’d never think this was a neighborhood that had been besieged and invaded countless times. Allah yehmekon
Now to drink my fill of menhebak tears. Yummy, I always find some waiting for me…hands off Hamster, these are mine!
🙂
“BTW, I hear the regime is calling military reserve”
Yes, they have been calling reserves up for some time now. Every single person I know who was called up ignored it.
August 26th, 2011, 8:10 pm
Syria no kandahar said:
General
Do want me to remind you of the famous drink I designed for you?
Every Syrian should cry because of what is happening to Syria today,The only ones having fun are people like you enjoying destruction and death of syrians civilians and soldiers.
August 26th, 2011, 8:22 pm
Aboud said:
@75
http://img59.imageshack.us/img59/9291/32505026876569313506419.jpg
🙂
August 26th, 2011, 8:23 pm
SYR.EXPAT said:
71. HAYTHAM KHOURY
Thank you for your good opinion. These are articles that I saw at Watan.com about Syria. I wanted to share more, but didn’t want to flood the forum all at once 🙂
The Syrian regime has the support of people from different sects. Similarly, the Syrian opposition is made up from the same cross-section.
August 26th, 2011, 8:36 pm
Muhammad said:
SNK
Yep, I totally agree with your sentiment. You should tell your menhebak group.
https://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=249270991754505
https://www.facebook.com/groups/131661153591971/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/200426199995654/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/b.alassad/
and countless other stupid pages …..
August 26th, 2011, 8:45 pm
OFF THE WALL said:
According to Mahmoud, Aboud, and SGID, it seems that the cartoon from Ali Ferzat (it is his this time) is a good representation of the reality of situation. Menhebbak gang, don’t be scared it does not depict bisho directly. You can take a look at it, and the spy in your brain will not even understand it.
August 26th, 2011, 8:49 pm
Muhammad said:
Edleb hours earlier …
August 26th, 2011, 8:56 pm
SYR.EXPAT said:
BAck to flooding the forum with good content, I hope.
This video (saw it at Watan) is what Assad and other regimes are using to protect their thrones from popular anger. The idea that it’s all been planned by the West years ago.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=66weCRDri6o&feature=player_embedded
I am sure many in the opposition know that the West has its own plans in the region and they could care less about the people. However, that doesn’t mean that we have to accept the status quo.
The Arab regimes have been doing the bedding of the West by keeping us backwards. They have become a burden and the West wants it out. So we the people need to be aware of that.
August 26th, 2011, 8:56 pm
Evan said:
It’s funny that regime supporters have been so sectarian in their comments here while complaining about a supposedly sectarian opposition. Today I read a story about Wahid Saqr, a youth revolution leader. I looked him up, and it turns out he’s an Alawite, and gave an interview a while back debunking the regime myth that this revolution is sectarian in nature. I think it puts to rest pro-regime story about the opposition being salafi and sectarian, it certainly has in my mind. http://www.biyokulule.com/view_content.php?articleid=3440
August 26th, 2011, 8:56 pm
SYR.EXPAT said:
Things are heating up in Midan:
http://www.facebook.com/Midan.Revolution
August 26th, 2011, 9:01 pm
Aboud said:
Muhammad, remember the obscene and perverted music concert the menhebaks had about a month back? I don’t recall them being in a state of mourning back them.
August 26th, 2011, 9:04 pm
SYR.EXPAT said:
81. MUHAMMAD
The Edilbis have put the Halabis to shame.
More than 40 years ago, the Edilbis, I am told, threw a shoe at Assad Jr. They never liked the Assad mafia it seems.
August 26th, 2011, 9:05 pm
Syria no kandahar said:
????? ????? ????? ????????? ??????
??????? ????? ??? : ?? ?????? ?? ????? ?? ??? ?????? ?? ????? ???? ???? ????????
??????? ????? ????? ????? ? ???? ?? ??? ??? ??? ???????
?? ????? ??? ????? ????? ?? ?????? ????? ????? ???? ?? ???? ????? ???????
????? ????? ????? ?? ???????? ??? ???? ????? ???? ?????? ?????? ?? ???????
?? ??? ?????? ??????? ??? ????? ?? ????? ??? ?? ??? ????? ??? ?????? ?????
August 26th, 2011, 9:07 pm
Muhammad said:
Aboud
I could not watch it. A little bit too much even for me.
SYR.EXPAT
LOL. We always did that to the Halabis.
It was not shoes. It was old tomatoes. Shoes are too valuable.
Edleb is the forgotten city. Deliberately ignored by the regime. No major roads pass through the city despite it’s location. The population/hospital beds ratio in Edleb the worst in Syria. It was one of the two cities Bashar admitted doing them injustice in his infamous germs speech.
I think Halab will rise … it is just a matter of time. 1/3 of Halab are Kurds – definitely not pro-regime. The rest are mainly conservative Sunni. The Armenian community is largely neutral and certainly not pro-regime. It just happens that more coherent and smaller communities can organize and demonstrate easier. If you were sitting in the mosque with 20 of your relatives around you, you will have more confidence going out to demonstrate. While this is the case in Edleb it certainly isn’t in Aleppo. It will still rise though. Bigger rocks takes more pushing to move but once they start rolling they are far more difficult to stop.
August 26th, 2011, 9:19 pm
SYR.EXPAT said:
“Edleb is the forgotten city. Deliberately ignored by the regime. No major roads pass through the city despite it’s location. The population/hospital beds ratio in Edleb the worst in Syria. It was one of the two cities Bashar admitted doing them injustice in his infamous germs speech.”
It’s because of the shoe that was thrown at Assad Sr. I saw a program several weeks ago in which the guest mentioned this story. He was addressing the crowds from a second floor bacon when an Edilbi threw his shoe, which landed next to Assad Sr. Imagine what would have happened to Edlib if the shoe had hit him in the face.
I’ll add Edlib to my itinerary on my next visit to Syria, God willing.
August 26th, 2011, 9:25 pm
Muhammad said:
“Imagine what would have happened to Edlib if the shoe had hit him in the face.”
It would have made better. It could not have made his face worse than what it is !
Anyway, the Edleby shoes are too little for Assad Jr and he deserves the shoes of the world over … where did you hear something similar before ?
“I’ll add Edlib to my itinerary on my next visit to Syria, God willing.”
You are welcome.
August 26th, 2011, 9:32 pm
Aboud said:
@87 http://www.ali-ferzat.com/ar/comic/id/535.html
🙂
“If you were sitting in the mosque with 20 of your relatives around you, you will have more confidence going out to demonstrate.”
Indeed, that’s why Baba Amr, Bab Esba3, Bayada and Khaldia have managed to stay so cohesive throughout these six months. In the early days, people from other parts of Homs who wanted to demonstrate would go to these areas, until eventually in the last 3 and a half months Hamra, Ghota and Insha’at have managed to get the numbers to hold their own demonstrations.
But I still disagree about the bad rep Aleppo has been getting. No city could come out with the security presence there, but come out they do. I have lost count of the number of Aleppan lawyer, engineer and doctor sit ins and demonstrations that have been brutally repressed by the regime’s apes.
If nothing was happening in Aleppo, why have so many Aleppans been arrested during Ramadan?
MLK quote;
“An individual has not started living until he can rise above the narrow confines of his individualistic concerns to the broader concerns of all humanity. ”
Exactly. The menhebaks stay loyal to the hyena pack out of selfish self interest. The revolutionaries risk life and limb, for nothing more but the chance and hope of a free life, and a free country. If I was a betting man, I know exactly on whose dedication and resilience I’d put my money on (and it ain’t the X-Box president, nor his fuming menhebaks on this forum heheheh).
August 26th, 2011, 9:40 pm
Aboud said:
Shocking expose of how the regime’s propaganda faked videos for Friday the 26th. Terrible, truly dreadful. Tsk tsk…but hilarious in its amateurish quality.
August 26th, 2011, 10:02 pm
Syria no kandahar said:
????? ????? ??????
???? ?? ??????? ??? ????? ??????
???? ??????? ???? ?????????
???? ??? ???? ????? ??? ?????? ??????
?????? ??? ?????? ?????? ?? ?????
?????? ??? ?????? ???????? ???? ???
???? ????? ?????
????????? ??????? ?? ????
??? ?? ?????? ?? ?????
August 26th, 2011, 10:50 pm
Afram said:
Qadaffi got caught
http://youtu.be/TDSd-EzA6MU
August 26th, 2011, 11:14 pm
Ali said:
Woman leads the authorities to the arrest of militants,weapons and counterfeit money … And the number of kidnapped victims is now 60 by the armed terrorist gang. The army and security forces searched for the terrorists and arrest of dozens of them. The army and security forces are in pursuit of the terrorists, of whom their involvement in
http://www.facebook.com/notes/syriaonline/woman-leads-the-authorities-to-the-arrest-of-militants-weapons-and-counterfeit-m/147857248635603
August 26th, 2011, 11:37 pm
Syria no kandahar said:
Tara
????? ??????? ???????? ???? ??? ????? ???????? ??? ???? ????? ??????????
????? ??? ????? ???? ???? ??? ??????
???? ???? ??????? ?? ???? ?? ??????? ?? ????? ??? ?? ?????? ????? ??? ?? ??????? ?? ?????
?? ???? ??? ?? ???? ???? ?? ????? ???
?? ???? ?? ?? ?? ???? ?? ?????? ???
August 26th, 2011, 11:54 pm
EHSANI2 said:
Digging for gold in bosra,
Yes it is him (nabil succar).
August 27th, 2011, 12:03 am
Angry said:
What a terrible title
in quotes “let them eat brown bread”.
Was this said? No. Why the use of quotes?
In fact, you intentionally misquoted the statement which he was quite clear in saying that ‘everyone’ was going to have to suffer. Including the banking sector. Not just the peasants.
Does the title say that? No. It misquotes him. It gives him the character of someone who doesn’t give a flip.
The only one who doesn’t give a flip is the writer of the title.
August 27th, 2011, 12:23 am
Afram said:
??? ????? ?? ??????
95. Syria no kandahar said:
Tara
????? ??????? ???????? ???? ??? ????? ???????? ??? ???? ????? ??????????
????? ??? ????? ???? ???? ??? ??????
???? ???? ??????? ?? ???? ?? ??????? ?? ????? ??? ?? ?????? ????? ??? ?? ??????? ?? ?????
?? ???? ??? ?? ???? ???? ?? ????? ???
?? ???? ?? ?? ?? ???? ?? ?????? ???
===========================sad===================================== ??? ???? ??? ???????? ?????? ?? ?????? ?????
??????? ?? ?????? ??? ?? ??????!! ???????? ??? ?????? ???????
????? ?? ???? ??? ????? ??? ???? ??????? ?? ??? ????
???pedophiler ???? ???? ?? ???? ?? ????????
??? ??????? ??? ???? ???? ??? ?????? ????? ???? ?? ??? ??????? ??????? ??? ????????? ?? ??? ????? ?????? ?? ???????
???? ??? ??? ???? ?????????? ?? ????!!!????? ???????
August 27th, 2011, 12:42 am
Aboud said:
@93,98
http://www.ali-ferzat.com/ar/comic/id/606.html
🙂
August 27th, 2011, 5:14 am
OFF THE WALL said:
I received this from a trustworthy friend
?????? “?????” ?????? ?????? ??? ?????????? ??? ?????? ????????? ?????? ?? ?????
????? ?????? ???? ??? ?????? ??????? ???? ??? ?? ???? ?????? ?????? ???? ??? ????? ????? ????? ???? ????????? ???????? ?????? ?????? ??? ???? ????????? ?????? ?? ???? ?????? ?? ??? ??????? ???????? ????? ??? ??? ?????????? ???????? ?????? ??? ?????? ?????? ???? ??? ???? ?? ???? ?? ????? ?????? ?? ????? ????????? ??????? ?? ???? ???? ????? ??? ?????? ?????? ?????? ???? ????? ??????? ???? ???? ??? ???????? ??? ???????? ?????? ?? ??? ??? ?? ?????????? ???? ???????? ??????? ????? ???? ??? ?? ???? ???? ????? ??????? ???? ???? ?????????? ??????? ???? ??????? ????? ?????? ????? ????? ?? ??????
????? ??????? ??? ?????? ???????? ?????? ??? ??????? ??????? ???? ?????? ?? ????? ??????? ????????? ??? ??? ??????? ??? ????? ?? ????????? ????? ????? ??????? ???? ???? ??? ????????.
????? ????? ?? ????? ??? ??????? ??????? ?? ????? ???? ??? ???? ???
?????? ???????? ?????? ???????? ?? ???? ?????? ???? ?????? ???? ???????? ???????? ?????? ?????? ????????? ??? ???????? ???????
???????? ?? ?? ???? ?????? ??????? ?? ???? ??? ??????
???? ???? ????? ?????? ???????? ???? ????? ??????? ??? ??? ???????? ??????? ???? ???? ????? ????? ?????? ???? ???? ????? ???? ??? ???? ??????? ?????? ??? ?? ???? ???? ????? ??????? ????? ?? ??? ?? ?????????? ?????? ??????? ???? ????? ????? ??? ??????? ?????? ???????? ???? ?????? ?????? ?????? ????? ?????? ????? ?????? ?? ??????? ???? ????? ????? ?? ????? ??????
?????? ???????? ?? ????? ??????? ???? ?????? ??? ?? ???????? ????? ?????? ?????? ?????? ??? ?????????? ????? ???????? ?? ????? ??? ??? ???? ????????? ??????? ?????? ??????? ???? ?? ?? ??????? ?? ?????????? ????????? ??????? (???? ?????? ???????) ?????? ?????? ??????? ??????? ??????? ??????? ??????? ??? ?? ????????? ??? ?? ???? ???? ??? ????? ?? ??? ?????? ??? ???????? ????? ?? ??? ????? 20 ?? ????? ??????? ??? ???? ?? ???? ????? ???? ??????? ??????? ?????? ?????? ???? ??? ??????? ?????? ???? ?? ??? ?????? ?????? ??? ???? ???? ????? ????? ??????? ?? ???? ????? ??????? ?????? ??? ??? ???? ?????.
August 27th, 2011, 5:22 am
Aboud said:
Syria accused of covering up damage at Palestinian refugee camp
Syrian authorities are directing a massive cleanup at the Ramel camp ahead of a visit by U.N. inspectors, sources say. The camp was hit by gunfire and rockets during a crackdown on protesters.
By Ryma Marrouch, Los Angeles Times
August 22, 2011
Reporting from Beirut
Advertisement
Syrian authorities preparing for a United Nations inspection are covering up damage in a Palestinian refugee camp that was pummeled with gunfire and rockets during a crackdown on protesters in recent days, according to a Western diplomat, Syrian activists and camp residents.
The Syrian army and security forces launched a naval and ground attack on the coastal city of Latakia on Aug. 13. During the operation they shelled the Ramel refugee camp, which houses more than 10,000 Palestinian refugees and their descendants as well as impoverished Syrians. The U.N. has dispatched a mission to Syria to investigate alleged violations of international human rights law.
The mission comes as Syrian President Bashar Assad, in his first extensive public comments in weeks, on Sunday promised elections early next year but announced no new significant changes in the face of months-long protests. His regime, which is closely allied with Iran, has faced mounting international pressure, including possible fresh action by the U.N. Security Council and Western powers.
“If we’re afraid of the Security Council or others, then we just have to abandon our rights,” he said in an interview on Syrian television. “If there’s going to be a boycott or a siege [by the West] then we’ll turn to the East.”
The U.N. mission arrived in Damascus, the capital, late Saturday and is expected to visit Latakia on Monday, according to U.N. spokesman Christopher Gunness. The team also will tour protest hot spots such as Dara, Homs, Hama and Jisr Shughur, which have been subject to crackdowns by security forces.
On Sunday, the U.N. officials were en route to the town of Duma on their first outing when their convoy was surrounded by Syrians reaching out to give their names and tell their stories.
However, few independent observers believe that Syrian authorities will allow the inspectors unfettered access during their visit, which is to last up to five days and involves officials from six U.N. agencies, including the World Food Program, UNICEF and the Office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees.
“In Latakia they are literally sweeping glass and stones up and scrubbing blood off the streets,” a Western diplomat with knowledge of the camp told The Times, speaking on condition of anonymity for fear of jeopardizing colleagues in Syria. “We have information that a big cleanup operation is going on in Latakia as the U.N. mission begins its first working day.”
Thousands of residents of the crowded camp in southern Latakia were forced to flee their homes and authorities held some inside a soccer stadium and sports facility north of the city. At least 37 people have been killed in the Ramel camp since protests started in Syria in mid-March, according to antigovernment activists.
“Residents in Ramel said that security forces organized a cleanup operation in the camp in preparation for tomorrow’s visit of the U.N. delegation to hide crimes that were committed in Latakia,” said Mohamed Fizo, a member of the Local Coordinating Committees, an activist network.
“Security forces started cleaning the main street of the camp, Jaffa Street, before the arrival of the U.N. team,” said one witness reached by Skype. “Some residents, including children, were forced to put flowers on the tanks and were filmed by the Syrian state-run TV and the private TV station Al Dunya saying that they asked the army to intervene in the camp.”
Another resident of the camp said the bodies of the dead were taken by security forces to an unknown location. Military and security officials established checkpoints at entrances to the camp, inspecting identification papers and arresting people whose names were on a list of presumed antigovernment activists.
Al Arabiya television reported Sunday that two young men from the camp were shot dead on the Syria-Turkey border while trying to flee the country.
“We are receiving more and more reports of snipers targeting people who want to flee Syria into Turkey,” said a Beirut-based Syrian activist who asked that his name not be published for security reasons. “It’s an attempt to block any testimonies from inside Syria from surfacing.”
Protests and violence continued in other parts of Syria over the weekend.
Security forces launched a wave of arrests in Homs, the central city that has been a bastion of the antigovernment movement. “The city is witnessing a complete cutting of land [telephone] lines and mobile phones, and there are power outages in many districts and intensive gunfire is heard in different areas,” said 33-year-old Assad, an employee at a private university who left Homs on Saturday. He asked that his full name not be given for safety reasons.
According to Syrian activists quoted by the pan-Arab Al Jazeera news channel, at least 25 people have been killed by security forces in Syria since Saturday.
August 27th, 2011, 5:31 am
some guy in damascus said:
??? : ???? : ???? : ?????? ????? ????? ?? ??????? ????? ?????? ?? ??? ?????
malki is home to syria’s richest.
its also home to bashar al assad.
the demonstration are knocking at bashar’s doors.
August 27th, 2011, 5:37 am
Aboud said:
SGID, yet another screw up by junior leads to another nail in his coffin. I hope he never, ever gets a clue.
August 27th, 2011, 5:46 am
some guy in damascus said:
sorry aboud, but yesterday Damascus took the spotlight, instead of Homs.
August 27th, 2011, 5:48 am
SYRIAN HAMSTER said:
-phobias
87, 93, 95 and 98. deserve no adult reply. a nursery rhyme may even be too much for the mental disability caused by total melt down. But then again, i am a generous rat.
A hymn to sciara*
on the wall
off the wall
es-en-kay
lost control
and Afram
hates Islam
they went singing
a hateful psalm
but Aboud
the poney dude
laughed them off
as he should
lady Tara
from Sahara
shooed them off
like sciara*
and the rat
chit an-chat
from his tree
on them spat
on the wall
off the wall
es-en-kay
lost control
And Afram
hates Islam
they went singing
a hateful psalm
————————-
* sciara: minute blackish flies destructive to mushrooms and seedlings
dum da dum, dum da dum, daa da dum, dum da dum
August 27th, 2011, 6:37 am
Aboud said:
Hamster, how would you like to be our poet laureate after junior is sent packing to Tehran 🙂
August 27th, 2011, 6:51 am
SYRIAN HAMSTER said:
Offer
Thanks Aboud, but the first poet laureate of free syria should be Ibrahim Qashoush who should be named for the honor posthumously.
For now, I must sincerely thank you for driving them back into their primordial bumbling idiot state. It is both painful and hilarious to watch. The scene is inspiring in a tragi-comical way.
August 27th, 2011, 7:19 am
OFF THE WALL said:
HAMSTER,
ROFL, …
Now to the serious stuff. I wonder what would be the french’s authority response to the incident described in # 100. I just got off the phone with my friend, the situation was even worse than what is described in the letter. The hyena pack is losing control and getting very agitated. If 6 people who possess Syrian issued diplomatic passports were involved in the subsequent beating of an activist on the streets of Paris, the French government should do something about it. I also hope that professor Landis, through his contacts in France can shed more light on this situation.
My friend tells me that they have been demonstrating in the same spot for 5 weeks. They have reserved it legally and were entitled to police protection during the three hours demos. It seems that there was a plainclothes officer who reacted promptly, but no protection was afforded to the activists after they left the police station. The thugs came back in number and assaulted those who testified against them in the station. They are nothing less than Mafia, disgusting and repulsive. They brought shame to Syria and to Syrians as their masters have been doing for 40 years. And this is what the pack of hateful hyenas we have on Syria Comment want to preserve for Syria and Syrians.
This was not a clash between pros and cons, this was a premeditated assault orchestrated by no less than the security chief at the embassy, and probably Ambassador herself. I sure hope that the Syrian Ambassador in the US would be smart enough not to allow something like that to happen here in the US, we are much less tolerant than the French are to bullies hiding behind diplomatic immunity.
August 27th, 2011, 7:59 am
Joshua said:
Angry said: “What a terrible title.”
You are correct. He did not say it. I have changed it.
August 27th, 2011, 8:03 am
Aboud said:
“I must sincerely thank you for driving them back into their primordial bumbling idiot state”
Indeed. It is a pathetic spectacle to behold. The menhebaks have long since given up on all semblance of a discussion or debate. Their activities consist of pressing the dislike button, whining about the mamenhebaks, or indulging in the lowest, most contemptible kind of faith bashing and racism.
“They are nothing less than Mafia, disgusting and repulsive. ”
They are mentally unprepared for the 21st century. Freedom is going to come as a big shock to the menhebaks, I don’t think they can tolerate living in a liberal and free society.
August 27th, 2011, 8:14 am
Tara said:
Gaddafi had a crush on Condoleezza Rice? Will see what Syrians will discover when Bashar falls.
Libyans shocked by vulgarity of Gaddafi family belongings
By Gordon Rayner, Chief Reporter9:25PM BST 25 Aug 2011
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/libya/8723450/Libyans-shocked-by-vulgarity-of-Gaddafi-family-belongings.html
And despite his apparent hatred of American politicians, Gaddafi’s personal effects suggested he might have had a soft spot for one of them, as looters discovered an album filled with pictures of him meeting the former US Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice.
more…
August 27th, 2011, 9:13 am
Aboud said:
Iran: The demands of the Syrian demonstrators are “Legitimate”
Aboud: No sh*t Sherlock!
http://www.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/62C8CAE7-EF0A-4B32-A6A6-990EF8240836.htm?GoogleStatID=9
August 27th, 2011, 9:47 am
Revlon said:
Foreign Minister of Iran: Syrian ptotestors demands are legitimate!
The statement came on the heels of Sheikh Hamad meeting with Najad.
Has a strategic understanding been struck between the Qatar/GCC and Iran or is the move tactical pending their alignment with the victorious?
?????? ????? ????? ????? ???????
?????: ????? ???????? ?????? ??????
27/8/2011
http://www.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/62C8CAE7-EF0A-4B32-A6A6-990EF8240836.htm?GoogleStatID=9
?????: ?????? ??????? ?????? ????? ?? ????? ??? ?????? ??? ??????? (????????-?????)
???? ????? ??????? ???? ?????? ????????? ?? ????? ?? “????????” ????? ?? ???? ???? ????? ????????? ??? ?????? ?? ???? ?????? ???? ?? ?????????? ???? ???? ??? ???? ???? ???? ?????? ????? ?? ??? ??????? ??????? ????? ????? ????????? “????? ?????” ?? ?????? ????????.
????? ????? ????? ??????? ???????? (?????) ?? ???? ???????? ??? ???? ????? ???? “??? ???????? ?? ?????? ??????? ???????? ??????? ???? ?? ????? ?? ????? ??????. ?? ??? ??????? ???? ?????? ?? ????? ??????? ???? ???????? ?? ?????? ??? ?????”.
????? ????? ?? “????? ????” ?????? ????? ?? ?????????? ?? ??? ????? ?????? ????? ???????.
????? ????? ?????????? ?? ?? ????? ??????? ??? ????? -??? ??? ???? ???????- ??? ???? ??????? ?????? ???? ?????? ?? ????? ??? ????? ???????.
?????? ???????
???? ????? ?? “???? ?????” ?? ????? ???? ?? “????? ??? ?????? ??? ????? ???????? ???? ???????.. ????? ?? ???? ????? ?? ??????? ????? ????”.
???? ????? ?? “???? ???? ?? ????? ???????? ?? ????? ??????” ???? ????? ?????? ???? ??? ????? ?? ????? ??? ???????? ??????? ????????? ?????? ???????? ???? ??? ????? ??? ??????.
?????? ????? ??? ???????? ???? ??? ?? ???? ??? ????? ??? ??????? “?????? ????? ????? ??? ?? ??????? ???? ????? ??? ??? ???? ?? ???? ???? ?????? ???? ????? ??????”.
????? ?????? ?? ??? ??????? ????? “?? ????? ?????? ?? ???? ????????? ??? ?? ??????? ??????? ?? ?? ????? ????????? ??? ?????” ???? ?????? ????? ?????? ?? ???? ??? “????? ?? ??? ????? ????? ?????”.
???? ?????? ????? ????? ???? ??? ???????? ????? ??? ????? “?? ????? ?? ?????” ???? “???? ????? ????????”.
August 27th, 2011, 9:49 am
OFF THE WALL said:
I have always been critical of the leadership of Syrian Professional Syndicates, who are nothing more than agents for Mukhabarat. The shameless leaders of the Syrian Lawyers Syndicate are at it again
From All4Syria
????? ????? ?????? ?? ???? ????? ????????
?????? ADMIN – 2011/08/27
??? ??: ????? ?????
????? ???????? : ???? ?????
?????? ??????? ?????? ?? ???????? ???? ??????? ?????? ????????? ?? ?????? ???? ?????? ??????? ??? ?? ???????? ????? ??????? ?????? ??? ????? ??? ????? ???? ????? ???? ?????? ???? ??????? ?????? ??????? ???? ??? ????????.
???? ??? ???????? ??? ???? ???????? ??? ????? ??? ???? ??? ???? ??????? : ” ?????? ?????? ??? ???? ??????? ???????? ?????? ??? ?????? ????? ??????? ? ? ????? ??????? ?????? ??? ????? ???????? ??????? ??? ???? ?????? .
???? ????? ??? : ” ?? ?????? ? ?????? ????? ????? ????? ??????? ??????? ?????? ??????? ???? ???? ??? ???????? ?????? ? ? ?? ?? ?? ????? ??? ????? ???? ??? .
???? ????? ???: “??????? ?? ???? ?????? ??? ????? ??????? ??? ????? ?? ???? ?? ?????? ????? ??? ?????????.
?? ??? ?????? ???????? ??????? ???? ???????? ?? ????? ??????? ???? ?????? ???????? ?? ??????? ??? ????????!
??? ??? ??????? ????? ???? ???? ??? ??? ??????? ???? ?????? ?? ???? ??? ???? ???????? !
???? ?????? ?? ????? ???????? ?? ??? ??? ???? ???? ????? ????? ????? ????? ???????? ???? ?????????? ???????? ????????? ???? ????? ????? ??????? ??????? ?? ????????? ???????? ??? ????????? ????? ???????? ????????. ??? ???? ???????? ????? ?? ???? ????????? ??????? ????. ??? ??????? ?? ???????? ??? ??? ?????? ?? ???? ???? ??? ?????? ?????? ???????? ????????? ??? ????? ??? ??????? ????? ????? ???? ??????? ??????? ????? ??????? .??? ?? ?????? ??????? ??????? ??????? ???? ???? ????? ?? ???? ??? ??????? ?? ?????? ???? ????? ???????? ?? ???? ?? ? ???????? ??????.
???? ???? ????? ????? ?? ???? ????? ??? ?????? ?????? ??? ????? ???????? ?? ????? “????? ???? ????????? ????????? ??????? ??????? ?? ?? ???? ?? ????? ????? ?? ?????? ??? ?? ???? ??? ????? ???? ?????? ???????? ?? ?????”. ???? ?? ???? ??????? : ?? “?????? ???????? (????? ????) ??? ??? ???????? ?????? ??????? ??? ?? ???????? ??????? ???? ??????? ???????? ?? ??? ???????? ???????? ??? ???? ??? ???”.
????? ?? ????? ???????? ?????? ???????? ?????? ??????? ?? ??? ??? ??? ???????? ?????? ???? ???? ????? ???????? ?????? ??? ?? ???????? ?????? ????? ????? ???????? ??? ??? ???? ???????? ? ?????? ???????? ?? ?????? ??? ?? ???? ?????? ?? ???????? ” ???????” ?? ??? ??? ??? ?????? ?????? ???? ??? ?????? ????? ?????? ?????? ????? ?????? ?????. ??? ?????? ?? ??? ????? ?????? ???????? ?? ?????? ?????? ??? ??? ?? ???? ???????? ??????? ??? ????? ???? “??????” ?? ?? ?????? ???????? ??? ?? ???? ??? ???? ????? ??? ????? ??? ????????? ??? ??????? ?????? ?????? ?????? ?????? ?????? ??? ??????..
?????? : ????? ??? ?????? ?? ??????? ???? ????? ??????? ???? ???? ?????? ??? ???? ????? ????? ????? ?????? ?? ????????? ?? ?????
Also from All4Syria, with photos
“?????” ????? ???? ?????? ??? ???????? ?????? ?? ????? ???????? ??????????
?????? ADMIN2 – 2011/08/27
??? ??: ??? ????
?? ??? ?????? ? ?????
????? ?????? ???? ??? ?????? ??????? ???? ??? ?? ???? ?????? ?????? ???? ????? ????? ????????? ???????? ?????? ?????? ??? ???? ????????? ?????? ?? ???? ?????? ?? ??? ??????? ???????? ????? ??? ??? ?????????? ???????? ?????? ??? ?????? ?????? ?? ?????? ??? ???? ?? ???? ?? ????? ?????? ?? ????? ????????? ??????? ?? ???? ???? ????? ??? ?????? ?????? ?????? ???? ????? ??????? ???? ???? ??? ???????? ??? ???????? ???? ???? ?? ??? ??? ?? ?????????? ? ???????? ??????? ????? ???? ??? ?? ???? ???? ????? ??????? ???? ???? ?????????? ??????? ???? ??????? ????? ????? ????? ????? ?? ??????
????? ??????? ??? ?????? ???????? ?????? ?????? ?? ?????????? ??? ??????? ??????? ???? ?????? ?? ????? ??????? ??????
????? ????? ?? ????? ??? ??????? ??????? ?? ????? ???? ??? ???? ??? ?????? ?? ???? ???? ???????? ?????? ???????? ?? ???? ?????? ???? ?????? ???? ???????? ???????? ?????? ?????? ????????? ??? ???????? ??????? ???????? ??? ??????
???????? ?? ?? ???? ?????? ??????? ?? ???? ??? ?????? ???? ???? ????? ?????? ???????? ???? ????? ??????? ??? ??? ???????? ??????? ???? ???? ????? ????? ?????? ???? ???? ????? ???? ??? ???? ??????? ?????? ??? ?? ???? ???? ????? ??????? ????? ?? ??? ?? ?????????? ?????? ??????? ???? ????? ????? ??? ??????? ?????? ???????? ???? ?????? ?????? ?????? ?????? ?????? ????? ?????? ?? ??????? ???? ????? ????? ?? ????? ??????
?????? ???????? ?? ????? ??????? ???? ?????? ???? ??? ?? ???????? ????? ?????? ?????? ?????? ??? ?????????? ?????
??????? ?? ????? ??? ??? ???? ????????? ??????? ?????? ??????? ?? ???? ?????? ?????? ?????? ???? ?? ?? ??????? ?? ?????????? ????????? ??????? ?????? ?????? ??????? ??????? ??????? ??????? ??????? ??? ?? ????????? ??? ?? ???? ???? ??? ????? ?? ??? ?????? ??? ???????? ????? ?? ??? ????? 20 ?? ????? ??????? ??? ???? ?? ???? ????? ???? ??????? ??????? ?????? ?????? ???? ??? ??????? ?????? ???? ?? ??? ?????? ?????? ??? ???? ???? ????? ????? ??????? ?? ???? ? ??? ????? ??????? ?????? ??? ??? ???? ?????
????? ???????? ??? ?????????? ???????? ?? ????? ????? ??????? ?????? ?? ??????? ??????? ?????? ?????? ?? ????? ????? ?????? ????????? ??? ?????? ????? ?? ?????????? ?? ???? ??? ?????? ?? ????? ???????? ????? ??? ????? ???? ????? ??? ???????? ?? ???? ?????? ???????? ???????? ??????? ??????? ???????? ??????? ?????? ?????????
??? ?????? ?????? ?? ????? ??????? ??????? ???????? ???? ??????? ??????? ???? ?? ????? ?????? ?? ???????? ????? ?????? ?????? ?????? ?? ???? ?????? ?????? ?????? ?????? ?? ????????????????? , ??? ???? ?????? ??????? ?????? ?????? ?????? ??? ??????? ?????? ?????? ??????? ?????? ?????? ? ????? ??????? ??? ????? ?????? ???? ????????? ??????
??? ??????? ?????? ?????? ?? ??? ?????? ??????? ???? ??????? ?? ?????? ??????? ?? ???????? ???? ???? ??????? ?????? ?? ??? ????????? ??????? ?? ????? ?????? ?????? ????? ???????? ??????? ??? ?????????? ???????? ?????
August 27th, 2011, 10:09 am
Revlon said:
EU representatives agreed yesterday on Syrian oil embargo. The decision is pending the approval of the EU Ministers to meet next week.
????? ???????? ????? ???????? ??????? ?????? ????? (??????? ??-?????)
????? ???????? ????? ?? ?????? ??????? ???????? ?????? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ?????? ????? ???27 ?? ????? ????? ??????? ????? ?? ?????.
?????? ??????? ?????????? ??? ?????? ?? ?? ?????? ?? ???? ????? ?????? ??? ??????? ??????? ??? ?? ??????? ?? ???? ????? ?? ??????? ????? ???? ????? ???? ??????? ??????.
?????? ??? ?? ??????? ???? ?? ?????? ???? ??? ??? ??????? ?????? ??? ?? ??????? ????? ?????? ????? ???? ?? ??????? ?? ???? ?????? ????? ?????? ??? ?????? ?????? ??? ????.
??????? ?????? 95% ?? ?????? ????? ??????? ?????? ????? ???? ?? ?????????? ????????? ?????? ???????? ?? ??? ???? ??????? ??????? ????? ????? ??????.
????? ??????? ?? ?????????? ?? ?????? ?? ???? ????? ?????? ????????? ???? ?????? ???? ???? ????? ??????? ??????? ???? ???? ????? ?????? ??????.
???? ????? ????? ????? ????? ?????? ???? ???? ???? ??????? ???????? ?????? ????????? ???? ????? ???? ?? ?? ??????????? ??? ????? ????? ?? ????? ????? ?????? ??? 0.5% ??? ?? ??????? ???????.
????? ?????? ?????? ??? ?? ??????? ?????? ????? ?? 581 ??? ????? ????? ??? 2001 ??? 375 ???? ??? 2009? ???? ??? ??? 385 ???? ??? 2010? ??? ?? ???? ???? ????? ?????.
????? ????? ????????? ????? ?? ????? ???? 2.5 ????? ?????? ???? 0.2% ?? ?????? ??????????? ????????.
??????: ???????? ?????
August 27th, 2011, 10:13 am
Syria no kandahar said:
?????? ?? ?????? ?? ???? ????? ?????? ????? ??? ??? ??????? ?????? ???? ???
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August 27th, 2011, 10:13 am
Mango said:
August 27th, 2011, 10:25 am
Afram said:
?? ??? ???? ??? ??? ???? ????! ?
???? ????
?????? ??????? – ?????: 3468 – 2011 / 8 / 26
??????: ?????????? ????? ??????? ???? ????? ??????
?????? ??????-? ?????? ??? ???????
???? ??????// ??? ????? .. ??? ???? ?????? ??? ??????? ???????? ?
?? ?????? ??? ???? ??? ????? !? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B_RyrzRFL6Q
???? ?????? ???????? ??? ???????? ???? ???? ????? ????? ????? ????? ?????? ???????? ?? ?????? ????? ??? ???????. ??? ???? ???? ” ????? ??? ???? ??? ???? ??? ?? ???? “? ??? ??? ” ?? ??? ??? ????? ???? ?????? ??? ???? ?????? “. ???? ???. ????? ??? ?? ????? ??????? ????? ??????? ?? ???????? ?????? ????? ??????. ???? ?? ????? ?????? ??? ?????? ????????? ????????? ??????? ????????? ????????? ?????????? ????????? ?????? ???… ???? ????? ???? ?? ????? ?????? ??????? ???????? ??? ????? ????? ??? ??????? ???????? ??? ??????? ????? ????? ?? ??? ???? ???? ??????? ??? ????? ?????? ?????? ????? ??? ????? ?? ???? ??? ?????? ????? ??? ????? ???? ???? ??? ?????? ?????? ????? ???? ???? ??? ??? ??????? ” ??? ??? ???? ” ???? ??? ???? ??? ??? ?????? ????? ??????.
?? ???? ?? ???? ?????? ?????????? ?? ????????? ????????? ??? ???? ?? ???? ??????? ???????? ????? ?? ??????? ???? ????? ????? ???? ????? ??? ???????? ???????? ?????? ??? ????? ??? ?????? ?? ??????? ????? ?? ?? ???? ???? ???? ???????? ?????? ???? ?????? ??? ?????? ??? ???? ??????? ??????? ???? ????? ????? ?? ????? ?????? ?????? ???? ????? ??? ?? ????? ??? ??? ????? ???????? ????? ?????. ?? ???? ???? ?? ????? ?? ?????? ???? ?? ???????? ????? ??? ?? ????? ?? ????? ?? ???????? ??? ?? ???? ???? ?? ?? ???? ???? ??????? ?????????? ?????????? ?? ????? ??????? ???????? ???? ??? ?????? ??????? ???? ????? ??? ???? ????????? ( ???? ??????? ??? ?? ????? ) ??? ??? ????? ????? ???? ???? ?????. ?? ???? ??? ???? ?? ????? ????? ??? ?????? ?????? ?????? ????? ?????? ?????????. ?? ??? ???? ????? ??? ????? ?????? ?? ???? ???? ?????? ??? ??????? ??????? ????????? ???????? ?? ?????? ?! ???????? ??? ???? ???? ???? ?? ??? ?? ??? ????? ????? ????? ???????? ????????? ?????????? ?? ????? ????? ????.
???? ???? ??? ?????? ??? ???? ???? ????? ??? ????? ????? ?? ?????? ??????? ?? ??????? ????? ?? ???? ??????. ??? ????? ?????? ?? ?? ?? ??? ?? ???? ?? ???? ?? ???? ?????? ???????. ??? ???? ?? ??? ???? ??? ???? ???? ????? ?????? ????? ??????? ?????? ?? ??????? ???? ??? ?? ??? ???? ?????? ??? ????? ???? ?? ?????? ?? ????? ?????? ??? ?????? ????? ????? ??? ???? ??????? ????? ?????? ????????? ?????? ??????. ??? ???? ???? ????? ????? ????? ???? ???????? ?? ?????? ?? ????? ????? ???? ???? ????? ?? ????? ???????? ?? ?????? ??????? ??? ??????? ???? ?????? ??? ??????? ?? ??? ?? ????? ?????? ?? ?????? ??? ??????? ???? ?????? ???? ??????? ???????? ????? ????? ?????? ?? ???????? ??????????. ??? ?? ??? ???? ????? ??? ???????? ??? ??? ???? ??? ???? ???? ?????? ????? ?! ??? ???? ?????? ????? ???? ??? ????? ??? ?
?? ?????? ??????? ???? ?? ?????? ??????? ???????? ????????? ?? ?? ???????? ?????? ??????? ?? ???? ????? ???? ???? ??? ???? ????? ????? ????? ??? ??? ??????? ???? ?? ??????? ????? ??? ??????? ?????? ??????? ! ?? ??? ??? ??? ??? ?????? ????? ??? ???????? ?????? ?????? ?? ???????? ??? ???? ???????? ????? ?? ?????? ????? ??? ?????? ?? ??? ?? ?????.
????? ???? ????? ????? ????? ??? ??? ????? ????? ?????? ?????? ???? ?? ??????? ??????? ??? ??????? ????? ???? ??? ??? ?????? ????? ????? ????? ???? ?????? ????????? ???? ??? ???? ????. ???? ??? ??? ???? ???? ??????? ??? ?? ?????? ???? ?? ????? ?????? ??? ??????? ?? ????? ????? ?????? ????? ?? ??? ?? ??? ?????? ???? ?? ??????. ????? ??????? ???? ????? ??? ????? ???? ??????? ???? ??? ?? ??? ???? ???. ?????? ??? ????? ?????? ??????? ?? ???? ??? ?????? ??? ???????? ???? ??? ???? ??? ???? ????? ??? ?????? ????? ????? ??????. ?????? ??? ?????? ??? ???? ???? ??? ??????? ??? ???? ?? ????? ????? ??? ????? ???? ???? ???? ????? ?? ????? ??? ????? ???? ??????? ???? ???? ??? ?????? ????? ???? ????? ??? ???? ????? ?? ???? ?????? ????? ?? ???? ??? ??? ????? ??? ?? ?????? ?????. ??????? ??? ????? ?? ???? ?? ???? ??? ??? ??? ????? ??????? ???? ??? ??? ??? ???? !
?? ??? ????? ????? ?????? ??? ???? ???????? ?????? ?????? ?????? ??????? ? ??? ????? ?????? ??? ??? ??????? ??????? ??????? ????????? ? ??? ????? ?? ??? ?????? ????? ????? ??????? ? ??? ????? ?????? ?? ??????? ?????? ????? ???? ??? ??????? ? ??? ??????? ?? ??????? ????? ???? ??????? ?! ??? ??????? ?? ???? ?????? ?? ???? ??? ????? ?? ?????? ?? ?! ??? ??????? ?? ??????? ???????? ??????? ??? ?????? ???? ?????? ? ??? ??????? ????? ???? ???? ???? ???? ???? ??????? ???? ?????? ? ??? ??????? ?????????? ?? ???? ??????? ????????? ?????? ??? ?????? ?????? ????? ?????? ?????? ?????? ?????? ??????? ???? ??? ?? ???? ????? ????? ??? ????? ? ??? ??????? ????? ??? ?????? ?? ??????? ?? ???? ????? ???? ” ??? ??? ??? ???? ” ?????? ? ?? ??? ?????? ?? ???? ??????? ?? ????? ?????? ????? ?????? ??????? ???? ??? ??? ?! ??? ????? ???? ???? ??? ???? ????? ?? ??? ???? ???? ?????? ? ??? ????? ????? ???? ??????? ????? ?? ???? ???? ??? ????? ????? ????? ??? ?????? ?? ??? ?? ???? ??? ??? ?! ?? ??? ???? ???? ?? ?? ??? ??????? ???? ??? ????? ???? ????? ???? ?????? ?!
?? ???? ?? ????? ?? ?? ???? ????? ?? ???? ???? ???? ??????? ????? ?? ????? ????????. ?? ???? ?? ???? ?? ???? ????? ?? ???????? ?? ?????? ??????? ????? ???????? ??? ?????? ?? ?? ??? ?? ??????? ???? ????? ?????.
August 27th, 2011, 10:56 am
Haytham Khoury said:
@ Tara #112
Gaddafi is not the only one who has a crush on Condoleezza Rice. It seems “W” has the same.
(http://www.thespoof.co/news/spoof.cfm?headline=s4i87421)
It seems she has a special Charm. Anyway she is single. Eligible bachelors be aware.
August 27th, 2011, 11:30 am
mjabali said:
General Video Game Blitzkrieg Arboud:
There is NO debate between you and anyone. Still you came second in it.
There was a joke when i was a kid that goes: “There was a Homsi who participated in a race ALONE and came second.”
??? ?? ???? ???? ??? ????? ??????? ??? ??? ??????
There is you lecturing others with your bombastic and patronizing statements that never covered your lack of judgment and poor choice of words, your disregard to others opinions, and of course your violent tendencies. There are no real elements for debate here.
Funny also you bring the tanks of World War II to this forum that you spam the hell out of (I looked at the comments today and counted you have 17 comments out of 117, talking about mass production General Shakespeare).
A Nazi lover like you remind me of Joseph Goebbles? the Nazi propaganda chief, because both of you use the method of : lie, and lie, and then lie and lie again till people believe you.
As for what is going on in the Sports Complex in Lattakia, I asked pro and anti Assad friends for the real story. I heard lots of important info so far. Some promised to take videos. When it is ready I will share with this great forum before I reach any conclusions like some MEDIA SPECIALISTS (clowns for real) here.
??? ?? ?? ?? ???
August 27th, 2011, 11:35 am
Haytham Khoury said:
# 119 is futile. The country is in flame and you are spreading 1500-years-old defamatory stories that we do not know their credibility and have no consequence on the present (consequently, we do not care).
By the way, in the West there are a lot defamatory stories about Jesus Christ, including the one that had a mistress, Mary Madeleine, from which he had descendents. These defamatory stories are spread out by the conspiracy theory adopters, with their Chief lieutenant Dan Brown (what about the Da Vinci Code). Those conspiracy theory adepts feel themselves intelligent only when they spread these stories.
August 27th, 2011, 11:47 am
Tara said:
Haytham@ 120
That is so funny. GWB and ??? ???? ??????? have the same taste! I’m not surprised. The funny thing W and her called themselves “salt and pepper”. What a romantic names!
Yes it appears she has a special charm and she is single. I can mentally match her with some on SC…especially guys who supported Quaddafi on this forum. I guess they can appreciate that charm.
August 27th, 2011, 12:20 pm
beaware said:
Arab League to increase pressure on Syria-official
Sat Aug 27, 2011 12:36pm GMT
http://af.reuters.com/article/egyptNews/idAFL5E7JR05B20110827?pageNumber=2&virtualBrandChannel=0&sp=true
* Arab League council to meet at night to discuss Syria
* League council member says Arab silence unacceptable
* Meeting to discuss sending Arab ministers to Syria
CAIRO, Aug 27 (Reuters) – Arab governments will step up pressure on Syria’s President Bashar al-Assad at the Arab League on Saturday with a demand he end the bloody crackdown on protesters trying to remove him, a delegate to the League said ahead of the meeting.
The Syrian government has spent five months trying to crush street unrest using troops and tanks, killing at least 2,200 protesters according to the United Nations.
“There has been an agreement in talks held between the Arab states on … pressuring the Syrian regime to completely stop the military operations and withdraw its forces,” the delegate to the 22-member Arab League’s council told Reuters.
“A clear message (will be sent) to the Syrian president that it has become unacceptable for the Arab states to stay silent on what is happening in Syria, especially following the Security Council’s move to impose sanctions on Syrian officials and the condemnation from the United Nations Human Rights Council,” said the delegate, who asked not to be named.
He said Arab foreign ministers would also discuss a proposal to send a ministerial delegation to Damascus to “directly inform the Syrian leader of the Arab position”.
International condemnation of the repression escalated this month after Assad sent the army into several cities including Hama, Deir al-Zor and Latakia. Some Arab states have broken months of silence to call for an end to the violence.
It will be the first official Arab League meeting on Syria since the start of the uprising. The meeting was due to begin at 9 p.m. local time (1900 GMT)
The delegate said it was unlikely the Cairo-based body would suspend Syria’s membership, as it did with Libya after the start of the uprising against Muammar Gaddafi in February.
In March, the League backed a U.N. Security Council resolution allowing NATO warplanes to patrol Libyan airspace and bomb Gaddafi’s forces to protect civilians. Its approval was seen as necessary for that operation to go ahead.
Many Arab commentators have criticised the League for its timid reaction to the violence in Syria. It spent months only voicing “concern”, suggesting divisions among its members, some of which are facing their own public protests.
Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah issued a rare condemnation of a powerful Arab neighbour on Aug. 8, demanding an end to the bloodshed and recalling his ambassador from Damascus.
Bahrain and Kuwait recalled their ambassadors hours after the Saudi king’s decision and the Sunni Islam’s most venerable institution of learning, al-Azhar in Cairo, called the Syrian assault on protesters an unacceptable “human tragedy.” (Writing by Ayman Samir and Yasmine Saleh; Editing by Tom Pfeiffer and Sophie Hares)
August 27th, 2011, 12:34 pm
beaware said:
Conflicting Reports abroad about Clashes in Damascus
(Dp-news)27/08/2011
http://www.dp-news.com/en/detail.aspx?articleid=94557
SYRIA- Conflicting reports have been coming from Damascus about yet another clash between protestors outside a mosque in the Syrian capital and security forces, with members of the opposition local co-ordination committee (LCC) claiming one person was killed in police firing.
Syrian activists say government forces targeted people protesting against President Bashar al-Assad’s government Saturday, a day after demonstrations ended in deadly violence. Activists said security forces targeted protesters Saturday in the capital, Damascus, and the coastal city of Latakia. They also reported sporadic shooting. It is not clear if there were any casualties.
In turn, Qatari television network Al Jazeera claimed that thousands of people took to the streets in Kafarsouseh, a western suburb of Damascus, protesting against President Bashar al-Assad’s rule, following early morning prayers on Saturday.
Witnesses told the network that security forces and ‘regime thugs’ arrived at the scene and tried to stop the demonstration. Al Jazeera quoted them saying that they also used sound bombs and tear gas, but the mob hit back, resulting in the security forces opening fire. Eight people were allegedly injured and one person was killed.
The 80-year-old imam of the mosque was taken to a hospital and about 150 people arrested, the channel claimed. The LCC claimed protesters also converged on al-Abaseen Square in central Damascus.
But Syrian official media, state-run media agency and TV has denied there were any protests in the capital and accused ‘provocative’ satellite channels, including Al Jazeera and Saudi Arabia’s Al Arabiya, of fabricating events.
Syrian TV aired live from few Abbasyyn, Umayyad and Kefr Swseh Squares, at which it refutes “fabricated news and reports” at “Biased TV channels”.
For its part, SANA reporters on Saturday denied existence of any gatherings or demonstrations at al-Abbasyyn, Umayyad and Kefr Swseh Squares contrary to what some provocative satellite channels have aired this morning.
SANA reporters toured all the areas which these provocative channels talked about, stressing that tranquility and normal life prevail as people continue their normal lives.
SANA concluded “Once more, ‘Al-Jazeera’ and ‘Al-Arabia’ Channels prove themselves to be part of the conspiracy plotted against Syria through their psychological and media war strategies.”
Human rights groups accuse the Syrian regime of having killed more than 2,200 people since the uprising began in mid-March; around 500 in Ramadan only. While, Syrian Arab News Agency SANA, the state-owned news agency, claimed nearly a dozen army and law enforcement personnel have been killed and several others injured after armed groups attacked them in the eastern province of Deir el Zour and in a Damascus suburb during Ramadan.
Violence broke out in the country following the wave of unrest in several Arab countries including Tunisia, Egypt, Yemen and Libya.
Anti-government protests were first organised in the southern province of Daraa, but it has spread to other cities in recent weeks.
The UN Security Council is also divided over whether to impose sanctions against President al-Assad`s regime. While the western nations are calling for the imposition of sanctions, Russia has a proposed a draft that has not condemned Syria.
It calls upon President al-Assad to speed up reforms ”to effectively address the legitimate aspirations and concerns of Syria’s people.”
August 27th, 2011, 12:42 pm
Anton said:
Dear Mr. Landis
It’s time to take some initiative to enable the Syrian people from both sides to start having dialogue instead of fight ,exchange of ideas instead of insults , exchange of roses instead bullets .. as we can see at this stage that, nothing can change things in the ground, we are in a loose / loose situation.. instead it could be heading for the worth .. therefore we need to bring forwards some new approach , and try to bridge between the two parties ( THE GOVERNMENT AND THE OPPOSITION ) .. and I would like to ask all the Syrians and friend of Syria in this form to join together and form an initiative for ” together with the regime for the change in Syria” , we need to find a way to preserve what the good of this government and the good of the oppositions and bring them together, we still have time to do so before foreign power start to intervene and things get out of hand …
Mr. Landis I would like you to facilitate a forum in the US inviting people those would like to be the bridgers and discuss ideas and formulate approach to set up and start a dialogue in Syria between the government and the oppositions on the ground and try to find a solution.
I would like to champion this idea and invite others to join
I believe that most if not all of you in this forum would like to see peace in Syria then let us take the initiative to lead and bridge
Thanks
August 27th, 2011, 12:42 pm
hsyrian said:
The Three Codes of Troy
Why a national campaign for good manners and citizenship is needed
by Sami Moubayed
I might be old-fashioned, but I am someone who is still very much impressed by good manners. I still smile when a young boy addresses me as Sir, or “hadirtak” as they say in Arabic, or looks me in the eye when talking, connecting his sentences with useful phrases like, “thank you,” “please,” and “may I?” I personally still do all of the above when addressing someone my senior, in addition to other creative terminology pulled right out of a bygone dictionary. I still let them walk out a room or into one before me, and stand up to give them a seat at any particular gathering.
A long time ago when I was a child, my father walked into the room from a hard day at work, while I was watching television, slumped on the living room couch. I smiled and innocently waved hello, and while red-in-the face, he ordered me to stand up and greet him properly. We had to repeat the entire scene; he walked out of the room then back into it, and I had to stand up and greet him with respect. I then watched him over the years stand to greet anyone who walked up to him, regardless of their age or social status, and have since, copied that behavior in my professional and personal life. As customarily done in Arab tradition, I used to kiss his right hand when walking into a particular gathering. As old-fashioned as this may sound to a Western audience, this is customarily practiced throughout the Arab world, by men of all ages, to this day.
My father loved to tell us the story of Badr al-Din al-Shallah, the veteran president of the Damascus Chamber of Commerce (DCC) who always addressed his Oxford-trained son and successor Dr Rateb as “child” and ordered him, although the man was a grandfather in his own right, to carry out household chores, like fetching him his slippers or bringing him a glass of water. I grew up hearing these stories, over-and-over again, and so did many who were told of the fascinating relationship between Bader al-Din Shallah and his son, Rateb al-Shallah. Today, father-to-son relations are no longer like that, although a few cases still stand out in Damascene society. My nephew calls his father by his first name, and just the other day, I saw a group of 12-15 year old children at a coffee shop. To show just how different this world is becoming; a 40-year old cousin of mine still refuses to smoke a Turkish pipe – let alone a cigarette – before his octogenarian father.
Good manners are taught at home and at school, and should be celebrated and nourished in society and public life. It applies to how we drive, where we park our cars, how (and where) we answer our cellular phone, and how we behave at restaurants. It includes how we conduct any particular conversation, the tone of our voice in public, how we speak of our ministers, elected officials, and community leaders – and in turn, how they speak of us, ordinary citizens.
50-years ago, private Syrian individuals and NGOs launched a series of campaigns aimed at raising public awareness in Syria. One was to combat the copying of ideas and trends from the West: Al-hamla al-wataniya li mukafahet al-takleed. One was to eradicate cheating at schools and university, and another aimed at eliminating apple-polishing (or tamalouk & nifak in Arabic) from all sectors of Syrian public life. These were creative initiatives, coming at the heels of more direct and traditional campaigns, like ones to combat violence against women, illiteracy, and child labor.
It wouldn’t be such a bad idea then, to start a campaign to promote good manners and good citizenship in Syria. When toying with the idea of such a campaign, I couldn’t but recall the words of Hector, the brave Trojan warrior in Homer’s epic: “All my life I’ve lived by a code and the code is simple: honor the gods, love your woman and defend your country!”
We need to promote similar codes in Syria – which if applied while building on Syrian traditions and customs would make this country a better place for all of us.
http://www.forwardsyria.com/story/7/The%20Three%20Codes%20of%20Troy
Disclaimers
Not only in Syria but also in France where the 30 “peaceful” protesters against the Syrian government and 6 members of a Syrian family had for only excuse not to be all Syrians.
August 27th, 2011, 12:48 pm
ann said:
Israel turns tables on Turkey – Aug 27, 2011
http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Middle_East/MH27Ak05.html
Israel has all but concluded that Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan is disinterested in reviving strategic ties between the two countries. This used to be a relationship that Israel desperately wanted to keep going as it was ideologically and politically useful, having been a unique one with a major Muslim power, and also highly lucrative, Turkey being a receptive market for Israeli goods and services, civilian and military.
Istanbul used to be a safe destination for Israeli tourists who could lower their guard and take relaxed holidays.
But the adamant stance that Erdogan has taken with regard to the Gaza flotilla fiasco last year, in which nine Turks were killed by Israeli marines, changed all that. Turkey wants Israel to
apologize even after knowing the Israeli cabinet has decided against doing so.
Israel tried to make Ankara understand that there are things it will never do, and it got high-level American intermediaries to assuage Turkey’s wounded pride, but Ankara went ahead to threaten that ties with Israel would be further downgraded.
Israel will not apologize because it would be tantamount to indicting the marines who killed the Turks. Washington tried to persuade Turkey not to be obdurate and at the same time cajoled Israel to indulge in some form of verbal jugglery, but the positions of the two protagonists remain unbridgeable.
At the root of it also lies the historic turnaround in Turkey’s regional policies and its assertive claim to regain its Ottoman legacy in the Muslim Middle East, which puts it at odds with a range of Israeli core interests and vital concerns. Israel is now moving on with life, turning a new leaf in its regional policy, almost accepting that the relationship with Turkey is probably irretrievably lost unless there is a regime change in Ankara and the Islamist ruling party loses power.
Friend in the Mediterranean
True to style, Israel is looking around the region for comfort and companionship with anyone who might also have an intractable problem with Turkey – it didn’t have to look far across the Mediterranean.
The two-day visit by the Foreign Minister of Cyprus, Erato Kozakou-Marcoullis, to Tel Aviv, which ended on Thursday, was much more than a routine call. The minister had just assumed charge in Nicosia and headed for Israel as soon as her customary first visit to Athens was out of the way.
Quite obviously, Nicosia and Athens (which has an ancient grudge to settle with Ankara) put their heads together and assessed that Israeli regional policies are on a remake. Cyprus and Greece have had indifferent ties with Israel, but a compelling commonality of interests is sailing into view. A realignment of regional powers is taking place in the eastern Mediterranean, the leitmotif being the “containment” of an increasingly assertive Turkey.
The backdrop is easy to understand. Cyprus contracted American oil company Noble Energy to prospect for gas in 350,000 hectares in the eastern Mediterranean, bordering Israel’s economic zone where significant gas deposits have been discovered.
But Turkey butted in, saying the hydrocarbon resources also belonged to northern Cyprus (which has been under Turkish occupation since 1974) and Nicosia didn’t have the right to exploit resources that belonged to Turkish Cypriots. Turkey threatened to intervene.
Regarding Kozakou-Marcoullis’ mission to Tel Aviv, the Foreign Ministry in Nicosia said on Tuesday, “Particular emphasis will be placed in cooperation between Cyprus and Israel in energy issues, and the recent developments in the wider region.” Nicosia factored in that the minister would receive a warm welcome in Tel Aviv, which she did from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Shimon Peres.
The statement issued by Netanyahu’s office virtually underscored that Israel has a convergence of interests with Cyprus with regard to Ankara’s perceived belligerence. Netanyahu said Israel and Cyprus had “overlapping interests”. The statement said Netanyahu discussed with Kozakou-Marcoullis “the possible expansion of energy cooperation given that both countries have been blessed with natural gas reserves in their maritime economic zones”.
Israeli Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Avigdor Liberman told Kozakou- Marcoullis that Israel “welcomed the exclusive economic zone agreement that was signed between the two countries … [and] that this was a bilateral issue that must be implemented as soon as possible to enable the initiation of the gas production process for the benefit of both parties and that the agreement was signed in accordance with the rules and rights of international law.”
Peres is due to visit Cyprus soon while Netanyahu hopes to visit Cyprus in the near future.
Snub to Ankara
The Israelis are pinning their hopes on Cyprus turning out to be a prize catch, being a member of the European Union, which works by consensus and is shortly expected to evolve a common stance apropos the expected Palestinian move at the United Nations General Assembly session in New York in September, seeking recognition for their “state”.
This explosive diplomatic issue haunts Tel Aviv (and Washington) and the stance that Cyprus takes at Brussels could be a diplomatic windfall when the mood in Europe is increasingly empathizing with the Palestinian case for statehood.
Turkey, on the other hand, has taken a firm stand supportive of the Palestine cause. Indeed, the first fracture appeared in the architecture of Turkey-Israel ties when Erdogan snubbed Peres in front of television cameras at the Davos forum some two years ago during a debate on the Palestine problem.
In sum, Israel has every reason politically to throw its weight behind Cyprus in its tiff with Turkey – even if energy security is not compelling enough. The red carpet Tel Aviv rolled out for the Cypriot foreign minister can be seen as Israel’s riposte to Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu’s warning recently that Ankara would show the “necessary response” if Cyprus went ahead with exploration work.
Kozakou-Marcoullis was simply delighted. She told the Jerusalem Post on Wednesday that Cyprus planned exploratory work within the next two weeks: “We have international law on our side. I think Turkey has to listen to the messages being sent by the international community regarding this issue.”
She was referring in particular to statements issued by Washington and Moscow in recent days supportive of Cyprus’ right to do the drilling in the eastern Mediterranean. After returning to Nicosia on Thursday, Kozakou-Marcoullis stressed, “On the part of Israel, there is complete understanding about Cyprus’ positions.”
Noble Energy executives met Cypriot Trade Minister Praxoula Antoniadou in Nicosia on Thursday after which the minister said that drilling was indeed starting as scheduled and that “it is indisputable that Cyprus has every right to proceed and take every step needed for exploiting any natural wealth it possesses”. Nicosia’s confidence rests on the knowledge that it enjoys the backing of the US, Greece and Israel.
Foreign devils in Kurdish mountains
Meanwhile, Israeli commentators have also begun rattling Turkey’s nerves, already somewhat frayed, over the furious return of Kurdish militancy. Israeli intelligence and businessmen have longstanding contacts with the Kurdish Peshmerga in northern Iraq.
Interestingly, Iran has highlighted lately that Israel could be stirring up the Kurdish pot for Turkey and, therefore, Tehran, Ankara and Damascus would have shared interests in countering the Kurdish separatism that threatened all three countries. Leading Israeli defense specialist David Eshel commented in August about the upsurge of Kurdish insurgency in Turkey’s eastern provinces:
The entire Kurdish people could take advantage of the ongoing Arab Spring and prepare the ground for a long-anticipated Kurdistan, linking up with Iraq’s ongoing autonomy, the Iranian Kurdish enclave and perhaps even the Syrian Kurdish minorities … With the Arab world in total turmoil, lacking any orderly leadership, the Kurds could finally achieve their sacred goal for independence, after decades, if not centuries of desecration and oppression … the ongoing “Arab Spring” could eventually shift into a “Kurdish Summer”.
With the dilemma in Ankara growing steadily, the future of Turkey’s Kurdish minority is inevitably shifting into national focus. The long unfulfilled quest of the Kurds for independent statehood is not emerging as a major barrier in … Ankara’s relations with the US … Turkey cannot afford an independent Kurdistan; it would be losing some of its highly strategic and economic assets. In fact, without Kurdish eastern Turkey, the entire nation would break apart.
The most devastating part of Eshel’s commentary is his analysis that with the acute ongoing confrontation between the civilian government of Erdogan and the Turkish military, the latter’s professionalism and intelligence-gathering capabilities have suffered a severe setback and the Turkish General Staff realizes that any military action in the Kurdish regions would be a “high-risk operation”.
Eshel anticipated with an ominous overtone that a criticality might be reached soon if Turkish Kurds merged with the seasoned Iraqi Peshmerga militia numbering more than 100,000 fighters. He warned, “Erdogan is facing his yet most difficult challenge.” Given Israel’s close links with the Kurdish Peshmerga going back decades, Israel could be signaling to Ankara at various levels that it has the means to hit back at Erdogan.
Israeli interests fundamentally lie in creating rifts in Turkey’s relations with Iran and its “diplomacy” toward Ankara is constantly working in this direction. The paradox, however, is that Israel knows that neither Ankara nor Tehran can afford any serious drift to develop in their relationship at this juncture in regional politics. But the Israelis are adept at turning paradoxes to their advantage.
The Kurdish problem exposes fault lines that cut across Sunni-Shi’ite tensions in the region. Ankara, Tehran, Baghdad and Damascus have a convergence of interests regarding Kurdish separatism despite being on different sides of the Sunni-Shi’ite divide.
Israel estimates, however, that the Kurdish problem makes Ankara vulnerable to American and European pressure tactic and an exacerbation of this could politically weaken Erdogan and bring him to his knees. Such an estimation may appear fanciful. But the fact remains that on Thursday, in a Kurdish ambush, 15 Turkish soldiers were injured, two of them critically, and since July over 40 Turkish soldiers have been killed by Kurdish insurgents.
Turkish public opinion is becoming concerned about national security and the government’s handling of the Kurdish problem. At a delicate time in Turkish politics when Erdogan is navigating himself with gusto to assume office as the head of state in a new French-style presidential system of government, he cannot afford to be seen as ineffectual in meeting the Kurdish challenge.
He has opted for a firm military response. But in Eshel’s estimation, the weakened Turkish military will meet more than a match in the Kurdish mountains and the assertive Turkish leadership may well find itself in a quagmire.
August 27th, 2011, 1:12 pm
Revlon said:
Dear NK, thank you for linking to Jr Speach. I have compiled an abridged translation, which I am posting in two parts; the crisis and the solution.
Speech V
Occasion: a rather annual, ceremonial iftar with Sheiks and Islamic Scholars
Part I: The crisis
There were incidents that took place.
We can not turn back the clock; There is no point in lamenting mistakes.
We should be positive and use the shedded blood to avert spilling more
Before this crisis, our meetings used to be shrouded with fog
– Demarcations were blurred; We used to see gradations of grey instead of clear black and white.
– We did not distinguish the faithful from salfi
– We did not distinguish the faithful from the extremist
– We did not distinguish sheikh afrom scholar
– We did not distinguish who preaches to God and who preaches to himself through God
Now, after the crisis began, we see beautiful things:
– The fortitude of the core of Syrians
– Yet such core appears “rusty. We should tackle this rust, lest it disintegrates and be blown away by the “Spring breeze”
– Nationalism and religion have appeared intertwined
– Syrian society is not sectarian
– Religion did not appear sectarian
So what is at the core of the crisis: Regression in ethics.
– Bribery, attacking religious beliefs, neglecting duties, demonstrating, chanting No God but God for non-religious issues are examples of non-ethical issues
– The solution is to address ethical deficiencies by adopting the ethics of Islamic religion.
– Sectarianism has been advised against in Quran: Wa3tisimoo bi7ablillahi Wala Tafarrqoo
– As a Muslem, I follow the prophet Muhammad, not through my sect
– We share responsibility, the system and the people, to address the question: When does one become Mohammadi?
Others, related but not central to the cause of the crisis: economy, poor education, lack of political reform
DeirEzzor Mosque Minaret
– Intermediate and heavy weapons were not used in this crisis.
– Tanks went in to minimize casualties and frighten terrorists
– That Minaret and others were rigged with bombed by terrorists. They were never shelled.
Even if security elements commit mistakes, such as by
– Attacking holy sites
– Writing on the walls or say no God but Bashar or Maher
– Prostrating to my picture
– They remain a minority in the thousands of security forces. We have the choice of approaching their acts emotionally or with reason. We choose the latter.
After 1970 we allowed the building of 7000 compared to 4000 Mosques since Omayyad
Religious preaching should be regulated
Sermons in Mosques should be limited to religion;
– No personal input must be allowed. Even if what he says is right.
– Because how people perceive the message might be different from what is intended!
August 27th, 2011, 1:16 pm
Haytham Khoury said:
@126
I appreciate Anton’s call, because every Syrian soul is important for us. Is there anyway for fulfilling the people’s demands without bloodshed? Of course, at least theoretically, yes. However, in order for that to be practically possible few things should be taken into consideration:
1. The regime should entertain the idea of relinquishing power.
2. The regime should stop the military operations.
3. The regime should accept to negotiate with the opposition on the basis of equality (considering the opposition as equal partner in the negotiation).
4. No part in the negotiation should use any blackmailing or threatening strategies.
5. The negotiation should be held outside the Syrian soil.
6. The opposition has the right to chose its delegates for the negotiation.
August 27th, 2011, 1:19 pm
Afram said:
122. Haytham Khoury said:
(what about the Da Vinci Code)
the book is fictionnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn,bozo
then you are not a Karl Marx Haytham ??? are you fasting ramadan?!
Karl Marx was one of the most important thinkers of the 19th century and There he criticized religion…..
Karl Marx’ Religion is the opium of the people… Haytham are you on afghani talabani Heroin stuff?
August 27th, 2011, 1:19 pm
ann said:
He’s uncle Tom Haytham Khoury lol
August 27th, 2011, 1:22 pm
Aboud said:
@121
http://www.ali-ferzat.com/ar/comic/id/607.html
Describes your Besho perfectly. All mouth. Talks the talk, can’t walk the walk 🙂
Still obsessed little man? Why don’t you go play with the other fake seculars and whine about how all the world’s religions are evil 🙂
17 posts out of 117? Excellent, especially since half those 117 mention me LOL 🙂
And count the percentage of your
commentswhines that are nothing but your obsession with Ramboud 🙂“Some promised to take videos”
Toooooooooz. Why did they wait this long? Cleaning up before the UN came?
August 27th, 2011, 1:23 pm
Aboud said:
I’d like to share my favorite Homsi joke 🙂
An Iraqi, a Palestinian and a Homsi were due to be executed. They were bought before Papa Assad.
The Iraqi tries to flatter his way out of his predicament. “Oh great Hafez, I love you more than I love Saddam! More than Saddam himself!”
Hafez asked “Why is that?”
The Iraqi said “Because Saddam is afraid of America, and you are not afraid of America!”
Flattered, Hafez forgave the Iraqi.
The Palestinian then said “Oh great Hafez! I love you more than Arafat!”
“Why is that?”
“Because Arafat is afraid of Israel, but you aren’t afraid of Israel!”
Flattered, Hafez forgave the Palestinian.
The Homsi decided to try flattery as well.
“Ya sayed al-Rayes, I love you more than the prophet Mohamad! More than Momahad himself!”
“Why is that?” asked Hafez
“Lano Mohamad kan ekhaf men Allah, bas inta ma bet khaf Allah!”
🙂
August 27th, 2011, 1:30 pm
Revlon said:
Speech V
Part II
Solution to the crisis: Reform and security, hand in hand
– External element is sizable.
– Solution should be internal, requesting external intervention is expanding conspiracy.
– We reform not because we want to end the crisis: terrorists are being paid and they will continue regardless of reforms!
– We reform for most of Syrians, who do not demonstrate!
– We can not move from a 5 decade old political system to lasting reform quickly.
– When we approved the new party law, they said you should have reformed the constitution first. I said, but you asked for that!
– They asked for freedom we reformed, then there was chaos, we added more reforms, then they moved to destruction so we called for dialogue, and when they started their terror we responded with force.
– Example of this sequence: We Lifted the emergency laws, but people said we did not feel the difference. I say it is because arrest by security forces has not abolished, but regulated to allow for10 days of detention extendable to 60 days.
Constitution
– Our societies in the Arab world thrive on a balance between Arabism and Islam; Such must not change.
– Religion of the president: Constitution should reflect the society, so the religion of the president and source of laws should remain as Islam
– I foresee the need for six months for review of the constitution
Security
– Mistakes happened, but we lost 600 army and security casualties; We will not be forgiving in this regard, for the sake of stability
– Army; Where army entered lives were saved.
– The west hate Arabs and Muslems. Such was my experience form living in Britain. We do not care about their love, we seek respect. They do not care about human rights.
August 27th, 2011, 1:37 pm
Aboud said:
“The west hate Arabs and Muslems. Such was my experience form living in Britain.”
Aweeeee poor Besho. Did the other eye doctors make fun of his long neck?
“We can not move from a 5 decade old political system to lasting reform quickly.”
Yeah, and what have you been doing for the past 11 years? FDR created the New Deal and won WW 2 within that time, and junior has done squat all. Geesh, how much time can a guy spend playing X-Box?
“Religion of the president: Constitution should reflect the society, so the religion of the president and source of laws should remain as Islam”
You hear that, fake-secular menhebaks? Squirming much? 🙂
August 27th, 2011, 1:52 pm
beaware said:
Qatari special forces led Libyan attack on compound
rebels Tripoli Gaddafi compound
Arab emirate emerges as major backer of new Libya as world awaits Gaddafi’s final showdown
By Nigel Horne
LAST UPDATED 7:52 AM, AUGUST 24, 2011
While Foreign Secretary William Hague and former British Army chief Gen Sir Michael Jackson were busily promoting the argument that the Libyan people had taken Tripoli on their own, it has emerged that foreign forces played a significant role in yesterday’s storming of Col Gaddafi’s compound.
At one stage, Nato commanders had to ask the rebels to hold back from the compound while the RAF launched a final missile attack on Gaddafi’s HQ.
And, according to The First Post’s defence expert Robert Fox, members of the Qatari special forces, trained by Britain, could be seen clearly directing the final assault on the compound.
The Arab emirate of Qatar has already emerged as a major supporter of the new Libya, arming the rebels over recent months and playing host today to an international conference which will see a billion-dollar-plus fund started towards the rebuilding of war-torn Libya.
The conference comes as members of the National Transitional Council head from Benghazi to Tripoli, pledging to make Libya a “united, civil and democratic nation”.
While some believe the fall of Gaddafi is all over bar the actual capture of the dictator and his sons, some voices remain cautious.
The emergence of the audio tape on which Gaddafi claims, absurdly it would seem, that the abandonment of his compound was “tactical” and vows to keep on fighting for “martyrdom or victory” sent a chill through many Libyan hearts.
“It’s a symbolic victory,” one sceptical resident told the Guardian following the storming of the compound. “Gaddafi is still free. He hasn’t been captured. That means the game isn’t over yet.”
Rana Jawad, reporting for the BBC, writes: “It is amazing just how through this audio alone of Col Gaddafi the regime can strike fear into people here, who still wonder whether there could be some grander scheme that may come to the fore in the next few hours or days.”
To compound that fear, Gaddafi’s loyal spokesman Moussa Ibrahim has popped up on the Al-Urubah TV channel to say Libya will be turned into a “burning volcano and a fire under the feet of the invaders”.
Quite what his threat and those of Gaddafi himself add up to is not clear. But some observers feel the most likely scenario – if Gaddafi hasn’t simply fled – is a final showdown in his home town of Sirte.
According to some reports, government troops are heading there now.
Read more: http://www.thefirstpost.co.uk/83509,news-comment,news-politics,qatari-special-forces-led-libyan-attack-on-colonel-gaddafis-tripoli-compound#ixzz1WFnpLCT1
August 27th, 2011, 2:08 pm
Aboud said:
Shocking video showing the blatant shelling of a minaret by Syrian army thugs. The guy taking the video shows his smug smile at the end.
As you can see, none of the army turds are coming under fire, none of them are taking cover from possible armed gangs. You know what the menhebak turds do when they see such videos? They high five each other.
When this is over, Hafiz’s grave is going to be turned into a public urinal. Maher will be paraded in his underwear in every Syrian city, where people will get the chance to smack him with shoes. And Besho will get the worst punishment of all….his X-Box Live account will be terminated….permanently! LOL!
August 27th, 2011, 2:09 pm
Mango said:
126. ANTON
can you change plans of the conservative of the USA concerning our country? To convince John Mc-Kein or Bolton not to hold in our life! the question not in our wishes!
August 27th, 2011, 2:20 pm
Mango said:
http://www.al-hakaek.com/ViewDetails.aspx?id=28281c09-2d15-4822-9a04-76a55363e373
August 27th, 2011, 2:39 pm
Tara said:
Ammar
Exactly right. I believe absolutely nothing that comes from the Syrian regime. They can fabricate anything. Mubarak used to order attacks on Coptic church to incite sedition. Do I think Bashar is a step up from Mubarak. Absolutely not. 40 years of lying created a profound psychological barrier. You lie once, you always lie and the regime always lied. That is why free press is not allowed because they always lie. Physical evidence of bullets would prove the incident did happen but it would not prove who did it. I hope you at least agree with that.
August 27th, 2011, 2:41 pm
Afram said:
homsi,homsi
A Foreign Correspondent in syria,walking down one of HOMS streets
all of a sudden he heard loud long torture scream
so he goes close to a building and ask the guard,wass up,the guard tells him this is homs central prison,so wass up with the loud screams the reporter asks?
aha,guard says,tonight we are executing a salafi by electric chair…reporter,well isn,t executing by electric should not take more than 3 Minutes?then why the salafi been screaming for an hour now?homsi guard,aha,the jail electrial system has failed,so we in great HOMS are electricuting the salafi by a CANDEL……….
AS THEY SAY,HOMSIS ARE NOT THE BRIGTEST LITE BULBS IN ANY BUILDING
August 27th, 2011, 2:44 pm
Haytham Khoury said:
@ 131
Dear Afram:
I am a real secular one. For this reason, I leave people’s beliefs to themselves.
By being occupied by other people’s religion, you are not using religion as an opium but as a poison for you and others. You are inciting sectarian hatred. You are no different from any extremist in the Taliban regime and al Quaeda organization who declared Jihad on Crusaders and Jews, but your type of Jihad is psychological one. You are a hatred inciter.
August 27th, 2011, 2:49 pm
Aboud said:
Joke 🙂
??? ??? ?????? ??????? ????? ??? ???? ?????? ???????? ??? ??????? ??? ??
???? ???? ?????? ??????? ????? ???????? ??????? .. ???? ???? ??????? .. ???? ???? ???????
??????? (?????) ?????? ??? ?? ????? !!?? ????? ?????? ??? ????? ?? ???????
????? ???? ?? ????? !!! ?? ??? ???? ??? ?????????? ???: ????????? ???? !!!????
August 27th, 2011, 2:54 pm
Haytham Khoury said:
Dear Afram:
If one you find in the near future an extremist Islamist (from those your regime had sent to fight for Jihad in Iraq) putting any bomb beside a Church, it is because of people like you inciting sectarian hatred. For this reason, I will hold accountable for that. Certainly, you are not aware what you are doing.
August 27th, 2011, 2:55 pm
Syria no kandahar said:
????? ??? ???????? ?????
?????? ?? ???? ?????
????? ??????? ?????? ????? ????? ??????? ???????
????? ????? ??? ??????? ???????? ???? ???????
??????? ?? ??? ???? ?????
?????? ?????? ?? ?? ???????? ????????
???????? ??? ??? ????
??????? ???? ???? ??? ?????? ????? ???????
?? ???? ??????
??? ??? ?????
?????
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???? ????? ?????? ????? ????? ????? ??? ?????? ??????
?????? ?? ??????
August 27th, 2011, 2:57 pm
Aboud said:
@142 Hehehe, I love Homsi jokes, I’ll regal you all with my favorite ones. But meantime;
“so we in great HOMS are electricuting the salafi by a CANDEL……….
AS THEY SAY,HOMSIS ARE NOT THE BRIGTEST LITE BULBS IN ANY BUILDING”
Candle. Brightest. Light. Electrocuting.
🙂
August 27th, 2011, 2:57 pm
Tara said:
I am preparing myself to a disappointment that will sure occurs after the Arab league meets tonight. I always felt I am an Arab first and Syrian second, to the contrary of my close family members who feel Syrians are not really Arabs. Being Arab for me was not based on strict ethnicity. It is based on a profound sense of belonging due to common language, history, culture, and tradition and therefore common destiny.
Unfortunately, part of me always suspected that my sense of “Arabism” is a bit “over-exaggerated”. I am not expecting anything of substance to come out of this so called Arab league meeting. To lots of Arabs, religion, sect, money, and power is what shape their Arabism which is far away from my own.
The Shiaa in Iraq were treated by Saddam just like how we are treated in Syria. I was always compassionate with their cause. Yet when they came to power, they just could not remember their recent history of oppression and their Shiaaism was the only reason why they are supporting Assad against the people. What a pity!
August 27th, 2011, 3:00 pm
some guy in damascus said:
i guess i’ll have to check out the saleeb church. although, i doubt this attack ever happened, i asked 2 locals and they denied any attack furthermore this would be great material for addounia(which didnt air such things)
@ammar shami,
where will i find evidence of bullet holes? over the entrance? near the windows?
August 27th, 2011, 3:01 pm
Syria no kandahar said:
Hyathem
So your msg is shut up or we will bomb your churches?
August 27th, 2011, 3:05 pm
Revlon said:
Free Offciers Movement spokesman: A FOM unit ambushed armed security personnel carrier and a JEEP and destryed both, killing and wounding their passengers
AlGhap region, Jisr AlShugour.
9 minutes ago
???? ????? – Omawi Live
???? ????? #syria ? ???? :: ??? ????: ???? ?????? ??????? – ???? ??? ???? ???? ??????? ????? ????? ?????? ?? ????? ???????? ?? ????? ????? ?? ????? ??? ??? ?????? ??? ????? ??????? ????? ??? ?????? ???? ??? ??? ?????? ??? ???? ????? ??????? ??????? ???? ???? ….
9 minutes ago
August 27th, 2011, 3:11 pm
Haytham Khoury said:
Dear Syria no Kandahar:
My massage is there is already a lot blood in streets. Why inciting more hatred.
Previously, I asked the people from the other aisle to reduce the tone just to reduce the violence. I hope you can remember and understand that.
This is my message.
August 27th, 2011, 3:12 pm
Afram said:
143. Haytham Khoury said:
Dear Afram:
“I am a real secular one”heeha,then,act like one!!!!
you keep putting the islamic barbaric ideology cart infront the secular horse…..heck man you know nothing about the art of politics…you can blabber your mouth untill hell freezes up…your are still wrong…history is my game,kissing the islamist rear-end is your game not mine.I openly abhor damn hipocryts
August 27th, 2011, 3:16 pm
Badr said:
Ref. this comment and another one
The comment rating buttons of this forum are a plugin that allows one vote per IP address, and not a cookie based approach. If you are manipulating the votes, then you must be having a change of your IP address.
August 27th, 2011, 3:17 pm
Revlon said:
Stateemnt of the Islamic Syrian Scholars in Condemnation of attack on Sheikh AbdulKareem AlRifaai in Damascus, 27 August 2011
???? ????? ??????? ???????? ?? ??????? ???????? ??? ????? ??? ?????? ??????? ?????
????? ?????: ????? 29 ????? 1432?? – 27 ????? 2011
???? ????? ??????? ???????? ?? ??????? ???????? ??? ???? ????? ??? ?????? ??????? ?????
?? ???? ?????? ???????? ?? ?????? ???? ??????? ??? ????? ?????? ?????? ??? ???? ????? ??? ?????? ???????? ?? ???? ??????? ?????? ???? ????????? ???????? ????????? ????? ?????? ?????? ?????? ????? ????? ?? ??? ?????? ??????? ??? ??? ???? ?? ???? ????.
??? ????? ??????? ???????? ?????? ?????? ?????? ??? ???? ???? ?? ???? ??????? ??????? ??????????? ?????? ?? ????? ??????? ????? ??? ??????? ???? ??????? ????? ?? ??????? ????? ????? ????? ??????? ?? ???? ??????? ?? ???? ??? ???? ???? ?? ?????? ??????? ??????? ???????? ?????? ??????? ??????? ???? ??????? ?????? ???????? ????? ???? ???? ????? ??????? ??????? ?? ????? ??????? ???????? ??????
?? ???? ?? ???? ??????????? ??????? ??? ?????.
??? ???? ??? ?????? ??????? ?? ????? ????? ??????? ??????? ????? ????? ???????? ??? ??? ????? ??? ?????? ??? ??? ???? ?????? ???? ?? ????? ???? ????? ?? ????? ?????? ???????? ?????? ??????? ???? ??? ??????? ??? ????? ??????? ??????.
27/8/2011
August 27th, 2011, 3:20 pm
Haytham Khoury said:
Dear Afram:
I am so sorry, if I was firm with you. However, I saw in my life how people can use things that they think benign and turns out to be dangerous. when you insult other people’s beliefs it means you are demeaning them. If we use that too much, you will find a lot of people with weak souls and easily boiling blood who will explode in your face.
August 27th, 2011, 3:22 pm
some guy in damascus said:
@ badr,
thats why i abstain from liking or disliking posts.
Doctor landis, if you would be so kind and find a better way for us to demonstrate our like or dislike for a comment, maybe an avatar- based system?
@aboud ,HAHAHAHAHHAHAHA
one of the requirements of the president in Syria 2.0 should be: full command of tongue and vocal cords.
August 27th, 2011, 3:31 pm
hsyrian said:
Assessment of Undiscovered Oil and Gas Resources of the
Levant Basin Province, Eastern Mediterranean
March 2010 ,
the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) published an estimate of the undiscovered oil and gas resources of the Levant Basin Province. The Levant Basin Province encompasses approximately 83,000 square kilometers (km2) of the eastern Mediterranean area (fig. 1).
The area is bounded to the east by the Levant Transform Zone,
to the north by the Tartus Fault, to the northwest by the Eratosthenes Seamount, to the west and southwest by the Nile Delta
Cone Province boundary, and to the south by the limit of compressional structures in the Sinai.
Off the Syrian/ Lebanese coast :
The Levant Sub-Salt Reservoirs AU has two discoveries (Tamar, Datil) that were used in the assessment but are so new that there is no independent reference as to the size of these discoveries.
Levant Sub-Salt Reservoirs
Largest expected mean field size
Oil 184 MMBO, million barrels of oil
Gas 12,238 BCFG, billion cubic feet of gas
Figure 1. Location of the three assessment units (AU) in the Levant Basin Province in the Eastern Mediterranean.
http://pubs.usgs.gov/fs/2010/3014/pdf/FS10-3014.pdf
Disclaimers
Seven Sisters
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enrico_Mattei
August 27th, 2011, 3:34 pm
Afram said:
156. Haytham Khoury said:
Dear Afram:
“I am so sorry, if I was firm with you. However, I saw in my life how people can use things that they think benign and turns out to be dangerous. (((when you insult other people’s beliefs it means you are demeaning them)))???!!!. If we use that too much, you will find a lot of people with weak souls and easily boiling blood who will explode in your face”
again,you are mixing apples&oranges?!?
islam is a state and a cult fake religion
muslims mixed their barbaric history and religion and made it a sacred object,if you dare criticize their stupid bloody history they kill you ,read the Quran Haytham Khoury,quran says about you&jews appes&pigs,islam is insulting us not me,why are you defending The UNHoly Grail? they barbarian muslim,murdered DR.faraj foda of egypt and tried to kill NAJEEB MAHFOUTH&TAHA HUSAIN for critisizing islam,Haytham Khoury you are blinded by your troubling agenda
August 27th, 2011, 3:50 pm
some guy in damascus said:
@ afram
i guess you’re a fan of geert wilders, and i understand that you don’t want islam to have a political role in Syria 2.0 , but do you think besho is the answer?
ps: i want syria 2.0 to have a civil/secular constitution.
August 27th, 2011, 3:57 pm
Tara said:
Damascus boiling.
I am looking forward for tanks invading Damascus.
August 27th, 2011, 4:04 pm
Afram said:
Haytham Khoury;
they just terminated one of your sunni brothers,are you sad?
my condolences
A CIA drone strike killed al-Qaeda’s new second-in-command in a Pakistani tribal region on Monday, a US official says. The New York Times reports that Atiyah Adb al-Rahman, a Lybian national, became al-Qaeda’s top operational planner this year and was part of a new generation of leaders poised to take over after bin Laden’s death in May. “Atiyah was at the top of Al Qaeda’s trusted core,” said the American official.
Electronic files found at bin Laden’s Pakistan compound showed that bin Laden kept in close contact with al-Rahman and used him to convey messages to al-Qaeda leaders and the wider world. The Telegraph reports that al-Rahman served as bin Laden’s Iran emissary, and moved unscathed in and out of Iran from his long-time base in Waziristan. The killing of al-Rahman follows Defense Secretary Leon Panetta’s remark last month that the US could defeat a weakened al-Qaeda by mounting more attacks on its leadership.
August 27th, 2011, 4:05 pm
some guy in damascus said:
@ tara,
why do you want tanks in damascus?
i appreciate your support and all but there are some of us here that don’t live in the states. Damascus is my home, i have no alternative, i dont want tanks here, what happened in hama,der el zor, lattakia, daraa,homs,jisr el sh3’ur is a tragedy that i dont wanna see in my back yard. damascus is my home, and no person wants to see tanks in his home.
August 27th, 2011, 4:11 pm
Aboud said:
SGID, those bastards would never dare send tanks into Damascus. It would signal to the entire world that they have lost control there, just like they did in Hama, Homs, Deir el Zour, Idlib, Homs, Baniyas, Dar’a, Homs, Abu Kamal, Latakia, Telkelakh, Homs (hehehe) Rastan and Houran.
Menhebaks, why isn’t Mu’allem at the Arab League meeting? Is he sulking? 🙂
August 27th, 2011, 4:19 pm
Hans said:
Islamists islamists islamists!!!
I would be the first one to support the revolution in the middle east if it wasn’t just an islamist radical revolution, it is amazing how the islamists who hate the west and want to destroy the west through decades are getting support from the west in syria, egypt and libya, it is weird that USA didn’t learn the lesson from the Iraqi defectors who were lying to the amricans all the way to the Invasion…
it is the same story now with the islamists they are lying to the west about an arabic democracy and a spring in syria it is going to be a lake of blood with civil war looming.
in egypt it is going to be the slaughter of the christians on the hands of the muslims brotherhood! Mubarak tried to keep them from doing that by being secular and the radical took over.
it is amazing how the west trying to pease these groups who if anything they are the other face of Alqaida in the middle east. it won’t be long after they take over they will turn agaist the west.
the egyptitians are adopting the Sharia law as thier new constitution which belongs to the dark time of humanity.
Maybe the game the west is playing is to have all this islamists take over these countries and let the people go back to live in the stone age, that is clear how iranians went back in time since the islamic revolution.
I would like to syria a democratic country progressing in all aspects but it is not going to happen as long as the islamists and saudi arabia are the main force behind toppling the regime. there is no secular or minorities but all the leaders of the islamists are involved in these meeting held outside syria to discuss the future of syria.
August 27th, 2011, 4:22 pm
Tara said:
SGID
I am surprised you did not understand my previous post. I don’t want to see any tanks in any Syrian town either but unfortunately, The regime will not fall without Damascus rising and when Damascus rises, Bashar will resorts to his usual method of terrorizing people, using tanks and directing the army to kill people.. My previous post meant my wish for Damascus to rise sooner than later to hasten the fall of the regime.
August 27th, 2011, 4:22 pm
Afram said:
160. some guy in damascus said:
@ afram
“i guess you’re a fan of geert wilders, and i understand that you don’t want islam to have a political role in Syria 2.0 , but do you think besho is the answer?
ps: i want syria 2.0 to have a civil/secular constitution”
you guessed wrong,and nothing wrong with geert wilders,the man see evil in sunni islam… kudos for him
I,m a fan of the syrian doctor:WAFA SULTAN
no president ASSAD not the answer,before then i like to see a water tight secular Constitution,full democracy and full women rights,no to barbaric sharia law,but your saudi barbaria wont let us have it,so Bashar is in for the time being…..
August 27th, 2011, 4:25 pm
some guy in damascus said:
@ tara
i was hoping that would be your reply and im sorry i got a bit touchy, (its my home), and yea aboud, a military intervention in Damascus wont work. bringing in a tank into Damascus will mean that Syria is NOT fine contrary to his majesty’s words.
anyways
ladies and gentlemen:
we conclude Ramadan by announcing that all of Damascus has joined the Syrian revolution vs. bashar al assad
August 27th, 2011, 4:30 pm
sf94123 said:
# 165 HANS:
You are “Right on the money”. The end-game is to put Syrians in the Stone Age. The West, Saudi Arabia and Israel are the ultimate beneficiaries of this EVIL plan. I wrote about it many times on this forum before.
August 27th, 2011, 4:37 pm
some guy in damascus said:
@sf94123
Syria is already in the stone age,
What do u call a country that
-got atms 5 years ago
-wireless phone coverage 9 years ago
-access to satellite channels 10 years ago
-still isn’t in the wto
– has only 4 local channels
August 27th, 2011, 4:48 pm
uzair8 said:
Has the Night of Power broken the back of the regime?
Seems Damascus is boiling after the attack on the Sheikh.
“The Syrian media tried to interview Sheikh Osama al-Rifai inside Andalusia hospital (to calm the street) but the sheikh refused, they had threatened to kill his son who is detained, he said to them “May God protect him” ”
From comments section of the blog:
The Syrian media tried to interview Sheikh Osama al-Rifai inside Andalusia hospital (to calm the street) but the sheikh refused, they had threatened to kill his son who is detained, he said to them “May God protect him”
Breaking News: #Damascus: protesters gather in front of Al-Andalus Hospital where Sheikh Usama Al-Rifai, the Imam…
http://blogs.aljazee…ged-syrian-town
August 27th, 2011, 4:49 pm
Aboud said:
“A CIA drone strike killed al-Qaeda’s new second-in-command in a Pakistani tribal region on Monday, a US official says. ”
Good riddance. The Islamist armed revolution in Syria is a figment of your imagination. It’s no wonder you people have been so inept in subduing the revolution. You still don’t know the nature of the uprising you are up against.
August 27th, 2011, 4:50 pm
Haytham Khoury said:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/us-official-says-al-qaidas-second-ranking-leader-has-been-killed-in-pakistan/2011/08/27/gIQAEUDqiJ_story.html?wpisrc=al_national
August 27th, 2011, 4:56 pm
Khalid Tlass said:
Aboud, would you take a religious question ?
Laylat al Qadr is only on the night of 27th ? I thought it is on all the odd-numbered nights in the kast 10 nights (i.e 21st, 23rd, 25th, 27th, 29th). I could be wrong.
Btw, don’t you think the only difference between Salafis and non-Salafi Sunnis is purely theological ? Are you Hanafi ?
August 27th, 2011, 4:59 pm
SYR.EXPAT said:
Dear Joshua/Moderator,
SYRIA NO KANDAHAR and AFRAM have crossed the line and are attacking the Muslim faith and Prophet Muhammad (??? ???? ???? ????). I oping you can do something about it promptly.
August 27th, 2011, 5:03 pm
Amir in Tel Aviv said:
Why shouldn’t we be allowed to “attack the Muslim faith”? The Muslim faith is attacking every thing that is not the Muslim faith. At least we can criticize it freely.
.
August 27th, 2011, 5:24 pm
Aboud said:
Khaled, Laylat al Qadr can be on any odd numbered night, but it is more likely to be on the 27th. God alone knows though which night it actually falls on.
And I’m a none practicing Muslim. I don’t pray, but I do fast. I do believe in God, heaven and his prophets, but I believe that charity, helping one’s neighbor, being civil and honest are what God wants from us, more than rituals of prayer or pilgrimage.
If it comforts someone to pray and go on Hajj, good for them, I certainly wouldn’t deny them the pleasure, and nor would I support a disgusting dictator who shells mosques and beats up shiekhs, unlike some fake secularists who like to say “so Bashar is in for the time being…”.
Of course, as long as junior is massacring Syrians, then by all means let him stay “for the time being”. Just as long as he’s a good little X-Box president and racks up the fake-secularist approved quota of body counts.
Meantime, the menhebak fake secularists are hung up on who married whom at a time when the life expectancy was 30 and when kings and emperors married or had concubines that young. It just shows their intellectual bankruptcy, that they cannot find anything else to fill their comments with. They couldn’t debate their way out of a paper bag with holes.
And I ask again, why is fat boy Mu’allem sulking in Damascus when every other Arab foreign minister is in Cairo?
August 27th, 2011, 5:27 pm
Abughassan said:
Attacking religious symbols of any faith is unacceptable because it only increases hatred and division,and this is exactly what some people want.
August 27th, 2011, 5:28 pm
Norman said:
All of you,
If you can influence the future of Syria,
How do you go around and what would you do to transform Syria to democracy, please set up a plan and let us discuss the pros and cons and then present it as our plan that might be adopted by somebody who can change events,
Dr Landis, please join the discussion and steer us in the right direction so we do not get off course,
August 27th, 2011, 5:29 pm
Aboud said:
Amir, do you see me attacking the Jewish faith? Not one person has ever left theirs over some Internet debate. All it does is needlessly antagonize people to no purpose. What use is it for me to go on about David arranging the death of the husband of a chick he had the hots for? Will it cause you to leave Judaism?
Of course not. Faith bashing is the last resort of the intellectually bankrupt.
August 27th, 2011, 5:30 pm
Aboud said:
Also Khaled, I have no idea what the Salafis think or say and how its different from other Isamic schools of thought. I was vaguely aware of something called the salafi movement until junior started accusing every city, town and hamlet in Syria of being a hotbed for Salafi gangs.
August 27th, 2011, 5:32 pm
majedkhaldoon said:
The regime is confused, he is beating around with no real and good strategy,he has only one solution to the demonstrations that sprang all over Syria,it is brutal crackdown,using security forces, Mercenaries(Shabbiha),and loyal asadist troops.
What happened in Damascus is real escalation,by the regime,it is a turning point in this revolution, It happened in Ramadan, in the night of QADR, and to a respected Imam,Mr. Ousama Rifa-ee.He is 80 year old,spent all his life preaching moderate Islam,He has the heart of most Imams in Syria,The mood in Damascus now, is different,widespread resentment is going through all over Syria,The Elite will begin to grumble,people are no longer whispering, they are talking publicly,they are charged emotionally to the maximum,they are ready to explode,people are resenting against the regime,Bashar popularity is at all time low level.
Where are the massive demonstrations in support of the regime?we do not see them anymore.the regime is banckrupt.antiregime demonstrations are all over Syria.they have the upper hands , now.
The internal opposition may arrange to meet,300 of them, as I heared, they face arrest and may be murders by the regime,they better form several small groups, depending on their party, they can meet in small groups,and secretly,much better than to have one large meeting in public,external opposition job is to co ordinate those meeting and publicise their demand and decisions,the external opposition can not lead the internal opposition.
We have great lesson in Libya,in the way the rebels arranged for the revolt in Tripoli,secretly smuggled weapons to Tripoli,and one day they suddenly acted,in 2 days the battle was won,the same thing must happen in Damascus,that was a good strategy,that is how the rebels took over Tripoli.
August 27th, 2011, 5:34 pm
Tara said:
Aboud
You are exactly right. Afram and SNK ran out of argument and therefore restored to Islam bashing. This is called intellectuals bankruptcy. They couldn’t defend their position so they run to islamophobia thinking they are offering substance or they are annoying the mamnhebaks. They need to think again. We are not annoyed and they are offering no substance. They were completely ignored. They can “boil” in their hatred…and the sad thing for them is, they absolutely can’t do anything about it.
August 27th, 2011, 5:43 pm
Aboud said:
Majed, and not just in Syria. I just listened to an interview on France 24. A Syrian was describing how Cro Magnum Maher’s neanderthal brother in law got some shabiha turds together and attacked an anti-regime demonstration….*in Paris*
*facepalm* How can anyone call him or herself a menhebak and not die of shame.
August 27th, 2011, 5:45 pm
Amir in Tel Aviv said:
Aboud, Feel free to attack and criticize the Jewish religion. If you have a point, let’s debate, and even reform Judaism. Why not? I believe that those who are criticizing Islam (those whom Tara calls Islamophobes), in fact attack the political elements in Islam. I share their criticism. No one and no thing should be immune to critique.
.
August 27th, 2011, 5:54 pm
Tara said:
Amir
You are generalizing too much. I thought you are enlightened Israeli and not particularly intolerant. You have said before you have multiple personalities. I did like the first personality that came across and I thought it was genuine. I do not like your personality today. Talmud had lots of “inappropriate” texts. I have asked you about it in the past. Do I say based on the texts that “Judaism attacking all other faith so why don’t we attack Judaism”?
August 27th, 2011, 5:55 pm
beaware said:
US ‘encouraged’ by tougher Arab stand on Syria
WASHINGTON – The United States said Monday that it was “encouraged” and “heartened” by a tougher stand from Arab countries toward Syria’s deadly crackdown pro-democracy protesters.
“We are very much encouraged, heartened by the strong statements that we’ve seen over the weekend by the Arab League as well as by the Gulf Cooperation Council,” State Department deputy spokesman Mark Toner told reporters.
These are “further signs that the international community… is repulsed by the brutal actions of the Syrian government and is standing with the Syrian people,” he added.
Toner said the move was a sign that “Assad and his government are further isolating themselves from the international community through their actions.”
Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Bahrain, members of the Gulf Cooperation Council, recalled their envoys from Damascus earlier and denounced the violence, a day after the 22-member Arab League called for an end to the bloodshed.
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said last week that the United States would urge the Arabs and others to do more to press Syria to stop its deadly crackdown.
US officials say a lack of consensus has hampered international action in Syria, making it less robust than in Libya, where a NATO-led force has launched air strikes against Moamer Kadhafi’s forces crushing the opposition.
Unlike in Syria, Arab League members have supported and actively participated in the no-fly zone imposed over Libya.
However, a State Department official was adamant that although the increased Arab cooperation increases pressure on Syria, the United States is not pursuing the same path there as in Libya.
“It’s just not the same situation,” the official added, speaking on condition of anonymity.
Robert Ford, the US ambassador to Damascus, has pointed out that the Syrian people do not seek international intervention, unlike the people in Libya.
The official said the United States was looking to impose sanctions on top of the financial measures already placed on Assad and members of his regime.
Washington will not follow the example of the Gulf states by withdrawing Ford from Damascus, officials said, adding that the envoy aims to “bear witness” to the violence there and deliver the US government’s message directly to Assad’s regime.
Read more: http://www.asdnews.com/news/37373/US__encouraged__by_tougher_Arab_stand_on_Syria.htm#ixzz1WGj3dzWC
August 27th, 2011, 5:55 pm
Khalid Tlass said:
Aboud, the difference between Salafis and “traditional” Sunnis is that the traditional Sunnis (in Syria) usually follow the jurisprudence of Imam Abu Hanifa or Imam Shafi. Plus there are some festivals, like 15th of Sha’baan, Mawild al-nabi, which are not celebrated by Salafis because they consider it as Bid’ah. Salafis also don’t visit graveyards for reciting of Alfatiha.
Are Homsis that big on 15th of Sha’aban or Birthday of Prophet ? I can judge whether there are Salafis on the basis of this question.
Btw, of what I have described of Salafism, have you seen anything violent, or political, or intolerant ? I don’t, and I wonder why the Menhebaks don’t realize that we are a non-political movement.
I think Tara can help us out, several of her family are Shaykhs.
Amir in Tel Aviv, have you heard about the blood Matzah of Zion ? Isn’t it true that you need the blood of Muslims and Christian children for the matza ?
August 27th, 2011, 5:59 pm
DIGGING FOR GOLD IN BOSRA said:
SF94123 and HANS
What are you talking about? How does Israel benefit from the current uprising? It’s quite the opposite, the Israelis are extremely concerned by the developments that are taking place, they would have preferred to have kept things the way they were. It’s well known that the quietest spot in the Middle East is the Golan Heights, Rami Maklouf alluded to as much in an interview he gave the New York Times.
And Egypt. You haven’t detected a change in the administration’s attitude to Israel? You don’t think that reflects grassroots opinion?
Nothing you have said stands up to basic common sense, let alone serious analysis. The truth is every dictator in the Middle East has (had!) a small hardcore group of supporters who benefit from their links to the regime. They will remain with said dictator until the very end, defying all appeals to common sense and reasoning. I’m guessing you’re one of them.
Hans, you’re another one who is way off target here, again my guess is that you have some stake in the regime’s survival. All your talk of Islamists is silly. It’s the suppression of opinion and denial of basic rights that is fuel to the extremist’s cause, didn’t we learn anything from the Egypt of the early 90s?
Wouldn’t you prefer to see a Syria that looked more like the present Turkey? I know I would.
August 27th, 2011, 6:01 pm
N.Z. said:
Dear All, when the late Ibrahim Kashoush sang his revolutionary song, Yallah Erhal Ya Bashar, he sang, FREEDOM IS AT OUR DOORSTEP, depart, depart!!! His words are coming to life, freedom is closer than ever in the capital Damascus.
People are saying their goodbyes before they head down to squares, alleys…. to join planned demos. They know they might not be back.
Someone said I am petrified, BUT nothing will stop me, we are much closer to reclaim our dignity. NOTHING WILL STOP US!!
Damascus is a gem protected by God. God is greater than any tyrant. If the people decided one day to live, destiny will respond…Syrians we are on your way to become dictatorship-free.
August 27th, 2011, 6:02 pm
Akbar Palace said:
Why shouldn’t we be allowed to “attack the Muslim faith”? The Muslim faith is attacking every thing that is not the Muslim faith. At least we can criticize it freely.
Amir,
I recommend an article by Daniel Pipes. See below. The issue isn’t the muslim religion, the issue is the religion being hijacked by Islamists, self-appointed despots and their paid propagandists in the government-controlled, Arab media.
I have noticed that MOST of the participants here are NOT anti-Jewish/anti-semitic in the least. One poster, Afram, in post #167, is an adherent of Wafa Sultan, who is an outspoken critic of the jihadists and Islamists. After I saw her TV interview, she became my hero. I could live with her as a next-door neighbor any time. She happens to be a Syrian-American. Syrians should be proud of her.
Meantime, we have Professor Josh, who clearly isn’t “fired-up” about the “very bad things” coming out the Assad regime. Conversely, I like the fire that Wafa Sultan has in her belly.
Wafa Sultan:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=1296126090432829344
Daniel Pipes:
There is a great battle under way for the soul of the Muslim world. This battle is not between the West and the Muslim world; we in the West are bystanders. It is essentially a battle between Muslims, between the Khomeini and Atatürk dispositions. Which one is likely to prevail? It is strange to observe that the lively, new ideas in Kemalist Turkey are Islamist ones, whereas the lively, new ideas in Islamist Iran are secular ones. This points to the turmoil and the dynamic developments taking place in the Muslim world.
Despite the fact that the West is a bystander, we on the outside must protect our interests. To start, in devising strategy towards Islamism we must very specifically and very repeatedly distinguish between Islam and Islamism.
http://www.danielpipes.org/954/distinguishing-between-islam-and-islamism
The point of the matter is, we should hope that the Arab Spring brings freedom to the ME. With freedom, tolerance comes right behind.
Amir in Tel Aviv, have you heard about the blood Matzah of Zion ? Isn’t it true that you need the blood of Muslims and Christian children for the matza ?
Khalid Tlass,
Shirley your joking. Right?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blood_libel
Jews paid a HEAVY price from these types of accusations throughout history, including Hebron, less than 100 years ago.
August 27th, 2011, 6:08 pm
Amir in Tel Aviv said:
Tara,
I believe I answered you, one minute before you asked me the question. see #185. I don’t like religions. All of them. My religion is Spinozism. If you have some time: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philosophy_of_Spinoza
I do though respect the power that religions have on humans, and realize that this is not going to change any time soon.
.
August 27th, 2011, 6:11 pm
Tara said:
WHY-DISCUSS once posted an article published in one of the Turkish newspaper of how to promote religious tolerance. Convictions are convictions. They are not logic and people should not focus on differences if they want to build a tolerant society. Discussing what age Aisha married Muhammad 1500 years ago is irrelevant and can’t be categorized as anything except hate mongering. Islamophobes and terrorists who want to eliminate anyone that does not conform to their ideology are two faces of the same coin.
August 27th, 2011, 6:12 pm
Aboud said:
Fine Amir, if you want to waste your time trying to apply logic to something so illogical as faith, then it’s your time you are wasting. Faith is called faith because one believes in it even if logic decries otherwise.
These aren’t scientific equations we would be discussing, things that can be dis-proven with math and theories. You cannot completely prove or disprove a religion, but you will end up antagonizing people regarding the very core of their beliefs.
But like I said, if you are so intent on a religious debate, knock yourself out. Just don’t expect me to join you on what must be the most futile waste of time ever thought up.
Khalid, I don’t think making an occasion of the prophet’s birthday is unique to salafis. It is noted as an occasion. Some Arab countries consider it to be, like Ramadan, a special day of religious significance and close down bars and liquor stores on that day (the UAE and Jordan, for example).
But is there a big party bash in Homs on his birthday? No.
August 27th, 2011, 6:16 pm
DIGGIN FOR GOLD IN BOSRA said:
SYR EXPAT
There is nothing wrong with criticising a faith or in fact any prophet. In 16th century Europe this was known as blasphemy – a crime punishable by death (using burnt at the stake), thankfully most of the world has moved on since then with freedom of speech now considered sacrosanct. If what he said was unnecessarily disrespectful, unsubstantiated or gratuitous then he will look the fool. Don’t rise to the bait.
August 27th, 2011, 6:17 pm
Muhammad said:
Edleb few hours ago
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hoceVe86Fbw
the guys are really loving this
???????? ???????? ????????
???????? … ?? ?????????????
? ???????? ???????? ????????
???????? … ?? ???????????????
August 27th, 2011, 6:17 pm
Tara said:
Amir
My problem is with your statement “the muslim faith is attacking everything that is not Muslim faith”. How did you reach this conclusion? Please don’t tell me 9-11 and bin laden. These terrorists hijacked the Muslim faith and they do not represent it. 99 percent of Muslims or more do not submit to bin laden convictions. I thought a fact like this should be clear to enlightened people.
August 27th, 2011, 6:20 pm
Tara said:
Khalid
It is true that I come from a family that is I call “entrenched” in the Sunni religion with many members considered to be “the go to” or whatever, but I am the last one to be asked religious questions. I am like how Aboud describes himself, a non practicing Sunni. I fast but I don’t pray so I can’t help.
And also khalid, I am dying from lack of coffee. I have had it. I am drinking coffee today no matter what the consequences are.
August 27th, 2011, 6:29 pm
N.Z. said:
Aboud, You brought up a point I had never thought of before, about the average life expectancy. Excellent point. Totally agree: “Faith bashing is the last resort of the intellectually bankrupt.”
August 27th, 2011, 6:30 pm
Aboud said:
My eye caught something on my bookshelf; L Ron Hubbard’s “Battlefield Earth”. It occurred to me, do I consider Scientology to be complete crap? Absolutely. Would I say so to a Scientologist? Not if I wanted to keep the channels of discussion open.
As a history buff, I find it remarkable that we know so much about Mohamed, even though he lived over 1400 years ago. How much do we know about other historical figures from 630AD? At the time, Heraclius was Emperor of Rome (or at least the Eastern part). And yet how much do we know about him?
August 27th, 2011, 6:39 pm
Khalid Tlass said:
@ Tara – LOL….I can’t do without Tea after Iftar..hehehe, Brit that I am..I don’t ever touch Coffee…yuck…..lucky me.
Aboud, you’ve got it wrong. Salafis (at least in the West) DON’T celebrate the Prophet’s birthday, becoz we consider it as Bid’ah , i.e an later innovation during the Ottoman times. Do people in Homs mark the Prophet;s birhday in any way, like special prayers, or cooking something special, etc ?
Basically Salafism is a reaction against some of the Sunni rituals and superstitions, espceailly those related to certain festivals, prayers, etc.
Salafism has got nothing to do with politics. I think Salafism has a better foothold i the coastal areas and also in North Lebanon.
August 27th, 2011, 6:42 pm
Aboud said:
“There is nothing wrong with criticising a faith or in fact any prophet. In 16th century Europe this was known as blasphemy”
By all means, criticize the politics of religious leaders, their actions, their decisions. But discussing the validity of the tenets of the religions requires a very, very advanced degree of debating maturity. Frankly, I’m not so sure we have it here (except for Hamster, he’d run rings around Aristotle).
August 27th, 2011, 6:43 pm
Aboud said:
Khaled, I’d say any marking of the occasion is marginal at best. Saudi Arabia make a point of not marking the occasion, but in Homs I have yet to hear of someone who would skip going to a wedding or football match because it was the prophet’s birthday.
August 27th, 2011, 6:45 pm
Khalid Tlass said:
Post no. 151 by Revlon is very significant. I didn’t know that Tanks and APCs are getting knocked out by the FSA. I don’t exactly know the ground situation, but is it true the FSA is causing major losses on the Besho Brigades ? If true then I’m euphoric (nothing better than to imagine those bastards dying a painful death inside their Tanks).
I somewhat thought that some portion of FSA was bluffing and were undercover Mukhabarat trying to mislead the opposition. Hussein Harmoush is genuine though. I got extremely frustrated at FSA becoz they cldn;t do much in Hama and Deirezzor, most of their activities are still confined to Idlib and Rastan. Aboud, Do you think the FSA will be able to give the Besho Brigades a good kicking in any major city like Hama, Homs or Latakia ?
August 27th, 2011, 6:54 pm
ziadsoury said:
Aboud,
I am not a practicing one either.
Homs used to have a very nice festival marking the birth of profit until the Master Hafez decided to stop it in the early 70’s. I was at the last one with my uncle (khal). We were both having a good time and all of a sudden bullets from the mukabarat started going in every direction. I do not recall if anyone died but I know both of us went into a restaurant and hid all the way in the back until things calmed down.
August 27th, 2011, 6:55 pm
Tara said:
Afram and Kandahar should not be moderated but should be completely and totally ignored. Let them boil in their hatred. They can talk to each other as much as they want but should not be acknowledged with a response.
August 27th, 2011, 6:56 pm
Aboud said:
Khalid, I have yet to meet a member of the FSA. I know there are many, many defections, but the only armed gangs I’ve seen in all of Homs were regime thugs. So the only comment I could make would be based on rumors and what I read online.
I’d be no better than the “WE ARE WITH YOU UNTO DEATH YA BESHO” menhebak expats who are nice and comfy in countries where VISA and Mastercard still work LOL!
August 27th, 2011, 7:00 pm
some guy in damascus said:
something funny about regime-supporters,
they actually thought this revolution was cooked up by al jazeera, so how did they retaliate??
they tried to set up a revolution in qatar!!\https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?op=1&view=global&subj=152496958150549&pid=931874&id=100000437263212&prev=1&oid=152496958150549&fbid=263053050385935#!/revolution.in.qatar
addounia used this group as a source…………….
August 27th, 2011, 7:01 pm
Amir in Tel Aviv said:
Aboud, knowing about Muhammad’s life, isn’t religion. It’s history. Historians follow the Koran, along with many other historical documents, and they tell the story of Muhammad’s life.
I like biblical stories and legends. The David story you brought, is beautifully written. Samuel 2, 11,12:”…And it came to pass at eventide, that David arose from off his bed, and walked upon the roof of the king’s house; and from the roof he saw a woman bathing; and the woman was very beautiful to look upon”.
http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt08b11.htm
Can you find an outrageous sentence like this in the Koran ? 🙂
.
August 27th, 2011, 7:02 pm
Khalid Tlass said:
Why did Hafez have a problem with Mawild al-nabi, it isa Sufi ritual and got nothing to do with Salafism or politics ? Usually it ais the Salafists who hate Mawlid and in Afghanistan, Taliban are known to attack Mawlid processions. So if the Mukhabarat was attacking one, they were behaving just as the extreme Taliban. Also it is a very tolerant Sufi tradition, why did the Ba;athists get all worked up atn that ? Assuming that Salafists were the Baathists greatest adversary, wasn’t it natural for Hafez to promote such festivals rather ? Papa’s mond worked in complex ways.
August 27th, 2011, 7:03 pm
ziadsoury said:
Amir,
These days you get arrested for that.
August 27th, 2011, 7:06 pm
Aboud said:
“and from the roof he saw a woman bathing; and the woman was very beautiful to look upon”
Well…go on, continue the story!
:p
Details of the prophet’s life don’t just come from the Quran.
SGID, yeah, Al-Dunya had reports about the “Qatari Revolution”. The menhebaks are so infantile, they don’t realize what a sad joke their media apparatus is.
August 27th, 2011, 7:10 pm
Norman said:
Khaled,
I think that you are right, Hafiz made that day an official holiday .
August 27th, 2011, 7:12 pm
Afram said:
there is 1,5 billion muslim…1 billion of them pray 5 times a day
5X1B=5 billion….muslims curse jews and christians 5 billion time a day
its,its an obligatory acts in islam…ha cry babies,you want to silence freedom of speech,cowards?
(??? ??????? ????? ??? ???????)who are the stray ones and the cursed ones…shame on you
this verse muslim use every day,5 times a day by 1 billion muslim to attack christians and jews,akhhhhhhhh
???? ???????:
???? ??????? ?? ??? ???? ?? ?????? ? ???? ??????? ????????? ?? ??? ???? ?????? ??????? ?? ?? ??????? ??? ?? ????? ??????
??? ???? (???? ?????? ???? ???? ???? ????? ?????? ?? ???? ???? ??? ?????: ????? ??? ?? ????????? ??? ????: ????? ????? ???? ???: ?????? ??????? ??? ????: ???? ??? ????? ???? ???: ???? ??? ?????? ???: ????? ????? ???? ???: ???? ???? ????? ??????? ???: ??? ???? ???? ???? ?????? ?? ???? ???? ???: ????? ?????? ????????? ???? ????? ????? ?????? (??? ??????? ????? ??? ???????)? ???: ??? ????? ?????? ?? ???
?? ?? ?? ????????: (??? ??????? ????? ??? ???????)
August 27th, 2011, 7:17 pm
Haytham Khoury said:
Damascus developments today are very important. It is better for Bashar to let the opposition inside the country carry out a meeting; If the American “neocons” start to intervene in internal affairs of Syria through their new allies from the Syrian opposition, the outcome will be bad for everybody, including Bashar.
August 27th, 2011, 7:19 pm
Tara said:
Amir
There is also a big difference between some one who does not like all religions and makes fun of All of them and someone who is self-righteous and thinks he/ his religion gets it right and all others are evil. The second category is contemptuous and not different from Bin laden mentality.
August 27th, 2011, 7:22 pm
Aboud said:
@214 Angry little fake secular considers the Fatiha, the verses read for the souls of the departed, a curse.
Angry little religion hater considers Al-Fatiha, the verses read at weddings and engagements, a curse.
Angry little free-speech champion who wants to silence the right of a billion Muslims to practice their religion, considers Al-Fatiha, which is read for divine favor at everything from signing a contract to taking a penalty kick, a curse.
Reading Al-Fatiha is an act of compassion. But hey, I’d be more than happy to read Al-Fatiha for you. Interpret it the way you want 🙂
(Am I good or what?)
August 27th, 2011, 7:24 pm
some guy in damascus said:
@all especially anton, ammar shami
it turns out that the “al-saleeb” church is located in the kasa’a area near the french hospital( what is france?!?!?, my knowledge of this mythical land called europe has waned since the fat man ate it off the map) ,and not in bab tuma. this is like mhajreen and malki, theyre really close. but its not situated in the touristic part of bab tuma, which probably explains why it wasnt on the tourist map.
anyways im gonna check it out in the near future.
August 27th, 2011, 7:25 pm
Akbar Palace said:
HK,
Which American “neocons” do you think could “intervene in internal affairs of Syria”? What indications do you have they will? My impression is that Turkey is most likely to intervene.
August 27th, 2011, 7:29 pm
Khalid Tlass said:
When will see Maher’s funeral ?
August 27th, 2011, 7:29 pm
Norman said:
Afram,
you are wrong about Islam, Islam does not preach hatred of Christianity and Judaism, some Muslims think that being extremist is more satisfying so they try to create conflict to seek reaction from the other side and that is how civil wars start.
August 27th, 2011, 7:31 pm
Aboud said:
Al-Fatiha, see what a potent “curse” it is
“Praise be to Allah, Lord of the Worlds, (2) The Beneficent, the Merciful. (3) Owner of the Day of Judgment, (4) Thee (alone) we worship; Thee (alone) we ask for help. (5) Show us the straight path, (6) The path of those whom Thou hast favoured. Not (the path) of those who earn Thine anger nor of those who go astray.”
Oh noooeees, to be called “he who has gone astray”. Man, that must be the lamest curse I’ve ever heard in my life. You’d think the God of 1.5 billion Muslims could come up with a more potent “curse”. I’;ve read scarier curses in the Harry Potter books.
*facepalm*
August 27th, 2011, 7:33 pm
majedkhaldoon said:
I know a lot about Moses,but we are forbidden to say anything bad about any prophet in Islam.
Amir you said you are not religious, why then do you call yourself JEW?
As far as Syrian, Most are SUFI,not Salafi, many also do not pray while they are young, but as they get older they start praying , too.
My question to Aboud, why do feel you should fast and you do not pray? Is it a macho reason?or is it your wife effect? or embarassement?
please do not answer me,just think about it.
August 27th, 2011, 7:35 pm
Norman said:
Aboud,
Did you see the movie, (( The thirteen warrior )), You should if you have not, you will see what made Islam spread around the world.
August 27th, 2011, 7:39 pm
some guy in damascus said:
something i never understood about jews, is how come they consider Judaism as something racial in addition to religious. i mean if i convert to Judaism does my DNA change?
August 27th, 2011, 7:39 pm
Haytham Khoury said:
Dear Akbar Palace:
I am not sure if you read the the article of Joshua that he published on this blog “Interventionist vs non-interventionist”. That articles summarizes the conflicting tendencies within the American Administration as regard how to deal with the Syrian problem. If you leave it for the “neocons”, they will start to intervene militarily tomorrow (already they are meddling politically). They have a lot of accounts to settle (with Iran, Huzb allah and Hamas) through hitting Syria. There is a group from the Syrian opposition, which is reckless, encouraging that.
August 27th, 2011, 7:42 pm
amal said:
Haytham Khoury is finally waking up!
August 27th, 2011, 7:49 pm
Akbar Palace said:
SGID,
Yes, many people have difficulty wrapping their minds around the fact that being “Jewish” both represents a religious affiliation AND a member of a race or people. For example, Amir and AIG are not practicing Jews. AIG is a self-proclaimed atheist. In any case they identify themselves as part of the “Jewish People”.
August 27th, 2011, 7:49 pm
Aboud said:
“My question to Aboud, why do feel you should fast and you do not pray? Is it a macho reason?or is it your wife effect? or embarassement?”
Hahahaha, no I’d love to answer you, if you don’t mind 🙂
August 27th, 2011, 7:51 pm
Haytham Khoury said:
I forgot to tell you that Turkey intervention is part of the American plan.
August 27th, 2011, 7:52 pm
Syria no kandahar said:
Is it a crime to ask a question about marriage to 9 years old?
How would you answer your kids if they read about it?
That is a historical fact.it is not fiction.no one is even willing to talk one world about it.
You don’t talk bad about prophets?why do you call Jews the sons of pigs and monkeys?why do you ask non-Moslems to pay ?????? ??? ??????
Moslems are used to attacking others every day
But they should be immune from criticism.They cry for Dr Landis so he won’t allow any discussion they don’t like.
Imagine having a full sexual intercourse with a 9 years old,repeatedly,and being ???? ??? ????
So if a regular Moslem have sex with a newborn
You should’t blame them.
August 27th, 2011, 7:56 pm
Afram said:
seculars of the world,muslims are given the right to murder non-Muslims for speaking up and criticizing islam
allah of islam practice Sadism,loves the color REDDDDDDD
REGARDLESS OF THEIR SILLY THREATS,WE NEED TO FIGHT FOR FREEDOM OF SPEECH…B/C,OF FREEDOM OF SPEECH MANKIND PUT A MAN ON THE MOON,LACK OF FREEDOM, MUSLIMS ARE BACKWARD AND CAUSE OF THAT THE TWINS TOWERS ARE GONE FOR EVER AND EVER…
http://youtu.be/tZeoJRR1K2Y
August 27th, 2011, 7:57 pm
Norman said:
SGID,
Judaism is the religion, the tribe is the Hebrew tribe, Judaism is not easy to convert to. therefore most Jews are from the Hebrew tribe that feel that they were pushed out of Palestine when the Romans destroyed the Temple .
August 27th, 2011, 7:57 pm
beaware said:
Where is Syria heading? 5 possible scenarios for the uprising
http://arabnews.com/middleeast/article494392.ece?service=print
By MARIAM KAROUNY | REUTERS
Published: Aug 27, 2011 22:49 Updated: Aug 27, 2011 22:49
BEIRUT: The overthrow of Muammar Qaddafi by Libyan rebels supported by NATO forces focuses international attention on the five months of unrest in Syria, which has shaken one of the most tightly controlled Arab states.
Opposition figures and activists fear the successful use of force to topple Qaddafi may encourage Syrians to follow Libya’s example. Syrian protests have been mainly peaceful but there have been increasing reports of attacks on security forces.
Following are some possible scenarios in Syria and the risks and opportunities they would present:
Stalemate
The United Nations says 2,200 people have been killed in Assad’s crackdown on dissent since protests broke out in March. Syria says over 500 soldiers and police have been killed by armed groups which it blames for the violence.
Despite growing international condemnation, Western sanctions, and escalating economic pressures from the unrest, Assad’s rule shows no sign of imminent collapse.
Nor is there any indication that the protests across the country are about to stop, although the number of protesters appears to have fallen since Assad sent troops into several major cities earlier in August.
If Assad cannot crush the protests completely, he may be able to contain their impact, staying in power despite the major upheaval and economic disruption caused by the unrest and growing international isolation.
Deal with opposition
Assad could reshuffle his ministers and bring in some opposition figures in a symbolic move that will not stop street demonstrations but may convince some that he is serious about reforms, including the promise of multi-party elections by February.
After a wave of criticism from regional countries including Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Turkey earlier this month, Arab states have moderated their language in recent days, hinting at a possible easing of pressure on Assad.
Many opposition figures have dismissed Assad’s promise of political reform and said they cannot talk to the authorities while the violence continues.
But if the deadlock continues, some members of the fractured opposition may feel there is no alternative to negotiation, despite the chasm of mistrust between the two sides.
International intervention
So far no country has proposed carrying out in Syria the kind of intervention undertaken by NATO forces to help Libyan rebels topple Muammar Qaddafi.
But the collapse of Qaddafi’s rule has encouraged some Syrian opposition figures and protesters to support international intervention in Syria, including the idea of a Turkish buffer zone in northern Syria.
“Please! NATO help us,” read one banner, in English, at a protest in the northern province of Idlib on Friday.
But any military intervention could destabilize a region in which Assad enjoys strong support from Iran and backs groups like Hezbollah, Hamas and Islamic Jihad.
“Any negative or bad development will affect the whole region,” Hezbollah Secretary-General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah said on Friday.
International intervention could also lead some Syrians to choose Assad over perceived foreign interference.
Civil war
Analysts and some opposition activists have warned that the continuous killing may encourage people to take up arms in big numbers, pushing the country toward civil war.
“I fear that some in the opposition who are in a hurry to end the regime, who we have always warned against repeating the Libyan example, will say now it has been successful and resort to arms,” said opposition figure Louay Hussein.
Assad belongs to the minority Alawite sect which makes up around ten percent of the Syrian population. Most of the demonstrations are taking place in Sunni Muslim areas.
There have been sectarian killings in some cities including Homs, but activists say so far it has been a minor part of the unrest.
Syria suffered repeated coups in the 1960s before Assad’s father, Hafez Assad, seized power in 1970 and purged his opponents from positions of power.
Despite reports of some low-level defections, and Assad’s replacement of his defense minister at the height of the military crackdown in August, the army has so far stood behind the president, unlike in the Tunisian and Egyptian revolutions.
But some activists see little prospect of Assad being toppled by street demonstrations and see a military coup as the best chance of removing him. They hope Western calls for Assad to step down and targeted sanctions against senior officials might encourage those around the president to break away or carry out a coup to avoid prosecution.
It is not clear how any new military leaders would deal with protesters’ demands for greater political freedoms.
Attention has also focused on the wealthy merchant classes of Damascus and Aleppo which have made no public move yet to disassociate themselves from Assad.
Unless they feel their interests would be protected in a post-Assad Syria, they would be reluctant to push for revolutionary change. But their patience may be tested as the economy reels from the collapse of tourism revenues and foreign investment, loss of trade and a fall in manufacturing output.
© 2010 Arab News
August 27th, 2011, 8:00 pm
Akbar Palace said:
HK,
Thanks for the response. Professor Josh’s article is not one of his best. GWB and the Neocons have been out of office for 3 years now. Obama is now in office, and I can assure you he is not a neocon.
Professor Josh writes these articles to scare Syrians into Assad’s corner. Nope, Assad is free to kill as many Syrians as he wants. Russia and China don’t want to see anti-government demonstrations rewarded.
August 27th, 2011, 8:01 pm
Evan said:
#225 SGID it’s not a race thing, i’d say the best comparison is a tribal one, but it’s not a perfect one. Haytham, neocons don’t control US foreign policy and are unlikely to until 2013 earliest, and even so I don’t see any US involvement in Syria in the future. If we did, it would be open invitation for Iran to counter, worst case creating a Lebanon circa 1982 situation. Believe it or not Americans have learned from Iraq, besides helping the Kurds (the one good thing we did), we screwed up the country and even those Americans who defend what we did wouldn’t be stupid enough to suggest that we do it again, with the exception of a few neocon intellectuals who are sponsored by very rich men with narrow interests.
August 27th, 2011, 8:06 pm
beaware said:
PLEASE! NATO HELP US
Tehran presses ally Assad for reforms
Published: Aug 27, 2011 22:48 Updated: Aug 27, 2011 22:48
http://arabnews.com/middleeast/article494392.ece?service=print
TEHRAN: The Syrian government should recognize the “legitimate demands” of its people, Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi, whose nation is the main ally of Damascus, was quoted as saying Saturday.
“The government should answer to the demands of its people, be it Syria, Yemen or other countries,” the ISNA news agency quoted him as saying. “The people of these nations have legitimate demands and the governments should respond to these demands as soon as possible,” Salehi added.
“We have the same stance toward popular developments in the Middle East and North Africa. We believe that the developments in the region emanate from discontent and dissatisfaction in these countries,” he said.
But he warned against toppling the Syrian regime. “A vacuum in the Syrian regime would have an unpredictable impact for the region and its neighbors,” Salehi said, referring to calls by the United States and European leaders for President Bashar Assad to step down.
Salehi’s comments came two days after Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad called for dialogue between Damascus and the opposition to end months of deadly violence. “The people and government of Syria must come together to reach an understanding,” Ahmadinejad said on Wednesday.
But the appeals seem to have little effect on Assad. Syrian forces killed at least three protesters on Saturday as tens of thousands of people marched again to demand the resignation of Assad.
more..
August 27th, 2011, 8:06 pm
Aboud said:
Shhhh, calm down angry little religion haters. I will recite Al-Fatiha for you.
LOL 🙂
Beware, I recall reading that article somewhere a few days ago. I think the Arab News reprinted it.
“After a wave of criticism from regional countries including Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Turkey earlier this month, Arab states have moderated their language in recent days, hinting at a possible easing of pressure on Assad.”
A point of view that was out of date before it got to the printing press. The Syrian foreign minister is sulking and staying away from the Arab League meeting, and the Iranians have started the process of leaving junior out to dry.
August 27th, 2011, 8:08 pm
Tara said:
Beaware
The article in 236 does not match the link “where is Syria heading”.
August 27th, 2011, 8:31 pm
Tara said:
The best statement of the day goes for SGID
“we conclude Ramadan by announcing that all of Damascus has joined the Syrian revolution vs. bashar al assad”
Thank you Damascus for the wonderful end of Ramadan!
August 27th, 2011, 8:57 pm
Haytham Khoury said:
Dear Akbar Palace:
I agree with you that they are not in the front, however some of them still in the backstage and they still have some influence. They are preparing themselves to take over, if Obama loses. I hope the Syrian problem will be solved before that day comes.
However, the American active meddling in the Syrian internal affairs started more than a month ago, by pushing the latest conference to be held in Turkey (in order to the latter to intervene in the outcome) and favoring some parties of the opposition over others. Any American intervention not agreed upon by the whole spectrum of the opposition will create big problems. The movie started and the drama has begun. we are waiting for the next turns.
August 27th, 2011, 8:57 pm
Dale Andersen said:
Memo To: EVAN
RE: “…Americans have learned from Iraq, besides helping the Kurds (the one good thing we did), we screwed up the country…”
Screwed up the country? Maybe we did, maybe we didn’t. It depends on whether you consider Iraq a country. Personally I think Iraq was (and is) is a geographical entity consisting of several groupings of mutually antagonistic tribes/nations/ethnicities. I think it was screwed up beyond repair long before the US invasion. But hey, that’s me…
August 27th, 2011, 9:07 pm
Syria no kandahar said:
SGID
We conclude Ramadan with a big lie which makes your fasting credit negative.
August 27th, 2011, 9:11 pm
uzair8 said:
Syria and the rest of the muslim world are in the state we find them because they have strayed from Islam. Any knowledgable muslim would be able to tell you that.
There are Hadith about how the rulers will reflect the people. What does the fact that we have these thugs ruling over us say about the people of the muslim countries?
If the muslim people change themselves and return to God Almighty then He will give us better rulers.
In Syria people are turning to God. Just look at the protests. God conciousness is increasing. Remember the ‘We bow only to God’ slogan for a Friday (I think). I have seen on blogs for weeks people saying they were waiting for Laylatul Qadr. Look at the role Ramadan has played. Also the Friday prayer every week. The vital role of the Mosque without which it would have been almost impossible for people to gather in large numbers.
Perhaps Heaven is teaching people the value of what they strayed from. When the revolution succeeds InshaAllah, the people will not take their eye of the ball again for a long time. Huge lessons have been learnt and are being learnt.
With know one to help them against this brutality the people are calling on their Creator. This is big trial for the Syrian people. Perhaps God Almighty wishes to grant them better and the people are required to make the incredible sacrifices we are seeing.
The people are seeing the reality of this ‘secularism’. Eventually the muslim people of the world will be left with only Islam when the reality of all else will have been exposed as false promises and dissapointments.
For those hose talking against Islam on here. Islam is the fastest growing religion in the world.
Here is a quote for you:
” The endurance of the Islamic faith is astonishing. Islam survived 2 centuries of defeats and humiliations of the Ottoman Empire and Ataturk’s abolition of the caliphate. It endured generations of Western rule, outlasted the pro-Western monarchs in Egypt, Iraq, Libya, Ethiopia and Iran. It easily fended off communism, survived the rout of Nasserism in 1967, and has proven more enduring than the nationalism of Arafat or Saddam. Now, it is resisting the world’s last superpower.” Pat Buchanan
August 27th, 2011, 9:15 pm
Evan said:
Dale, I agree we didn’t make the tiger but we definitely didn’t declaw it before we set it loose.
August 27th, 2011, 9:20 pm
Syria no kandahar said:
Tara dream:Tanks in Damascus.
Damascus and Aleppo are too big to be fooled.They watch Aljazera instead of Adel imam.
It takes real revolution to revolt great cities.A revolution lead by Abdulah,Ziadeh,Alseed…is like a mouse playing with Tiger tail.
PS:The Tiger is Syria.
August 27th, 2011, 9:21 pm
N.Z. said:
In regards to how long it will take to topple the ruling family is anyone’s bet. Knowing that many, as much as 20-30 innocent lives are lost on a daily basis. On the other-hand, time is giving the opposition and the protesters time to evolve, mature and digest how to move forward as a nation. Your thoughts.
Will time benefit the opposition or not?
August 27th, 2011, 9:28 pm
Haytham Kgoury said:
Dear Dale:
I am not sure, if helping the kurds in this way was a good thing. Indeed, the Kurds are pursuing a policy of ethnic cleansing in the north and the main target is the Christians. In Syria, we have more than 1.5 million Iraqi refugees, more than half of them are Christians and the majority of those are from the north. In my opinion, it is immoral for the US to let that happens.
Indeed, this is the main reason why the Christians in Syria are afraid from in change and why their religious leadership is not lining with the Syrian uprising.
http://www.rudaw.net/english/news/iraq/3339.html
August 27th, 2011, 9:31 pm
Afram said:
221. Norman said:
Afram,
“you are wrong about Islam, Islam does not preach hatred of Christianity and Judaism, some Muslims think that being extremist is more satisfying so they try to create conflict to seek reaction from the other side and that is how civil wars start.”
AM I wrong about bloody islam Norman?
Extorting Money from Other Religions
Question:
Does Islam require people of other faiths to pay money to support the Muslim religion?
Summary Answer:
Absolutely. Muhammad very clearly established that people of other religions have to pay a poll tax to Muslims called the jizya, as a reminder of their inferior status. This abrogates an earlier verse stating that there is “no compulsion in religion” and destroys any pretense that Islam is merely a religion and not a political system.
read his bloody verse,NORMAN>>>
***The Qur’an:
Qur’an (9:29) – “Fight those who believe not in Allah nor the Last Day, nor hold that forbidden which hath been forbidden by Allah and His Messenger, nor acknowledge the religion of Truth, (even if they are) of the People of the Book, until they pay the Jizya with willing submission, and feel themselves subdued.””
From the Hadith:
Muslim (19:4294) – There are many places in the hadith where Muhammad tells his followers to demand the jizya of non-believers. Here he lays down the rule that it is to be extorted by force: “If they refuse to accept Islam, demand from them the Jizya. If they agree to pay, accept it from them and hold off your hands. If they refuse to pay the tax, seek Allah’s help and fight them”
Bukhari (53:386) – The command for Muslims to spread Islamic rule by force, subjugating others until they either convert to Islam or pay money, is eternal: Our Prophet, the Messenger of our Lord, has ordered us to fight you till you worship Allah Alone or give Jizya (i.e. tribute); and our Prophet has informed us that our Lord says:– “Whoever amongst us is killed (i.e. martyred), shall go to Paradise to lead such a luxurious life as he has never seen, and whoever amongst us remain alive, shall become your master.” This is being recounted during the reign of Umar, Muhammad’s companion and the second caliph who sent conquering armies into non-Muslim Persian and Christian lands (after Muhammad’s death).
Ishaq 956 & 962 – “He who withholds the Jizya is an enemy of Allah and His apostle.” The words of Muhammad.
Additional Notes:
Late in his life, Muhammad established the practice of funding Islamic military expansion and the lifestyle of religious class through extortion from non-believers. In 630, the prophet of Islam first marched an army into Christian lands in what came to be known as the “Battle of Tabuk.” In fact, there was no battle because there was no opposing army. The residents were taken by surprise. Some were killed, and the survivors were forced to pay “protection” money to Muhammad. (Clearly abrogating the previous rule of “no compulsion in religion” that contemporary apologists are so fond of repeating).
Only eleven years after Muhammad’s death, his companions swept through North Africa, putting to the sword those who would not submit to Islamic rule. In 643, Tripoli was conquered and the native Christian Berbers were forced to give their wives and children to the Muslims as slaves to satisfy the Jizya.
NORMAN WHERE ARE YOU?
This lucrative extortion racket was practiced down through the centuries and was a part of the brutal Ottoman rule over Christians, Jews and others. The Serbs of Europe were particularly hard hit and often had to hand over their children to satisfy the collector. The children were then converted to Islam and trained as Jihad warriors for use in foreign campaigns (the so-called Janissaries).
In India, well into the 17th century, Muslim tax collectors would also take the wives and children of impoverished Hindus and sell them into slavery for the Jizya requirement. The only way for many to avoid losing their families was to convert to Islam. This tremendous discrimination is how Islam made inroads into populations that wanted nothing to do with it.
Technically, there is no such thing in Islam as an innocent non-Muslim, which makes those ballyhooed condemnations of “terror against innocent people” even more useless. There is a basis for protecting the “People of the Book” (originally Jews and Christians, but later extended to Hindus when Muslim leaders realized that killing them was not as profitable as taxing them). These would be those who place themselves completely under the rule of Muslims, relinquishing all rights and agreeing to finance the Muslim expansion. Unfortunately, even this has not been enough to spare religious minorities from extreme persecution and massacre.
Traditionally the collection of the jizya occurs at a ceremony that is designed to emphasize the subordinate status of the non-Muslim, where the subject is often struck in a humiliating fashion. M.A. Khan recounts that some Islamic clerics encouraged tax collectors to spit into the mouths of Hindu dhimmis during the process. He also quotes the popular Sufi teacher, Shaykh Ahmad Sirhindi:
“The honor of Islam lies in insulting the unbelief and the unbelievers (kafirs). One who respects kafirs dishonors Muslims… The real purpose of levying the Jizya on them is to humiliate them… [and] they remain terrified and trembling.” Islamic Jihad
The Qur’an makes it clear that the collection of jizya is is the ideal relationship between Muslims and non-Muslims. The verse mandating this (9:5) occurs much later than the verse stating that there is “no compulsion in religion” (2:256), meaning that it takes precedence and abrogates what came before. Therefore, Islamic purists such as Hamas and the Taliban wish to reinstate the jizya.
Contemporary Muslim apologists rely greatly on the earlier “no compulsion in religion” verse when attempting to portray Islam as peaceful, and are thus reluctant to admit that the jizya is a penalty for not being Muslim. They usually fall back on claiming that the jizya is merely a tax paid to the government – glossing over the fact that this “tax” was imposed on the basis of religious status and was nearly always a much greater burden than that required of Muslim citizens. The interesting thing about this rhetorical strategy is that it directly contradicts any pretense that Islam is merely a religion and not a political system.
NORMAN WHAT SAY YOU!!!!!
August 27th, 2011, 9:32 pm
N.Z. said:
#248
“The interesting thing about this rhetorical strategy is that it directly contradicts any pretense that Islam is merely a religion and not a political system.” If so, why did the Prophet Mohammad PBU did not name a successor, he only stipulated that you should lead by CONSENSUS.
August 27th, 2011, 9:44 pm
Norman said:
Afram
From what I understand and I might be wrong is that jazzt is for protection as non Muslims are not required to fight to protect the home land and Muslims pay zakat which is not a requirement for non Muslims, any way in the modern Muslim countries non Muslims have the same obligations of military service and taxation that Muslims have .
August 27th, 2011, 9:49 pm
ann said:
Arab League to dispatch committee to Syria – 2011-08-28
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/world/2011-08/28/c_131079015.htm
CAIRO, Aug. 27 (Xinhua) — The Arab League has decided to form a ministerial committee to visit Syria to help solve the crisis in the country at a special meeting of Arab League foreign ministers on Saturday night.
The committee, which includes members from Jordan, Tunisia, Qatar and Oman with the Arab League chief, will visit Damascus with an Arab initiative to solve Syria’s crisis, Egypt’s official MENA news agency said.
Arab foreign ministers warned Syria is witnessing a “dangerous crisis” that requires Arab cooperation to overcome it.
Oman Foreign Minister Yusuf bin Alawi, who chaired the meeting, called for coordination and cooperation to help Syrians overcome the crisis in a way that achieves “freedom, justice and stability”, it said.
Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al- Moallem did not attend the meeting. The Syrian ambassador to Egypt and the AL participated in the meeting.
Syria has seen mounting unrest since mid-March when anti-government protests broke out in the southern province of Daraa and spread to others cities. Leaders of the United States, France, Germany and Britain have recently urged Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to step down.
August 27th, 2011, 9:49 pm
ann said:
Syria’s opposition has failed to offer a viable alternative
http://www.thenational.ae/thenationalconversation/comment/syrias-opposition-has-failed-to-offer-a-viable-alternative
Aug 28, 2011
Shortly after the execution of Saddam Hussein in December 2006, two stories began to circulate about his fate. One told of otherwise sane people reportedly seeing the face of the late Iraqi dictator on the moon on the night of his death. Another told a more believable tale: that the “real” Saddam was alive and well after a body double died on the gallows. It would only be a matter of time before he rose again.
These stories were, of course, nothing more than paranoid fiction. But they spoke to the psychological hold that Saddam maintained over much of the Iraqi public. People simply couldn’t believe his reign of terror was over. Indeed, some people didn’t want it to be.
A similar scenario is playing out in Syria today. Much like his father before him, Bashar Al Assad’s political decisions have rendered him illegitimate in the eyes of many. But fear of what could come next has kept his regime alive.
Mr Al Assad, like all totalitarian rulers, holds on to power in different ways: by force, by coercion, or by a combination of both. Decades of brutality have pushed some to accept tyranny.
But there are others who support the Assad regime for legitimate reasons. These Syrians, predominantly minorities, have profound concerns that must be duly addressed. And so far, the Syrian opposition has failed to reassure those sitting on the fence.
“It hurts every time I say that I don’t want the [Assad] regime to fall,” a Syrian Christian friend told me recently. “Deep down I know it should go, but survival instinct tells me to support it.”
Although the opposition has little political and diplomatic experience after decades of suppression, it is fair to say that it bears some of the blame for the continued bloodshed.
Many of the dissidents are widely perceived as seeking personal political gains because they have failed to address such important issues.
On Monday, a number of dissidents announced a “national council” in Istanbul. But the council was unilaterally announced and did not include any credible dissidents, such as Haitham Al Maleh, a former judge who has a track record of dissidence from within Syria and has spent many years of his life in the Al Assads’ prisons. Unilateral, irresponsible acts by self-styled opposition members – people who command no credibility from the majority of Syrians – only reinforce the regime’s propaganda.
“Who is the alternative now?” said another Christian friend from Damascus. “And why do the US and the West support the opposition? Believe me, had the opposition been more patriotic than the regime, we wouldn’t have heard the voice of the Americans as we do now.”
Syrians’ fears are further reinforced by the fact that most of the opposition conferences were organised by the Muslim Brotherhood, the only non-state actor in recent history to slaughter other Syrians along sectarian lines. (In the 1980s they assassinated dozens of Alawite officers as part of their armed campaign against the former president)
It is worth noting that there was a perception that the 1982 massacre in Hama, where as many as 30,000 people were killed, was carried out only by Hafiz Al Assad and his uncle Rifaat al Assad. Now the dominant perception is that the current killings are carried out by the sect to which the regime belongs, the Alawites, posing a potential risk of sectarian violence.
“I wholeheartedly want the regime to fall but, to be honest, I began to feel slightly scared a few days ago after I heard some stories of sectarian violence,” said a Druze friend from Syria. “If sectarian violence breaks out after the regime falls, we will be the first to suffer from it.”
Such reasoning explains why many of those in Suweida, the province where the majority of Druze live, have been largely silent. For one, the Druze are uncertain about their future after the downfall of the Assad regime. Also, the province has 11 tribes and tribal leaders who could stanch any protests by talking to their elderly men.
The regime has also been careful not to clamp down on areas where a minority is based, especially as long as they can make use of influential elders. The Baathist regime has somehow convinced some in the religious minorities that they could only be safe under its rule.
As the situation stands now, the only sect that is likely to face sectarian violence in the regime’s downfall is the Alawites. Associating the killings and torture with Alawite militias and security forces means many families will seek revenge on the Alawites.
Families of protesters often repeat that they will “take revenge on the Assads and their gangs”. If the Assads fall, a tricky situation will emerge; who will be put on trial so that the families feel that justice is being served? Estimates put the numbers of regime-affiliated Shabbiha – Alawite militias – between 60,000 and 100,000. Revenge attacks will likely take place in several cities across Syria. Currently, some of these families vent their anger through defiance of the brutal regime.
The driving force behind protests is still a thirst for democracy. But as time passes there is an increased risk of chaos that could develop into civil strife.
This risk can be prevented or contained with the establishment of a unified body for the opposition that represents all society sectors. The body should be truly representative and preach an inclusive, non-sectarian and moderate political discourse. The apparent lack of alternative to Mr Al Assad will simply prolong his regime.
August 27th, 2011, 10:02 pm
Phares said:
@ 231. Syria no kandahar
This claim that Aisha was 9 when she was married is one the most widely spread myths. When the facts are looked at by looking at dates it would be evident that it is not true. If you were to look at the date of events at the time, including that of Sister Aisha’s birth and the Prophet Muhammeds birth, She was not younger than 14 when she married. Not 9 like you and many others falsely claim and spread. On that note, no one complains about The Virgin Mary’s supposed relation to Joseph when it is known that she was around 14 when she gave birth to Jesus.
There were even christians, jews and people of other religions that would get married at even younger ages more commonly up to about a century ago.
August 27th, 2011, 10:05 pm
Norman said:
NK,
Do you want Syria to follow the democracy of the US 200 years ago or today’s laws,
This is what I wrote in march
I think it is a waste of time to try to reinvent the wheel, Just adopt the American constitution and bill of rights and laws including anti discrimination laws in Housing and employment, call on American university to help set up districts, Divide the cities into towns and let them vote for their Meyers and city councils, let each County vote for it’s county executive and have rules as they have in the US to impeach them so the president does not have to intervene in whom to fire,let people rule themselves and blame themselves when thy do stupid things, with people ruling themselves new leaders will show up and prove themselves .
August 27th, 2011, 10:07 pm
ziadsoury said:
We have enough thugs in Syria. It remindes of an old homsi knock knock joke.
Knock knock…..
Homsi: Who is there?
outside person: Garbageman ..
Homsi: no thanks.. we have enough garbage
August 27th, 2011, 10:10 pm
N.Z. said:
http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2011/08/26-8
Published on Friday, August 26, 2011 by Think Progress
Report: $42 Million From Seven Foundations Helped Fuel The Rise Of Islamophobia In America
by Faiz Shakir
Following a six-month long investigative research project, the Center for American Progress released a 130-page report today which reveals that more than $42 million from seven foundations over the past decade have helped fan the flames of anti-Muslim hate in America. The authors — Wajahat Ali, Eli Clifton, Matt Duss, Lee Fang, Scott Keyes, and myself — worked to expose the Islamophobia network in depth, name the major players, connect the dots, and trace the genesis of anti-Muslim propaganda.
The report, titled “Fear Inc.: The Roots Of the Islamophobia Network In America,” lifts the veil behind the hate, follows the money, and identifies the names of foundations who have given money, how much they have given, and who they have given to:
THE FUNDERS THE AMOUNT THE RECIPIENTS
Donors Capital Fund $20,768,600 Investigative Project on Terrorism (IPT), Middle East Forum (MEF), Clarion Fund (Clarion), David Horowitz Freedom Center (Horowitz)
Richard Scaife foundations $7,875,000 Counterterrorism & Security Education and Research Foundation (CTSERF), Center for Security Policy (CSP), Horowitz
Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation $5,370,000 MEF, CSP, Horowitz
Russell Berrie Foundation $3,109,016 IPT, CTSERF, MEF
Anchorage Charitable Fund and William Rosenwald Family Fund $2,818,229 IPT,CTSERF, MEF, CSP, Clarion, Horowitz
Fairbook Foundation $1,498,450 IPT, MEF, CSP, Jihad Watch, Horowitz, American Congress for Truth
Newton and Rochelle Becker foundations $1,136,000 IPT, CTSERF, MEF, CSP, Clarion, Horowitz, American Congress for Truth
Total $42,575,295
The money has flowed into the hands of five key “experts” and “scholars” who comprise the central nervous system of anti-Muslim propaganda:
FRANK GAFFNEY, Center for Security Policy – “A mosque that is used to promote a seditious program, which is what Sharia is…that is not a protected religious practice, that is in fact sedition.” [Source]
DAVID YERUSHALMI, Society of Americans for National Existence: “Muslim civilization is at war with Judeo-Christian civilization…the Muslim peoples, those committed to Islam as we know it today, are our enemies.” [Source]
DANIEL PIPES, Middle East Forum: “All immigrants bring exotic customs and attitudes, but Muslim customs are more troublesome than most.” [Source]
ROBERT SPENCER, Jihad Watch: “Of course, as I have pointed out many times, traditional Islam itself is not moderate or peaceful. It is the only major world religion with a developed doctrine and tradition of warfare against unbelievers.” [Source]
STEVEN EMERSON, Investigative Project on Terrorism: “One of the world’s great religions — which has more than 1.4 billion adherents — somehow sanctions genocide, planned genocide, as part of its religious doctrine.” [Source]
These five “scholars” are assisted in their outreach efforts by Brigitte Gabriel (founder, ACT! for America), Pamela Geller (co-founder, Stop Islamization of America), and David Horowitz (supporter of Robert Spencer’s Jihad Watch). As the report details, information is then disseminated through conservative organizations like the Eagle Forum, the religious right, Fox News, and politicians such as Allen West and Newt Gingrich.
Over the past few years, the Islamophobia network (the funders, scholars, grassroots activists, media amplifiers, and political validators) have worked hard to push narratives that Obama might be a Muslim, that mosques are incubators of radicalization, and that “radical Islam” has infiltrated all aspects of American society — including the conservative movement.
To explain how the Islamophobia network operates, we’ve produced this video to show just one example of how they have mainstreamed the baseless and unfounded fear that Sharia may soon replace American laws:
Click here to read the full report.
August 27th, 2011, 10:21 pm
Tara said:
NZ
Amazing ongoing efforts. Per above, Islamophobia pillars: funders, scholars, grass root activists,media amplifiers, and political validators. SC has 2 grass root activists.
August 27th, 2011, 10:39 pm
Norman said:
Norman @ 250,
You spoke the truth. Barakallah!
The Jizya is NOTHING to worry over despite all the theatrics from the Islamophobes. The Islamophobes try to bully and manipulate audiences via spin and preying on gaps in the audience’s knowledge – effectively capitalising on the vulnerable as opportunists to spread hatred.
Bible Commands Christians to Pay Jizyah Tax. Christians are instructed to give unto Caesar what belongs to him (see Mark 12:17), thus paying the Jizya is hardly an issue for a Bible-believing Christian.
For more on this see also Romans 13:1-7
Afram, have you been raped by a bearded Osama or are you just hateful of 1.5 billion people?
This is not a time to discuss religion, it is a time to come up with solutions for Syria. If you don’t have any thought provoking ideas, then at least stop spreading hatred.
August 27th, 2011, 10:49 pm
Husam said:
Norman @ 251,
You spoke the truth. Barakallah!
The Jizya is NOTHING to worry over despite all the theatrics from the Islamophobes. The Islamophobes try to bully and manipulate audiences via spin and preying on gaps in the audience’s knowledge – effectively capitalising on the vulnerable as opportunists to spread hatred.
Bible Commands Christians to Pay Jizyah Tax. Christians are instructed to give unto Caesar what belongs to him (see Mark 12:17), thus paying the Jizya is hardly an issue for a Bible-believing Christian.
For more on this see also Romans 13:1-7
Afram, have you been raped by a bearded Osama or are you just hateful of 1.5 billion people?
This is not a time to discuss religion, it is a time to come up with solutions for Syria. If you don’t have any thought provoking ideas, then at least stop spreading hatred.
August 27th, 2011, 10:50 pm
Akbar Palace said:
HK,
Political factions are either part of “the administration” or they aren’t. The President of the US is the Only person who calls the shots in terms of military action.
Barack Obama is getting zero influence or advice from the Neocons. John Bolton opines on Fox News, but he has no power to fire missiles at Syria.
Barrack Obama, the Europeans, and Turkey are working well together. If any military action occurs, it will be Turkish. You can point a finger at Neocons if that makes you feel better, but the Turks are not to be taken lightly.
IMHO, the Syrians have to work this out themselves.
August 27th, 2011, 10:57 pm
mjabali said:
General Ramboud the Blitzkrieg Video Game Commander in Cheif:
You? the BIG MAN that you are, claimed that the life expectancy was 30 when your prophet was alive and it was a habit of kings and so on to marry young girls, guess what your prophet was in his 50’s, so how you gonna defend his actions marrying a girl that young? I guess you can not mr. history buff…
A history buff like you should know this fact.
Muhammad was also a prophet supposed to be morally above the rest, right? Marrying a young girl like that has no defense especially in our times. You look like a clown defending that. Your prophet should had set up a good example not a bad one.
Second, your al-Fatiha contains one of the most discriminatory lines ever and you deny it even exist. Can you lie any more?
This line is in our faces day and night and you claim it does not exist. ???? ?? ??? ????? ???? ????? ???????? ??? ??? ???? ??? ????? ????? ?????? ???????.
al-Fahita says: ??? ??????? ????? ??? ???????…., which could be translated into English saying: “…..other than those who are angered upon and not those who are astray.” Why is your god angry at some one? Why are they “astray?” You do not get it, your god is full of hate General, can’t you see it?
You claim how good you are and can not see the discrimination in this line.
Mr. Nazi Goebblez you can see that there is discrimination when your Fatiha considers people in two kinds: The Muslims where God is not angry with, and the non-Muslims whom god is angry with and who are considered astray.
General Shakespeare you are weak. Your bombastic tone is getting you nowhere. Your defense of Islam is nothing but shabby at best. Do a better job please.
AS for your life expectancy theory and you finding that as an excuse for your prophet to marry a 9 year old, remember that your prophet was in his 50’s and when he is termed as “the one with great morals, ???? ???? ??? ????” you can not but wonder about the definition of morality in your book.
?? ??????? ???? ?????? ???????? ?? ???????? ?? ??? ????? ???? ????? ?????. ???? ??????? ” ??? ??????? ????? ??? ????????” ?? ?? ??????? ????? ??? ?? ????????
????? ???? ????? ?????? ??????? ????? ????????.
?? ????? ??????? ?? ??? ??????? ????? ???? ??????..
??? ??? ???????? ?? ??????? ????? ???????? ?? ????? ???????? ??????. ??? ???? ????? ????? ?????? ????? ???? ?? ??? ??????? ????? ??? ??????? ?????
August 27th, 2011, 11:01 pm
Husam said:
Phares:
Afram hates Islam and Muslims. He feeds off anti-Islamic sites online and comes here to unleash his venom trying to poison the hearts of Syrians against each other.
Aisha (PBUH) was not the only one to Marry at a young age, it was common at the time for girls of many faiths (including atheist) to move out of their homes into the homes of their husband’s family. The marriage was consummated when she was ready. Anyone who has any knowledge of history would know this.
Both of my grandmothers had their first babies at 12 & 13 respectively and both are from a very prominent family in Damascus. We are talking modern times here, not 1500 years ago.
For Afram et al, my grandfathers were pedophiles!
August 27th, 2011, 11:03 pm
Tara said:
Mjabali
Your post is complete waste of time and full of lies and meant to create a noise to blur the truth.
You mis translated alfatiha. You said “why your god is angry at some one..the angered upon and the astray”
Alfatiha says ” ihdena alsirat al mustaqeem….” which means ( god )leads us to the straight path …not the path of the angered upon or the astray. There is nothing in Fatiha that says god is angry on…
Can you stop wasting our time. Now show me how you can defend your outright lie.
August 27th, 2011, 11:12 pm
Shami said:
Dear No Kandahar ,so how would you be able to live among the Aleppines and Damascenes they also love the prophet and are not known to have inward great love for asad and cronies,even the most corrupt and pro regime businessmen among them that you seem to like nowadays.
You should see the things as they are in reality and on the long term.
Aleppo and Damascus have the highest percentage of conservative islamic population in the world,If you hate so much Islam ,how would you be able to live among the damascenes and aleppines?
The prophet could have had sex with aisha when she was 9,it was common in that time,but as phares said ,it’s more probable that she was 14 or even more according to the comparison with the age of his relatives.
According to a Lebanese syrian educated sheikh of christian origin:
http://mac.abc.se/~onesr/d/aam2_e.pdf
Anyway,if your attack is directed towards these muftitis who agree that in today time a girl child can be marriage at the age of 9 ,they deserve it,those are criminals.
August 27th, 2011, 11:18 pm
Husam said:
MJABALI:
Thank you for enlighting us with your translations and tafseer. Can you tell us what are we to do with 20 million Syrian citizens and 20 million more Expats who read the Fatiha every day?
Perhaps we should all denounce Islam and worship the Atom? Will you be our spiritual guide Jabali style.
Tara:
These guys can only defend their lies and manipulations by copy/pasting misconceptions, distortions and hatred from the internet. It has been going on for about 3 years or as far as I can remember. Your beloved Joshua, gives them carte blanche to spew their hatred and insult Muslims without a blink of an eye. If you think this is bad, you haven’t seen anything yet. They are too distracted with current situation now, so it is not so bad. Tara, I kid you not, every other posting used to be about Islam.
August 27th, 2011, 11:21 pm
ann said:
She wasn’t 9, but she was 14! (edited for insult)
August 27th, 2011, 11:26 pm
Tara said:
Dear Husam
It is an outright lie and Mjabali needs to defend himself otherwise he should disappear from this forum. Mjabali speaks arabic so he has no excuse. The word in Fatiha is \”ihdena\”. Ihdena means guide us. There is nothing in Fatiha about god being angry. Why are you lying Mjabali?
August 27th, 2011, 11:33 pm
Akbar Palace said:
As most of you have noticed, keeping religion out of government is essential. Don’t you want to live in a country where you are free to pray to whomever you want? Don’t you want to live in a country where you can express yourself without fear?
Arguing about religion is a waste of energy. The issue at hand is freedom, not religion.
August 27th, 2011, 11:35 pm
mjabali said:
Tara: The line is translated like I did. ??? ??????? ????? ??? ??????? it means people are classified to those whom god is angry with and those he is not, i.e Muslims, and those whom he guided to the right path ?????? ???????? and those who are astray. This is the translation. There is no lies here.
As for my ideas, this is freedom of speech. I am talking about a text. I am free to critique any texts, why not. You are free to believe in any thing but do not force your ideas on me. That is all. It is not hard.
Mr Husam: 20 million people or 200 million people is the same to me. Worship whatever you want but do not force your religions on others like Islam did to me, for example.
August 27th, 2011, 11:35 pm
Shami said:
Husam,my grandgrand mother had been married at 11 during the safar barlek time ,the union had been succesful ,the children got Phds from european universities in the 50’s.
August 27th, 2011, 11:36 pm
mjabali said:
Tare: what is the translation of ??? ??????? ????? and who was angry with them?
???? ????? ????? ????? ??? ??????? ????? ??????????
translation:
The right path of those whom you graced and not those whom angered upon and not those who are astray
August 27th, 2011, 11:41 pm
Tara said:
Mr. Mjabali
You are not practicing freedom of speech. You are lying. You are mis translating the Sura in Quraan. It is an outright lie. It is not freedom of speech. The sura is translated as : (god) lead us to the straight path. The path of the people you “guided or blessed” not the path of the people you are angry with and not the path of the people who went astray.
Where did you get that god is angry, discriminating, and hateful in the Fatihs? The word “ihdena” is a very commonly used word. It does not need a dictionary and it’s meaning is unequivocal.
Why are you lying Mjabali?
August 27th, 2011, 11:45 pm
mjabali said:
Tara: Read your own translation: you say :…….”not the path of the people you are angry with and not the path of the people who went astray”
So is he angry according to your translation or not?
do you read what you copy and paste? Read it again…
Let rationality lead the way Tara..
August 27th, 2011, 11:54 pm
Tara said:
Akbar Palace
Pseudo seculars need to be exposed. There is a big difference between someone like Amir for instance and these Syrian pseudo seculars that you are deceived with. You can be an atheist and hate all religions and I take you anytime as my best freind or more. Those pseudo seculars are people that are hateful toward one particular religion or sect and are at the same time self- righteous with deep conviction that their religion or sect is the “true path”. They are intolerant and full of hatred and personally, I would not want to associate with any of them.
I have no zeal to defend Islam. My brain does not hold any absolute conviction. But hypocrisy and outright lies infatuate me. We all need to make a distinction between true and pseudo seculars.
August 28th, 2011, 12:02 am
mjabali said:
Tara:
Before I go to bed I would like to tell you that you speak like al-Baath with your extra use of words like “fake,” “pseudo” and so on.
Refute the idea with an idea and do not refute it with adjectives and accusations.
Also, if you are insinuating that I do hate one Muslim sect and not the other, I promise you when I have time tomorrow I will write you a special about Ali Ibn Abi Taleb to make you and others happy.
August 28th, 2011, 12:13 am
Tara said:
Mjabali
I did not copy and paste. I provided my own translation.
One last time: it says ” (god) lead us to the straight path….not the path of people who you are angry with or the path of people who are astray.
In Islam, god is angry with people who commit major sins such as killing, etc, etc. Other more knowledgeable people can define major sins in Islam. That is exactly why there is the concept of heaven and hell. Committing major sins and not asking for redemption might be the ground where someone ends afterlife. Christianity also has the same concept of heaven and hell.
Again, where did you get that Alfatiha implicates a god that is ful of hate and discrimination. Why are you lying Mjabali?
August 28th, 2011, 12:14 am
Husam said:
Ana said:
“She wasn’t 9, but she was 14! ANIMALS!”
Spain age of consent: 13
Austria age of consent: 14
It makes Spaniards and Austrians ANIMALS!
And in case, any of your your great-grandmothers married under 14, makes you a leanage daughter of ANIMALS!
August 28th, 2011, 12:22 am
SF94123 said:
TARA is a top paid MB telemarketer. She /he has been working non stop since august 26 (double -shift). 27 posts in the same subject – we will have to eat a brown bread – Take a look:
# 2 August 26th, 2011, 1:48 pm
# 7 August 26th, 2011, 2:52 pm
# 41 August 26th, 2011, 6:16 pm
# 47 August 26th, 2011, 6:51 pm
# 51 August 26th, 2011, 6:59 pm
# 58 August 26th, 2011, 7:12 pm
# 70 August 26th, 2011, 7:40 pm
# 112 August 27th, 2011, 9:13 am
# 123 August 27th, 2011, 12:20 pm
# 141 August 27th, 2011, 2:41 pm
# 148 August 27th, 2011, 3:00 pm
# 161 August 27th, 2011, 4:04 pm
#166 August 27th, 2011, 4:22 pm
#183 August 27th, 2011, 5:43 pm
#186 August 27th, 2011, 5:55 pm
#193 August 27th, 2011, 6:12 pm
# 197 August 27th, 2011, 6:20 pm
#198 August 27th, 2011, 6:56 pm
#206 August 27th, 2011, 6:56 pm
#216 August 27th, 2011, 7:22 pm
#239 August 27th, 2011, 8:31 pm
#240 August 27th, 2011, 8:57 pm
# 258 August 27th, 2011, 10:39 pm
#264 August 27th, 2011, 11:12 pm
#268 August 27th, 2011, 11:33 pm
#273 August 27th, 2011, 11:45 pm
#275August 28th, 2011, 12:02 am
#277 August 28th, 2011, 12:14 am
August 28th, 2011, 12:27 am
Husam said:
Tara:
I have warned you before, you are not arguing with sane clean people. The best is to make your statement and be done with it. Otherwise you get carried away (like I did) into a never ending tit for tat with people which hatred runs in their veins.
They pull out the free speach card and the Ali ibn Talib card, and b.s. They then lure you into debates and Fiqh of Islam while they know nothing of it but what Daniel Pipes tells them.
Don’t waste your time.
Cheers
August 28th, 2011, 12:31 am
ss said:
Islam is a great religion and you will feel purified if you follow its practices. The political islam is nasty, the radical islam is the evil. Muslims in south east asia, Turkey, and Iran are adopting a modern, less radical form of islam. The same apply to Syria with the exception of MBs that are heavily rooted in the Syrian society. I have no issues with Islam as a religion. I have no issue with polygamy which existed in almost all religions and you can refer to Wikipedia for further information. The trouble comes from the radials and we have plenty of them. Women in Syrian in the 1960s and the 1970s were free to dress as they want, so I cannot say that Syrians were suppressed before the Baath came to rule. That is not true. However, since the fall of the MB in the 1980s,more rdicals poped up and the society became heavily invested in radical islam. Today we see brutal crimes commited by radical muslims all over the world and they extrapolate laws from teh quran to fit their agenda.
I do not have a problem with conservative Islam but I am against Radical Islam. Many conservatives on this site are hidden under a radical veil. I hope that God protects us from their evil.
August 28th, 2011, 12:32 am
Akbar Palace said:
Tara,
Thanks for the feedback. I am having difficulty understanding why everyone is tolerant, yet so angry.
To my knowledge you and Aboud are angry with Mjabali and Afram because they either do not adhere to Islam and/or they disrespect it. I don’t recall Mjabali saying anything about his religion being a “true path”.
Anyway, I’ll return later to the forum after this little hurricane passes.
August 28th, 2011, 12:32 am
Husam said:
SF94123said:
“TARA is a top paid full time MB telemarketer. She /he has been working non stop since august 26 (double -shift). 26 posts – take a look-”
…but wait it a minute: she said Ali Ferzat was handsome, that makes her naughty MB 🙂
sorry Tara, I couldn’t resist.
August 28th, 2011, 12:35 am
mjabali said:
Tara:
These are the views of Muslims regarding the interpretation of this line from al-Fatiha. As you notice, I did not come with anything. I was just telling you what is meant by this.
http://ejabat.google.com/ejabat/thread?tid=02dc432328441f5e
??????? ????? ?????? ???? ??? ????? ????? ????? ???? ??????? ??????? :
(?????????? ?????????? ?????????? ??????????????? ????????? ???????? ???? ??????? ?????? ??????????? ??????? ??????????? ????????? ??????? ????????????? ????????????? ???????? ???????? ?????? ????? ??????? ????????? ???????????)
?????? ????? ????? ????? ???? ?? ??? ??????? ?????? :
( ????????? ?????????? ???? ???????????? ???? ?????????? ????? ???????? ??????? ??????? ???? ????????? ??????? ???? ???????? ????? ???? ??????? ???? ????????? ????????? ???????? ????? ?????? ???????????????? ??????? ??????? )
?????? ????? ????? ??????? :
(???? ???? ????????????? ??????? ???? ?????? ????????? ?????? ??????? ???? ???????? ??????? ???????? ???????? ???????? ???????? ??????????? ??????????????? ???????? ??????????? ????????? ????? ???????? ????????? ???? ??????? ??????????)
?????? ????? ????? ????? ????? ?? ????? ?? ?????? ??? ???? :
( ????? ????????? ?????????? ????????? ????????????? ?????? ???? ????????? ????????? ??? ?????????? ?????????? ?????????? ??????? ??????????????)
??? ???? ??? ??? ???? ??? ???
(???? ?????? ????????? ???? ?????? ?????????? ?????? ???? ???????? ?????????? ??????????? ????????????? ???????? ???? ?????? ??????????? ??????? ???????????? ?????? ???? ??????? ???????? ??????? ??????? )
??? ??????? ??? ????? ????? ?? ??????? ???? ??? ??? ?????? ?? ????? ???? ??? ??????? ???? ??? .
This is another one from Ibn Taymiyah how he viewed and interpreted this text:
???? ???? ?????? ????????
???? ???????
???? ?? ??? ?????? ??? ?????
???? ????
??? ??? ??????? – ???? ????? -:
????:
??? ????? ?????: {????? ??????? ???????? . ???? ?????? ????? ????? ??? ??????? ????? ??? ?????????} . ??? ??? ?? ??????? ???? ????? ???? ????? ???? ???: ( ?????? ?????? ????? ????????? ?????? ).
????? ????? ???? ??? ??? ?? ????? ??? ???? ????? {?? ?? ??????? ????? ?? ??? ?????? ??? ????? ?? ???? ????? ???? ????}
?????: {?????? ????? ??? ????}
?????: {?????? ????? ?? ????? ????? ????? ???????}.
???? ?? ????????: {?? ?? ??? ?????? ?? ????? ?? ????? ??? ????? ??? ??????? ????? ???? ?? ????? ?? ??? ??????? ?????? ?????? ?? ???? ???????} .
????: {?? ??? ?????? ?? ????? ?? ????? ??? ?????? ??? ????? ???? ????? ????? ?????? ???? ??? ???? ???? ????? ?????? ?????? ??? ???? ????? ???}.
???? ?????: {????? ?????? ????? ??? ????? ????? ???????? ?????? ??? ????? ??? ????? ???????? ??????? ??? ?????? ????? ?? ??? ?????? ????? ???? ?????? . ??????? ??????? ???????? ??????? ?? ??? ????? ??????? ??? ???? ??? ????? ???? ??????? ????? ?????? ?? ??? ???? ?? ?????? ???? ??????}.
???? ?????: {?? ??? ????? ?? ????? ????? ?????? ?????? ????????? ??? ???? ?????? ????? ?????? ?? ?? ??? ????? ???? ????? ????????? ??? ???? ??????? ?????? ???? ???? ?????? . ??? ?????? ?? ??????? ???????? ?????????? ??????? ??????? ?????? ??? ?? ???? ??????}.
???? ?????: {?? ????? ?????? ????? ?? ???? ??? ?????? ??? ?????? ???? ??? ??????? . ????? ?????? ????? ?????? ??? ????? ??????? ????? ???? ?????? ????? ??????? ????? ??? ???? ???? ??? ???????}.
????? ????? ????? ??????: ?? ????? ?? ??? ????? ?? ?????? ??????? ???????? ???? ?????? ???? ????? ????? ?? ????????? ??????????? ????????? ?????????? ????????? ??????? ????? ?????????? ??? ??? ?? ????? ??? ????? ???? ???? ?? ????? ??? ???? ????????? ??? ??? ??? ??? ???? ?? ??????? ???? ????? ???? ????? ??? ???: ( ??????? ??? ?? ??? ????? ??? ?????? ??????? ???? ?? ????? ??? ???? ????????)
????? ?? ???? ?????: ?????? ??????????
???: (??? ?) ??? ????? ?????.
???? ?????? ???? ??? ?? ????? ?? ??????? ?? ??????? ????????: ???? ???? ?? ?????? ??? ????? ?? ???????: ???? ???? ?? ???????? ??? ??? ?? ????? ?????? ??? ?????: ?? ????? ????? ?? ?????? ????? ?????? ?????? ?????? ?????? ???? ?????? ?????? ?????? ?????? ???? ???.
???? ??? ?? ?????? ??? ??????? ???????? ?? ?????? ?? ???????? ????????? ????????? ?? ???????? ?????????? ??????? ????????.
August 28th, 2011, 12:35 am
mjabali said:
Mr. Akbar Palace:
I have no right path. My religion is my private thing. I respect all religions, including Islam (except violent militant Islam), but I still have the right to critique whatever I want. There is no one above criticism in this day and age. What is right and moral should be upheld in front of all of these religions.
Good night
August 28th, 2011, 12:40 am
Tara said:
Husam
Thank you for your advise. I agree. I truly have no interest in tit for tat with the current mnhebaks on SC. Today was an exception. They lost some smart charming people and I am more often than not very bored with what they have to say.
August 28th, 2011, 12:41 am
ss said:
279. SF94123 said: “TARA is a top paid MB telemarketer. She /he has been working non stop since august 26 (double -shift). 27 posts in the same subject – we will have to eat a brown bread”
There are only two ways: (edited for personal attack)
August 28th, 2011, 12:43 am
ss said:
(edited for inappropriate content. This is a warning)
August 28th, 2011, 12:50 am
sf94123 said:
To Dr. Joshua,
Husam has access to reader’s comment before it goes live! He referred to my unedited comment in his post # 283! How come? Is he a moderator?
August 28th, 2011, 12:52 am
ann said:
Tehran displays new made-in-Iran cruise missile
http://www.ctv.ca/CTVNews/SciTech/20110823/iran-cruise-missile-unveiled-110823/
August 28th, 2011, 1:18 am
Samara said:
does it really matter when she was married?
August 28th, 2011, 1:42 am
Shami said:
Mjabali ,this is not a religious forum ,you can discuss this subject in islamic or anti islamic forums.
You remind me those ,who provoked us by attacking God and the prophet of Islam using the worse insults imaginables but were always unable to say anyhting wrong on the caliph Ali.
August 28th, 2011, 1:52 am
Shami said:
again,some here will recognize themselves with those !
http://all4syria.info/web/archives/24844
Alex ,what do you think about those “syrians”?
August 28th, 2011, 1:55 am
Husam said:
sf94123 said:
“To Dr. Joshua, Husam has access to reader’s comment before it goes live! He referred to my unedited comment in his post # 283! How come? Is he a moderator?”
sf94123, I am level 2 moderator. Dr. King, El-Daktor Landis and Dr. Bashar, Dr. No all gave me 5 stars to moderate hateful bashing of any kind.
Now you can take your thumb out of your mouth.
August 28th, 2011, 2:09 am
Shami said:
SS,in Iran the women are forced to cover their hair by force.
Why are you inclined to make the iranian clerical gang so moderate and lovely ,so dont say that you hate those who mix politics and islam ,because you love the iranian theocracy.
There should be no theocracy in Islam.
As for the iranian people ,they are leaving religion in great number thanks to the hypocrisy of the clerical system and the slogans that they have to endure everywhere ,days and nights.
August 28th, 2011, 2:12 am
NK said:
Mjabali, Afram and SNK
I suggest you guys write down those verses from Qur’an and go ask one of the Muslim scholars about their actual meaning and interpretation (believe it or not they won’t bite), you might learn a thing or two before you engage in arguments about things you don’t know and don’t understand. Or at least read a book or two about the interpretation of Qur’an. Heck if you’re that lazy just Google those verses.
What you’re doing is like me saying “you are idiots” then you quoting me to say; NK said all Christians and Jews are idiots.
See the difference ? of course not.
August 28th, 2011, 3:16 am
N.Z. said:
A letter from Father Zihlawi To Sheik Qardawi. An eloquent letter in response to those who want to paint Syrians as sectarians.. Father Zihlawi thankyou
The Crescent and The Cross
???? ?????? – ???? ?????? ???????
??????? ?????? ????????? ?? ???? ?????? ?????? ???? ????? ??????? ?????? ??????? ?????? ????????? ????? ???? ???? ???? ???? ??? ?????????????? ?????? ?? ?????? ??????? ???? ?? ????? ????.
??????:
?? ???? ??? ?????? ?????? ??????? ??????? ?????? ??? ????? ?????? ?????? ????? ???????? ?? ??????? ???? ????? ?????? ??????? ?? ?????. ?
??? ?????? ??? ?????? ?? ???? ???? ??? ????? ???? ???? ???? ???? ???? ?????? ????? ???? ?????? ?????? ???? ???? ????? ???? ???????? – ??? ???? ?? ????? ????????? ?? ?????? – ?? ????? ??????? ??????? ??? ????? ??????? ??? ???????? ???????? ??? ?? ??? ????? ?? ???? ?????. ??? ??????? ???? ?? ????? ?? ????? ??????? ?????? ?? ????? ??????? ??? ??? ?????? ?? ????? ??????? ??? ???????? ?? ????? ??? ???????.
??????? ?? ??????? ?? ????? ????? ?????? ??? ?? ??????? ??????????? ??????? ???? ?????? ?? ??????? ???????? ?? ??? ?????? ??????? ???? ?? ???? ??? ????? ?????? ??????? ?? ??????? ??????? ?????????? ??????? ????????.
???? ???? ?????? ????? ???? ????? ??? ?? ??????? ??????????? ??????? ??????? ????? ?????? ??????? ???????? ?? ????? ??????? ?????? ?? ????? ???????? ????? ??? ????? ???????. ????? ??? ??????? ?? ?? ????? ??? ?????? ?????? ????????? ?????? ?????? ??????? ???????? ???????? ????? ??????? ??????. ?
??? ????? ?? ??? ?????? ??? ???? ??? ??????! ?
????? ?? ????? ???? ???? ?????? ?? ??????? ??????? ?? ????? ?????? ??????? ????????????
???? ??? ?? ??? ????? ?????? ????? ?????? ??????? ????????? ????? ???? ?? ????? ?? ?????? ???? ????????????? ?????? ?????? ??? ???????? ??????? ?
??????: ?
????? ??? ?????? ??? ???????? ?? ?????! ???? ???? ????? ??? ??? ???? ?????? ??????? ?? ???? ?????? ?????? ?? ????? ??????? ???? ??????? ??? ?????? “????? ?? ??????” (????? 191)? ? “???? ?? ?????” (????? 216)? ?
????? ??? ?????? ??? ???????? ?? ?????? ???? ???? ????? ??? ??? ??? ???????? ???????? ??? ????? ???? ???? ??????? ??????????? ?? ????? ????? ?????? ?????? ????? ????? ???????? ????? ??? ?? ?????? ????? ?????? ??????? ?? ???? ??????? ???????? ???????? ?? ???? ?????? ??????? ????? ??????? ?????? ?????????
????? ??? ?????? ??? ???????? ?? ?????! ???? ???? ????? ??? ??? ?? ??????? ????????????? ??? ??????? ??????? ???? ???? ??? ??????? ????? ??????? ????? ???????? ??? ?????? (????? ????????)? ?
????? ??? ??????! ???? ??? ?? ???? ?? ????? ???? ??????? ??? ?????? ???????? ????? ?? ?????? ??? ??? ???????? ???? ???? ??????? ????????? ??????????? ?
????? ??? ??????! ???? ??? ?????????? ????????? ???? ???? ????? ?? ?????? ?????? ????? ???? ????? ???????? ?????????? ?? ??????? ??????????? ???? ????? ??? ????? ?????? ????? ?? ???????? ????????? ???????????? ????? ???????? ?????? ??????? ??????? ??? ???? ??????? ????? ?? ????? ????? ?????? ?????? ????? ????? ???? ?????? ????????? ??????? ??????? ????? ???? ??????? ?? ??? ??? (???????)? ?
??????: ?
?? ?? ?? ???? ??? ?? ???? ???? ?????? ????? ?????? ?????????? ???? ??????? ?????? ??? ????? ???????? ???????? ?
?? ???? ?? ???? ???? ??? ???????? ?? ????? ??? ???????! ??? ???? ?? ???? ????? ?? ?? ?????? ??? ????? ???!
??????: ?
??? ?? ?? ??? ?????? ??? ?? ?????? ???????? ?? ??? ???????? ??????? ?
???? ????? ??? ???? ?????? ????? ????? ??????? ???? ????? ??????? ????????? ?????? ?? ????? ???? ??? ?? ???? ???? ????? ?????? ???????.
????? ??????? ??? ??????? ??????? ?? ???????? ???? ????? ?? ???? ???? ????? ???????? ??? ???? ??????
?????? ?????????? ??????? ????? ???? ???? ???????? ???? ?? ??? ???? ?????? ?????? ?? ??? ?????
?????? ???? ???? ?????????? ??????????? ??????????? ???? ?????? ?????? ?????? ?????? ?? ????? ????? ?????!
??????? ?? ???? ???????? ?????? ???? ????? ?? ???? ???? ??????? ????????? ???? ???? ???? ?? ???? ?????? ??????? ???? ?????? ?? ?????? ?????? ?????? ????????.
? ???? ????? ??????
August 28th, 2011, 3:17 am
Syria no kandahar said:
NK
When you live and read these things all your life you don’t need someone like the guy who was talking about ?????? ????? or someone like fatwa ????? ?????? to give you a brain.in all my posts I have never mentioned any prophet name if you notice,so the conclusions you make are yours.Sex and religion is a subject which is not a crime.idiots are people with closed brains,or selectively open ones.
NZ
If you read about father Zahlawi you will put him on MB hit list,he is very much against all terrorist activities done by MB thugs.Alkaradawi dos’t deserve any respect,He should be tried for being responsible directly for many Syrian deaths.You can have a sheep send a wolf hundred letters,he will stay a wolf.
August 28th, 2011, 3:53 am
NK said:
Norman
I’m not sure why you addressed that comment #255 to me, didn’t you ask me that same exact question when you wrote that reply ? and I believe we were in total agreement.
By the way, we don’t need to divide cities into towns, we already have town equivalents which we call (????), all we need is a good law to elect councils instead of having the good old (?????) who really belongs to a bygone era.
Anyways, my dearest Norman, if you remember you posted that comment when they published the draft for the new municipal law for “public debate” and I’m not sure if you did post your suggestions on their website but I did (if you remember I pointed out it had more holes than Swiss Cheese), what happened 4 months later ?. They just published the law as is, please compare it to the old law which we had since God knows when and let me know when you find any differences.
August 28th, 2011, 4:11 am
MNA said:
Aboud @ 138
I m sorry ABoud, but your video does not provide any shred of evidence that these tanks were shelling the minaret. Yes the video shows that there were tanks in the vicinity, but it does not show that they were shelling. Had the tank been shelling, considering the close proximity of the tanks to the minaret, the damage would have been much greater.
I m not saying that the army did or it did not shell the minaret b/c I have no proof either way, but your video does not prove that the army did shell the minaret.
August 28th, 2011, 4:30 am
NK said:
MNA
Well the soldiers and their tanks were just standing there while the minaret was being hit repeatedly, it was definitely shelled and not booby trapped ( like the official story suggested ).
But either way, any normal soldier or human being for that matter will run for cover when a target as close get hit, especially if he doesn’t know the source of fire, and even more so if it was an explosion. So why were the soldiers laughing, smiling and filming instead of ducking, covering and going after the attackers ?
August 28th, 2011, 4:52 am
NK said:
What happened in the Rifae mosque !
????? ?? ??? ?? ???? ??????? ?? ???? ?????
http://the-syrian.com/archives/34235
???? ??????? : ?? ????? ???????? ???? ??? ?? ??? ?? ??? ????????? ???? ???????
??? ???? ??? ??????? ???? ???? ??????? ????? ??????? ????? ?????? ??? ???? ???? ??? ???? ????????…
????? ?? ?????…
??? ??? ????? ??? ?????? ??????? ?????:
??? ????? ????? ??????? ? ????? ????? ????????? ????? ???????? ???????…???? ???? ??????? ????? ??? ?????? ???? ???? ??????…
??? ??? ???? ?????? ????? ????? ??????? ??? ???? ?????? ?????? ??? ???? ????? ?? ???? ??? ???? ????? ???? ??? ?????? ???? ???????? ??????? ??? ??? ?????? ?????? ????? ???? ???????? ??? ?????? ??????? ????? ?????…?? ??? ?????? ?? ?????? ?????? ???????? ?? ???? ?????? ???? ??? ?? ??? ?? ?? ?? ???? ??????? ? ???? ?? ???? ????? ????? ?????? ????? ????? ???? ?? ????…???? ???? ????? ??????? ????? ?????? ??????? ?????
(( ???? ????? ?? ???? ????? ???????))
??????? ???? ????? ?????? ???????…??? ?????? ???? ??? ???? ??? ???????? ???????? ???? ??????? ????? ?? ?????? ???? ???? ?????? ??? ??? ???? ?? ???? ?? ???? ???? ???? ?? ??? ?????
???? ??? ?????? ??????? ????? ????? ?????? ??? ????? ???? ?????? ???? ?? ????? ???? ????? ??? ??? ???? ????? ???? ?????
?????? 2:20 ????? ????? ?? ????? ?????? ???? ??? ????? ???????? ?????? ???? ?? ???? ???? ?????? ???? ???? ??????? ????? ?????? ??????? ?????? …???? ????? ????? ????? ????? ??? ??? ????? ????? ? ?? ??? ????? ?????? ??????? (( ????? ??? ?????? ???? ?????)) ????? ?? ?? ?? ????? ??? ???? ???? ????? ?????? ((?????)) ?????? ????..???? ????????? ??? ??? ??? ??? ?????? ?????? ?????? ??????? ??????? ????? ?????? ?????? ??? ??????? ?????? ??? ???? ???? ?????…??? ????? ???? ??????? ??? ??? ??????? ???? ?? ??? ??? ???? ??? ??????? ????? ??? ??? ?????? ??? ??? ?????…??? ???? ???? ?? ??? ????? ?? ???? ???? ????? ????? ????? ?????? ???? ?????…
???? ????? ???? ?????? ??????? ??????? ???? ?????? ????? ???? ?????? ???? ((???????)) ???? ?????? ?????? ?????? ?????? ??? ??????? ?? ?? ???? ??? ??? ?????? ????? ????? ?????? ??? ???? ????…
????? ????? ??????? ???? ??? ?????? ?????? ?? ????? ?????? ?????? ?????? ???????.??? ??? ?????? ??? ???? ????? ????? ???? ?????? ???? ????? ??????? ??????? ?????? ?????
(( ??? ?????? ??? ?? ??? ?? ??? ???? ???? ?????? ???? ?????? ???? ?? ????? ???? ??? ????? ????? ??? ?? ????? ?? ??? ?????))
?????? ?????? ????? ????? ????? ??????….????? ???? ???? ???????? ????? ?????? ??????? ????? ???? ?????? ???? ?? ??? ??? ?? 50 ?? ?????? ????? ??????? ??????? ??????? ??? ?? ????….?????? ????? ?? ???? ?????? ?????? ?????? ??? ????? ??????? ?? ???????…
?????? ?? ??????? ????? ??????? ??????? ????? ?? ????? ?????..?????? ?? 10 ????? ??????..???? ??? ?? ????? ???? ?????? ???? ???? ????
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???? ????? ??????? ??? ????? ?? ???? ?????? ??? ?? ??? ?????? ?? ??? ?? ??????? ?? ??? ?????…????? ?????? ????? ????…?????? ?????..??? ?? ?????? ??? ????? ???? ???? ?? ???? ???? ???? ?? ?? ???? ???…??????? ?? ???? ????? ??????..??? ??? ??? ????? ????? ??? ???? ????? ?????…
??? ??? ?? ??? ??????((????? ?????? ?? ?????? )) ??????? ???? ??? ????? ????? ?????? ???? ?? ??? ??? ????? ????? ????? …?????? ?????? ????? ?? ?? ??? ??????? ???????? ??? ????? ????? ????? ???? ????? ?? ?????? 7 ????? ??????,,,??????? ???? ?? ??????..
??? ??? ?? ???? ???? ??????? ???? ??????? ????? ?????? ???? ????? ????? ??? ??? ?? ?? ???? ???????…???? ????? ?????? ??? ?? ???? ?????? ?? ????,,,????? ?????? ????? ?? ?? ????? ??? ??????
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??? ??? ???? ???? ((??? ??? )) ?????? ??? ???? ????? ????? ?????? ??????….??????? ?? ???? ???????? ?? ??? ????? ????? ??? ?? ????? ??? ?? ?????
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?? ??? ????? ????? ??? ???? ???? ????? ??? ??????? ?? ?????? ??? ??? ? ???? ???? ???????? ??????? ????? ?????? ??????? ??? ???…
??? ??? ?? ?? ???? ?? ??? ?????? ?????? ??? ??? ???? ?? ????? ?????? ??? ???????? ???? ??????? ?? ?????
(( ???? ?? ?? ??????? ???????? ???? ?????? ?? ???? ??????))
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????? ???? ???????? ??? ??????
????? ??? ???? ??? ??? ????? ???? ?????? ????? ??????? ?????? ???????? ???????? ? ??? ?? 10 ????? ????? ???? ???? ?????? ?????? ?????? ????????..??? ??? ????? ????? ?? ???? ??????? ?????? ???? ?? ???? ((?? ??? ??? ????…???? ???? ????)) ???? ??? ???? ????? ???? ?? ???? ????? ??? ?? ?????? ?? ????? ?????? ???? ???????…???? ??? ?? ????????? ????? ?????? ??? ???? ????? ????? ..?????? ????? ??? ???? ?? ????? ????????? ?????? ?????? ????? ???????…???? ?? ??? ???? ??? ???? ??? ?? ?????? ??? ????? ???? ??? ????….???? ?? ????? ???? ?????? ??????? ??? ?????? ????? ??????? ?????????
??? ???? ?? ????????? ???? ??? ????? ????? ????? ???????..????? ??????? ??? ???? ?????? ?? ???? ?????…
??? ????? ????????? ????? ???? ???????..??? ??? ?? ??? ????? ?????? ?????? ????? ??? ??? ???? ???? ???? ???? ?? ????? ?????? ????? ??? ?????? ?????? ?? ????? ?? ?????…?? ??? ?? ????? ??? ???????? ???? ???? ?? ????? ??????? ..???? ??? ????? ?????? ??? ???? ?? ???…??????? ?????? ?????? ??? ??????…
???? ??? ??? ??????? ?????..
??? ?? ???? ?? ??????? ???? ???? ??? ?????…? ??? ?? ???? ????? ?????..???? ?? ???? ????? ???? ..???? ?? ???? ?????? ?? ?????? ??? ??? ?????…????? ??????..??????? ????? ???? ?? ???? ??????? ??????…???? ?? ???? ?? ?? ??????
?? ???? ??????? ??????? ?????? ??? ????? ?? ????…??? ???? ???? ?? ?????? 6 ?????? ??? ??? ?? ?? ???? ? ?? ???? ??? ???? ???? ???? ??? ??? ?? ????? ??? ??????? ?? ???? ?? ??? ??????? ???? ???…?????? ???? ????? ???? ????? ??? ???? ??? ????? ??? ??????? ?? ?????? ?????? ???? ??????? ????? ?? ???? ?????? ????? ?????? ????? ??? ??????? ?????? ???? ?? ???? ????? ???? ?? ???? ?? ??? ???? ???? ?? ????? ??????? ??? ????? ?????? ????? ???????…??? ????? ??????? ??? ?????? ?? ?????? ???? ?????? ??? ???????? ????…
?????? ????? ?? ?????????? ????? ??? ??????? ???? ????? ???? ?? ????…
??? ?? ?? ????? ????? ?? ?????…??? ???? ?????? ??? ???? ???? ?? ?????….?? ??????? ????? ??????? ??????? ??????? ??????…?? ??? ??????? ?????? ???????..?? ?? ?? ??????? ?????…??? ????? ?????? ??? ????…????? ????? ????? (( ???? ????))??
????? ???? ?? ????…??????? ???? ???? ?????? ???? ????? ???? ?? ????? ??? ????? ????? ???????…???? ???? ??? ??????? ???? ???? ??????? ?????? ?????? ????? ?????? ???? ?????? ??????? ???? ??? ?? ??? ????? ????? ???….?? ?? ?? ??? ????? ?? ????? ????? ??? ??? ???? ???..?????? ????? ???? ???? ?????? ???? ??????? ???????? ?????? ??? ???? ??? ??????? ?? ???????….
???? ????? ???? ???? ????? ??? ???? ???? ??? ?? ??? ???.
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3- ???? ????? ???? ?? ?????? ?????? ??????? ???? ???? ?????? ???? ??? ???? ???? ??????
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???? ??…
?????? ???????? ???? ?????? ???? ???? ????? ???????? ?????? ????….??? ????? ????? ?? ???? ?????? ???? ???? 4 ?????.
??? ???? ???????..?? ???? ???? ??????? ??????? ?? ???..
_________________________________
????? ????? ….????? ???? ?????
P.S. There’s a few videos in the comment section
August 28th, 2011, 5:29 am
Syria no kandahar said:
MB will do any thing to get into power:
-They will remove larynxes.
-They will brake fingers.
-They will dump soldiers into rivers
-They will hang soldiers on poles.
-They will cut soldiers into pieces using swords
-They will Sniper demonstrators
-They will take arms
-They will ask for no fly zone
-They will ask for NATO forces
-They will ask for sanctions even on air and oxygen
August 28th, 2011, 5:37 am
hsyrian said:
About the difficult review of Syrian family law
Family Law and Gendered Citizenship in the Middle East
Paths of reform and resilience in Egypt, Morocco, Syria and Lebanon
by Rania Maktabi
Amending existing family laws in the Arab countries has been an important determinant in putting the question of changing segments within family law on the political agenda in Syria.
The SWGU established a working group in 2005 consisting of representatives from the Faculty of Law, the Faculty
of Shari’a from the Damascus and Aleppo universities, legal advisors from the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labour and the Commission for Family Affairs (SCFA).
The expert group was still working on three draft laws by January 2007:
A first proposal for a state supervised maintenance fund which is envisioned to channel custody and maintenance fees to divorced women and children through the state, rather than putting the burden on the divorced wife to collect her financial rights from her ex-husband.
A second proposal regards the housing of divorced mothers. It is
suggested that they be able to live in the marital home upon divorce during the period in which they have custody over their children.
The third draft law aims at establishing a family court in Syria.
Among the non-governmental groups that have addressed the question of family law most adherently is the Association for Social Initiative (ASI) which was central in law amendments of 2003
that prolonged the period of children under women’s custody following divorce.
The ASI continued its work on proposing changes within family law by forming a questionnaire and carrying out a survey which was responded by 2764 heads of households and women at health clinics in seven of the country’s fourteen provinces between March and September 2005.
The survey posed questions regarding
mandatory male guardianship when a female marries,
men’s right to unilateral divorce,
women’s right to initiate divorce,
polygyny,
custody,
a Syrian mother’s right to grant citizenship to offspring if married to a non-Syrian,
gendered inheritance rules,
witness proof rules, and
maternal domicile upon divorce.
(“Investigation on the opinion of changing laws that are unfair towards the rights of women” [istitla’ ra’y hawl dururat taghyir al-qawanin almujhafa
bihaqq al-mar’a].)
These questions caused quite a stir in the media most adherently instigated by Abdelaziz al- Khatib, a conservative cleric at the al-Darwishiyya mosque in central Damascus.
In ten Friday speeches he accused women’s rights activists in general and ASI members in particular of imitating the West in their demands for reform in family law.
Commenting on the survey he proclaimed that:
[this survey] calls for the destruction of morals and religion in the name of the victory of women against men. It seeks to destroy the last citadel of Muslim citadels […] through the abolition of laws that are based on the Islamic shari’a […] They want to erase Koranic verses, or in other words, to put them on a shelf. Who are they who fumble with the country’s sacred [laws] from the inside […]
Who has mandated these women protagonists to change Syrian laws?
Sheikh al-Khatib represents an orthodox perspective where shari’a principles are seen as constant entities, sacred and not eligible to change. ASI activists on their part question the patriarchal interpretations of existing laws and maintain their right to readdress the implementation of shari’a based principles by raising public awareness and calling for changes.
The results of the survey were to be analyzed by two sociologists at the University of Damascus, but in February 2007 the Ministry of Social Affairs retrieved the ASI’s license to operate
as a civil society organization and denied the researchers at Damascus University to process the findings.
Apparently, the government chose to abstain from stirring further uproar and sided with the orthodox sheikh and his followers against the ASI’s proposals to review segments of the Syrian family
law.
Disclaimer
Wonder where stands Abdelaziz al Khatib, a “conservative cleric” at the al-Darwishiyya mosque in central Damascus now : Government or Opposition
August 28th, 2011, 5:47 am
Aboud said:
@300 It most definitely proves that tanks were shelling the minaret. You can tell from the way the camera man keeps focusing back and forth from the minaret and the source of the fire (something natural to do); the tanks. The damage is also what you’d expect from heavy machine guns. Those aren’t T-72s.
Now, the verse;
“he way of those on whom You have bestowed Your grace, not the way of those who have earned Your anger, nor of those who have lost their way and are astray”
Tell me, what makes you think that “those who have earned your anger” applies specifically to Jews or Christians? It applies to any number of odious individuals who go against God’s commands. Like X-Box Muslims who shell mosques and beat up sheikhs.
Or are you afraid that it is reserved exclusively for fake secularist menhebaks obsessed with French tanks? LOL!
Not one word put forward by the fake secularists has been an original argument. I’ve been seeing the same exact lines by Islam bashers for over a decade on the Internet.
Not only are these inept individuals indulging in the lowest form of intellectually bankrupt faith bashing (the last resort of someone who knows his cause is beaten), but they don’t even have the skills or intelligence to do anything other than copy/paste from Islamophobic websites. They do not have the ability to put forward an original argument, just the same tired Islamophobic lines that were discredited even before their parents bought them a computer.
The menhebaks have given up all semblance of a debate. They know that junior is now indefensible. Those with a shred of self respect gave up and left this website early, their former lives and identities as a menhebak forever discarded, like the uniforms of Qadafi supporters.
Those that remain no longer try to justify the unjustifiable, but indulge in the crudest, lowest form of faith bashing, to vent and give an outlet to their feelings of helplessness, anger, and failure. Every Islam bashing line we see from the menhebaks might as well be tears of anguish from a person who has been comprehensively and utterly defeated.
Now excuse me while I read Al-Fatiha for the insecure, lacking in all self confidence menhebaks 🙂
August 28th, 2011, 6:29 am
Aboud said:
By the way, what happened to the Blitzkrieg that was supposed to chase me away from this website? You people couldn’t Blitzkrieg your way out of a paper bag, just like the Syrian “army” LOL! 🙂
August 28th, 2011, 6:32 am
Aboud said:
Junior has refused to receive an Arab League delegation to discuss ways of ending the crisis in Syria. What a turnaround from a month ago, when the Arab League chief was accused of toadying up to Besho.
It is an ominous sign for the menhebaks, that all those Arab countries can suddenly do an about face so abruptly. The Baathists must now begin to start wondering how solid the support is from Russia and Iran.
Maybe junior’s next speech can be a whine about “Thourat Yathin” LOL 🙂
August 28th, 2011, 6:38 am
Aboud said:
“claimed that the life expectancy was 30 when your prophet was alive and it was a habit of kings and so on to marry young girls, guess what your prophet was in his 50’s,”
Have someone explain to you the meaning of the “average” life expectancy. Do you know why we never hear about people who died young? Because they wouldn’t have had time to have done anything worth remembering. Not everyone is an Alexander the Great. And so history is full of the deeds of people who beat the odds, and lived more than a few decades.
Or perhaps you’d like people to believe that Jahiliya Arabia, which lacked medicine, vaccines, hospitals or doctors, had a similar life expectancy as Western Europe. I can’t believe I actually have to state something this obvious (but then again, I have to take into account who it is I’m talking to).
Tell me, in your twisted fake secular menhebak world, is a man like junior who has been a Muslim all his life, more beloved in God’s eyes than a Jew who is charitable, generous, faithful to his wife, kind to his children, loyal to his friends and a cherished member of his society? Is building a statue to Papa Assad more noble than building a church or synagogue?
Of course not, and the interpretations you came up with are those of anonymous Jew-haters who are just as disgraceful as you menhebaks. Islam has no pope, Muslims are expected to be knowledgeable about their religion and interpret it, using their God given intelligence.
I can see how what intelligence you have, has failed you utterly in that regard. It failed you as a defender of Besho, and it failed you as an Islam-hater (and it utterly failed you when you hopelessly tried to argue about WW2 LOL! That was painful to watch)
August 28th, 2011, 7:02 am
some guy in damascus said:
there was commentator here called abuali, what happened to him?.
he usually would update us about Aleppo, i always looked forward to his posts.
August 28th, 2011, 7:21 am
MNA said:
NK @ 301
I can’t answer your question as I was not there. But the reason for circulating the video is to show something definite to prove the case. This video did not show that. It did not show tanks shelling the minaret. It showed tanks being in the vicinity while the minaret was being destroyed.
August 28th, 2011, 7:47 am
Muhammad said:
Besho is just plain stupid and worse he thinks that he is smart. In his last speech he invented this new religion called “Muhammadeen” religion and boasted about living in The West saying “I know them and they HATE us”. Maybe no one told this highly educated expert in Islamic-Western relationships that the term “Muhammadans” is a derogatory term used by Europeans to call Muslims in the middle ages. Europeans wrongly thought Muslims worshiped Muhammad(PBUH). Here is the wikipedia entry about it:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mohammedan
Come to think of it … maybe HE thinks we actually worship Muhammad(PBUH). He saw no problem in shabeeha forcing people to call him god and prostrate to his ugly photo.
August 28th, 2011, 8:18 am
Aboud said:
The Arab League delegation to Damascus is the equivalent of an intervention of friends, trying to help one of their own in giving up alcohol. So what are those friends supposed to do when the alcoholic in question gives them the finger? They leave him to his own sad little existence. Friendless. But at least he has online Islamophobes to chat with 🙂
Actually, maybe I’m being too hard on junior. Of course he has better things to do than to receive an Arab League delegation. He still has a hundred X-Box Live achievements to rack up.
August 28th, 2011, 8:24 am
ann said:
Syria denies gatherings at two main squares in Damascus: report
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/world/2011-08/27/c_131078654.htm
2011-08-27 17:55:22
DAMASCUS, Aug. 27 (Xinhua) — Syria’s state media on Saturday denied that there are any protests or any kind of gatherings at al- Abasseen and Ummayyad squares in Damascus, in contrast to what some “provocative” satellite channels had broadcasted earlier in the day.
The Qatari al-Jazeera TV and the Saudi Al-Arabiya have reported that people gathered at Damascus’ squares of Abasseen and Ummayad and marched to the Kafarsuseh neighborhood to break a siege allegedly imposed by security force on al-Rifai mosque there.
The state TV disputed the reports, airing live footage of the areas seeming empty except of some passers-by.
Calm prevails the two squares and life is normal, the report said.
The authorities has been accusing al-Jazeera and some other foreign media of ignoring the facts on the ground as well as incitement and fabricating events in their coverage of Syria’s anti-government protests.
A day earlier, SANA said five law-enforcement members were injured by the armed groups at the eastern province of Deir el- Zour and the Damascus suburb of Douma.
Syria has been in unrest since mid-March when anti-government protests broke out in the southern province of Daraa and spread to other cities.
The Syrian authorities blamed the unrest on “armed groups and foreign conspiracy,” and stressed that it would track down gunmen who have intimidated people and damaged public and private properties.
August 28th, 2011, 8:35 am
OFF THE WALL said:
Months ago, LEO LEONI and I argued extensively with HUSAM about doctrine and about the right of non-muslims to criticize Islam and to point to practices that we would nowadays hole as illegal at best and immoral on closer inspection. My point then was that If a scholar like Ibn Taymia, with his complexity, was able to write a thousand page treaty in refutation of Christianity, and several thousand pages in refutation of philosophy, then learned scholars from other faiths, and philosophers as well should also have the right to criticize Islam both in its fundamental tenets, as well as in its practices and to provide analytical understanding of the religion.
Complexities arise when ignorant Islamophobes (e.g., Wafa Sultan, Daniel Pipes, Anne Coulter,…) some of whom are also militant sectarian claiming to be atheists (those who focus their criticism on one and only one religion) find the practices of Muslims in certain countries, and the weird religious interpretations that condone these practices an easy target. Unlike Rational Atheists, even those who recently demonstrated some militancy (e.g., Christopher Hitchens) in their anti-islamic stance, sectarian atheists (Afram, SNK, and their idol Wafa Sultan) single out one religion for most vile, very ignorant, and questionable criticism. Rational Atheists care less about individual religions, their thesis is built on equating all religions as irrational fables, and on the argument that “faith”, and for that matter, any faith, is illogical. Take for example Christopher Hitchens, true, in his recent years he has been very critical of Islam and Muslims, and yet, he never shies from applying the same rational principles to Christianity, Hinduism, and Judaism, separating himself as an intellectual from the ignoramus, purely autobiographic (with many false claims and unwarranted generalizations) Wafa Sultan, who fails miserably to ground her assertions to rationalism, but spares no opportunity or forum to ride the wave of islamophobia from poverty to riches by speaking in many Jewish Temples and Christian-Zionist gatherings stoking fear and hate wherever she went to a point that several Rabbis were appalled at her even before she advocated the west nuking Muslims. Find me a true atheist who goes on as a paid-speaker in fund raising campaigns for religious groups. It is a contradiction that exposes Wafa Sultan as a mere opportunist if not an intellectual prostitute. She may be a non-believer, but she is neither rational, nor honest, and definitely a liar when she professes atheism.
My argument is by no means to be taken as condoning Christopher Hitchens siding with the neocons, but only to highlight the difference between an intellectual such as him and an opportunist ignoramus such as Wafa Sultan. Hitchens may have been accused of opportunism among other things, but even then, he remained consistent as a rational atheist, albeit militant but not sectarian. He singled out Islam for much of his recent rhetoric, but without ignoring Atheisms’ fundamental questions about deity and faith and their ramifications on rational thinking.
This is an introductory post. Few more are forthcoming that are selected from the writing of others.
August 28th, 2011, 8:36 am
Aboud said:
Parody of junior’s Iftar speech
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iSpziWRmd9Y&feature=player_embedded
🙂
@310 Tell me, did you actually see the Enola Gay drop the bomb on Hiroshima? Nope, a couple of American B-29 bombers just happened to be around when that city was destroyed in a nuclear blast.
The sound of the gunfire indicates the distance to be from the APCs. The camera man repeatedly focuses back to the APCs, to show the source of the fire. And at the end, he wants us to get a look at his smug face while a mosque is being destroyed. Seriously, how much longer can the menhebaks defend the indefensible?
The menhebaks here keep going on about shots that may or may not have been fired at a church back in April, and yet don’t dare address the all too recent and all too real shelling of mosques, the beating up of sheikhs, and the suppression of worshipers inside those same mosques.
And I’m still wondering what the “neutral” minorities are waiting for. Are they afraid men of religion will be beaten up in a post-Assad world? Are they afraid places of worship will be shelled? Are they afraid prayer goers will be beaten up in their places of worship?
MLK quote;
“A right delayed is a right denied. ”
Indeed, which is why no one gives a hoot about Besho’s promises of elections *in February*
August 28th, 2011, 8:38 am
OFF THE WALL said:
Meet Islam’s Ann Coulter
June 25, 2006|Stephen Julius Stein | STEPHEN JULIUS STEIN is a rabbi at Wilshire Boulevard Temple, where he also directs inter-religious programming.
RECENTLY I WAS one of about 100 L.A. Jews invited to attend a fundraiser for a Jewish organization that seeks to counteract anti-Israel disinformation and propaganda. The guest speaker was Wafa Sultan, the Syrian American woman who in February gave a now legendary interview on Al Jazeera television, during which she said that “the Muslims are the ones who began the clash of civilizations” and “I don’t believe you can reform Islam.”
The audience warmly greeted Sultan, a psychiatrist who immigrated to Southern California in 1989. One of Time magazine’s 100 “pioneers and heroes,” she said she was neither a Christian, Muslim nor Jew but a secular human being. “I have 1.3 billion patients,” she quipped early in her remarks, referring to the global Muslim population. Sultan went on to condemn inhumane acts committed in God’s name, to denounce Islamic martyrdom and to decry terror as a tool to subjugate communities. Those statements all made perfect sense.
Then this provocative voice said something odd: “Only Arab Muslims can read the Koran properly because you have to speak Arabic to know what it means — you cannot translate it.” Any translation is, by definition, interpretation, and Arabic is no more difficult to accurately translate than Hebrew. In fact, the Hebrew of the Bible poses many more formidable translation problems than Arabic. Are Christians and Jews who cannot read it ill-equipped to live by its meanings?
Another surprising remark soon followed: “All Muslim women — even American ones, though they won’t admit it — are living in a state of domination.” Do they include my friend Nagwa Eletreby, a Boeing engineer and expert on cockpit controls, who did not seek her husband’s permission to help me dress the Torah scroll? Or how about my friend Azima Abdel-Aziz, a New York University graduate who traveled to Israel with 15 Jews and 14 other Muslims — and left her husband at home?
There is no subjugation in the homes of these and other American Muslim women I know. They are equal, fully contributing members of their families.
The more Sultan talked, the more evident it became that progress in the Muslim world was not her interest. Even more troubling, it was not what the Jewish audience wanted to hear about. Applause, even cheers, interrupted her calumnies.
Judea Pearl, an attendee and father of murdered journalist Daniel Pearl, was one of the few voices of restraint and nuance heard that afternoon. In response to Sultan’s assertion that the Koran contains only verses of evil and domination, Pearl said he understood the book also included “verses of peace” that proponents of Islam uphold as the religion’s true intent. The Koran’s verses on war and brutality, Pearl contended, were “cultural baggage,” as are similar verses in the Torah. Unfortunately, his words were drowned out by the cheers for Sultan’s full-court press against Islam and Muslims.
My disappointment in and disagreement with Sultan turned into dismay. She never alluded to any healthy, peaceful Islamic alternative. Why, for example, didn’t this Southern California resident mention the groundbreaking efforts of the Islamic Center of Southern California, the leading exemplar of progressive Muslim American life in the United States? Why didn’t she bring up the New Horizon School-Pasadena that the center started, the first Muslim American school honored by the U.S. Department of Education as a National Blue Ribbon School?
You might wonder why a rabbi is so uneasy about Sultan’s assault on Muslims and Islam. Here’s why: Contrary to practically every mosque in the U.S., the Islamic Center has a regulation in its charter barring funding from foreign countries. As a result, it is an American institution dedicated to propagating an American Muslim identity. Maher and Hassan Hathout are the philosophical and spiritual pillars of the mosque. They also have been partners of Wilshire Boulevard Temple rabbis and others throughout L.A. for decades.
The Hathouts’ mosque has twice endorsed pilgrimages to Israel and the Palestinian territories, its members traveling with fellow L.A.-area Jews and Christians. It invites Jews to pray with them, to make music with them, to celebrate Ramadan with them. This is the mosque whose day school teaches students about Rosh Hashana, Yom Kippur and Hanukkah alongside lessons in Arabic and the Koran. Recently, the Islamic Center joined the food pantry collective of Hope-Net, helping feed the hungry and homeless.
Make no mistake: I am not an Islamic apologist. But Sultan’s over-the-top, indefensible remarks at the fundraiser, along with her failure to mention the important, continuing efforts of the Islamic Center, insulted all Muslims and Jews in L.A. and throughout the nation who are trying to bridge the cultural gap between the two groups. And that’s one reason why I eventually walked out of the event.
Here’s another: As I experienced the fervor sparked by Sultan’s anti-Muslim tirade and stoked by a roomful of apparently unsuspecting Jews, I thought: What if down the street there was a roomful of Muslims listening to a self-loathing Jew, cheering her on as she spoke of the evils inherent in the Torah, in which it is commanded that a child must be stoned to death if he insults his parents, in which Israelites are ordered by God to conquer cities and, in so doing, to kill all women and children — and this imagined Jew completely ignored all of what Judaism teaches afterward?
In a world far too often dominated by politicians imbued with religious fundamentalism of all flavors — Jewish, Christian, Muslim — we need the thoughtfulness, self-awareness and subtlety that comes from progressive religious expression. We have that in Judaism, in Christianity — and in Islam, right in our backyard. If only Sultan, applauded in many quarters yet miscast as a voice of reason and reform in Islam, were paying attention.
August 28th, 2011, 8:42 am
Aboud said:
From Wikipedia, about Wafa Sultan
“About the University of Aleppo incident related above, related in an interview with the New York Times, in which Sultan claimed that in 1979, gunmen from the Muslim Brotherhood burst into a classroom at the university and killed her professor before her eyes, Riyad Asfari, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Aleppo, stated in an interview that the assassination took place off campus, and that no one had ever been killed anywhere at the university.
Asfari’s comment was also supported by Syrian expatriates Adnan Halabi and Ghada Moezzin. Moezzin, who attended the University of Aleppo in 1979, commented “We would’ve known about the killing if it had happened. It would have been big news on campus and I do not recall ever hearing about it.” Moezzin added that government security was always present around the university at the time”
Oh noes, an Islam hater who lies. Isn’t that original.
August 28th, 2011, 8:43 am
Aboud said:
The False Seductions of Wafa Sultan
Wrongly Confusing Islamism With Islam
By Pierre Tristam
It’s one of those forwarded e-mails that propagates at the speed of gossip on crack: “You gotta see this.” “Impressive.” “What do you make of her?” The link takes you to the video1 of a woman saying things about Islam, on al Jazeera2, as you’d never expect to hear them on the Qatar-based satellite channel.
Throwing Flames on the “Clash of Civilizations”
She speaks in a voice as impassioned and rhythmic as Malcolm X’s at his best: “The clash we are witnessing around the world is not a clash of religions, or a clash of civilizations. It is a clash between two opposites, between two eras,” the woman says. “It is a clash between a mentality that belongs to the Middle Ages and another mentality that belongs to the 21st century. It is a clash between civilization and backwardness, between the civilized and the primitive, between barbarity and rationality. It is a clash between freedom and oppression, between democracy and dictatorship….”
The woman is Wafa Sultan. Until her 15 minutes of flaming Islam on Feb. 21, she was an unheard-of psychiatrist living in a Los Angeles suburb, a 47-year-old Syrian expatriate who, as a medical student at a Syrian university in 1979, watched as Muslim Brotherhood gunmen barged into her classroom and shot her professor: “They shot hundreds of bullets into him shouting ‘God is Great,’” she told The New York Times. “At that point, I lost my trust in their god and began to question all our teachings. It was the turning point of my life, and it has led me to this present point. I had to leave. I had to look for another god.”
Religion as Unreason
Some of us Catholics, as I’m sure some of us Protestants, Jews and Shintoists, have had the same reaction, with or without the unhappy benefit of watching fanaticism in action before our eyes. Baptism by blood or fire isn’t the only prerequisites for a conversion to reason. History’s morgues are rich enough to supply unending evidence that every religion at one point or another — the Torah’s many Koran-like commandments to commit unspeakable acts against one’s children or against women and children in enemy cities among them — has produced its armies of madmen scorching earth in gods’ names.
So Wafa Sultan wasn’t onto something original in her Feb. 21 segment on al-Jazeera. She was just applying it to Islam, which happens to be the religion currently boasting the greater proportion of theocrats, tyrants and armies-of-one bomb squads.
Wafa Sultan, American Idol
That didn’t stop her from becoming America’s idol, especially among conservatives and evangelicals looking to the West as good and Islam as evil. (Her al-Jazeera clip was downloaded 1 million times by March 2006.)
They quote Wafa Sultan’s attractive, if historically gimpy, phrases: “We have not seen a single Jew blow himself up in a German restaurant. We have not seen a single Jew destroy a church. We have not seen a single Jew protest by killing people. The Muslims have turned three Buddha statues into rubble. We have not seen a single Buddhist burn down a Mosque, kill a Muslim, or burn down an embassy.”
All Religions Have Their Terrorists
Not to start playing that silly game of comparative terrors, but Sultan must’ve not checked the latest State Department designations of terrorist organizations. It includes Israel’s Kahane Chai, whose members have murdered Arab civilians, including in mosques. Sultan must’ve also missed news of the ethnic war between the Buddhist-Sinhalese majority and the Hindi Tamil minority in Sri Lanka, where more than 60,000 people have been killed since the mid-1980s.
To put it more bluntly–as Martin Amis does in “The Second Plane” (Knopf, 2008)–“All religions, unsurprisingly, have their terrorists: Christian, Jewish, Hindu, even Buddhist. But we’re not hearing from those religions. We are hearing from Islam.”
“Islam’s Ann Coulter”
The more serious problem with Sultan, however, is how she has taken her fame — based on some necessary observations about present-day Islam — and turned it into a sword that sees Islam and the Koran as exclusively evil, backward, repressive. “In a world far too often dominated by politicians imbued with religious fundamentalism of all flavors — Jewish, Christian, Muslim — we need the thoughtfulness, self-awareness and subtlety that comes from progressive religious expression,” Rabbi Stephen Julius Stein wrote in the Los Angeles Times after attending a fund-raiser for Israel and hearing Sultan, a guest speaker, score applause by bashing Islam as if she were Pat Robertson in drag (Robertson considers Islam “violent at its core.”
“We have that in Judaism, in Christianity — and in Islam, right in our backyard,” Stein wrote. “If only Sultan, applauded in many quarters yet miscast as a voice of reason and reform in Islam, were paying attention.” Stein’s piece was entitled “Islam’s Ann Coulter.”
That about sums up Wafa Sultan if she chooses to inflame the belligerence of America’s Islam-bashers rather than enlighten their glass houses’ dim blurbs — and her own.
August 28th, 2011, 8:58 am
OFF THE WALL said:
I am not an expert and I have to rely on respected experts. Those who know better are welcomed to comment, but i thought that this article is worth sharing, especially considering the significance of resolving the issue of the age of Aisha. The author correctly identifies such resolution as being for the sake of children everywhere and I tend to agree. While Aboud’s expected life expectancy comment is correct, it does not resolve the issue in manners that addresses the continuing pedophilia under the disguise of religion. Please note that there are now “so-called-scholars” in KSA who are using the same argument used by islamophobes to nullify attempts in KSA for some minor reforms regarding marital age restrictions. The issue is serious, if one cares about children, it is also serious pretext for crazed-mouth-frothing islamphobes like SNK and AFRAM. Off course i expect the sectarian islamphobes to start frothing and calling me and the author as apologists. But that is OK. I know where I stand, and the opinion of ignorant will not change my knowledge, nor my stance. The article is being transmitted merely as a noteworthy attempt, among many serious attempts, at reform not only in the individual practices, but in using some rationalism in reading, and some common sense judgement in interpreting a faith. These are similar to the early steps taken by reform Judaic scholars.
Disclaimer:
I had to do some formatting and to add the Arabic text, which was originally written in Latin characters, in order to clarify the article which was not intended for Arabic reading audience.
——– Start Quoted Article —-
Rejecting the Myth of Sanctioned Child Marriage in Islam
Posted: 01/29/11 07:32 PM ET HUFFINGTON POST
By Dr. David Liepert
Muslim Author, Leader, Spokesperson, Host of “The Optimistic Muslim” on webtalkradio.net
Name one thing Muslims and Christians share? Their level effort pointing fingers elsewhere whenever pedophilia comes up. Catholic priests are an obvious and easy target, but when my 16-year-old daughter raised $26,000 in her high school to combat North America’s growing child-sex-slavery trade, her grandmother complained that she wasn’t doing enough about misogyny and abuse in Somalia, Saudi Arabia and the Sudan. Although she wasn’t very clear how Marley would get there. My pen on the other hand? We’ll see.
Another similarity? Neither Muslims nor Christians blame Christianity for the problem, but the same can’t be said for Islam. You’ve got to give pedophiles their props though. Most sane people consider them something beyond abhorrent, and yet on this issue they have convinced even Christian leaders to climb into bed with them, and with some Sunni and Shiite scholars to boot. And it’s time to pull the sheets back and see what’s really going on for the sake of women and children everywhere.
There are really only three reasons to insist — as so many do — that Aisha was only 9 years old when Muhammad, the Prophet of Islam (PBUH) married her: Either you are such a crazy Islamophile that you are willing to go to your grave insisting Muhammad could do whatever he wanted, or you are such a crazy Islamophobe that you want to insist he did, or you are such a weirdly religious sex-crazed pervert that you hope accusing him makes it OK for you to do it too.
There is absolutely no other reason to either make or repeat that disgusting claim. Aisha was married in 622 C.E., and although her exact birthday is unknown, Abu Ja’far Muhammad ibn Jarir al-Tabari recorded that it happened before Islam was revealed in 610. The earliest surviving biography of Muhammad, Abu Muhammad ‘Abd al-Malik bin Hisham’s recension of Ibn Ishaq’s Sirat Rasul Allah — The Life of the Messenger of God records that Aisha accepted Islam shortly after it was revealed — 12 years before her marriage — and there is no way she could have done so as an infant or toddler.
Furthermore, it is a matter of incontrovertible historical record that Aisha was involved in the Battles of Badr in 624 and Uhud in 625, in neither of which was anyone under the age of 15 allowed.
Finally, Imam Wali-ud-Din Muhammad ibn Abdullah Al-Khatib, dead for more than 700 years, recorded in the biographical section of Miskat al-Masabih that Asma, her elder sister of 10 years, died at the age of 100, 72 years after Aisha’s wedding. This makes Aisha’s age at the time of her marriage at least 14, and at the time of her marriage’s consummation almost 20.
Although those dates make it obvious that Aisha’s child-marriage couldn’t have taken place, according to Arab tribal traditions of the time it could have, and apparently it can still happen in Arabia today. A case that recently raged through the international press and Saudi courts — of an 8-year-old girl who had been married by her father to a 47 year-old “friend” to settle Dad’s debts — shows how little things there have changed. However, that’s despite Islam, not because of it.
Prior to Muhammad in Arabia, it is common knowledge that females were considered property, and that female infants were often discarded like refuse when born. However, one of Islam’s primary revelations was that men and women had equal status before God, with different though equal rights and obligations. Another was God’s condemnation of Arab female sacrifice, proclaiming that girl-children were just as valuable as boy-children to God and to humankind.
Obviously, those ignorant tribal prejudices and practices persist. However the most important reason Aisha’s child-marriage couldn’t have happened is this: Muhammad couldn’t do anything any more than any other Muslim can. Muhammad was the finest example of true Islamic living there could ever be, and having marital relations with a woman of less than the “age of majority” — an age that varies from culture to culture but presupposes the ability to become pregnant, have children and make decisions for those children as an adult — was, is and always will be completely contrary to the example set by our Prophet, and the message of Islam’s Holy Quran.
The Quran is clear that a divorced woman cannot marry another man until she completes a period of waiting to confirm she isn’t already pregnant, and such an impediment would be unnecessary were pregnancy not possible. However, the roots of Islamic pedophilia lie in exactly what the verse (At-Talaq — “The Divorce” 65:4) about that waiting period says. Yousuf Ali’s English translation is a pretty good approximation:
??????????? ???????? ???? ?????????? ???? ??????????? ???? ??????????? ?????????????? ???????? ???????? ??????????? ???? ???????? ????????? ???????????? ??????????? ???? ???????? ??????????? ?????? ??????? ??????? ???????? ???? ???? ???????? ???????
Waalla-ee ya-isna mina almaheedi min nisa-ikum ini irtabtum fa’iddatuhunna thalathatu ashhurin waalla-ee lam yahidna waolatu al-ahmali ajaluhunna an yada’ana hamlahunna waman yattaqi Allaha yaj’al lahu min amrihi yusran.
Such of your women as have passed the age of monthly courses, for them the prescribed period, if ye have any doubts, is three months, and for those who have no courses (it is the same): for those who carry (life within their wombs), their period is until they deliver their burdens: and for those who fear Allah, He will make their path easy.
Now, I’ve discussed the verse with progressive Islamic scholars and learned that “Lam Yahidna” negates menstruation in the past tense and the jussive mode and means “did not menstruate,” with the expectation that the woman should be menstruating, since that natural cycle is part of her normal state.
Then again, I know that there are Islamic scholars from Arabia and Pakistan — another place with long traditions of both child-marriage and misogyny — and Islamophobes from around the world who interpret it as if it says “has not menstruated yet,” with the jussive mode implying the girl is impatient to begin, ensuring that it seems to perpetuate the pre-Islamic practice of having sex with pre-pubescent girls.
Between those two incredibly divergent positions, how does one choose?
When Muslims face difficult questions, we have the Sunnah , an Arabic word meaning “the acts of Muhammad,” to guide us, and that’s why Aisha’s age is such an issue. But the thing is, whether Aisha was still a child when her marriage was consummated has never been a question: all scholars agree that occurred after Aisha’s menarche. Islamophobes inevitably claim otherwise, but they do so based on a completely fictitious interpretation of events.
And that means the problem that we should be addressing is the root one, that of men devaluing and disenfranchising girls and women: Husbands and fathers treating girls as property and forcing them to marry against their will.
And in that, the condemnation of the Quran and Sunnah are very clear: The Quran states a woman’s consent is essential, and the Sunnah confirms that both Aisha’s betrothal and consummation occurred with Aisha’s enthusiastic agreement. In fact, some even imply she went against the initial wishes of her Dad!
Those guides unequivocally confirm that men and woman have equal status before God, equal though different rights when wed, and that a woman cannot be given in marriage without her express approval. Absent that, the Sunnah also records that Muhammad dissolved marriages on the woman’s testimony alone. That is what Muslims should be proclaiming, rather than the purported right of Muslim men to marry underage brides.
The cause of the confusion is simple . Imam Bukhari, compiler of the famous Hadith collection (Hadith in this context meaning stories about Muhammad) Sahih Bukhari included one recalling that Aisha said she was 6 when betrothed and 9 when she was wed. However, Bukhari included another recording that Aisha was a young girl and remembered when Surah Al-Qamar was revealed — 9 years before her wedding — as well. Obviously, both Hadiths can’t be true, and that’s the problem with relying too much on Hadiths, and too little on the Quran and common sense
Even if you believe — as I do — that the Quran is a divinely protected book, the same cannot be said about all Hadiths. In fact, there is even an Ayah in the Quran that warns about the dangers of thinking otherwise. Luqman 31:6 cautions:
??? ????? ?? ????? ??? ?????? ???? ?? ???? ???? ???? ??? ??????? ???? ????? ??? ???? ????
Wamina alnnasi man yashtaree lahwa alhadithi liyudilla aaan sabeeli Allahi bighayri aailmin wayattakhithaha huzuwan ola-ika lahum aaathabun muheenun.
But there are, among men, those who purchase idle Hadiths, without knowledge (or meaning), to mislead (men) from the Path of Allah and throw ridicule (on the Path): for such there will be a Humiliating Penalty.
While there are Muslim scholars who claim that Luqman 6 is actually a warning about musical performers like Madonna, there are others who respond that unless those performers are Muslim nothing they do throws ridicule on any path but their own. And personally, I think the Ayah is instead a frank and literal warning about the dangers of trafficking in false and idle Hadiths, just like it says.
I also can’t think of a better set of examples of what it’s talking about than the damage that’s been done by confusion over Aisha’s age of consummation.
I have read a great deal of speculation about why Hadiths that make Aisha seem immature might be wrong. Most of them came out of what is now Iraq, through one specific source named Hisham ibn Urwah. And it’s worth noting that his student Muslim — who collated the Hadiths of Sahih Muslim — specifically chose not to include any from his respected teacher after Hisham went to Iraq. Some say it’s because Hisham’s memory became spotty, others say it was because Iraq was a political hotbed of “anti-Aisha” feeling and some evil men fabricated Hadiths in Hisham’s name.
But none of the speculation matters. The only thing you need to realize is that both the tales Bukhari included can’t both be true. That fact, put together with the Quran’s warning, means that Hadiths can’t be as authoritative to Muslims as the Holy Quran and the Sunnah are.
I’ve been told otherwise by many good Muslims, and I know there are even places in the world where you can spark a riot by saying otherwise, but I think that’s part of what Luqman warns us about. I love Hadiths for the illuminating light they can shine on the interpretation of a difficult passage, or on my own attempts navigating a difficult juncture in my life, but I’ve also participated in Islamic dinner events that have fallen apart discussing the Hadith condemning Muslims who smell their food before they eat it.
Now, the role, authority and validity of individual Hadiths is not an issue that is going to be put to rest by someone like me; there is an entire scholarly science devoted to it. And personally, I think that debate and discussion, both between scholars and “grass-roots” Muslims, is useful and instructive whether the Hadiths being discussed are actually “true” or not, as long as that discussion is respectful of both our religion of Islam and our fellow participants.
But while we’re on the subject of how Muslims settle Islamic controversies, there’s an important question that begs asking. I actually understand the Islamophobic focus on false and embarrassing Islamic interpretations: they’re just trying to score points the best way they know how, with tools we Muslims have given them. But all these facts I’ve shared are just common knowledge that’s easily verifiable and my conclusions little more than simple common sense.
If Muslim scholars are so concerned that Muslim practices follow Islam’s revelation and Muhammad’s memory, and if they truly want to defend Islam and our Prophet, then what have they been doing for the last thousand years?
No question men (and women) can be pigs when it comes to sex and gender issues — when I’m asked to explain why we can’t eat pork I generally explain the problem might be cannibalism — but religion is supposed to help us combat those dark urges not pander to them.
And while we’re on the subject of marriage, the Quran doesn’t condone wife-beating either. In pre-Islamic Arabia, men did not need permission to beat their wives. And although the Arabic root Dzaraba does mean “beat” it also means “heal.” Dzaraba denotes action for a higher purpose, such as “striking (or minting) a coin,” or “striking out on a new path.” Coupled with the Quran’s warning to husbands that God is watching everything we do, and a reminder that we must serve our marriage rather than ourselves, particularly after proclaiming married men to be tasked as providers and protectors rather than rulers all in the same passage, in Muhammad’s day Islam actually took that permission away, despite misogynist Muslim and Islamophobic claims to the contrary.
With all the suffering in Somalia, so much of it caused by misapplied and misinterpreted misreadings of Islam, why are Somalia’s scholars focusing on sexualizing hand-holding?
How is it that Saudi Arabia still allows child marriage when they’ve known Aisha’s real age all along (the biographies I reference are written in Arabic, for Heaven’s sake!), or that Pakistan’s rape laws cleave to British colonial precedent?
In Pakistan, a woman can be punished for being raped if the rapist denies her claims. But when Muhammad was faced with a woman who told him she’d been raped, he had the man in question executed on the testimony of the woman, whom he pronounced blameless, alone.
The simple truth is that all our Muslim scholars since Islam began have been human, limited by the human ability to pander, avoid conflict by bowing to popular opinion, or make mistakes. And when scholars fail their sacred trust, to transmit Islam with fidelity, they lose their right to any authority, Islamic or otherwise, and frankly, it’s up to the rest of us to do a better job of keeping them honest.
Because if any of us care about things like “truth” and “fidelity” as much as so many of us claim, “Too busy to check the facts out for myself” just doesn’t seem like much of an excuse.
What’s my bottom line? The age Aisha attained before she married the Prophet is one issue we have to put to rest — for the sake of children everywhere. There is absolutely no question that Aisha was an adult when she consummated her marriage with Muhammad of her own free will, and she lived out her life in the earliest days of Islam the un-harassed and proudly participatory equal of everyone, just like every other man, woman or child under God.
That is our Muslim legacy that we should be striving to live up to, and anyone who claims otherwise is simply crazy, one way or another.
—- End quoted Article —-
August 28th, 2011, 9:10 am
ann said:
Syrian president endorses media law – 2011-08-28 15:29:55
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/world/2011-08/28/c_131079722.htm
DAMASCUS, Aug. 28 (Xinhua) — Syrian President Bashar al-Assad endorsed Sunday a media law that would stop government censorship of local and foreign publications, and end government control over newspapers and other publications, according to the official SANA news agency.
The cabinet discussed the final version of the new media law earlier this month.
The draft law identifies media principles, journalists’ duties and rights, licensing procedures for launching audio-visual, printed and electronic media.
It provides for establishing the national media council which enjoys legal personality and administrative and financial independence.
The media law comes in line with other measures lately introduced by the Syrian government to achieve sweeping reforms in the country.
Information Minister Adnan Mahmoud said recently that the media law aims at regulating and developing media work in accordance with the comprehensive reform process in Syria.
He noted that the law will contribute to developing media performance in terms of the institutional structure, human cadres and media policies that focus on public matters, issues of citizens, linking media with society with all its components and presenting media content at a high professional level.
Mahmoud said the law will cancel penalties against journalists and ensure their freedom secured by the law, in addition to facilitating their access to information and securing their right of protecting their information sources.
Syria’s press law promulgated 2001 gives the government sweeping control over newspapers, magazines, and other periodicals, as well as virtually anything else printed in Syria, from books to pamphlets and posters. The government has extended these restrictions to online outlets.
August 28th, 2011, 9:14 am
majedkhaldoon said:
MNA
What a silly arguement, what difference if the mineret was shelled by tanks or by different weapons, the fact is that the mineret was shelled by the army,who was in the immidiate vicinity, if the explosions were from inside ,the smoke would have exit from all windows at the same time, it was not,and the shelling at time hit the stone part of the mineret,not the windows.
The army was shelling the mineret.
and we all saw the soldiers hiting and beating of one defector, and telling him to say that No God but Bashar, what did Bashar do to punish those soldiers , who were beating that defector?
August 28th, 2011, 9:18 am
OFF THE WALL said:
ANN
you need 30 more posts to flood the last series, you better hurry up, good luck
August 28th, 2011, 9:26 am
Aboud said:
“what did Bashar do to punish those soldiers , who were beating that defector?”
The thug in question is Captain Jaber Essa, of the 4th Division, from Qurdaha.
August 28th, 2011, 9:26 am
beaware said:
Syria’s opposition has failed to offer a viable alternative
Hassan Hassan
Aug 28, 2011
http://www.thenational.ae/thenationalconversation/comment/syrias-opposition-has-failed-to-offer-a-viable-alternative
Shortly after the execution of Saddam Hussein in December 2006, two stories began to circulate about his fate. One told of otherwise sane people reportedly seeing the face of the late Iraqi dictator on the moon on the night of his death. Another told a more believable tale: that the “real” Saddam was alive and well after a body double died on the gallows. It would only be a matter of time before he rose again.
These stories were, of course, nothing more than paranoid fiction. But they spoke to the psychological hold that Saddam maintained over much of the Iraqi public. People simply couldn’t believe his reign of terror was over. Indeed, some people didn’t want it to be.
A similar scenario is playing out in Syria today. Much like his father before him, Bashar Al Assad’s political decisions have rendered him illegitimate in the eyes of many. But fear of what could come next has kept his regime alive.
Mr Al Assad, like all totalitarian rulers, holds on to power in different ways: by force, by coercion, or by a combination of both. Decades of brutality have pushed some to accept tyranny.
But there are others who support the Assad regime for legitimate reasons. These Syrians, predominantly minorities, have profound concerns that must be duly addressed. And so far, the Syrian opposition has failed to reassure those sitting on the fence.
“It hurts every time I say that I don’t want the [Assad] regime to fall,” a Syrian Christian friend told me recently. “Deep down I know it should go, but survival instinct tells me to support it.”
Although the opposition has little political and diplomatic experience after decades of suppression, it is fair to say that it bears some of the blame for the continued bloodshed.
Many of the dissidents are widely perceived as seeking personal political gains.
On Monday, a number of dissidents announced a “national council” in Istanbul. But the council was unilaterally announced and did not include any credible dissidents, such as Haitham Al Maleh, a former judge who has a track record of dissidence from within Syria and has spent many years of his life in the Al Assads’ prisons. Unilateral, irresponsible acts by self-styled opposition members – people who command no credibility from the majority of Syrians – only reinforce the regime’s propaganda.
“Who is the alternative now?” said another Christian friend from Damascus. “And why do the US and the West support the opposition? Believe me, had the opposition been more patriotic than the regime, we wouldn’t have heard the voice of the Americans as we do now.”
Syrians’ fears are further reinforced by the fact that most of the opposition conferences were organised by the Muslim Brotherhood, the only non-state actor in recent history to slaughter other Syrians along sectarian lines. (In the 1980s they assassinated dozens of Alawite officers as part of their armed campaign against the former president)
It is worth noting that there was a perception that the 1982 massacre in Hama, where as many as 30,000 people were killed, was carried out only by Hafiz Al Assad and his brother Rifaat al Assad. Now the dominant perception is that the current killings are carried out by the sect to which the regime belongs, the Alawites, posing a potential risk of sectarian violence.
“I wholeheartedly want the regime to fall but, to be honest, I began to feel slightly scared a few days ago after I heard some stories of sectarian violence,” said a Druze friend from Syria. “If sectarian violence breaks out after the regime falls, we will be the first to suffer from it.”
Such reasoning explains why many of those in Suweida, the province where the majority of Druze live, have been largely silent. For one, the Druze are uncertain about their future after the downfall of the Assad regime. Also, the province has 11 tribes and tribal leaders who could stanch any protests by talking to their elderly men. Next page
August 28th, 2011, 9:45 am
beaware said:
Arab League plans Syria peace initiative
28 August 2011 1306 hrs (SST)
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/afp_world/view/1149630/1/.html
DAMASCUS: The Arab League announced early Sunday a peace initiative to solve the crisis in Syria as more people were killed by government forces and activists called for prayers for the “martyrs.”
Arab League chief Nabil al-Arabi would head to Damascus bearing “an initiative to solve the crisis” in Syria, a statement said early Sunday after a meeting of Arab foreign ministers in Cairo.
It was not clear when Arabi would visit Syria but Russia also announced it was sending a top envoy to the Syrian capital on Monday, Itar-Tass news agency reported.
…
The unrelenting violence and bloodshed prompted Arab League foreign ministers to meet late Saturday on Syria.
Arabi will head to Damascus bearing “an initiative to solve the crisis” in Syria, a statement said early Sunday at the end of the meeting.
The ministers “asked the secretary-general of the Arab League to carry out an urgent mission to Damascus and transmit the Arab initiative to resolve the crisis to the Syrian leadership,” the statement said.
The ministers also called to end the bloodshed in Syria “before it is too late” and for “respecting the right of the Syrian people to live in security and respecting their legitimate aspirations for political and social reforms.”
Russia also planned an initiative.
“A very important envoy from Moscow” will visit Damascus on Monday, Russia’s UN ambassador Vitaly Churkin was quoted as saying by Itar-Tass.
Russia is staunchly opposed to bids by US and European powers to push for a UN Security Council resolution targeting Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and has offered a counter-resolution.
The Russian text, a copy of which was obtained by AFP, urges Syria to expedite reforms.
Meanwhile Iran has urged Assad’s government to listen to the people’s demands. “The government should answer to the demands of its people, be it Syria, Yemen or other countries,” Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi said.
– AFP/cc
August 28th, 2011, 9:53 am
OFF THE WALL said:
AMIR
Post 314 was also a belated attempt to answer your question, which I had promised to answer within 24 hours more than 120 hours ago. Please accept my apology for tardiness. My excuse is a volatile situation dictating continuous shifting of urgency and priority.
August 28th, 2011, 10:01 am
beaware said:
Syrian Officers among Dead in Algerian Attack
http://www.naharnet.com/stories/en/13825-syrian-officers-among-dead-in-algerian-attack
28 aug 2011
Two Syrian officers were among 18 people killed in a twin suicide bombing at a military academy in Algeria, a diplomat said Sunday.
The Algerian Defense Ministry had said 16 officers and two civilians were killed and 26 people wounded in Friday’s attack on the Cherchell military academy, west of Algiers.
The two Syrians were army lieutenants-colonel Ahmad Ahmad and Anouar Saad, said the source who requested that his name be withheld.
They had arrived in Algeria on August 8 to follow a one-year training course at the academy that counts many foreigners among its students.
Tunisia announced Saturday that one of its officers, Major Bechir Ouerghi, was also killed in the attack.
The bodies of the two Syrians should be repatriated later on Sunday, said the diplomat.
Al-Watan newspaper said suicide bombers tried to cause as many casualties as possible by targeting the officers’ mess just as all soldiers had assembled to break the Ramadan fast.
The bombers, one on a motorcycle, set off explosions a few seconds apart outside the entrance to the officers’ mess hall, the paper said
August 28th, 2011, 10:03 am
majedkhaldoon said:
reading about the age of Aisha at the time of marriage,I encountered very ,very confusing data,none is reliable,one thing is sure ,and that consumation of marriage took place two years after marriage,what was the waiting for?the most likely explanation is that the prophet was waiting till she reached puberty,so it is not reasonable to say that she was six at the time of marriage.puberty in that area is between the age of 12-14.
August 28th, 2011, 10:04 am
OFF THE WALL said:
????? ????? ???? – ?? ??? ??????… ?????? ?????? ???? ????? ???????
by The Syrian Library | ??????? ??????? on Sunday, August 28, 2011 at 5:34am
?? ??????? ?? ?????? ?????? ???? ?? ????? ???? ??????? ?? ?????? ?? ?????????. ?????? ?? ???? ????? ??????????? ??????? ???? ?? ??? ?????? ???? ???????. ??? ??? ??? ??????? ??? ?? ?????? ??? ?? ??? ????? ???? ?????? ?? ????? ?? ??? ????? ????? ?????? ????? ?? ?????? ?????? ??????? ???????? ??? ????? ????? ??? ????????.
??? ?? ????? ?????? ?????? ??????? ?????? ?? ???? ?????????? ??? ???????? ???????? ??? ???? ???????? ???? ??????? ??????? ????? ?????? ??????? ?????. ????? ?????? ??????? ?????? ??????. ?? ????? ???? 1979 ??? ????? ??????? ???????? ??????? ???????? ????? ???? ?????? ???????? ?? ????? ???????? ?? ???? ??? ???? (??????) 1982 ??? ?????? ?? ?? ??? ??? 30 ????? ?? ???? ????? ???? ??? ?????? ????? ?? ??????? ?? ??????????. ??? ??? ??? 1980 ??? ?????? ?? ?????????? ?????? ?? ????? ??????? ???? ?? ??????? ??? ??? ?????? ?????? ???? ?????? ??? ??? ????? ?????? ???? ??????? ??????? ?????????. ?????? ??? ????? ???? ??????? ?????? ?????? ???? ??? ??????.
???? ?????? ??????? ?????? ???? ????? ?? ?????? (?????) 1980? ??? ??? ???? ????????? ?????????? ?? ??? ????? ??????? ?? ????? ???????? ???????? ?????????? ???? ?????????? ??????? ???? ????? ????. ??? ??? ?????? ???? ??? ??? ???? ???? ????? ?????????? ??? ????? ??????? ????????? ????? ?????????? ?? ??? ?????? ????? ??????? ????? ??????? ?? ??????. ???? ??? ??? ???? ???????? ??????????? ???? ???????? ?????? ?? ???????? ???????? ??????? ??? ??????. ???? ???? ??? ???? ?? ?????? ?????????? ?????? ????? ???? ????? ???? ??? «????????»? ???? ??????? ????????… ???????? ????. ??? ????? ??????? ?? ??? ???? ??? ??? ???? ?? 2000? ???? ????? ?????????? ?????? ??? ?????? ?????? ??? ????? ????? ??????? ???????.
????? ??? ?????? ????? ?? ??? ????? ????? ???? ?? ?????? ?????? ??????? ????? ?????? ??? ????? ??????? ?????? ?????? ??????? ?? ???? ???????? ???????. ??? ?? ???? ????? ???? ???. ???? ?????? ?????? ?? ??? ?? ???? ?????? ???????? ???????? ???????? ?? ??? ?????????? ???? ??? ????? ???? ?? ????? ?? ????? ???.
??????? ?????? ?? 2005. ??? ??? ??????? ????? ???? ?? ????? ????? ????? ?? ???? ??? ????? ?????? ?????? (???? ??? ??????? ?????? ????)? ???????? ??????? – ?????? ??? ?????? 1559 ???? ???? ??????? ?????? ??????? ?? ????? ???? ???? ?????????? ???? ?? ????? ???????? ?????? ????? ?????? ???? ???? ????? ??? ?????? ??????. ????? ???? ?????? ?????? ?????? ??????? ???????? ?? ?????. ?????? ???? ????? ????? ?? ?????? ???????? ???? ????? ???????? ??????? ????? ??? ????? ???? ?????? ?????? ??????????. ?????? ???????? ???????? ?? ?????? ?????? ?? ??????? ????? ??? ?? ????? ?????? ?????? ??? ????? ????? ? «?????» ???? ?????? ???? ???????? ?????? ????? ????? ????????? ??????? ?? ????? ?? ????? ????? ?«????» ????????? ???? ?? ????? 2005.
????? ??? ?? ???? ??? ???? ?????? ???? ??????? ??????? ???? ??????? ?? ?? ???. ??? ?? ????? ???? ??? ????????? ??????? ????? ?? ????? ?? ??? ???? ?? ???? ????? ????? ?????? ???? ???? ?? ????????? ???? ????? ??? ???? ?????? ????? ?????????? ??? ????? 2006 ??? ????? ????? ???? – ??????? ???? ??? ?????? ?????? ?? ????? ????????? ?????? ?? «???????» ????????? ???????? ??????? ??????? ??????? ????????? ??????? ?????? ???????? ?? ????????? ????????? ??? ???????? ????????. ???? ?????? ?????? ??? ?? ??? ?????. ??? ???? (?????) 2006 ????? ??? ???? ??? ???? ?????? ??? ?????????? ?«??? ????» ??????? ????? ?????? ????? ??????? ?????? ????? ???? ?????? ??????????? ???????????. ????? ????? ???? ????????? ????? ???? ?????? ?«??? ????» ?? ????????? ??? ?? ???? ???????? ???????? ????? ????? ??? ??? ??? ???? ????? ?????.
?? ???? 2006 ???? ???? ?? ?????????? ????????? ??????????? ???????? ????? ??????? ?? ???????????? ?? ?????? ?????? ????????? ???? ??????????? ??? ?? ??? ?? ???? ?????????? ???????? ??? ???????? ????? ?????? ??? ???? ?? ???? ????? ????.
??? ??? ???? ??? ???????? ??? ????? ?????? ??????? ??? ??????? ???? ???? ?????????? ??? ?????? ??? ?????? ??????? ??? ????????? ??? ??? ??? ????? ?? ?????? ??? «????? ???????» ? «????? ??? ???????» ??«?????? ???????» ??«????? ?????? ??????».
?? ???? ?? ???? ????? ???? ??????? ?????? ?????? ?? ??? ?????? ?? ?? ???????? ????? ?????? ????? ??????????? ???????? ??? ??????? ?????????? ?? ??? ?????? ??????? ???????. ????? ??? ?? ?????? ????? ?? ?? ???? ???? ????? ?????? ??????? ?? ??? ???? ?? ?????????. ??? ?? ????? ??????? ??????? ???? ??????? ?? ??? ?????? ???? ????? ?????? ??????? ??? ??? ????? ??? ???? ??? ??????? ??? ???? ??????? ????? ???????? ???????.
????? ???? ?????? ??? ??????? ?????? ???? ?????????? ?????… ???? ?? ???? ?????? ??? ????? ??? ???? ???? ???? ?? ???? 1982. ??? ???? ????? ?????? ??????? ??????? ????????? ????? ??????? ???????? ?????? ?????? ?? ?????????? ??? ????? ????? ???????? ????????? ??????? ???? ?????? ????????? ??????. ??? ??? ????? ?? ???? ?????? ?????? ??? ????? ??????? ?????????? ?? ?? ???????? ?? ??? ????? ???? ????? ????? ?????? ?????? ??? ??? ?? ??? ??? ???? ??????? ?? ???? ??????? ?? ??????. ??? ??? ??????? ?? ???? ????? ????? ?? ????? ?? «??? ????». ??? ???? ?? ????? ????? ??? ?????? ?? ???? ??? ??.
?? ??? ???? ?????? ?? ??? ????? ???????. ?? ????? ????? ??? ????? ???????? ??????? ??? ??? ????? ?????? ?? ??? ?????? ??????? ??????: ?????? ????? (?????) ???? ????? ??????. ?? ??? ??????? ?? ???? ??? ?? ????? ??????? ???? ?? ???? «??????» ???? ?? ????? ?????.
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August 28th, 2011, 10:19 am
ann said:
Israel turns tables on Turkey – Aug 27, 2011
http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Middle_East/MH27Ak05.html
Israel has all but concluded that Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan is disinterested in reviving strategic ties between the two countries. This used to be a relationship that Israel desperately wanted to keep going as it was ideologically and politically useful, having been a unique one with a major Muslim power, and also highly lucrative, Turkey being a receptive market for Israeli goods and services, civilian and military.
Istanbul used to be a safe destination for Israeli tourists who could lower their guard and take relaxed holidays.
But the adamant stance that Erdogan has taken with regard to the Gaza flotilla fiasco last year, in which nine Turks were killed by Israeli marines, changed all that. Turkey wants Israel to
apologize even after knowing the Israeli cabinet has decided against doing so.
Israel tried to make Ankara understand that there are things it will never do, and it got high-level American intermediaries to assuage Turkey’s wounded pride, but Ankara went ahead to threaten that ties with Israel would be further downgraded.
Israel will not apologize because it would be tantamount to indicting the marines who killed the Turks. Washington tried to persuade Turkey not to be obdurate and at the same time cajoled Israel to indulge in some form of verbal jugglery, but the positions of the two protagonists remain unbridgeable.
At the root of it also lies the historic turnaround in Turkey’s regional policies and its assertive claim to regain its Ottoman legacy in the Muslim Middle East, which puts it at odds with a range of Israeli core interests and vital concerns. Israel is now moving on with life, turning a new leaf in its regional policy, almost accepting that the relationship with Turkey is probably irretrievably lost unless there is a regime change in Ankara and the Islamist ruling party loses power.
Friend in the Mediterranean
True to style, Israel is looking around the region for comfort and companionship with anyone who might also have an intractable problem with Turkey – it didn’t have to look far across the Mediterranean.
The two-day visit by the Foreign Minister of Cyprus, Erato Kozakou-Marcoullis, to Tel Aviv, which ended on Thursday, was much more than a routine call. The minister had just assumed charge in Nicosia and headed for Israel as soon as her customary first visit to Athens was out of the way.
Quite obviously, Nicosia and Athens (which has an ancient grudge to settle with Ankara) put their heads together and assessed that Israeli regional policies are on a remake. Cyprus and Greece have had indifferent ties with Israel, but a compelling commonality of interests is sailing into view. A realignment of regional powers is taking place in the eastern Mediterranean, the leitmotif being the “containment” of an increasingly assertive Turkey.
The backdrop is easy to understand. Cyprus contracted American oil company Noble Energy to prospect for gas in 350,000 hectares in the eastern Mediterranean, bordering Israel’s economic zone where significant gas deposits have been discovered.
But Turkey butted in, saying the hydrocarbon resources also belonged to northern Cyprus (which has been under Turkish occupation since 1974) and Nicosia didn’t have the right to exploit resources that belonged to Turkish Cypriots. Turkey threatened to intervene.
Regarding Kozakou-Marcoullis’ mission to Tel Aviv, the Foreign Ministry in Nicosia said on Tuesday, “Particular emphasis will be placed in cooperation between Cyprus and Israel in energy issues, and the recent developments in the wider region.” Nicosia factored in that the minister would receive a warm welcome in Tel Aviv, which she did from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Shimon Peres.
The statement issued by Netanyahu’s office virtually underscored that Israel has a convergence of interests with Cyprus with regard to Ankara’s perceived belligerence. Netanyahu said Israel and Cyprus had “overlapping interests”. The statement said Netanyahu discussed with Kozakou-Marcoullis “the possible expansion of energy cooperation given that both countries have been blessed with natural gas reserves in their maritime economic zones”.
Israeli Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Avigdor Liberman told Kozakou- Marcoullis that Israel “welcomed the exclusive economic zone agreement that was signed between the two countries … [and] that this was a bilateral issue that must be implemented as soon as possible to enable the initiation of the gas production process for the benefit of both parties and that the agreement was signed in accordance with the rules and rights of international law.”
Peres is due to visit Cyprus soon while Netanyahu hopes to visit Cyprus in the near future.
Snub to Ankara
The Israelis are pinning their hopes on Cyprus turning out to be a prize catch, being a member of the European Union, which works by consensus and is shortly expected to evolve a common stance apropos the expected Palestinian move at the United Nations General Assembly session in New York in September, seeking recognition for their “state”.
This explosive diplomatic issue haunts Tel Aviv (and Washington) and the stance that Cyprus takes at Brussels could be a diplomatic windfall when the mood in Europe is increasingly empathizing with the Palestinian case for statehood.
Turkey, on the other hand, has taken a firm stand supportive of the Palestine cause. Indeed, the first fracture appeared in the architecture of Turkey-Israel ties when Erdogan snubbed Peres in front of television cameras at the Davos forum some two years ago during a debate on the Palestine problem.
In sum, Israel has every reason politically to throw its weight behind Cyprus in its tiff with Turkey – even if energy security is not compelling enough. The red carpet Tel Aviv rolled out for the Cypriot foreign minister can be seen as Israel’s riposte to Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu’s warning recently that Ankara would show the “necessary response” if Cyprus went ahead with exploration work.
Kozakou-Marcoullis was simply delighted. She told the Jerusalem Post on Wednesday that Cyprus planned exploratory work within the next two weeks: “We have international law on our side. I think Turkey has to listen to the messages being sent by the international community regarding this issue.”
She was referring in particular to statements issued by Washington and Moscow in recent days supportive of Cyprus’ right to do the drilling in the eastern Mediterranean. After returning to Nicosia on Thursday, Kozakou-Marcoullis stressed, “On the part of Israel, there is complete understanding about Cyprus’ positions.”
Noble Energy executives met Cypriot Trade Minister Praxoula Antoniadou in Nicosia on Thursday after which the minister said that drilling was indeed starting as scheduled and that “it is indisputable that Cyprus has every right to proceed and take every step needed for exploiting any natural wealth it possesses”. Nicosia’s confidence rests on the knowledge that it enjoys the backing of the US, Greece and Israel.
Foreign devils in Kurdish mountains
Meanwhile, Israeli commentators have also begun rattling Turkey’s nerves, already somewhat frayed, over the furious return of Kurdish militancy. Israeli intelligence and businessmen have longstanding contacts with the Kurdish Peshmerga in northern Iraq.
Interestingly, Iran has highlighted lately that Israel could be stirring up the Kurdish pot for Turkey and, therefore, Tehran, Ankara and Damascus would have shared interests in countering the Kurdish separatism that threatened all three countries. Leading Israeli defense specialist David Eshel commented in August about the upsurge of Kurdish insurgency in Turkey’s eastern provinces:
The entire Kurdish people could take advantage of the ongoing Arab Spring and prepare the ground for a long-anticipated Kurdistan, linking up with Iraq’s ongoing autonomy, the Iranian Kurdish enclave and perhaps even the Syrian Kurdish minorities … With the Arab world in total turmoil, lacking any orderly leadership, the Kurds could finally achieve their sacred goal for independence, after decades, if not centuries of desecration and oppression … the ongoing “Arab Spring” could eventually shift into a “Kurdish Summer”.
With the dilemma in Ankara growing steadily, the future of Turkey’s Kurdish minority is inevitably shifting into national focus. The long unfulfilled quest of the Kurds for independent statehood is not emerging as a major barrier in … Ankara’s relations with the US … Turkey cannot afford an independent Kurdistan; it would be losing some of its highly strategic and economic assets. In fact, without Kurdish eastern Turkey, the entire nation would break apart.
The most devastating part of Eshel’s commentary is his analysis that with the acute ongoing confrontation between the civilian government of Erdogan and the Turkish military, the latter’s professionalism and intelligence-gathering capabilities have suffered a severe setback and the Turkish General Staff realizes that any military action in the Kurdish regions would be a “high-risk operation”.
Eshel anticipated with an ominous overtone that a criticality might be reached soon if Turkish Kurds merged with the seasoned Iraqi Peshmerga militia numbering more than 100,000 fighters. He warned, “Erdogan is facing his yet most difficult challenge.” Given Israel’s close links with the Kurdish Peshmerga going back decades, Israel could be signaling to Ankara at various levels that it has the means to hit back at Erdogan.
Israeli interests fundamentally lie in creating rifts in Turkey’s relations with Iran and its “diplomacy” toward Ankara is constantly working in this direction. The paradox, however, is that Israel knows that neither Ankara nor Tehran can afford any serious drift to develop in their relationship at this juncture in regional politics. But the Israelis are adept at turning paradoxes to their advantage.
The Kurdish problem exposes fault lines that cut across Sunni-Shi’ite tensions in the region. Ankara, Tehran, Baghdad and Damascus have a convergence of interests regarding Kurdish separatism despite being on different sides of the Sunni-Shi’ite divide.
Israel estimates, however, that the Kurdish problem makes Ankara vulnerable to American and European pressure tactic and an exacerbation of this could politically weaken Erdogan and bring him to his knees. Such an estimation may appear fanciful. But the fact remains that on Thursday, in a Kurdish ambush, 15 Turkish soldiers were injured, two of them critically, and since July over 40 Turkish soldiers have been killed by Kurdish insurgents.
Turkish public opinion is becoming concerned about national security and the government’s handling of the Kurdish problem. At a delicate time in Turkish politics when Erdogan is navigating himself with gusto to assume office as the head of state in a new French-style presidential system of government, he cannot afford to be seen as ineffectual in meeting the Kurdish challenge.
He has opted for a firm military response. But in Eshel’s estimation, the weakened Turkish military will meet more than a match in the Kurdish mountains and the assertive Turkish leadership may well find itself in a quagmire.
August 28th, 2011, 10:43 am
Muhammad said:
Riyad Asfari is a a life & well. He is professor of nephrology at the Uni of Aleppo. He was the dean of the faculty as well the last time I checked.
August 28th, 2011, 10:52 am
beaware said:
Iran ‘discreetly aided Libyan rebels’
http://news.yahoo.com/iran-discreetly-aided-libyan-rebels-132112373.html
Iran “discreetly” provided humanitarian aid to Libyan rebels before the fall of Tripoli, Jam-e-Jam newspaper quoted Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi on Sunday as saying.
“We were in touch with many of the rebel groups in Libya before the fall of (Moamer) Kadhafi, and discreetly dispatched three or four food and medical consignments to Benghazi,” Salehi told the daily.
“The head of the National Transitional Council (NTC), Mustafa Abdel Jalil, sent a letter of thanks to President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad for having been on their side and helping,” he added.
more…
August 28th, 2011, 11:04 am
Afram said:
How islam works
The design of Islam Is that of a brilliant war and global domination strategy. Mecca in Saudi Arabia is like a fire aunt hill ,the “queen” aunt is not a queen but a man a long dead barbarian war-lord named Muhammad though he may be dead his will is still alive and well today what he willed what he wished desired and fought for while he lived was to rule the world with an iron fist he essentially made himself a god by claiming to speak for the one and only God which he claimed to be named Allah.
He then “hatched” loyal slaves servants worker aunts which were the armies of Muhammad and his will which is known as Islam,, because Islam essentially really is all about submission to the will of Muhammad.
In order for his slaves to know his will, He expressed it as revelations from the unseen unknowable to anyone but him Allah! He conned and manipulated plotted and planned and deceived he bullied and intimidated ,, He told his slave what they should say what they should think do wear he dominated and controlled every single moment of there lives to the best of there abilities,, And he began making recorded
Messages of what his will was, And commanded his slaves to carry it out all over the world like fire aunts in search of food, but Islam’s food was human lives there submission there will, it fed on human lives and as it did it the mound grew stronger!! He commanded his slaves to deceive and or terrorize non muslims into submission to his will , He gave commands then instilled brainwashing techniques into those commands in order to help ensure they would be followed.
And as the slaves of Muhammad went out into the world they gather the goods of the world back to fuel the Islam mound taking from non Muslims to do so and plotting to get non Muslims to submit to Islam and become slaves to it as well, On one hand there were false promises of what great good they could receive as slaves on the other hand there was always threats and intimidation and violence to force them into submission if they did now succumb to the lies and seduction of Islam! This is how it has gone on in the world for ages, Muhammad understood that there would always be people who would resist his evil as long as there were still those not yet enslaved and he told his slaves they would resist but the truth was turned inside out so that wrong often became right and right wrong in his will, so in the eyes of his poor blind fire aunt human zombie slaves, the evils of Islam was good resistance to it was evil this helped fuel there aggressions and strengthen them Muhammad even convinced his slaves that those who resisted his will aka Islam, were evil the most vile animals in the site of his Allah, even if those who resisted were far better human beings then he or his slaves had ever been.
The evil brilliance of his diabolical plan was strengthened even more by the forced silence or brutal murder of those who would dare resist ! This is how Islam has worked for ages and today Mecca is merely the heart of the Islam mound the OIC Islamic nations are the mound and the slaves of Muhammad have built little mini mounds all across the non Islamic world and in this mini mounds. The evils of Muhammad’s will as manifested in Mecca are carried out and pushed like drugs onto unsuspecting children the world over once the ingest the drug the disease that Is Islam takes over if they are not immunized with truth and resistance.
Today this global domination technique has nearly taken over the world. And if we do not resist it one day soon there will be nothing left of the world but one giant Muhammad worshiping Islam mound and in the end the world will not be able to bear the weight of it thus the world really will be destroyed by Islam in what Islam knows as the day of Judgment day of doom etc. Resist Islam! Love humanity and our earth tell the truth about Islam and never submit find the cure for those infected and immunization for those not yet infected.. Both the cure and the immunization are based on truth and love of humanity and our earth. Wake up blind slaves of Islam and see your humanity and ours!!! And love humanity and our earth before its to late… The world doesn’t have to end with Islams hate!!
August 28th, 2011, 11:11 am
beaware said:
Syria lifts censorship
Aug 28, 2011 17:58 Moscow Time
Bashar Assad. Photo: EPA
http://english.ruvr.ru/2011/08/28/55297676.html
Syria’s President Bashar al-Assad has approved a law which abolishes censorship and lifts restrictions on spreading foreign media in his country.
Earlier, the Arab League called on the Syrian president to stop suppressing opposition riots.
The riots are under way in Syria since mid March. Sometimes they grow into armed clashes.
August 28th, 2011, 11:15 am
Aboud said:
What did I say about the fake secular menhebaks never having an original thought in their heads? @333 was taken from
http://www.faithfreedom.org/articles/op-ed/how-islam-works/
This is the same website that blamed the London riots on Jihadist Islamists hehehehe.
August 28th, 2011, 11:17 am
Aboud said:
On the same day as Besho “lifted censorship”, he imposed a travel ban on Michael Kilo and other prominent activists.
August 28th, 2011, 11:18 am
beaware said:
If the Arab Spring Turns Ugly
By VALI NASR August 27, 2011
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/28/opinion/sunday/the-dangers-lurking-in-the-arab-spring.html?_r=1
Vali Nasr is professor at Tufts University, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution and the author of “The Shia Revival: How Conflicts Within Islam Will Shape the Future.”
THE Arab Spring is a hopeful chapter in Middle Eastern politics, but the region’s history points to darker outcomes. There are no recent examples of extended power-sharing or peaceful transitions to democracy in the Arab world. When dictatorships crack, budding democracies are more than likely to be greeted by violence and paralysis. Sectarian divisions — the bane of many Middle Eastern societies — will then emerge, as competing groups settle old scores and vie for power.
Syria today stands at the edge of such an upheaval. The brutality of Bashar al-Assad’s regime is opening a dangerous fissure between the Alawite minority, which rules the country, and the majority Sunni population. After Mr. Assad’s butchery in the largely Sunni city of Hama on July 31, on the eve of the holy month of Ramadan, the Muslim Brotherhood, a Sunni group, accused the regime of conducting “a war of sectarian cleansing.” It is now clear that Mr. Assad’s strategy is to divide the opposition by stoking sectarian conflict.
Sunni extremists have reacted by attacking Alawite families and businesses, especially in towns near the Iraq border. The potential for a broader clash between Alawites and Sunnis is clear, and it would probably not be confined to Syria. Instead, it would carry a risk of setting off a regional dynamic that could overwhelm the hopeful narrative of the Arab Spring itself, replacing it with a much aggravated power struggle along sectarian lines.
That is because throughout the Middle East there is a strong undercurrent of simmering sectarian tension between Sunnis and Shiites, of whom the Alawites are a subset. Shiites and Sunnis live cheek by jowl in the long arc that stretches from Lebanon to Pakistan, and the region’s two main power brokers, Shiite Iran and Sunni Saudi Arabia, are already jousting for power.
So far this year, Shiite-Sunni tensions have been evident in countries from Bahrain to Syria. But put together, they could force the United States to rethink its response to the Arab Spring itself.
Sectarianism is an old wound in the Middle East. But the recent popular urge for democracy, national unity and dignity has opened it and made it feel fresh. This is because many of the Arab governments that now face the wrath of protesters are guilty of both suppressing individual rights and concentrating power in the hands of minorities.
The problem goes back to the colonial period, when European administrators manipulated religious and ethnic diversity to their advantage by giving minorities greater representation in colonial security forces and governments.
more….
August 28th, 2011, 11:23 am
Afram said:
BY DOCTOR ALI SINA;FORMER MUSLIM
Common elements of Islam with fascism
Islam is a religion with a very political agenda. The ultimate goal of Islam is to rule the world. But what kind of government an Islamic state would have?
It certainly won’t be democratic. Islam is not compatible with democracy. Amir Taheri, an Iranian born author/journalist in a debate on Islam and democracy argued that in fact the word democracy does not exist in any of the languages spoken by Muslims. “To understand a civilization,” Taheri said, “it is important to understand its vocabulary. If it was not on their tongues it is likely that it was not on their minds either.”
Democracy implies equality. But equality is unacceptable in Islam. Un-believers cannot be equal to believers and women are not equal to men. Even the non-Muslims are not deemed to be equal. The People of the Book (Jews and Christians) are accepted as second class citizens and allowed to live in an Islamic state provided they pay the protection tax; Jizyah. But the pagans, atheists and idolaters are not regarded as fully humans. According to the Quran, the idolaters are to be killed wherever they are found. (9:5)
In the April 9, 2002 issue, The Wall Street Journal published the concept of blood money in Saudi Arabia. If a person has been killed or caused to die by another, the latter has to pay blood money or compensation, as follow.
100,000 riyals if the victim is a Muslim man
50,000 riyals if a Muslim woman
50,000 riyals if a Christian man
25,000 riyals if a Christian woman
6,666 riyals if a Hindu man
3,333 riyals if a Hindu woman
According to this hierarchy, a Muslim man’s life is worth 33 times that of a Hindu woman. This hierarchy is based on the Islamic definition of human rights and is rooted in the Quran and Sharia (Islamic law). How can we talk of democracy when the concept of equality in Islam is inexistent?
Of course killing the idolaters “where ye find them” was not always expedient. What would the Muslim rulers in India gain if they killed all the Hindus? Over whom would they rule? So pragmatism often prevailed and Muslim rulers would exert some degree of tolerance towards their pagan subjects. It is hard to find a Muslim ruler as ruthless as Muhammad himself. Muslim rulers killed whenever profit dictated and since live subjects were more profitable than dead ones, exterminations were not total as was intended by Muhammad. Nonetheless, their tolerance was out of political expediency. Muhammad’s butchery of his victims on the other hand, was psychopathological. He would massacre entire populations simply because they rejected him or hurt his narcissistic ego.
The Christians and the Jews, the so called People of the Book, had some conditional rights. They had to pay Jizyah and buy their protection. Nonetheless they lived in a state of religious apartheid and were subject to humiliating treatments. For example, they were considered najis (impure) and were not allowed to go out in rainy days, lest their impurity rub on a passing Muslim, make him “impure” and annul his prayer.
Jews and Christians were required to dismount from their riding animals if they met a Muslim on their way and they were supposed to greet him humbly and show submissiveness towards him. The Dhimmis were not allowed to build their houses taller than those of their Muslim neighbors and in some cases they were not allowed to build new churches and synagogues and needed permission to repair the existing ones. This law is practiced to this day in virtually all Muslim countries.
Taheri says: “To say that Islam is incompatible with democracy should not be seen as a disparagement of Islam. On the contrary, many Muslims would see it as a compliment because they sincerely believe that their idea of rule by God is superior to that of rule by men which is democracy.”
In an article titled “The Political Framework of Islam,” found on many Islamic sites, the author explains: “In Western democracy, the people are sovereign; in Islam sovereignty is vested in Allah and the people are His caliphs or representatives. The laws given by Allah through His Prophet (Shari ‘ah) are to be regarded as constitutional principles that should not be violated.”
Taheri quoted several Muslim thinkers who expressed their disdain and disapproval of democracy.
“Ayatollah Khomeini called democracy “a form of prostitution” because he who gets the most votes wins the power that belongs only to Allah.
Sayyed Qutb, the Egyptian who is credited to be the ideological mentor of Safalists, spent a year in the United States in the 1950s and wrote: ” America is a nation that has forgotten God and been forsaken by Him; an arrogant nation that wants to rule itself.”
Yussuf al-Ayyeri, one of the leading theoreticians of today’s Islamist movement, published a book ( available on the Internet) in which he warned that the real danger to Islam did not come from American tanks and helicopter gunships in Iraq but from the idea of democracy and rule by the people.
Maudoodi, another of the Islamist theoreticians now fashionable, dreamed of a political system in which human beings would act as automatons in accordance with rules set by God.
He said that God has arranged man’s biological functions in such a way that their operation is beyond human control. For our non-biological functions, notably our politics, God has set rules that we have to discover and apply once and for all so that our societies can be on auto-pilot so to speak.
The late Saudi theologian, Sheikh Muhammad bin Ibrahim al-Jubair, a man I respected though seldom agreed with, sincerely believed that the root cause of all of our contemporary ills was the spread of democracy. “Only one ambition is worthy of Islam,” he liked to say, “the ambition to save the world from the curse of democracy: to teach men that they cannot rule themselves on the basis of manmade laws. Mankind has strayed from the path of God, we must return to that path or face certain annihilation.””
So what kind of government Islam is proposing?
Democracy means the rule of people. This is unacceptable in Islam. The Quran is empathic that “to Allah belong all Dominion and power” (2.165, 35:10, 35:13, 64:1). The words “No judgment but God’s” (la hukm illa li-llah) is based on several Quranic verses (esp. 6.57; 12.40, 67 etc.) This power is vested on His regent known as Khalifat al-Allah.
The Khalifa cannot legislate. He can only interpret the Law given in the Quran and the sunnah and apply it. Naturally, since the Quran is not a clear book, this allows for a wide range of interpretations and this explains why there are so many Islamic schools of thoughts and sects. “But the bottom line is” says Taheri, “that no Islamic government can be democratic in the sense of allowing the common people equal shares in legislation.”
Common people are called awwam, and as the saying goes: al-awwam kal anaam! (Awwam are like animals).
It is up to the “experts” of the Law to interpret the Sharia and let the awwam know how they should live their lives. This endows the “expert” ruler, all the power and allows him to act as the deputy of God on Earth. There can be no opposition to the ruler. You can’t oppose God by opposing his representative.
In democracies people’s beliefs are irrelevant. They can belong to any religion or no religion and still manage to govern themselves in a secular state. This is not the case in Islam where God is the lawgiver. Christians and Jews have managed to separate the Church from the State. Such a separation in Islam is not possible. The concept of Church (with uppercase C) as understood in Christianity does not exist in Islam. There is no authority like the Vatican or the Church of England in Islam. Mullahs and Imams are average Muslims who through their knowledge of the Quran and Sharia gain reputation among the ummah and their own peers. You can’t separate the Islamic “Church” from politics, because there is no such thing as the Islamic “Church”. Every Mullah can interpret the Sharia in his own way. But he can’t redefine the explicit teachings of Islam.
Presently, Muslims don’t have a khalifa. Even if they had, he would not have been able to deviate from the Quran and separate Islam from politics.
Islam’s main goal is to give the dominion of this world to its “rightful” owner, Allah. No authority on Earth can change that. Impeding Islam to achieve this goal is denying its raison d’être and it is tantamount to blasphemy. Islam by definition is imperialistic.
It must advance, conquer and reclaim the dominion of all the earth or there is no reason for it to exist.
Democracies are pluralistic. In democracies people have different faiths and are free to criticize, not only each other’s religions but also their own. Islam does not tolerate such a thing. Anyone who criticizes Islam faces severe punishment including execution or assassination. Islam is regarded as the only Truth. Defying this truth is the same as defying God. Challenging the authority of the representative of God on earth is like challenging God himself.
On May 27, 1999 Rafsanjani, one of the ruling Mullahs of Iran said: “If the Islamic nature and fundamental pillar of the state and the velayat-e faqih (Shiite version of khalifa) are undermined, nothing would be left around.” The same day, Khatami, the so called “reformist” president of the Islamic Republic said in the city of Qom: “Society’s parting with religion and the clergy is the beginning of our fall.” Khatami in July 5, 1998 said: “velayat-e faqih is the axis and pillar of the state,” he reiterated, “velayat-e faqih is the raison d’être of our state. As such, opposing it… is to oppose the fundamentals and pillar of the state….No state would tolerate assaults on its principles and pillars,” he said. [Iran Zamin News Agency]
Iran-bulletin.org defines the concept of velayat-e faqih, the Shiite version of khilafat and says: “In the theory of velayate faqih none of us can tell the difference between good and bad and, indeed, the whole edifice of the clerical ruler-ship has been constructed to cope with our “ignorance”. The supreme clerical leader is our custodian (qayyem), and we are like sheep that if separated from our shepherd would surely be lost. The velayate faqih embodies every rights and the rest of us are only to carry duties. At its most pithy definition, the system of velayate faqih is the expression of this ignorance and absence of rights on our part in contrast with the all knowing, all powerful, clerical ruler.”
Khamenei, Iran’s supreme leader explained the concept of velaya-e faqih, the position that he himself is occupying, with an uncanny frankness when he said: “the leadership means that point where the insoluble problems of government are solved at his hands. His person lights up the truth for the people and exposes the conspiracies of the enemy.” [ibid]
In the Islamic state religion is preeminent and God serves as the only legitimate source of legislation. Temporal rulers merely implement the laws of Islam as dictated by God.
The following article titled “Essential Features of the Islamic Political System” explains the concept of khilafat as understood by Muslims.
“The political system of Islam is based on three principles: Tawhid (unity of Allah), Risalat (Prophethood) and Khilafat (vicegerency).
Tawhid means that only Allah is the Creator, Sustainer and Master of the universe and of all that exists in it organic or inorganic. The sovereignty of this kingdom is vested only in Him. He alone has the right to command or forbid. Worship and obedience are due to Him alone, no one and nothing else shares it in any way. Life, in all its forms, our physical organs and faculties, the apparent control which we have over nearly everything in our lives and the things themselves, none of them has been created or acquired by us in our own right. They have been bestowed on us entirely by Allah. Hence, it is not for us to decide the aim and purpose of our existence or to set the limits of our authority; nor is anyone else entitled to make these decisions for us. This right rests only with Allah, who has created us, endowed us with mental and physical faculties, and provided material things for our use.
This principle of the unity of Allah totally negates the concept of the legal and political independence of human beings, individually or collectively. No individual, family, class or race can set themselves above Allah. Allah alone is the Ruler and His commandments are the Law.
The medium through which we receive the law of Allah is known as Risalat. We have received two things from this source: the Book in which Allah has set out His law, and the authoritative interpretation and exemplification of the Book by the Prophet, blessings and peace be on him through word and deed, in his capacity as the representative of Allah. The Prophet, blessings and peace be on him, has also, in accordance with the intention of the Divine Book, given us a model for the Islamic way of life by himself implementing the law and providing necessary details where required. The combination of these two elements is called the Shari ‘ah.
Now consider Khilafat. According to the Arabic lexicon, it means ‘representation’. Man, according to Islam, is the representative of Allah on earth, His vicegerent. That is to say, by virtue of the powers delegated to him by Allah, he is required to exercise his Allah-given authority in this world within the limits prescribed by Allah.
A state that is established in accordance with this political theory will in fact be a human caliphate under the sovereignty of Allah and will do Allah’s will by working within the limits prescribed by Him and in accordance with His instructions and injunctions.”
This definition makes clear that the rule of Islamic system of government is not limited to Muslims but to every “organic or inorganic” thing that exists in this universe. This of course includes the non-Muslims. In an Islamic state everyone must live according to the dictates of Islam.
Khilafat or the velayat-e faqih are not dissimilar to fascism. The Columbia Encyclopedia, defines fascism as: “A totalitarian philosophy of government that glorifies the state and nation and assigns to the state control over every aspect of national life.”
Characteristics of Fascist Philosophy:
“Fascism, especially in its early stages, is obliged to be antitheoretical and frankly opportunistic in order to appeal to many diverse groups. Nevertheless, a few key concepts are basic to it. First and most important is the glorification of the state and the total subordination of the individual to it. The state is defined as an organic whole into which individuals must be absorbed for their own and the state’s benefit. This “total state” is absolute in its methods and unlimited by law in its control and direction of its citizens.
A second ruling concept of fascism is embodied in the theory of social Darwinism. The doctrine of survival of the fittest and the necessity of struggle for life is applied by fascists to the life of a nation-state. Peaceful, complacent nations are seen as doomed to fall before more dynamic ones, making struggle and aggressive militarism a leading characteristic of the fascist state. Imperialism is the logical outcome of this dogma. Another element of fascism is its elitism. Salvation from rule by the mob and the destruction of the existing social order can be effected only by an authoritarian leader who embodies the highest ideals of the nation. This concept of the leader as hero or superman, borrowed in part from the romanticism of Friedrich Nietzsche, Thomas Carlyle, and Richard Wagner, is closely linked with fascism’s rejection of reason and intelligence and its emphasis on vision, creativeness, and the will.”
Let us compare that to Islam. Islam is opportunistic par excellence. It is extremely deceptive and despite being a doctrine of war it portrays itself as the religion of peace. It wants to have a universal appeal. It subjugates women and Muhammad was a misogynist of the worst kind but its apologists present him as the champion of women’s rights. The Quran is an asinine book of nonsense, yet its defenders claim that it is a miracle which contains scientific facts. It opposes knowledge and technology, yet it is presented as the religion that encourages learning. Muslims are fond of reminding others that Muhammad said “seek knowledge even if it is China” But the fact is that any knowledge that is perceived as contradicting the Quran is regarded satanic and is to be destroyed.
The Royal Library of Alexandria in Egypt was once the largest in the world. It was founded at the beginning of the 3rd century BC during the reign of Ptolemy II of Egypt. It stored at its peak, 400,000 to 700,000 scrolls. In 640 AD Muslims took the city and upon learning of “a great library containing all the knowledge of the world” the conquering general asked Khalifa Omar for instructions. Omar has been quoted as saying of the Library’s holdings, “they will either contradict the Quran, in which case they are heresy, or they will agree with it, so they are superfluous.” And to be on the safe side he ordered the library to be destroyed and the books burnt.
This is how Muslims try to portray a false image of Islam so it can have a broad appeal.
The most important feature of Islamic polity is the glorification of Islamic state and the total subordination of the individual to it.
Just like in fascism, the Islamic state is defined as an organic whole to which individuals must submit. In Islam “freedom” is in submission to Allah and his messenger. The very word Islam, which Muslims deceptively translate as peace, means submission. What is good for Islam and the Islamic state is good for Muslims and what is bad for Islam and the Islamic state is to be spurned and regarded as bad for the Muslims too. Islam and the establishment of Islam’s dominion are the greater good and the ultimate goal that every Muslim must strive for.
The Islamic site muslim-canada.org writes: “The highest organization in society is the state. Islam has given to the world the practical form and ideals of statehood. Therefore, the question of how religion should inspire, inform and discipline life, is naturally related to the question of how should it be related to the highest organization of society (i.e. the state).”
The other ruling of Islam is the concept of Jihad and the necessity to struggle in order to advance the Islamic dominance. The motto that “Islam is a religion of peace” is a preposterous slogan that is part of the strategy of the Islamic “Game of Deception”. Islam does not mean peace, it does not preach peace, it has never been peaceful and it will never be. Islam has advanced through aggressive militarism and regards Jihad and martyrdom as the most meritorious acts. Islam is militant and imperialistic by its very nature.
Fascism is elitist. Islam is also elitist. The Khalifa or the velayat-e faqih is the ultimate authority on Earth. He is the one who can understand the scriptures property. His word is the ultimate undisputable decree. However, theoretically, just as in communism, anyone can aspire to become Khalifa. The Khalifa in Sunni sect is elected by the populace whereas the velayate-e faqih in Shiism is nominated by a body of the ruling Mullahs called: “The Assembly of Experts”.
Whether this ruler is elected or nominated, just like in other totalitarian regimes, he occupies his seat for life and responds to no human authority.
Another similarity of Islam and fascism is their disdain of reason and intelligence. In Islam, the emphasis is on faith and unquestioning obedience to the mandates of God. Reason is rejected as a fallacy. Abu Hamid Al-Ghazali, (1058 – 1111 CE), arguably the greatest Islamic scholar ever, in his book “Incoherence of the Philosophers” bitterly denounced Aristotle, Plato, Socrates and other Greek thinkers as non-believers and labeled those who employed their methods and ideas as corrupters of the Islamic faith. He took aim at Avicenna for being a rationalist who drew intellectually upon the Ancient Greeks. By emphasizing on the incompatibility of faith and reason, and by asserting the futility of making faith subordinate to reason, Ghazali gave validity to unreasoned faith and thus glorified stupidity.
William Montgomery Watt says: “The early period of Islamic thought is dominated by the conception of the unchangeability of true religion and the special Arab and Islamic conception of the nature of knowledge. Knowledge that is important for the conduct of life – and this is knowledge in the fullest sense – is obtained in the revealed words of God and in the sayings of prophets and other specially gifted men. From this conception of knowledge it follows that the work of the scholar is to transmit accurately the revealed text and other wise sayings”. [The Formative Period of Islamic Thought, p.63]
It is important to note that when Muslims talk about knowledge, they are talking about the “revealed” knowledge and not the secular scientific knowledge that has given birth to our civilization. The word science in Arabic is ilm. The people, who possess this ilm, are called ulama (plural of alim). Alim does not mean scientist. It means religious scholar. Ilm is religious science.
Islam does not encourage the learning of science. Islamic languages don’t have a word for it. Islam encourages religious learning. This is what Muhammad meant when he said “seek knowledge”. Seeking knowledge in Islam, means memorizing the Quran and the hadith.
Islam as a Means of Power
Inspired by the Quran, Muslim groups employ sectarian violence to achieve political ends. The first group was Kharijiyya. The Kharijiyya insisted on two things. First, that the Islamic community must be based on the Quran. The second point emphasized the ascendancy of the Islamic state over the individual rights. Motivated by many verses of the Quran (32.13, 76:29-31, 3:39, 3:159, 16:93, 2:6-7, 4:88, etc.), they maintained that God’s will, must supersede men’s will and claimed the community is the bearer of the values that constitute meaningfulness, in other words men’s life has meaning only if he belongs to Muslim community. These ideas were based on the Quran and were eventually adopted by the rest of the Muslims. This is how fascism defines the position of the individual vis-à-vis the state.
Muslim rationalists such as Mutazilis placed reason above revelation. They were violent too. Their school was vehemently opposed by more fervent Islamists and became extinct. They were attacked by a group called Ashariyya to which al-Ghazali and the celebrated poet Rumi belonged. Rumi mocked the rationalists and in a catchy verse that left its mark on the psyche of the gullible masses said the rationalists stand on “wooden legs”.
The Ashariyya glorified irrationality and remained faithful to the Quran. They rejected the rationalists whom, in their view, had forsaken religion and had detracted from God and his revelation. Thus rational objectivism was quashed with mockery and violence, the books of rationalists such as Zakaria Razi were destroyed and rationalists had to hide for their safety. The Ashariyya won because they had the backing of the Quran.
With Ashariyyah’s unconditional embrace of the authority of revelation, and their glorification of irrationality, rationalism was nipped in the bud and most likely the Renascence that was about to be born 1000 years ago, did not. We will never know the extent of the harm that these celebrated religious zealots caused to human civilization.
In an article titled: Is Rumi What We Think He Is? Massoume Price quotes Dr. Shaffiee Kadkani who wrote: “unfortunately the emergence of geniuses such as Rumi and other Urafa (religious mystics) who unconditionally supported Ashariyya did not give freedom of thought a chance”. He concludes, “If it wasn’t because of Ashariyya our history might have evolved differently”. [Creation and History, (Afarinesh va Tarikh, p.50)]
Price contends: “It is not a coincidence that in Mathnavi, Rumi attacks all thinkers including atheists, naturalists and philosophers etc…. When Ibn Khadon [Khaldun] troduction (Mogadameh) [Muqaddimah] t Africans are black because of geographical and environmental conditions, it was the Ashariyya who ended such scientific observations by declaring people are black because God created them as such. When Physicians tried to find the connection between the brain and hand’s movements, it was Imam Muhammad Ghazali who mocked scientific inquiry and stated “hands move because God wants them to move” (Alchemy of Happiness, Kimiyaya Saadat). It was Ashariyya who imposed inquisition culture that still exists today and haunts us even in North America.”
The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, (Third Edition. 2002) says: “As a rule, fascist governments are dominated by a dictator, who usually possesses a magnetic personality, wears a showy uniform, and rallies his followers by mass parades; appeals to strident nationalism; and promotes suspicion or hatred of both foreigners and “impure” people within his own nation, such as the Jews in Germany.”
In Islam, the Khalifa does not wear a showy uniform. On the contrary, in accordance to Muhammad’s sunnah, he exerts himself to make a public display of modesty. Modesty is just a show and a hallmark of Islam. The more modest you dress, the more pious you look. But the Friday prayers and the hajj are the Islamic versions of mass parades that are designed to impress the believer, give him a sense of pride and belonging and make him firm in his belief that Islam is strong.
This parade to Muhammad was so important that in one hadith he is quoted saying:
“I thought that I should order the prayer to be commenced and command a person to lead people in prayer, and I should then go along with some persons having a fagot of fuel with them to the people who have not attended the prayer (in congregation) and would burn their houses with fire. [Muslim4,1370; Bukhari1,11,626]
Islam also promoted suspicion and hatred of the unbelievers. Muhammad said that the unbelievers are impure (najis) 9:28 and instilled in them the hatred of the Jews, saying God transformed them into apes and swine. 2.65, 5.60, 7.166
Clearly, the Islamic system of government is fascistic.
• It is marked by centralization of authority under a supreme leader vested with divine clout.
• It has stringent socioeconomic control over all aspects of all its subjects irrespective of their faith.
• It suppresses its opposition through terror and censorship.
• It has a policy of belligerence towards non-believers.
• It practices religious apartheid.
• It disdains reason.
• It is imperialistic.
• It is oppressive.
• It is dictatorial and
• It is controlling.
Islam, like fascism, appeals to people with low self esteem and low intelligence. Both these ideologies are irrational. They disdain reason, and hail devotion and submission to a higher authority. Like fascists, Muslims are triumphalists. They seek power, domination and control. They pride themselves in their strength of number, in their mindless heroism, in their disdain for life and in their willingness to kill and die for their cause.
August 28th, 2011, 11:27 am
beaware said:
KAHLILI: Luring Israel into war
Are Iranian leaders seeking Arab war with Israel to protect Assad?
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/aug/24/luring-israel-into-war/
Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Khamenei, has ordered the Revolutionary Guards to draw Israel into another Middle East war through their Islamic Jihad, Hamas and Hezbollah proxies in an effort to save Bashar Assad’s brutal regime in Syria, sources report.
The ploy appears to be working, as Israeli opposition leaders are demanding the Netanyahu government launch a major military campaign against the terrorist-controlled Gaza Strip.
Just in the past few days, militants in the Hamas-ruled strip have bombarded southern Israel with more than 100 rockets and mortars. The instability in Cairo with the fall of the Mubarak regime has helped the Iranian-backed terrorists in the Sinai area attack Israel from within Egypt’s borders and has enabled Iran to smuggle in thousands of rockets to arm the militants. On Aug. 18, gunmen infiltrated Israel and killed six civilians and two soldiers. And at least one civilian was killed and 20 others were wounded in the rocket attacks.
The Iranian leader had previously sent a letter to President Obama warning him that unless he avoided interfering in Syria’s affairs, consequences would take place in Afghanistan and Iraq. As the White House continued its condemnation of the atrocities in Syria, attacks against U.S. forces picked up in both Iraq and Afghanistan, with several U.S. fatalities.
When Mr. Obama openly called for the ouster of Mr. Assad last week, Iran retaliated by handing out eight-year sentences to the two American hikers held since 2009 on charges of espionage.
The Iranian regime apparently is willing to start a similar Arab-Israeli war like the one in 2006 initiated by the terrorist group Hezbollah in Lebanon. At that time, the Iranian regime feared that President George W. Bush had decided to attack Iran, and therefore it created a diversion not only to flex its muscle in the region but also to keep America busy with yet another crisis. Now fearing the fall of Mr. Assad, who has been complicit in many of Iran’s terrorist plots in the region over the years, it sees the need for another war to divert attention from Syria’s suppression of its people.
more…
August 28th, 2011, 11:28 am
Akbar Palace said:
Aboud,
Thanks for the article about Wafa Sultan. I figured you and others would be critical of her. Like I said, I admire her. I admire her for confronting Islamists for their intolerance and their knee-jerk criticism of Israel and Jews.
How many Arab commentators do you know who are not anti-Israel? I imagine (I have no proof) that Wafa Sultan is not pro-Assad.
August 28th, 2011, 11:31 am
Abughassan said:
The attack on masjed alrifa’ee was a despicable act of brutality and disrespect for a mosque at a time of worship and peace,and to add insult to the injury,thugs used violence against imam Usama. The end result is a plus for the opposition and a minus for Asad supporters. Losing Damascus is particularly important because of the political significance of the city and its population size,this is a much bigger challenge than Hama’s uprising in the 80s and the regime will not survive this. I doubt that Damascene people will use arms to change the regime because of the peaceful nature of the people of Damascus and the realization that the regime can fall without an armed resistance which I am still opposed to. There is nothing the regime can do to keep the city “neutral” now.what should happen is building a broad coalition inside Syria that agrees on a regime change and peaceful disobedience and non sectarian struggle to force albaath and the security apparatus to let Syrians draw the future of their country without oppression and fear. The final blow will come from within the regime and the army after Iran and Russia give up on the horse that is getting tired and running backward !!
August 28th, 2011, 11:41 am
Muhammad said:
What is menhebaks problem with Islam ? Did they not hear the last Assad speech where he stated that Islam as a religion of the state and head of the state is here to stay ? Did they not hear him how he is going to make politics subservient to Islam in Syria ? Did they not hear how he declared Arabism and Islamism to be in complete harmony ?
Maybe the right question is whether there is any type of hypocrisy you are yet to practice.
August 28th, 2011, 11:45 am
sf94123 said:
To Post # 294:
The pot calling the kettle black.
My question was indented to Dr Landis not to you HUSAM!
SC is in trouble if you are a truly level 2 moderator. Why don’t you start the learning process by moderating your own childish and opointless comments and posts such as 294 “sf94123, I am level 2 moderator. Dr. King, El-Daktor Landis and Dr. Bashar, Dr. No all gave me 5 stars to moderate hateful bashing of any kind.Now you can take your thumb out of your mouth”
August 28th, 2011, 12:04 pm
beaware said:
Kordahi; Arab Star’s TV show pulled for his pro-Syria views
(DP-News – AFP)28/08/2011
http://www.dp-news.com/en/detail.aspx?articleid=94683
DUBAI- The influential Saudi media group MBC has blocked the transmission of a game show because of the overtly pro-Syrian regime views of its Lebanese star presenter, Georges Kordahi. The Arabic-language version of the US show “You Deserve It” was to have been broadcast from September 10, and episodes had already been recorded.
In a statement received by AFP on Sunday, the Dubai-based Middle East Broadcasting Corporation said it had “taken this decision through respect for the feelings of the Syrian people.”
The Internet site of the Al-Arabiya satellite channel, which belongs to the MBC group, said Kordahi had been targeted by social networks and in Arab media for his remarks on the pro-government Dunia channel and on pro-Syrian Lebanese stations.
Kordahi, one of the best known television presenters in the Arab world, had previously presented the Arabic-language version of the worldwide hit game show “Who Wants to be a Millionaire?”
In July, he had said that the wave of protests against the government of President Bashar al-Assad was “a foreign conspiracy” and that the “Arab Spring” had “sown chaos across the Arab world,” the Al-Arabiya site said.
Kordahi’s name had been placed on the “list of shame” on the Internet of actors and media personalities who support despotic Arab regime.
August 28th, 2011, 12:05 pm
some guy in damascus said:
@all, especially tara, anton, ammar shami, amal
as i promised i visited the al-saleeb church in Kasa’a today( not bab tuma).
there are no bullet marks or any evidence of an assault. i entered the church’s courtyard(it was open, since today is a sunday), and checked the perimeter of the building. I didn’t video the church since it would require a better camera and I didn’t want to draw any attention towards me.
I hope everyone is now convinced I am in Damascus
first note reads: a some guy in damascus production.
second note reads: al-saleeb church
third note reads: so, how are the SGID authenticity deniers doing now ? AMAL 😀
August 28th, 2011, 12:13 pm
Ghat Al Bird said:
Can one conjecture that what happened and is ongoing in Libya could also be happening in Syria?
Pourqua pas?
http://theuglytruth.wordpress.com/2011/08/28/the-libyan-rebels-and-the-israeli-connection/
August 28th, 2011, 12:21 pm
majedkhaldoon said:
Wow! I am surprised,there is no oscillation.
August 28th, 2011, 12:24 pm
OFF THE WALL said:
It is very common that Islamophobes will rely on unverified, suspected, and even discounted myhts and legends to justify their masked attacks on Islam. Rationally speaking, one must try at least to be critical of their own sources. Here is an example from Islamophobe AFRAM’s post quoting yet another Islamophobe with the name of Dr. ALI SINA
Afram bever bothers to tell us that the accounts of Omar ordering the burning of the library only surfaced 500 years after the The Arab’s concurring of Egypt, not even considering that the 18th century Fr. Eusèbe Renaudot the author of rational skepticism has considered it a fable despite of it having first appeard by an Arab (Abdullatif Baghdadi in the 12th century). Considering the rush by early Muslims to translate, understand, and work with Greek philosophy transmitted to them through the Christian monks of Syria, and through learned Coptic scholars from Egypt, one would find such story completely out of norm but that does not bother AFRAM, who marches on milking a story that was exposed as false by non other than Bernard Lewis himself.
Some rational treatment of the Story follows from an article titled
Strong
The Mysterious Fate of the Great Library of Alexandria”> These are only excerpts of the account and its refutation. Other stories from earlier destruction are found in the article.
—— Begin Quoting —–
First the legendary account:
The Moslems invaded Egypt during the seventh century as their fanaticism carried them on conquests that would take form an empire stretching from Spain to India. There was not much of a struggle in Egypt and the locals found the rule of the Caliph to be more tolerant than that of the Byzantines before them. However, when a Christian called John informed the local Arab general that there existed in Alexandria a great Library preserving all the knowledge in the world he was perturbed. Eventually he sent word to Mecca where Caliph Omar ordered that all the books in the library should be destroyed because, as he said “they will either contradict the Koran, in which case they are heresy, or they will agree with it, so they are superfluous.” Therefore, the books and scrolls were taken out of the library and distributed as fuel to the many bathhouses of the city. So enormous was the volume of literature that it took six months for it all to be burnt to ashes heating the saunas of the conquerors.
The leader of the Moslem forces that took Egypt in 640AD was called ‘Amr and it was he who was supposed to have asked Omar what to do about the fabled library that he found himself in control of.
There are only a few sources that we need to examine. They are very late The first of the two late sources dates from the 12th century and is written by Abd al Latif (died 1231) who, in his Account of Egypt while describing Alexandria, mentions of the ruins of the Serapeum. The problems with this as historical evidence are enormous and insurmountable. He admits that the source of his information was rumour and the fantasy about Aristotle does not bode well for the veracity of the rest of the piece.
In the thirteenth century the great Jacobite Christian Bishop Gregory Bar Hebræus (died 1286), called Abû ‘l Faraj in Arabic, fleshes the story out and includes the famous epigram about the Koran. Again there is no clue as to where he found the story but it seems to have been one doing the rounds among Christians living under the dominion of the Moslems. Gregory is happy to record plenty of far fetched tales about omens and monstrosities so we must treat this story with the greatest suspicion. As it is not even included in the original version of his history but only in the Arabic version that he translated and abridged himself very late in life, he may not have known the story when he first put pen to parchment. In The Vanished Library, Canfora mentions a Syriac manuscript published in Paris at the end of the nineteenth century by François Nau. It was written by a Christian monk in the ninth century and details the conversation between John and Caliph Omar. After help from email correspondents, I have finally been able to find this elusive document in its French translation and ascertained that it makes no mention of any library and appears to be an example of a theological dialogue between two representative individuals. In other words it is not historical and has no pretensions to be.
The verdict on Omar
The errors in the sources are obvious and the story itself is almost wholly incredible. In the first place, Gregory Bar Hebræus represents the Christian in his story as being one John of Byzantium and that John was certainly dead by the time of the Moslem invasion of Egypt. Also, the prospect of the library taking six months to burn is simply fantastic and just the sort of exaggeration one might expect to find in Arab legends such as the Arabian Nights. However Alfred Butler’s famous observation that the books of the library were made of vellum which does not burn is not true. The very late dates of the source material are also suspect as there is no hint of this atrocity in any early literature – even in the Coptic Christian chronicle of John of Nikiou (died after 640AD) who detailed the Arab invasion. Finally, the story comes from the hand of a Christian intellectual who would have been more than happy to show the religion of his rulers in a bad light. Agreeing with Gibbon this time, we can dismiss it as a legend.
——— End of quotation —
The story is also debunked in the Wikipedia article on the library . But that does not bother AFRAM. Finally, I went and read Bishop John Nikiu account of of the Arab Invasion of Egypt, which is detailed and not very flattering, but can be trusted more because of its contemporaneity with the events. All the detailed description has no mention of the library’s destruction on account of Omar’s instruction. Again, does not bother Mr. AFRAM or Dr. ALI SINA, whoever that fellow is. I guess it is only few more bullets sprayed on yet another church. I am afraid we may want to send SGID to Alexandria and back in time to verify. SGID can you becom SGIE-A for a few days and check the account…
August 28th, 2011, 1:18 pm
ss said:
343 sf94123
“My question was indented to Dr Landis not to you HUSAM! SC is in trouble if you are a truly level 2 moderator’.
Is he really a moderator. I know for a fact that some one name was mentioned in the website. How come moderators are violating the confidentiality of the SC. That person wrote an email to Dr. Landis for further explanations on how his name got published. The only way to access his name was through his email address (first name, last [email protected]). I do not know how MajedKaldoon had access to his name (the stroy was 3 months). The issue was put to rest back then and that person got reasurrance from SC authorities. Now sf94123 is bringing up a similar problem.
In addition to sf94123 question; I would ask this question: Is this site respecting the confidentiality of people posting in it?
August 28th, 2011, 1:27 pm
Aboud said:
ROFL!
SGID, as soon as it’s practical, I’m inviting you to lunch at my favorite place in Homs 🙂
Good one 🙂
August 28th, 2011, 1:28 pm
Revlon said:
Field survey of the support of the revolution vs. regime in relation to sect, age, and socio-economical status.
Period of Study: 1st to 25th July 2011
Cham Center for democratic Studies and Human Rights in Syria
2011/08/28
http://www.sooryoon.net/?p=31834
SECTARIAN POLARISATION
1. Supporters of regime
a. 84% of Alawis
b. 62% of Christians
c. 60% of Druze
d. 54% of Ismailis
e. 10% of Sunnis
2. Silent/Neutral
a. 10% of Alawis
b. 20% of Druze
c. 23% of Chrisitians
d. 11% of Ismailis
e. 25% of Sunnis
3. Revolution Supporters
a. 65% of Sunnis
b. 17% of Christians
c. 6% of Alawis
d. 18% of Druze
e. 35% of Ismailis
4. Demonstrators:
a. 66% are <40 years old
b. 71% are poor or middle class
c. 265,000 people: Total count of Friday demonstrators in Damascus and its country side in period of study
d. 155,000 people: Total count of those who demonstrated in Latakia, during the period of study
e. 1 Million: Total count of Friday demonstrators in Hama during the period of study
f. 8 Million: Total count of Friday demonstrators across Syria, during the period of study
5. Atrocities against protestors from the beginning of protests until end of study
a. 500 Incimmunicados since the beginning of the protests
b. 2356 Incommunicados since May up until endo of study.
c. 3642 civilian martyrs “104 of which were children and 13 women”
d. 19650 Wounded
e. 23,000 Imprisoned
f. 700 Count of army and security deaths; There is probably a similar number of executions of defectors.
g. 38,000 Count of shabbeeha used during the period of study; Most are released criminals and ex-cons, unemployed, and Bath party activists.
h. 1350 and 3500 tanks and vehicles used in occupying various cities until end of study.
i. 1700 count of foreigners involved in special operations; they include Iraqi’s, Iranians, and Lebanese
j. 22 Count of cities and towns invaded by Military forces until end of study; their population totals 8,700,000.
Note All demonstrations reported during the period of study were peaceful.
????????? ??????? ?? ????? : ????? ??????? ??? ????? ?????? ?? ??????
2011/08/28
???? ????? ???????? ??????????? ????? ??????? ?? ?????
http://www.sooryoon.net/?p=31834
???? ????? ???????? ??????????? ????? ??????? ???? ????? , ?????? ?? ?????? ?? ???2006 ??? ???? ?????? ??? ?? ??????? ????????? ???????? ? ????? ???? ???? ??? ???? ????? ?????? ??? ????? ????? ?????? ??? ????? ??? ?????? ???? ?? ???? ?????? ?????????? ???? ???? ??? ??????? ??? ???? ????? ?? ??? ?????? ???? “?????? ??????? ????? ??????? “?? ??? 2007 ????? ????? ?? ????? ?? ??????? ???? ???? ?????? ??????? ?????? ?????? .
??? ????????? ???? ????? ???? ????? ???????? ??????????? ????? ??????? ??? ???? ???? ?????? , ????? ?? ????? ????? ???????? ??? ?? ??????? ????????? ?? ????? ????????? – ?? ?????? ????? ????? ?? ???? ??? 25 ???? ???? 2011 ?????? ????? ??? ??????? ??????? ??????? ????? ???? ??? ??? ????? ????? ???? ????? ???? ?? ?????? ????? ?? ????? ?????? , ??? ????? ???? ????? ??? ???????? ?? ????????? ??? .???? ????? ?????? ???? ??? ??? ????? ?? ?????? ?? ??? ????????? ?????? ??? .
???? ????? ??? ????? ???????? ??? ??? ?? ????? ????? ??? ?????? ??????? ???????? ?????? ??????? ????????? ?? ??? ??????? ??????? ?????????? , ????????? ??? ????? ????? ?????? ???? ????? ?? ?????? ????????? ??????? , ?????? ??? ???? ??? ???? ????? ??? .
????: ????????? ???????:
?????? ????? ?? ????? ??????? , ????? ????? ??? ????? ??????? ?? ?? ????? ?? ????? ????? ??50 ??? . ???? ??????? ????? ?????? ????? ?????? ???? 750 ????? ????.
? – ???????? ?????? ?????? :
1 –%84 ???? ??????? ?? ??????? ??????? – ???? ?????? ??????? ????? ??????? ???? ?????? ?? ?????? ????? %98 ??????? ??? ?????? ???? ?????? ?????? ?? ????? ?? ????? ?????? ?? ??? ??? ???????” ???????” ??? ?????? ???? ??? ?????? ?????? ??? ???????? ?? ???????, ????? ??? ??????? ?? ???? ??????? ???? ??? ????? ?? ???????? ???? ???? ??????? ???? ?? ???????? ??????? ??????? , ????? ??? ????????? ?? ???????? ????????? ??? ????? ?????? ?? ???????? ?????? ????? ???? ???? ????? ??? ????????.
2 –60% ??????? ?? ????????? .
3 – 62%????? ????? ??????? ?? ??????.
4 -54% ???? ?????? ??????? ?? ??????????? ..
5 – 10%???? ??????? ?? ?????.
2 – ???????? ?? ????????? :
1 – 10% ???? ??????? ?? ???????? –” ???? ???????? ??? ?????? 8- 10% ??????”
2 – 20% ????? ??????? ?? ??????.” ??? ????????? ?????? ?? ????? ????? 500 ??? ???? ??????”
3 – 23% ???? ?????? ??????? ?? ?????????” ???? ????????? ????????? ?????? ??????? ?????????? ???????? 14% ??????”
4 – 11% ???? ??? ??????? ?? ??????????? “??? ????????? ???????????? ?? ????? 700 ??? ?????? ”
5 – 25% ??? ?????? ??????? ?? ????? ????? ????????? ????? ?????? ??????? 60% ” ?? ????? ?????? ??? ??????? , ????? ???? ????????? ??? ????? ?????? ?????? ????? ??? ?????? ??????? ???? ???? ???????? “??? ?? ??? ???? ????? ???? ?????????? .
3 – ???????? ?????? :
1 – 65 % ??? ????? ??????? ?? ?????.
2 17% ???? ??? ??????? ?? ?????????.
3 -6% ??? ??????? ?? ???????? ????? ?????? ????? 8 -10% ?? ????? ?????? ??????.
4 – 18% ?????? ??? ??????? ?? ??????.
5 –35% ??? ??????? ??????? ?? ???????????.
????? – ??????????:
– ??? ????? ??? ????? ?????? ?? ????????? ???? ???? ????? ?? ???? ?????, ?? ????? ????? ???? ?????? ??? ????? 265 ??? ???, ????? ???? ?? ??? ??? ??? ?????.
– ???? ?????? ??? ?? ?? 40 ????? 66% ??????.
– ???? ??????? ???? ?? ?? ?????? ?????? 71% ?????? .
– ??? ??? ?????????? ????? ????? ?? ????? ???????? ????? ??? ???? ??? ???? ????? ?????? ????? ???? ??? ????? ?? ??? ??????? ?? ???? ????? 155 ??? ??????.
– ??? ?????? ??? ?????????? ?? ????? ???? ?? ???? ” ??????” ???? ???? ????? ???? ?? ????? ?????? ?? ????? ???????.
– ??? ????? ??? ????? ?????? ?????????? ?? ???? ????? ????? ???? ???? ????? ?? ???? ?????.8 ????? ??? ??????.
????? – ?????????? ???????? ???????? ??? ????????:
– ??????? ?? ????? ??? ??????? ??????????? ??? ?????? ?????? ?? ????????? ???? ?????? ????? ????? ??????? ?????? ??????? ???????? ??? ??????? ???????? ?? ?????? ?? ????? ????? ???, ???????? ?? ???????? ????? ?? ???? ??? ?? ??? ??? ????? ????????? ???? ???? ?????? ??? ??????? ?? ?? ??????? ???? ?????? ???? ??500 ???? . ???????? ??? ??????? ???? ?????? ?? ????? ????. ??? ?????????? ??? ????? ????????? .
– ??? ??? ??????? ????? 3642 ???? ???? 278 ?? ????? ???????? ??????.
– ??? ??????? ???? 104 ??? ??????? ??? ?? ???? ??? ???.
– ??? ?????? 13 ????? .
– ??? ?????? ????? 19650??? ????.
– ??? ???????? ??? ????? ??? ???? ???? ????? ????? ?????2356 ???.
– ??? ????????? ????? 23 ??? ?????.
– ??? ???? ????? ?????? ????? ?? ??????? ???? 732 ???? , ??????? ??????? ??? ????? ??? ???? ??? ????? ?????? ?? ????? ?? ???? ???? ???????? ???? ????? ??? ????? ????? ????? ?????? ?????.
– ??? ???? ????? ?????? 1800 ????.
– ??? ??????? ????? ???????? ??????? ??????????? ???? ???? ????? ?????? ????? ??????? 38000 ?????? ??????? ??? ???? ????? ?? ???????? ???????? ????? ?????? ?? ?????? ?? ???????? ?? ???????? ?? ????? ????????? ?????? ????? ?? ??? ????? ??????.
– ???? ??? ???????? ???????? ???????? ?? ???? ?????? ????? ??????? ???? ????? ?????? ??? ????? ????? 1350 ????? ?3000 ???? ???? ??? ?????? ????? ? ????? ??????.
– ?? ??? ????? ?? ????????? ??????????? ??????????? ??? ????????? ?? ???? ???? ??? ????? ?????? ??? ??????? ????? ?? ??????? ??? ??????? “???? ??????? ????? ?????? ??? ?? ????? ??? ??? ????? 1700 ??? ”
-??? ????? ???????? ?????? ??? ????? ????? 22 ????? ????? ????? ??? ??? ?????? ????? ?????700 ,8 ?????? ????? ???????? ??? ?????.
?????? : ???? ????????? ???? ???? ???? ???? ????? ???? ????? ????? .
17-8-2011
???? ????? ???????? ??????????? ????? ??????? ?? ?????
August 28th, 2011, 1:30 pm
Syria no kandahar said:
SGID specialty is shopping for demonstrations in Damascus.That is his full time job .Part time he goes to churches and investigate damage done to them.when
He dos’t see damage he gets upset ???? ?? ????.Don’t worry,if your criminal friends get in power,churches in Damascus will have the same treatment your terrorists friends in Baghdad are doing.Then you can be more helpful to terrorists by investigating churches and plan attacks….good willing that will make you ????? ????
August 28th, 2011, 1:32 pm
Aboud said:
SGID, you earned yourself a menhebak whine. Mabruk bro 🙂
And what do fake secularists like @352 have in store for churches? It doesn’t matter, the world will never need to find out. Right now Besho is as popular as a pig at a Saudi Ramadan feast.
“38,000 Count of shabbeeha used during the period of study; Most are released criminals and ex-cons, unemployed, and Bath party activists.”
Yeah, that sounds about right. Give an amnesty to car thieves and burglars, and draft them into the shitbiha.
August 28th, 2011, 1:45 pm
ann said:
NATO vs Israel: Actions Supports Conspiracy Theory – August 28, 2011
Kosovo … Libya … Palestine? Tripoli Today, Tel Aviv Tomorrow?
Are the uprisings in the Middle East all part of a NATO conspiracy against Israel, the only democracy in the region? Confidential Reporter has a basketful of facts, figures and players–including George Soros–to back up the contention. Readers might do well to remember, “A conspiracy theory is just news that you haven’t seen on your TV yet.”
http://deathby1000papercuts.com/2011/08/nato-vs-israel-actions-supports-conspiracy-theory/
August 28, 2011
The Conspiracy to Use NATO Against Israel
Foreign Confidential ™
A chilling, admittedly rushed early warning from Foreign Confidential™ analysts … upon information and belief, as lawyers like to say.
A once unthinkable conspiracy is afoot–to deploy NATO forces against a strategic U.S. ally that is also the only democracy in the Middle East.
The country is Israel, of course, the tiny Jewish State that has never known a day of peace since its miraculous rebirth in its ancient homeland.
Barack Obama’s reelection is central to the perfidious plot. Obama is the only U.S. Presidential candidate who is sufficiently hostile to Israel to go along with the conspiracy, as the potential usefulness of the only anti-Israel GOP hopeful, Ron Paul, is neutralized by his marginal appeal and old-line isolationism (recalling the likes of aviator Charles Lindbergh and other Nazi supporters and sympathizers in the years leading up to the Second World War).
The Conspirators
The three (European-born) authors of the anti-Israel conspiracy are Jimmy Carter’s former National Security Advisor, Zbigniew Brzezinski, Obama foreign policy advisor Samantha Power, and her patron, George Soros, the anti-Zionist, leftwing billionaire. Brzezinski, who was the architect of the Carter administration’s intervention in Afghanistan on the side of Islamist warlords–before and in order to bring about the Soviet invasion of that country–and the brain behind the administration’s catastrophic complicity in the Islamist overthrow of Iran’s pro-American, modernizing monarch, Shah Mohammed Reza Pahlavi, has advocated U.S. downing of Israeli warplanes if Israel attacks Iran’s nuclear installations without Washington’s approval. Power has proposed using U.S. and United Nations troops to impose a “Responsibility to Protect” (Palestinians) solution on Israel.
The Longterm Objective
The conspiracy’s longterm objective is to use the R2P doctrine and the Kosovo-inspired intervention in Libya’s civil war–on the side of Al Qaeda-connected Islamists–as a precedent for forcing Israel to withdraw to indefensible borders in order to create a “contiguous Palestinian state,” as Obama put it in a recent speech, consisting of the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip, which is already a de-facto independent, Islamist state; the disputed “West Bank” territories of Judea and Samaria, and East Jerusalem, which Israel liberated from Jordan in the Six-Day War of June 1967; and a land corridor connecting Gaza with the aforementioned inland areas west of the Jordan river. It is further understood that Hamas will emerge as the ruler of the combined, new entity, and that this inherently irredentist mini-state will eventually merge with a Muslim Brotherhood-ruled country in what is now the Kingdom of Jordan following the inevitable overthrow of the Jordanian monarchy, thus creating an Islamist Palestine on both sides of the river Jordan that will ultimately “liberate” all of Palestine–meaning, the destruction of Israel, whose very existence the conspirators regard as a historic “mistake” and the root cause of regional instability.
The Crucial Player
NATO-member Turkey, Obama’s model Islamocracy, is a crucial player in the plot. Turkey’s Prime Minister recently called for U.N. airstrikes on Israel. More important, Turkey is a major military power and a potential existential threat to Israel, especially given a scenario in which Israel would be forced to defend itself on at least two land fronts–i.e. against Egypt and Jordan/Palestine.
Like their Shiite Islamist Iranian rivals, Turkey’s Sunni Islamist leaders have adopted an imperialist foreign policy–i.e. a policy that aims to overthrow a nation’s power relationships with other nations, known as the status quo. But Turkish imperialism, in contrast with Iranian imperialism, is supported by the Obama administration. Having failed in their efforts to appease and align with Iran in order to pacify Afghanistan and the Middle East, Obama and his advisors are now bent on backing the emergence of an Islamist, neo-Ottoman Empire, hoping to use a Greater Turkey as both a bulwark against a nuclear-armed Iran and a sword against resurgent Russia and rising China and their strengthening ties–Obama’s answer to the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. Political and overlapping organized and state Islam is the tool; the vast energy resources of Central Asia, the prize; countering Russia and dismembering China, by stirring rebellion among restive Muslims, priceless! (Click here to read more about this new version of the Great Game.)
The Unknown Factor
Syria is the unknown factor–a potential spoiler whose actions could actually facilitate and accelerate the conspiracy, causing its implementation in the coming months, as shocking as this may seem. With the fall of Libya’s dictator, all eyes are on Syria’s embattled despot. Turkey has hinted at intervening in the Muslim Brotherhood-backed, Sunni, majority, Syrian uprising against the hated, Iran-backed, Alawite (Shiite branch) minority, Assad regime; and Obama has explicitly called for Assad’s resignation. When push comes to shove, Syria could attack Israel to get back at the United States and muddy the waters. Damascus and Tehran have already indirectly attacked Israel, using Egyptian Islamist and Gaza-based, Palestinian Islamist terrorists as proxies, in order to distract attention from the Syrian regime’s atrocities and brutality. This year’s cross-border, Nakba-Day riots were similarly orchestrated by Syria and Iran.
An Israeli response to a direct Syrian assault would most likely bring Iranian proxies Hezbollah and Hamas into the conflict, and, quite possibly, Iran, itself, which has repeatedly vowed to “burn Tel Aviv” and bomb Israel’s Negev nuclear reactor. Should Israeli population centers come under heavy missile bombardment, crushing Israeli airstrikes against Gaza and Lebanese targets–missile launchers deliberately positioned in and around densely populated civilian areas–would almost certainly result in international condemnation of Israel (the only nation that is not allowed to defend itself) and thunderous calls for UN action against the Jewish State, setting the stage for another phony R2P intervention.
NATO against Israel?
It’s a horrible thought. But history has time and again shown that the unthinkable can happen.
August 28th, 2011, 2:11 pm
Revlon said:
Operation Wa2dulfitnah in Laylat AlQadr
AlRifa3i Mosque,
Damascus
27 Aug 2011
Jr’s mob ram sacking the Mosque lobby and brutally beating a man!
In his latest, convenietnly unpublicized speech V, Jr claimed that ethical problems were at the core of the current crisis, and that embracing the ethics and values of the Islamic religion should be the right remedy!
27 8 Damascus ??????? ???? ?????? ????? ????? ???????? ???? ??????? ???????? ?? ????? ?????
August 28th, 2011, 2:11 pm
Tara said:
Ammar Shami
Let me remind you what you told us in the main post. I quote ”During the start of the events I visited my dentist in Bab-touma, a Christian part of town. The same day I was there a group of armed men stopped in front of the church and sprayed it with bullets. This story never made it to the news even though I saw the bullet holes with my own eyes.”
Let me now point to the discrepancies in your story: you said you were at your dentist in Bab-Tuma when this happened and you went on to tell us that you saw the bullet holes with your own eyes as stated above.
SIGD checked all Bab Tuma churches and found no evidence. When asked to name the church in Bab-Tuma, you needed to call the dentist (even though you saw the bullet holes with your own eyes while in Bab-Tuma area) and then you informed us it is the Saliba church that turned out to be in kassaa area. Well, SGID checked Saliba church in kassaa and found no evidence.
Your seeing bullet holes with your own eyes was apparently a “lie”. I am sorry to be blunt but this is the truth. My advise, if you insist to post on SC, post under new name because Ammar Shami name lost all credibility.
August 28th, 2011, 2:16 pm
ann said:
‘Netanyahu asks US to delay UN ‘Marmara’ report 6 months’
Channel 2 reports PM told the US that in six months time he expects to be stronger politically and better able to deal with the consequences of the Palmer Commission report’s publication.
08/28/2011 20:41
http://www.jpost.com/DiplomacyAndPolitics/Article.aspx?id=235757
Channel 2 reports PM told the US that in six months time he expects to be stronger politically and better able to deal with the consequences of the Palmer Commission report’s publication.
Talkbacks ()
Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu has asked the United States to delay publication of the UN report on last year’s raid of the Mavi Marmara flotilla ship by six months, Channel 2 reported on Sunday.
According to the Channel 2 report, Netanyahu told the US that in six months time he expects to be stronger politically and better able to deal with the consequences of the report’s publication.
RELATED:
‘Turkey may cut economic ties over ‘Marmara’ apology’
Opinion: Israel-Turkey relations and the silent revolution
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon announced on Friday that the Palmer Report on the Marmara incident will be postponed for the third time and will be published at the beginning of next month, according to Army Radio. The report was originally to be released on May 15, but was postponed at Turkey’s request.
Ban said that that the reason for the postponement was to give Israel and Turkey more time to a find a formula to renew full diplomatic ties.
The report – whose details have been widely reported – upholds the legality of Israel’s naval blockade of the Gaza Strip, but takes the IDF to task for using disproportionate force in enforcing the blockade.
Turkey is keen to bury the report, because while far from being a pro-Israel document, by upholding the legality of the blockade it places some of the responsibility for the flotilla fiasco on Turkey’s shoulders.
Turkey is demanding Israel apologize for the incident, pay compensation to the families of the victims, and lift the blockade of Gaza.
Israel has so far refused to apologize, although there is discussion about Israel apologizing for “operational mishaps” that led to the loss of lives. Nine Turkish citizens were killed on the Mavi Marmara when some of the passengers on the ship attacked IDF commandos who landed on it to enforce the blockade.
August 28th, 2011, 2:25 pm
Mr.president said:
The Syrian Muslim Brothers claim that they represent Syrian Sunnis. Can someone tells us what percentage of Sunnis they actually represent?
August 28th, 2011, 2:32 pm
ann said:
Turkish military tear gas Kurdish protest, politician killed
August 28, 2011
http://www.nowlebanon.com/NewsArticleDetails.aspx?ID=306267
A Kurdish politician was killed Sunday after being struck by a tear gas cartridge fired by military police to disperse protesters near Turkey’s border with Iraq, witnesses and security sources said.
The protesters were demonstrating against Turkey’s recent air strikes on Kurdish rebel bases in Iraq.
Yildirim Ayhan, a provincial assembly member of the southeastern province of Van, died after the tear gas cartridge hit him in the chest, as the military police attempted to disperse a crowd of protesters in the town of Cukurca, witnesses and security sources said.
“The superiors of the soldiers opposite to us suddenly ordered them to intervene. They started to fire tear gas. One of the cartridges hit Ayhan and we saw him slumping,” a witness told AFP.
“He was bleeding from his chest,” another witness said.
Security sources confirmed Ayhan had been struck by a gas canister, but said an autopsy would determine the cause of death.
Pro-Kurdish media published photographs of Ayhan lying on the ground with a bleeding chest wound.
Thousands of people from 16 different provinces started to march on Saturday towards the Turkey-Iraq border to demonstrate against the army’s bombing raids on bases of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) in northern Iraq.
The PKK, listed as a terrorist group by Ankara and much of the international community, took up arms in the Kurdish-majority southeast in 1984, sparking a conflict that has claimed about 45,000 lives.
August 28th, 2011, 2:37 pm
Husam said:
SS and sf94123:
Ok fine, I confess (it is not easy for me) I am only a moderator in training. I get carried away sometimes. Now you can put back your thumb in your mouth.
sf94123, please behave! You don’t want me to send el-moukhabarat to you on Alhambra St. in San Franscisco, do you? Are you shitting your pants now?
OTW:
It was understood long ago that SC is not the place to discuss fiqh, no one is qualified for deep analysis in Islam or any other religion. As you said a true atheist is not selective. However, here we have cowards and lunatics of 21st centrury who are afraid of the Islamic sword, brrrrgh! I appreciate reading some of your comments but there isn’t enough brain cells unfortunately here to engage into a constructive respectful discussion.
You don’t see continuous debate about Judeo-Christian machinations to control the middle east on SC. All you see is Islam is the source of all evil ills of the world b.s.
I think scarcasim, is more enjoyable nowadays – Rodents style.
August 28th, 2011, 2:48 pm
Afram said:
ALI SINA,THANKS….WE ATHIESTS LOVE YOUR WORK/AFRAFM
Allah wants to see women illiterate
Women are second grade people in Islam:
In Islam, jihad is the best form of worship of Allah. What is jihad? Islamic jihad is the most barbaric incitement, the world has ever seen, to commit indiscriminate and large scale homicide. In plain words, jihad means indiscriminate killing of kafirs, plundering their wealth, occupying their land and other properties by sword, fire and rape. We should see what two prominent Muslim leaders have said about jihad.
It has been mentioned in an earlier article that to explain the ultimate aim of jihad, Ayatollah Khomeini, the leader of Islamic Revolution in Iran said, “Jihad means the conquest of all non-Muslim territiries. Such a war may well be declared after the formation of an Islamic government worth of that name … It will then be the duty of every able-bodied adult male Moslem to volunteer for this war of conquest, the final aim of which is to put Koranic law in power from one end of the earth to the other. … We have no recourse other than to overthrow all governments that do not rest on pure Islamic principles. … That is not only our duty in Iran, but it is also the duty of all Moslems in the world, in all Muslim countries to carry the Islamic political revolution to its final victory.”
Ayatollah Khomeini
It has also been mentioned that, to explain jihad, another Muslim leader Sheikh Ahmed Ismail Hassan Yassin, the founder of Hamas, said, “Kill all the unbelievers just as they would kill you all! Does this mean that Muslims should sit back until they are devoured by [the unbelievers]? Islam says: Kill them [the non-Muslims], put them to the sword and scatter [their armies]. Does this mean sitting back until [non-Muslims] overcome us? Islam says, “Kill in the service of Allah those who may want to kill you! Does this mean that we should surrender [to the enemy]? Islam says: Whatever good there is exists thanks to the sword and in the shadow of the sword! People cannot be made obedient except with the sword! The sword is the key to Paradise, which can be opened only for the Holy Warriors! Sons of Islam everywhere, the jihad is a duty – to establish the rule of Allah on earth and to liberate your countries and yourselves from America’s domination and its Zionist allies, it is your battle – either victory or martyrdom.” He has also claimed responsibility for a number of suicide attacks targeting Israeli civilians.
Ahmed Yassin of hamas
Most importantly, Islam does not have any program to turn its followers into an educated workforce for creating wealth. In Islam, Muslims are not supposed to create wealth, but they are to acquire it by launching jihad against the infidels, or in other words, by looting or plundering the wealth of the infidel kafirs. So, in reality, Islamc jihad is an economic enterprise. But due to their physical weakness and mental softness, it is not possible for the women to participate in cruel and brutal acts of jihad and due to this reason women in Islam have no importance in fiercely male dominated Muslim society. All the benefits are supposed to be enjoyed by men alone and women are to serve the males as slaves. Or in other words, their status is no better than domestic animals. They are just machines for satiation of the sexual lust of the males and breeding would be jihadis.
So, they must be covered by head to foot black burqas and forced to remain indoor so that light of wisdom may not reach them. They should be kept in total darkness so that they may not revolt against the severe male-domination and could be used like slaves or domestic animals. Mr Arlene Peck, in his article “Arab Men Treat Their Farm Animals Better Than Their Women”, writes, “The animals and woman do, however, have one thing in common: both are used for breeding. In the case of Islamic fundamentalists, women are used as breeding stock for future terrorists, or now, often, as suicide bombers. Come to think of it, goats and camels are treated better. They’re not forced to wear those hot and repressive burkas.” [1]
He also writes, “Women begin their lives under the control of a dysfunctional mind which demands that they submit to them in every way. … Hey, if a woman in that garden spot of the world, Saudi Arabia, isn’t allowed to vote, drive a car, or go out of her house without a man to control her movements, … Arab men can’t stand the thought that their women might be allowed sexual enjoyment. After all, they are only good for breeding. So, with this in mind, female children are subjected to genital mutilation, … Heaven forbid that an Arab woman ever has a relationship with another man or has been raped by her father, brother, cousin, etc. It would be the innocent girl’s fault and she would probably be killed for the sexual conduct forced upon her. Even the goats have it better. No one kills the goat to avenge anyone’s honor. Tens of thousands more have been murdered in honor killings. …. Hell, I think pre-caveman? Cultural practices and overly patriarchal societies – which vary from one country to another – are what dictate a woman’s place in this region. Abuse and discrimination are rampant.”[1]
We see the Muslim scholars babble the lie day and night that, merciful Allah has given equal status for men and women. But according to Muslim law of inheritance, a daughter can only claim of her father’s property half of that allotted for the son. So, the Koran says, “Allah directs you in regard of your Children’s (inheritance): to the male, a portion equal to that of two females…. These are settled portions ordained by Allah.” (4: 11) Furthermore, the merit of the witness of a woman, in the court of law is simply the half of that of a man. So, the hadith says, “The Prophet said, “Isn’t the witness of a woman equal to half of that of a man?” The woman said, “Yes”. He said, “This is because of the deficiency of a woman’s mind.”(Bukhari: Vol3, Book 48, No.826) “Tell the men with you who have wives: never trust a woman.” (Ishaq:584) “In hell I saw women hanging by their breasts. They had fathered bastards.” (Ishaq:185)
According to Islamic theology, women are not equal to men as women are deficient in intelligence. A hadith by Bukhari, in this regard says, “Narrated Abu Said Al-Khudri: Once Allah’s Apostle went out to the Musalla (to offer the prayer) o ‘Id-al-Adha or Al-Fitr prayer. Then he passed by the women and said, “O women! Give alms, as I have seen that the majority of the dwellers of Hell-fire were you (women).” They asked, “Why is it so, O Allah’s Apostle ?” He replied, “You curse frequently and are ungrateful to your husbands. I have not seen anyone more deficient in intelligence and religion than you. A cautious sensible man could be led astray by some of you.” The women asked, “O Allah’s Apostle! What is deficient in our intelligence and religion?” He said, “Is not the evidence of two women equal to the witness of one man?” They replied in the affirmative. He said, “This is the deficiency in her intelligence. Isn’t it true that a woman can neither pray nor fast during her menses?” The women replied in the affirmative. He said, “This is the deficiency in her religion.” ( Bukhari Vol.1:Book 6:No 301)
Women are unclean and impure in Islam:
“Women in Islam are considered unclean, deemed inferior even to dirt”, says Brigitte Gabriel [2] (They must be Stopped, p.171,172) In the eye of Allah, women are so impure and unclean that if a man, who intends to join a prayer and touches a woman after taking bath, he must purify himself again before joining the prayer and Allah says, “Believers, approach not prayers with a mind befogged or intoxicated until you understand what you utter, nor when you are polluted, until after you have bathed. If you are ill, or on a journey, or come from answering the call of nature, or you have touched a woman, and you find no water, then take for yourselves clean dirt, and rub your faces and hands. Lo! Allah is Benign, Forgiving.” (Qur’an 4:43)
Islamic scholars are telling lies day and night and discovering the verses of equality, dignity, and prosperity for women in Quran and Hadith. But it seems that Allah is not prepared to allow dignity to women and permit them to enjoy human rights. On the contrary, Allah condemns them as unclean and impure as a pig, or a donkey or a dog. A Bukhari hadith in this regard says – “Narrated ‘Aisha: The things which annual prayer were mentioned before me (and those were): a dog, a donkey and a woman. I said, “You have compared us (women) to donkeys and dogs. By Allah! I saw the Prophet praying while I used to lie in (my) bed between him and the Qibla. Whenever I was in need of something, I disliked to sit and trouble the Prophet. So, I would slip away by the side of his feet.” (Vol 1, Book 9 No.493)
Another hadith may be quoted in this context – “Abu Dharr reported: The Messenger of ‘Allah (may peace be upon him) said: When any one of you stands for prayer and there is a thing before him equal to the back of the saddle that covers him and in case there is not before him (a thing) equal to the back of the saddle, his prayer would be cut off by (passing of an) ass, woman, and black Dog. I said: O Abu Dharr, what feature is there in a black dog which distinguish it from the red dog and the yellow dog? He said: O, son of my brother, I asked the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) as you are asking me, and he said: The black dog is a devil.” (Muslim, Book 004, Hadith 1032)
“That dogs have jinns within them? WHAT? We are all of God’s creatures. Dogs are the types of animals that are so well suited to be a domestic pet because of their natural affinity towards human beings. They have brought so much love and solace to humans over the years. How on earth would our God tell man to not keep a dog or that they are unclean or that a jinn resides in them or that we cannot pray near them or where they are kept? This is preposterous. I can understand the fact that we maybe should not eat pigs because they eat other animals and possibly excrement as well, that doesn’t sound too apealing, however fish and sea creatures eat other fish but they are deemed halal? How is this fair?”, asks a rational lady commentator.[3]
Some hadiths say that, Muhammad had raised the status of women from dogs and pigs to horses. Allah’s Messenger had said, “Umar b. Muhammad b. Zaid reported that he heard his father narrating from Ibn ‘Umar that Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) had said. If bad luck is a fact, then it is in the horse, the woman and the house.”(Muslim, Book 026, Hadith 5526) The Prophet said: “Abdullah b. ‘Umar reported Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying. There is no transitive disease, no ill omen, and bad luck is lound in the house, or wife or horse.” (Muslim, Book 26, Hadith 5524) “First of all thanks to Prophet Muhammad to uplift the status of woman from pigs and dogs to horse! Or is it evolution of Islam over ages? (We know that Quran and other Islamic books continued to be written ages after Muhammad’s death”, says a commentator.[3]
Women become severely unclean while menstruating:
“Narrated ‘Aisha: A woman asked the Prophet about the bath which is to take after finishing from the menses. The Prophet told her what to do and said, “Purify yourself with a piece of cloth scented with musk.” The woman asked, “How shall I purify myself with it” He said, “Subhan Allah! Purify yourself (with it).” I pulled her to myself and said, “Rub the place soiled with blood with it.” (Bukhari: Volume 1, Book 6, Number 311)
During the fair well pilgrimage (or Hajjatul bida), in 10 AH, by the Prophet, Ayesha accompanied him. But after reaching Mecca, she started menstruating. She was, therefore, prevented from performing tawaf (circumbulation) of the Kaaba by the Prophet. Islam does not permit a woman to pray while she is in menses. So a woman asks, “Please tell me why it is that I can’t pray whilst menstruating? I am too unclean to pray? Yet, I am told I can still make du’a, yet what is du’a if not prayer? Basically telling me that even if I were to ritualistically wash myself (make wudu) I am not clean enough to pray yet tells me I can pray directly to God inside my head without prostration? How does that make sense exactly?? What is the whole point of the wudu then? At all? Also, I am not supposed to touch the Quran during my period? Or to visit a Mosque. What kind of God would differentiate between a male and female when they want to be close to God?” [3]
Re menstruation of the women, Allah said, “It is My obligation to make Eve bleed once every month as she made this tree bleed. I must also make Eve stupid, although I created her intelligent.’ Because Allah afflicted Eve, all of the women of this world menstruate and are stupid.” (Tabari I:280)
As women are unclean and impure, they are barred from entering a mosque to offer prayer. In fact, women are not permitted to offer prayer in public. Indian Muslim women made history on November 24, 2007, by praying in public in the city of Cuttack, Orissa, outside a mosque, by defying the fatwa of the local cleric. But Muslims scholars believe that Allah does not accept their prayers. Since women are devils, they can’t perform prayers. Their prayers will be cut off automatically in the very beginning due to their own dirtiness.
“According to verse (4: 43) of Quran, touching a woman is equivalent to touching shit and urine! Women are more unclean and polluted than dirt! As per 4 above, dirt is supposed to purify the polluted hands and face of Muslims who have touched woman. But one thing is confusing, that a child is loved, kissed and fed by his mother. How can this verse be applicable to him? Or, is Quran an adult literature, which has no significance to children? What do Muslims do while eating the food cooked by the dirty hands of a woman? Is food washed before eating or rubbed into dirt? What about the men (including Muhammad), who have/had the same blood flowing through their veins as that of their mothers (who are dirty as per Islam)? This whole body is formed in the womb of that dirty (?) woman, so why don’t Muslims keep on rubbing their bodies in dirt every time?” asks a commentator.
Women of Cuttack, Orissa, praying in public
Women are also not permitted to enter the paradise in their next life, and Allah will throw them into the hell-fire. A Bukhari hadith, in this regard, says, “The Prophet said: ‘I was shown the Hell Fire and the majority of its dwellers were women who are disbelievers or ungrateful.’ When asked what they were ungrateful for, the Prophet answered, ‘All the favors done for them by their husbands.” (Bukhari: Vol 1, Book 22, No 28) Similarly, a Muslim hadith says, “O womenfolk, you should ask for forgiveness for I saw you in bulk amongst the dwellers of Hell.’ A wise lady said: Why is it, Allah’s Apostle, that women comprise the bulk of the inhabitants of Hell? The Prophet observed: ‘You curse too much and are ungrateful to your spouses. You lack common sense, fail in religion and rob the wisdom of the wise.’ Upon this the woman remarked: What is wrong with our common sense? The Prophet replied, ‘Your lack of common sense can be determined from the fact that the evidence of two women is equal to one man. That is a proof.” (Muslim::Book 1, No.142)
In fact, women are so wretched that Allah permits a Muslim husband to murder his wife out of starvation by confining her in a room under lock and key and refusing food and water. So, Allah says, “As for those of your women who are guilty of lewdness, call to witness four of you against them. And if they testify (to the truth of the allegation) then confine them to the houses until death take them or (until) Allah appoint for them a way (through new legislation).” (4: 15)
Women are sex-slaves in Islam:
In Islam, women are the properties of men and he may be her father, brother or her husband; she is not permitted to go outdoor without the accompany of her male guardian. In this regard, Allah says, “Men are in charge of women, because Allah hath made the one of them to excel the other, and because they spend of their property (for the support of women). So, good women are the obedient, guarding in secret that which Allah hath guarded. As for those from whom ye fear rebellion, admonish them and banish them to beds apart, and scourge them. Then if they obey you, seek not a way against them. Lo! Allah is ever High, Exalted and Great.” (4: 34)
It is needless to say that, through this verse, Allah has dragged the status of women to chattel or moveable property that can be bought by spending money. Today, there are many instances where women earn and provide for men. “You can see lazy men smoking hookah and the women work and earn. There are women who have mastered martial arts and are stronger than mullahs. Allah, his Quran and his prophet have all been proved wrong”, says a commentator.
Muhammad said: woman is like a rib. When you attempt to straighten it, you would break it. And if you leave her alone you would benefit by her, and crookedness will remain in her. (Muslim, Book 08, N0. 3466) A woman may be married for four reasons: for her property, her status, her beauty and her religion. (Muslim, Book 08, No.3457)
Regarding the women whom a Muslim can marry, Allah says, “Forbidden unto you are your mothers, and your daughters, and your sisters, and your father’s sisters, and your mother’s sisters, and your brother’s daughters and your sister’s daughters, and your foster-mothers, and your foster-sisters, and your mothers-in-law, and your step-daughters who are under your protection (born) of your women unto whom ye have gone in – but if ye have not gone in unto them, then it is no sin for you (to marry their daughters) – and the wives of your sons who (spring) from your own loins. And (it is forbidden unto you) that ye should have two sisters together, except what hath already happened (of that nature) in the past. Lo! Allah is ever Forgiving, Merciful.” (4: 23)
It becomes evident from the verse quoted above that, except a few very closely related, a Muslim can marry, or turn into a sex-slave, any woman he desires. The verse also says that, in certain cases, he can marry his step daughters. There are many examples to show that Muslims do not feel shy to have sexual relation with their own daughters. Shah Jahan, the famous Mughal Emperor of India used to have sex with his two daughters.
This sex-slave status for the women gets confirmed when Allah enables the men to keep four wives at a time by nikah and any number of concubines by mutah, or by keeping any number of slave girls simply as sex-slaves. In this regard, Allah says, “And if ye fear that ye will not deal fairly by the orphans, marry of the women, who seem good to you, two or three or four; and if ye fear that ye cannot do justice (to so many) then one (only) or (the captives) that your right hands possess. Thus it is more likely that ye will not do injustice.” (4: 3) The sex-slave status of women becomes clearer when Allah allows Muslim men to divorce his wife/wives by simple oral triple talaq. Nearly a year ago, a Malaysian Muslim divorced his three wives by sending SMS within 10 minutes, in a court room.
So, Allah says, “Divorce must be pronounced twice and then (a woman) must be retained in honour or released in kindness. And it is not lawful for you that ye take from women aught of that which ye have given them; except (in the case) when both fear that they may not be able to keep within the limits (imposed by) Allah. And if ye fear that they may not be able to keep the limits of Allah, in that case it is no sin for either of them if the woman ransom herself. These are the limits (imposed by) Allah. Transgress them not. For whoso transgresseth Allah’s limits: such are wrong-doers.” (2: 229)
“And if he hath divorced her (the third time), then she is not lawful unto him thereafter until she hath wedded another husband. Then if he (the other husband) divorce her it is no sin for both of them that they come together again if they consider that they are able to observe the limits of Allah. These are the limits of Allah. He manifesteth them for people who have knowledge.” (2: 230) The (2: 230) says a more perilous and terrifying consequence for dignity and self respect for a woman. The verse says that, if a husband utters the word “talaq” thrice, even on the point of rage during a domestic quarrel, without an intention to divorce his wife, his wife would be unlawful for him.
To make her lawful, she has to be given in marriage to another man and if her new husband divorces her, after consummation of the marriage, then and then only she will be lawful for her original husband. The customary practice in Muslim society in such a case is to hire a person of the street, called Mostahel, engage him as her husband, at least for a night, and who is supposed to divorce her in the morning facilitating the original husband to take back his divorced wife. Such a temporary marriage is called a “hilla marriage”.
While commenting on this mediaeval, barbaric practice of the Muslim society, Sir W Muir wrote, “Such flagrant breach of decency, such cruel violation of the modesty of an unoffending wife, may be an abuse the full extent of which was not at the contemplated by Mohammad; but it is not the less an abuse for which, as a direct result of the unnatural and revolting provision framed by him, Mohammad is responsible.”[4]
He also wrote, “Many lovers or gallants cause less shame to a woman than one Mostahel. … It must not be forgotten that, all the immorality of speech and action connected with this shameful institution and the outrage done to the female virtue (not necessarily for any fault of the wretched wife, but the passion and thoughtlessness of the husband himself) has solely out of the verse (1/230) quoted above.”[4]
It should be noticed here that the said practice of easy divorce, simply by uttering the word “talaq” thrice, has enabled the Muslims to refresh their harems by driving the older lot out and inducting newer and younger ones. In this context, it should be mentioned that Hassan, the son of Ali and grandson of prophet Muhammad utilized this sanction of Allah to the fullest extent. He used to bring new wives through the front door and drive out same number of wives, by simple oral talaq, through the backdoor, without transgressing the limit set by merciful Allah not to keep more than four wives at a time. It is said that in this way he married more than hundred wives. It is highly ridiculous that the Shi’a Muslims across the world express their grief, on 10th Muhrram, over the death of such lecherous man.
As women are simply sex-slaves, Allah permits a Muslim to let one to hire his wife or wives; or exchange wives between them (Koran 4: 20). An example may help the reader understand this practice. When Abdur Rehman, a close associate of Muhammad, came to Medina from Mecca, his friend Sa’d bin-Rabi of Medina sheltered him in his house. The said Abdur Rehman had 16 wives and many slave girls in his Meccan house. However, after dinner, it came to bin-Rabi’s mind that his friend may feel uncomfortable for want of a woman. He summoned two of his wives and asked his friend to choose one of them. Abdur Rehman selected one by raising his finger and bin-Rabi divorced her at once and ordered her to sleep with his friend. The incident is enough to show that the status of a woman in Muslim society is no better than a prostitute or a sex-slave.
Allah permits Muslims to rape or sodomize their wives:
The Koranic verse, in this regard, says, “Your women are a tilth for you (to cultivate) so go to your tilth as ye will, and send (good deeds) before you for your souls, and fear Allah, and know that ye will (one day) meet Him. Give glad tidings to believers, (O Muhammad).” (2: 223) In Islam, the husband’s sexual desires must immediately be met by the wife. The prophet of Allah said,”When a man calls his wife to satisfy his desire, let her come to him though she is occupied at any other job.” The wife must not withhold sex from her husband. A few hadiths may be quoted in this regard. “Narrated Abu Huraira: The Prophet said, “If a man invites his wife to sleep with him and she refuses to come to him, then the angels send their curses on her till morning.”(Bukhari: Vol 7, Book 62, No.121) “Abu Huraira (Allah be pleased with him) reported that Allah’s Apostle (may peace be upon him) said: When a woman spends the night away from the bed of her husband, the angels curse her until morning.” (Muslim: Book 8, No.3366)
It becomes evident from the verse (4: 23) of the Koran quoted above, that barring a few very close relations, Muslims are permitted to marry any woman they like. If you can marry a woman, you can rape her as well. So, raping close kin is prevalent in Muslim society. This sanction of Allah turns every Muslim household into a mini whorehouse, where father rapes daughter, father-in-law rapes daughter-in-law, uncle rapes niece, brother rapes his cousins and so on. But the victims are to remain mum and tolerate all these atrocities silently, because to establish her allegation, according to Shariah law, she has to produce four male witnesses (which is next to impossible). If she fails, she runs the risk of convicted of committing an adultery that calls for a punishment like stoning to death.
Though I have discussed this incident in a previous article, I feel it worthy of repeating the same here. In one occasion, a beautiful lady came to the mosque of Medina to meet the Prophet. But her presence aroused intense sexual passion in the Prophet. He immediately ran to his house, which was adjacent to the mosque, and asked Jainab bint-Jash to satiate his passion. At that moment, she was busy with tanning a sheep’s skin. But she had no alternative but offer her body to be raped by the Prophet. Raping of a wife has been elaborately discussed in an article “Raping A Wife: Can a Husband force Intimacy on His Wife?” in FFI. In the said article, the author writes, “The woman does not have the right to refuse her husband, rather she must respond to his request every time he calls her, so long as that will not harm her or keep her from doing an obligatory duty.”
It has also been mentioned above that Allah approves extremely harsh punishments for any sexual impropriety on the part of the woman. She could be starved to death (4: 15), stoned to death or simply murder her as an act of honor killing. Or in other words, violation from her sex-slave status calls for violent punishment. In a civilized society, sex has to be negotiated by the couple, not demanded in a dictatorial way. But Islam allows a man to force her wife to sexual act without her consent and thus to treat as a sex-slave.
Conclusion:
From the above discussions, it becomes evident that, in the Muslim society, women do not have a status equal to that of a man and Allah puts value of a woman just the half that of a man. Secondly, Allah condemns the women as an unclean and wretched lot and prohibits their entry into his paradise. The intention of Allah, according to the verse (4: 34) of the Koran, is to keep the women economically dependent on men. So, if they receive education and become economically self sufficient, it will be a challenge to the instruction of Allah. So, they are not to be allowed to receive education after the age of 8 years. After that, they should remain indoor and read only the holy Koran, so that they remain stuck to the civilization of 7th century AD.
At the same time, they should be covered with head to foot burqa, so that they may not get enlightened and remain to be used by the men as sex-slaves, a sex object to be raped by the men. If they become enlightened by receiving modern education, they would acquire strength to protest the oppressions heaped upon them by men. So the most appropriate step is to keep them illiterate and thus to keep them remain as sex-slaves of the males. But, in many Islamic countries, women are being enlightened by receiving and have started to question Islam. We hope to these developments in a future article.
************************
[1] http://www.brookesnews.com/072805peck.html
[2] Brigitte Gabriel, They must be Stopped, p.171,172)
[3] http://www.faithfreedom.org/features/letters/soon-to-be-ex-muslimah/
[4] Sir W Muir, The Life of Mahomet, Voice of India, 337
August 28th, 2011, 2:52 pm
uzair8 said:
A question for the muslims of Syria.
– Muslims and 80 yr old Sheikhs beaten up in the mosques in a muslim majority country in the month of Ramadan.
– Mosques and Quran being desecrated.
– Muslims forced to prostrate to Bashar. Also forced to say ‘There is no God but Bashar’.
Do you still want this secularism?
Why are muslims being humiliated like this? Is this divine punishment? Have we strayed from Islam?
Islam tells us if we stray then Allah SWT will allow the worst of us to become our rulers. Is this not happening now? The thugs, criminals, Shabeeha, Bashar worshippers etc.
May Allah SWT guide us all.
August 28th, 2011, 3:15 pm
OFF THE WALL said:
HUSAM,
First, thank you for your concerns. But if I recall correctly, you argued a while a go that SC is not the place to discuss fiqh, but i do not really recall that being considered as understood, or agreed on. Off course, there are much more authoritative places for that, but unfortunately, these places are replete with both good arguments, and much outdated ones. At the same time, when an Islamophobe shows up and start spewing hateful comments , i believe it is my duty as a Secular Humanist to point the fallacy of the argument and to point to alternative sources of information, interpretations, and ideas even if those do not conform to the traditional understanding of the subject. My job is not to judge the theological validity of the source, for that is not relevant to my way of thinking, it is merely to point that it exists as a counter argument to the hateful rhetoric.
Also, please notice that the article about the Library of Alexandria was an issue of history not of fiqh. I merely demonstrated that AFRAM and his mentors, be it the opportunist Wafa Sultan or this guy SINA are liars when it comes to history and facts, let alone ignorant when it comes to issue of theology or science. When one uses historical narratives that have already been discredited by authorities on the subject, letting that slide by is not a habit of mine. If anyone tries to discredit the holocaust, i will do the same. I believe there are tonnes of brain cells around the SC maze, and these are the ones I write for, whether they like what I write or not.
August 28th, 2011, 3:38 pm
Norman said:
Can we try to have a plan for Syria instead of trying to discuss Islam that i and most of us are not qualified to do,
August 28th, 2011, 4:00 pm
ziadsoury said:
I recommend this book to all of you. It applies to countries run by thugs as well
http://www.amazon.com/Breaking-Fear-Barrier-Destroys-Companies/dp/1595620540/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1314561722&sr=1-1
August 28th, 2011, 4:04 pm
Mjabali said:
General blitz the video game media specialist:
Wafa Sultan is one brave woman. She has been talking against al-Assad for a long time.
She wrote stating her stance against the rule of al-Assad.
Clowns like you with their Salafi/Nazi mind deny her stance because she is a critique of Isalm.
As for your baloney theory of average age was 30 : your man was a prophet and should set up an example with his life not do the same as the others. You are defending a losing idea and still trying to come up with nonsense.
As for your miserable defense about whom the majority of Muslims consider ??????? ?????/the ones god is angry with, or those who are astray: all I have to say is read what I posted earlier regarding your sheikh Ibn Taymiyah’s views.
You are nothing but a(edited for accusation), by the way still believe the Americal and the British learned from your beloved Nazis on D Day mr. Goebblez?
August 28th, 2011, 4:11 pm
OFF THE WALL said:
Norman
Don’t blame me, Besho’s latest speech attempted to make the two issues one and the same. He told us that he is pursuing a plan for Assadian Islamic Republic, outbidding the MBs, the Mullas of Iran, the Shabab movement, the Talibans, and his own band of clapping Ulamas such as Bouti and Hassoon. It has not yet sunk with the menhebbaks. They probably are trying to reconcile that with him being proclaimed a god and a and prophet by the Shabehas.
I am waiting…..
Wafa Sultan is an opportunist. It is as simple as that.
August 28th, 2011, 4:12 pm
Humanist said:
It’s depressing to see that many muslims seem to think that the regime perhaps destroying ONE minarete/mosque is WORSE than the regime and (to a lesser extense) islamic “rebels” killing THOUSANDS of HUMAN BEINGS.
I’m atheist, but i think the Alevi-Bektashis in Turkey have a great saying:
“Benim Kaabem Insandir”
Try to understand what it means!
(sorry for bad english)
August 28th, 2011, 4:16 pm
Amir in Tel Aviv said:
Dear OTW,
Thanks you for your comment. I want to answer to that, but soon, not tonight.
.
August 28th, 2011, 4:19 pm
OFF THE WALL said:
HUMANIST
Benim Kaabem Insandir
Loved it…, it sums things up pretty well. I may even frame it.
AMIR
Take your time please, you have been patient with me, it is the least I can do.
August 28th, 2011, 4:26 pm
Humanist said:
Assad’s religious speech reminds me of Saddam after the Kuwait war. All SO CALLED “secular” arab dictators seem to become “VERY RELIGOUS” when they are LOOSING (wars and/or popularity).
They probably know: Religion is the opium for people.
just wait and he will put “Allahu Akbar” around the stars on the Syrian flag like the other great “secular” Baath leader did…
August 28th, 2011, 4:28 pm
uzair8 said:
I suspect the beating of a famous 80 yr old Sheikh was deliberately designed to send a message to other Scholars not to speak out. The regime must we very worried that the silent and government scholars may speak out against the regime.
Like Sheikh Yaqoubi said the scholars know what is going on but they see the terror and horror and are scared to speak out.
Anyway, a gift for my muslim brothers and sisters. Here is an english Nasheed (Al Muallim – Sami Yusuf) in praise of our beloved Prophet Sallalahu Alaihi Wa Salam.
August 28th, 2011, 4:34 pm
Aboud said:
“Wafa Sultan is an opportunist. It is as simple as that.”
Well said. I have no respect for anyone who wants atom bombs dropped on Muslim countries. She tells the conservative Christian right and Jewish hardliners what they want to hear, and then reaps the benefits.
Some of the sayings of the prophet
To every young person who honors the old, on account of their age, may god apoint those who shall honor him in his years.
—–
Verily, to honor an old man is showing respect to God.
—–
A giver of maintenance to widows and the poor, is lke a bestower in the way of God, an utterer of prayers all the night, and a keeper of constant fast.
—–
I and a woman whose color and cheeks shall have become black from toiling in the sun shall be near to one another in the next world as my two fingers; and that is a handsome widow, whose color and cheeks shall have become black in bringing up her family.
—–
There are seven people whom God will draw under His own shadow, on the day when there will be no other shadow; one of them a man who hath given alms and concealed it, so that his left hand knew not what his right hand did.
—–
Dunno about you but I’d rather listen to such a man than Wafa “Nuke Mecca” Sultan, or Besho “I am God or else my thugs will beat you up”
@366 So I’m a Salafi Nazi now? LOL! You people are hopeless 🙂
August 28th, 2011, 4:35 pm
ann said:
*** is Barack / Hillary next? ***
Analysis: Merkel vulnerable as euro and Libya backlash builds
http://news.yahoo.com/analysis-merkel-vulnerable-euro-libya-backlash-builds-142136157.html
BERLIN (Reuters) – Germany’s Angela Merkel faces the biggest challenge to her leadership since coming to power in 2005, with traditionally loyal conservative allies openly criticizing her approach to the euro zone crisis and her hands-off Libya policy in shambles.
Seen for much of the past six years as a reliable, steady leader whose competence and knack for brokering deals made up for a lack of bold vision, Merkel’s image has taken a beating over the past months and polls show an increasing number of Germans view her government as directionless.
The chancellor’s troubles can be traced back to two decisions taken in March, when she abruptly dropped her long-standing support for nuclear power in the aftermath of the Fukushima disaster in Japan, and days later backed Germany’s abstention from a U.N. vote authorizing military action in Libya.
Coming shortly before a crucial state election, which her conservatives subsequently lost, the steps looked to many in Germany and abroad like cynical political ploys to placate domestic opinion.
But it is Merkel’s piecemeal approach to the euro zone’s worsening debt crisis that has come under fire over the past week and now threatens her iron grip on power in Germany.
For some in Germany, she has gone too far by bailing out stricken euro zone members and agreeing to intervention in the bond markets to prop them up. For others at home and abroad, she has not done enough, shirking bold steps that might solve the debt crisis because they would be unpopular at home.
This conflict will come to a head next month.
Merkel’s coalition has a comfortable 20-seat majority in the lower house of parliament. But if she is hit with dissent in her own ranks, and is forced to rely on opposition parties to pass legislation to expand the single currency bloc’s rescue mechanism — the European Financial Stability Facility (EFSF) — then her coalition could collapse, sparking early elections.
“The euro crisis entered a new phase over the past week,” influential German weekly Der Spiegel said on Sunday.
“Before the main question had been how the common currency could be saved. Now it is also about saving Merkel’s chancellorship. If her coalition does not deliver a majority for the enhanced euro rescue mechanism in the autumn, people close to the chancellor say, the coalition is all but finished.”
ALLIES NERVOUS
The chances of Merkel failing to secure her own majority in the EFSF vote, which is likely to take place on September 23, still seem slim.
Her Christian Democrats (CDU), hovering at a weak 30 percent in opinion polls, have little incentive right now to bring forward an election that is not scheduled to take place until the autumn of 2013.
Merkel’s conservative bloc — composed of the CDU, Bavarian Christian Social Union (CSU) and Free Democrats (FDP) — has shown discipline in previous euro zone aid votes, with only a handful of lawmakers rebelling.
“I expect she will get majority backing from her own coalition,” said Gerd Langguth, a political scientist at Bonn University and biographer of Merkel, putting the number of dissenters at around fifteen.
“If it’s not enough, Merkel would be forced to resign. It would lead to a crisis. No one is interested in an early election.”
Still, the risks to the chancellor cannot be completely discounted. Her traditional allies are growing nervous about the direction of the party, which suffered a new blow this month when one of its regional leaders was forced to resign for having an affair with a 16-year old girl.
Critical voices from within the party have grown louder over the past week, with senior CDU lawmaker Wolfgang Bosbach vowing publicly to vote against the EFSF increase and popular Labour Minister Ursula von der Leyen — seen as a potential successor to Merkel — wading into the euro zone debate with comments that went against official policy.
Perhaps most damaging of all, however, was former Chancellor Helmut Kohl’s rare public criticism of his protege last week. Kohl plucked Merkel out of obscurity in East Germany after the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989, bringing her into his cabinet and helping to launch one of the most unlikely and astonishing political careers that Germany has ever seen.
In an interview with newspaper Internationale Politik, Germany’s longest-serving post-war leader and father of reunification broke his silence and unleashed a broadside against Merkel’s foreign policy, saying it lacked direction and risked undermining Germany’s global influence.
“The enormous changes in the world can be no excuse for having no view or idea where you belong and where you are going,” Kohl, 81, said.
LIBYA EMBARRASSMENT
Germany’s decision five months ago to join with China and Russia in refusing to back the U.N. resolution on Libya looks even worse now that dictator Muammar Gaddafi has been toppled.
Until recently, Merkel had successfully deflected blame for that decision onto her Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle, who embarrassed the government last week by suggesting that economic sanctions, rather than NATO air strikes, had played a decisive role in forcing Gaddafi out.
Westerwelle, who was forced to relinquish his position as leader of the FDP in April, may be forced out as foreign minister too if his party is booted out of regional parliaments in Berlin and the eastern state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern next month.
“If the elections end up going badly for the FDP, I can well imagine the pressure on Westerwelle will become too strong,” said Klaus-Peter Schoeppner, head of polling group Emnid.
Many in Germany would see the departure of Westerwelle, the close Merkel ally whose success in the 2009 election helped vault her to a second term, as a symbolic blow for the chancellor as well.
However the biggest threat to her hold on power, should she survive the EFSF vote next month, could be the slowing German economy. Data over the past two weeks showed that Europe’s biggest economy ground to a virtual halt in the second quarter of the year.
Business confidence plunged this month by its largest amount since shortly after the bankruptcy of U.S. investment bank Lehman Brothers in 2008. Some economists now see the risk of a recession in Germany.
The country’s robust rebound from the global economic downturn of 2008/2009, and sinking unemployment, was one asset Merkel thought she could count on heading into the next election.
Now that support is crumbling too, wiping away some more of the magic that she exuded in her first years in office, when she was celebrated in Germany and abroad as the “Gipfelkoenigen” — or Summit Queen — for brokering deals with in the EU and G8.
“Her downfall may not come from the euro crisis, but simply from the fact that she has lost the shine, the sure footing that she had at the start,” said Josef Joffe, editor of German weekly Die Zeit.
August 28th, 2011, 4:38 pm
annie said:
I deserted Pirates of the Caribbean on TV to come slumming at SC. It is slumming all right when reading some of the menhebbaks words of wisdom. I did some skipping.
On the other hand I read ALL of Aboud’s clever and to the point comments; I do not miss one line of Tara, Hamster, SYR.EXPAT and SHAMI. I am sure I forget someone but I feel kind of dizzy after these 362 posts.
I do not comment on Syrian affairs because I do not feel qualified, but you know how much I love your country and how I long to be back.
August 28th, 2011, 4:47 pm
Tara said:
Annie
And we love you too!
August 28th, 2011, 4:51 pm
Humanist said:
Just so you all know: “Benim Kaabem Insandir” (By Haci Bektas Veli)
= “MY KAABA IS THE HUMAN BEING”
Why was someone negative to this? Is it “heretic” to you?
Muslims (and the rest of the world probably) really have a lot to learn from Alevi humanism.
Aren’t humans more holy than buildings?
August 28th, 2011, 5:07 pm
EHSANI2 said:
FROM MAY 26, 2006
http://faculty-staff.ou.edu/L/Joshua.M.Landis-1/syriablog/2006/05/does-syrias-president-have-will-or.htm
August 28th, 2011, 5:07 pm
Akbar PalaceJO said:
Aboud,
Can you provide a link showing that Wafa Sultan “wants atom bombs dropped on Muslim countries”?
Conversely, I can show you lots of quotes showing Islamic organizations and countries calling for the eradication of the one and only Jewish country.
Perhaps this is why Jews like myself applaud individuals like Wafa Sultan, especially when she confronts “mainstream Islamic rejectionism” (my term).
August 28th, 2011, 5:10 pm
Khalid Tlass said:
SGID,
Be careful of what you do and posting it publicly on the internet, please Akhi. Its still not safe and the regime is still not finished, I would not want anything bad to happen to a great guy like you who is such an asset to Syria. Plaese be careful abt your safety, this regime pays people salaries to search the internet for courageous people like you and track them down.
Aboud,
If you know of any reservist who has received a call-up, advise him not to answer it (even if somebody thinks that we will be able to harm the regime even more if we get into the Army). Caling up the reserves is a TRAP to kill or imprsion able-bodied young anti-regime men. The regime fears an eventual armed insurrection and wants to finish off the resrvists first. Advise everybody to ignore it, its like walking into the lion’s den, at this moment.
To SNK, Afram and MJabali,
Enfoncer les perdants, les laïques faux, nous allons traquer Maher et sauter la cervelle. Perverts, votre jeu est terminé! Préparez vous à être traqués et tués comme des souris prise au piège
August 28th, 2011, 5:16 pm
Muhammad said:
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August 28th, 2011, 5:18 pm
Aboud said:
@379 Look up her wikipedia entry. Wafa Sultan tells you what you want to hear. Frankly I have little use for her, or her admirers.
We are known by the friends we keep, and the enemies we make, and your admiration for this opportunistic nobody tells me alot about you. But hey, it’s your time, you are free to choose your role models.
August 28th, 2011, 5:31 pm
beaware said:
Gül: We lost all trust in the Syrian regime
http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/n.php?n=gul-we-lost-all-trust-in-the-syrian-regime-2011-08-28
ANKARA – Hürriyet Daily News
Sunday, August 28, 2011
There is no place for authoritarian regimes in today’s world, Turkey’s president and prime minister say, urging the Syrian regime to end operations against its people if it does not want to follow in the footsteps of Libya’s Moammar Gadhafi and Egypt’s Hosni Mubarak. ‘We have lost confidence [in Syria],’ Gül says
Turkey warned the Syrian regime Sunday that its fate will be no different from those of the former Egyptian and Libyan leaders unless it ends military operations against its people and starts a meaningful reform process.
“In today’s world, there is no place for single-party governments, [for] authoritarian administrations. The leaders of these countries will take the initiative or they will be changed by force,” President Abdullah Gül told the Anatolia news agency in a comprehensive interview Sunday.
“Clearly we have reached a point [in Syria] where anything would be too little, too late. We have lost our confidence,” Gül said while describing the current state of affairs in the neighboring country.
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdo?an delivered a similar message to Syria in his monthly address to the Turkish nation late Sunday.
“No regime that uses heavy weapons and brutal force to kill unarmed people who take to the streets can stand. The only way is to end military operations and heed people’s demands. We are sadly observing the fates of those who have not chosen this way in the last few months in Tunisia, Egypt and currently in Libya,” the prime minister said.
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has been engaged since mid-April in a brutal crackdown on protesters who demand more rights and freedoms. The ongoing unrest is the latest in a chain of Arab revolts that have already overthrown long-standing regimes in Tunisia, Egypt and, through force, in Libya. Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davuto?lu held a six-hour meeting with al-Assad in April, but his efforts fell short as Damascus continued its violent suppression. Activists claim more than 2,000 people have been killed by security forces since the uprising began in the spring.
Despite Gül’s and Erdo?an’s strong statements against the Syrian leadership, Turkey is still reluctant to join the U.S.-led chorus calling on al-Assad to step down as there is no obvious potential candidate to fill the power vacuum that would be left behind.
“We made a huge political investment in Syria, this is clear. [Seeing whether we] could possibly help contribute to the transition of Syria was our sincere intention,” Gül said. “Everyone must know that for us the most important thing is the well-being of the Syrian people.”
The president said he was receiving daily intelligence reports from Syria that contained detailed information about the latest violent incidents. “Last Thursday, 17 people were killed. We felt really sad. The incidents are said to be ‘finished’ and then another 17 people are dead. How many will it be today?” Gül said.
Al-Assad going the way of Gadhafi?
Reflecting the same approach to Syria, in even stronger language, Erdo?an in his speech Sunday night compared al-Assad’s fate to that of Gadhafi and Mubarak, who were both forced to give up their decades-old authoritarian reigns.
Humanity’s conscience cannot tolerate what is going on in Syria, Erdo?an said, urging al-Assad to take lessons from the developments in other countries in the region.
“There is no place for single-man governments, dictatorships and closed societies. As we have reminded the leaders of Egypt, Tunisia and Libya of this fact in the past, we are doing the same today to the administrations in Syria and Yemen,” Erdo?an said. “They must learn the lesson and end this cruel violence imposed on civilians whose only wish is to voice their demands.”
Praise for Libyan opposition
more…
August 28th, 2011, 5:41 pm
beaware said:
German prize for Syrian poet
Sunday, August 28, 2011
BERLIN – The Associated Press
http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/n.php?n=german-prize-for-syrian-poet-2011-08-28
Adonis received the prize for bringing modern European ideas and critical thinking into current Arab culture.
Syrian-born poet Adonis has become the first Arabic-speaking author to receive one of Germany’s most prestigious literary awards, the Goethe Prize of the city of Frankfurt. The 81-year-old Adonis accepted the award on Sunday in Frankfurt.
Born Ali Ahmad Said in northern Syria, Adonis fled his homeland for political reasons as a young man.
He received a scholarship to study in Paris from 1960-1961. From 1970 to 1985 he was professor of Arabic literature at the University of Lebanon. In 1976, he was a visiting professor at the University of Damascus. In 1980, he emigrated to Paris to escape the Lebanese Civil War. In 1980-1981, he was professor of Arabic at the Sorbonne in Paris.
He is a pioneer of modern Arabic poetry. He is seen as a rebel, an iconoclast who follows his own rules.
The jury praised Adonis for bringing modern European ideas and critical thinking into current Arab culture by using classic poetic images based in the traditions of Arabic poets.
The Goethe Prize, worth $72,000, is awarded every three years on Aug. 28 “Goethe’s birthday” to someone whose works are deemed to reflect the spirit of the German literary giant.
August 28th, 2011, 5:46 pm
Norman said:
OTW,
The problem with president Assad is that because he is an alwat, he feels that he has to be more Islamic than the Muslim brotherhood, Ataturk did not care about that.
This is what i said as a comment to Ehsani’s article,
Ehsani,s post is very stimulating and the best thing about it is that it offers solutions instead of shouting at the Assad family as we see on other blogs ,they call Assad a dictator now ,what will they call him if has the same powers as the Sheikh of Dubai ,the Syrian government should get smarter and know that you do not need to manage a business to be partner in it, In the US through taxes the federal government is my partner for about 39% and the state of NJ for about 12% Syria,s government can do the same and the desire of private business to make more will translate int more income for the government then it can pay higher wages to government employees . judges and police then ask them not to accept bribes and make it illegal to bribe or accept bribes with a free phone number to report violators and ask local prosecutors to follow up on complains with undercover operations and prosecution ,Syria tried to lift subsidies on some products only to have the opposition complaining about the high prices ,Syria has to lift the subsidies if it wants to stop smuggling but needs to protect the poor by providing food stamps and coupons for heating oil to the proven poor ,the money saved can be used to increase the wages of all government employees ,about privatizing government projects ,the government should stop starting new projects that private business can start and sell projects that are not profitable and limit it,s investment to projects that are needed and can not be established by the private sector.The Syria government should encourage small business as it is the catalyst for the economy and to decrease unemployment and increase GDP as it is more than 50% in many economies .
August 28th, 2011, 5:47 pm
beaware said:
Turkey playing “opportunistic” role in Syrian crisis – Syrian Kurdish leader
27/08/2011
http://www.asharq-e.com/news.asp?section=1&id=26374
By Shirzad Shikhani
Erbil, Asharq Al-Awsat –Abdel Hamid Darwish is the leader of the Democratic Progressive Kurdish Party in Syria, and served as Vice Chairman of the National Council of the 2005 Damascus Declaration for National Democratic Change.
The Damascus Declaration was a historic statement of unity by Syrian opposition figures criticizing the Syrian government as being “authoritarian” and ‘totalitarian” and calling for “reform” based upon dialogue and cooperation. The al-Assad regime failed to meet the demands of the Damascus Declaration, which in part led to the popular uprising against the al-Assad regime being seen in Syria today.
Asharq Al-Awsat spoke with prominent Syrian Kurdish leader Abdel Hamid Darwish about the situation in Syria, his hopes for the future of the country, and the best way to resolve the current unrest being seen throughout Syria.
The following is the full text of the interview:
[Asharq Al-Awsat] Since the beginning of the Syrian uprising, many people have complained that the Kurds have failed to take a strong and decisive position regarding the situation on the ground. Indeed some say that Syrian Kurds are pursuing a policy of appeasement towards the al-Assad regime, what is the reason for the Kurdish indecision?
[Darwish] It is not fair to accuse the Kurds of having a different position than that of all other Syrian citizens, for the Kurds were, and continue to be, among those who have called and fought the most for freedom and democracy in Syria, especially as the Kurds suffered the most at the hands of this totalitarian and fascist regime. Our suffering was two-fold, first as Syrians, then as Kurds. It is important that we be aware that the Kurds occupy a special and sensitive position [in Syria] with regards to the areas where they live alongside their Arab and Assyrian brothers. We were extremely fearful at the beginning of the uprising that the Kurds would, once more, be subject to accusations of separatism, isolation, and other ready-made accusations.
[Asharq Al-Awsat] We previously heard the al-Assad regime promise to grant Kurdish citizens Syrian nationality, although this has yet to be implemented. Do you believe the al-Assad regime will fulfill its promises to the Syrian Kurds and to the people of Syria in general?
[Darwish] The events that were seen in Kurdish cities in 2004 [Al-Qamishli riots] were orchestrated by some of the ruling elite, and such incidents have only increased the suffering of Syria’s Kurds. This incident was used as a pretext to increase Syria’s security grip on the Kurds and to increase its policy of suppression and oppression of the Kurdish people. The issuance of Decree 49, granting Syrian nationality to the Kurds, took place after the beginning of the uprising and under exceptional circumstances for the ruling regime, and therefore I do not expect the current regime to grant the Kurdish people any national rights.
[Asharq Al-Awsat] From the statements issued by some Syrian Kurdish leaders, we can see that the ceiling of the Kurdish national demands has been raised, to the point of demanding the establishment of an autonomous Kurdish federal region. Do you believe that this is possible under the current al-Assad regime? Or is there a possibility for this to be established following a successful Syrian revolution?
[Darwish] The Kurd’s struggle focuses on finding a just democratic solution to the Kurdish Cause in Syria, and this solution – and its form – will follow a cooperational path between the Kurds and Arabs. As for statements issued by one individual or party, these reflect their own personal or partisan viewpoint. In this regard, I am not optimistic that the current regime will be able to find an appropriate solution to the Kurdish Cause, whilst at the same time I look forward to a future away from suspicion and doubt, a future where Syria will be for all of its citizens; Arabs, Kurds, and Assyrians, free from persecution, following the success of the uprising.
[Asharq Al-Awsat] With the exception of the 2005 “Damascus Declaration” which was signed by “secular and religious, Arab and Kurdish” political opposition figures, the Kurdish political relations with Syrian opposition parties and figures is practically non-existent. How can the Kurdish opposition play an effective role in drawing up the future of Syria, if there is no political coordination?
[Darwish] This is not true and contrary to reality. We have good relations with all components of the [Syrian] opposition. This is not to mention the Damascus Declaration; I was also Vice-Chairman of the Damascus Declaration National Council, which – at the time – represented the largest Syrian political opposition framework.
[Asharq Al-Awsat] Many Syrian political opposition conferences and summits have been held since the beginning of the Syrian uprising, however the Kurds have protested at the deliberate “marginalization” of their role within the opposition. What is the reason for this?
[Darwish] It’s true that a number of summits were held by the [Syrian] opposition abroad in the recent period, and in some of these [summits] the Kurds were given a weak role, although I would not describe it as “marginal.” In any case, we are relying upon the [Syrian] opposition at home, which represent the foundation [of the Syrian opposition], although we appreciate the efforts of the [Syrian] opposition abroad.
[Asharq Al-Awsat] There are real Kurdish fears regarding the future role of the Syrian Muslim Brotherhood, who enjoy clear Turkish support. Why is there this Kurdish fear regarding the role of the Muslim Brotherhood?
[Darwish] Let me tell you frankly, I am not afraid of the role of the Muslim Brotherhood or any other peaceful Islamist trends, particularly as the Muslim Brotherhood – or any other [political] religious organizations – do not have a presence in the Kurdish regions [of Syria]. In my own opinion, I see no reason why we should fear the Muslim Brotherhood or exclude them from political participation, or persecute them in any way.
[Asharq Al-Awsat] There have been a number of calls for a national conference of Kurdish political parties to be held [to discuss the Syrian crisis]. Where have the efforts to hold such a conference reached? What are your hopes from such a conference? Is it even feasible to hold a Kurdish national conference in light of the [political] divisions within the Syrian Kurdish community?
[Darwish] Efforts are being exerted by Kurdish parties to hold a Kurdish national conference, and such efforts have made great strides towards achieving this goal, and I hope that we will succeed in holding such a conference despite all the difficulties and obstacles that we are facing.
[Asharq Al-Awsat] What is your view of the future of Syria, particularly in light of the al-Assad regime’s insistence on pursuing a security solution, rather than a political one? There are a number of scenarios that Syria might follow, including even the Libyan scenario, i.e. an armed uprising against the regime. What is your opinion of this?
[Darwish] The ruling regime, by continuing to pursue a security solution to the crisis, has committed a grave mistake, for the situation cannot be resolved in this manner, and this is only causing greater problems. If there are any such parties calling for arms to be raised to confront the regime, as you claim, then I do not support this.
[Asharq Al-Awsat] There have been concerns about a civil war igniting in Syria, and the situation on the ground shares some features of a civil war, including Arab tribes – living in Kurdish regions of Syria – threatening the popular demonstrations taking place in Kurdish cities. Do you believe that we might see any confrontation between the Kurds and Arab tribes or Syria’s Christian community in the future?
[Darwish] Civil war is certainly something destructive and to be feared, however the Syrian people are educated and alert, and will certainly not allow the country to slide into such a dangerous outcome. The Syrian Kurds are part of the [Syrian] people, and they have strong relations with their Arab and Christian brothers, and they will not allow any chance for fighting or confrontation.
[Asharq Al-Awsat] The Damascus Declaration, which was a strong oppositional framework, has now been largely marginalized following the recent events in Syria, do you think this there is any possibility of this document playing a future role in Syria?
[Darwish] I will not hide the fact that the Damascus Declaration has lost much of its power and influence since its inception, and this was due to the suppression and persecution carried out by government authorities against its leadership and principles. Even so, this framework had a substantial impact on Syrian society, and it will no doubt occupy a prominent place in the future.
[Asharq Al-Awsat] The Libyan rebels, with the escalation of events in the country, formed a “National Transitional Council” that was recognized by most of the international community. With NATO cooperation, the Libyan rebels then managed to overthrow the Gaddafi regime. Do you think the Syrian opposition should form a national transitional council?
[Darwish] The [Syrian] national opposition remains divided at home, and we are exerting effort to – first and foremost – unite, and after we are united then we will decide what must be done.
[Asharq Al-Awsat] Would you favor international intervention in the Syrian crisis?
[Darwish] We do not support foreign military intervention, but this does not mean that we reject political pressure being exerted on the ruling regime in order to push it to respond to the Syrian people’s demands for freedom and democracy.
[Asharq Al-Awsat] Turkey has intervened in a clear manner in the Syrian crisis; do you accept this regional intervention, particularly as Turkey has its own fears regarding the growing Kurdish role in Syria?
[Darwish] The Turkish role in relation to what is happening in Syria is opportunistic and hesitant; they are waiting for an opportunity to guide the course of events in the direction that best serves their own interests.
[Asharq Al-Awsat] With regards to foreign intervention, can you tell us if the Syrian Kurdish parties are in contact with the Kurdistan Regional Government, particularly regarding your own party and its relations with Iraqi President Jalal Talabani’s Patriotic Union of Kurdistan [PUK]?
[Darwish] We have strong relations with all other Kurdish parties, particularly with the PUK and its leader President Jalal Talabani; however our policies stem from our own experiences and position within Syria…although this does not conflict with our good and brotherly relations with other Kurdish parties.
[Asharq Al-Awsat] The US position towards the situation in Syria has now reached the stage of Washington calling for al-Assad to step down. What do you think is the best way out for the Syrian crisis?
[Darwish] In my opinion, the way out of this crisis is for the regime to respond to the people’s demands, and this can be achieved after the opposition unifies and puts an end to its internal division, which the [al-Assad] regime is benefiting from. The political pressure being exerted by the international community, human rights organization and international public opinion has reached the stage today where it can affect the situation on the ground and benefit the Syrian people’s struggle for freedom and democracy.
[Asharq Al-Awsat] Do you think there is any possibility of a military coup taking place and the Syrian regime being overthrown from within? How would the Syrian opposition deal with this?
[Darwish] The prospect of the regime being overthrown from within in order to put an end to the crisis facing the country remains a possibility, and may be the solution that is most in harmony with reality and the interests of the Syrian people.
August 28th, 2011, 5:53 pm
True said:
“The Assadians started to arrive Spain to attend the legendary wedding of (Gameel Alassad’s granddaughter & Rifaat Alassad’s grandson) on 15th Sep”
• It might be a desperate move in order to show some unity within the family
• A clear symptom of denial disorder
• It might, I hope, be a cover-up operation to justify fleeing out the Assadians women and kids
• This anticipated “legendary” party is fully financed by Rami Makhlouf so pretty much the poor Syrian would pay for it
@ Menehbeks, Your God “Besho”, Maher and Rami can’t make it to the party, you know they can’t get a VISA lol, are you all invited?
August 28th, 2011, 5:55 pm
Humanist said:
Assad is either a secular pretending to be islamist or a islamist pretending to be secular. He is either pseudo-secular or pseudo-islamist. Something is just very FAKE about him
He tries to win both, but are instead probably loosing both.
I think Syria (and all arab contries) needs a HONEST and STRICT leader, secular OR islamist. BOTH will eventually lead to secularism and even atheism.
I will tell you why
*The best examples of this “method”:
1. Soviet union central asia/caucasus and 2. Islamic republic of Iran.
1. The “muslims” in the former soviet states (like Azer.) are still the most secular in the world thanks to the ATHEISM campaign from Lenin and co.
2. The “muslims” in Iran are also leaving religon like the soviet muslims did, but now because of the ISLAMIC campaign from Khamaini and Co.
*INSTEAD
Pseudo-secularism creates most religious extremism. just look at iran under the shah, Iraq under Saddam, Egypt under Mubarak, Syria under AssadS. They seem to have/had the worst islamist population…
WHAT DO YOU THINK, (REAL) SYRIAN SECULARISTS?
August 28th, 2011, 6:00 pm
Aboud said:
“The problem with president Assad is that because he is an alwat, he feels that he has to be more Islamic than the Muslim brotherhood, Ataturk did not care about that.”
Like being holier than the pope. Good phrase, would explain his bizarre iftar speech, and it’s an admission on his part that 40+ years of enforced Baathist secularism have gotten nowhere in Syria.
I think Syria should have a quota system for seats in the people’s assembly; 100 seats, 95 of them go to Homs. The rest of the country can divide the 5 remaining seats. Homsis get the following ministries reserved for them;
Defense, Foreign, Interior, Economy, Education, Agriculture, Information, Prime Minister, Higher Education, Health and Transport. Non-Homsis can have the rest (which probably just leaves Environment)
Prepare yourselves for the Pax Homsica!
August 28th, 2011, 6:05 pm
BEAWARE PLUS said:
Dear Tara
Don’t count on Ammar coming back, the minute I read the dentist story I knew it was a sham. Same goes for “American Valerie”. Alas, futile to argue with people who are religiously bent on peddling in“doubt”. You really wonder at this late stage, what are they trying to achieve.
Landis in my opinion shares some responsibility, if nothing but for giving them top billings. I love the way he went so far as to invoke his historical prowess to take us back to 1948 Deir Yassin and Ahmad Chalabi to use as examples of consequences of exaggerated reporting. As if these two incidents have any correlation with the situation in Syria today: A brutal, sadistic regime, shot out all information to the outside world in able to do as they please, or to quote Landis “do very bad things” to what is by all accounts, an unarmed population long deprived of dignity and freedom. And to add insult to injury, they expect, or more aptly demand, that their version of the truth and the version of their supporters is to be truth of all truths. In other word, Baath truth uber else.
The Baath regime has been lying and fabricating stories for almost 50 years, albeit vastly dumb and out of touch with reality. Imagine for a second if the Baath was a person and subsequently subpoenaed to take the witness stand in a court of law, I doubt they could pass the smell test.
August 28th, 2011, 6:06 pm
beaware said:
Syrian opposition decides to take up arms against Assad regime
Published 16:58 28.08.11
http://www.haaretz.com/misc/article-print-page/syrian-opposition-decides-to-take-up-arms-against-assad-regime-1.381184?trailingPath=2.169%2C2.216%2C2.217%2C
Leader of Revolutionary Council tell London-based As-Sharq al-Awsat that the only solution to regime’s violence is armed uprising.
The leader of the Revolutionary Council of the Syrian Coordination Committees, Mohammad Rahhal, said in remarks published Sunday that the council took the decision to arm the Syrian revolution.
Since mid-March pro-democracy protests have engulfed most of Syria calling for political and economic reforms as well as for the ousting of Syrian president Bashar Assad.
“We made our decision to arm the revolution which will turn violent very soon because what we are being subjected to today is a global conspiracy that can only be faced by an armed uprising,” he told the London-based As-Sharq al-Awsat newspaper. Circumstances no longer allow dealing peacefully with the regime’s “crimes,” he added. “We will use whatever arms and rocks … We will respond to the people’s calls to arm the revolution,” he said.
“Confronting this monster (the Syrian regime) now requires arms, especially after it has become clear to everyone that the world only supports the Syrian uprising through speeches,” he added. Rahal lashed out some Arab regimes and described them as “cowards.”
Assad’s troops have harshly cracked down on protests against almost five decades of Baath Party rule, killing over 2,200 people and triggering a wide-scale international condemnation.
August 28th, 2011, 6:08 pm
Khalid Tlass said:
Aboud, I am having a feeling that victory is coming very, very soon. I don’t know why, but I’m getting this gut feeling. If an armed uprising does take place, I do hope people like you and SGID will be safe, and lots of Menhebaks will be dying painful deaths inside their Tanks and APCs.
August 28th, 2011, 6:16 pm
Norman said:
The question is, if the situation in Syria become more violent and the opposition will not meet the government for a solution, will the government go on the attack and start jailing and even assassinating the opposition leaders and will that be the start of the civil war that nobody claims that they want but everybody seems to be moving toward.
August 28th, 2011, 6:19 pm
Humanist said:
“The problem with president Assad is that because he is an alwat, he feels that he has to be more Islamic than the Muslim brotherhood, Ataturk did not care about that.”
Well, Atatürk was perhaps half-JEWISH (think something worse!). But still he didn’t try to “be hollier than the pope”. In the beginning he tried to be sensitive against islam. But in his last speeches he was often against religions and indirecly, but clearly admitted he was an atheist (see. Wikipedia)
Atatürk was NOT an oppurtunist, he stod up for what he DID believe in as well as what he DID NOT believe in.
The same thing can’t be said about “secular” arab leaders….
Good night and good luck for Syria and all Syrians (secularists, pseudo-secularists, pseudo-islamists, islamists…)
I WISH YOU ALL THE BEST!
(this is my last post here)
August 28th, 2011, 6:28 pm
True said:
@ 390. BEAWARE PLUS said:
“The Baath regime has been lying and fabricating stories for almost 50 years”
Their theory of “fake it till you make it” is not valid anymore, today we have the upper hand.
@ 392. Khalid Tlass
“Menhebaks will be dying painful deaths inside their Tanks and APCs”
no mate no dying for “Menhebkes” I want them alive to worship me instead and surely I’m in favour to torture them first with freedom and democracy
August 28th, 2011, 6:43 pm
ss said:
392 by Khalid “Aboud, I am having a feeling that victory is coming very, very soon. I don’t know why, but I’m getting this gut feeling”
I think your gut feeling misslead you before as it is now. The regime has the upper hand now. Ramadan was a regime round by all means. Honestly, I only see signs of strength on part of the Syrian regime, and signs of despiration on part of the so called opposition (I really give a lot of respect if I call you opposition). Now the opposition is going to gut feelings to speculate what will happen to the regime. Let us start from Lattakia: We heer no Takbeerat. Alraml Alganoobi is so peaceful now. Alkah wa akbar nights that terrorized people are part of history. Hama, hows the Assi square now compared to 3 months ago. I will let you judge!. Still some resistance in Homs and Reef damascus. Today the army will take care of deer alzoor. There are pockets here and there but they are way less compared to few months ago.
Amir Qatar in Iran which raises many ??????????. I think he was there to make a save face deal. He wants to be out of the humulation he brought on himself. Ahmadeenijad and his foreign minister announcements were just political statements that change nothing in the fact that Khaminai himself called Syria the most important alli. I think the regime lead by preseident Assad has shown signs of boldness lately and he earned it. He was clear in his last interview:
1. Attack on Syria will be costly
2. We would accept political advice but we do not accept any interference with Syrias’ internal affairs.
The criminals are being broadcated on a weekly basis. The MB is losing ground again. All the money of Harriri and gulf thugs are wasted, the plan has failed so far, and the game will be over soon.
Many MBs on SC are wounded again. soon 2011 will be history like 1980s
August 28th, 2011, 6:58 pm
Tara said:
Dear Beaware Plus
It really is not my nature to put someone on the spot but at the same time I don’t like people to insult our intelligence and think they can get away with it and for that matter I pursued Ammar Shami’s story. Any how i do admit that I did enjoy proving Ammar Shami lack of credibility to…. Josh.
I do not want to sound obsessed about these eye witnesses that appear in the main post but I just want to quote Valerie once and for all ” I have seen a Palestinian girl arrested after weapons were found in her apartment, the cousin of a friend was killed while walking in an Alawi neighborhood that has never seen any protests, another expat friend of mine saw a man setting up a sniper rifle on the rooftop across from the building where he worked and watched as the man was arrested after someone else called the police, the list goes on…).
How on earth can we believe that she have witnessed with her own eyes a Palestinian girl being arrested after weapons were found in her apartment. Was she visiting with that “Palestinian girl” when she got arrested or was she the mukhabarat agent that arrested her, or perhaps she likes to play a girl James Bond and she was embedded with the regime’s security force that arrested the girl? Moreover a cousin of a friend was killed walking in Alawi neighborhood, another incident Aldoonya TV ignored and did not use in it’s propaganda, or even better, an “alleged” opposition sniper who is “retarded” enough to expose himself to her expat friend when it is well known that even infants in Syria get deprived from their right of living just because a regime psychopath decided to shoot at them. Do all of you see the trend? Lies after lies to blur the truth.
Beaware plus, I like very much your writing style, please write more.
August 28th, 2011, 7:09 pm
some guy in damascus said:
@aboud, i’d be more than glad to share a meal with you, the food in Syria 2.0 will taste better.
@ khalid tlass, i love your support and concern and im glad your feeling optimistic ,we all are! i just wanted to discuss something with you. from reading your previous posts, you have some sectarian comments about alawis, shi’a or Christians.i get offended when you talk about them in such a matter, please dont single out these syrians. i was taught by christian teachers, healed by alawi nurses and shared great times with shi’ites. remember Syria 2.0 will be a place of equal opportunity where religion will be a relationship between you and your deity ONLY.
@ syria no kandahar,
i thought long and hard about how i could reply to your comment, but then i realized it lacked argument,intelligence and commitment to debate. when you have solid things worth debating and arguing over, i’l be more than happy to
arguerefute your comments.@ all,
yes when leaders sense their ends they do get a bit more religious, just take a look at saif-il islam gaddafi, and the beard he’s sporting. Besho is trying to give us concessions that will be short term solution to sooth public anger that will generate long term problems, for 1 example the illegal building, or the numerous illegal stalls in Damascus( we know some of them are intelligence services) or the sudden reaffirmation to islam that will polarize society.
@ professor . landis:
is our email information shared with anyone? you must realize that i among others have security concerns.
August 28th, 2011, 7:11 pm
some guy in damascus said:
” Any how i do admit that I did enjoy proving Ammar Shami lack of credibility to…. Josh.”
ummm well don’t hog all the credit! 😀
August 28th, 2011, 7:15 pm
EHSANI2 said:
Those of us living in the path of hurricane Irene expected a real disaster this weekend. Now that it is over, one cannot escape the thought that the whole ordeal was exaggerated by both the media and government officials.
On second thought, this was inevitable. Had government officials not gone to this length to warn citizens, every death would have been blamed on government incompetence and unpreparedness.
Rather than risk similar charges that came post Katrina, it has become smart politics for mayors and governors alike to be over prepared to avoid any loss of lives that may be blamed on them.
During the weekend, I received numerous calls from friends and family in Syria checking on us here.
Why did they exaggerate this I was asked.
My reply:
Because if one person dies, mayors and governors may get sued or even lose their jobs.
Answer from Syria:
That’s interesting. Our mayors and governors lose their jobs if they don’t kill enough people
August 28th, 2011, 7:18 pm
Syria no kandahar said:
SGID&MB Inc
No Sunni regime provides religious freedom ever.MB regime in Syria will not be an exception.leave the churches alone and clean.Turkey claims to have religious freedom. Only when it became minorities free.I hope you have good ?????? tonight
And a good camera to proof your lies.
August 28th, 2011, 7:27 pm
Aboud said:
@396 Look up the phrase Pyrrhic victory. Even that would be very generous in describing the “victory” you attribute to junior sending tank divisions everywhere there is a demonstration. It is a disastrous policy.
It’s like your thugs boasting they won a 4 against 1 fight against Ali Ferzat, or boasting how they beat up the shiekh at the Rifa3i mosque. Only a person in over his head would call that a “victory”.
August 28th, 2011, 7:36 pm
some guy in damascus said:
@snk
do i get a SGID and the angel play?
please please!!!!! maybe you can include osama instead of what was he called? bakour?, habour? sharshou7?
you do know for many of us in the opposition, you including us in your famous plays is like a baptism ceremony.
i try to refrain from engaging with you, because i pity you. but sometimes i can’t help it.
August 28th, 2011, 7:49 pm
Mjabali said:
General:
You hate Dr. Wafa Sultan because of some Zionist/right wing conspiracy, isn’t that assumption a little crazy?
You are sounding like a conspiracy freak.
As for role models I think you are one for this lunatic Khaled Tlass …..
August 28th, 2011, 8:12 pm
Tara said:
Dear SGID
You absolutely deserve all the credit no doubt about it. I hope and pray you, Aboud, and all the best and brave in Syria stay safe safe and sound.
August 28th, 2011, 8:14 pm
Dale Andersen said:
Memo To: SOME GUY IN DAMASCUS
RE: “…Syria 2.0 will be a place of equal opportunity where religion will be a relationship between you and your deity ONLY…”
No, it won’t.
August 28th, 2011, 8:21 pm
Haytham Khoury said:
Dear Norman@364:
It seems on this forum, you will not find people who are free to answer your call.
If you have a Feacebook account, please be my friend on Facebook and I will tell you where you can discuss the future of Syria.
http://www.facebook.com/haytham.khoury
Beast
Haytham
August 28th, 2011, 8:34 pm
True said:
@ 396. ss
You might be touching some truth and I have to admit that Besho kicked it up a notch during Ramadan flexing his muscles here and there. However, all in all it’s a collateral damage to the regime itself not to the freedom seekers.
Your measurements of victory are not objective and maybe quite shallow (i.e. stopping Takbeer), Besho refused to implement a genuine reform and unleashed his thugs instead to STOP the unrest.
Has Besho managed to stop the unrest? NO
So Menehbek stop claiming a victory you never had.
August 28th, 2011, 8:35 pm
some guy in damascus said:
@ tara,
thanks!
@ dale andersen
we could at least try.
August 28th, 2011, 8:40 pm
True said:
@ SGID
Try to use different email alias when posting on SC, never use a static IP and most importantly change the proxy settings if you’re using the STE connection as they’ve installed some filters @ Muhajeeren internet centre. I’m pretty sure the thugs of division 225 (who keep clicking like/dislike on SC) are all after you now and with no confirmed high security measures on SC it’s so easy to hack into the DB so just CYA.
Thank you and thanks to the girl who was next to you while taking the video, God bless.
August 28th, 2011, 8:45 pm
Norman said:
Hi Haytham,
No, i do not have face book account, i am not that savvy to know how to keep my identity hidden and i do not have time for more than SC, i think of SC as the living room where the Syrians will sit and discuss their problems , i just do not think that we need more living rooms,
August 28th, 2011, 8:49 pm
some guy in damascus said:
@ true, thanks for the advice. i’ve taken some measures to hide my IP, but its the email thing that got me worried, although it doesn’t reveal my name or such it can show info about me.anyways, trying to gather information about people from the internet is like trying to sip water from a fire hose, plus im pretty sure the e-shabeeha are chasing their arch enemy( SNN and the syrian revolution group). e-shabeeha refrain from highly esteemed websites like this one, but i guess il have to introduce some more safety measures.
August 28th, 2011, 9:00 pm
DMZ said:
So now the best case scenario for the Industrialist In Aleppo is CUBA , They claim it is a success.
http://www.aliqtisadi.com/index.php?mode=article&id=14235
August 28th, 2011, 9:04 pm
Aboud said:
@404 Little man, do not preach of conspiracies when your president’s head is filled with nothing else LOL!
I hate her because 1) She wants the West to nuke the Arab world 2) She is calling for the West to intervene and rebuild Arab societies in their image, which was a disaster when they tried that in Iraq 3) She is an opportunistic little git who would have been a nobody but for her 15 minutes on Al-Jazeera.
Seriously, how could any self respecting Arab like a crazy old woman who wants to nuke the Arab world. Ah right, these are menhebaks, they kneel to Besho’s picture and call him God.
Is the West and Jews expectations of Arab women so low that *this* is the best cheer leader they could come up with?
A delegation from the Scholars of Homs pay a visit to Shiekh Usama Refa3i
Proud of yourselves, menhebak turds? Beating up on an 80 year old shiekh? Wallak etfeeee 3alaikon wa 3ala ra’eskon el gaban. Al “victory” al.
August 28th, 2011, 9:05 pm
Norman said:
How come the king of Saudi Arabia does say the same thing to the opposition in Syria, it makes sence what he is saying,
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August 28th, 2011, 9:09 pm
N.Z. said:
396, SS,
Claiming the regime has the “upper hand” by brutally suppressing a legitimate uprising is a further admission, unintentionally, by no other than yourself, that this regime is on its way to vanish from the world stage.
I fully agree with your analogy “soon 2011 will be history like 1980s” I hope you take pride in neither. Specially the beatings, torture and liquidation of anyone who does not adhere to their rule. I am sure you will not treat your opponents in the same manner as them.
Emotions are high no doubt, keeping perspective and adhering to your humanity will enrich a Syria, free from tyranny.
August 28th, 2011, 9:18 pm
Mjabali said:
General bombastic:
You hate her because she is bigger than you ever dreamed. You are jelouse of the attention she is getting mixed with your paranoia from any one who says anything critical of Islam.
Added to that her being from a minority. What you said about her connection to Zionist conspiracy proves you are a CLOWN.
August 28th, 2011, 9:20 pm
SYR.EXPAT said:
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2011-08-28
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August 28th, 2011, 9:26 pm
SYR.EXPAT said:
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???? ?? ????? ‘?????? ???????’ ????? ??? ??????? ????? ??? ??? ?????? ?????? ????? ???? ????? ????? ?????????? ??????. ????? ????? ???? ??? ??? ????? ?????? ?????.
???? ????? ?????? ????? ?? ??? ??????? ????? ??? ????? ?????? ???? ???? ???? ???? ?????? ???? ?????. ??????? ??? ???? ???? ?? ?????? ????? ??? ????? ????? ?? ????? ?? ?? ????? ?? ?? ???? ?????? ?????.
?? ??? ??? ?? ??? ??? ????? ???? ????? ?? ????? ??????? ???????? ??? ???? ??? ????? ?????. ??? ??? ???? ????? ????? ???????? ???? ????? ??? ?????? ?????? ??? ??????? ?????? ?? ??? ????? ??????. ‘??? ???? ?????’? ??? ?????? ???? ??? ????? ???? ??????????. ??? ????? ????? ?????? ??????.
????? ????? ?? ???? ????? ???? ????? ?????? ?? ??????? ?? ????? ???? ????????? ???? ?????? ?? ??? ??????? ???????? ????? ??? ??????? ?????????.
??? ?????? 60 ???? ?? ???? ?? ???? ???????? ?????????????? ?????? ?? ?????? ??????? ???? ??? ????? ?????? ??? ????? ????.
??? ????? ?????? ?????? ?????? ??????? ????????: ??? ??? ????? ????? ??????? ??? ???? ????? ?? ???? ???????? ???? ??? ???? ???? ??????? ?????? ????? ??????.
???? ?????????? ???? ???? ???? ??? ??? ??????? ??? ????? ???? ???? ??? ??????? ???? ?????? ???? ????? ????? ????? ???? ??????? ????? ????? ?? ??? ??????. ?? ?????? ??? ???? ?????? ?????? ???? ???????????? ????? ???.
?? ???? ????? ???? ????? ????? ?????. ???? ??????? ?????? ?? 2000? ???? ?????? ????? ?????? ??? ????? ??? ???? ?????? ???? ?????????. ‘?? ??? ???????’? ???? ?????? ?? ???? 50 ??? ???? ????? ???? ?? ???? ???? ?????.
???? ‘?? ??? ???????’ ?????? ??? ???? ????? ????? ???? ????? ??? ?????.
??? ????? ??? ?? ??? ??????? ???????? ????? ????? ?? ??? ??????? ??? ?????? ?? ‘??????’ ?????????? ???? ????? ?????? ?? ????? ??????? ?????? ????? ????? ??????? ?? ?????.
??? ????? ????? ??? ?????? ?????? ???? ????? ??? ??????? ??? ????: ??? ?? ????? ??????? ???? ?????? ????? ??????.
??? ?????? ?? ?????? ?????? ??? ?? ???? ???????? ?????? ?????????? ????: ????? ??? ??? ??????? ? ??? ????? ?????? ???? ???? ??? ???? ?? ?????? ??? ??????? ??? ????? ???? ??? ????? ????.
?? ???? ???????? ?? ?????. ?????? ???? ?????? ???????? ???? ????? ???? ?? ?????? ??? ???????.
?????? ???? ‘???????’ ? ??? ?????? ?? ???????? ??????? ???? ??? ????? ?????? ????? ????? ??? ????? ??? ??????? ??????? ???????? ??? ?? ?????? ??? ?? ???? ???? ??????? ???????.
?????? 28/8/2011
August 28th, 2011, 9:31 pm
ann said:
Darth Vader Vents – August 27, 2011
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/28/opinion/sunday/dowd-darth-vader-vents.html
WHY is it not a surprise to learn that Dick Cheney’s ancestor, Samuel Fletcher Cheney, was a Civil War soldier who marched with Sherman to the sea?
Scorched earth runs in the family.
Having lost the power to heedlessly bomb the world, Cheney has turned his attention to heedlessly bombing old colleagues.
Vice’s new memoir, “In My Time,” veers unpleasantly between spin, insisting he was always right, and score-settling, insisting that anyone who opposed him was wrong.
His knife-in-her-teeth daughter, Elizabeth Cheney, helped write the book. The second most famous Liz & Dick combo do such an excellent job of cherry-picking the facts, it makes the cherry-picking on the Iraq war intelligence seem picayune.
Cheney may no longer have a pulse, but his blood quickens at the thought of other countries he could have attacked. He salivates in his book about how Syria and Iran could have been punished.
Cheney says that in 2007, he told President Bush, who had already been pulled into diplomacy by Condi Rice: “I believed that an important first step would be to destroy the reactor in the Syrian desert.”
At a session with most of the National Security Council, he made his case for a strike on the reactor. It would enhance America’s tarnished credibility in the Arab world, he argued, (not bothering to mention who tarnished it), and demonstrate the country’s “seriousness.”
“After I finished,” he writes, “the president asked, ‘Does anyone here agree with the vice president?’ Not a single hand went up around the room.”
By that time, W. had belatedly realized that Cheney was a crank whose bad advice and disdainful rants against “the diplomatic path” and “multilateral action” had pretty much ruined his presidency.
There were few times before the bitter end that W. was willing to stand up to Vice. But the president did make a bold stand on not letting his little dog be gobbled up by Cheney’s big dog.
When Vice’s hundred-pound yellow Lab, Dave, went after W.’s beloved Scottish terrier, Barney, at Camp David’s Laurel Lodge, that was a bridge too far.
When Cheney and Dave got back to their cabin, there was a knock at the door. “It was the camp commander,” Cheney writes. “ ‘Mr. Vice President,’ he said, ‘your dog has been banned from Laurel.’ ”
But on all the nefarious things that damaged America, Cheney got his way for far too long.
Vice gleefully predicted that his memoir would have “heads exploding all over Washington.” But his book is a bore. He doesn’t even mention how in high school he used to hold the water buckets to douse the fiery batons of his girlfriend Lynne, champion twirler.
At least Rummy’s memoir showed some temperament. And George Tenet’s was the primal scream of a bootlicker caught out.
Cheney takes himself so seriously, flogging his cherished self-image as a rugged outdoorsman from Wyoming (even though he shot his Texas hunting partner in the face) and a vice president who was the only thing standing between America and its enemies.
He acts like he is America. But America didn’t like Dick Cheney.
It’s easier for someone who believes that he is America incarnate to permit himself to do things that hurt America — like torture, domestic spying, pushing America into endless wars, and flouting the Geneva Conventions.
Mostly, Cheney grumbles about having his power checked. It’s bad enough when the president does it, much less Congress and the courts.
A person who is always for the use of military force is as doctrinaire and irrelevant as a person who is always opposed to the use of military force.
Cheney shows contempt for Tenet, Colin Powell and Rice, whom he disparages in a sexist way for crying, and condescension for W. when he won’t be guided to the path of most destruction.
He’s churlish about President Obama, who took the hunt for Osama bin Laden off the back burner and actually did what W. promised to do with his little bullhorn — catch the real villain of 9/11.
“Tracking him down was certainly one of our top priorities,” Cheney writes. “I was gratified that after years of diligent and dedicated work, our nation’s intelligence community and our special operations forces were able on May 1, 2011, to find and kill bin Laden.”
Tacky.
Finishing the book with an account of the 2010 operation to put in a battery-operated pump that helps his heart push blood through his body, he recounts the prolonged, vivid dream about a beautiful place in Italy he had during the weeks he was unconscious.
“It was in the countryside, a little north of Rome, and it really seemed I was there,” he writes. “I can still describe the villa where I passed the time, the little stone paths I walked to get coffee or a batch of newspapers.”
Caesar and his cappuccino.
August 28th, 2011, 9:39 pm
Aboud said:
What’s the matter Mjahali, can’t call me a Nazi anymore? You poor thing, did the little menhebak get slapped with the Censorbat? LOL!
“Added to that her being from a minority.”
Really, she’s from a minority? That would explain alot. Just like your Besho, she has to over compensate 🙂
Thank goodness for Al-Jazeera, otherwise where would the angry old lady be today? I really don’t understand how any self respecting Arab could like someone who calls for nuking Arab countries. Or does Mjahali think the Iraq experiment in nation building was a success? That’s what the Zionist and Neocon appeasing angry lady is calling for.
So Mjahali, when will you be out in the streets calling for a similar invasion of Syria? Will you be waving the American flag, Mjahali? Write to your senator and congressman and tell him you want the Iraqi solution in Syria, since you have the hots for this attention grabbing angry “minority complex” woman 🙂
August 28th, 2011, 9:40 pm
True said:
“Wallak etfeeee 3alaikon wa 3ala ra’eskon el gaban”
Elbaz2a kteer 3aleehon piss would do it though
August 28th, 2011, 9:44 pm
Abughassan said:
Expat,alquds article was good. Thanks
Qatar is now trying to help finding a face- saving solution for all,it may not work and it may be too late,but I am still hopeful,the bloodshed must stop at any cost
???? ???????? ????
August 28th, 2011, 9:44 pm
Aboud said:
Anyone who supports Wafa Sultan supports;
1) Nuking arab countries.
2) The invasion of Aran countries, just like Iraq
3) Tearing down Arab societies so they can be rebuilt as the Neocons deem fit, just like Iraq
4) Wars between the West and the entire Islamic world.
5) Appeasement of the Neocon-Right-Wing and hardline Zionists.
Do you notice how the menhebaks like to use the title Doctor alot? It’s as if someone’s ineptitude and odious character can be covered up by the word doctor.
Poor Mjahali,, his obsession is driving him to insanity. Every single one of his posts has been about me. I don’t need a doctorate to completely own the menhebaks, anywhere, anytime 🙂
August 28th, 2011, 9:49 pm
N.Z. said:
Wafa Sultan attacks the Islamic faith and not the adherents. She comes across as a very angry person. I wish I can help her, she seems to be very hurt. Anger is both, exhausting and lowers the credibility of a debater. She is exhausting and angry at once, hope she will find closure.
August 28th, 2011, 9:50 pm
Abughassan said:
I do not hate wafaa sultan but I do not respect her or agree with her attack on Islam.
The fact that she was an alawi,was because she said she has no religion,provides some people with an easy target since militants think she supports their opinion of her sect.
August 28th, 2011, 9:53 pm
Aboud said:
“The fact that she was an alawi”
That explains why Mjahali has the hots for her and is so touchy about her. Hehehe, thanks, another easy target to torment the menhebaks with. She is the caricature of the “angry old lady”, jaws and all.
MLK quote;
“We must use time creatively. ”
Yes, and not spend so much time playing on our X-Boxes, ya Besho afandi
A quote from the head Iranian Ayatollah
“Economics is for donkeys”
Nuff said.
August 28th, 2011, 9:56 pm
N.Z. said:
She is someone that makes Daniel Pipes blush.
August 28th, 2011, 9:57 pm
True said:
(Wafa Sultan’s comments, especially a pointed criticism that “no Jew has blown himself up in a German restaurant”, brought her an invitation to Jerusalem by the American Jewish Congress.)
C’mon Menehbeks you claim supporting resistance and end up worshipping Wafa Sultan!!! Bloody dichotomous!
August 28th, 2011, 9:57 pm
Aboud said:
“brought her an invitation to Jerusalem by the American Jewish Congress”
Did she go to Jerusalem? That would be appalling. How could any Arab with any self respect go there and be received by Israelis while Palestinians who have lived there for generations, are denied the right to come back, and even lose their Jerusalem residency at the slightest of pretexts. Shocking. Dreadful. What a terribly crass thing for a “doctor” to do.
August 28th, 2011, 10:00 pm
beaware said:
Time to Act Decisively Concerning the Syrian Regime
Ali Husseyin Bekir
USAK Center for Middle Eastern and African Studies
Sunday, 28 August 2011
http://www.turkishweekly.net/columnist/3506/time-to-act-decisively-concerning-the-syrian-regime.html
Six months passed since the uprising erupted in Syria, and about 3 thousand innocent citizens has killed by al Assad Regime so far, and no one is able to stop this killing machine!
Gaining time is the core of Assad’s strategy adopted to deal with public uprising, diffuse outer pressure and gain the upper hand ultimately. As noticed, this strategy is based on three main pillars:
• Military Pillar: From the beginning, it was obvious that Assad decided to launch a decisive military and security operation in order to send a strong message and put an end to the uprising.
• Political Pillar: He is following the tactic in which “Yes” actually means “No!” While everyone is asking him to implement real, concrete and effective reforms, his answer has always been “we are not against reforms, but we need time.” In fact, Assad has kept on repeating this sentence since he came to power in 2000, and people can clearly see that there has been no real reforms since then.
The aim of this tactic followed by Assad is:
– to ease and contain any foreign pressure against his regime, divide the international community, and make sure that no consensus is reached on taking concrete measures against him.
– to absorb people’s anger (which did not really work because of the loss of credibility and legitimacy) and to divide the opposition front by moving the ball to their own field between those who will respond to calls for dialogue and those who will reject it as they tested the regime for decades.
• Media Pillar: Syrian regime is using well-experienced media in making propaganda and psychological war (especially the Lebanese outlets) focusing on two issues:
– There is a conspiracy against Syria as it is the only stronghold of resistance against Israel and the US in the region.
– The country is facing with terrorists, radical Islamists and agents working for the West to destabilize Syria.
Where are we heading to?
While trying to gain more time, Syrian regime is totally ignoring that there is a real serious problem as well as disregarding the legitimate demands of the people. For instance, Assad has not directly addressed the citizens till now not even one time!
So far, without using the necessary tools to push him to do so, regional and intentional players kept on repeating the same request from Assad: “Stop killing now!” It was clear that most of the countries including the ones “supposed to be the enemies of Assad” wanted him to stay in power for their own interests.
Some international and regional players wanted him to stay in power but in a weaker condition which will make him compromise with them. Others wanted him to stay but to make real reforms in order to save himself and them from the current crisis and the dilemma he put them in. Such things only lets Assad gain more time and this should not be done anymore. In contrast, decisive, strong and immediate actions should be taken against him.
The good thing is that the Syrian people will not go back. They cannot just stop going down to the streets as they know that whenever they retreat, each and every one will be vanished by being kidnapped, imprisoned, tortured or killed by Assad’s intelligence agencies.
The bad thing is that Assad regime believes that his strategy will let him get what he wants since there is no feasible military option against him which enables him to continue his butchering without being questioned or pay for his actions.
What should be done?
more….
August 28th, 2011, 10:01 pm
Husam said:
SGID, ABOUD, TRUE, BEWARE PLUS, OTW, etc…:
I have held this back for a long time, but due to the wave of people discussing security on Syria Comment, I have decided to share this with you guys. I will keep it short.
Someone contacted me on my email account looking for “almasri”, perhaps a few of you may remember him. The tone was like a CIA disguised as a Taliban-Mullah-Allah-Loving-Brother. He praised me for standing up to all the Islamic bashing on SC. I know nothing more of “almasri” than any of you, nor his contact info. When I questioned the clown, he disappeared. I am 110% sure that the person contacting me was not Muslim, because it was over the top and he made errors.
If you remember, I posted here from time to time, but I stopped because I knew my identity perhaps was compromised not that I have anything to hide, but still.
Guys, you are all easily traceable. All email accounts are hackable nowadays, so when others are warning you, don’t take things lightly. Aboud, it is hard for me to believe you are in Syria or SGID, if you really are, then I think you are playing with fire.
And, who knows what this so called Syria Comment “living room” as Norman put it really is all about; perhaps it is some project by xyz. We know that Joshua is missing many disclosures and affiliations which he has not addressed despite many calls for coming clean.
August 28th, 2011, 10:12 pm
SYR.EXPAT said:
“423. ABUGHASSAN said:
“the bloodshed must stop at any cost”
I would add torture and brutality.
August 28th, 2011, 10:13 pm
Afram said:
263. Husam said:
Phares:
Afram hates Islam and Muslims. He feeds off anti-Islamic sites online and comes here to unleash his venom trying to poison the hearts of Syrians against each other.
Aisha (PBUH) was not the only one to Marry at a young age, it was common at the time for girls of many faiths (including atheist) to move out of their homes into the homes of their husband’s family. The marriage was consummated when she was ready. Anyone who has any knowledge of history would know this.
Both of my grandmothers had their first babies at 12 & 13 respectively and both are from a very prominent family in Damascus. We are talking modern times here, not 1500 years ago.
For Afram et al, my grandfathers were pedophiles!
===============================SAD=================================Husam
YOUR grandfathers WERE NOT PROPHETS!!!!,YOU MUSLIMS ARE (edited for insult)
53 YEARS OLD muha_MAD,(edited for excessive repetition. You made the same point many times in the past)
August 28th, 2011, 10:19 pm
beaware said:
Russia steps up UN battle over Syria
http://www.saigon-gpdaily.com.vn/International/2011/8/96189/#
Russia on Friday stepped up UN Security Council hostilities over Syria by proposing a resolution without sanctions to rival a Europe-US call to directly target President Bashar al-Assad.
Russia’s ambassador Vitaly Churkin accused the Western allies of “stirring up the opposition” in Syria with their call for an assets freeze on Assad and his entourage and an arms embargo against Damascus.
The rival resolutions — by Britain, France, Germany, Portugal and the United States on one side, and Russia on the other — were both put forward Friday for a potential vote by the 15-nation Security Council.
Russia has indicated that it is ready to veto any resolution that calls for sanctions. The Western countries, which have called on Assad to stand down, say they will not accept anything less than sanctions.
One Western diplomat called the Russian resolution “a maneuver to hijack the negotiations.”
The stage is now set for intense talks between the Europe-US alliance and Russia and China on the final version of any Security Council action.
Russia has insisted that the time is not yet right for punitive measures in response to the crackdown which the UN says has cost 2,200 civilian lives. The Russian and Chinese envoys boycotted informal talks on the European draft resolution on sanctions.
Assad leads a list of 23 individuals and four entities named in the European proposal who would be subject to an asset freeze. The president is not on the 22-name list for a proposed travel ban however. It also calls for a total arms embargo.
Russia’s resolution, a copy of which was obtained by AFP, “calls upon the Syrian government to expedite the implementation of reforms” but also “urges the Syrian opposition to engage in political dialogue” with the Assad regime.
The Security Council should be “pushing the parties in the right direction,” said Churkin, not proposing “something that is stirring up the opposition as we believe is the case with the draft resolution” by Europe and the United States.
Philip Parham, Britain’s deputy UN ambassador, said Western nations had “big problems” with the Russian proposal which he added “stepped back” from a Council statement agreed on August 3 which condemned the violence in Syria.
Miguel Berger, Germany’s deputy ambassador, said Russia’s “proposal is far away from what we would like to see in such a resolution.”
A Western diplomat, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the Russian resolution “puts any violence by demonstrators on the same level as the government repression. It is very far from anything we could accept.”
Much will now depend on whether Europe and the United States can persuade India, Brazil or South Africa to back their resolution.
The three emerging powers remain furious over NATO’s use of UN resolutions on Libya to justify their campaign against Moamer Kadhafi and say that a resolution on Syria could lead down the same military path. The Western nations insist however that there can be no military solution in Syria.
The United Nations stepped up pressure on Assad with a humanitarian mission to Syria concluding there is an “urgent need” to protect civilians against security forces.
The mission was the first allowed into Syria since Assad’s crackdown started in March.
“The mission concluded that although there is no countrywide humanitarian crisis, there is an urgent need to protect civilians from the excessive use of force,” UN deputy spokesman Farhan Haq told reporters.
Haq said the constant presence of government officials limited the mission’s ability to “fully and independently assess the situation.”
“The people it was able to talk to in areas of previous or ongoing unrest said they felt extremely intimidated and under constant threat,” he said
August 28th, 2011, 10:29 pm
Aboud said:
“Aboud, it is hard for me to believe you are in Syria or SGID, if you really are, then I think you are playing with fire. ”
Here we go again. Dude, it’s not like I don’t take measures to stay hidden. If some of you are so stupid that you put your real emails on this forum, then frankly you deserve to get caught. It will cut down on the number of idiots in the world.
In the meantime, el3an rohak ha hafez wa abu hafez. Geeesh, SGID took a video in Damascus and still they don’t believe him.
August 28th, 2011, 10:34 pm
Aboud said:
Tell me, why do the menhebaks use the word “minority” instead of Alawi? What is it about the word Alawi that makes them insecure or hesitant? Why bring up Bitching Sultan’s sect when apparently no one else here was even aware of it? And they use the word “minority” instead of Alawi.
Methinks it betrays a deep seated sense of inferiority and lack of self assurance. Just like how they like to apply the word Doctor to every incompetent “minority” fool.
August 28th, 2011, 10:39 pm
Abughassan said:
Husam is right. If you think your identity is protected on this site,or any site,you are wrong.
People should not say things, using nicknames, that can come and hunt them later. This is one reason why i remain opposed to calls for violence and revenge,it is easy to incite violence when you live thousand of miles away and you are relatively immune from the evil of random violence.
It is fairly possible that people affiliated with the Syrian government,the US government or other agencies/ groups can track you down and use the information to serve their purpose.free speech does not come cheap,and full identity protection is a myth,do not believe in it. Everything I said on this site from day one was done in good faith and for one goal: helping Syria get out of this mess with the least amount of loss,this is why I continued to post knowing that a number of people will eventually be able to find out who abughassan is. I am glad husam brought this subject up.
Peace..
August 28th, 2011, 10:41 pm
beaware said:
#237 Correction of link
PLEASE! NATO HELP US
Tehran presses ally Assad for reforms
Published: Aug 27, 2011 22:48 Updated: Aug 27, 2011 22:48
http://arabnews.com/middleeast/article494432.ece
August 28th, 2011, 10:41 pm
Husam said:
Aboud,
You really did not mean that: “if some of you put your real emails, you deserve to get caught. It will cut down on the number of idiots in the world.” Did you? Don’t you think you are being too condescending! Not everyone here is tech savvy like you.
Get caught by whom, I am not in Syria. I was sharing my story so the lazy syrian expats would realize that their identity is wide open.
I did not see SGID’s video, relax dude.
August 28th, 2011, 10:46 pm
Husam said:
Aboud,
You really did not mean that: \”if some of you put your real emails, you deserve to get caught. It will cut down on the number of idiots in the world.\” Did you? Don\’t you think you are being too condescending! Not everyone here is tech savvy like you.
Get caught by whom, I am not in Syria. I was sharing my story so the lazy syrian expats would realize that their identity is wide open.
I did not see SGID’s video, relax dude.
August 28th, 2011, 10:47 pm
Abughassan said:
Aboud,you are a smart person.using a fake e-mail address is not enough to protect you.
Congressmen in the US tried this before and got caught.
I do not want anybody to pay a price for just speaking out,those who support or oppose the regime have equal rights when it comes to free speech .
I hope Joshua does not take this issue lightly.
August 28th, 2011, 10:47 pm
Husam said:
AbuGhassan:
It gets more interesting:
I read an article that basically confirms the existing technology which can trace down any person anywhere in the world by profiling his/her search terms and writing style. Basically trillions of bits of data are being collected which determines and decodes your unique online DNA.
I am an adwords Google certified expert and can tell you that every single person searches the internet and writes text and content in a unique way. Unless of course you are trained as a covert operator.
Makes you want to live as a Monk atop Mount Nebu.
August 28th, 2011, 10:57 pm
True said:
@ 432. Husam
Mate thanks very much for dropping the note and yeah I totally acknowledge your concerns. I can’t stress enough how much vulnerable we could get without some anti-hack security measures.
Surely SC “Living room” attracts intelligence from all over the world. Here I concur and join your demand of having a comprehensive privacy policy on SC (directed to Josh)
On another note I’ve been chasing the e-thugs army http://syrian-es.com/ operating from division 225 in level 4 of Maqsam Alnaser in Alhijz, and yeah they’re getting better and better with some hand from Iranian and Russian geeks. Syrian Telecom Establishment (STE) has already installed advanced Deep Packet Inspection (DPI) gear in particular the 80Gbps monster “PacketLogic PL10000” which basically extracts, throttles and inspect everything from IM, Email, P2P, BitTorrent, Flash, video or audio streaming, images, Skype and more. So SGID and ABOUD you better watch out!!
August 28th, 2011, 11:02 pm
Tara said:
SF number
I would like you to do a secretary work for me every night and type how many times I posted over the previous 24 hours and the exact timing just like you did yesterday in post #279 so I can submit for “payment”. I have an executive secretary at my regular day job who usually assist me with stuff and would like to give this assignment to you on SC
You did a nice job on that post. Keep the good work.
August 28th, 2011, 11:03 pm
True said:
@ 445. Tara
Ouch! That Hurts!
and trim soya latte for me 🙂
August 28th, 2011, 11:18 pm
Tara said:
True
Not a problem. 😉
Any time.
August 28th, 2011, 11:27 pm
N.Z. said:
There is nothing to fear but fear itself. A bunch of thugs can no longer suppress a nation.
The gene of fear is dead after 41 of systematic oppression.
August 28th, 2011, 11:31 pm
ann said:
Al-Qaeda claims Algeria bombing – 2011-08-28 22:43
http://www.news24.com/Africa/News/Al-Qaeda-claims-Algeria-bombing-20110828
Rabat – Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb said on Sunday it had carried out a twin suicide attack on an Algerian military academy that killed 18 people.
A brief statement emailed to AFP in Morocco said AQIM “claims responsibility for the two martyr operations” on Friday which “targeted the heart of Algeria’s Cherchell military institution”, about 100km from the Algerian capital.
The authenticity of the statement, sent by a man identifying himself as “Salah Abou Mohamed, official in charge of information of the Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb organisation” could not immediately be ascertained.
The text said another statement on “jihadist sites” would be published at a later date.
The suicide bombing also wounded 26 people.
The bombers, one on a motorcycle, reportedly set off explosions a few seconds apart in front of the entrance to the academy’s officers’ mess hall, just as soldiers were assembled to break the Ramadan fast.
Ramadan is generally considered a good time for holy war, or jihad, by Islamist groups. Since the fast started in early August, there have been many attacks east of Algiers, especially in Kabylie, targeting the army and police.
Authorities in Algeria generally remain tight-lipped about such incidents, which have not ended despite a policy of national reconciliation adopted in the early 2000s by President Abdelaziz Bouteflika.
August 28th, 2011, 11:39 pm
SYR.EXPAT said:
A lot of people in Syria have shed the garment of fear and are staring death in the eye. Ali Ferzat is one of them. They are not hiding behind nicknames and they are not deterred. The ones that are shaking in fear are the oppressor. They know the end is near and they they’ll be made to pay for their crimes.
August 29th, 2011, 1:02 am
ann said:
When will anti-government protests kick off in Turkey ?
August 29, 2011
http://www.kurdishaspect.com/doc082911RH.html
Which regime will be the next to collapse after Syria? Obviously, Iran is waiting in line, and so are Hamas and Hezbollah. Such terrorists’ organizations and regimes can no longer be tolerated and must be gotten rid of, but what ensues that, will the Arab Spring eventually come to an end?
There is one more capital that will soon witness hundred thousands of its young demonstrators pouring to streets to call for the speedy departure of its Islamic fundamentalist autocratic regime and implementation of rapid reforms or encounter the same destiny of Egypt, Libya and Tunisia .
The US has been awarding Turkey much concession, totally overlooking its worsening Human Rights Records. Turkey has been aggressively cracking down on anti-regime dissents recently. Thousands of political prisoners are decaying behind bars in notorious Turkish prisons without Human Rights Groups access. Women Rights have been increasingly violated under Islamic-rooted AKP’s ruling party. Religious and ethnic minorities in Turkey are facing extremely difficult economic and social conditions, including high unemployment, rising food prices, constraints on personal freedom, and endemic corruption, especially in South Eastern parts of the country (Turkish Kurdistan).
Since its triumph in elections, the Justice and Development Party has made absolutely no positive strides in advancing democratization and the liberalization of Turkey’s political culture. The new theocratic administration is viewed as a potential threat to democracy, and it poses a threat to the power, bureaucratic privileges and economic interests of the secular ruling class.
Erdogan’s is precisely practicing the teachings of his political mentor who was touting to “rescue Turkey from the unbelievers of Europe,” wrests power from “imperialists and Zionists,” and launch a jihad to recapture Jerusalem.
“ Erdogan’s government consists of “closed-minded, hate-spouting xenophobes and anti-Semites.” Comparing the current Turkish government to the Ottoman Empire, his regime is “anti-western, anti-Christian, or anti-Jewish. It has infiltrated all secular institutions with its Islamist followers in order to consolidate power”, argues Barbara Lerner in his Writing in the National Review.
When Mr. Erdogan’s ascended to power, he vowed to broaden cultural and political rights for the 25 million underrepresented Kurdish ethnic minorities. His ruling circle seems now split between those who advocate granting broader autonomy for the Kurds and others favoring continued repression. Recent bombarding of Iraqi Kurdistan border areas have substantiated that Erdogan’s promises were nothing more than election hypes. Most gracelessly, his alleged Islamic regime has repudiated killing innocent civilians. Mr. Erdogan and his predecessors have failed to comprehend that addressing Kurdish dilemmas require more than just sloganeering.
Turkey’s deteriorating ties with the U.S. and Israel and closer relations with Iranian president Ahmadinejad also demonstrate how the NATO’s sole Muslim-majority member is playing double-standard policies.
Turkey’s Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan had warned that Ankara is prepared to react to any potential Israeli offensive against Lebanon. He has threatened Israel on many occasions, most recently stating on Turkish national television that his country would not sit with its arms folded in the event that Israel attacks in Gaza once again. Turkey has gone even further by adding Israel to its so-called “Red Book,” the top-secret security document that lists the country’s threats and enemies.
According to a wide-ranging survey carried out by the Ankara-based Metro POLL Strategic and Social Research Center in December, some 43% of Turks said that they perceive the U.S. as the country’s biggest threat, followed by Israel, with 24%. 63% of Turks now want to freeze diplomatic relations with Jerusalem.
Turks are continuing the second phase of “Armenian Genocide of 1915” against the Kurds. The US continues to back Turkey in its brutal commitments of its war crimes. During an interview conducted by Rudaw, a Hawler-based English newspaper in Iraqi Kurdistan, with Spokesperson for the US embassy in Baghdad, Michael McClellan, it became further evident that the US government is still turning a blind eye to Turkey’s disrespect for Human Rights, a unfortunate act that has further emboldened certain totalitarian ally regimes to carry on their routine abuses.
In the Mavi Marmara affair, in which nine Turkish activists were killed after Israeli commandos acted in self-defense, Turkey has been defiant in its demand of an apology from Israel whereas, few days ago, its own armed forces shamelessly carried out an air strike inside the territory of another sovereign country, culminating in killing twice as much innocent’s civilians. Pictures of the victims were immediately published by numerous Kurdish media outlets.
Until now, Turkish rulers have relied on their US and Western powers to protect themselves. The military, secular elites and Islamists who have run Turkey for so long were all anti-democratic and illiberal regimes, denying Kurdish basic rights. To gain accession to EU and to be a member of civilized world, the United States will eventually have to side with the strong public resolution to oust Islamic extremists and dictators. And Turkey is no exception to it.
The United States can rebuild its shattered image and win the hearts and minds of the oppressed and lead the democratic world for the next century to come only on provision that it applies the identical set of rules and principles towards every nation, regardless of any prejudice, including some of its close allies.
The regime in Ankara is fearful of similar unrest, and it must be. If the state of affairs continues, the anti-democratic regime in Ankara should also gear up for its demise. The Turkish citizens will no longer accept to be subdued by military dictators and Islamic extremists.
August 29th, 2011, 1:03 am
ann said:
Syria’s WMDs: The Scaremongering Begins Anew – August 28, 2011
Analysis: A Combination of Unrelated Factoids Prepare to Lie America Into Another War
http://news.antiwar.com/2011/08/28/syrias-wmds-the-scaremongering-begins-anew/
What do a 1995 attack on a Japanese subway system, the crumbling security at Libyan military bases and al-Qaeda’s putative ambitions to create a “dirty bomb” have in common? They all sound scary, and therefore all fit (albeit with no small hand waving) into the latest narrative of the “threat” of Syria.
With the ink barely dried on the latest calls for NATO intervention in Syria, the Washington Post has emerged with an article brimming with unrelated factoids, most of which have not even a cursory relation to Syria, arguing that the nation’s WMD arsenal is something to be greatly feared.
The timing is brazen, being paired with another Washington Post article on rebel calls for NATO to attack the nation. It also comes just days after Dick Cheney, busily parlaying his book and the media’s notoriously short term memory into a restoration from hawkish caricature to “gravitas” wielding elder statesman, lamented his inability to start a war in Syria.
The fast and loose effort to cram anything and everything into the article is equally telling, as vague mentions of “dirty bombs” using fuel rods that Syria does not possess in particularly useful numbers combine with theories about nerve gas somehow polluting the world’s drinking water and food playing equal roles in a familiar game: frightening the public about an illusory enemy on the eve of dropping a bomb about the administration’s intentions to drop literal bombs on them.
That such a fanciful tale worked in the past was shameful enough. That it is being tried again while the occupation of the last “WMD threat” is still going on is nothing short of shocking.
August 29th, 2011, 1:08 am
ann said:
Most Syrian Kurdish Parties Boycott Opposition Gathering – 29/08/2011
http://www.rudaw.net/english/news/syria/3941.html
Kurdish parties largely boycotted a conference to unite Syria’s opposition in Istanbul last week, reflecting the deepening schism between the influential Muslim Brotherhood and Kurdish groups.
The gathering, which aimed to create a diverse council to govern Syria in an interim period if President Bashar al-Assad’s regime falls, was marred by the absence of several key opposition groups including Syria-based activists and Kurdish leaders.
It was the latest in a series of meetings in Istanbul among mostly exiled Syrian opposition figures. While Kurds have been awarded a key demand – to be recognized as a distinct ethnic group in an interim constitution if the regime falls – the gatherings have also raised fears that Arab nationalists and Islamists are dominating the opposition.
Barzan Bahram, a Syrian Kurdish writer, accused the Muslim Brotherhood of controlling plans for Syria’s future and the opposition.
“The Muslim Brotherhood is trying to exploit the change that is about to take place in Syria for their own gain,” Bahram told Rudaw. “And the Turkish government is throwing its full support behind the Islamic groups to bring them to the forefront.”
He said the Istanbul conference, which Reuters reported was postponed so the groups could reach out to the Syria-based opposition, will not succeed. Bahram echoed claims by the Kurds and several other Syrian opposition groups that the Muslim Brotherhood is dominating preparations and the vision for Syria’s future.
“Any Syrian opposition conference will not succeed without an active participation of the Kurds,” Bahram said. “Also the opposition must take into consideration the location of the conferences.”
Shelal Gado, a leader in the Leftist Kurdish Party of Syria, told Rudaw that some Kurds may have attended the conference but did not represent an umbrella group of 11 Syrian Kurdish parties.
“If Turkey doesn’t give rights to its 25 million Kurds, how can it defend the rights of the Syrian people and the Kurds there?”
He said Syria’s Kurds will remain suspicious of any conference held in Turkey, arguing that Ankara has its own agenda on Syria and it is hosting conferences to try to drive a wedge between the already-fractured Syrian opposition.
“Turkey is against the Kurds…in all parts of the world,” Gado said. “If Turkey doesn’t give rights to its 25 million Kurds, how can it defend the rights of the Syrian people and the Kurds there?”
Despite the wider skepticism, some Kurdish parties attended the Istanbul gathering. The Kurdish Union Party and the Kurdish Freedom Party, both of which are members of the umbrella group of 11 Syrian Kurdish parties, attended the conference.
Abdulbaqi Yusuf, a leader of the Kurdish Union Party who attended the gathering in Istanbul told Rudaw, “The meeting was to discuss our position towards the Syrian regime.”
“The meeting was also to form a national assembly—an interim Parliament for the immediate period after the regime change,” he said. “Parties with unclear positions on the regime will not take part.”
Yusuf dismissed claims that participating in the conference is dividing a Kurdish umbrella group of 11 parties. He also rejected the claim that Turkey has imposed its own agenda on the Syrian opposition.
“We did not feel any Turkish pressure in the meeting,” Yusuf said. “But as a major power in the region, without a doubt, Turkey has its own interests. We, the Kurds, managed to present the Kurdish demands.”
Yusuf said the main demand of the Kurdish 11-party assembly was the recognition of Kurds as the distinct ethnic group in Syria and addressing Kurdish concerns democratically.
“Both these demands were put in the interim constitution for after the regime change,” said Yusuf.
August 29th, 2011, 1:12 am
ann said:
Iraq-Kuwait Tensions Rise Over Rocket Strikes – August 28, 2011
Shi’ite Militia Accused of Firing Rockets Against Kuwaiti Project
http://news.antiwar.com/2011/08/28/iraq-kuwait-tensions-rise-over-rocket-strikes/
The disputes between Iraq and neighboring Kuwait are long-standing and well documented. Tensions between the two nations seem to be on the rise again as Iraqis loudly oppose the Mubarak al-Kabir Port project.
The opposition to the port centers from concern that it will reduce the value Iraq’s own nearby port of Grand Faw. This led a number of Iraqis to rally against the Kuwaiti project, with the port being the latest in a long line of bones of contention between the two.
Now, it seems, matters have gone beyond simple protest, as a group inside Iraq has fired a number of rockets against Kuwait. So far the rockets fell short of Kuwaiti territory, but led to angry complaints from Kuwait and a rebuke from Iraqi MPs, who warned that the situation could escalate.
The violence is stemming from Shi’ite militias, but angry protests from the ruling State of Law bloc suggest that the issue has currency across Iraq and threats that the port could lead to Iraqi terror attacks against Kuwait suggest the issue isn’t going to be an easy one to solve.
August 29th, 2011, 1:21 am
N.Z. said:
http://all4syria.info/web/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/image001113.jpg
Ali Ferzat, has been admitted to a hospital, he has been severely beaten and his health is deteriorating. His daughter said that her father received a phone call from anonymous ordering her father to stop granting reporters interviews.
He is constantly asking when can he get back to his pen. Junior did not call him, to see how one of our best is recovering. .
The latest cartoon depict Mr. Ferzat receiving an honorary badge from assad jr.
This is a confirmation what freedom of press means under this regime. Change no one believes in.
August 29th, 2011, 1:26 am
ann said:
Syrian gov’t troops kill 2 armed near capital: witness
09:40, August 29, 2011
http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/90777/7582469.html
DAMASCUS, Aug. 28 (Xinhua) — Two armed men were killed in clashes with Syrian government forces in Harasta suburb of capital Damascus late Saturday, an eye witness told Xinhua Sunday.
The witness, who asked for anonymity, said intense shooting occurred Saturday in Harasta after Ramadan night prayers between the government forces and armed men, adding that a number of parked cars were smashed with bullets from both sides.
The gunmen were armed with M16 rifles and pistols, said the witness.
After the shooting the government forces sealed off entrances of Harasta and prevented people of entering it, the witness added.
The report couldn’t be independently verified as journalists are banned from going to restive areas.
Harasta has been a scene of anti-government protests since May.
About 2,200 people have been killed since protests began in mid- March, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay said this week, adding that 350 of them had died since the beginning of Ramadan.
A UN humanitarian assessment team said on Friday after wrapping up a five-day visit to Syria that there is an “urgent need” to protect Syrian civilians from the use of excessive force. The team, however, said there is no nationwide humanitarian crisis in Syria.
The five-month-old unrest has sparked an ongoing blistering criticism and condemnation over the alleged use of force by Syrian leadership on anti-government protesters.
U.S. President Barak Obama last week made his explicit call for al-Assad to step aside, underscoring the tough talk with new sanctions that hit the largest state-owned Commercial Bank of Syria and the SyriaTel cell phone operator.
The Syrian leadership repeatedly brushed off the international uproar as “flagrant interference in Syria’s internal affairs,” blaming the unrest on armed groups and extremists backed by foreign conspiracy and stressed that there would be no letup in its crackdown on those who have intimidated the people and sabotaged public and private properties.
August 29th, 2011, 1:48 am
ann said:
Winter is Coming: Wasteland of Empire’s Victory – August 27, 2011
http://original.antiwar.com/malic/2011/08/26/winter-is-coming/
The fog of deception lies heavy over Libya still, with the pro-Imperial rebels proclaiming victory half a dozen times over four days. Claims they had captured one of Gadhafi’s sons were quickly debunked. While it does appear that Gadhafi may have lost control of the country, who is actually in control – the motley coalition calling itself the “National Transitional Council,” or their NATO sponsors – remains very much in doubt still.
How is something like this even possible, in an age of unprecedented media coverage? Primarily because the war has been a media operation from the very beginning. It took massive amounts of spin to paint the rebels as peace-loving freedom-fighters (who weren’t jihadists, honest), to claim that Gadhafi’s forces threatened a bloodbath in Benghazi, and to keep anyone from wondering how a mandate to enforce a no-fly zone became a license to bomb, invade, and occupy.
Forgotten Precedents
What shocks the most is that this isn’t the first time something like this happened. In 1999, NATO launched an illegal invasion of then-Yugoslavia on the basis of a faked atrocity story, changed justifications for the invasion at least three times during the 78-day war, and occupied the province under a UN mandate it immediately proceeded to shred. In 2003, the U.S.-led “Coalition of the Willing” invaded Iraq on a completely false pretext of “weapons of mass destruction”. When confronted with the lie, the U.S. leadership shrugged, “So what?”
In all these cases, the interventions caused all the things they nominally sought to prevent or stop: civilian deaths, widespread devastation, conflict between ethnic and religious groups, pogroms and ethnic cleansing, and even terrorism – the very thing the U.S. declared its sacred historical mission to fight, following 9/11. The parallels are so striking, even cartoons can be recycled to fit.
While the pattern is obvious to some, the mainstream media work really hard to banish all context from collective memory, so everything always happens in a vacuum and the only points of reference are the talking points emanating from Washington. Where, incidentally, snow in winter comes as a surprise.
What Price Victory?
So, once again, the Empire pats itself on the back, smugly celebrating a victory. But was it? Well, so long as Gadhafi is out, and the rebels – whoever they are – divvy up the Libyan economy to major Western companies, the country’s reserves of gold and foreign currency conveniently disappear into “proper” pockets, who cares? And if the rebels turn out to actually be bloodthirsty jihadists – as it happened in Afghanistan – that but guarantees that the Pentagon will never run out of wars to fight.
You won’t hear the talking heads on mainstream cable channels mentioning that the rebels’ draft Constitution has a provision in Article 1 making Sharia the supreme law of the land. What a splendid victory for democracy!
Now John McCain, a U.S. Senator who never saw a war he didn’t like, is saying that Syria is “next” and that even Russia and China are in need of “democracy,” Imperial-style. This just days after the Senate unanimously passed an idiotic anti-Russian resolution. The march to madness continues…
The False Arab Spring
What the public in the U.S. and Europe is supposed to think, according to its overlords, is that liberal democracy is such a wonderful system of government – really, the only one possible – that Arab masses everywhere are rising up on their own accord to demand “freedom.” Leaving aside the false belief that democracy equals freedom, actual reports from countries affected by the so-called “Arab Spring” suggest the very opposite: the popular discontent is stoked, channeled and manipulated by professional revolutionaries, trained by the U.S. and set loose on the world.
Tunisians and Egyptians may be rid of the individuals – Ben Ali and Mubarak – who ruled them for decades, but the system in which they operated has not been dismantled. Some “freedom”! No one hears anything about Bahrain anymore, where a Saudi-backed Sunni dynasty lords it over the Shia populace with an iron fist. Now that is a bona fide popular protest, but they don’t get to enjoy “democracy” – the Fifth Fleet has to moor somewhere, after all. As for the Saudis, they continue to be the living proof that the U.S. has no problem with dictatorships or theocracies per se, so long as they remain obedient allies.
Syria is now the next target of bombs-for-peace activists. The hereditary dictatorship is beset by protesters carrying signs in English (odd, that, in an Arab-speaking country once ruled by the French), who also appear to be armed. The official story, of course, is that they are unarmed demonstrators being wantonly butchered by the country’s military. Remember, though, that “Gay Girl in Damascus” was part of the official story for months – until “she” was outed as a middle-aged American man living in Scotland.
The question is no longer whether interventions might poison the well of Arab democracy, but whether the “democratic revolutions” were anything but a cruel hoax. Iraq, Libya, Tunisia, Egypt, Syria – whether by war or by subversion, it is all about the Empire taking control. Freedom, democracy – those are just words in the wind. What will happen once the people, seduced by promises of security and prosperity, realize they’ve only traded one tyrant for another? Even if Empire’s policymakers are intellectually aware they are seeding the world with bitter enemies, they simply don’t care.
Yet history offers an example of where such betrayal leads: Iran, where in 1953 the CIA overthrew the democratic government of Prime Minister Mossadegh, in favor of a dictatorial Shah. The 1979 Islamic revolution was directed against the Shah, and his principal backer – the U.S. Yet to the policymakers in Washington, history has nothing to do with anything, and the Iranians are simply irrationally evil.
Balkanize the World
Those who dismiss the lessons of history invoke American exceptionalism: it can’t happen here, this country is different. In one respect, that is true; never before in history has a hegemon itself demolished the very order its hegemony rested upon.
Nearly a decade ago, Emperor Bush II unveiled a grand strategy that envisioned a global Balkans: governed by arbitrary rules, enforced by American bombers and local quislings. It was the alleged triumph in the Balkans that encouraged further interventionism. Never mind that Kosovo wasn’t a brilliant victory of air power but an evil little war that ended up a near-disaster; or that the Bosnia policy is based on fetishes and fantasies; the important thing was that Serbia – which had resisted Imperial diktat for a decade, invoking international law – be broken at the wheel, as an example to others.
And if the chosen tool for the breaking is Germany – with its heritage of aggression and atrocities from two World Wars – so much the better, then, to show the truly post-historical nature of Empire’s Pax Balcanica.
Thus German Chancellor Angela Merkel visited Belgrade this week to demand recognition of the “Independent state of Kosovo”. Even the pathetic quisling regime currently running Serbia balked at that – which the German media promptly dubbed “refusal to compromise.”
It is one thing to discount history, to spin failures into successes, and even to dismiss observable reality. What the Empire is doing here, however, is waging a war on meaning. When one wages a war on “terrorism” but promotes one’s own terrorists as “freedom fighters”; when “democracy” means whatever the Imperial bureaucrat on the ground declares it means at any given time, things have gone beyond surreal.
This Summer of lies is almost over. Winter is coming.
August 29th, 2011, 2:01 am
NK said:
enjoy!
http://youtu.be/iL6xzkYQQGk
August 29th, 2011, 2:16 am
ann said:
Arab League presses Assad to end bloodshed in Syria
Council seeks ‘resort to reason’; Delegates also recognize Libyan rebels, ask UN to release frozen funds, assets
By SAMI ABOUDI, Reuters August 29, 2011 12:00 AM
http://www.montrealgazette.com/Arab+League+presses+Assad+bloodshed+Syria/5320943/story.html
Arab foreign ministers told Syria on Sunday to work to end months of bloodshed, and decided to send Arab League Secretary-General Nabil Elaraby to Damascus to push for political and economic reforms.
But in a conciliatory message to Damascus, the ministers also said after an extraordinary meeting in Cairo that Syria’s stability was crucial for the Arab World and the whole region.
The Syrian government has sent in troops and tanks to crush five months of street protests demanding President Bashar Assad step down, leading to the death of at least 2,200 protesters according to the United Nations.
“The (Arab League) council expresses concern and worry over the dangerous developments on the Syrian arena that had caused thousands of casualties, including dead and wounded,” the Arab League council said in a statement.
“It also stresses the importance of ending bloodshed and to resort to reason before it is too late,” the statement said.
Many Arab commentators have criticized the League for its timid reaction to the violence.
The league, which groups the Arab world’s 22 states, has been under pressure to speak out more openly following popular uprisings that ousted Arab heads of state in Tunisia and Egypt and the overthrow of Moammar Gadhafi.
The league’s council stressed that the Syrian people were entitled to “live in security and dignity and to see its legitimate aspirations for political, economic and social reforms realized.”
The League, which also discussed the situation in Libya, endorsed the rebel National Transitional Council as Libya’s legitimate leadership.
It also “urged the U.N. Security Council and concerned states to unfreeze the funds, properties and assets that belong to the Libyan state immediately,” the statement said.
At the start of the meeting, delegates cheered as the rebels’ flag was raised among flags of other Arab states instead of Gaddafi’s green banner.
August 29th, 2011, 2:31 am
annie said:
About security; I do hope Aboud has water tight protection because his is one head the menhebaks would like to see on a spike and after all there are some advanced IT specialists in Syria who could detect him.
Same for SGID. I cannot believe you had the guts to take that video.
You all remember that guy a few years back who used to travel to Loubnan to post his messages ? Forgot his moniker but he was quite a hero at the time.
August 29th, 2011, 2:43 am
annie said:
The name of the anonymous publisher was Karfan
http://syriaexposed.blogspot.com/
Looks like he stopped posting in 2006
August 29th, 2011, 4:03 am
N.Z. said:
Annie, “The name of the anonymous publisher was Karfan”
Is he okay?
August 29th, 2011, 4:20 am
NK said:
You guy are talking as if you have no clue what is happening in Syria or among the Syrian youth community at all. On Facebook we are using our real names and saying whatever we want publicly. It’s all out in the open.
For God’s sake, people are getting chased in the streets, many witnessed their friends getting killed before their very own eyes, many saw their friends getting arrested and never heard from them again and yet they still go out and demonstrate every chance they get, and some of you – living thousands of miles away – are worried some schmuck might find a way to expose your true identity ?. I’m not saying go ahead and post your names as being anonymous certainly has advantages, but please get over your excessive fears and stop looking over your shoulders for once in your lives.
August 29th, 2011, 4:23 am
Mina said:
Reading the Turkish president’s comments on “there is no place for an authoritarian regime or a close society” I wonder how many he expects to fool? Ever heard of his cousins in Uzbekistan? Turkmenistan? Ever visited KSA? Read about North Korea and Zimbabwe?
Or maybe 2011-2012 is the new economic boom, weaponry and wars all over, just for the sake of helping the economy, dude?
August 29th, 2011, 4:30 am
N.Z. said:
Diary from Syria: Ramadan Kareem or Ramadan Massacre
August 28, 2011 | By Jasmine Roman
I was aiming to distance myself, for once, and write an amusing diary entry that tells beautiful details of Ramadan in Syria and brings back its spiritualities, warm ambience, the charm of the storyteller “Hakawati”, among many other special aspects. I was aiming to distance myself, for once, from reflection, turbulence, and grief and contribute to “Ramadan Contest Cover” in EMAJ with some words of Damascene jasmines that smell the exquisitely of beautiful Syria. Not surprisingly enough, the holy month was sadly received with series of massacres; not surprisingly enough, Eid ul-Fitr (the three-day Muslim feast that marks the end of Ramadan) will end with a big jubilation.
I had difficulties to put my pen to paper since my last diary “Will I be the next?”. Today, I decided to write few lines and smash this new barrier of fear that has recently instilled in me. I feel completely paralyzed; yet, it is a personal and mandatory duty to spread the word and shed the light on the ground where silence and asking for mercy might sometimes be the only reactions and the only solutions. The brutal killing and barbarian arrest campaigns that swept different cities in Syria left the country with a state of panic and solace. However, the recent savage operations since the beginning of Ramadan instigate more anger, courage, and determination of Syrian protestors who don’t have any other option but to preserve their will to end this era of Syria’s political lifecycle. The escalation of violence is unquestionably leaving another black smudge on the history of the ruling regime.
It has been confirmed that the acid, alongside with many other horrible tools of torture, is being used by the security to persecute and distort people from Mouadamieh area in Damascus outskirts. People are detained according to their IDs regardless of their age or health conditions, and no matter if they’ve participated in the protests or not. Many homes are destroyed and vacated from all youth and men, leaving the places for women and children, who are also taking their share of violence.
It has been confirmed that the security forces, in many cities, are refusing to deliver the martyrs to their families to bury their bodies or hold funerals for them; instead, they are surreptitiously taken so they won’t be counted as dead human beings. The security forces are refusing to issue death certificates in some cases; they bargain with the families to sign documents confessing that their sons were killed by “armed terrorist gangs” and not the security men. How will families of the victims reconcile their consciences, witnessing the real murderers, first hand, shedding blood of their children, is anyone’s guess.
It has been confirmed by the inhabitants of Nawa’s village that eight martyrs passed away and there were around fifty casualties with enduring dangerous conditions on August 3rd of this year. However, only three were confirmed to have been killed by different media outlets on that day. Moreover, the security refused to hand over the corpses to their families and harshly threatened to kill the family members if they dare inquire about the martyrs’ whereabouts. The injured ones were denied medical treatment. They were not hospitalized or even provided with any basic first aid. They have been left to slowly and painfully die out of torture or been liquidated in cold blood. Adding to that, the security transported both the dead bodies and casualties to obscure places without any information or hints about their destiny.
It has been confirmed that a 29-year old barber was working in his shop in Nawa village on the day of XXX. He was a humble young man trying to survive and had nothing to do with any demands or revolts. The security men entered his shop, stole and broke his merchandise, and slaughtered him by spearing their guns into his body. He was in a dangerous situation and had to be treated by a local doctor since the incident. The man passed away of his wounds a few days ago. Upon burying him in the graveyard, his young friends and relatives cried for him and started to chant some slogans out of their loss. They were attacked and surrounded by more than thirty security men with their guns directly pointed at the mourners. The security officer threatened to shoot all mourners if they uttered a word. He also declared that he possesses a warrant and green light to kill up to twenty persons without providing any justification or holding any responsibility for his actions. The elders and women of the village begged the officer not to shoot at their young sons until the burial is over.
It has been confirmed that in a very wealthy neighborhood in Damascus city, gunshots were fired by security and police men on August 5th, 2011. The area was raided by more than fifty thugs and security officers searching for one unarmed young protestor who hopelessly hid behind the garbage box in the school yard. He was caught and beat violently by all fifty men with their wooden rods and guns. They then broke into the school and threatened to wreck the whole neighborhood if any word, photo, or video is released. This happened in my own street and the whole incident was witnessed by my own eyes. I was almost dragged and imprisoned by the security men as I was standing in the balcony with my family. I will write about those horrific details in a separate entry another time. I will say that this incident in particular left me paralyzed to speak a word for a few days and unable to write since then. The Syrian security and intelligence are experts in frightening individuals, and I seriously do not want to be one of those!
You might wonder, and you have every right to, what is the evidence for all the incidents I write about? How would you know that Jasmine is real and not a hoax? How do you know she is telling the truth? Well, the facts are even more devastating and tragic than anyone can tell, and very little can be documented, taped or photographed. All stories coming out from Syria have authentic names, places, and details and are endorsed and witnessed by real people with no ability to prove the ugly truth. But hey, remember, the history is always documented through people.
This piece of writing honestly doesn’t aim to be a winner of the contest and doesn’t aim to draw any sympathy or compassion. The intention of this piece is to trigger the anger of the silent voices and to help me share the agony of many Syrian people who are buried alive. Yes, you can help me, and you can help every Syrian. You can help by sharing our stories and diaries. Syria is bleeding in the holy month and no wonder that Syria hashtag on Twitter has been #RamadanMassacre instead of #RamadanKareem.
http://emajmagazine.com/2011/08/28/diary-from-syria-ramadan-kareem-or-ramadan-massacre/
August 29th, 2011, 4:50 am
Concerned guy said:
With new revelations of the Libyan regime murdering thousands of opposition prisoners
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-14705519
I was wondering how many people were arrested in Syria, where they are held and if there are concerns for their lives.
Anybody has info?
August 29th, 2011, 4:53 am
N.Z. said:
Al Arabiya interview with parents of 10-yr-old Thamer al-Shar’ee, who was tortured & killed by Syrian regime. http://youtu.be/ZcOuP59Mh58
KILLING OUR CHILDREN? 120 innocent lives had been shattered by junior’s armed thugs. Many are his kids age. What will he tell them when they grow up?
August 29th, 2011, 5:13 am
MNA said:
Abughassan @ 341
“The attack on masjed alrifa’ee was a despicable act of brutality and disrespect for a mosque at a time of worship and peace,and to add insult to the injury,thugs used violence against imam Usama.”
Agree, but it is as despicable and brutal for demonstrators to use a mosque at a time of worship and peace as an venue for political demonstrations, endangouring the lives of many including elderlies. If some people inside the mosque did not start demonstrating the security would not have gone in. The demonstrators knew fully what the response of the security would be and still chose to do it.
August 29th, 2011, 5:15 am
annie said:
N.Z. said:
Annie, “The name of the anonymous publisher was Karfan”
Is he okay?
I had an idea as to his id in which case he was ok.
August 29th, 2011, 5:18 am
some guy in damascus said:
last night a demonstration happened in badr mosque, malki which is 450 meters from besho’s house.
August 29th, 2011, 5:20 am
N.Z. said:
The protesters prefer gathering in the squares of their capital, cities, villages and towns. Will you approve?
August 29th, 2011, 5:31 am
MNA said:
SGID @ 469
What time did that demonstration happen? I was right across the street from Badir mosque from Iftar till 2 am and did not see any demonstration.
August 29th, 2011, 5:50 am
some guy in damascus said:
@MNA i dont know, what time, but i think around 4 am. i doubted if it ever happened until i saw the video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pr5Dz3HNGkI
it has very poor quality,
but if your familiar with the area, you should notice the barada river barrier, which is right beside the mosque.
please tell me if you think its correct.
August 29th, 2011, 5:56 am
SYRIAN HAMSTER said:
History ?????
August 29th, 2011, 5:59 am
SYRIAN HAMSTER said:
Exploitation ???????
August 29th, 2011, 6:01 am
SYRIAN HAMSTER said:
Greed ???
August 29th, 2011, 6:01 am
SYRIAN HAMSTER said:
Influence ????
August 29th, 2011, 6:02 am
SYRIAN HAMSTER said:
Poverty ???
August 29th, 2011, 6:03 am
Aboud said:
“If some people inside the mosque did not start demonstrating the security would not have gone in.”
Like the old saying goes “An excuse worse than the original crime”
The security forces were waiting for them outside, ready to arrest and beat people up like they have done at so many other mosques all over the country. Or did you expect them to go meekly to jail and torture? The days when Syrians will be intimidated by the the sight of the regime’s thugs are long gone.
August 29th, 2011, 6:06 am
MNA said:
SGID @ 472
I couldn’t tell.
August 29th, 2011, 6:16 am
some guy in damascus said:
@MNA
at 0:06 you can see the white barrier with the xxxxxx patterns that are on the barrier, which means its near the barada river,
at 0:13 the guy turns his camera to the minaret of the mosque. there are only 2 mosques near the barada river in malki, the first is sa3d, but its minaret is not really adjacent to the dome, and theres alos badr where the minaret is adjacent to the dome, this is why i think IT DID HAPPEN.
the only sure way we can find out is by the shape of the minaret, since its the only thing we can see clearly.
August 29th, 2011, 6:29 am
majedkhaldoon said:
Badr Mosque is next to Tora river,not Barada,it is north of Jahez park
August 29th, 2011, 6:39 am
MNA said:
SGID @ 480
Yes you are right. It does look like the area by the Badir mosque.
August 29th, 2011, 6:41 am
some guy in damascus said:
@ majedkhaldoon,
well this is embarrassing :s , i thought it was the barada, anyways it WAS a river, now it just a few trickles of garbage.
@ALL especially MNA
heres a photo pf the badr mosque
http://www.panoramio.com/photo/41009016
please notice the shape of the minaret, the xxxxxx patterns on the barrier and the buildings detail, and compare them to 0:06 and 0:13 of the video, you will notice they fit perfectly.
August 29th, 2011, 6:45 am
Mjabali said:
General cheese
It is obvious that you cried and whined a lot about the terms that were in my posts regarding you.
So you are happy that they edited one of my posts. I see thin skin all over you and your emotional rants.
As for Dr Sultan my personal experience with her is the same I had with you. I used to fight her everyday for the generalizations she drops on Muslims. She even wrote almost half an article attacking me personally the same way you bark at me everyday. She does not and never liked me.
BUT, I always respected her right to speak and respected the fact that she forced Islamists, like you, to think about their faith.
She came from a Alawi family, and that is no secret. To point that out is to show the phobia you and your likes have from minorities and to see what your ideas about them. So far you failed because you are sectarian and Salafi that has no room for others.
I pointed Dr Sultan out to show your weak claim that you with those standing to al-Assad. She stood and asked al-Assad to step out and for someone in her stature to do so is good for anyone trying to depose al-Assad. She is a prominent Alawi figure if you like it or not and to encompass her to the anti Assad ranks is a step in the right direction.
But again , the zealot that you are, you started insulting her and bringing some Zionist/Right wing conspiracy lunatic talk, just because she is a Alawi.
The funny part is when a history buff like you claim he had just heard of the Salafi movement recently. Funny ha
Minorities are a reality in Syria that you want to neglect. You, and your logic, do not want to give them any rights.
Minorities in Syria have needs and demands and Islamists like you do not seem to get it.
August 29th, 2011, 7:13 am
Muhammad said:
As if one needed more evidence that this regime is soon going to be history, I have found out through the official Ba’ath party website that the CURRENT secretary general is the ETERNAL LEADER HAFIZ AL-ASAD. Check this out:
http://www.baath-party.org/leadership.asp
Hey menhebaks, how does he exactly chair the meetings of the party ? Is that why the “reforms” keep getting delayed ? Are you waiting for his signature ? Yet another evidence that the Ba’ath party is officially dead.
One more thing that caught my eye is how the region of “Arabstan” (Ahwaz region of Iran) has been removed from the map of “Al-watan Al-arabi”. How much we used to hear about the occupation of Arab land and how we should free it from foreign occupation. What kind of bargain did this pathetic sectarian instrument do with Iran to accept their occupation of Arab land ?
Disgusting hypocrites.
August 29th, 2011, 7:15 am
ss said:
The mosques should be brought down on the heads of any radical islamists trying to mess with law and order. They are the cause of the problem not in Syria but the world. In all my posts I try to be generous in attacking radical islam because it is a poison.
This morning I woke up and I saw this headline on Aljazeera
??? ?????? ??????????? ??????
I care less what Aljazeera says but I like to read the comments and I loved what I read today. People realized the conspiracy early on and that is the reason why the regime is surviving.
???? ?????
??????
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Abdel Kader AL Chebli
Frankfurt
??????? ?? ????? ?????? ???? ???? ???? ?????? ?????? ????? ??? ????? , ????? ??? ????? ??? ??? ?????? ???? ????? ????? ???? ????? ??? ?? ?????? ????? ????? ?????? ????? ?????? ???? ?? ?? ?? ????? – ???? ???? ?? ????? ???? ??? ?????? ????
??? ?????? ?????? ????
?????
?? ?? ??????? ?? ?????? ?? ??? ?? ?????? ??? ???? ???? ?? ??????? ???? ?????? ??????? ???????? ???????? ????????????? ??? ???? ??? ??? ??????? ??? ????? ??? ????? ??? ?????????….!!!!!! ??????? ???? ??????? ????? ?? ?? ??? ???? ??? ?? ???? ?? ????? ?? ???? ??????? ????? ????????? ???? ????? ????.???? ??????? ??????? ?????? ?????? ?? ?????? ???? ?????? ????? ??????.??? ??????? ??????? ??? ?????? ???? ??????. ?? ??????? ???? ??? ?????? ????? ???????? ??? ???? ?????? ??? ????? ??????
Hasan Alarabi
???? ??????? ????
???????? ????????????????? ????????????????????????? ????? ?????? ?????? ?????? ?????? ??? ???? ???? ??? ?????? ?? ??????? ?????????? ???? ????? ?? ?????? ????????? ?????? ???????? ???????????? ?? ?????? ??? ?????? ???????? ???????? ??????? ???? ?????? ?????? ????? ?????? ??????.
August 29th, 2011, 7:16 am
Aboud said:
“She came from a Alawi family, and that is no secret”
But Mjahali, you tried to keep it a secret. See how you can tell so much about the insecurities of a person by what they *don’t* say hehehehe.
Unlike you, I have the intellectual maturity not to like or dislike a person based solely on their stance with regards to X-Box junior. “Doctor” Angry Bitch wants to nuke the Arab world. She wants the West to invade every Arab country, tear down Arab societies and rebuild them as Dick Cheney sees fit. And since you support her, you support her agenda.
So, I expect to see Mjahali voting Republican, attending Republican rallies, pinning for the good old days of Dubya Bush, waving an American flag while he cheers on the US airforce as it bombs Arab countries. Disgraceful.
Again, what self respecting Arab would visit Jerusalem when Palestinians can’t do so. Mjahali and his ilk would make an alliance with Zionists or the devil himself to maintain Besho’s tenuous hold on power. Just look at all the “minorities” selling videos of themselves to Al-Jazeera and Al-Arabiya.
Does the smack from the Censorbat still hurt? LOL 🙂
August 29th, 2011, 7:30 am
Samara said:
“Doctor” Angry Bitch”
Moderator, are you on holiday?
Aboud, just because you and the revolutionaries would sell your sloul to A3war al Dijal to get Bashar and the minorities to the lowest rank in society,(or to see them dead) does not mean that anyone else will do the same to prevent such matters. Just look at the revolutionaries who are sending fabricted videos to Al-Jazeera and Al-Arabiya…or the head bangers who pray and the go kill innocent people. Who do they pray to i wonder? Yep, al dijal it is.
August 29th, 2011, 7:45 am
Aboud said:
Hehehe, have the menhebaks heard of Godwin’s law? They broke the record for how fast it can come true on this forum LOL
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Godwin%27s_law
“Godwin’s law (also known as Godwin’s Rule of Nazi Analogies or Godwin’s Law of Nazi Analogies)[1][2] is a humorous observation made by Mike Godwin in 1990[2] that has become an Internet adage. It states: “As an online discussion grows longer, the probability of a comparison involving Nazis or Hitler approaches 1 (100%).”[3][2]
In other words, Godwin put forth the hyperbolic observation that, given enough time, in any online discussion—regardless of topic or scope—someone inevitably criticizes some point made in the discussion by comparing it to beliefs held by Hitler and the Nazis.”
LOOOOL! It is so astonishing how completely unoriginal and uncreative the menhebaks have proven themselves to be, time and time again. They are terribly unsophisticated debaters, they don’t know a thing about history, and to top it all off, their English is atrocious, especially considering all the years they spent in the West. Pathetic.
August 29th, 2011, 7:57 am
Abu Umar said:
488.
Aboud, keep needling the Nusayri war criminal, Mzibali, who supports the slaughter of tens of thousands of Syrians so his despicable Nusayri regime can stay in power. You will never see these atheist chickenhawks like Mjabali, Afram, Wafa Sultan at the frontline of the battle against the “Mooslems” just like the Jewish Neocon chickenhawks, who didn’t send their sons to the Iraq war they planned. The baying and squealing of the likes of Mjabali prove that the Nusayri regime is finished and the hell with the Nusayris if it means the death of tens of thousands of Syrian Sunnis. If they are so concerned about their rights, then they should have stayed in the mountains and formed their own state.
August 29th, 2011, 8:45 am
qunfuz said:
Abu Umar – I share your disgust with the Syrian regime, Wafa Sultan, and neocons, but I hate your sectarian language. This only helps the regime. There are lots of Alawis who hate the regime but are scared from going into oppostion because of comments like yours. And there are many Alawis – Samar Yazbeck to name only one – who are bravely attacking the regime. It’s not an Alawi regime, it’s a gangster regime. Saddam Hussain’s dictatorship wasn’t Sunni, it was a mafia.
Aboud and Syrian Hamster – I don’t comment on this despicable website any more, so I havent had the opportunity to say how much I appreciate your excellent writing. I’m now editing a magazine, and would welcome contributions from you two. If interested, please contact me through my blog and I’ll be in touch by email.
August 29th, 2011, 8:54 am
Abu Umar said:
” 429. True said:
(Wafa Sultan’s comments, especially a pointed criticism that “no Jew has blown himself up in a German restaurant”, brought her an invitation to Jerusalem by the American Jewish Congress.)”
The menhebek lunatics, Zionists, Western imperialists all share the same deranged mentality in that they expect those that they oppress to go smiling to their graves. The Zionists are outraged that the Palestinians to this day, are resisting and refused to become refugees in their own land. The Western powers are outraged that the Arabs and Muslims refuse to accept their invasions and their local donkeys. The Asad mafia and their cyber-shabiha are outraged that millions of Syrians don’t want to be ruled by the Asad mafia and refuse to bow down to Bashar.
They all preach a pacifism which they don’t practise.
Wafa Shaytan is also very ignorant about World War II. There were many violent reprisals by the Allies and the Jews like the firebombing of Dresden against German civilians, the Jewish hit squads which killed hundreds of Nazis after the war, the millions of German military and civilians who perished in the Allied concentration camps.
August 29th, 2011, 9:00 am
beaware said:
The case for Israeli intervention in Syria
By ANTHONY RUSONIK
08/28/2011 22:47
http://www.jpost.com/Opinion/Op-EdContributors/Article.aspx?id=235779&R=R7
There is no question Israel will have to deal with a post-Assad Syria, so why not start that process now?
For those who support Israel, perhaps the most ironclad principle of our diplomatic posture is non-intervention in the Arab Spring.
Unless there is an active Arab attempt to drag Israel into conflict to deflect popular internal dissent – as Bashar Assad attempted on the Golan to protest Naksa Day in June – conventional wisdom has Israel withdrawn to the periphery.
The argument, of course, is that a provoked Israeli response is just the tonic embattled Arab despots need to deflect attention to the old Zionist monster under the bed and stir up Iranian and leftist critiques of Israel.
Further, a desperate Assad (or even post-Mubarak Egypt) might escalate to non-conventional weapons in a bid to retain power: the massive Israeli retaliation would end internal uprisings.
These high-risk scenarios cultivate a conservative Israeli mindset according to which the Devil one knows is better than the Devil one doesn’t.
Far more manageable, Israeli leaders reason, is the de facto “No War, No Peace” policy of the Assads since Egypt left the war coalition after Camp David.
Domestic rule in Syria is secured via a combination of Mukhabarat repression and controlled conflict with the Israeli “bogeyman” via a Lebanese proxy.
It is hard to challenge these precepts. Splendid isolation for an Israel itself mired in social conflict – albeit peaceful and democratic – appears to be the correct course of action amidst Arab implosion. At the very least, and perhaps most cynical, Syria and Egypt are in no position to pose a strategic threat, embroiled as they are with unclear loyalties, chains of command, and domestic unrest. (As a concession to the Israeli Right, however, it is true that the fall of strongmen like Mubarak can create a power vacuum where the void is filled by terrorist groups).
This article, however, makes the improbable case that non-intervention is a mythical option for Israel. Israel is not the United States, where strategic choices are buffered by thousands of miles of ocean. Israel is not Europe: while both are now within range of Iranian missiles, Europe can still choose to disengage from Middle East politics. Israel can’t.
The improbable but correct course of action for Israel is, instead, much like the role Turkey has adopted, albeit without sufficient conviction. True, Israel could never send an envoy to Syria or Iran as Erdogan does, and the open wound with the Palestinians threatens democratic Israeli foreign policy with cries of hypocrisy. (For a far greater example of hypocrisy, however, consider Turkey’s human-rights pronouncements in Gaza and Syria even as Ankara bombs Kurdish rebels on its own turf and in northern Iraq).
That said, Israel should not miss the opportunity offered by the convergence of moral imperatives and strategic goals. From a pure Realist position, the prospect of isolating Hezbollah from Iran by the removal of the Assad regime dovetails well with the imperative to challenge the most vicious attacks on the Syrian people by the Assad regime.
It is critical to note that most of the social media sites that drive the Syrian Revolution are almost free of anti- Western and anti-Israeli rhetoric. The Syrian opposition, while neither cohesive nor well organized, is nonetheless realistic as to its objective and the nature of the problem: Assad. The courage of the opposition is monumental – a true hunger for freedom.
In this light, there is much more Israel could do to hasten Assad’s downfall and be on the “right side of history” without risk of regional conflict.
The most obvious measures might include a corridor for legitimate refugees from Syria via the Golan. Israel could then offer to set up its own camps to care for the refugees, or put these under UN auspices, or appeal to Turkey for cooperation.
Absurd as this sounds, consider the surprise of Israel’s adversaries and the prospective outcomes: Turkey’s rhetoric and inaction/rejection of the Israeli offer would expose Ankara’s hypocrisy and weaken its regional ambitions.
Quiet acceptance of an Israeli offer would hasten Assad’s demise, and establish Turkey as a true power broker between East and West.
As for Assad himself, the Syrian army is far too distracted, stretched and racked with strained loyalties to challenge Israel on the Golan. If nothing else, Israel could restore the respect and quiet loyalty of the Druse.
If a handful of the refugees are of Palestinian descent, so be it.
Provided security safeguards are followed to prevent terrorist infiltration, there is no reason why Israel can’t offer safe harbor to Palestinians under threat of death in Syria. Diplomatic fears that such a move would amount to a precedent for the right of return are unfounded. A specific response to prevent a bloodbath does not signal acceptance of the Palestinian extremist position.
The diplomatic coup presented by the flight of perhaps 1,000 Syrians to Israel could be tremendous. Hypocrisy? Not a chance. Israel affords itself a unique opportunity to show the world that a refugee is one in clear and immediate physical danger, not a third-generation descendant of the 1948 war.
Further, the Israeli navy could take up position just outside Syria’s nautical border. The posture would – again – be defensive militarily but with an “open arms” policy for poor Sunni refugees from Latakia in flight from Assad’s mercenaries. At the very least, the measure would expose the hypocritical outrage of the Gaza flotillas, whose organizers shed not a tear nor lift a finger for Syria.
There is no question Israel will have to deal with a post-Assad Syria, so why not start that process now? It is reasonable to presume that among the Syrians who take safe harbor outside the country, future leaders might be found – future leaders with less hostile memories of Israel. Israel cannot shape events in the Arab world, nor should it risk military intervention where there is no clear strategic threat.
The mistaken conclusion from these two precepts is self-imposed isolation. Once Israelis realize that this isn’t an option either, Israel can instead do what it used to do: Take the moral high ground, lead by example, and thus promote its diplomatic interests.
The writer holds a PhD in International Relations from Queen’s University, Ontario. He completed post-doctoral studies at Hebrew University, Jerusalem, and follows Israel’s diplomatic and strategic position. Rusonik lives with his family in Toronto, working as an Information Technology Architect.
August 29th, 2011, 9:26 am
EHSANI2 said:
Friday, May 18th, 2007
By EHSANI2
On Sunday May 27th, Syria’s young leader will win a new 7-year term as President of his country. The words “will win” are seldom used ahead of Presidential elections. But Syria, like most countries of the Arab World, does not resemble western nations. Presidential elections in the Middle East do not contain even a slight element of surprise. The results are known in advance. The procedures leading to the actual elections have become part of each country’s folklore.
One cannot discuss modern Syrian politics without fully appreciating the events that took place between 1976 and the early 1980’s, when the Muslim Brotherhood uprising against the Assad rule was in full swing. While this is not the main topic of this post, one cannot escape the fact that the scars of those unfortunate events have left their marks to the present day. The Assad family will never forget how close they came to losing power to that militant insurgency. Only through brutal force was this insurgency crushed. While on face value, the Brotherhood is long gone; the leadership in Damascus has continued to believe that there remains a strong undercurrent of religious fundamentalism inside Syria waiting to be exploited again. Having succeeded at staying in power for so long, the current leadership has convinced itself that in order to maintain the status quo, only force and a clinically efficient security system can guarantee continuity. This leadership has come to view any signs of dissent with paranoia. Allowing any type of dissent has been seen as a slippery slope that must not be traveled on.
How has Mr. Assad done in his first term, and are the Syrian people better off today than they were in 2000?
Usually, newly elected Presidents can blame their predecessors on what is mostly wrong in their country. In the case of Syria, it is a little tricky to criticize your predecessor when he also happens to be your father who ruled the country for the 30 years prior to your coming to power. However, this challenge was addressed using a clever strategy:
The late Hafez Assad was to be positioned in the minds of the country’s citizens as a leader who was preoccupied with strategic international matters. He did not have the time to concern himself with domestic and economic issues. A group of never fully identified so-called “old guard” was to be assigned the responsibility and the blame for the country’s economic and domestic shortfalls over the past 30 years. For the record, those who knew the late leader are quick to note that he exercised full control over all matters. Delegating responsibilities was not his forte. It was repeatedly rumored that even the order to assign new university professors had to be signed by him personally. This meant that some of those documents sat on his desk for months waiting for his signature. Nonetheless, the above carefully crafted strategy has worked very well for the new President. The ever-tricky job of criticizing the past and pointing to improvements since 2000 was certainly made easier this way.
Supporters of the young President are rightfully quick to point to a list of “improvements” since he came to power. If one were to use the period of 1980-2000 as a measuring stick, then it is hard to argue with the country’ “relative” success over the past seven years. But is this the correct metric? Is it enough to claim that the country is doing better today than in the past?
Syria’s economic challenges:
As readers of this forum know, I have been consistently critical of the country’s economic policies. While it is hard to argue that the pace of reforms has picked up recently, it is important to stress that these reforms have been woefully inadequate. It is not enough to introduce new private banks and promise a wave of new investments in tourism followed with the promise to launch a new securities exchange. Many hard decisions have to be made before this country’s economic challenges can be addressed. Thus far, what has been done has not been adequate.
One of Syria’s main challenges is its chronic unemployment. Its vast public sector employs close to two million workers. Outside of telecommunication, almost all these industries experience red ink consistently. While having large state-owned enterprises may help subsidize the income of these employees, it results in the misalocation of resources and low productivity rates. In addition, it is a huge drain on the government’s books as the country’s finance minister reminded us recently.
Syria has a disproportionately young population. As a result, it has a rapidly growing labor force. According to the IMF, this labor force is currently growing at close to 4.0%. Why is this important? Each country has what economists call a “potential economic growth rate”. The way to calculate potential growth rate is to add the growth of the labor force to the change of the country’s productivity. In the case of the U.S., potential GDP growth is 3% as a 1% labor force is added to 2% productivity growth. The only way a country can create enough jobs for its labor force is to grow at or higher than potential.
In the case of Syria, a 4% labor force growth and an assumed 1% productivity rate means that its potential growth is at least 5%. However, growing at potential will not succeed at lowering the current pool of the unemployed. It will merely stop it from rising further. For the economy to absorb an increasing number of the unemployed, a growth rate in the order of 7-8% is needed.
How important is it for the economy to grow by 8% versus the current 3%?
The past 43 years of Baath party rule has been associated with economic stagnation, red tape, socialism and endemic corruption. The cumulative impact of this has stifled economic growth and led to stagnant standard of living. When you grow below potential for as long as 43 years, the cumulative effects can be devastating on income and wealth.
Were a country like Syria to continue to grow at 3% instead of 8% for the next 43 years, the implications would be as follows:
From a base real GDP of $ 23 billion, 3% growth means that GDP will grow to $82 billion by 2050. An 8% economic growth rate, by contrast, would result in a 2050 GDP of $629 billion (thanks to the magic power of compounding). Assuming that Syria’s population grows at 3% over the same period, it is estimated that by 2050 there will be 71 million Syrians to share the GDP number above. The scenario of a 3% economic growth will leave the country with a per capita (per person) GDP of $ 1,150 per year. 8% growth would leave each person with $ 8,829. Assuming a family size of 5, the average Syrian family would either have an average monthly income of $479 or $3,679.
Using the above hypothetical example, one can start to appreciate the impact that economic mismanagement of a country can have if sustained for long periods.
A word on corruption:
One of Bashar’s biggest failures on the domestic front is his inability or unwillingness to reduce corruption and nepotism. Members of the President’s inner circle continue to dominate and monopolize every facet of the Syrian economy with impunity. This President has done nothing to stop this trend. Surely, the family’s financial security is not at risk any longer. Mr. Assad must demonstrate that he will stem this cancer from growing any further.
FROM APRIL 16, 2007
https://joshualandis.com/blog/?p=219
FROM DECEMBER 24TH, 2007
https://joshualandis.com/blog/?p=532
August 29th, 2011, 9:35 am
beaware said:
Iran: US, Israeli plot against Syria failed
Updated: 2011-08-29 16:44
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/world/2011-08/29/content_13213404.htm
TEHRAN – Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian said the US and Israel plot to trigger a sectarian war in Syria has failed, the local satellite Press TV reported on Monday.
Iran: US, Israeli plot against Syria failed
“A plan by the American-Zionism axis aimed at creating a sectarian war in Syria is defeated,” Amirabdollahian was quoted as saying.
He called on “the people of Syria (to) pursue their legitimate demands through democratic way and believe in the reforms plan of (President) Bashar al-Assad,” said the report.
The Syrian nation is proud of its “presence in the front line of resistance and support of the oppressed people of Palestine,” he added.
On Saturday, Iran’s Foreign Minister Ali-Akbar Salehi warned against “dire consequences of change in Syria’s government.”
Syria has highly-sensitive neighbors and therefore (any) change in Syria will not bring good influence to anyone and can create a serious regional crisis which could spread beyond the region, Salehi has said.
Syria has been in unrest since mid-March when anti-government protests broke out in the southern province of Daraa and spread to other cities.
The Syrian authorities blamed the unrest on “armed groups and foreign conspiracy,” and stressed that it would track down gunmen who have intimidated the people and damaged public and private properties.
August 29th, 2011, 9:35 am
beaware said:
European Investment Bank stops loans to Syria
(DP-News – albawaba )
http://www.dp-news.com/en/detail.aspx?articleid=94788
SYRIA- Non-official Statistics data published recently by the Syrian media revealed that the European Union has stopped all loans from the European Investment Bank to Syria, valued at hundreds of millions of Euros.
Non-official Statistics revealed that most of the loans were earmarked for development projects or the support of development and modernization of infrastructure and transport, including financing part of a European civilian aircraft deal to modernize the Syrian fleet.
The European Investment Bank was contributing to the financing of two projects for health care and water with a value of 185 million Euros in addition to other health care projects reaching a total value of 260 million Euros. The projects aim to build and equip 8 new hospitals. The loan value of the Syrian Afaq water 2020 project is about 55 million Euros. More than 370,000 people in 200 different villages would benefit from the project. It also aims to strengthen environmental sustainability by decreasing the amount of sewage deposits flowing into the Mediterranean Sea.
Among the loans is a 150 million euro loan to develop the municipal administration of Syrian municipalities, a 200 million euro loan to build a natural gas-based power plant of 750 MW near the city of Deir ez-Zor on the Euphrates River in Eastern Syria, and a loan to build a power plant in Deir Ali near Damascus.
There was also a 600 million euro loan to finance the purchase of half the value of airplanes (probably Airbus), which Arabian Syrian Airlines was planning to buy. The European Investment Bank loans provided approximately 50% of the investment costs of the project, at a 7.5% interest rate.
August 29th, 2011, 9:42 am
beaware said:
‘Free Syria: From whom? From what?’
Published: 29 August, 2011, 11:37
http://rt.com/news/people-source-syrian-sunni-331/
Syrians demonstrate in support of their President Bashar al-Assad in central Damascus on August 27, 2011 (AFP Photo / Joseph Eid)
(24.2Mb) embed video
Syrian security forces have reportedly surrounded the central town of Rastan, which has become a stronghold for dissidents. It follows weekend violence in the country, with activists saying at least five people were killed.
The latest events came as the country’s leader Bashar al-Assad announced a new law lifting censorship and granting freedom of expression.
Arab League members have urged Syria to end the bloodshed in an official statement. It was rejected in Damascus, however, where it was described as a violation of the organization’s principles.
European countries had earlier proposed hitting the regime with new sanctions. But Russia says the measures will not help and has called on both sides in the country to negotiate.
Events in Latakia
Latakia bears a special significance for Syria and for President Bashar al-Assad. His father is from a village near the city, which is predominantly Alawite, just like the rest of the province. So when protests broke out here in March, they took a personal turn.
The building of a telephone company Syriatel, owned by the president’s cousin, is situated on one of the city’s main squares. When protests began, people expressed their hatred towards the president by looting the place and then burning it.
Violence returned to Latakia again just a couple of weeks ago, claiming more than 30 lives. Anti-government protests broke out in the Sunni part of the city. Officials said they were battling with armed groups that had infiltrated the area.
According to Western media, government war ships were shelling the Sunni section, which is stretched along the coastline and has a camp for Palestinian refugees right in the middle. However, sources in the US administration stated that there were no ships stationed in the bay on August 17 or earlier.
When asked about the events that transpired, people on the streets in the Sunni part of Latakia spoke of gunmen fighting government troops.
“Armed men entered our quarter and started provoking the armed forces, so they would fire back. Some buildings were damaged, but not significantly,” Palestinian refugee Akhed Khubun Abu Jamil told RT.
Some people unwilling to speak on camera shared their views, critical of the Assad regime, saying the government is to be blamed for failing to deliver on five-month-old promises of reforms. This, they say, forced the people out on the streets, stirring up protests.
The reluctance of people to speak on camera is of little surprise, considering RT’s crew was followed by and armed military escort – the only way to get through to this part of the city.
On the surface, it seems to be life as usual, but once you take a closer look, signs of unrests come through, with bullet holes covering walls of many buildings. With the entire country now being at a crossroad, its people are scared, and that fear may well be the only thing which is holding them together.
“We are killing ourselves. Our main goal seems to tear us apart,” a Sunni woman says. “When we are like that, how can we blame the president? What do they mean by ‘Free Syria’? From whom? From what? We are the source of all problems. No one can guarantee the next president will be better. We might just end up like another Iraq.”
August 29th, 2011, 9:51 am
beaware said:
‘S Arabia, Qatar against Syria reforms’
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/196353.html
Saudi Arabia and Qatar will not be happy to witness reforms in countries such as Syria because they are the most “backward regimes”, says a political analyst.
The Saudis and Qataris should not pretend they are in favor of human rights or reforms, said Lebanese University Professor Mohsen Saleh in an interview with Press TV on Sunday.
“These two countries have real treaties with the US in order to execute the American plans,” Saleh added.
Syria has been experiencing unrest over the past months, with demonstrations being held both against and in support of President Bashar al-Assad’s government.
Assad said in a televised interview with the Syrian state TV last week that Washington and its European partners were hindering political change in his country, stressing that political solution was the only way out of the country’s crisis.
As part of his initiative to implement sweeping reforms in Syria, Assad endorsed a new law on Sunday that puts an end to the government’s control over media, newspapers and local and foreign publications.
August 29th, 2011, 9:57 am
Akbar Palace said:
Aboud,
Habibi, I thought we were friends united against President X-box (aka “Besho”, “Junior”) and the menhebaks.
Alas, my admiration of Wafa Sultan has caused a rift. Everyone is still mad, hateful, and angry. I was hoping the cause for a free Syria would unite people.
Lets forget Dr. Sultan for the time being. Lets
August 29th, 2011, 10:04 am
Khalid Tlass said:
Aboud, please please be careful. Are you sure you have water-tight security ?
Also, what do you think about the technologicial capabilities of the Syrian regime ? I say they are NOTHING without the Russian and Iranian geeks.
August 29th, 2011, 10:05 am
Dale Andersen said:
Memo To: ABU UMAR
RE: “…The menhebek lunatics, Zionists, Western imperialists all share the same deranged mentality…”
You left out the crypto-psychotic fascists. Oh wait! That’s your group. Never mind…
August 29th, 2011, 10:08 am
Khalid Tlass said:
Abu Umar, are you sure you are not a British-Pakistani ? Becoz many of your views and your writing style is similar to radical British-Pakistani groups like M.A.C and Al-Muhajiroun.
August 29th, 2011, 10:18 am
Akbar Palace said:
(Pls excuse the broken post … Posting from a cell phone is nearly impossible)
Let’s focus on your dream for a future Syria. Is your future Syria going to be:
– a Muslim state or a secular?
– a state where all Syrians are treated equally under the law?
– a state that will continue to aide Islamic resistance groups?
– a state that will negotiate with Israel?
– a state that guarantees freedom of religion and speech?
Speaking of the evil Neocons, I still don’t understand why Saddam Hussein and the Muslim insurgents do not
August 29th, 2011, 10:22 am
Akbar Palace said:
(Pls excuse the broken post … Posting from a cell phone is nearly impossible)
Let\’s focus on your dream for a future Syria. Is your future Syria going to be:
– a Muslim state or a secular?
– a state where all Syrians are treated equally under the law?
– a state that will continue to aide Islamic resistance groups?
– a state that will negotiate with Israel?
– a state that guarantees freedom of religion and speech?
Speaking of the evil Neocons, I still don\’t understand why Saddam Hussein and the Muslim insurgents do not get equally harrassed: together, they have killed far more Iraqis than the coalition forces. Why?
August 29th, 2011, 10:30 am
Aboud said:
AP @505
1) It will be a state that is religious-secular in nature. For how that is even possible, read on.
2) Every Syrian will be equal. Some will be more equal than others. Keep reading.
3) Hizbollah can kiss my ample Syrian ass.
4) Not sure there is much to negotiate, Syria’s beef with Israel seems to be straightforward. Give back the Golan, and get peace and full diplomatic relations. Although some arrangement must be made with regards to the right of return of our Palestinian brothers.
5) No, free speech is dangerous. Everyone will be forcibly converted to the new secular-religion of Homsi worship Mosques and churches will be transformed into Homsi Temples. Homsi clerics will replace shiekhs. School children will be taught to recite Homsi jokes. By the time I’m done, the Prophet himself will have had Homsi roots. This new religion will be called Homsilanity (any similarity to the word “insanity” is purely coincidental)
This entire revolution has been one big plot to bring about Homsi ascendency. It is too late now to turn back events and avoid the fate of a Pax Homsica.
As for Wafa Sultan, the package is all wrong. The place to bring about change in the status of women in the Islamic world is…in the Islamic world, and not in pandering to right wing Christian and Zionist hardliners and taking vacations in Jerusalem. Her agenda is self profit.
If she wanted women’s suffrage in the Muslim world, she is going about it in a very strange way. Also, I like to piss off the menhebaks, who think that the word “Alawite” is somehow taboo.
The fact that I vented at you AP, was wrong. But even if I agreed with some of what Wafa Sultan said, keep in mind something. We are judged not only on what we do and say, but how we do and say it.
August 29th, 2011, 10:42 am
beaware said:
Moscow Offers Rival UN Resolution on Syria
29 August 2011
The Associated Press
http://www.themoscowtimes.com/mobile/article/moscow-offers-rival-un-resolution-on-syria/442773.html
UNITED NATIONS — Russia has introduced a rival UN resolution on Syria that calls for Bashar Assad’s government to halt its violence against protesters and expedite reforms, but makes no mention of the sanctions sought by the United States and European nations.
Envoys from Britain and Germany said they welcomed Russia’s decision to seek any Security Council action on Syria. But they said Russia’s proposed resolution was weaker than the statement the group had issued earlier this month on the Syrian government’s violent crackdown on the opposition.
“This is a situation where continued activity by the Security Council might be helpful, if it is pushing the parties in the right direction,” Russian Ambassador Vitaly Churkin said Friday.
Russia’s draft resolution calls on the Syrian government to “expedite the implementation of the announced reforms in order to effectively address the legitimate aspirations and concerns of Syria’s people.”
The Russian draft calls for an immediate end to all violence, stresses that the only solution to the current crisis is “an inclusive and Syrian-led political process,” and urges the opposition to engage in political dialogue with the government.
Churkin circulated the proposal Friday, two days after strongly hinting that Russia would veto a U.S. and European-backed resolution calling for an arms embargo on Syria and the freezing of assets controlled by Assad and key supporters of his regime. The stronger resolution backed by Britain, France, Germany, Portugal and the United States was circulated on Tuesday.
Churkin told reporters that “a very important envoy from Moscow” would travel to Damascus on Aug. 29.
British Deputy Ambassador Philip Parham said Russia’s backing of any resolution on Syria was a “good thing,” but “the question, of course, is what the resolution should say.”
“We want to gain consensus on something that will really get us moving in the right direction,” Parham said, expressing hope that council members could reach a compromise.
August 29th, 2011, 10:44 am
Aboud said:
“Aboud, please please be careful. Are you sure you have water-tight security ?”
I stopped caring long ago. My fate will be what it will be, and I don’t have such a high value on my own skin that I’d spend this revolution being a coward.
What makes me so much more special or valuable than people who stick their necks out and lead demonstrations? Or doctors who risk all to secretly treat the wounded. Or soldiers who risk even more by defecting.
Compared to these people, I am nothing. And if the regime wants to waste their time tracking me down and imprisoning me, then I’m glad that my contribution has at least been in wasting their time, and taking up room in a jail cell that would otherwise go to someone more potent.
August 29th, 2011, 10:49 am
beaware said:
Formation of the Syrian National Council headed by Dr Burhan Ghalioun
August 29, 2011
http://blogs.aljazeera.net/liveblog/syria-aug-29-2011-1230
A meeting of the Syrian opposition in Ankara, Turkey has formed the Syrian National Transitional Council, following in the Libyan opposition’s footsteps. It is to be headed by Dr Burhan Ghalioun, a prominent opposition figure.
He is a Syrian thinker, director of the Centre d’Etudes sur l’Orient Contemporain (Ceoc) in Paris, and a professor of political sociology at the Université de Paris III
They have chosen 94 members for the council, 42 of whom are inside Syria and the rest are in the Diaspora.
The press statement was delivered by a spokesman for the Youth of the Revolution, saying the choices of the head and members of the council were mad based on consultations and agreement with those in Syria.
???? ????? ?? ?????? ????? ?????265?????2
August 29th, 2011, 10:51 am
Syria no kandahar said:
???????? ????????? ?????? ??????? ????? ?? ???? ?? ???????
??? ???? ?? ?????
August 29th, 2011, 10:54 am
Afram said:
The west began their integration&mobilization of war propaganda into the texture of existing mass media..irags WMD propaganda again and again!
Fears Rise Over Syria’s Huge Chemical Arsenal
It’s said to be biggest stockpile in world
As unrest continues in Syria, concerns are rising over Syria’s chemical arsenal: The weapons it contains are among the world’s most dangerous, and they’re easy to transport, the Washington Post reports. Syria holds quantities of sarin, a deadly nerve agent that can be released into the air or used to contaminate food or water. It’s not likely Syrian president Bashar al-Assad would hand the weapons to terrorists, analysts say—but if the opposition knocks out his security services, the weapons could go missing.
“This is a scenario that’s on the radar screen if things go downhill,” says a US official. Syria has been developing chemical weapons since the 1970s; while the US and Russia cut down on their chemical weaponry, Syria kept building its arsenal. Experts say it may now be the world’s biggest chemical stockpile, and believe it includes a raft of missiles and rockets that can deliver the poison. The CIA also believes Syria has been working to create VX, a nerve agent even deadlier than sarin. The Post notes that Syria’s chemical stockpile is much more worrying than Libya’s
VX:is a combination of falafel,houmos,fool and kubeht burghol gas emissions from this combo”would could should” kill an Elephant!
August 29th, 2011, 11:00 am
beaware said:
Clerics Have Power In Muslim Countries
by Borhan Ghalioun
Feb 16, 2007
August 29th, 2011, 11:06 am
Dale Andersen said:
Memo To: ABOUD
RE: “…I am nothing…”
Good to know. For a while there, we were afraid you were getting a big head, what with all those busy and numerous posts on SC. Glad to hear it was “nothing” more than the release of hot air from an ample Syrian ass…
August 29th, 2011, 11:09 am
Akbar Palace said:
Aboud,
Thanks for the reply. Your vision is good enough for me, and it seems good enough for most of the participants here. I wish you could bridge your vision of a future Syria with some of the seculars here.
You didn’t quite address the Muslim/secular issue, but I can’t imagine you would want an Islamic state like the KSA or Iran.
In any case, no hard feelings. I’m just a simple American Jew-boy interested in peace for everyone, especially for those living in the M E.
August 29th, 2011, 11:10 am
ann said:
Iran: US, Israeli plot against Syria failed – 2011-08-29 16:44
“A plan by the American-Zionism axis aimed at creating a sectarian war in Syria is defeated,” Amirabdollahian was quoted as saying.
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/world/2011-08/29/content_13213404.htm
TEHRAN – Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian said the US and Israel plot to trigger a sectarian war in Syria has failed, the local satellite Press TV reported on Monday.
He called on “the people of Syria (to) pursue their legitimate demands through democratic way and believe in the reforms plan of (President) Bashar al-Assad,” said the report.
The Syrian nation is proud of its “presence in the front line of resistance and support of the oppressed people of Palestine,” he added.
On Saturday, Iran’s Foreign Minister Ali-Akbar Salehi warned against “dire consequences of change in Syria’s government.”
Syria has highly-sensitive neighbors and therefore (any) change in Syria will not bring good influence to anyone and can create a serious regional crisis which could spread beyond the region, Salehi has said.
Syria has been in unrest since mid-March when anti-government protests broke out in the southern province of Daraa and spread to other cities.
The Syrian authorities blamed the unrest on “armed groups and foreign conspiracy,” and stressed that it would track down gunmen who have intimidated the people and damaged public and private properties.
August 29th, 2011, 11:14 am
norman said:
I can vote for Galion
Is he from Homs?,
August 29th, 2011, 11:21 am
Mjabali said:
General cheese
You hate every Alawi so do not lie. The Nazi analogy hurt you bad I see. Keep on looking for ways out but you can not. Another fabrication of your states that Dr Sultan was in Israel to further Bashar alAssad agenda. As for G W Bush as far ad I know he worked hard to undermine al Assad and gave millions for that cause , probably your paycheck is from that money.
Your whine about the Nazi connection to your set of beliefs is Great. Do you deny it?
As for your gang of Abu ummar and Tlass I say what a company
August 29th, 2011, 11:24 am
Akbar Palace said:
Strange…I have a reply post (11:10 am) “awaiting moderation”, I wonder if others can see it…
August 29th, 2011, 11:25 am
Aboud said:
“Another fabrication of your states that Dr Sultan was in Israel to further Bashar alAssad agenda”
The Angry Bitch was in Jerusalem to further her own agenda; namely, bash Muslims and Islam and profit from it.
Mjahali shows a remarkable degree of hypocrisy. He supports a woman who calls for nuclear war on the Arab world, and Iraq style military interventions. He supports a woman who has the bad taste to take Zionist money in Jerusalem when Palestinians are getting kicked out of that city.
The entire menhebak ideology is based on hypocrisy. It is an ideology that cannot be sustained nor defended, due to the contradictions of its tenets. Also, it makes the menhebaks themselves look like idiots 🙂
Mjahali would defend Charles Manson if he was a Alawite LOL!
(Notice also how short his posts have become now he can’t call people Nazi)
I think Dale Andersen sees a kindred soul in the Angry Bitch 🙂 They would be a…er, “interesting”…couple.
August 29th, 2011, 11:37 am
sf94123 said:
Post 432 & 438 (Subject: We will have to eat brown bread)
Ridiculous, why are you scaring people on this forum? You are no different than the Third World Country’s Mukhabarat!
I will leave the rest to Dr. Landis to defend his website (syriacommnet) against your serious accusations.
As for post 445, thanks for the job offer! I will think about it.
August 29th, 2011, 11:38 am
Akbar Palace said:
Alex,
I uploaded a post at 11:10 am in between Dale and Ann’s post that was awaiting moderation. When do you suppose it will clear the censors?
Shukran
Ok, it Arabic time. What does the following mean in English:
– t’fadal
– dtowal balak
August 29th, 2011, 11:39 am
Revlon said:
509. Dear beaware, thank you for the link to Al Jazeera news on the formation of the syrian transtional council.
Here is a link to a page that provides more details on its membership and the declaration of the priciples of the Revolution.
http://www.sooryoon.net/?p=31905
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2011/08/29
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???? ??????? ?????? ?? ????? ???? ???? ??????? ?????? ??????? ?????? ????? ????? ?????? 94 ????? ?? ???? ???? ???????? ??????? ?? ?????? ???????.
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???? ??????? ?? ????? ?????? ?? ????? ???? ?????? ??? ??? ????? ????? ???? ???? ?????? ?? ?????? ??? ??? ????? ?????? ??? ???????? ?????? ?????? ?????? ???????? ??????? ???? ???? ??? ?????? ????? ????? ?????? ???? ???????? ?? ?? ?????? ???? ???? ???????? ?????? ????? ?????? ?? ???? ?? ??????.
???? ???? ???? ?????? ??????? ?? ?????? ????? ?????? ????????? “????? ???? ???? ??? ?? ????? ??????? ?????”.
???? ????? ??????? ?? ????? ??? ???? ?? ???? ??? ?????? ???? ?????? ??????? ??? ???? ?????? ??? ???????? ??? ??? ??????? ???????? ??? ???? ????????? ??????? ??????????? ???????? ?? ?????? ??????? ????? ??? ???? ???????? ?? ??????? ????? ??? ?? ??????? ???? ????? ????? ??????? ?????? ????? ?????? ????????? ????????
??? ???? ???????? ?? ???? ??? ?? ????????.
??? ??? ??? ????? ???? ???????? ????? ?????? ??? ????? ????? ????? ?????? ?????? ???? ?? ?? ????? ????? ????? ????? ????? ???? ????? ??? ?? ?????? ????? ?? 42 ????? ?? ?????? ??????? ?? ??????.
??? ??? ????? ?????? ?????? ???? ?????? ?????? ???? ????? ????? ????? ???? ????? ???? ????? ??????? ???? ???? ?????? ???? ?????? ??????? ?? ??? ??????? ??????? ????? ??????????? ??? ????? ???? ???? ??????? ??? ???? ?? ??? ????? ????? ???????? ???? ??? ????? ????????.
??? ??? ?????? ???? ??? ?? ???? ?????? ????? ?????? ????? ??????? ????? ????? ????? ????? ??????? ???? ?? ??? ????? ????? ??????? ???? ????? ???? ????? ???? ??????? ???? ???????? ?????? ???? ??? ???? ??? ????? ????? ?? ???? ??????.
????? ?????? ????? ???? ??? ?????? ????????? ???????? ?????? ?????? ?? ????? ????? ????/???? ?????? ????? ??? ????? ?????? ???? ???? ??????? ???????? ????? ?????? ???? ????? ????? ???? ??????? ????? ???????? ????? ???? ????? ????? ????? ?????? ????? ??? ???? ??????? ?????? ???? ????? ??? ????? ??????? ????? ????? ??????.
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??? ????? ??????? ?????? ??? ??????? ???? ???? ????? ?????? ?????? ???????? ???? ?????? ??????? ??????? ??”????? ?????? ??????? ???? ???? ?? ??? ????? ????? ???? ????? ??????? ??????????? ?????? ??????? ??????? ????????”.
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???? ??????? ??? ?? ??????? ??????? ?? ??????? ???? 20 ?21 ?????/?? ?????? ?????? ?????? ?????? ?????? ????? ????? ????? ???? ????? ????? ?? ????? ??????? ?? ??????? ???? ????? ?????? ??????.
August 29th, 2011, 11:45 am
Revlon said:
505. Dear Akbar Palace,
Let’s focus on your dream for a future Syria.
Is your future Syria going to be:
“- a Muslim state or a secular?”
Neither
A civil state that is founded on a combination of prinicples, including human rights, existing religious beliefes, and common laws.
“- a state where all Syrians are treated equally under the law?”
Absolutely yes
“- a state that will continue to aide Islamic resistance groups?”
a state that will continue to aid any resistance groups that are denied their human and political rights!
It will be hypochritical to do otherwise, don’s you think?
“- a state that will negotiate with Israel?”
Yes
– a state that guarantees freedom of religion and speech?
Yes!
However, not a freedom of speech a la Denmark style.
Freedom of speech as I see it, needs to be tempered by wisdom and respect for social values and other’s belief’s.
Nations piece up their boundaries of freedom of speech that best suit their needs and promote their progress in an evironment of harmony.
Socioeconomical dynamics shall automatically promote centricity, encourage dialogue and promote respectful critical thinking.
Cheers
August 29th, 2011, 12:11 pm
ann said:
The NYT Applauds Obama Doctrine, Regurgitates Propaganda
John Glaser, August 29, 2011
http://www.antiwar.com/blog/2011/08/29/the-nyt-applauds-obama-doctrine-regurgitates-propaganda/
And now for today’s extreme war propaganda from the paper of record, the New York Times.
It would be premature to call the war in Libya a complete success for United States interests. But the arrival of victorious rebels on the shores of Tripoli last week gave President Obama’s senior advisers a chance to claim a key victory for an Obama doctrine for the Middle East that had been roundly criticized in recent months as leading from behind.
Administration officials say that even though the NATO intervention in Libya, emphasizing airstrikes to protect civilians, cannot be applied uniformly in other hotspots like Syria, the conflict may, in some important ways, become a model for how the United States wields force in other countries where its interests are threatened.
A model, eh? So the model for the Obama administration’s approach for the Middle East is to go to war in open disregard for and in violation of domestic US law, almost immediately abandon the restrictions of the United Nations mandate to protect civilians in order to initiate regime change, give support and bring to power a rag-tag group of rebel militias and neighborhood gangs with at least some direct ties to al Qaeda and who have committed serious war crimes, all to culminate in massive benefits to oil corporations? Some model, although I’d dispute the novelty ascribed to it by the Times. Also, there is exactly zero mention anywhere in the article how exactly committing multiple war crimes and killing lots of civilians fits into this Doctrine.
The article goes on to praise Obama’s “Libya action” for establishing “two principles for when the United States could apply military force to advance its diplomatic interests even though its national security is not threatened directly.”
During that speech, Mr. Obama said that America had the responsibility to stop what he characterized as a looming genocide in the Libyan city of Benghazi (Principle 1). But at the same time, he said, when the safety of Americans is not directly threatened but where action can be justified — in the case of genocide, say — the United States will act only on the condition that it is not acting alone (Principle 2).
As I’ve said over and over, these are both nonsense. Even if we accept the notion that there was a looming genocide in Benghazi (which is debatable, to put it generously), there is a simple litmus test to determine whether or not the protection of civilians was the actual reason for war. Has the US consistently supported comparable atrocities in many other countries, and do we now engage in foreign policy that predictably leads to the deaths of comparable numbers of civilians? Do we also totally ignore much worse atrocities if they don’t happen to be strategically important? The answer to all of those questions is yes, which excludes the possibility that civilian casualties motivated our intervention. Furthermore, this charge of “responsibility” to protect always comes up. “Would you just let it happen!?” they ask incredulously. Whatever legitimacy the United States government has, it is derived by the consent of the American people. That is American Government 101 that we all learn in elementary school. That legitimacy simply does not carry over to the Libyan people. They certainly didn’t vote for King Obama.They didn’t get a say in whether they’d be better off or not with the rebels instead of Gadhafi.
On the second “Principle” of not going it alone. We had the support of an allied coalition and the UN. The world was with us. Well, yes this is true. But only if you use Washington’s definition of “the world” which does not include the American people or any other major nations who disagree.
The article then says Syria is different because there isn’t a regional or international consensus on Syria (nor was there on Libya) and that a US intervention could cause regional instability and an Iraq-like descent into chaos (so too with Libya). Not quite, New York Times, not quite.
Ah, so refreshing that the New York Times is ably continuing to do its job (that is, bolster the twisted rationales of the powerful war advocates).
August 29th, 2011, 12:30 pm
Afram said:
520. Akbar Palace said:
Ok, it Arabic time. What does the following mean in English:
– t’fadal>>> come in(the refridgerator is empty and nothing left) if you were standing outside a door OR have some fruits&food if you were sitting at dee dinner table
dtowal balak>>> hold your horses
August 29th, 2011, 12:30 pm
ann said:
President al-Assad receives Letter from Russian President
29/08/2011
http://www.dp-news.com/en/detail.aspx?articleid=94813
DAMASCUS- President Bashar al-Assad received on Monday a letter from Russian President Dmitry Medvedev on bilateral relations and Russia’s vision regarding the situation in the region and the events in Syria. The letter was relayed by Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation Mikhail Bogdanov during a meeting with President al-Assad.
The meeting was attended by Foreign and Expatriates Minister Walid al-Moallem, Presidential Political and Media Advisor Dr. Bouthaina Shaaban, Deputy Foreign and Expatriates Minister Dr. Fayssal Mikdad, Deputy Foreign and Expatriates Minister Abdelfattah Ammoura, and the Russian chargé d’affaires in Damascus.
Talks during the meeting discussed the developments in Syria, with President al-Assad expressing great appreciation of Russia’s balanced stance regarding these developments.
President al-Assad pointed out that each step taken by Syria in issuing laws that lay the basis for a new political stage was followed by an escalation of the regional and international campaign against Syria’s Arab and regional role.
In turn, Bogdanov voiced his country’s support of the reform process undertaken by Syria in the political and economic fields, adding that Russia hopes for lasting security and stability.
He also stressed the need for continuing coordination between the two countries on all levels.
In the same context, Minister al-Moallem held a meeting with Bogdanov and the accompanying delegation. The meeting was attended by Deputy Minister Ammoura and the Russian chargé d’affaires.
In a statement to the press after his meeting with President al-Assad, Bogdanov said that Russia considers Syria one of its most important friends in the area, stressing that the two countries are linked by decades-long productive cooperation, friendship and mutual sentiments, affirming that Syria’s stance regarding Syria remains constant.
Earlier on Monday, President Bashar al-Assad discussed with a delegation of the Syrian community in Kuwait the situation in Syria and the role of the Syrian communities abroad in supporting the reform process.
The meeting also dealt with the provocative campaigns against Syria and attempts for foreign interference in the internal affairs, as well as the Syrian people’s rejection of these attempts.
Members of the Syrian community expressed their intention to play their role in supporting the reform march under the leadership of President Bashar al-Assad and take part in conveying the facts of what is going on in Syria abroad.
August 29th, 2011, 12:41 pm
beaware said:
Syrian uprising to get aggressive- Activist
29/08/2011
By Paula Astatih
http://www.asharq-e.com/news.asp?section=1&id=26393
“Regarding the announcement of the establishment of the Syrian National Council, Rahhal told Asharq Al-Awsat: “Those who formed the council are ghosts claiming to represent a large part of the Syrian people, while they have no relations whatsoever with the revolution. We are not part of the opposition abroad. The revolution has an internal body that decides its course.”
Beirut, Asharq Al-Awsat- Muhammad Rahhal, Chairman of the Syrian Revolutionary Council of the Coordination Committees has announced that the council has adopted a resolution to soon move into the second stage of the revolution, which requires arming it, and moving towards an aggressive direction.
Rahhal told Asharq al-Awsat: “We have adopted the resolution to arm the revolution, which will take an aggressive direction very soon, because what we are facing today is an international conspiracy that cannot be confronted except by armed uprising.” Rahhal considers: “The circumstances no longer allow peaceful dealing with the criminality of the regime. Moreover, confronting the ghoul that seeks the protection of the world countries requires weapons, especially as it has become evident to all that the world has not supported the Syrian uprising except by words.”
“We will declare the revolution with what we have in our hands of weapons and stones, and we will respond to the calls of the masses for arming the uprising.” Rahhal added.
With regard to the sources of weapons, the Syrian activist told Asharq Al Awsat: “The Arab countries, which are supposed to help and support us, are cowards, and they refuse to act. Therefore, we will follow the Afghan example; when the Afghans were asked: Where will you get the weapons? They answered: As long as the United States is here, there will be weapons.”
Regarding the announcement of the establishment of the Syrian National Council, Rahhal told Asharq Al-Awsat: “Those who formed the council are ghosts claiming to represent a large part of the Syrian people, while they have no relations whatsoever with the revolution. We are not part of the opposition abroad. The revolution has an internal body that decides its course.”
Also
Divisions in Syrian opposition over arming protesters
Aug 29, 2011, 15:37 GMT
http://www.monstersandcritics.com/news/middleeast/news/article_1659786.php/Divisions-in-Syrian-opposition-over-arming-protesters
Cairo – The first signs of divisions among Syrian opposition groups emerged Monday over the contentious issue of arming the pro-democracy protesters.
The Local Coordination Committees of Syria (LCC) rejected calls by some opposition groups to arm the protesters, saying such a move would be ‘unacceptable politically, nationally, and ethically.’
The LCC, one of several online groups that have been organizing and documenting the protests, said arming the protesters would minimize popular support for and participation in the rallies.
The group said in a statement that it understood the motivation to take up arms, but rejected it. ‘The method by which the regime is overthrown is an indication of what Syria will be like post-regime,’ it said.
‘If an armed confrontation or international military intervention becomes a reality, it will be virtually impossible to establish a legitimate foundation for a proud future Syria,’ the statement said.
The regime of President Bashar al-Assad has cracked down on the pro-democracy protests that started mid-March, triggering international condemnation. The United Nations says more than 2,200 people have been killed.
Mohammad Rahhal of another group, Syrian Coordination Committees, supported the decision to arm the protesters.
‘We made our decision to arm the revolution which will turn violent very soon because what we are being subjected to today is a global conspiracy that can only be faced by an armed uprising,’ he told the London-based Asharq al-Awsat newspaper on Sunday.
In Turkey meanwhile, some opposition members announced the formation of a National Transitional Council to lead activists calling for al-Assad’s ouster.
While a council spokesman said the members were chosen after consultations with activists and protesters in Syria, according to Al Jazeera, some members told regional broadcasters that they were not notified about or consulted on their appointments.
The council is to comprise 94 members – 42 in Syria – and be led by Burhan Ghalioun, a sociologist at the Sorbonne in Paris.
Hundreds of Syrian dissidents had gathered in Istanbul last month and agreed to form a council in order to unify the opposition.
more…
August 29th, 2011, 12:52 pm
Evan said:
anyone know what actually happened in Rastan?
August 29th, 2011, 1:05 pm
ann said:
On Monday, SANA reported “An armed group on Monday kidnapped Attorney General Adnan Bakkour in Hama while he was heading to his work on Kfarnbouda-Karnaz road, along with his driver Bahaa al-Yousef and bodyguard Mohammad Sadrawi.”
SANA quoted Hama Police Command as saying that Judge Bakkour and his companions were kidnapped upon their arriving to Karnaz village, where they were intercepted by seven gunmen with rifles and machine guns.
“The gunmen were in a Toyota pickup with a trunk and a Mazda bus, leading them to an unknown place.” SANA added.
August 29th, 2011, 1:08 pm
Aboud said:
HAPPY EID EVERYONE!!!!!!!
Shocking, for the first time in history, every Arab country managed to agree what day Eid falls on. Wooohoooooooo!
August 29th, 2011, 1:20 pm
Haytham Khoury said:
Congratulation for our blessed revolution. The transition council has been announced. These are the names of the members of the transition council.
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August 29th, 2011, 1:21 pm
ann said:
Syrian activists warn against taking up arms
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/44310596/ns/world_news-mideast_n_africa/
BEIRUT — Syrians should not take up arms in their uprising against President Bashar Assad or invite foreign military action like the intervention that helped topple the government of Libya, a prominent activist group warned Monday.
There have been scattered reports of some Syrians using automatic rifles, rocket-propelled grenades and improvised weapons to repel government troops, but there appears to have been no organized armed resistance to Assad during the five-month uprising.
Calls to launch such a resistance have been rare, but they were more widely reported than usual by witnesses at protests in Syria on Friday, at the end of a week that saw Tripoli fall to rebels fighting Moammar Gadhafi with the help of NATO.
“While we understand the motivation to take up arms or call for military intervention, we specifically reject this position,” said a statement emailed by the Local Coordination Committees, an activist group with a wide network of sources on the ground across Syria. “Militarization would … erode the moral superiority that has characterized the revolution since its beginning.”
The prime minister of Turkey, a former close ally, warned Assad that his regime could face a demise like those in Tunisia, Egypt and Libya if the violent suppression of protests does not stop.
The commentswere some of the bluntest warnings yet and were particularly biting because they came from a leader whose government had extensive diplomatic ties with Syria.
“The only way out is to immediately silence arms and to listen to the people’s demands,” said Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, speaking in his monthly address aired on Turkish TV late Sunday. “We have been watching the fate of those who did not chose this path in the past few months in Tunisia, in Egypt — and now in Libya — as a warning and with sadness.”
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Human rights groups say more than 2,000 people have been killed since the start of the uprising in March.
Witnesses and activists said the crackdown continued Monday as Syrian security forces pursuing anti-government protesters stormed several towns and villages, killing at least six people — including a child — and wounding many others during raids and house-to-house searches.
The largest operation appeared to be in Sarameen in the northern Idlib province, where the London-based Observatory for Human Rights said five people were killed and more than 60 wounded. One person also died during raids in Qara, a suburb of the capital, Damascus.
Similar raids were reported in the village of Heet near the border with Lebanon, along with a military buildup just outside the central town of Rastan, which has become a hotbed of dissent against Assad.
The Syrian government has placed severe restrictions on the media and expelled foreign reporters, making it nearly impossible to independently verify witness accounts.
Syria’s opposition has no clear leadership or platform beyond the demands for more freedom and for Assad to step down, and several attempts to form a national council have failed because of disagreements between opposition figures, and in particular, divisions between the opposition inside and outside Syria.
In a sign of just how fragmented the opposition is, a relatively unknown dissident Monday announced the formation of a 94-member national council.
The announcement, made in Ankara, Turkey, was greeted with excitement on social networking sites — but the celebrations were premature. Several opposition figures whose names appeared on the list told The Associated Press they had not been consulted.
August 29th, 2011, 1:23 pm
Haytham Khoury said:
This is the letter that I sent to Dr. Ghalioun today.
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August 29th, 2011, 1:25 pm
beaware said:
Analysis: EU oil jolt may not be enough to rock Assad
by Dominic Evans
BEIRUT | Mon Aug 29, 2011
http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/08/29/us-syria-economy-idUSTRE77S1W420110829
(Reuters) – Oil sanctions which the European Union is expected to impose on Damascus for repressing protests would be a significant blow to Syria’s economy but it may take more than that to hasten the end of President Bashar al-Assad’s rule.
Five months of protest and government reprisals have undoubtedly inflicted economic damage. Even before the likely EU embargo on Syrian crude exports, tourism, trade, manufacturing and foreign investment have all collapsed, reversing a decade of steady growth, starting to drain the country’s financial reserves and forcing many Syrians out of work.
One industrialist said some were losing patience with the worsening economic outlook.
Yet the wealthy business classes in Damascus and Aleppo have so far remained loyal to Assad and months of high global prices for Syria’s oil exports mean his government still has substantial foreign exchange reserves to fall back on.
EU diplomats confirmed on Friday plans to sanction imports of Syrian oil, saying the embargo could be imposed this week. The loss of European oil sales will interrupt a crucial flow of foreign currency and force Syria to offer its oil more cheaply to new customers further afield.
Syria produces around 385,000 barrels per day of oil, exporting around 150,000 bpd, most of which goes to Europe.
“Syria will have to sell oil at a more discounted price,” said Eurasia Group analyst Ayham Kamel. “It’s important, though it’s not going to bankrupt the regime.”
Oil market consultant Olivier Jakob from Petromatrix said it would take time to identify new customers — probably in Asia — for the sour and heavy Souedie crude that makes up most of Syria’s exports.
“If you’re going to try to target a new refinery, usually you’re talking more in terms of months than days,” Jakob said.
Assessing the broader impact of Syria’s unrest on the economy is difficult because of a lack of data — the most recent published Central Bank figures cover the month of April, just a few weeks after the unrest broke out in mid-March.
They show bank deposits fell 29 percent to 241.7 billion Syrian pounds ($5.1 billion) between February and April.
The Central Bank says much of that money has returned after it hiked interest rates on deposits in early May, but moves to limit sales of dollars two weeks ago suggest that it is struggling to support the local currency.
The Syrian pound officially trades at 47.7 to the dollar, but changes hands at more than 50 pounds at private exchange dealers. Shares on the Damascus stock exchange have fallen 46 percent since a peak in late January.
“IT’S GETTING WORSE”
In a forecast calculated before the prospect of EU oil sanctions, economist Lahcen Achy of the Carnegie Middle East Center said the economy, predicted by the IMF to grow 3 percent at the start of the year, will instead shrink 5 percent.
“Syria has not experienced such a fall over the last decade. Even the international financial crisis did not affect the economy because it was such a closed and small economy,” he said.
A businessman in Syria, who imports European hydraulic equipment, said German firms had told him they were freezing future orders until Syria’s political crisis stabilizes.
“Things are getting worse,” he said. “I have stopped imports as a result of the fear about the internal situation. You are selling on credit and if there is a security deterioration there will be chaos and it will be difficult to get your money back.”
A Damascene industrialist who exports dairy products to Middle East markets said businessmen felt the security crackdown, in which 2,200 people have been killed, was hurting their interests.
“They are seeing the boat sinking and are starting to prepare to jump ship,” he said.
Bankers say decisions by U.S. credit card companies to suspend activities in Syria following the latest round of U.S. sanctions on Damascus, which included sanctions on Syria’s biggest commercial bank, had prompted a transfer of funds from foreign-based banks in Syria to accounts in Jordan and Lebanon.
Achy said trade with Syria’s neighbors had fallen off, probably around 30 to 40 percent. The collapse in investment and tourism meant that oil and remittances from Syrians working abroad were the only sources of income holding up so far.
Indications were that the government had already halted investment spending in infrastructure, schools and hospitals to focus on more immediate needs, he said.
Any interruption to its $2.5 billion a year oil exports “will have an immediate impact on current spending as well … this means probably the government will not be able to pay civil servants.”
“Thirty percent of the labor force is in the public sector and this means the economy will feel the effect because these people also consume, pay rent, buy food and clothes,” he said.
That kind of disruption would be likely to fuel more dissent against Assad, and Achy said the financial cost of unrest could ultimately bring down his rule.
But Ayham of Eurasia Group said it was unlikely the immediate impact would be so severe, and that only a broader EU trade embargo would really squeeze Syria.
“(EU oil sanctions) are not going to be a significant impediment in terms of financial constraints on the regime in terms of hard currency,” he said.
One lifeline for Syria is that it entered this current crisis with foreign reserves thought to be between $16 billion and $18 billion along with a low debt burden of around a quarter of GDP, half of which was external debt.
That is likely to rise as the combination of falling revenues and higher expenditure — including fuel subsidies and public sector salary rises aimed at containing dissent — are set against a shrinking economy, pushing the likely budget deficit above 8 percent of GDP this year, Achy said.
August 29th, 2011, 1:26 pm
ann said:
Syria’s opposition has no clear leadership or platform beyond the demands for more freedom and for Assad to step down, and several attempts to form a national council have failed because of disagreements between opposition figures, and in particular, divisions between the opposition inside and outside Syria.
In a sign of just how fragmented the opposition is, a relatively unknown dissident Monday announced the formation of a 94-member national council.
The announcement, made in Ankara, Turkey, was greeted with excitement on social networking sites — but the celebrations were premature. Several opposition figures whose names appeared on the list told The Associated Press they had not been consulted.
August 29th, 2011, 1:26 pm
Haytham Khoury said:
Happy Eid Aboud and all my Muslim friends:
I think the announcement of the transition council is the best present for all us.
We will remember this Eid for years to come.
Happy Eid for all of you from my heart.
August 29th, 2011, 1:29 pm
Haytham Khoury said:
Celebration are not immature. We will do all our effort to make the council succeed. The coming days will prove to you.
All Ma-Menhrebik people: this is great day for us.
August 29th, 2011, 1:31 pm
Revlon said:
Colonel Yunso, commander of Hamza AlKhateeb Phalange of the FSA intruduces 11 newly joined offciers and solidiers
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aw6FRYe2Vbk&feature=player_embedded#!
– This would probably explain the current, massive military build up around Rastan, Homs.
– It would also come as good news to the Syrian Coordination Committees (SCC), who have vowed to take up arms in self defence.
– The SCC may evolve as the military wing of the Syrian Revolution
August 29th, 2011, 1:35 pm
Tara said:
I think it is a mistake to take up arms now. While this remains an option eventually should the need arise, I think it is way too premature at the time being. I am happy that the transitional council has been formed. I am not familiar with all the names but I hope that the youth is adequately represented. All in all, I think lots have been accomplished since mid- March. I do hope though for the Security Council to endorse trying Bashar and company for crimes against humanity. In all cases, if he is not going to be tried by the ICC, he should be tried in Syria for his crimes.
August 29th, 2011, 1:36 pm
ann said:
Russian envoy criticizes draft UN Security Council resolution on Syria
29/08/2011 – 20:41
http://en.rian.ru/world/20110829/166284657.html
The UN Security Council’s draft resolution on Syria is one-sided, Russia’s UN ambassador, Vitaly Churkin, said on Monday.
The UN Security Council’s draft resolution on Syria is one-sided, Russia’s UN ambassador, Vitaly Churkin, said on Monday.
Churkin said the resolution, presented by the U.S. and EU member states, was “totally non-objective and only envisages pressure on the Syrian leadership.”
“We agree that the Security Council must not remain aloof, but we believe that it is necessary to act in a positive way,” Churkin added.
The resolution comes after a crackdown by Syrian forces on protesters demanding reforms and the resignation of President Bashar al-Assad. The unrest in Syria has already claimed more than 2,200 lives, according to UN estimates.
The Council of the European Union introduced on August 23 additional sanctions against Syria. The previous set of sanctions against Syria was introduced by the European Union on August 1 and the following day a group of U.S. senators introduced a bill expanding sanctions on Syria’s energy sector.
China, Russia, Cuba and Ecuador voted against the resolution, citing the principle of non-interference in Syria’s internal affairs and said the UN-backed measures were “an unnecessary intervention.”
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov travelled to Damascus on Monday for talks with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, the Kremlin said.
Bogdanov called for an immediate ceasefire by both the Syrian government and the opposition and urged Assad to implement his promised reforms without delay.
Earlier on Monday a diplomatic source in New York told RIA Novosti that Russia had produced its own draft resolution on Syria.
August 29th, 2011, 1:38 pm
majedkhaldoon said:
HAPPY EID, to all Musslem Commentors,and to all Syrian
Where Bashar will pray? I suspect in Rawda Mosque it is the area that is most secure for him.
Bouti would be the Imam,may be.
I think Burhan Ghalion is excellent ,I do not think he has enough power yet,I hope he will soon appoint 3-7 close consultant.
I fully support Muhammad Rahal,but he will be difficult to get along with Burhan Ghalion, Burhan looks like he is from Homs,but he has different accent.
Could Haytham Khouri write Burhan Ghalion E-Mail.
August 29th, 2011, 1:43 pm
Revlon said:
530. Dear Haytham Khoury, thank you for posting the full name list of the Council.
I share your view of the historic import of this move.
The apparent schism on the ground, between the LCC and SCC on how to procede with ground activism is both understandable, and in my opinion a positive development.
The downside of militarisation of the revolution,namely justifying the regime’s response, is irrelevent, as the regime has already dubbed this uprising as conspiratorial and armed and been brutally acting accordingly.
The upside is it will provide some degree of deterrence to the unabashed use of force by Jr’s mob.
I wish you and every one on SC eed mubarak!
August 29th, 2011, 1:45 pm
ann said:
Mission Accomplished in Libya? – August 29, 2011
Texas Straight Talk with Ron Paul
http://www.themoralliberal.com/2011/08/29/mission-accomplished-in-libya/
Even as a major hurricane hit America’s eastern seaboard, the administration is determined to expand the war in Libya while threatening the regime in Syria. Is there any limit to government’s appetite to create more problems for our nation and economy?
Americans may be tempted to celebrate the apparent victory of US and NATO backed rebels in Libya, since it seems the Gaddafi regime is overthrown. But I believe any enthusiasm for our Libyan misadventure is premature.
The Obama administration attacked Libya without a constitutional declaration of war, without congressional authorization, without meaningful consultation with Congress — and without a dollar being authorized from the House or Senate. It was a war started by a president who turned to the United Nations for its authority and ignored the authority of the US Congress.
Are we better off as a nation by ignoring and debasing our Constitution? Are we better off having spent more than a billion dollars attacking a country thousands of miles away that had not threatened us? Are we more financially sound having expanded the empire to include yet another protectorate and probable long-term military occupation? Are we more admired throughout the world for getting involved in yet another war?
Still, many will claim that getting rid of Libyan ruler Gaddafi was worth it. They will say that the ends justify the means. As the civilian toll from NATO bombs adds up in a war started under the guise of protecting a civilian population, even the initial argument for intervention is ridiculous. We should not forget that there were no massacres taking place in Libya before the NATO attack. The attack was a dubbed a preventative humanitarian intervention. But as soon as NATO planes started bombing, civilians started dying.
Gaddafi may well have been a tyrant, but as such he was no worse than many others that we support and count as allies. Disturbingly, we see a pattern of relatively secular leaders in the Arab world being targeted for regime change with the resulting power vacuum being filled by much more radical elements. Iraq, post-Saddam, is certainly far closer to Iran than before the US invasion. Will Libya be any different?
We already see grisly reprisals from the US-backed rebels against their political opponents. There are disturbing scenes of looting and lawlessness on the part of the rebels. We know that some rebel factions appear to be allied with Islamic extremists and others seem to have ties to the CIA. They also appear to have a penchant for killing each other as well as supporters of the previous regime. The tribal structure of Libyan society all but ensures that an ongoing civil war is on the agenda rather than the Swiss-style democracy that some intervention advocates suggest is around the corner.
What is next after such a victory? With the big Western scramble to grab Libya’s oil reserves amid domestic political chaos and violence, does anyone doubt that NATO ground troops are not being prepared for yet another occupation?
Neo-conservatives continue to dominate our foreign policy, regardless of the administration in power. They do not care that we are bankrupt, as they are too blinded by their desire for empire and their affection for the entangling alliances we have been rightly counseled to avoid. They have set their sights next on Syria, where the US moves steadily toward intervention in another domestic conflict that has nothing to do with the US. Already the US president has called for “regime change” in Syria, while adding new sanctions against the Syrian regime. Are US bombers far behind?
August 29th, 2011, 1:47 pm
Haytham Khoury said:
Dear majedkhaldoon@541:
I can write to him whatever you ask for. From now, we need leadership that connects with the base. In fact for this reason, I came to this forum. I came to this forum to help the connection between the leadership and the people in this forum.
August 29th, 2011, 2:22 pm
Mango said:
“????? ?????”
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???? ?? ?????? ?? ????? ?????? ?????? ??? ???? ??????? ?????? ?????? ?? ??? ????? ?? ???? “?? ???” ????? ????? ?? ????? ???? ????? ????? ????? ?????? ????? ?????? ??? ????? ??????? ??????? ??????? ???????. ???? ??? ???? ??? ????? ???????? ?? ???????? ?? ?????? ???? ?????? ??????? “??? ??? ?? ?????? ?????? ??? ??????? ?????? ????????? ????? ??? ????? ???? ??? ???? ????????? ???????????”.
???? ?? ????? ???? ?????? ?????? ???? ?????? ??? ?????? ??????? ???? ???? ????????? ??? ????? ?????? ??? ????? ???? ????? ?????? ??????? ??????. ???? ????? ????? ?????? ??? ????? ??????? ?????? ??????? ?? ????? ???? ????? ?????? ???? ???? ??????? ???????? ??? ???? ??? ??? ?????? ?? ???? ??? ??? ????? ????? ??????? ?? ????? ????.
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August 29th, 2011, 2:51 pm
atassi said:
Eid Mubarak to you all “Men-Hibak and MAmen-Hibak”. InshaAllah next Eid we will see our dream of a new and free Syria come true..
August 29th, 2011, 3:33 pm
annie said:
Eid Mabrouk or Moubarak, and Bonne Fête, Next year in Damascus and Jerusalem !
August 29th, 2011, 4:02 pm
Abu Umar said:
“502. Dale Andersen said:
Memo To: ABU UMAR
RE: “…The menhebek lunatics, Zionists, Western imperialists all share the same deranged mentality…”
You left out the crypto-psychotic fascists. Oh wait! That’s your group. Never mind…”
No, if I was a conqueror or a tyrant, I wouldn’t be surprised if the people resisted me. Put up or shut up and I don’t see what business white trash like yourself have to do with Syria. The white man and his cronies in the Arab world are finished.
” 504. Akbar Palace said:”
Jewish Zionist hypocrite, go preach secularism to the Haredim and tell your terrorist state to stop funding them. Condemn your terrorist state of Israel which backed many of the worst right-wing dictator in the world, strange we didn’t see the Neocons talking about democracy back then, before you shed crocodile tears for the Syrian protestors. These same protesters will be involved in the liberation of Palestine.
517. Mjabali said:
Do I detect tears and desperation from your posts? I offer you my fake condolences like Hafez eulogised Waleed Jumblat after killing his father and Bashar eulogised Hamza al-Khatib’s father after killing his son.
August 29th, 2011, 5:00 pm
mjabali said:
General Cheesy Whine:
I apologize to you for my short replies to your posts. It was due to the storm that we had. We did not have electricity for a couple or days. I was using my cell phone to answer your accusations and tirades, but, since I am back now to my normal setting let us see:
1- You spoke about the Godwin law and how if arguments become long it may veer towards bringing Nazis into the table: guess what genius YOU are the one who brought the Nazis into the discussion when you stated your love to the “honest” way they perfected the Blitzkrieg and how they they build their monster army. You dug your own grave General, but wait, I forgot you are a professional blogger so lying and then denying it and twisting the truth all fair games in your book.
YOU want the Syrian army to be modeled after the Nazi army. You stated this. I did not come up with this. It is you who claimed that the American and the British learned from the Nazi on D Day, so when I compare you to your beloved NAZI it is YOUR FAULT.
Why don’t you be honest and confess that you brought the Nazis into the conversation. It turned to be not to your liking so you cried and moaned till the moderator took a term describing you correctly out of my texts. Here we can apply the Syrian proverb on you: ????? ???? ?????? ??????
2- As for the Alawis and how you hate every single Alawi (with or against al-Assad): do not hide that, be brave like your alter-ego Abu Umar (Who for a strange reason speaks exactly like you in some instances, without the smiley faces) and say what you feel without spin or lies. Say that you hate the Alawis be true to yourself, but what the heck, you are a spin doctor and could change your mind any time you like.
3- Your conspiracy theory regarding the Zionists and the Right wing sounds like al-Baath. You speak like al-Baath in this instance. your words are accusatory like al-Baath. your terms comes from the influence of al-Baath on you. You are excluding people and making them traitors like al-Baath. You are labeling people like al-Baath. Look at how you respect other people’s opinion: does that remind you of al-Baath?
AS for Republicans vs Democrats you never answer my point about G.W Bush and how much he helped the Syrian Opposition. Also, You never answer the question if you are getting paid from the dollars G.W Bush put to fight al-Assad?
4- As for Dr. Wafa Sultan, first where did you fabricate that she went to Jerusalem to further al-Assad agenda or the Alawi agenda, do you see that you are a nutcase when you talk like that.
Dr. Sultan is an INDEPENDENT WOMAN, something scares a religious thinker like you as we could tell from your argument above. If she went anywhere that is her own decision. I though you judge people regarding their position to al-Assad, ever checked her position in this case, or you fabricate things about her?
Dr. Wafa Sultan made zealots like you re-think all of the cliches you have in your mind regarding Islam. She is a rebel, whether you liked her or not. It is her FREEDOM OF SPEECH that you are against as you stated.
General Arboud: You hate freedom of speech. You hate minorities and the freedom they are asking for. There is no space in your logic for minorities and that is why you will always keep butting heads with the likes of me.
5- As for intellectual maturity you were claiming and talking about and how you have people regardless to their sect or religion depending on their views of al-Assad: let us see: you hate Syria No Kandahar who always stated his dislike to al-Assad. You confess your hatred to me, and I never liked al-Assad. So how much can you lie here? You are caught lying plain and simple, or wait, you are a professional spin doctor and could say whatever you want thinking no one is noticing. General you are “exposed” (to use one of your favorite Baathi terms).
AS for your Secular/Religious solution I am laughing now at your proposal and when I could stop I will reply to your lunacy…
Do not whine too much if the moderator took off some of my words…I never want anyone to take any words out of your posts and that of your boys (your alter-ego Abu Umar and the great thinker Khaled Tlass)… Please moderator keep their curses…it is freedom of speech after all…
Freedom of Speech and freedom to worship whatever we want are things that do not exist in your dictionary.
Secularism, only, is going to save Syria. you are the living proof to that General….
Religion is going to tear Syria apart and you seem to not get it…what does that say about you General?
August 29th, 2011, 5:25 pm
Aboud said:
@548 Whatever.
🙂
How serious am I supposed to take someone who asks this idiotic question
“Also, You never answer the question if you are getting paid from the dollars G.W Bush put to fight al-Assad?”
LOL!
August 29th, 2011, 5:51 pm
Brad said:
Report: Shell won’t stop oil production in Syria !!!
Seriously? Shell ‘s revenue from Syria is probably a fraction of a percent of their overall business and will not make a dent in their annual report but it would drastically hurt the oppressive regime that has killed thousands. I am stunned by the audacity and greed. I know corporations don’t give a hoot about human lives but I thought they cared about PR and the possibility of being boycotted. I do know that I will never use Shell stations again and will be certain to educate as many people as I can about their position.
August 31st, 2011, 12:04 am
Syria Comment » Archives » Syria’s First High Ranking Defection or a Forced Confession? The Taped Resignation of Hama Attorney General said:
[…] Here is a list of the 94 members of the Transition Council led by Bourhan Ghalioun looks like eu has agreed on the embargo after all the arguments. it seems that it will become effective tomorrow and will offer a temporary exception till november 15 (italy’s issue) EU Set To Broaden Syria Sanctions, Impose Oil Embargo By 2011-08-29, By Laurence Norman, DOW JONES NEWSWIRES BRUSSELS (Dow Jones)–The European Union is set to move ahead with an oil embargo on Syria but is likely to leave a possible ban on European investment in the Syrian energy sector for a future round of measures, E.U. diplomats said Monday. Dow Jones Newswires reported last week that the oil embargo was on track to be approved, as was a change broadening the legal basis of the current sanctions against the Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s government to people who support or benefit from the regime. Until now, an asset freeze and travel ban could be placed only on those who ordered, helped with or carried out Syria’s violent crackdown on protestors. […]
August 31st, 2011, 9:42 pm
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