al-Nusra, al-Raqqa, Calls for Jihad, River of Death

 

al-Nusra

 

Syrians Protest Demanding Exit of al-Nusra

Activists take to streets of rebel-held Mayadeen in eastern Syria for third straight day to demand that Al-Nusra Front fighters leave town.

Protests erupted after the Islamist Al-Nusra Front… set up a religious council in
the east of Deir Ezzor province, where Mayadeen is situated, to administer
affairs in the area.

NPR – An interesting interview with an Al-Nusra fighter; his naiveté is both quaint and disturbing – via Conrad

Jabhat Al-Nusra’s Goals Extend Beyond Syria – As the Syrian war intensifies, Hussein Jemmo examines the reasons behind the rise of al-Qaeda-affiliated Jabhat al-Nusra, and argues that the battle for Syria is only one step in a wider regional strategy for this group.

…The speech suggested that the militant front has become the main force in the fight against the Syrian regime, with no mention of the Free Syrian Army… The speech indicates that the FSA is being subsumed. After having been the leading military entity in the Syrian revolution, the FSA has been pushed to the sidelines compared to Jabhat al-Nusra… In Aleppo’s countryside, a member of Jabhat al-Nusra showed me a booklet entitled “Regional War Strategy in Syria.” The booklet represents a serious vision by an al-Qaeda analyst. It is available on the internet and helps explain the carefully planned beginnings of jihadism in Syria. According to the study, “The title of the next battle of Damascus will be ‘survival of the smartest,'” and explains how the jihadist environment began to emerge in Syria.

 

al-Raqqa

 

Events surrounding the takeover of Raqqa are still hazy. A number of reports refer to Jabhat al-Nusra as having taken over the city, or even to other groups such as Harakat Ahrar al-Sham and the Brigade of Huthaya bin al-Yaman. But these reports don’t mention the group Jabhat al-Wahdet al-Tahrir al-Islamiyya who identified themselves as such in the video in which they are holding the muhafiz and head of Raqqa’s Ba’ath party. Consistent with the observation that the “emir” of this group may be from Deir ez-Zor is the alleged participation of refugees who had previously fled Deir ez-Zor for al-Raqqa in the city’s takeover (still unconfirmed). Also unclear is who among / how much of the local population wanted this shift of support (from regime to opposition) to occur, and who was opposed to it. The battle of narratives (“Raqqa is liberated” vs. “Raqqa has been seized by outsiders”) is in full swing. –MTB

The fall of ar-Raqqa to Jihadism ~ Jabhat an-Nusra & Harakat Ahrar as-Sham by pietervanostaeyen – March 7

On March 4 2013 the city of ar-Raqqa was conquered by Syrian rebels. What is remarkable about this conquest is that the city fell to Jihadist troops. The (secular) Free Syrian Army hardly had any role in the battle for and conquest of the al-Assad stronghold.

Although this news is widely spread amongst specialists inquiring and reporting on Jihadism in Syria, the traditional media seem to be ignoring this fact. In this blogpost I will try to point out the significance of the Jihadist groups in conquering this city.

The above blogger believes that:

[The] significance of Al-Raqqah’s fall to Ahrar al-Sham & Jabhat al-Nusra cannot be emphasised enough. Its position on Highway 4 between Aleppo to the W and Deir ez Zour to the SE makes it of critical strategic value. Deir ez Zour already dominated by Islamist rebel groups, especially members of Syrian Islamic Front’s Jaish al-Tawhid and of Jabhat al-Nusra. Linking Deir ez Zour & Al-Raqqah – with Iraqi border to the east, unites two Islamist rebel fronts and puts them in a very strong position to converge on Aleppo if necessary

Whereas in How Important is the Rebel Takeover of Raqqa it’s asserted that:

…how important is Raqqa in the broader fight against the Assad regime? The answer: not much. The taking of Raqqa, a city of about 250,000 people and now home to hundreds of thousands more internally displaced persons, and with little economic or military value, is just the latest in a wave of rebel victories across the north… The Syria conflict will be won or lost around a small patch of real estate in western Damascus – the areas that host several presidential palaces, the military’s fourth division and Republican Guard, not Raqqa or anywhere else… In the halls of regime power in Damascus few tears will be shed for, what it sees, a backwater desert outpost.

Regime Attacks Raqqa, Rebels Conduct Executions

Videos posted online from Raqqa have shown government workers and troops lying dead in the streets, gun shot wounds in their heads. One video shows three bodies who it is claimed were executed for being “dogs of military intelligence”.
Rights groups have reported summary executions of regime officials and troops following the capture of other areas.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported on Sunday that at least 14 people have been killed in government airstrikes on the northern Syria city of Raqqa.

Raqqa Lies in Ruins

The armed opposition has dragged the Syrian army into yet another battle that will lead to yet more destruction and bloodshed. With this, Raqqa city, where the situation had been calm for two years, has joined the tragic flow of incidents in Syria.
Contrary to expectations, Raqqa — controversially — did not initially join the “Syrian revolution.” When the incidents first broke out, diffident protesters took to the streets, but they soon stopped. The city’s movements remained peaceful until the end of last year. Syrian President Bashar al-Assad even prayed in one of Raqqa’s mosques during Eid al-Adha last June.

The agreement with the Free Syrian Army leaders in the Kurdish regions, and the heavy blow that was dealt to the militants and Jabhat al-Nusra in Aleppo triggered quick action to achieve another victory. There was also news about militants coming from Iraq, and they paved the way for the battle of Raqqa city by taking over its suburbs without any real resistance. They then tightened their grip on al-Tabqa city and its areas of strategic importance, such as the Euphrates Dam. All of these steps were leading up to a large-scale offensive on the city, which started with a blockade on its central prison and ended with frequent incursions from different entrances to the city.

 

New Resources

 

Free e-book from Al Mesbar Studies & Research Center and the Foreign Policy Research Institute: The West and the Muslim Brotherhood after the Arab Spring

 

Good BBC documentary: A History Of Syria With Dan Snow

“The conflict in Syria can only be understood by knowing the history of Syria”

 

Christians

 

Syrian Christians Dream Of Life Without Assad Or Radical Islamists The story of Deir Ezzor’s Christians: attacked by the regime, helped by the FSA, scared of the Islamists…

Abu Ibrahim says he and his family are the only Christians left in Syria’s devastated city of Deir Ezzor, and he is terrified Muslim extremists could make their already difficult life hell. Yet every Sunday, he and the family peacefully hold prayers…

 

Jets Bomb Homs as Mortar Fire Rocks Damascus

Mortar bombs struck a Christian neighborhood and a football stadium at game time in Damascus Monday, killing six civilians and wounding at least 24 in what appeared to be an escalating campaign by rebels to sow fear in the Syrian capital…

In the latest attacks, four mortars bombs hit Bab Sharqi, a predominantly Christian area known for its old churches. One fell in a park, two near an ice cream shop and a fourth hit a house nearby.

 

Uncertain Future for Syria’s Minorities

The Muslim commander of the local rebel garrison appears to be trying to allay any fears among the roughly 2,500 Christian residents who have stayed in the village since the fighting in January, saying he won’t impinge on anyone’s rights…
“I am not convinced that these people want freedom and democracy,” said Fadi, a Christian civil engineer from Damascus, voicing a common view that the rebels are led by extremists. “I sympathized with them at the start, but after all the destruction, killing and kidnapping, I prefer Bashar Assad.”

 

Christian Neighborhoods, Damascus Suburbs, Homs Refinery Hit by Rebel Attacks

One child was killed and 9 others wounded when a bomb shell hit their school bus in Damascus.

 

Syrian Jihad and Jihad for Syria

 

Grand Mufti Ahmad Badreddin Hassoun’s jihad against the jihadists: Syria’s top Sunni cleric appeals to Syrian youth to join the military. The feelings of Syria’s Sunnis are divided regarding this regime-linked figure; he has some influence but many Sunnis view him as a tool of the establishment.

One of the pillars of President Bashar Assad’s leadership is secularism, but nearly two years into a fight which it says is spearheaded by hardline Islamist terrorists, Damascus has decided to employ its enemy’s tactic: jihad. The highest official Sunni Muslim body in Syria, closely linked to the government, issued a religious decree on Sunday calling on Syrians to join the military, which it called both “a national and a religious duty”.

 

Hundreds of Russian Islamists Fighting in Syria

Rais Suleimanov, head of the Kazan-based Volga Center for Regional and Ethno-Religious Studies, said he got this number from Russian militants themselves, who he said have “no interest in exaggerating it.” He said the militants come from CIS countries including Ukraine and from different regions of Russia, among them Tatarstan and the volatile North Caucasus, where Russian law enforcement is battling an intractable insurgency of separatist Islamist militants.

 

Judge convinces young Saudis, “convicted for demonstrating” in Saudi Arabia, to go and “fight the real enemy”–Shiites in Syria:

In one documented case, a Saudi judge encouraged young anti-government protesters to fight in Syria rather than face punishment at home. Mohammed al-Talq, 22, was arrested and found guilty of participating in a demonstration in the north-central Saudi city of Buraidah.

After giving 19 young men suspended sentences, the judge called the defendants into his private chambers and gave them a long lecture about the need to fight Shiite Muslims in Syria, according to Mohammed’s father, Abdurrahman al-Talq.

“You should save all your energy and fight against the real enemy, the Shia, and not fight inside Saudi Arabia,” said the father, quoting the judge. “The judge gave them a reason to go to Syria.”

Within weeks, 11 of the 19 protesters left to join the rebels…

Saudi authorities have a strategic goal in Syria, he said. “Their ultimate policy is to have a regime change similar to what happened in Yemen, where they lose the head of state and substitute it with one more friendly to the Saudis,” al-Qahtani said.

 

West training Syrian rebels in Jordan Exclusive: UK and French instructors involved in US-led effort to strengthen secular elements in Syria’s opposition, say sources Julian Borger and Nick Hopkins, guardian, Friday 8 March 2013

Western training of Syrian rebels is under way in Jordan in an effort to strengthen secular elements in the opposition as a bulwark against Islamic extremism, and to begin building security forces to maintain order in the event of Bashar al-Assad’s fall.

Jordanian security sources say the training effort is led by the US, but involves British and French instructors.

The UK Ministry of Defence denied any British soldiers were providing direct military training to the rebels, though a small number of personnel, including special forces teams, have been in the country training the Jordanian military.

But the Guardian has been told that UK intelligence teams are giving the rebels logistical and other advice in some form.

British officials have made it clear that they believe new EU rules have now given the UK the green light to start providing military training for rebel fighters with the aim of containing the spread of chaos and extremism in areas outside the Syrian regime’s control.

According to European and Jordanian sources the western training in Jordan has been going on since last year and is focused on senior Syrian army officers who defected….

“What has happened of late is that there has been a tactical shift,” said Julien Barnes-Dacey, a Middle East expert at the European Council on Foreign Relations thinktank. “Islamist forces have been gaining steam in the north and Jordan is keen to avoid that in the south. Having been very hands-off, they now see that they have to do something in the south.”

He added: “There is a feeling that Jordan simply can’t handle a huge new influx of refugees so the idea would be to create a safe zone inside Syria. For them it’s a no-win scenario. Everything they had been seeking to avoid has come to pass.”

For western and Saudi backers of the opposition, Jordan has become a preferable option through which to channel aid than Turkey. Ankara has been criticised for allowing extremist groups, such as the al-Nusra Front, become dominant on the northern front while it focused on what it sees as the growing threat of Kurdish secessionism.

“The Americans now trust us more than the Turks, because with the Turks everything is about gaining leverage for action against the Kurds,” said a Jordanian source familiar with official thinking in Amman….

Syrian rebels have said that in the past few months there had been a relaxation of the previously strict US rules on what kinds of weapons were allowed across the border, and that portable anti-aircraft missiles had been released from Turkish warehouses where they had been impounded.

Matt Schroeder, who tracks the spread of such weapons for the Federation of American Scientists, said the recent appearance of modern, sophisticated anti-aircraft missiles in the hands of such fragmented rebel groups was deeply troubling in view of their capacity to bring down civilian airlines…

 

Foreign Policy

The Islamic State of Iraq, a militant jihadist group affiliated with Al-Qaeda, has claimed responsibility for a massacre of nine Iraqi guards and 48 Syrian soldiers who sought respite in Iraq from Syria’s civil war. The massacre is considered one the conflict’s most deadly episodes of cross-border fighting. The U.S. has condemned this attack as an act of “terrorism” because it claims some of the Syrian troops sought medical treatment in Iraq. Meanwhile, Syria’s grand mufti, Sheik Ahmad Badr al-Deen Hassoun, has issued a religious degree urging Syrian parents to enlist their children in the Syrian Army. The grand mufti is a Sunni and also closely linked to the Assad regime. His degree is significant for two reasons: it appeared to call for jihad; and it suggests the Assad regime lacks a sufficient supply of soldiers, prompting concerns that Assad may enforce compulsory service into the armed forces. This speculation is corroborated by reports that the Syrian government is recruiting and training Syrian women to become soldiers in a force named the “Lionesses for National Defense.” A video posted to Russia Today’s Arabic channel shows women marching in army fatigues, carrying Kalashnikov rifles, chanting slogans in support of the Syrian regime. Their duties consist largely of checkpoint control.

 

River of Death

The regime tries to outdo itself in the production of horror

 

Guardian: The story behind one of the most shocking images of the war

Why did the bodies of 110 men suddenly wash up in the river running through Aleppo city six weeks ago? A Guardian investigation found out.

It is already one of the defining images of the Syrian civil war: a line of bodies at neatly spaced intervals lying on a river bed in the heart of Syria’s second city Aleppo. All 110 victims have been shot in the head, their hands bound with plastic ties behind their back.

It’s a picture that raises so many questions: who were these men? How did they die? Why? What does their story tell us about the wretched disintegration of Syria? A Guardian investigation has established a grisly narrative behind the worst – and most visible – massacre to have taken place here…

There are no women on the grisly slideshow of dead men that is replayed in melancholy slow motion every time a relative arrives. Nor are there more than a handful of males aged over 30. Most of the dead dragged from Aleppo’s Queiq River were men of working age.

Another thread strongly unites the fate of the river massacre victims; each of them had either been in the west of the city, or had been trying to get there. They had to pass though checkpoints run by the Syrian army, or their proxy militia, the Shabiha. The process involved handing over identification papers that detailed in which area of the city the holder of the papers lived…

Two other men who had been arrested at regime checkpoints and later freed were also interviewed. Both alleged that mass killings had taken place in the security prisons in which they had been held. They identified the prisons as Air Force intelligence and Military Security — two of the most infamous state security facilities in Syria.

“If they took you to the park, you were finished,” said one of the men, who had been freed in mid-January. “We all knew that. It is a miracle that I am standing here talking to you.”

The man, in his early 20s, refused to be identified even back in the relative safety of the east of the city. Nowadays, he spends his mornings on the banks of the river, waiting for more bodies to float down.

The concrete ledge from where the bodies were recovered is now covered by waters which, on 29 January, had receded leaving the sodden remains exposed, blood oozing from single bullet wounds to each of their shattered skulls…

“Before I left the prison, they took 30 people from isolation cells and killed them.”

Abdel Rezzaq said he was being held in Block 4, within earshot of the solitary confinement cells and the area where he alleges the prisoners were taken, then executed. “They handcuffed them and blindfolded them and they were torturing them till they died.”

“They poured acid on them. The smell was very strong and we were suffocating from it. Then we heard gunshots. The next day they put me and some of the others in front of men with guns, but they didn’t shoot at us. They freed me later that day.”

“I heard women screaming. They were pouring alcohol on us and cursing us. Only God got us out of there, no-one gets out alive. And only god knows what happened to the rest of the people who were in there. I will fight for this cause because I want the whole world to see what is happening.”

“I was there for a month,” he said. “Then one night they took us to an area outside, it was near a park and I thought that was it. I was preparing for death by praying and they started shooting along a wall where they had lined people up. There were about four guys next to me, to my right, and they stopped shooting. I heard one officer say ‘let them go’. And here I am. I will stay waiting for these bodies for the rest of the war. I cannot believe I am here.”

 

Aleppo’s river of death By Donatella Rovera

Aleppo’s Kweik river, keeps washing up the bodies of men and boys who have been shot in the head at close range. Some have their hands tied behind their backs, some have marks suggesting torture. Virtually every day this past week I have been getting early morning phone calls informing me of more bodies in the river – two on Sunday, four on Monday, seven on Tuesday, three on Wednesday… All eventually float to the same spot in the Bustan al-Qasr district of Aleppo, Syria’s largest city, under the control of opposition forces but just a few hundred meters downstream from an area held by government troops. It is too dangerous to try to recover the bodies at the point where they first appear – it’s too close to the government-controlled zone and right in the line of their sniper fire. Instead, local volunteers wait for the bodies to float another 300 meters or so downstream where they can be retrieved more safely. On March 3, I arrived just as two corpses had been recovered from the river. On the face of one, something had been written with a blue marker. I had to look closely because the writing was pale and partially erased by the water and mud – the body was floating face-down when it was found. On the forehead was written “al-Assad ” and on the left cheek “Surya;” the writing on the right check and the chin could not be deciphered. People thought the two illegible words might have been “u bas” – as in the pro-regime refrain: “al-Assad, Surya, u bas” ([President] al-Assad, Syria and that’s it).

 

Women

 

Syrian Women’s Day, March 8, 2013 by Aida Dalati

Between the years 1174 to 1260AD Ayyubid royal women banned together with Damascene daughters of the local Ulamaa (scholars) and built learning centers Madrassas for the Damascus and Aleppo youth, and Zawiahs-hospices for the terminal ill.

Some of the women’s work includes, Safwat-al-Mulk’s Peacock cupola (Qubbat al-Tawawis) built by the Seljuk widow of Taj al Dawleh, a spacious mosque and Sufi hospice located near the entrance of the Straight Street which I pass by every time I go to see my upholsterer. Also Princess Zummurud Khatoun’s Madrasat Khatuniyya the fifth madrassa-school built in Damascus and Princess Dayfa Khatoun’s Madrasat al Firdouse in Aleppo.

The title of “Khatoun” in Ayyubid Seljuk refers to Queen, princess, lady or noble woman.

In a span of these 85 years before Hulako the Mongol occupied Damascus, studies have found that out of the 147 persons who participated in building, 21 were women. Out of 69 Madrassas 15 were by built by women, (23% of the total) as were 6 (21%) out of the 29 Sufi hospices. In Aleppo 5 out of the 20 (25%) Khanqahs-Ribats (hospices) were also built by women. I find this to be a most delightful and empowering piece of history.

Chapter 19 Ayyubid Royalty in Damascus, Damascus Renaissance, Aida Dalati By Aida Dalati, to be published by Amazon, Photos available upon request

 

Arab revolutions have made women worse off (Moha Ennaji, The Daily Star)

“Though women across the Middle East participated actively in the Arab Spring protests that began in late 2010, they remain second-class citizens, even where popular uprisings managed to topple autocratic regimes. Indeed, the Islamist governments now in power in several countries seem more determined than the despots that they replaced to keep women out of politics. In conducting interviews with women in the region, I am struck by their pessimism. They fear the loss of their rights. They see economic disintegration all around them, raising the possibility of a further increase in violence. As social bonds fray, they feel increasingly vulnerable. More than once, I heard them express the view that things were better before the revolutions.

Female representation in parliaments and Cabinets after the Arab Spring has been either absent or meager, and women activists fear Islamist parties will implement reactionary policies that discriminate on the basis of gender. In Egypt, for example, the Freedom and Justice Party, which dominates parliament, claims that a woman cannot become president. Egyptian women were heavily represented in the protests that brought down President Hosni Mubarak’s regime in 2011, but they have been largely excluded from any official decision-making role ever since.”

 

Hezbollah and Lebanon

 

First Confrontation between Jabhat al-Nusra and Hezbollah

While the Iraq-Syria border was witnessing the first armed confrontation pitting  Sunni jihadists against Iraqi and Syrian soldiers, leaving scores of people  dead, a wide stretch of border between Lebanon and Syria was the scene of direct  and unprecedented contact between Shiite Hezbollah militants and Sunni jihadists belonging to Jabhat al-Nusra. This new and serious development is likely  to have serious repercussions in the coming weeks. There are several theories  about how this situation came to pass.

 

A Divided Society: The Impact of the Syrian Crisis on Lebanon Terrorism Monitor Volume: 11 Issue: 5, March 8, 2013 By: Nicholas A. Heras

…As Lebanon moves towards planned Parliamentary elections in June, the question of Lebanon’s role in the Syrian crisis will present a difficult political choice for certain communities, particularly the Christians. Lebanon’s Christian community is generally split between support for pro and anti-Assad political parties, but in an environment where the fear of a rising militant Salafist presence amongst Christians is growing, tenuous political allegiances may be switched to support parties, particularly the Free Patriotic Movement, that are aligned with what is widely seen in Lebanon as the greatest guarantee against Sunni militancy in Lebanon, Hezbollah.

 

Hezbollah backs end of Syria suspension from Arab League

On Thursday, the leader of Hezbollah’s parliamentary bloc, Mohammed Raad, said Lebanese Foreign Minister Adnan Mansour was right to call for an end to the suspension observed by all Arab states.

“His statements accurately reflect Lebanon’s official stance on Syria.” Raad told Beirut news media of the call to reinstate Syria, which was suspended from the Cairo-based league in 2011.

Weapons

 

New footage, said to be from a Syrian government tank, shows the desolation in Daraya outside Damascus, via Brian Wit

The Syrian National Coalition, the coalition of opposition forces which is supported by a number of countries including the US, UK and France, has also postponed a meeting to form a provisional government until March 20.

NYT – Russians Bring Dashcam War Reporting to Syria

http://www.youtube.com/user/newsanna/videos?view=0&flow=grid

 

Do arms transfers represent breakthrough for Syrian rebels? By AuthorPaul Mutter |

FSA fighters being instructed in the use of the ex-Yugoslav M79 anti-tank rocket launcher (YouTube)

The New York Times reported last week that “Saudi Arabia has financed a large purchase of infantry weapons from Croatia and quietly funneled them to antigovernment fighters in Syria.” The effort was reportedly known to the US, but nothing was said for or against it so that it might proceed under the radar of a European Union arms embargo on Syria….

Iraq-Syria Overland Supply Routes: Syria By Joseph Holliday – ISW

…Assad’s withdrawal from northeastern Syria, combined with rebel gains along the Euphrates River, has reduced possible overland supply routes between Baghdad and Damascus to the Al Walid-At Tanf border crossing point. The recent ambush also demonstrates the capacity and willingness of militants on the Iraqi side of the border to disrupt this route. The Iraqi and Syrian governments appear well situated to maintain control of this last overland supply route, but if this route closes, the Assad regime will have to rely on air and sea resupply routes in order to continue its campaign against the opposition in Syria.

Assad’s withdrawal from northeastern Syria, combined with rebel gains along the Euphrates River, has reduced possible overland supply routes between Baghdad and Damascus to the Al Walid-At Tanf border crossing point. The recent ambush also demonstrates the capacity and willingness of militants on the Iraqi side of the border to disrupt this route. The Iraqi and Syrian governments appear well situated to maintain control of this last overland supply route, but if this route closes, the Assad regime will have to rely on air and sea resupply routes in order to continue its campaign against the opposition in Syria.

 

Opposition

 

Syria opposition to pick interim PM next week [this week, i.e. yesterday]

The Istanbul meeting – to be held on March 12 and 13 – was called after former Prime Minister Riad Hijab, the highest-ranking civilian defector from Assad’s government, withdrew his candidacy, several coalition members said on Thursday. Hijab had run into opposition from Islamists and liberals in the coalition for his past ties with Syria’s ruling hierarchy…

Coalition sources said the Syrian National Council, a large Muslim Brotherhood-influenced bloc within the 71-member coalition, had chosen three candidates for prime minister.

They are Salem al-Muslet, a tribal figure from northeastern Syria who worked at think-tanks in the Gulf; Osama al-Qadi, a US-educated economist who heads an opposition taskforce drawing up plans for post-conflict economic recovery; and veteran opposition campaigner Burhan Ghalioun, a professor from Homs and previous president of the Syrian National Council.

Asaad Mustafa, a former agriculture minister during the 30-year rule of Assad’s father, the late President Hafez al-Assad, is also in the running, the sources said. Muslet and Ghalioun, however, are members of the coalition, whose rules state that only non-members can join the provisional government.

Syrian opposition still deadlocked over interim government [March 12]

The Syrian opposition has cancelled a meeting to elect an interim government for  the second time in less than two weeks amid continuing internal divisions.
The meeting, scheduled for this week after an earlier cancellation on March 2,  is now scheduled to take place in Istanbul on March 20…

The main task of the interim government would be to improve everyday life in  areas of Syria where the insurgents have driven out government troops, the SNC  source said. The interim government would also be based in “liberated” regions  of the country…

 

Politics, Aid, Economics

 

Washington Post – Syria Woos BRICS in India

During her three-day visit to India, senior Syrian minister Bouthaina Shaaban asked New Delhi to take the lead in drafting a strong statement in support of Syria, when the five nations — comprised of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa — meet at a conference later this month.

“We want India, Brazil, Russia, China and South Africa to make a very strong decision to support a political solution in Syria, to support the right of the Syrian people to decide a future for themselves,” Shaaban, the political and media advisor to Assad, told reporters in New Delhi on Friday. Last year, the BRICS nations called for an end to the rhetoric of military action against Syria.

India has until now walked the tightrope between the United States and Syria. It voted in favor of sanctions, but later abstained from another vote in the United Nations General Assembly, saying it opposed acts that aimed at change of regime in Syria.

On Wednesday, India’s foreign office expressed its “deep concern on the security situation in Syria” and said that the Geneva Communique, which had called for respecting Syria’s sovereignty, must form the basis for a solution.

On Friday, Shaaban also urged reporters to use the term “international community” with caution.

“The BRICS is also a big part of the international community, so please stop using the term when you are referring to Western forces,” Shaaban said. Then she added, “It is very difficult to counter Western narrative.”

 

FP – How the Muslim Brotherhood Hijacked Syria’s Revolution

The shadowy Islamist group that was all but destroyed in the 1980s is ruining the uprising against Bashar al-Assad.

No one in Syria expected the anti-regime uprising to last this long or be this deadly, but after around 70,000 dead, 1 million refugees, and two years of unrest, there is still no end in sight. While President Bashar al-Assad’s brutal response is mostly to blame, the opposition’s chronic failure to form a viable front against the regime has also allowed the conflict to drag on. And there’s one anti-Assad group that is largely responsible for this dismal state of affairs: Syria’s Muslim Brotherhood.

 

Shortages of food, fuel, power as Syria battered by war

“Yesterday I did not make anything to eat as there was no electricity for the entire day,” says Umm Fadi, a resident of Artuz district near Damascus that has been caught up in the fighting between rebels and regime forces.

Like most Syrians, the mother of four faces a shortage of oil and gas and has to resort to cooking on a wood fire or, when there is power, an electric stove.

“A gas cylinder costs 3,500 (Syrian) pounds (49 dollars) and there is no oil… we have to wait for two or three hours patiently just to buy bread,” she says with a sigh. — Fear is palpable —

But when it comes to violence near the capital, her fear is palpable. “The worst is yet to come,” she says.

From the balcony of her home near Abbasid square on the edge of Damascus, she can see clouds of black smoke.

“The rebels are at Jobar, two kilometres (just over a mile) away,” she says.

“We hear gunfire and explosions all through the day and they are coming closer. People are hiding in their homes.”

 

Sheikh Moaz al-Khatib “The Regime Can’t Go On Like This,

Says Syrian Opposition Leader.” Cengiz Çandar talks with Sheikh Moaz al-Khatib, leader of the National Coalition of Syrian Revolutionary and Opposition Forces, about the roles and interests of the United States, Russia and Iran in Syria and his efforts to arrive at a solution to the crisis.

 

Fred Hof – Can Syria be Saved

Syria’s descent into state failure now seems unchecked and inevitable….As the bodies pile higher while terrified, traumatized children go homeless and flee for safety with their parents, one must ask how long the United States can stay on its present policy course. Those who argue that you can’t lose a proxy war you don’t fight will, in the fullness of time, be proven wrong. Yet even if they are right, is there nothing to be said for using some of the tools at our disposal to neutralize those whose sense of invulnerability emboldens their savagery? Syria can be saved when self-doubt in the West gives way to something more worthy.

 

Violence aside, economics alone can fragment Syria
March 07, 2013
By Dominic Evans, The Daily Star

BEIRUT: Economic devastation is tearing Syria apart, perhaps irreparably, if fighting rages for another two years, according to a former minister now working on a U.N.-backed reconstruction plan.

Abdullah al-Dardari said the damage wrought by the violence would already cost up to $80 billion, an impossible bill for a government which would soon be unable to pay state wages, let alone fund a nationwide program of rebuilding.

As millions of Syrians are driven deeper into poverty and the ability of President Bashar Assad’s regime to provide basic services erodes, the forces pushing Syria toward disintegration will grow stronger, he said.

“Economics alone can fragment Syria if we go on like this,” said Dardari, who served as Assad’s deputy premier for economic affairs for six years until shortly after the uprising against the president erupted in March 2011.

Now working as an economist at the United Nations in Beirut, he heads a team devising a post-conflict plan – trying to bring Syrians from all sides of the crisis together to chart an inclusive political, economic and social reconstruction agenda.

 

A United Nations vehicle crossed from Syria into Israel on the Golan Heights.
By RICK GLADSTONE and ALAN COWELL
Published: March 6, 2013

…20 peacekeepers were detained near an observation post that had been evacuated over the past weekend after what she called “heavy combat in proximity” in the southern part of the area they control. The peacekeepers, in a convoy of trucks, had returned to investigate damage to the post when they were taken by about 30 armed rebels.

Ms. Guerrero said that the peacekeeping mission was “dispatching a team to assess the situation and attempt a resolution,” and that the Syrian authorities had been asked to help. ….A video uploaded on YouTube by a group that identified itself as the Martyrs of Yarmouk claimed responsibility on Wednesday and said the peacekeepers would be held until Syrian government forces withdrew from the area around Al Jamlah, the site of the weekend clashes. The video does not show any of the captives, but United Nations vehicles are visible.

A speaker in the video warns in Arabic: “If the withdrawal does not take place within 24 hours, we will deal with those guys like war prisoners. And praise to God.”

The threat underscored the widening risk that the Syria conflict is destabilizing the Middle East, and raised new concerns about the agendas of some Syrian insurgent groups, just as Western nations, including the United States, were grappling over whether to arm them…

 

Syrian Insurgents Say Aid Isn’t Getting Where It Needs to Go
By KRISTEN McTIGHE
Published: March 6, 2013

Koert Debeuf, a Belgian who works in Cairo as a representative of centrist parties in the European Parliament, says he was smuggled from Turkey into Syria by rebel commanders in January to study conditions in the rebel-held territories. But when he asked the commanders to show him the Azaz refugee camp in northern Aleppo Province, he said he had the impression that they felt ashamed.
“We need to take a leap of faith,” Mr. Debeuf said. “Of course things will go wrong, but what we are doing now, is going very, very wrong, and we are only making two people stronger: Assad and Jabhat al-Nusra.”

 

In Parts of Syria, Lack of Assistance ‘Is a Catastrophe’
By DAVID D. KIRKPATRICK, March 8, 2013

SAWRAN, Syria — The United States and other international donors are spending hundreds of millions of dollars on humanitarian aid for Syrians afflicted by the civil war. But here in the rebel-controlled north, where the deprivation is most acute, that money has bought mostly anger and resentment: the vast majority of aid is going to territory controlled by President Bashar al-Assad, and the small amount reaching opposition-held areas is all but invisible.

Rebels argue that the humanitarian assistance is in effect helping Mr. Assad survive the war of attrition. “Aid is a weapon,” said Omar Baylasani, a rebel commander from Idlib, speaking during a visit to a Turkish border town. “Food supply is the winning card in the hands of the regime.” …

 

Turkey claims that border crossing bombers are linked to Syrian regime

 

Follow Up

 

The article of the last post contained a video depicting the destruction of a shrine, referred to as an “Alawite Mazaar.” Alawis, Shi’ites, and Sunnis with a Sufi orientation all visit shrines built on or containing the tombs of reputedly holy individuals. In actuality, this could be a shrine frequented by Sunni Sufis or Sunnis influenced by Sufism, similar in appearance to the Alawi shrines. Sufi tendencies are often conflated with Shi’i practices by fundamentalist Sunnis and together opposed as “innovation,” “paganism,” or “associating something not-God with God”—in other words, directing devotion toward someone other than God. In Syria, various Muslims sects (as well as Christians) will often frequent the same holy sites together. The title of the video refers to the structure as a “pagan shrine,” an accusation that could be levied against a Shi’ite or Alawi shrine, but may just as easily be directed at any Saint-venerating Sufi-oriented sacred place. It is not specifically indicated that it is an Alawi shrine, as noted by readers. –MTB

Comments (321)


Hanzala said:

The media is being biased, here is a pro Jabhat al Nusra demonstration 2 days ago in Al Mayadeen.

March 14th, 2013, 3:48 am

 

MarigoldRan said:

The rebels are about to get a lot more weapons from the West and from the Saudis.

My reasoning is this:

Recent news reports from several major news sources are about increased IRANIAN weapons shipments to the regime. The journalists who GOT the information to publish those reports most likely received it from a controlled leak out of the Foreign Office or the State Department.

In other words, someone high up in the Western governments is preparing their public opinion for more military aid to the rebels. By presenting the evidence that IRAN is increasing weapons supply to the regime, they’re building a case for supplying the rebels with more weapons.

Furthermore, Western governments are using the THREAT of Al Nusra to increase public support for arming “moderate” rebels. Ironically enough, the West is using the Syrian regime’s propaganda for its own ends.

March 14th, 2013, 4:33 am

 

apple_mini said:

It is not difficult for Syrians to take a side. The regime is brutal, corrupted and less impotent than before.

The opposition have no voice or image dedicated to Syrians. They need lots of work before being recognized. So we can safely skip their roles for now.

The rebels are various groups of bandits, guerrilla fighters, Islamic radicals, Jihadists and Al Qaeda. We know there are few moderate fighters, but we won’t be able to know them. They are not the ones who do most fighting or gain on battleground. In rebel held areas, those moderates are as powerless as those civilians. They don’t get to call the shots how the area is governed. 

To Syrians, the rebels are equally brutal or worse, corrupted and backward. The regime is like any government in the world, their authority also calls for their responsibility for the nation and people. Unfortunately, it is not true for the rebels. They don’t even have a meaningful political goal. The only thing that is bonding different fractions together is toppling the regime regardless how to achieve it. Under the regime, there is political oppression but no sectarian massacre. If the rebels take over Syria, all atrocities committed by the regime will be replayed and even worse. Looming massacre targeting minorities is inevitable (Just take a look on this SC site and watch a bunch of those hateful men and women dispersing their venom). The Syria as a state and nation will be drained from inside. 

Military dominance dictates the outcome. But keep in mind, how majority of Syrians put their support also play major role on the battle field.

For those who think Alawites or other minorities are giving up the regime, I found it ridiculous. Everyday the rebels are getting more brutal and ruthless. Their extremism act and words are filling up the Levant. And those minorities are feeling safer after all of those? It is a To be or not to be question.

The dilemma the regime facing is that on one hand, they try to play down the sectarian factor in the war and emphasize the Islamic radicalism to gather more national support especially in the army.there is no need to warn the minorities. They know by heart what the alternative will be. The regime wants part of Sunni know that what they believe in for themselves and for Syria will also get destroyed if the rebels take over. On the other hand, if situation worsens, they need to supercharge the civilians as general warning without causing too much panic or division.

No one can deny that the supports for the regime is growing everyday and the supports for the rebels/opposition is diminishing everyday. Not because the regime is improving their image by doing more good deeds, it is because the rebels are committing more atrocities to the country and the West is revealing more it’s true color as a wolf. 

Everyday, the rebels are using their inaccurate mortars to attack Damascus. In all those  attacks, civilians got killed and injured. Military gain by the rebels: None. And as we can expect, the rebels will not stop their shelling even they know clearly what their next attack will be bringing to civilians. When some people are denouncing the indiscriminate shelling and bombing by the regime, do they think the rebels would hesitate to use any weapons or means of attack in their arsenal if they are about to storm in Damascus?

As far as how the west is portrayed themselves after what they have done to Syria. Remember what Grandi said: they try everything to help us, except getting off our backs. 

The opposition has long long way to go to even get some respects from ordinary Syrians. But that is not what matters now. The priority is to stop the violence.

March 14th, 2013, 5:22 am

 

apple_mini said:

A piece of news about Arabian horses in Syria. Breeding project has been suspended due to the ongoing war. Some horses were killed directly. Some died because of lack of caring.

To me, the news is extremely sad and gut-wrenching. Arabian horses are the most beautiful horses on this planet: graceful, intelligent, enduring and uplifting.

To me, they are the symbol of Arabian spirits. Yet, Syrians are still in this senseless and bloody war, killing each other.

When, we human beings will be as innocent as those horses? When can we get back to our simple and pure land?

March 14th, 2013, 5:25 am

 

MarigoldRan said:

I can’t come up with a retort this time because your English is so damn poor that it’s not even understandable.

Congratulations on not getting your ass kicked. Perhaps you can keep it up with more un-intelligible writing.

Good evening.

March 14th, 2013, 5:30 am

 

Dolly Buster said:

3. apple_mini said:

No one can deny that the supports for the regime is growing everyday and the supports for the rebels/opposition is diminishing everyday.

 
I think that is actually quite deniable.

I remember 1 year ago, there was a setback in Homs, and the Shia/Russian side was convinced the war was actually over.

But today… they only hope to postpone the fall of Damascus by a couple of weeks. That is their ceiling in life.

This translates into massive gains on the ground for the side of Hamad bin Khalifah in the past year.

March 14th, 2013, 7:32 am

 

zoo said:

#410 Ghufran

This is possible explanation.

France and the UK have being recently pushed aside by Russia and the USA who are preparing the stage for negotiations without them. Therefore they are intervening with threats so they be included in the deal and also to pressure Bashar al Assad to resign as they have consistently insisted he does. Recently it seems the USA was not considering that condition as essential, and that would be a humiliating blow to Cameron and Hollande.

On the other side, the USA may be using France and the UK to test whether Bashar al Assad could be weaken enough to pass on his power to another entity, thus saving the face of the West countries. This is now accompanied by a frenzy media campaign of psychological demoralization of the Syrian army.

My view is that Iran will openly threaten to intervene massively if France and the UK are not stopped by the UN to provide weapons. Russia will call on the UNSC as the delivery of weapon is illegal.

There could be a dangerous confrontation but Iran has some accounts to settle with the USA and the EU and may find the time appropriate to retaliate by threatening to destroy any weapons crossing from Turkey or Jordan in Syria as they contravene international laws.
It could lead to a clash of big powers and Syria is dying.

March 14th, 2013, 9:28 am

 

Dolly Buster said:

Again the sheep obsesses with Turkey. Every post, a pathological obsession.

David Cameron is a good dude, I saw him on Letterman once. I have no doubt that he is motivated by helping the good people of Syria.

March 14th, 2013, 9:32 am

 

zoo said:

The response to the UK and France

Envoys: Iran steps up arms lifeline to Al Assad

Most weapons continue to go to the country via Iraq
Reuters
Published: 12:35 March 14, 2013
Gulf News

United Nations: Iran has significantly stepped up military support to Syrian President Bashar Al Assad in recent months, solidifying its position alongside Russia as the government’s lifeline in an increasingly sectarian civil war, Western diplomats said.

Iranian weapons continue to pour into Syria from Iraq but also increasingly along other routes, including via Turkey and Lebanon, in violation of a UN arms embargo on Iran, Western officials told Reuters on condition of anonymity. Iraqi and Turkish officials denied the allegations.

Iran’s acceleration of support for Al Assad suggests the Syrian war is entering a new phase in which Iran may be trying to end the battlefield stalemate by redoubling its commitment to Al Assad and offering Syria’s increasingly isolated government a crucial lifeline, the envoys said.

It also highlights the growing sectarian nature of the conflict, diplomats say, with Iranian arms flowing to the Shiite group Hezbollah. That group is increasingly active on the ground in Syria in support of Al Assad’s forces, envoys say.

March 14th, 2013, 9:37 am

 

zoo said:

One more reasons for Hollande to raise his voice about Syria:

Monsieur Unpopular: Hollande’s Spectacular Fall from Grace

Never before has a French president fallen in public sentiment as quickly as François Hollande. Only 10 months after entering into office, his popularity rating is plummeting. An event aimed at getting closer to the people this week didn’t help.

http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/bild-888568-472165.html

March 14th, 2013, 9:43 am

 

Mina said:

Must read today:
http://www.atimes.com/atimes/South_Asia/SOU-03-110313.html
or how not to learn from the mistakes made in Afghanistan

http://www.atimes.com/atimes/World/WOR-01-120313.html
on “Ambassador Ford” in his Baghdad days, when busy building chicken factories without considering how they should function without electricity…

As for Lebanon, it looks by the day closer to Iraq 2003 or Egypt 2011
http://english.al-akhbar.com/content/sheikh-assir%E2%80%99s-antics-rattle-lebanon%E2%80%99s-security

March 14th, 2013, 9:52 am

 

zoo said:

What’s better, a rapid end or a prolongation?

Syrian Deserters Cut Loyalist Troops to 50,000, IISS Says

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-03-14/syrian-deserters-cut-loyalist-troops-to-50-000-iiss-says.html

Regional Instability

The collapse of the regime would lead to widespread instability in the region, said the IISS, which published its annual research book, “The Military Balance,” today. The country could also become a training ground for Islamist militants, exporting fighters and weapons used in the conflict around the region.

“If Assad falls, there will be considerable focus among regional states and international actors about the intent of armed groups and the fate of government and rebel weapons,” Chipman said. “There is a considerable risk that a rapid end to the conflict is likely to be as destabilizing as its prolongation.”

March 14th, 2013, 9:56 am

 

revenire said:

The British and French arming of the terrorists is done with US coordination.

“But today… they only hope to postpone the fall of Damascus by a couple of weeks. That is their ceiling in life.”

Postpone the fall by a couple of weeks? Seriously Dolly?

You say some really stupid things.

March 14th, 2013, 10:24 am

 

Dolly Buster said:

I mean, u ever seen those high speed chases, where a guy is hoping that his pickup truck will outrun the entire law enforcement of North America?

That is the regime, because its resources are insufficient.

He has nothing but a dwindling tank of fuel, and yet he continues to drive.

These Baath dead-enders are inside a building in Damascus, chanting failed slogans, whilst an enormous number of fighters is closing in to kill them all.

March 14th, 2013, 10:33 am

 

revenire said:

Dolly do you have any sources to back up your silly claims other than the usual daily rant you do here? I mean cheerleading is nice but what sort of proof do you have aside from Twitter? Saudi media? CNN? BBC?

March 14th, 2013, 10:36 am

 

revenire said:

I mean, u ever seen those high speed chases, where a guy is hoping that his pickup truck will outrun the entire law enforcement of North America?

That is the FSA, because its resources are insufficient.

They have nothing but a dwindling tank of fuel, and yet he continues to drive.

These FSA dead-enders are inside a building in Turkey, chanting failed slogans, whilst an enormous number of Syrian army soldiers are closing in to kill them all.

March 14th, 2013, 10:38 am

 

revenire said:

Why do the rats recruit child soldiers? Don’t they have enough men?

Syria crisis: Children ‘recruited’ by armed groups

Does Tara want to send her kids to “liberate” Syria?

March 14th, 2013, 10:49 am

 

majedkhaldoun said:

The Dollar is 107.5 lira, Dardari said if the crisis in Syria lasts till the end of the year the goverment will not be able to finance it , the weakening of lira seems as 2 lira a day lately,at this rate by june the dollar will reach 200 lira.

March 14th, 2013, 11:46 am

 

zoo said:

Now that the rebels are made to believe they are ‘winning’ with France and UK promising to boost their weapons more, it is time for the West to stop them.

Nobody want the rebels to really take over the country, the West only wants to put enough pressure on Bashar al Assad to resign, so negotiations can proceed.
Yet, I believe Bashar al Assad will not bow.
He would prefer to put the West and Turkey in a very risky situation: With more weapons Al Qaeda and the Islamists will be able to take over Northern Syria and the Kurds the North East. The situation will be left to simmer and rot.

The presence of the Al Nusra will be increasingly resented by the population and as the aid is not reaching these areas, the civilians will move to Turkey to survive. That will overload Turkey even more. Gradually these areas will empty from civilians and would become new bases for Al Qaeda and will threat Iraq, Turkey Lebanon and Jordan. The West will panic.

In the North East, the Syrian Kurds will see a window to autonomy. They will welcome all the Turkish PKK fighters that are opposed to the peace Erdogan is trying to secure and they will do cross borders attacks in Turkey to sabotage the deal. The Turks will panic.

At the end if the rebels fighters win the North, the real losers are the West and Turkey.
That’s why, I think that after a while, we will see a flurry of meetings calling for negotiations.

March 14th, 2013, 11:51 am

 

zoo said:

Next week, for sure..

Syrian Opposition Delays Decision on Forming Government

Thursday, 14 Mar, 2013
http://www.aawsat.net/2013/03/article55295743

London, Asharq Al-Awsat—The Syrian opposition claims that it is continuing its preparations to establish a provisional ‘shadow government’ to rule areas of the country it controls, despite reported splits in the organization.

The Syrian National Coalition (SNC) says that it is proceeding with the process of naming an interim prime minister and will hold a meeting next week to settle the issue. The SNC’s representative in London, Walid Suffour, confirmed to Asharq Al-Awsat that the discussions of a provisional government and an interim prime minister would be taking place at the next meeting of the organization, when he said a “final decision” would be made.

A meeting scheduled for this week was called off, reportedly because the organization was divided over the decision to create an alternative government-in-exile immediately, or follow an existing UN plan to create a transitional government with elements of the current regime.

According to the US State Department’s former special adviser on Syria, the US and UK are also reluctant to back the creation of a rival, opposition-led government in Syria. Writing on the Atlantic Council’s blog, Frederic Hof said that they feared “it could cause Syria’s existing ministries and government offices to collapse, pouring tens of thousands of unemployed officials onto an already moribund economy and perilous security situation.”

March 14th, 2013, 12:15 pm

 

AIG said:

Zoo,

Are you conceding that Assad can’t win and take the north of Syria from the rebels? It seems so. So Assad is indeed losing.

France and the UK are going to arm the rebels and you will just have to suck it up and fight them to the last regime supporter. What is the problem, you claim Assad is winning so why do you care so much? You really need to stop contradicting yourself with each post.

March 14th, 2013, 12:29 pm

 

Tara said:

Zoo,

“Assad will not bow”

Meaning Assad or will burn the country.

March 14th, 2013, 12:30 pm

 

AIG said:

Zoo,

Do you think Al-Nusra and other rebel groups care very much if there is an opposition government or not? They will just keep grinding you to dust. But since you are sure you are winning, why would you mind?

The truth is that it is clear that you are panicking. How does fighting jihadists for another year or two appeal to you?

March 14th, 2013, 12:32 pm

 

revenire said:

My mom only had one poodle.

March 14th, 2013, 12:46 pm

 

AIG said:

So you had no brothers or sisters, you must have been lonely. It explains a lot.

March 14th, 2013, 12:52 pm

 

majedkhaldoun said:

Assad will win? that is a delusion,

March 14th, 2013, 1:29 pm

 

AIG said:

True, but that is what his poodles keep saying. So why not take them at their word? 🙂

March 14th, 2013, 1:38 pm

 

revenire said:

Majedkhaldoun Assad will not only win the war but he will win the election in 2014. He has no competition in either category.

March 14th, 2013, 1:40 pm

 

Dolly Buster said:

Zoo is known for publishing false information.

The other day he put up a chart which ‘proves’ Russia is now surpassing USA in GDP.

But he didn’t mention U.S. gdp is 16 trillion versus Russia 1.

So, Nato has 70% of global defense spending, and half the world’s economy. Those forces are supporting the opposition. It means advantage for FSA, because enemy forces have less cash to throw behind the Shia.

March 14th, 2013, 1:45 pm

 

revenire said:

Money for weapons and death for Syrians – the donors pledged over 1$ billion but ponied up less the 300$ million.

UN urges donors to cough up cash promised for Syria

50,000? Thought the army was down to 50,000 men? (How can a nation of 23,000,000 have only 50,000 loyal to the government? If that was true this war would be over.)

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/mar/14/iran-hezbollah-force-syrian-regime

March 14th, 2013, 1:48 pm

 

Jasmine said:

This idiot William Hague should worry about his own country before sending arms to increase the misery of Syrians.
Last year 7000 elderly died in UK as a result of lack of heating in their houses,thousands of British children are living in poverty,the waiting list in the NHS is getting longer,the country has not recovered from recession yet and the unemployment figures are still high as ever.
he is pushed by the arm dealers and Qatar. And he is selling his country to the Salafists oil masters,and contributing to the killing of innocent Syrians.
Evil comes in different shapes indeed.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/video/2013/mar/14/syria-hague-russian-minister-video

March 14th, 2013, 1:58 pm

 

revenire said:

Dolly economics is something you need to study more than you have. You skim the surface and miss the reality.

GDP is not a metric that has any worth for looking at the US economy.

I will tell you a few reasons why: the RE sitting on the book of banks is not worth what it is listed for (neither are the derivatives bets in other categories). Despite that the US banks are allowed to list trillions of non-performing “assets” on their books balance sheets. If they had to write them down to their real value the banks would close down. Too big to fail, too big to jail.

If you add in only those two categories (non-performing RE and derivatives) the US is broke many times over. It no longer produces what it needs to survive. It relies on “poor” countries like China to finance its debt.

Drug money is added to US GDP (not making that up Dolly). The recent busts of banks that accepted laundered drug money is indicative.

Let’s then add in the state of US infrastructure: collapsing bridges, roads, waterways, universities, hospitals, etc. US infrastructure is is a state of collapse.

American power is waning, Russian (and Chinese) power is rising. Indeed the BRICS countries will overtake the US very soon and nothing short of war can stop that.

(I could flesh any of these out but feel my point is made. Among other things, I am an economist.)

March 14th, 2013, 2:05 pm

 

revenire said:

GREAT NEWS

HNN Homs News Network
https://www.facebook.com/homs.news.network.english?ref=stream
DAMASCUS – ONE LESS “AL-JAZEERA” CAMERAMAN !!

Cameraman for the Zionist controlled “Al-Jazeera” channel “Mahmoud Al-Natouf”, is now filming his own action in hell after being killed in the “Moa’damiyeh” neighbourhood of Damascus …

BYE BYE TRAITOR … – J

March 14th, 2013, 2:10 pm

 

Dolly Buster said:

Indeed the BRICS countries will overtake the US very soon and nothing short of war can stop that.

 
No, only China can grow up to be something significant. The other 4 members of brics will still be behind the U.S. 40 years from now.

In 2050, even Mexico and Nigeria will be significantly bigger players than Russia.

But, by the time China becomes the economic superpower, it will no longer be communist. So, people who support China today, may not in 2030.

March 14th, 2013, 2:27 pm

 

majedkhaldoun said:

I am sure Assad will win election in 2014 in hell.his competitions are Qaddafi,Saddam and Chafez

Dolly
I like what you say

March 14th, 2013, 2:27 pm

 

zoo said:

We’ve been reading and hearing this for a few months already. It start to sound like the two years threat of Israel to bomb Iran.

UK may… France may… UK ready to.. UK hints at… France wants to..

Enough of threats! Come on, jump in! Send weapons to extremists. What are you waiting for? Not only that, but empty your prisons and send the Islamists terrorists as a bonus.

That’s what France and the UK have done for centuries dividing and exploiting ruthlessly the people of their colonies.

It would at least provide a media diversion from the illness of their economy.

March 14th, 2013, 2:29 pm

 

AIG said:

Jasmine,

Assad sent hundreds of millions to Hezbollah and Hamas and spent billions on useless weapons while millions of Syrians were displaced by drought and received no government help. Anything to say about that?

Assad sent weapons to Hezbollah, UK and France send weapons to the rebels. If you want to meddle in affairs of other countries why are you surprised that they meddle in yours? Just suck it up and keep winning like the other regime supporters say here. Really all this whining about the rebels getting help just shows your panic.

March 14th, 2013, 2:30 pm

 

SYRIAN HAMSTER said:

athad mafia militia make another stunning victory today by losing Homs’s citadel.

At this rate, their ultimate victory, when the fool buffoon will become fish excrement is not that far.

Defeat is victory
Slavery is freedom

March 14th, 2013, 2:31 pm

 

AIG said:

Zoo,

You mean that other countries should not divide and exploit but that Assad is allowed to do that in Lebanon? Can you explain the difference of why Assad does is good and what the UK and France do is bad?

You do understand that the UK especially would not give weapons without the agreement of the US. Good luck fighting them. Oh, right, you don’t need luck, you are “winning”. The weapons will flow and the jihadists will grind you to dust. You guys picked a bad fight.

March 14th, 2013, 2:35 pm

 

Tara said:

Zoo,

You are underestimating the psychological power of France and Britain’s threats to Bashar arming the opposition. It is the hope that the revolution will emerge victorious that kept it going otherwise it may have been subdued… In a similar fashion to the green movement. Remember we started with nothing. Not with a single bullet. So I say, they did play a positive role..

March 14th, 2013, 2:51 pm

 

Jasmine said:

AIG@37
You seems to be holding a grudge against the Lebanese when they were defending their country against the real enemy,what was wrong with helping our Lebanese brothers,after all they asked for help.
Sorry,your comparison has failed.

March 14th, 2013, 2:51 pm

 

ghufran said:

This from Shatat Center after Hareth Aldari was publically humiliated at a Jordanian refugee camp by a Syrian woman who spit on his face and called him a man with no honor:
نتوجه إلى شعبنا السوريّ العظيم ، بعربه وكرده ، ومسيحتة وبعلويّته وسنته وشيعتة، وبجميع فئاته ومشاربه ومكوناته ، لنسأل هذا السؤال : هل عرفتم أيها السوريون ، من هم أعداءكم الحقيقيون …!!!؟ انها امريكا واسرائيل وال سعود وال حمد واردوغان وانجاس العرب الذين تآمروا مع كل حاقد وغادر لضرب سوريتكم ، واقتلاع الإيمان من صدور أبنائكم وبناتكم، واستهداف إنسانكم، وتدمير بلدكم، ، وتحطيم حضارتكم، وانتهاك مقدّساتكم ونشر الخراب والدمار والفساد والفوضى في كل شبر من جنبات والوطن السوري، والافتراء على شرف الماجدات حرائر سوريا .!!
أيها السوريون البواسل لقد شاهدتم تلك القطعان المستجلبة من المخلوقات العجيبة ، ذات الوجوه الكالحة ، والسحن العجيبة ، والملامح الغريبة ، والألسنة المعوجّة ، واللكنات المكسرة الركيكة ،واللحى بدون الشارب والتي لم نرها من قبل في سورية قط ، قبل تسلّط عصابات الارهاب من عرب امريكا وبريطانيا وفرنسا وتركيا عليها …!!!؟ كيف انتشروا في الارياف السورية كما تنتشر فئران الانابيب والسفن ، وراحوا ينشرون معهم القتل والخوف والقنص والتدمير بما فيها ضرب الجوامع والكنائس… !!!؟ والمخيمات
The angry message does not mention the Syrian regime crimes, other wise I think it speaks on behalf of many Syrians today.
the outcome of the upcoming conference in Doha March 18th, if it does not get postponed, will tell a lot whether Qatar is still relevant, I think Qatar’s money is not good enough without help from Turkey and support from the US:
ذكر تقرير نشره موقع “العرب أون لاين”، أن الحكومة القطرية أبلغت الشيخ معاذ الخطيب؛ رئيس “الائتلاف الوطني”، أنها ستوقف بدءاً من مطلع آذار الحالي الدعم المالي الثابت، والذي يؤمّن المصروفات الإدارية للائتلاف، والرواتب الخاصة بالقوات التابعة للمجلس العسكري الأعلى برئاسة سليم إدريس. وعللت الرسالة القطرية، وفق المصادر ذاتها، قرارها المفاجئ بالصراعات الداخلية للمعارضة، وانقطاع التنسيق مع الدوحة في القضايا السياسية الجوهرية، والانفراد بالقرارات، في إشارة واضحة إلى مبادرة الخطيب الأخيرة حول الحل السياسي مع النظام، والتي أحدثت انقساماً واسعاً وارتباكاً شديداً في أوساط المعارضة السورية، غير أن مصادر دبلوماسية في لندن قالت إن سبب الانقلاب في الموقف القطري يعود إلى تهديد جهات فاعلة في الإدارة الأميركية، بأنها بصدد إعداد ملف كامل عن دعم الدوحة لقوى تصنَّف على قائمة الإرهاب، وآخر هذه الوثائق الدامغة كانت من مالي، وتشير إلى تحويلات مالية وشحنات أسلحة لتنظيم “القاعدة”.

March 14th, 2013, 2:59 pm

 

Ziad said:

التجارة بالقاصرات السوريات بدول الجوار … والتجار هم الأهل

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=355027994607641

March 14th, 2013, 3:02 pm

 

majedkhaldoun said:

Syria Hamster
The victory to Assad is when he wins a ticket to hell,he will feel good next to Qaddafi and chafez,I doubt he will find Khomeini there,but his father Hafez is definitely there.He needs to get a seat for Khamenei

March 14th, 2013, 3:03 pm

 

AIG said:

Jasmine,

What are you talking about? Did you miss the huge demonstrations after Hariri was murdered by Assad demanding that the Syrians leave? Have you missed the HUGE resentment that many Lebanese have against the Syrians for controlling their country? Have you missed the outcry in Lebanon against the Assad regime trying to create sectarian tensions? Go ahead, bury your head in the sand.

Next you will also tell me that Assad did not support, fund and host jihadists.

March 14th, 2013, 3:03 pm

 

Jasmine said:

AIG@45
Lebanon is greatful to Syria,it has been protected by the Syrian army against the invasion of Israel for three decades at least,and Hariri was getting too strong and Israel was threatened by him,that is why it killed him.
Syria has given its blood to defend Arabs,only to be rewarded by killing its citizens and ruining the infrastructure and the economy by these so calling themselves Muslim,they have abused this religion and used it to advance their political ambitions,once the oil will run out of the gulf,hopefully Islam will regain its real meaning.

March 14th, 2013, 3:25 pm

 

AIG said:

Jasmine,

You are completely delusional. Go back to “winning” your war. France and the UK will meddle just like Assad did and you have no leg to stand on to demand they don’t. Get used to it and suck it up instead of whining like a panicked child.

March 14th, 2013, 3:44 pm

 

AIG said:

Jasmine,

What a completely delusional rant. Go back to “winning” your great war. France and the UK will meddle just like Assad did and you have no leg to stand on to demand they don’t. There is nothing you can do about it so get used to it and suck it up instead of whining like a panicked child.

March 14th, 2013, 3:58 pm

 

Jasmine said:

AIG@47
Are you saying that you didn’t like the truth?
Why you sound so frustrated?
I was enjoying the discussion!

March 14th, 2013, 4:09 pm

 

AIG said:

Jasmine,

You are so good at seeing the truth that the results in Syria speak for themselves. Who am I to argue with success? Would Syria be such a great place if Assad were not such a genius and his followers such seekers of truth and enlightenment? I bow before your great achievements. I would never have thought of the idea to bomb ones own cities. Truly, Assad and you are great innovators.

March 14th, 2013, 4:13 pm

 

Citizen said:

where is my last comment ?

European elite schizophrenics want to expand the circle of war and they will get it!

March 14th, 2013, 4:26 pm

 
 

Johannes de Silentio said:

52. TA-RAH-RAH-RAH

“Iran has force of 50,000 in Syria”

50,000 Iranians in Syria, 50,000 body bags….

A New Bashar Cartoon:

http://www.cartoonmovement.com/depot/cartoons/2013/03/S2ZoQQvKTdmNjx8z4VZg0g.jpeg

March 14th, 2013, 4:33 pm

 

Tara said:

I think Hassoun should step up to the plate, fulfill his religious duties and call for a jihad against those Iranian foreign fighters. That would be a legit jihad against an occupier.

March 14th, 2013, 4:46 pm

 

Citizen said:

Russia starts preparing Zapad-2013 war games against deployment of NATO missile shield
http://www.blacklistednews.com/Russia_starts_preparing_Zapad-2013_war_games_against_deployment_of_NATO_missile_shield/24744/0/38/38/Y/M.html
“Strategic command and staff drills, to be held by [Russian] military districts this week, mark the first step in preparation for the Zapad-2013 exercises with Belarus,” Shoigu said at a Defense Ministry meeting. . . .

The exercises will be held in September and will focus on practicing defense of the Russia-Belarus Union State in response to the deployment of a US missile shield in Europe. (photo: Igor Zarembo/RIA Novosti)

March 14th, 2013, 4:47 pm

 

Johannes de Silentio said:

32. MOSSIE

“Among other things, I am an economist”

WOW! Not only is he a pornographer, pedophile, pipe-fitter, pediatrician, purveyor of pomposity, pill-dispenser, penis-envier and puddle-jumper, but the man’s also a vast masturbator AND an economist as well. A true Renaissance man. Will wonders never cease?

March 14th, 2013, 4:50 pm

 

Syrialover said:

The Muslim Brotherhood. Here’s their latest stunt – a savage diatribe against a UN Status of Women move to ratify a declaration to ‘End Violence against Women.’

Deminstrating they are a nasty, primitive, totalitarian circus act threatening Arab nations today. And also creating a HUGE embarrassment for Muslims.

The MB grimly declares:

“This declaration, if ratified, would lead to complete disintegration of society, and would certainly be the final step in the intellectual and cultural invasion of Muslim countries, eliminating the moral specificity that helps preserve cohesion of Islamic societies.“

Their statement in full is a shocking attack on universal human rights that have become normalized in the 21st century.

Please, somebody, uncover this as a hoax! Unfortunately it’s not.

http://www.ikhwanweb.com/article.php?id=30731

COMMENT: The Muslim Brotherhood is revealing themselves to be so bad they’re good, as the saying goes.

Their own weapons aimed at both their own feet and shooting hard.

But their damage to the reputatation of Muslims and undermining the image of the Arab world should cause widespread alarm for all Muslims everywhere, not just for Egyptians and Syrians (who are under immediate threat from the MB).

March 14th, 2013, 6:15 pm

 

Jasmine said:

AIG @50
Keep your admiration to the oil masters and arm dealers,Your country was built on the destruction of a whole nation,don’t cry for the Syrians Please.

March 14th, 2013, 6:26 pm

 

Syrialover said:

Here’s a tweet from someone visiting Syria shocked to find black African Somalis running an al-Nusrah checkpoint near Taftanaz air port.

Proof that JAN are spinning out of control in attracting Islamic extremists to Syria.

https://twitter.com/MidaniBatman/status/312220693309841408

COMMENT: I actually feel sorry for the Somalis. They should drop their weapons, go home and get on board with the recent push to normalize and rebuild their own shattered country. Al Nusrah has drawn them to Syria in a cult-like confidence trick about “liberating Syria from infidels” and running it as an Islamist paradise.

March 14th, 2013, 6:37 pm

 

SANDRO LOEWE said:

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE WISE AND SMART DICTATOR ASSAD OF SYRIA:

Today is the second anniversary of the beginning of a Revolution and the Great Repression. Assad is hanging on to power like a
dirty criminal who has no other mean of life. He and the suckers behind him are the great rats in Syria.

Had they left power to the people demands two years ago now Syria would be a much better place to live in. Instead of evolutioning years we have gone back some 20 years and Assad´s chaos has ruined hundreds of thousands of lifes.

March 14th, 2013, 6:51 pm

 

SANDRO LOEWE said:

All these fuxxx somalis, lebanese chia and sunna, yemenis, iranians, chechenians, russians, turkmanis, beluchistanis, kurdistanis, libians, palestinians and so on would have never entered Syria HAD the wise and intelligent DICTATOR ASSAD of Syria opened the door to democratic changes in 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 or 2011.

Assad you are the cause of this chaos and the worse thing is that Assad and his supporters all know that.

March 14th, 2013, 6:54 pm

 

revenire said:

Somali rats will be exterminated by our army.

March 14th, 2013, 7:00 pm

 

Johannes de Silentio said:

62. MOSSIE

“Somali rats will be exterminated by our army”

It doesn’t matter, Mossie. They’ll be replaced. Your boys, on the other hand, will not…

March 14th, 2013, 7:05 pm

 

SANDRO LOEWE said:

REVENIRE

Rats should have been exterminated the day they sweared alliance to the House of Assad.

March 14th, 2013, 7:07 pm

 
 

Citizen said:

U.S. and Israeli intelligence are busy preparing murder Assad … Moscow warns: do not think about crossing the “red line”
http://translate.google.ca/translate?hl=en&sl=ru&tl=en&u=http%3A%2F%2Fanna-news.info%2Fnode%2F10269

March 14th, 2013, 7:32 pm

 

SANDRO LOEWE said:

66. Citizen

Haahahahahaha don´t be naive. If ever US decided to kill Assad and cross the so-called red line, what would Russia do? Would they bomb Washington with nuclear scuds? Hahahahahahhaaaaaaa

Russsia is a fuxxx centre of decay and corruption. Go to bed and forget the free world.

March 14th, 2013, 7:37 pm

 

revenire said:

How about a world war? Would that stop them?

March 14th, 2013, 8:20 pm

 

Observer said:

I add to TARA’s post
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/mar/14/iran-hezbollah-force-syrian-regime

So the Israelis think that he can rely on 50 000 troops or so.

The reports from the besieged camps is that they are running out of food and are eating grass. There are reports of troops massing around Aleppo as well. That is regime troops.

ZOO tells us that Iran is going to intervene massively on the side of the regime and stop the flow of weapons and fighters from Turkey. The Israelis tell us that they do not wish the opposition to receive weapons as they are now MORE AFRAID of the rebels than the Syrian regime.

The report above talks of Iran building a force of 100 000 to keep its interests in Syria alive and to form a counter militia to the rebels. It is using HA to train these troops.

ZOO also tells us through some Pretzel thinking that the chaos that Athad is about to create will make the West panic and they will be flipping back to supporting the regime.

Stupid thinking as the reality is now to prepare the conflict for the post Athad Syria. Arm some rebels to create ongoing strife between them; arm them to bring the conflict to an end; arm them before the stupid Prethident uses chemical weapons as the report above suggests.

Also, there is clearly self interest. Now that the US has lifted the veto on arming the rebels why should Croatia get all the benefit. Why not British or French weapon sales in a depressed economy?

Also, if Iran is building a 100 000 force, it will have to supply it and this is a great drain on the country.

Iran and HA made huge strategic mistakes coming on the side of sectarian strife.

Staying on the seat of power is the only consideration of ZOO. It does not matter if the prethident is reigning over a ruin and a garbage dump as long as he can stay there.

Today Alalam and Manar and Mayaddeen and RT and Addounia have nothing to say.

In the meantime, less than 20% of recruits and therefore most likely minorities only are making it to the army.

From 220 000 down to 50 000

March 14th, 2013, 8:24 pm

 

apple_mini said:

To the opposition and “moderate” rebel fighters: Watching large scale demonstration to support the regime in Aleppo yesterday must have felt like slapping on face. Even many Sunni women were openly shouting supports for Assad and his regime.

After 8 months of invasion, what those opposition and rebels have achieved? Nothing, only destruction and death. Any glimpse of hope for the future presented by the opposition? None, even worse, the dark age, backward and repressive future looks so real.

What are people hoping for? Peace and security.

The rebels have sunk to new low: more beheading, more summary execution, more foreign Jihadi, even black-colored rogues, more child soldiers, more killing of civilians by shelling. A foiled 2000 kg truck bomb. More distress calling for weapons from the West. that’s a new definition of Syrian pride.

If the opposition and the rebels still claim they will win hearts and minds from Syrians, Syrians will spit on you all.

The war will not end if the rebels do not lay down the weapons. The opposition won’t be able to enter the political stage in Syria if they do not participate in genuine political solution.

March 14th, 2013, 8:44 pm

 

Akbar Palace said:

Odd Ways of “Defending Arabs” NewZ

Jasmine states:

Syria has given its blood to defend Arabs

Jasmine,

Actually, Syria is has given most of its blood fighting against their own autocratic dictator in their quest for basic human rights.

March 14th, 2013, 8:47 pm

 

Tara said:

Pro regime demonstrators are rent-a-crowed. This was established long time ago. Bring some shabeeha women from the mountain, dress them in head cover and claim they are Sunnin women supporting the regime. .., Then sleep tight thinking every one is fooled.

March 14th, 2013, 8:51 pm

 

Tara said:

Shadow government

The Syrian opposition says it is on course to name a “prime minister” next week, and denies claims that the US and UK have been holding up its plan to set up a shadow government inside Syria.

The Syrian National Coalition postponed a planned meeting earlier this month to select the head of a shadow government amid reports of divisions inside the group.

The Obama administration’s former head of Syria policy, Fred Hof, claimed that Britain and the US were stalling the opposition’s plans to set up a government in rebel-controlled areas.

Coalition spokesman Khalid Saleh said the opposition was waiting for US and UK pledges of support to materialise, but denied that the two countries were stalling the process.

In an email to the Guardian he said:

The hold-up on forming the government was not due to pressure from the US or the UK. In the last meeting for the Syrian Coalition we voted on forming the government and the majority of the coalition members supported it. I expect that we will have a prime minister for the interim government by the 20th of this month.

As far as support from the the US and the UK, we appreciate the support that was promised by both countries and believe it can help provide for a major shift in the balance of powers on the ground. We are looking forward to actually receiving that support and for the promises to turn into actions.

The UK and the US insist that it is for the opposition to decide on the timing of the establishment of an interim government.
….

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/middle-east-live/2013/mar/14/syria-crisis-rebel-war-crimes-rising-amnesty-live#block-5141964595cb3037f5c82677

March 14th, 2013, 8:52 pm

 

Ghufran said:

• Amnesty International has documented an increase in war crimes and other human rights abuses committed by rebel groups including hostage taking, torture and summary killings. Its Middle East and North Africa deputy director Ann Harrison said: “While the vast majority of war crimes and other gross violations continue to be committed by government forces, our research also points to an escalation in abuses by armed opposition groups. If left unaddressed such practices risk becoming more and more entrenched – it is imperative that all those concerned know they will be held accountable for their actions.”

March 14th, 2013, 8:57 pm

 

Dolly Buster said:

70. apple_mini said:
After 8 months of invasion, what those opposition and rebels have achieved?

 
The throne of Taghut is shaking, that is an achievement.
Even bigger: change in Syria could be a precursor to change in Moscow.

So, the rebels have played their part in delivering humanity from neo-Stalinism.

March 14th, 2013, 9:04 pm

 

apple_mini said:

People on SC are politically mature enough to know the war in Syria has been fueled up so much by Sunnis. Too many conservative and radical Sunnis all over the region have been going crazy to score Syria. Moderate Sunnis in Syria are victims just as much as the rest have suffered. A friend’s friend killed himself 40 days after his younger brother was killed in the army. They were Sunnis from Damascus.

Accusing Iran and HB to get into sectarian strife is ridiculous. It almost sounds like accusing a self-defender using force.

March 14th, 2013, 9:05 pm

 

Ghufran said:

Qatar according to leaked documents from QFM tried to use the kidnapped Ukrainian woman in Syria as a bargaining too to prop the NC:
عندما تمكنت السلطات الأوكرانية من ايجاد خيوط تواصل للتفاوض مع الخاطفين الذين يعملون بقيادة شخص اسمه عمار البقاعي، اقترحت المجموعة الخاطفة دولة قطر كموقع للتفاوض، وانطلاقا من ذلك طلبت حكومة أوكرانيا من قطر دراسة إمكانية إجراء المفاوضات على أراضيها، لكن قطر حاولت انتزاع اعتراف رسمي من اوكرانيا بالائتلاف الوطني السوري المعارض كممثل للشعب السوري مقابل مد يد المساعدة في عملية تحرير المدونة انهار”.
وبحسب الوثائق جاء الرد الاوكراني على الشكل التالي: “في اطار الجهود المبذولة من أجل الاعتراف بائتلاف المعارضة السورية من الضروري الأخذ بعين الاعتبار أن المنظمة التي تلجأ الى وسائل الارهاب لتحقيق أهدافها السياسية لا تستطيع أن تتطلع إلى الحصول على الإعتراف الدولي كممثل شرعي للشعب السوري”.
Opposition sources now claim that the whole thing was a game played by the Syrian regime.

March 14th, 2013, 9:09 pm

 

revenire said:

Observer what kind of drugs are you on?

March 14th, 2013, 9:14 pm

 

GEORGES said:

Hmmm

March 14th, 2013, 9:50 pm

 

Ghufran said:

“Enfijar,” the toddler said. Explosion.
“That’s why we left, that’s why we ran,” said Sham’s mother Hamma in an interview with international aid group Save the Children. “My daughter’s first word is ‘explosion.’ It is a tragedy. We felt constantly as if we were about to die.”
Sham (whose name was changed by researchers) is one of nearly 2 million children who have become “forgotten victims” of Syria’s brutal civil war, according to reports released this week by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and Save the Children.
(source: CSM)

March 14th, 2013, 10:05 pm

 

Ghufran said:

“Enfijar,” the toddler said. Explosion.
“That’s why we left, that’s why we ran,” said Sham’s mother Hamma in an interview with international aid group Save the Children. “My daughter’s first word is ‘explosion.’ It is a tragedy. We felt constantly as if we were about to die.”
Sham (whose name was changed by researchers) is one of nearly 2 million children who have become “forgotten victims” of Syria’s brutal civil war, according to reports released this week by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and Save the Children.
(source: CSM)
I think the video posted at 79 leaves little doubt about the nature of the rebel force and why they can not be trusted to rule Syria .

March 14th, 2013, 10:07 pm

 

revenire said:

Georges I pray to God someone puts a bullet in that SOB’s head soon.

March 14th, 2013, 10:12 pm

 

GEORGES said:

I and others supported the revolution from the very first day, I don’t and will never support the criminal regime because it is pure evil and supporting it would mean supporting evil. I could never bring myself to tell someone who suffered from this criminal regime that I support it against him because I am scared for myself. On the other hand I am not sure why I should support something that would make me a second-class citizen in my own country.

Revenire go get a life, you didn’t understand one word of the video.

March 14th, 2013, 10:13 pm

 

revenire said:

You keep thinking that. I hope army kills every stinking pig attacking them. No forgiveness, just kill them all. Bomb the cities. Gas them. No mercy.

March 14th, 2013, 10:16 pm

 

Dolly Buster said:

76. apple_mini said: Accusing Iran and HB to get into sectarian strife is ridiculous.

Why are all the Shia with Assad? Isn’t it clear sectarianism.

Yasser al-Habib mentioned Syria last year on Fadak TV.

He said the wahhabis were threatening to damage some Shia monastery. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y1bzdm6XIeA

So he is concerned about some Rafidi building & inanimate object.

March 14th, 2013, 10:29 pm

 

revenire said:

An American dog has been sent to Hell by our army.

March 14th, 2013, 10:50 pm

 

majedkhaldoun said:

So assad has twin, he named them Nasser and Naseer,he should have called them Hazeem and Mahzoom.

Obama said Iran will be able to build nuclear bomb in a year, and it is red line, however he said he insist on political solution,to me there is contradiction.

Someone in the white house said dialogue between opposition and Assad regime will be after Assad leaves,we continue to hear contradictions from Obama adminstration.

March 14th, 2013, 11:01 pm

 

Observer said:

I am sorry to post the full article but it is essential reading.

In essence it shows that the interests of Israel were paramount in the thinking of the West with regard to Syria.

The regime was a guarantor of that security and by dithering it left the field open for the regime to go on doing its brutal crackdown and for the revolution to actually mature into a decisive phase whereby it has taken a life of its own.

The numerous bases that were supposed to nip any rebellion in the bud like Hama in 82 turned out to be a liability as they become a source of weapons and supplies to the revolution and the army found itself too stretched to help every besieged camp.

The mumbling fools in the outside cafe opposition left the field open for the disciplined and radical elements to take over.

It is also clear as I posted before that the decision to arm the rebels is an attempt at managing the outcome in a way that leaves France and the UK with elements on the ground to influence the outcome in favor of Israeli and Western interests.

Kerry’s Geneva accord declarations are a little too late at this stage as well.

Chemical weapons next? It is also clear that Iranian and Manar propaganda with regard to Bahrain and Syria is fueling sectarian feelings across the region.

Well let it blow up. What is there to preserve I ask: Lebanon? with its warlords and divisions? Jordan with its banana King? KSA with a family mafia at the helm? Or perhaps Kuwait a mistake on the lake?

Long live Damascus Republic.

Good reading below.

عبدالوهاب بدرخان : الحياة

لهذا اليوم، 14 آذار (مارس)، مغزىً سوري خاص. الأكثر شهرةً هو 14 آذار اللبناني الذي أرّخ لولادة تيار وطني استقلالي أفسده تيار التابعين للنظام السوري الذين أرّقتهم نهاية وجود أشبه باحتلال فرضه هذا النظام على لبنان. أما 14 آذار السوري فهو اليوم الأخير ما قبل الثورة، اليوم الذي يحلم النظام بأن يعود اليه وبأن يعيد الأوضاع في سورية الى ما كانت عليه. خلال عامين استطاع أن يثبت شيئاً واحداً: إنه كان معنياً بالسلطة فحسب وليس بسورية. لذا لم يعامل بلده كأي عدو، بل سلّط عليه ترسانته للثأر منه وإعادته الى أسوأ مما تركه عليه أقسى الغزاة.

ولا في أي لحظة طوال العامين خطر لشخوص النظام أنهم قد يكونون، أو بالأحرى، أخطأوا فعلاً. فهم حتى لا يصارحون أنفسهم، وطبعاً لا يتصارحون، وإنما يمعنون في التكاذب حول كذبة يعلمون أنهم اخترعوها وغرقوا فيها، ولم يعد يهمهم سوى أن يُغرقوا سورية والسوريين فيها. كانت الثورة في بدايتها على شيء من البساطة، بل السذاجة، لكن سفك الدماء الذي أراد اخمادها هو الذي استنهضها، وسرعان ما أدرك الشعب أنه بدأ الصخرة صعوداً ليسقط بها النظام الى الهاوية، لكنه اذا ضعف أو تعب أو تخاذل، فإن هذه الصخرة ستتدحرج عليه لتسحقه، ولذلك لن يكون هناك تراجع.

كان النظام قد زرع الثكن والقواعد في كل الأرجاء، ليس تحسباً للعدو الاسرائيلي الذي هادنه، بل استعداداً لحرب على الشعب كانت لا بدّ آتية. لكن هذه الخطط التي أمضى عقوداً في رسمها تبدو الآن كأنها تخدم الثوار، فمعظم انجازاتهم الميدانية تمّت بالسلاح الذي غنموه من مخازن النظام. وحتى «عسكرة الثورة» أخطأ في تقدير أنه سيستغلّها ثم يضربها ليحسم الموقف لمصلحته. والآن أصبح مطلبه الوحيد أن توقف هذه الدول أو تلك تمويل المعارضة وتسليحها… لتمكينه من إبادتها، ناسياً أنه لم تكن هناك معارضة ذات اسم وأنه ترك شهوراً طويلة من دون أن يسأله أحد شيئاً سوى أن يتوقف عن القتل ويجنح الى السياسة، بل إنه من أجل الاستمرار في القتل استهزأ بكل الوساطات وراح يراوغ المبادرات العربية ثم الدولية التي يعلم جيداً أنها لا يمكن أن تحافظ على تسلّطه وأنها تطمح الى بناء نظام بديل.

لم تكن هناك «مؤامرة»، واذا وجدت فقد اتّضح منها توجّهان: الأول منح النظام كل الوقت والفرص ليحسم عسكرياً أو ليجري جراحة سياسية انقاذية لنفسه تحرج معارضيه الذين لم يمدّهم «أصدقاؤهم» بخيارات كثيرة. أما الثاني، وبعدما ركب النظام رأسه، فمنحه ولا يزال كل الوقت والفرص ليدمّر كل المدن والبلدات ويدفع أربعة الى خمسة ملايين من السوريين خارج بيوتهم أو خارج الحدود، أما المقاومة التي يلقاها من الشعب (بما فيها من دعم خارجي) فكانت في البداية رد فعل على عنفه ثم دفاعاً عن النفس قبل أن تصبح فعلاً وحرب مواقع يخسرها الواحد تلو الآخر. وعلى رغم عنت النظام ووحشيته، دأبت القوى الدولية على ابلاغه أنها لا ترى الحل إلا سياسياً، أي بمشاركته، وهو لا يراه إلا بإشرافه وتحت سقفه، أي أنه لا يعترف بأي مسؤولية عن الدم والدمار وتشريد الشعب.

كانت الادارة الدولية ولا تزال عنصراً مساعداً للنظام، فالولايات المتحدة وروسيا تتنافران اعلامياً وتتفقان فعلياً على ما تريدانه (أمن اسرائيل، الذي كان النظام ضامناً فعلياً له) وما لا تريدانه (صعود التيارات الجهادية المتصلة بـ «القاعدة» أو المتعاونة معها). ما تغيّر أخيراً أن الطرف الثالث، الايراني، الموجود منذ اليوم الأول في كواليس النظام، بات شريكاً مخططاً وفاعلاً في قراراته، وكشف حدود النفوذ الروسي. وعليه، أصبحت الأزمة على شفا أن تتفجّر اقليمياً، بل قطعت شوطاً كبيراً في الارتباط بالأزمتين العراقية واللبنانية. وفي المقابل، تعاظم النشاط الميداني لجهاديي «جبهة النصرة»، و «الجبهة الاسلامية» وفرعها المسمّى «حركة أحرار الشام»، و «جبهة تحرير سورية الاسلامية» و «تجمع أنصار الاسلام» في دمشق وريفها، فضلاً عن عدد آخر الفروع، وقد استفادت جميعاً من خبرة تنظيمات عراقية وفلسطينية ومن جنسيات اخرى كثيرة للتدريب والتصنيع العسكري وتشغيل الآليات.

في الحالين، أدركت القوى الدولية فداحة الأخطاء التي ارتكبتها في «لا ادارتها» للأزمة، اذ أوصلتها الى الوضع الذي ارتسمت فيه كل عناوين الاستحالات: الحسم العسكري، الحل السياسي، الحفاظ على الدولة والجيش، حماية الأقليات، وجدة الشعب والأرض… واستطراداً: استحالة الاستقرار الاقليمي، وبالتالي: استحالة استبعاد أي خطر عن اسرائيل. كل هذه النتائج حتّمت عودة الاميركيين الى خيار «المعارضة المعتدلة» أو «الصديقة» آملين في تغيير المعادلة والوصول الى وهم «اقناع» بشار الاسد أي تنازلاته، بالنسبة الى «الحل السياسي»، لكنهم تأخروا كثيراً. فعندما قُدّم الى باراك اوباما اقتراح التسليح أو على الأقل تشجيع «الجهات الحليفة» على التسليح، كان ذلك بناءً على دراسة شاملة للأرض، لكنه عارض بشدّة مفسحاً في المجال للروس كي يظهروا ما يستطيعونه مع النظام. لكن معطيات الأرض تغيّرت الآن، اذ كان مقاتلو المعارضة الجهادية الأسرع في اليأس باكراً من المجتمع الدولي، واعتمدوا على مواردهم ومصادرهم، وتجاوزوا «الجيش السوري الحر» الذي اهتم خلال شهور بالحفاظ على نفسه لكنه تضرّر كثيراً من التهميش الدولي، حتى أن النشاط المستجد لإنعاشه والمراهنة عليه يمكن أن يضعه في مواجهة مع الجهاديين، لذلك حرص رئيس «القيادة المشتركة» العميد سليم ادريس على أن يكون واقعياً في افادته أمام الاتحاد الاوروبي، اذ اعترف بالخلاف مع «جبهة النصرة» لكنه يدعم ما تحققه ميدانياً.

في الجانب السياسي، ومع ادراك القوى الدولية حقائق القصور البنيوي الذي انطلقت منه المعارضة، إلا أنها لم تتوصل الى بناء أي خطط مجدية لمساعدتها على الانتظام ومراكمة الخبرات. وفي المقابل، لم تتمكن أطياف المعارضة من توحيد جهودها ولا التلاقي وحل اشكالات الداخل والخارج تحت خيمة برنامج موحد أولويته الخلاص من النظام. والواقع أن التفاني الأسطوري في الصمود والمقاومة والتضحية في الداخل لم يكن هناك ما يوازيه في معارضة الخارج، بل قابله تنافس على المناصب وتنابذ بين الفصائل منعا بروز قيادة أو زعامة معترف بها ولو موقتاً، كما حالا دون توظيف جيّد لتوزيع الأدوار والمهمات. وكانت العاهات ذاتها عوّقت وأخّرت توحيد المجالس العسكرية على رغم الحاجة الماسة الى خطوة استراتيجية كهذه. صحيح أن وضع الائتلاف تحسّن أخيراً، لكن اللغط الحاصل حول مسألة تشكيل «حكومة موقتة» أو «هيئة تنفيذية» كشف مخاوف من الصلاحيات التي يجب أن تتمتع بها وإمكان أن تصبح العنوان الجديد الذي يتعامل معه العالم فتحجب «الائتلاف» الذي كان حجب «المجلس». وفي أي حال، لا تزال القوى الدولية تخشى تفعيل «الحكومة» المعارضة لئلا تكون الخطوة الحاسمة في تقويض الحل السياسي الذي يفترض، وفقاً لـ «اتفاق جنيف»، أن ينطلق بـ «حكومة ذات صلاحيات كاملة» وقد رفضها الرئيس السوري.

كل أخطاء النظام والمعارضة والقوى الدولية أفادت طرفاً واحداً هو في الحقيقة أطراف تعكس تيارات جهادية سلفية ذات مرجعيات سياسية وتمويلية متنوعة. وعلى رغم أن هذه الأطراف غير موحّدة، إلا أنها أظهرت فاعلية قتالية ملموسة على الأرض، واستبقت حكومة المعارضة بإنشاء «هيئات شرعية» في المناطق المحرّرة. حتى أنها حفّزت النظام على الإيعاز للمفتي أحمد بدر حسون كي يدعو الى الجهاد المضاد لمصلحة النظام، أو لتغطية ما تروّجه مصادره عن «هجمات كاسحة» يعدّ لخوضها بواسطة «مجاهدي» الايرانيين وتوابعهم.

March 14th, 2013, 11:45 pm

 

Observer said:

Rev I drink the SANA and MANAR and MAYADEEN AND ALALAM AND RT ARABIC Kool Aid every morning when I wake up and I also love to read ALI and BASEL and ZOO on this blog for it gives me invaluable information about the state of mind of the RETHITHTANCE against imperial neocolonial zionist wahabi alqadea world wide CONTHPIRATHY against THOURIA ALATHAD.

By the way someone told me that there is a new leaked video with regime troops cutting off the heads of prisoners with a chain saw for refusing to acknowledge Bashar as god. Is this true?

Long liver Damascus Republic and Homs Republic and let Iraq blow up as well.

Who cares? We are busy in the West dissecting the new Pope and following Oscar Pictorius tribulations and the latest dress at the Oscars.

March 14th, 2013, 11:54 pm

 

Ghufran said:

This is a war financed by GCC money and fueled by Syrian blood. Other factors like Iran and Russia play a role similar to turkey in trying to make sure that their side does not fall belly up , the fear of losing Syria is keeping this war raging at the expense of Syrians who are yet to be able and agree to stop the blood shed . Even if the rebels make advances , Russia and Iran will jump in and help regime forces to survive, this is also why you see a new campaign to arm the rebels by France, the UK and Turkey. I do not know when both parties will understand that a military win by one party is not permitted.
The potential for a wider war is real but that does not seem to be enough to convince the big players that it is time to put their fighting dogs on a leash and give Syrians a chance to live and let live even if that means a long and bumpy road towards bringing a minimum sense of security and normality. Most of you are in denial, anything that comes out of a negotiated settlement is better than this slow death.

March 15th, 2013, 12:46 am

 

Syrian Atheist Against Dictatorships said:

الفيديو-انتهى،-المجزرة-مستمرة

على المرء، قبل مشاهدة الفيديو، اختيار الحقبة الزمنية التي ينتمي إليها المُشاهد: هل يسكن ماضي الثورة، أم مستقبلها؟ وهل سينظر إلى صور التظاهر بعين الحسرة أم العزم؟

http://almodon.com/Home/Main-Article/%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%81%D9%8A%D8%AF%D9%8A%D9%88-%D8%A7%D9%86%D8%AA%D9%87%D9%89%D8%8C-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D8%AC%D8%B2%D8%B1%D8%A9-%D9%85%D8%B3%D8%AA%D9%85%D8%B1%D8%A9

March 15th, 2013, 12:46 am

 

Syrian Atheist Against Dictatorships said:

Syria should marry her rapist, keep quiet and carry on as if nothing has happened – just so that the families dont carry on feuding.

We can say with certainty that Ghufran is not the type of person that would support the practice of forcing a raped woman to marry her rapist, yet he does exactly that by constantly pushing for a negotiated settlement as the only way out of our catastrophe while knowing full well that the Assadist rapists will never negotiate their removal from power or accept meaningful arrangement that would allow Syria to be free from their clutches.

March 15th, 2013, 1:10 am

 

revenire said:

Observer I know you well enough by now to know you are a little drama queen who likes to give big speeches how you are going to hang Assad etc.

You post about the great rat victories day after day when there are no victories to speak of.

But really all you are is some clown on the web. You have about as much to do with Syria as Dolly, Marigoldran or Juergen.

The web is full of freaks like you.

A chain saw? I am sure the guys who lost their heads deserved it.

But I don’t even believe your story.

March 15th, 2013, 1:27 am

 

MarigoldRan said:

It’s the general opinion of pretty much everyone on this blog that you’re retarded.

I’ve already established what a big loser you are with no life, and no job. That’s your reputation and your new nickname, retard.

I also love it how when I call you retarded, you act even more retarded. Keep it up. You’re just proving my argument. As I’ve said before, you’re the perfect target.

March 15th, 2013, 1:47 am

 

Juergen said:

The new Amal Hanano article:

The Syrian schoolboys who sparked a revolution

“On March 20 last year, an intelligence officer in Damascus rounded up a group of teenagers from Daraa and told them: “You disrespected the president, but he has decided to pardon you.” The boys were surprised. They had been held by the authorities for more than a month and Bashir Abazid, who was just 15 at the time, almost refused to believe what he was hearing, because every time the boys had been told they were being released, they had been transferred to yet another intelligence branch.”

http://www.thenational.ae/lifestyle/the-syrian-schoolboys-who-sparked-a-revolution

March 15th, 2013, 2:41 am

 

Juergen said:

remarks on the Dan Snow BBC feature on Syrian history

“I watched Dan Snow’s documentary ‘A History of Syria’ (BBC Two, 11 March), in which he tried to explain the historic roots of the on-going conflict there. Snow had clearly delved deep into Syrian history and tried to understand the dynamics of what’s happening today, travelling to various parts of Syria and talking to both pro and anti-regime Syrians. Unfortunately, his conclusions were distorted by his overreliance on historic precedents and the extent to which past grievances are dictating what’s happening today.”

http://www.karlremarks.com/2013/03/well-informed-misreading-history-of.html

March 15th, 2013, 3:00 am

 

Juergen said:

How the Muslim Brotherhood Hijacked Syria’s Revolution
The shadowy Islamist group that was all but destroyed in the 1980s is ruining the uprising against Bashar al-Assad.
By: Hassan Hassan

!No one in Syria expected the anti-regime uprising to last this long or be this deadly, but after around 70,000 dead, 1 million refugees, and two years of unrest, there is still no end in sight. While President Bashar al-Assad’s brutal response is mostly to blame, the opposition’s chronic failure to form a viable front against the regime has also allowed the conflict to drag on. And there’s one anti-Assad group that is largely responsible for this dismal state of affairs: Syria’s Muslim Brotherhood.”

http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2013/03/13/how_the_muslim_brotherhood_hijacked_syria_s_revolution

March 15th, 2013, 3:06 am

 

Juergen said:

Great speech by Omar Offendum at the Nobel peace price forum in Minneapolis/ St. Pauls

http://www.livestream.com/nobelpeaceprizeforum/video?clipId=pla_958b04f5-602f-48f3-8563-a43d38081628

March 15th, 2013, 3:22 am

 

Jasmine said:

AP@71
The revolution is distorted and hijacked by the extremists and thousands were killed only for the sake of revenge and destroying Syria,the grass root revolutionists have washed their hands from it long time ago,the aim was to weaken Iran and the Shiite crescent and this has been achieved.
Unfortunately most of the Syrian who died,died in vain,and not for justice or human rights.
The real revolution is yet to begin!!

March 15th, 2013, 4:08 am

 

apple_mini said:

In recent days, Sunni fighters from Lebanon side have been amassing their infiltration trying to join in battles in Homs. The regime is not saving any bullets to spare lives of those international terrorists. On the other side of country, Iraqi Jihadi ambushed non-combatant army men. The rebels are certainly coordinating globally with big agenda.

Yet, the opposition and rebels are harping HB and Iran. Nah, it won’t work anymore.

March 15th, 2013, 4:28 am

 

MarigoldRan said:

Actually, Apple-Mini, one of the major reasons England and France are intent on arming the rebels and have the political cover to do so is BECAUSE Iran is arming the regime.

Their rationale is this: if Iran can do it, why can’t we?

In other words, your silly assertion is already debunked.

Furthermore, Apple-Mini, what exactly is a “non-combatant army man?”

March 15th, 2013, 4:35 am

 

Caustic Logic said:

On the river story – and totals of 225 dead since January are now emerging -sorry I didn’t read the comments to see if it was already covered but
1) Those 50 bodies (total 110 they say) from January were not bloated, by and large. They wouldn’t float near the surface, but drag along the bottom. That’s not very low, but there doesn’t seem to be much power to move them.
2) Rebel fighters acknowledge this submerged status, but knew immediately how many remained invisible under the surface. 110 being the final count after a few days, Capt. Abu Sada, FSA on the 29th was “saying that there could be more than 100 bodies, with many still submerged in the murky river.” And after hearing “79 bodies pulled from Syria river,” the Telegraph heard “Mamnoud Hassoun, 26, a rebel fighter, said there were still at least 30 bodies floating in the stagnant water.” Snipers prevented recovery, he said, but they could see them (not filmed) floating, or their divers had a pretty exact count already, or …
2) They are said to have dragged along this bottom for 3-4 km, from “the park.” Through an underground section, two 90-degree bends, however many inserted rebel-screening fences (alleged), to stop at what seem like one of those, left intact in the rebel stretch.
3) The river victims are acknowledged as sharing two key features; living in a rebel-controlled area, and winding up in the rebel-controlled river, recovered and framed with political implications by the rebels. They also, likely, didn’t get dragged more than a half-kilometer from where they were dumped – 2 km into the river’s course along Bustan Al-Qasr.
4) All evidence contrary to the obvious conclusion comes from rebel fighters and people I’d call activists, judging by what they say.
5) Because no one showed up to the rebel place trying to claim their rebel-killed sons, we imagine such people don’t exist. But what if, as some evidence suggests, that’s wrong and they’re just scared shirtless to speak up?

Thanks for a moment of thought here.

March 15th, 2013, 5:38 am

 

Badr said:

Would you Jasmine care to write something about Khamenei and Putin along the lines of “This idiot William Hague should worry about his own country before sending arms to increase the misery of Syrians.”?

EU to discuss arms ban

The French view, largely shared by London, is that Russia and also Iran are arming government forces, and providing weapons to the opposition is the only way to put pressure on the Assad regime, the BBC’s Chris Morris reports from Brussels.

March 15th, 2013, 5:54 am

 

Syrialover said:

JUERGEN #97

That‘s a significant investigative article about the Muslim Brotherhood’s hijacking of the Syrian revolution.

It spells out their manipulative and parasitic moves to climb over the backs of others to seize power.

It’s essential reading for anyone who cares about Syria’s future. When I posted it earlier I called for it to be translated into Arabic and circulated among revolution supporters inside Syria.

There’s also an excellent follow up piece by the author where he gives detailed examples of how they have ruthlessly manipulated and monopolized the Opposition.

https://www.facebook.com/notes/hassan-i-hassan/response-to-some-comments-re-my-article-about-syrias-brotherhood-influence/10151376862069092

The Syrian MB lie and exaggerate about who they are representing, they stack votes and play dirty to exclude more important and representative groups from getting a foothold in the Opposition councils and committees.

Moaz al-Khatib is showing real guts and determination trying to step clear of them.

But why the HELL should he have to run interference from them?

They need to be exposed and opposed NOW before it’s too late.

Original article: http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2013/03/13/how_the_muslim_brotherhood_hijacked_syria_s_revolution

March 15th, 2013, 6:20 am

 

ALI said:

I have mistakenly assumed that losing Alraqa to Jihadists has no significant impact at all but after talking more about it I found that I was wrong. Sadly speaking it’s the best move ever done by those terrorists since the start of this universal conspiracy against our country.

The problem is not in losing a province or a city neither in giving a moral boost to those killers in “liberating” a piece of land. The core issue is in the coming bones-breaking battle in Damascus. Whether they did the move -of occupying the AlRaqa- by a chance or by a strategic planning, they did put us in a dilemma which is what to protect next?

Are we suppose to keep our elite and major forces in Damascus because we know for fact the terrorists are preparing for the third trial of occupying Damascus, or shall we send the troops all the way to Deir ez-Zor to prevent its falling in their hands. Deir ez-Zor is one of the most strategic cities in Syria and if Deir ez-Zor falls then those Jihadists have achieved a big connected geographical and strategic land to declare their buffer zone of “liberated” land and surely we can’t afford doing that. But at the same time sending troops to defend Deir ez-Zor will put Damascus at risk.

So far the next move is not clear by the terrorists, they did declare their intention of heading towards Deir ez-Zor but so far nothing, it might be a trap for us to send more troops to Deir ez-Zor so they could attack in Damascus. At this stage we decided to be reactive rather proactive till the stage is more clear.

For your information both the governor and the chief of Baa’th party in Alraqa are declared traitors by the authorities in Damascus. They are the only reason of the fast fall of Alraqa, basically they handed the key of the city on a golden tray to terrorists. My father mentioned that they have received clear orders of not to stop fighting and to hold on till the backup arrives (which was on the way) and under no circumstances to talk or negotiate terms with the terrorists but they ignored the commands and struck their deal to secure their safety and privileges. They are on the top wanted list by the authorities in Damascus but some info suggest that they are already in Turkey.

Death to traitors.

March 15th, 2013, 6:36 am

 

Syrialover said:

What do the Muslim Brotherhood want to do in Syria? Control people. Not rebuild Syria or work towards it having a representative and inclusive legitimate government.

Below are some of the things the MB are frantically opposing. These points are part of their bizarre campaign aganst the UN declaration on violence against women. A UN move which they have misrepresented, claiming it will drag Arabs back to the dark ages and “decadence”.

The MB are insisting that allowing the following things would – wait for it -“subvert the entire society, and drag it to pre-Islamic ignorance.”

– Equal inheritance (between men and women).

– Sharing of roles within the family between men and women such as: spending, child care and home chores.

– Full equality in marriage legislation such as: allowing Muslim women to marry non-Muslim men, and abolition of polygamy, dowry, men taking charge of family spending, etc.

– Removing the authority of divorce from husbands and placing it in the hands of judges, and sharing all property after divorce

– Cancelling the need for a husband’s consent in matters like: travel, work, or use of contraception.

http://www.ikhwanweb.com/article.php?id=30731

And they feel they are qualified to run countries in the 21st century?

Hilarious if their policies weren’t so tyrannical, barbaric and ignorant.

It’s so bad it looks like a hoax, but it’s not.

March 15th, 2013, 6:53 am

 

Jasmine said:

Badr @103
I will be gladly answer your request if you condemn Qatar and SA for their insular audacity on interfering in Syria under the pretext of saving Sunnis.

March 15th, 2013, 6:59 am

 

ALI said:

The Jordanian foreign minister was in Damascus few weeks ago, this Zionist carried a suggestion to the authorities in Damascus from his Zionist king.

The Jordanian suggestion was to establish a southern buffer-zone with the APPROVAL of Syrian authorities, with guaranties of no FSA existence or operation within and to be managed by the Jordanians and UN. They claimed they reached their capacity in accepting refugees and they’re afraid that very soon they can’t take more of refugees. They mentioned that all international aid and donation to their government are getting more conditional of taking this step and specifically in accepting the Palestinians of Syria into Jordan.

They have received a clear cut answer of NO and any action towards this plan is an act of war against Damascus, and those who are crossing the borders to Jordan are not Syrians because real Syrians don’t leave their countries so it’s not our problem.

March 15th, 2013, 7:01 am

 

Akbar Palace said:

Could the “Zionist King” be Bashar Assad?

…this Zionist carried a suggestion to the authorities in Damascus from his Zionist king.

ALI,

I didn’t see any link showing the news you reported in Post 108.

In any case, since you have such in depth knowledge, I was wondering if the “Zionist King” also ordered Assad to kill another 70,000 or so Syrians and flatten more Syrian cities?

Perhaps Assad is doing all of this without any request from these “Zionist Kings”?

https://www.google.com/search?q=syria+destruction+photos&hl=en&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=XwNDUfubF6nx0wHNg4BY&sqi=2&ved=0CC0QsAQ&biw=1230&bih=822

March 15th, 2013, 7:16 am

 

revenire said:

“Actually, Apple-Mini, one of the major reasons England and France are intent on arming the rebels and have the political cover to do so is BECAUSE Iran is arming the regime.”

That’s nonsense, pure nonsense.

Not enough dog eaten today?

March 15th, 2013, 8:39 am

 

AIG said:

Wow, Ali is the greatest douche bag in the world. A few days after he tells us his dad has left Syria and it is not clear if he will return he writes:
“those who are crossing the borders to Jordan are not Syrians because real Syrians don’t leave their countries so it’s not our problem.”

Also it is great he admits that the regime has so few forces it cannot protect both Damascus and Deir ez-Zor.

As for us Zionists, we are amazed at the ability of Assad to inflict so much destruction on his own country and his ability to keep arguing that he is actually fighting Israel. What a prize idiot.

March 15th, 2013, 9:30 am

 

zoo said:

Syria Lover

The Moslem Brotherhood are financed and supported by Qatar and Turkey, with political support from Egypt, France and the UK.
Without them, the Syrian ‘revolution’ would have been over a long time ago in favor of the regime.
I guess you should be thankful for their enormous contribution to bringing ‘freedom, justice and dignity’ to the “oppressed” Syrians.

March 15th, 2013, 9:31 am

 

AIG said:

Badr,

The moment you see the “two wrongs make a right” argument, you know you are arguing with a feeble minded person.

March 15th, 2013, 9:32 am

 

AIG said:

Zoo,

I think you are finally getting it though it has taken you a very long time. You can’t win as the coalition against you is strong and determined. You know, Assad was great buddies with Erdogan but has been able to make Turkey an enemy. Same with Qatar. I call that “genius” foreign policy.

What exactly are you whining about though? Stop complaining and suck it up, do not be a whining coward. You are winning anyway. Have fun fighting the jihadists.

March 15th, 2013, 9:37 am

 

revenire said:

AIG’s dancing on graves. He loves it. It’s like a pig in mud. LOL

Bet his wife loves this, gets him away from her for a few hours a day.

AIG when exactly are the rats going to win? Your bosses said two years ago? Ha ha.

This forum is loads of laughs.

March 15th, 2013, 9:41 am

 

Observer said:

Rev it is not my story, someone told me that this video is circulating. I have not seen” the chain saw we behead you unless you declare Bashar as your god” video. So I do not know of it.

Now on a different note.
This 220 000 army with at least 800 000 in reserves it can call on to face Israeli aggression cannot come to grips with a revolution that started with 16 year olds writing slogans on the wall and moving to liberating areas and taking over army bases and using 152 mm howitzers to pound security positions. It is clear it cannot take Homs or Darayya any time soon. It is clear it has no oil refinery left. It is clear it lost the Euphrates Dam it is clear it lost the oil fields. It is clear it has one airport left where Russian planes can land in Latakia. It is clear that it can get a mere 20% of conscripts to sign up. It is clear that it cannot rely on a significant proportion of current soldiers. It is clear it has no expertise in conducting appropriate operations and is relying heavily on Iranian and Russian experts.

I love to read rtv,gov.sy the official site of the news whereby the prime minister has assumed the role of conducting the national dialogue and read how he wakes up every morning and dialogues with himself in the mirror.

I love the way Laughvrov declares arming the rebels as illegal to sell weapons to non governmental organizations. It clearly shows that he is afraid of the same happening in the South Caucasus region which has never been subdued. He is also clearly deathly afraid of the Muslims in his beloved Putin’s russia start to ask for first rate citizenship rather.

Yes the opposition is divided and the outside one is pathetic at times but the troops on the ground are setting the agenda. I have yet to see a good day for the regime as I used to prepare myself for good days and bad days but now all I see is just more rapid erosion.

By the way, how many young Alawites escaped recruitment forced or otherwise to Lebanon and Turkey?

Now that he bombed his own refinery will his fuel trucks be burned on Lebanon’s highways? Where is the Lebanese army these days?

How much gas is there off Lebanon? WIll Russia try to put a stop to its extraction

March 15th, 2013, 9:49 am

 

zoo said:

#70 Apple_mini

I think that many Syrians who disliked the regime have been mislead by promises that a better regime can be achieved while keeping the country’s dignity and unity and without soliciting the help of outsiders.

Now they realize that even if Bashar’s regime was mediocre, it is still better than the lies, false hopes and above all the humiliation of having to beg for help from pathetic countries like Qatar and KSA or from old colonial powers like Turkey, France and the UK.

Believing in the promises of the ‘revolutionists’ has had a terrible toll on the country.
I hope Syrians have learn one thing: Don’t count on foreign countries to solve your problems. They’ll get worse.

March 15th, 2013, 9:51 am

 

AIG said:

The regime is winning, the regime idiots said it themselves. Yet though they keep insisting they are winning they continue complaining that the rebels are getting help. What a bunch of cowardly whiners. Just suck it up and keep winning. I have never seen a group that claims it is winning complain so much. Also, they have stopped telling us when their final victory will be. That is strange. They do not even tell us when Raqqa will be liberated. They also want to know when the rebels will win. Which is strange, because someone who believes they are winning will not ask such a dumb question.

March 15th, 2013, 9:53 am

 

revenire said:

Observer do you know what a Johnny One Note is? I can go back months on SC and see you saying the same things over and over. It gets boring.

All you post has an air of finality to it, as if these are the last days of the government but in Syria life is going on during wartime. People are getting married, divorced, having children etc. It might surprise you but Syrians get up and go to work every day and will see this through.

You come across as frustrated.

March 15th, 2013, 10:00 am

 

revenire said:

Israelis claim to be God’s chosen people but is God that stupid?

December 14, 2011

JERUSALEM —In a shift, Israeli officials are welcoming the prospect that Syria’s embattled president, Bashar al-Assad, will be overthrown, an event Defense Minister Ehud Barak says could be weeks away.

“Basically, it’s inevitable,” Barak said in a telephone interview before flying Wednesday to Washington for meetings with Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and other administration officials.

“It might take many weeks,” Barak added, “but it’s not a matter of months or years.”

In a separate interview, Moshe Yaalon, the minister of strategic affairs, said: “It’s a matter of time and bloodshed before we will witness Assad’s departure. That is our assessment.”

March 15th, 2013, 10:03 am

 

AIG said:

Zoo,

Many people who disliked the regime did not believe it was so bad that it would flatten its own cities. They believed that Assad had some humanity and that he would not burn Syria to the ground to stay in power. Boy were they wrong.

March 15th, 2013, 10:04 am

 

zoo said:

Jordan’s active complicity in destroying Syria is not passed unnoticed.

(CNN) — The first Syrian rebels trained by U.S. military and intelligence officers in Jordan returned to Syria on Thursday, a senior rebel spokesman told CNN.

About 300 rebel fighters received specialized training in Jordan in the use of various weapons, including anti-tank, anti-aircraft and other types of advanced systems, the spokesman said.

More rebel fighters are currently undergoing training.

March 15th, 2013, 10:05 am

 

AIG said:

There is one thing us Zionists do not do, that is bomb our own cities and flatten them to the ground. That requires especially smart regime supporters. Let’s see, an Israeli politician making a wrong assessment about another country versus the presumed president of that country bombing his own cities to the ground and not predicting that the Arab spring will come to Syria one month before it does. Yep, both are just as wrong. That is called regime idiot’s equivalence. Keep flattening your own cities idiots.

March 15th, 2013, 10:10 am

 

zoo said:

A beggar can’t be a chooser : Sharia or 5 billions?

The European (EU) Parliament passed a resolution threatening to withhold budget support to Egypt if it fails to take significant steps to abide by human rights, democracy, and the rule of law.

The parliament demanded it “set clear conditions for its aid to Egypt” with a focus on promoting civil society, women’s rights and minority rights in the country.

http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContentP/3/66924/Business/No-aid-to-Egypt-without-democracy,-human-rights-EU.aspx

March 15th, 2013, 10:15 am

 

AIG said:

So now the regime idiots are threatening Jordan. You did notice that Israel bombed you right? What are you going to do about that? And you do know that if you attack Jordan it will be like Saddam attacking Kuwait? Your demise will just come much sooner. You are dead men walking.

March 15th, 2013, 10:18 am

 

AIG said:

Zoo,

You do understand what the EU resolution means for Syria I hope. It means that they are certainly not going to tolerate a dictatorship in Syria anymore if they cannot tolerate a flawed democracy in Egypt. So just expect more sanctions and no help in rebuilding in the unlikely case that Assad stays in power. You just can’t win. If Assad stays Syria will be a sanctioned hell hole surrounded by jihadists and with no chance of ever rebuilding. That is what I guess you mean when you say you are winning.

March 15th, 2013, 10:28 am

 

AIG said:

Zoo,

You write:
“A beggar can’t be a chooser ”

Would this apply to Syria also, or just to other countries?

I am still waiting for your answer why it is ok for Assad to support, fund and host jihadists but it is not ok for the rebels to get support from them.

March 15th, 2013, 10:52 am

 

revenire said:

Gee, EU-IMF enforced austerity on Egypt and a willing Muslim Brotherhood stooge to back it up.

Is that news? Seems to me that was the idea all along.

March 15th, 2013, 10:54 am

 

Visitor said:

Nusra enjoys wide support among the Syrians who are fighting the criminal regime. Nusra Front has proven since early on in this war that it is an effective, efficient and dedicated fighting force that can deliver deadly blows to the regime of thugs.

Syrians will, therefore, remain grateful and loyal to the holy warriors of this Front. Any attempts by manipulators such as the US or other ineffective so-called opposition to bad-mouth Nusra and its allies will not affect the esteemed position of these holy warriors among Syrians. These holy warriors will continue to score victories until the criminal regime is destroyed. Nusra is the leading force in this global war against criminal dictators.

Therefore: Nusra4ever in Syria.

March 15th, 2013, 10:55 am

 

revenire said:

Assad can do anything he wants because he’s the boss. Who will stop him? Israel? The USA? France?

No, no one. He’s president. Numero Uno.

March 15th, 2013, 11:09 am

 

revenire said:

“Nusra enjoys wide support among the Syrians who are fighting the criminal regime.”

Same post every single day.

Got news for you: Even those against Assad HATE the Nusra Front.

You’re beyond ridiculous.

March 15th, 2013, 11:10 am

 

revenire said:

Screams? Music to my ears, music to my ears…

HNN Homs News Network
https://www.facebook.com/homs.news.network.english?ref=stream

ALEPPO NOW – MILITARY STORM NORTHERN ALLERMOUN !!

Syrian Army Units have stormed the Town of Allermoun from the beginning of the Northern Countryside, launched attacks on Armed Terrorists with fierce clashes engaged, and reports of some Terrorists attempting to flee as their screams are heard throughout the Town …

WHY SCREAM COWARDS, THIS IS WHAT YOU WANTED, OR ARE YOU ONLY BRAVE AGAINST INNOCENT CIVILIANS ?? !!! … – J

LET’S GET OUR NEWSFEED MOVING BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE, PLEASE LIKE, SHARE AND PARTICIPATE IN POSTS … – J

March 15th, 2013, 11:12 am

 

majedkhaldoun said:

Jordan is calling for protected area in southern Syria, and Assad is warning Lebanon he will stike inside Lebanon,to stop the flow of fighters from Lebanon to Homs area( I guess he cannot do that against Turkey)Safawi persia sent 50,000 soldiers to help Assad,Lavrov is saying it is illigal to arm rebels,but not against international law to arm Taghout(bashar) killing his people and destroying his country,Human rights are not important to him.it is So ridiculous.

March 15th, 2013, 11:14 am

 

elian said:

yes every place has muslims the minority are threatened, even the west when the muslims are going to take over Europe and the USA.
They already spreading their germs and cancerous cells in the west, Islamization is a real threat to the USA and Europe.
cancer can’t be treated with pill but with a radical excision i remember one of the radical saying that here about Bashar.
I think radical Islam is the new cancer of the west and it has no treatment.

March 15th, 2013, 11:38 am

 

majedkhaldoun said:

Visitor
Souret Nissaa#4 verse 75-76,describe exactly Syrian situation

March 15th, 2013, 11:40 am

 

revenire said:

Assad is a hero doing the entire world a favor. He will eradicate the cancerous rodents.

If 500,000 have to die so be it.

24 hours notice for civilians to leave and start bombing and don’t stop. If the cowards are using civilians as human shields those civilians will have to be sacrificed. It is for the good of Syria’s children.

In the countryside crop dusters with chemical weapons can be used with great effect.

This is a great cleansing.

Hafez was too easy on the rats in 1983. Bashar will finish the job in 2013.

God is great.

March 15th, 2013, 11:49 am

 

Visitor said:

MajedKhaldoun @ 135 brought to our attention the important reasons why Syrians support Nusra and will continue to do so no matter who desperately attempts to badmouth these holy warriors.

( وما لكم لا تقاتلون في سبيل الله والمستضعفين من الرجال والنساء والولدان الذين يقولون ربنا أخرجنا من هذه القرية الظالم أهلها واجعل لنا من لدنك وليا واجعل لنا من لدنك نصيرا ) 75

( الذين آمنوا يقاتلون في سبيل الله والذين كفروا يقاتلون في سبيل الطاغوت فقاتلوا أولياء الشيطان إن كيد الشيطان كان ضعيفا ( 76 ) )

صدق الله العظيم

We must all thank MajedKhaldoun for bringing this important reference to what Allah told us about the type of holy war that will be victorious. The Syrian people fully understand the above verses because most Syrians are very good Muslims. The Nusra Front abides by Allah’s Holy Book and fights in accordance with Allah’s Will. Therfore, the Nusra fighters are holy warriors, will always be victorious and the Syrians will continue to support them because they abide by Allah’s Will.

Syrians will never support those who submit to the US or to those who follow the US agenda, and of course Syrians will destroy any Taghout.

March 15th, 2013, 11:55 am

 

AIG said:

It is a clear sign of how desperate and panicked the regime supporters are when they call for genocide and even more flattening of their own cities. How dumb can they be? Even if we ignore the moral aspect, just by advertising their intent of genocide they are making an intervention more likely.

March 15th, 2013, 11:57 am

 

Tara said:

Reve

“If 500,000 have to die so be it.”

And same fate to you and your family if they’re like you. Not that you are worth replying too.

March 15th, 2013, 12:01 pm

 

revenire said:

My family supports Assad, as do all Syrian patriots. Traitors should be given a choice: firing squad or hanging.

It’s all very democratic.

Give the order Dr. Assad, your lions are hungry!

March 15th, 2013, 12:04 pm

 

revenire said:

Please NATO attack today. Our missiles are ready. You won’t find us as welcoming as Iraq and Libya was. After all, this is Syria.

March 15th, 2013, 12:05 pm

 

revenire said:

Tara I’ve seen you call for the murder of Syrians dozens of times. You’re an animal. A hypocrite of the worst kind. To Hell.

March 15th, 2013, 12:09 pm

 

majedkhaldoun said:

For those who don’t understand Arabic,I have the approximate explanation of
وما لكم لا تقاتلون في سبيل الله والمستضعفين من الرجال والنساء والولدان الذين يقولون ربنا أخرجنا من هذه القرية الظالم أهلها واجعل لنا من لدنك وليا واجعل لنا من لدنك نصيرا ) 75

( الذين آمنوا يقاتلون في سبيل الله والذين كفروا يقاتلون في سبيل الطاغوت فقاتلوا أولياء الشيطان إن كيد الشيطان كان ضعيفا ( 76 ) )

صدق الله العظيم

God says why don’t you fight for God sake and for the sake of refugees , weak men and women and children, who say God get us out of this country,that its ruler is committing injustice ,and send us a leader who will help us and send us Naseir(someone help us with money and arms) who will help us to victory,those who belive in God they fight for him and those infidles will fight for Taghout(dictator like Bashar) so fight against the friend of Devil(Bashar) as his power is weak.

March 15th, 2013, 12:14 pm

 

ghufran said:

Syria crisis: Cameron and Hollande fail to convince EU to arm rebels – as it happened
David Cameron and Francois Hollande at an EU summit on 15 March 2013.
15 Mar 2013:
• Merkel says move would risk ‘further fuelling conflict’
• Cameron hints he and Hollande may go it alone
• ‘Military solution would help achieve political one’
• Arms ‘already go to the wrong people’, says PM
(Source: The Guardian)
News about the killing of Nusra # 1 and # 2 terrorist chiefs have surfaced, no confirmation and no denial yet.
please accept my sincere Toz mr Nusra and Mr belly dancer in chief, this form should not be a mouth piece for Islamist terrorists.

March 15th, 2013, 12:36 pm

 

AIG said:

Regime supporters had their chance to use their missiles against Israel when it attacked them. The cowards did not. If NATO attacks they will do the same, roll over and play dead.

March 15th, 2013, 12:39 pm

 

Tara said:

Reve,

You are repeatedly calling for war crimes, carpet bombing and gasing people. You are fine killing 500,000 people for Batta. I am I favor that people like you get arrested and tried in the court of law in liberated Syria for inciting genocide. I am in favor of severe punishment towards people who call for crime against humanity. I have yet to see any pro regime commenter as publicly criminal as you are.

I like to think that you are not the norm, rather a human aberrancy. The world is so ugly if not. Reve, people like you make the world ugly.

March 15th, 2013, 12:45 pm

 
 

revenire said:

Tara Assad should give 24 hours notice, then gas them all.

You know the rats are cowards holding civilians as human shields. If you don’t know go check it.

They are so scared of the SAA they hide behind women and children.

Well, we can only put up with that for so long and then enough is enough. Chemical weapons – sarin – would rid Syria of all the Salafi rodents.

March 15th, 2013, 1:28 pm

 

Johannes de Silentio said:

115. MOSSIE

“like a pig in mud”

You should know. You’ve been there so many times, pigboy…

March 15th, 2013, 1:31 pm

 

revenire said:

The world knows well if Gaza attacked Israel with missiles Israel would bomb Gaza into the Stone Age (as it tried to last year).

If there were Somali rats in New York City manning checkpoints the US army would kill all of them without mercy.

Syria has the same right as Israel or the US to deal with foreign, and domestic, terrorists.

Yesterday a rat supporter in Aleppo was very surprised to see Somali terrorists manning checkpoints in Aleppo.

Syria has the right to kill these pigs and kill all of them.

March 15th, 2013, 1:32 pm

 

AIG said:

The idiocy of the regime supporters is amazing. First of all, Israel uses accurate weapons and tries to bomb only military targets. It does not use inaccurate scuds or drops barrels from airplanes. Second, Gaza is not in Israel. Israel does not flatten its own cities like the regime supporters want to do with Syrian cities. You can’t help stupid. But what would you expect from people that think Assad is a genius?

March 15th, 2013, 1:39 pm

 

zoo said:

Jews claim to be God’s chosen people
Al Nusra claim to be God’ chosen warriors
The Wahhabis claim to be God’s chosen sect of Islam
The Salafists claim to obey God’s order to create a Caliphate
The Moslem Brotherhood claim that God ordered then to use Al Sharia
Extremists Sunnis claim that God told them to eradicate the heretics, ie Shia, Alawis, Ismaelis etc…
Right-wing Christians claim that be God’s chosen Christians.

It sounds like they’re talking about different Gods. I thought they were all monotheist religions.

March 15th, 2013, 2:26 pm

 
 

Badr said:

Jasmine at 6:59 am:

Showing consistency in one’s argument does not depend on what others do or don’t express.

March 15th, 2013, 2:35 pm

 

zoo said:

The old colonial powers got a slap on the face.
Remember: France gave the Syrian province of Iskenderun to Turkey.
The UK gave Palestine to Israel
Welcome back to the region, but this time watch it, they are hated!

EU governments reject Franco-British efforts to lift Syria arms embargo
March 15, 2013 – 21:26 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – European Union governments on Friday, March 15 rejected Franco-British efforts to lift an EU arms embargo to allow weapons supplies to Syrian rebels, saying this could spark an arms race and worsen regional instability, Reuters reported.

France and Britain found little support for their proposal at an EU summit in Brussels, diplomats said, but EU foreign ministers will consider the issue again next week.

French President Francois Hollande, backed by British Prime Minister David Cameron, pressed for the embargo to be lifted, saying Europe could not allow the Syrian people to be massacred.

March 15th, 2013, 2:40 pm

 

Jasmine said:

Bard @154
Defending your country from foreign invasion is a basic right for any decent citizen.
JAN are not exactly the choir boys and they will not be tolerated by the average Syrian,let alone the Syrian army.

March 15th, 2013, 2:50 pm

 

zoo said:

The Syrian Moslem Brotherhood In Istanbul criticizes and begs

http://www.todayszaman.com/news-309856-turkey-marks-second-anniversary-of-syrian-uprising-with-protests.html

Meanwhile, members of the Syrian branch of the Muslim Brotherhood, Mohamad Riyad Shukfa, Omar Mushaweh, Hassan Hashemi and Amr Abu Salameh, held a press conference in İstanbul to mark the second anniversary of the conflict.

Salameh directed criticism against the international community for remaining silent against the four Scud missiles that targeted residential areas in Syria last week. Noting that the Free Syrian Army (FSA) was not given weapons support by the international community, Salameh added that the Syrian conflict could be resolved in a short time once the opposition is supported with arms.

“It is not possible for us to sit at the negotiating table with Assad either in the next administration or in the transitional government that will be formed soon,” Shukfa, the leader of the Syrian Muslim Brotherhood, said at the press conference. Shukfa added that the other groups in the Syrian opposition were also opposed to the idea of negotiating with the regime.

Speaking about the death toll of the Syrian crisis, Mushaweh said that eight children die every day in the war-torn country while 5,000 children had been killed during the two-year-old conflict in Syria. He added that more than 72,000 people, 5,500 of them women, had lost their lives during the crisis.

March 15th, 2013, 2:50 pm

 
 

zoo said:

France and the UK, these two colonial powers are hated in the Middle-East.
People hold them responsible for the creation of the state of Israel, the betrayal of the Palestinians, The Sykes-Picot accord, the Suez canal war against Nasser, the loss of the Syrian Iskenderun province to Turkey etc…

Been the only Europeans to support actively the rebels, they are giving an excellent boost to Bashar al Assad’s popularity.
More Syrians will realize that the rebels alliances stink more by the day: Al Nusra, France and the UK. Thank you

March 15th, 2013, 3:00 pm

 

AIG said:

And the regime supporters continue to whine about foreign intervention and other countries supporting the rebels while they continue chanting “Assad or we burn Syria” and calling for genocide.

Hey Zoo, still waiting to hear why it is ok for Assad to support jihadists but it is not ok for the rebels to work with them. Do you have a response or are you again going to run away with your tail between your legs? You could also tells us if you support carpet bombing Syrian cities.

March 15th, 2013, 3:01 pm

 

zoo said:

“When Assad falls—and fall he will, at least eventually—the Free Syrian Army will go to war with Jabhat al-Nusra. There is not enough room in that country for al-Nusra and everyone else.”

http://www.worldaffairsjournal.org/blog/michael-j-totten/syrians-protest-al-nusra

Ha ha ha! Assad will fall? The Free Syrian army against Al Nusra? Michael Totten is joking.

March 15th, 2013, 3:05 pm

 

revenire said:

I doubt anyone on SC will be deciding who to bomb and it doesn’t matter who wants it or doesn’t.

I want it.

I want 24/7 carpet bombing of all rat nests.

I want crop dusters loaded with sarin gas to dust any towns/villages identified by the SAA.

Time is wasting.

Of course, if any of the Somali rats want to surrender we can send them back to Somalia in chains.

No mercy.

Too many Syrians have been murdered by the Israeli-backed terrorists.

March 15th, 2013, 3:07 pm

 

ghufran said:

This is the news reported from The Golan:
“جبهة النصرة” باشرت عمليتها في الجولان بإغتيال قائد اللواء 90 في الجيش السوري الجنرال نور الدين حبيب، وقتل حبيب في كمين نصبته “جبهة النصرة” ضد القافلة التي كانت تقله، وقتل في الكمين المسؤول عن الارتباط مع شعبة الانتشار الثالثة العقيد رضوان الرفاعي.
وأشارت المصادر الى أن “الهجوم يهدف الى شل اللواء من خلال القضاء على قيادته العليا”، لافتةً الى أن “جبهة النصرة” إكتشفت شبكة سرية من الأنفاق تتفرع من أجزاء مختلفة من الجولان لتصل الى الحدود الاسرائيلية، وهذه الأنفاق واسعة بما فيه الكفاية لمرور وحدات كاملة من الجيش مع الدبابات والشاحنات الثقيلة واستخدام عنصر المفاجأة في الهجوم ضد الوحدات الاسرائيلية المتمركزة على الحدود”.
That was the response from one of the readers:
الاسم : اللهم عليك بهم يا جبار يا منتقم…
العنوان : خونة ..عملاء…يهود أكثر من اليهود [أعجبني التعليق ] (6) [لم يعجبني التعليق] (4) [التبليغ عن اساءة]
اكتشفت الجبهة الحقيرة شبكة الأنفاق و عم تعلنها على الملأ مشان اسرائيل تأخذ حذرها؟؟؟و مو بس هيك …تركتوا كل سوريا و عم تصفوا قيادات اللواء اللي مرابط على حدود الجولان يا حقيرين؟؟؟؟ بالحرف عم تقولوا شل اللواء؟؟؟
يهود أولاد يهود …أنجاس مثل معلمينكم اليهود
لسه ما نسينا انها من فرحة قلبها اسرائيل عم تطبب جرحى الجيش الكر و ترجعهم يكملوا لها المهمة بتصفية قيادات الجيش السوري
لك بينت عمالتكم يا خنازير …. يا خونة
ظلليتوا تقولوا النظام باع الجولان بس ما شفنا اسرائيل طببت حدا من جنود الجيش العربي السوري…شفناها عالجت الكلاب المسلحين و عملتلهم مستشفى ميداني حتى ما يضيعوا وقت و يرجعوا بسرعة لاتمام المهمة…تصفية قيادات الألوية و كشف الشبكات و الترتيبات العسكرية لحماية الحدود؟؟؟؟
حقيرين و خونة و الشعب السوري ما رح ينسى خيانتكم و لا عمالتكم لاسرائيل و تنفيذكم لأجندتها بانهاء الجيش السوري
لعنة الله عليكم في الدنيا و الآخرة
This is the true picture:
Syrian southern borders with Israel are wide open now, the regime is more interested in protecting Damascus than keeping troops in Golan. it will be happy to let Nusra and Islamists penetrate inside the Golan, remains to be seen, and attack Israel if they choose too, but ,as I said before, Wahhabi terrorists consider Shia as their number one enemy, they will only attack Israel if they have something to gain, what Nusra is mostly interested in now is killing as many “rafidi” soldiers as possible, fighting israel is not on their agenda for the time being.

March 15th, 2013, 3:08 pm

 

revenire said:

Totten is a schizophrenic SOB. He belongs in a padded cell next to Tara’s.

These people are demented.

Send the Scuds to Jordan Dr. Assad. Crush the Zionists.

No mercy.

March 15th, 2013, 3:09 pm

 

ghufran said:

This is the news reported from The Golan:
“جبهة النصرة” باشرت عمليتها في الجولان بإغتيال قائد اللواء 90 في الجيش السوري الجنرال نور الدين حبيب، وقتل حبيب في كمين نصبته “جبهة النصرة” ضد القافلة التي كانت تقله، وقتل في الكمين المسؤول عن الارتباط مع شعبة الانتشار الثالثة العقيد رضوان الرفاعي.
وأشارت المصادر الى أن “الهجوم يهدف الى شل اللواء من خلال القضاء على قيادته العليا”، لافتةً الى أن “جبهة النصرة” إكتشفت شبكة سرية من الأنفاق تتفرع من أجزاء مختلفة من الجولان لتصل الى الحدود الاسرائيلية، وهذه الأنفاق واسعة بما فيه الكفاية لمرور وحدات كاملة من الجيش مع الدبابات والشاحنات الثقيلة واستخدام عنصر المفاجأة في الهجوم ضد الوحدات الاسرائيلية المتمركزة على الحدود”.
This is the response from one of the readers:
الاسم : اللهم عليك بهم يا جبار يا منتقم…
العنوان : خونة ..عملاء…يهود أكثر من اليهود
اكتشفت الجبهة الحقيرة شبكة الأنفاق و عم تعلنها على الملأ مشان اسرائيل تأخذ حذرها؟؟؟و مو بس هيك …تركتوا كل سوريا و عم تصفوا قيادات اللواء اللي مرابط على حدود الجولان يا حقيرين؟؟؟؟ بالحرف عم تقولوا شل اللواء؟؟؟
يهود أولاد يهود …أنجاس مثل معلمينكم اليهود
لسه ما نسينا انها من فرحة قلبها اسرائيل عم تطبب جرحى الجيش الكر و ترجعهم يكملوا لها المهمة بتصفية قيادات الجيش السوري
لك بينت عمالتكم يا خنازير …. يا خونة
ظلليتوا تقولوا النظام باع الجولان بس ما شفنا اسرائيل طببت حدا من جنود الجيش العربي السوري…شفناها عالجت الكلاب المسلحين و عملتلهم مستشفى ميداني حتى ما يضيعوا وقت و يرجعوا بسرعة لاتمام المهمة…تصفية قيادات الألوية و كشف الشبكات و الترتيبات العسكرية لحماية الحدود؟؟؟؟
حقيرين و خونة و الشعب السوري ما رح ينسى خيانتكم و لا عمالتكم لاسرائيل و تنفيذكم لأجندتها بانهاء الجيش السوري
لعنة الله عليكم في الدنيا و الآخرة
This is the true picture:
Syrian southern borders with Israel are wide open now, the regime is more interested in protecting Damascus than keeping troops in Golan. it will be happy to let Nusra and Islamists penetrate inside the Golan, remains to be seen, and attack Israel if they choose too, but ,as I said before, Wahhabi terrorists consider Shia as their number one enemy, they will only attack Israel if they have something to gain, what Nusra is mostly interested in now is killing as many “rafidi” soldiers as possible, fighting israel is not on their agenda for the time being, what is the point of attacking army units in the Golan?

March 15th, 2013, 3:10 pm

 

revenire said:

At this point, Israel is allied with Al-Qaeda. The enemy of my enemy is my friend.

March 15th, 2013, 3:11 pm

 

Johannes de Silentio said:

162 MOSSIE

“murdered by the Israeli-backed terrorists”

Of course, Mossie! It’s the Jewboys! When you have nothing else in your hand, play the Jew Card.

And as for your cardboard dictator, he and his skinny dad did such a good job fighting the Jews. Hell, the Assads did everything except bend over and let the Jews buttfuck them.

Forget the Jews. They’re staying out of your trainwreck. They can see the Syrians are stupid enough to kill each other off without any outside help…

March 15th, 2013, 3:17 pm

 

AIG said:

Zoo,

You are right, Assad is winning. Anyone looking at the state of Syria can see that. You are completely delusional.
Oh, and regime idiots, if Israel is backing the terrorists as you claim, why aren’t you attacking Israel??? You are either cowards or liars, take your pick.

March 15th, 2013, 3:33 pm

 

majedkhaldoun said:

Would anyone sane in his mind thinks that this revolution would last two years and achieve victories,against Assad army well equiped and using air jets,Mig and Sokhoy and military helicopters and scud missles and Russian experts and Persian experts, all to quell this revolution, yet this revolution is stronger than ever, would anyone thinks this is possible unless THE MAJORITY of Syrians support it?
When Zoo talks about Assad popularity increased,this is pure nonsense.

We know that Kookoo relatives are high ranking officers in the Assad army,we know them and they will be targeted

March 15th, 2013, 3:34 pm

 

zoo said:

Salafist in Tunisia lament that if all young Salafists go to Syria, there won’t be any left in Tunisia.
In the contrary Tunisia liberals are glad to have gotten rid of them at a low price.

http://uk.news.yahoo.com/tunisia-gives-moral-support-syria-rebels-ennahda-182205796.html#xhVQ3Zr


Tunisian experts say the country’s mosques play a key role in spurring young jihadists to leave for the conflict in Syria, influenced by the teachings of radical imams.

“The recruiters target uneducated and unemployed youths with financial incentives and religious fatwas,” said Naceur Khechini, a professor of Islamic law.

“Radical Islamist groups are happy to use these Tunisians as cannon fodder,” he said. “The recruits are systematically brainwashed and encouraged to be become martyrs.”

Salafist leader Abu Iyadh, wanted over a deadly attack on the US embassy in Tunis, said last month that he opposed the departure of Tunisian militants for Syria and Mali as it “emptied Tunisia of its young” Salafists.

March 15th, 2013, 3:37 pm

 

Tara said:

Well, jihad is legit against dictators. Why not?

As long as that is their goal, and they leave after toppling the regime, any help is quiet welcome.

On one condition, no terror tactic.

March 15th, 2013, 3:46 pm

 

AIG said:

Ghufran,

Isn’t it fair to say that for decades now the Syrian army was in place mainly to battle Syrian civilians and that Assad never had any intention whatsoever of trying to regain the Golan using the Syrian army?

Everyday that the Israeli economy grows more than the Syrian economy is a day Israel wins. Everyday that Israel advances technologically more is a day Israel wins. Over time, these tiny “battles” make a big difference. Israel has absolutely no interest in fighting wars because it is easily winning when there are periods of calm and because Israelis would much rather make money than fight wars.

It is an open secret that I have been telling the people on this blog for years. If you want to beat Israel you have to beat it on the economic and technological front. But for some reason, most Syrians do not accept this, something that I think is quite obvious.

March 15th, 2013, 3:46 pm

 

wordwatcher said:

Winners of the WordWatcher SC Award

Most usage of the word ‘idiot’ : The winner is AIG!
Most usage if the word ‘retard’: The winner is Marigoldran

March 15th, 2013, 3:49 pm

 

majedkhaldoun said:

Assad will be trapped in Damascus,to flee the battle he has two places to go through, Lebanon and Israel

March 15th, 2013, 3:57 pm

 

Akbar Palace said:

Ok, I give up. Who the heck is Mossie?

JB

March 15th, 2013, 4:17 pm

 

MarigoldRan said:

What’s the point of being an atheist if you’re also going to be fanatic about it? Is this a new religion you’ve joined, Zoo? The cult of fanatical atheists?

Anyways, the regime’s STILL losing. What happened to their “offensives” in Homs? And the rebels will be getting more weapons soon.

March 15th, 2013, 4:28 pm

 

revenire said:

The only reason Israel ever won any wars is the US. On her own Israel would be crushed.

March 15th, 2013, 4:45 pm

 

Tara said:

Inshallah will soon see before and after picture of Batta and his thugs.

The Destruction of a Nation: Syria’s War Revealed in Satellite Imagery

March 15, 2013

http://world.time.com/2013/03/15/the-destruction-of-a-nation-syrias-war-revealed-in-satellite-imagery/?iid=gs-main-lead

March 15th, 2013, 4:49 pm

 

revenire said:

Israelis and their protector Obama both were wrong about Syria. Both said Assad would fall in weeks. I posted the Zionist’s quote earlier but look at war criminal Obama’s idiocy from 2011 on Assad and the Syrian government:

“It’s just a matter of days, not weeks”, President Obama declared back in 2011.

March 15th, 2013, 4:55 pm

 

Visitor said:

There is no doubt whatsoever that Nusra holy warriors and those who support them and fight on their side are the true believers. While those who side with the dictator are on the side of Taghout and outright unbelieving kuffar.

Therefore,

اللهم العن الكفرة المجرمين واولهم بشار وابيه ومن ثم العن كل من يواليهم او يدافع عنهم في كل منبر لعنة ازلية في الدنيا والاخرة

March 15th, 2013, 5:03 pm

 

Syrialover said:

Strong and positive, young Syrians doing an important job – inspiring image and message from Yassin Al Haj

https://twitter.com/YassinHSaleh/status/312199847992229889/photo/1Saleh

March 15th, 2013, 5:20 pm

 

Mina said:

http://m.thenational.ae/lifestyle/the-syrian-schoolboys-who-sparked-a-revolution
(signed Amal Hanano, posted by Juergen earlier on this thread)
and
http://mobile.lemonde.fr/international/article/2013/03/08/les-enfants-de-deraa-l-etincelle-de-l-insurrection_1845327_3210.html
(signed veteran journalist Benjamin Barthes “in Irbid, Jordan” where he would have met the protagonist of the story
offer exactly the same details.
hard not to notice the echo and parroting when it comes to news about Syria

March 15th, 2013, 5:20 pm

 

Akbar Palace said:

The Pot is Calling the Kettle Again

The only reason Israel ever won any wars is the US.

Reverse,

US forces have never fought with the IDF. That’s just one reason the US prefers to be allies with Israel. Dead US soldiers are usually found elsewhere in the ME, not in Israel.

Meanwhile, Assad’s safety is contracted out to Hezbollah and Iran, both of which are now fighting in Syria.

March 15th, 2013, 5:27 pm

 

AIG said:

Tara,

Every time I read that Assad is bombarding his own cities or see the pictures I am totally amazed. How stupid, immoral, ruthless can he be? It is mind boggling.

I really want to hear the arguments of any regime supporter that condones this crazy bombing. Did you hear a reasonable argument why Assad is right to bomb Syria’s cities? Do the people who support it understand the consequences and the results? It is their own country after all!!!

Please, any regime supporter out there, give us a good argument why bombing your own cities makes sense and if you think it is effective. Also, let us know if you also accept the logic that if there are soldiers in your neighborhood then the rebels can also bomb your neighborhood. Or will you complain about that?

March 15th, 2013, 5:29 pm

 

ALI said:

Listen up Zionist rats how about you go and bark away from this forum. The fact that your virtual terrorist state wants Bashar to leave in total harmony with the opposition is telling the whole story.

March 15th, 2013, 5:39 pm

 

AIG said:

The douche bag is back. So tell us Ali, is your father not a real Syrian because he ran away from Syria?

March 15th, 2013, 5:40 pm

 

AIG said:

Ali,
In fact your douchiness is so out of control that you live in the Gulf while cursing the Gulf countries. You are a traitor to your hosts and have no honor and integrity. Why are you a slave to your Gulf masters? Why don’t you leave and go to Iran?

March 15th, 2013, 5:45 pm

 

ALI said:

To the filthy mossad Zionist recruits on this from, and since it’s your job to gather information let me give you this piece of info which does not need any interpreter.

Rest assured that the stockpile is on standby and our missiles are loaded with magnificent surprises and pointed to the occupied Palestine. If authorities in Damascus to gas anybody, you will be first because at that point of time it’s the pay-back day

March 15th, 2013, 5:45 pm

 

AIG said:

Hey douche bag, you are also a genocidal maniac that wants to use WMDs. Thank you for showing us again why the Assad regime must go. It is a genocidal regime as its supporters readily admit.

March 15th, 2013, 5:48 pm

 

ALI said:

One .. two .. three .. four

Occupation no more

Five .. six .. seven .. eight

Israel is a terrorist state

Five .. six .. seven .. eight

Stop the killing stop the hate

March 15th, 2013, 5:48 pm

 

ALI said:

From the river to the sea

Free free Palestine

March 15th, 2013, 5:49 pm

 

AIG said:

Hey douche bag, great infantile chanting. When was the last time you did anything for Palestinians except copy and paste into a blog? And when will you stop kissing the butts of your Gulf masters? You know, the ones that are funding the rebels? You have no honor and no integrity.

March 15th, 2013, 5:52 pm

 

ALI said:

Heheheh Zionists feel really annoyed and embarrassed when someone calls them Zionists lol. Ohhh poor filthy rats, are you ashamed of your skin and big nose hehehe. Not to worry soon enough will put you to sleep for good or we might push you to the sea first as well

We’re the Assadists are wide open proud of belonging to the Assadism correction movement not like you Polish illegal FOBs

FOBs hehehe I love this word, so did your grandfather tell you how it was his illegal smuggling trip to Palestine

March 15th, 2013, 5:55 pm

 

revenire said:

Iran will take care of Israel. It is only a matter of time. Israel knows this.

March 15th, 2013, 5:55 pm

 

revenire said:

Ha ha AIG seems rather animated for some reason.

March 15th, 2013, 5:57 pm

 

AIG said:

I am a very proud Zionist and can easily recognize a slimy worm like you Ali. You have no honor and no integrity. In fact, you and your father are clearly cowards who ran away from Syria. Not only that, you suck up to the Gulf Arabs, while cursing them behind their backs. Dishonorable traitors is what you are. Why are living in the Gulf Ali? You know that they are funding the rebels?

March 15th, 2013, 5:59 pm

 

Johannes de Silentio said:

174. AKBARIO PALLAZZIO:

“Ok, I give up. Who the heck is Mossie?”

Mossie is the fake regime supporter known as Revenire. I called him that because, in the words of Shakespeare, he doth protest too much. You will notice he tries so hard that he fails. He has no supporters on this blog. Even Zoo, the Paki Fool, can’t stand him. And that’s the point. He’s paid to create discord and confusion.

He is Mossie, short for Mossad.

March 15th, 2013, 6:02 pm

 

revenire said:

AIG many have fled Syria. Most of the anti-Assad posters of this forum are either 1.) Israelis 2.) Syrians who fled 3.) one Vietnamese dog-eating teenager.

Let’s not cast stones from a glass house.

March 15th, 2013, 6:03 pm

 

ALI said:

Dear Syrian fellows from the opposition side,

We both clinching hard to our thoughts and stand which is fair enough and aside from my assessment to your cause or yours to mine, I do respect that you’re putting blood and soul to achieve it. I know we took up arms against each other and we all lost in the sectarian ocean of hatred and killing, I do understand this fact and I’m not asking you to start giving up or loving us.

The only request is not to sleep with the enemy and remember sooner or later there will be one enemy as always was the case, the Israeli occupation. Please don’t be deceived with their colored skin or sweet tongue at the end of the day it’s Syria they want to destroy and Syrians to be killed.

Hate me, insult me, kill me but please don’t friend up with Zionists and Israelis.

March 15th, 2013, 6:04 pm

 

ALI said:

Ahh a filthy Zionist is proud of being a filthy Zionist hehehh, man you’re a shame and disgrace to your Mossad department. who was the idiot that recruited you? or was she you mommy that pulled some “strings” to get you employed.

Anyways I’m expecting to your shift manager to unleash another Zionist dog to aid you very soon and I can’t wait to have more laugh.

So Ploish FOB, it’s Palestine from the river to the sea

Yes Palestine not a virtual deformed terrorist body

March 15th, 2013, 6:11 pm

 

AIG said:

Ali the douchebag wants to talk to you after labeling people who leave Syria “not real Syrians”. That is exactly a day of two after telling us how his own father left Syria and probably will not return!

He exemplifies all that is despicable about many regime supporters. They are hypocritical and will use any excuse to try to justify their impossible position. They curse the Gulf Arabs and live in the Gulf, like Ali. Why don’t they go to Iran, those cowards?

And most hypocritically of all, he wants to rile against Israel after he and his ilk did nothing about the Golan and let Israel bomb them with impunity. His words are the empty words of a craven coward.

March 15th, 2013, 6:11 pm

 

AIG said:

Did everybody notice that the regime supporters are so feeble minded that they cannot even answer a simple question? Come on Ali, show us that you are not mentally challenged and explain to us how you can justify living in the Gulf? Or how can you justify your father running away from Syria?

Unfortunately, all we can except are the cheap slogans typical of first graders. Zero substance.

March 15th, 2013, 6:14 pm

 

ALI said:

You know Nebuchadnezzar killed 80,000, enslaved tens of thousands of your women and chained them barefoot all the way to Babylon.

All that is nothing of what we’re preparing for you filthy Zionists and you’ll be burned alive under the fire falling from sky. After match Palestine will be called the burned land instead of holy land

March 15th, 2013, 6:16 pm

 

ALI said:

One .. two .. three .. four

Occupation no more

Five .. six .. seven .. eight

Israel is a terrorist state

Five .. six .. seven .. eight

Stop the killing stop the hate

March 15th, 2013, 6:19 pm

 

AIG said:

Hey douche bag, thanks again for showing the true colors of regime supporters. Thank you for proving again that you are murderers that harbor ill will towards Jews and plan to kill as many as possible. Thank you for showing to everyone how antisemitic you are. The mask is off and every time someone says how Assad is “nice” I will show him this discussion.

March 15th, 2013, 6:20 pm

 

AIG said:

Did everyone notice that Ali the genocidal douche bag posts “stop the hate” and then posts how he wants and plans to kill the people of Israel? As usual, he shows the hypocrisy of the regime supporters. And he keeps posting the same thing. No ability to write anything original. A real loser. And he still has not told us why he accepts to live in the Gulf unless he has no honor or integrity.

March 15th, 2013, 6:23 pm

 

zoo said:

Will the USA’s drones deal with the new Al Qaeda strongholds building up in North East Syria?

Islamist rebels consolidating hold in three northeast Syrian provinces

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2013/03/15/186043/islamist-rebels-consolidating.html

BEIRUT — Rebels from Syria’s Islamist factions now control large parts of three contiguous provinces in north and eastern Syria, and they are working to install civil administrations there in line with their ambitions of establishing an Islamic state after the fall of President Bashar Assad.

The rebels, from Ahrar al Sham, one of the largest anti-Assad armed groups, and Jabhat al Nusra, a faction that the United States claims is part of the terrorist group al Qaida in Iraq, took over the capital of Raqqa province last week and now also are in control of major parts of Hasaka and Deir al Zour provinces.

“We are running bakeries, because we are the largest group” in Raqqa, said Abu Majd al Shami, a member of Ahrar al Sham, which has branches across Syria.

Ahrar al Sham and Nusra, which is also known as the Nusra Front, have become key to rebel victories in the past year, especially in eastern Syria, and both are competing with other groups to win over the people in areas they have taken over from government troops. Neither recognizes the Supreme Military Command, the rebel umbrella group led by defected Gen. Salim Idriss and the organization the United States and other Western countries have said they will support with training and possibly weapons.

Read more here: http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2013/03/15/186043/islamist-rebels-consolidating.html#storylink=cpy

March 15th, 2013, 6:23 pm

 

ALI said:

hehehehhehehehhe

FOB

FOB

Polish

FOB

Polish

such a disgraced Hasbara agent

Cry me a river you dweeb, go cry to mommy and tell her oh mommy Ali being mean to me

March 15th, 2013, 6:24 pm

 

AIG said:

Zoo,

I thought the rebels held no territory. Are you changing your tune? Do you admit you have been lying all along?

March 15th, 2013, 6:26 pm

 

ALI said:

Oh you poor kiddo nobody here to support you, you feel lonely you filthy Zionist.

Oh man I can’t wait till Nusra front finds its way to your people, that would be a pleasant day.

It’s time to handover your shift

FOB
FOB

March 15th, 2013, 6:27 pm

 

AIG said:

Still nothing original from the douche bag Ali. Just lame insults. Please Ali, show us you do not have the intelligence of a monkey and explain how you accept living in the Gulf, kissing the butt of those that send arms and money to the rebels? And also try explaining why you ran away and why you and your father are not in Syria fighting? How much did you pay, you coward, not to serve in the Syrian military?

March 15th, 2013, 6:28 pm

 

zoo said:

The rebel fighters are no more called Free Syrian Army by the media, they have become known as the “Islamist fighters’

A well deserved promotion and a death sentence.

March 15th, 2013, 6:33 pm

 

zoo said:

Merkel is the realistic leader of an economically successful country.
Cameron and Hollande are the big mouth leaders of an economically failing countries.
……
Britain and France want the European Union to start arming the Syrian opposition, in a replay of the Libyan operation under NATO umbrella that brought down Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi in October 2011.

The Anglo-French initiative came under intense and bitter debate and revealed fault lines in the European Union’s current policy on Syria. Germany argues open military support will prompt Russia, China and Iran to match European supplies which in turn would widen the conflict.

Read more: http://www.upi.com/Top_News/Special/2013/03/15/Cyprus-awaits-bailout-as-Syria-splits-EU/UPI-36261363383879/#ixzz2NeOdfDXz

March 15th, 2013, 6:37 pm

 

AIG said:

Zoo,

You mean if they were called the FSA you would no carpet bomb them but now you will? Now you care how the West calls them after calling Western papers “biased”? You cannot write anything without contradicting yourself, can you?

March 15th, 2013, 6:38 pm

 

AIG said:

Zoo,

You do know that Merkel is a Zionist and that Germany builds submarines for Israel and is a strong Israeli ally. Do you want to change your opinion about Merkel now?

The UK and France do not need EU approval to send weapons. Suck it up and get used to it.

March 15th, 2013, 6:40 pm

 

revenire said:

Well, many Jews did collaborate with the Nazis. Quite of few of them sold out their friends to save their lives. Some, like Soros, even sold gold taken from the mouths of Jews. It’s a dirty stain on their history.

The Jews came to Palestine and committed many acts of terrorism. Everyone remembers the King David Hotel bombing I am sure.

Later the Israelis attacked the USS Liberty. I think the UIS president Eisenhower handled the Jews well.

Bibi is something like a Nazi.

I would not call Merkel realistic but that’s just me. People are free to hold their own opinions.

March 15th, 2013, 6:47 pm

 

AIG said:

Yes, yes, keep up the antisemitic rants. It is good that the masks are coming off and it is clear that the regime supporters are racist and genocidal. There are no more playing Mr. Nice. It is clear who the barbarians are.

March 15th, 2013, 7:07 pm

 

revenire said:

People remember the Irgun and how they raped and bombed Palestinian villages.

This is one reason why Syria is the only true Arab nation left. The others sold out to the Zionists.

Erdogan has been a closet Zionist his entire life.

Israel is scared now. They’re terrified of Hezbollah.

The entire region is ready to explode.

This time Israel won’t be bombing a tiny concentration camp like Gaza. This time Israel’s air force will be a target. We have the weapons.

Soon.

March 15th, 2013, 7:27 pm

 

SYRIAN HAMSTER said:

bozos

March 15th, 2013, 7:34 pm

 

ALI said:

Yep soon enough there will be no FOBs in the occupied Palestine

I do hope Poland and Belarus have enough resources to take their filth back.

From the rive to the sea
Free free Palestine

March 15th, 2013, 7:38 pm

 

ALI said:

Bouthaina Shaaban did NOT defect

As explained earlier high ranking officials are allowed to take holidays and timeoff so please don’t start an empty party

March 15th, 2013, 7:39 pm

 

SYRIAN HAMSTER said:

AIG
What do you mean masks coming off. These bozos are certified antisemites and they are so freakingly transparent. All of their friends in the west are the neo-nazis, lefties turned neo-nazis, and antisemites hiding behind leftist ideals. Haven’t you noticed all the conspiracy theories sites they love to quote.

March 15th, 2013, 7:42 pm

 

Visitor said:

What is Buthaina doing in Dubai? And why is she visiting real estate agencies there?

Is Nusra close to taking over Damascus?

March 15th, 2013, 7:45 pm

 

SYRIAN HAMSTER said:

FYI
Thu3ban simply went to get Jihad.. turned out that Hassoun missed Jihad Maqdisi when he was calling for Jihad.

March 15th, 2013, 7:49 pm

 

ALI said:

Hahahahahaha is this the kind of aid you were expecting from the west haahahahha? I can’t believe it, this is so demeaning

Exclusive: U.S. sending Free Syrian Army 200,000 halal MREs
Posted By Josh Rogin Thursday, March 1

http://thecable.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2013/03/14/us_sending_free_syrian_army_200000_halal_mres

March 15th, 2013, 7:49 pm

 

zoo said:

US lethal drones on Northern Syria? Not yet but soon.
Al Nusra is the savior of Bashar Al Assad….

CIA begins sizing up Islamic extremists in Syria for drone strikes

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/middleeast/la-fg-cia-syria-20130316,0,3989647.story

The targeting is part of the agency’s secret contingency planning to protect the U.S. and its allies as the violence there grows. Some militants in Syria are seen as closely linked to Al Qaeda.
..
The targeting officers have formed a unit with colleagues who were tracking Al Qaeda operatives and fighters in Iraq. U.S. officials believe that some of these operatives have moved to Syria and joined Islamic militias battling to overthrow President Bashar Assad.

The CIA effort, which involves assembling detailed dossiers on key militants, gives the White House both lethal and nonlethal options if it concludes that Syria’s 2-year-old civil war — which has caused 70,000 deaths, according to United Nations estimates — is creating a haven for terrorists. The intelligence files also could be used to help opposition figures with moderate views prevail over extremists.

March 15th, 2013, 7:52 pm

 

ALI said:

“turned out that Hassoun missed Jihad Maqdisi when called for Jihad.”

Nonsense, Jihad Maqdisi is not eligible for the act of Jihad. Only Muslims are obliged to go to the holy war while protecting non-Muslim who live cohesively with them.

Sunni conscripts must answer the call for Jihad if they are true Muslims.

March 15th, 2013, 7:54 pm

 

ALI said:

“What is Buthaina doing in Dubai? And why is she visiting real estate agencies there?”

There is no need to make a big deal out of it, people feel tired and resign their jobs. It’s very normal human nature that the old generation should leave to allow the youth to take their opportunities.

March 15th, 2013, 7:57 pm

 

zoo said:

#225 Ali

That’s lethally funny! Pasta with sauce for Al Nusra!

March 15th, 2013, 7:59 pm

 

SYRIAN HAMSTER said:

Who needs the west, FSA fighters as well as other factions including Nusra have just sent Russia a thank you telegram for entrusting Russian ammos with the athad mafia militia.

انبسطو بجيش أبو شحاطة

والله أنتو مسخرة
ورئيثكن أكبر مثخرة
تضربو شو بتسلو …

As for your attempts to be smart arses, pasta, why not, the fighters can get bored with the barbecue given to them by the locals. I really hope that some in the athad mafia militia get some of these meals, especially the poor conscripts who are threatened with horrific death if they attempt defection, I am sure they are tired of eating grass while under siege.

Nonsense, Jihad Maqdisi is not eligible for the act of Jihad. Only Muslims are obliged to go to the holy war while protecting non-Muslim who live cohesively with them.

Astonishing, the guy is really really thick.

March 15th, 2013, 8:01 pm

 

ALI said:

Zoo

Yeah I know hahahhah 🙂

and I like how it’s Halal , maybe Halal pork lol

Visitor, did you ever try the pork?

March 15th, 2013, 8:01 pm

 

zoo said:

The pizzas and the band-aids are coming later..

http://www.timesofisrael.com/us-lawmaker-pushes-for-lethal-aid-to-syrian-rebels/

“The State Department said Wednesday that it has yet to begin shipping the meals and medical supplies to the armed opposition, as it was still in talks with the Free Syrian Army.”

March 15th, 2013, 8:02 pm

 

ALI said:

230. SYRIAN HAMSTER

Don’t get too excited, the SAA intentionally left this ammunition package behind for two simple reasons

1- it does not work 2- the SAA will use remote-access technology to bomb this package with the terrorists.

I hope they will enjoy the pork with pasta hahahah

March 15th, 2013, 8:12 pm

 

SYRIAN HAMSTER said:

Any news from the women mafia militia…. weren’t they supposed to protect Homs and scare Al-Nusra….?

What about those poor villagers in the buffoon’s popular committees around the Turkman mountains, i heard that in one day, 300 of these poor, heavily armed, poorly trained souls perished for no reason but to protect the buffoon fool who is using them as cannon fodder.

March 15th, 2013, 8:15 pm

 

majedkhaldoun said:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yEBHVCjxYQ0
He should head the goverment,he is a leader of FSA

March 15th, 2013, 8:16 pm

 

SYRIAN HAMSTER said:

Pork, great… TAKBEER…
i hope it is pork ribs, they are far better than beef ribs. Would be nice way to also recruit some additional minorities especially with cold Colorado brewed beer.

March 15th, 2013, 8:17 pm

 

AIG said:

Hamster,

Ali is the idiot that is against the Gulf countries while living there. He also said that real Syrians do not leave Syria and then his father ran away! He also refused to tell us how much he paid not to go to the Syrian army. Bozos is a kind word for them. They have zero honor and integrity, not to mention that they cannot even make an argument, just write nonsense.

Zoo is the idiot that keeps saying that Assad is winning while complaining that he is losing. Go figure.

And I love the threats against Israel when just a while ago they rolled over like little poodles when Israel bombed them. They had their chance and they were shown to be cowards. They will lick any boot that kicks them.

March 15th, 2013, 8:18 pm

 

ALI said:

Ohhh how cute so the filthy Zionist is crying on the Hamster’s shoulder.

You Polish dweeb go get a room and go back to Poland

FOB

March 15th, 2013, 8:24 pm

 
 

ALI said:

“i hope it is pork ribs, they are far better than beef rib”

Oh yeah now we’re talking.

Your revolution is highly supported and aid I think you should start celebrating the arrival of expired pasts with pork

March 15th, 2013, 8:26 pm

 

zoo said:

USA Iraq’s invasion “success” story

http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/03/14/us-iraq-war-anniversary-idUSBRE92D0PG20130314

(Reuters) – The U.S. war in Iraq has cost $1.7 trillion with an additional $490 billion in benefits owed to war veterans, expenses that could grow to more than $6 trillion over the next four decades counting interest, a study released on Thursday said.

The war has killed at least 134,000 Iraqi civilians and may have contributed to the deaths of as many as four times that number, according to the Costs of War Project by the Watson Institute for International Studies at Brown University.

When security forces, insurgents, journalists and humanitarian workers were included, the war’s death toll rose to an estimated 176,000 to 189,000, the study said.

March 15th, 2013, 8:27 pm

 

ALI said:

235. majedkhaldoun

Holy cow, that defector traitor actually speaks English.

March 15th, 2013, 8:28 pm

 

AIG said:

Hey douche bag, you have not told us yet why you ran away form Syria into the lap of the Gulf Arabs who are funding the rebellion? And you did not tell us yet how much you paid not to go to the Syrian army? And why did your father ran away? And what have you done for Palestinians lately?

Have you noticed, Ali the monkey, that your answers are at a first grade level? Why can’t you answer even one question?

March 15th, 2013, 8:30 pm

 

majedkhaldoun said:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_sy4BJDnoTY
this is gift from Russia to FSA

March 15th, 2013, 8:31 pm

 

zoo said:

France bringing “freedom of expression” in Mali and splitting the country in two

Mali endures media blackout as journalists go on strike

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/committee-to-protect-journalists/mali-endures-media-blacko_b_2886215.html

Tuareg rebels seek to stamp control on northern Mali

http://in.reuters.com/article/2013/03/15/mali-rebels-idINDEE92E0EY20130315

March 15th, 2013, 8:34 pm

 

AIG said:

Hey regime supporters, when are you going to fight Israel? Next week? Next year? Give us a date. How about never? Can you explain why you rolled over like cowards when Israel attacked the regime forces? You had a chance to use your missiles. Why didn’t you? Can you answer any question? Of course not, because you are cowards only good at talking.

March 15th, 2013, 8:34 pm

 

SYRIAN HAMSTER said:

AIG
The answer you have received noted. What’s better than an adversary doing all they can to prove your point!.. with great success..at least they are successful in one thing.

March 15th, 2013, 8:34 pm

 

revenire said:

AIG calm down. It is a good day here and you’re spoiling it with all this anger. Come sit by me and I will give you a nice hug and some pork to chew.

March 15th, 2013, 8:35 pm

 

majedkhaldoun said:

Buthaina Shaaban,joined Maqdisi,I don’t believe she defected,if true this means the regime is crumbling,Lebanon wants her in Samaha case

Sorry Syrian Hamster ,I did not know you showed the video

March 15th, 2013, 8:45 pm

 

revenire said:

Majed you say the government is crumbling several times an hour. Please stop this incoherent babbling.

March 15th, 2013, 8:48 pm

 

ALI said:

248. revenire

hilariously funny 🙂

yeah pamper him with the full piece of pork pen1s to chew on

filthy Zionists love filthy taste

March 15th, 2013, 8:52 pm

 

Johannes de Silentio said:

174. AKBARIO PALAZZO:

“Who the heck is Mossie?”

Mossie is the fake regime supporter known to all and sundry as Revenire (Latin for “to return”). I call him that because, in the words of the bard Shakespeare, he doth protest too much. You will notice he tries so hard to be the chief regime supporter that he fails. He has no supporters on this blog. No one likes him. Even Zoo, Mister PakiMan himself and Lover-Of-All-Things-Bashar, can’t stand his ass. And that’s the point. Someone is paying Revenire to deceive and cast doubt, discord and turmoil.

He is Mossie, which is short for Mossad.

March 15th, 2013, 8:54 pm

 

Ghufran said:

Ignoring Bab Amr will not change the fact that there are still rebels in that part of Homs and their number might be increasing, not decreasing according to hopeful regime media reports, however, this development will probably lead to the destruction of whatever left of that wounded part of Syria. It is not that hard to see that the long term interest of Syrians is not on the agenda any more, most people who speak about Syria are only pushing for a military victory against the other side, a victory that will NOT be realized.
ما اجحش من ها لنظام الا البهائم يلي حاملين السلاح و نازلين دبح و تدمير بالبلد
This is a report by Kamel Saqr:
تقول مصادر سورية مطلعة أن عشرات المسلحين من جبهة النصرة بدأوا يتوافدون تسللاً منذ عدة أيام نحو حي بابا عمرو فدخلوا أطرافه عبر بساتينه المجاورة لأحياء جوبر والسلطانية، أغلب المقاتلين الذين بدأوا يأخذون مواقعهم بحي بابا عمرو يتوافدون من حي جورة العرايس وحي الوعر النائم على مستوى النشاط المسلح حتى الآن وفق قول المصادر السورية، التي تُضيف أنه في حال تمكن أعداد كبيرة من مقاتلي جبهة النصرة المتمرسين ميدانياً من التمركز داخل حي بابا عمرو فإن معارك طاحنة سيشهدها هذا الحي لأسابيع طويلة قادمة، وستكون مهمة الجيش السوري في فرض سيطرته عليه غير سهلة إطلاقاً.
سيطرة المليشيات المسلحة المعارِضة على حي بابا عمرو يعني قدرة على ممارسة تأثير كبير على حركة الطريق الدولي السريع بين العاصمة دمشق ومدن الساحل (طرطوس واللاذقية) وإذا يقع حي بابا عمرو في عقدة استراتيجية يمكن للمسلحين في حالة سيطرتهم عليه التأثير أيضاً بشكل أو بآخر على طريق حمص ـ حماه،
Can you guess what is the likely response from the regime ?
Bombing from the air, SSMs and artillery shelling.

March 15th, 2013, 8:55 pm

 

ALI said:

249. majedkhaldoun:

“Buthaina Shaaban,joined Maqdisi,I don’t believe she defected”

Dahhhh surely she did not

“Lebanon wants her in Samaha case”

Howcome she’s wanted and yet departed from Beirut international airport? use your brain you dumbass

March 15th, 2013, 8:57 pm

 

zoo said:

Majed

You are a liar. The Lebanese justice has not indicted Buthaina Shabaan in the Samaha case because it could not find any evidence.

March 15th, 2013, 8:57 pm

 

ALI said:

revenire:

Majed you say the government is crumbling several times an hour”

Maybe he’s craving for some apple crumble

March 15th, 2013, 9:00 pm

 

Ghufran said:

Mr silentio:
“He is Mossie, which is short for Mossad”
Are you making fun of the Mossad?
Be careful , I may start to like you and our Jewish friends will start calling you anti Semite and try to ” silent u “.

March 15th, 2013, 9:01 pm

 

ALI said:

Majd liar liar pants on fire

March 15th, 2013, 9:03 pm

 

zoo said:

Syria’s ‘Silent Majority’: “To Hell With Both of Them”

http://english.al-akhbar.com/content/syrias-silent-majority-hell-both-them

“We do not want either freedom or democracy. We don’t want anything but a little peace and quiet,” some would say. The desperate economic situation has led some Syrians to complete resignation: “Let him [Bashar al-Assad] stay in power, but that will not be to our liking, and no one can force us to feel anything but hatred towards him.”

Today, you rarely find a television screen broadcasting the news. In most places, it is either turned off or is set to a sports or entertainment channel.

Inquiring about the latest news, the reply comes, before completing your sentence: “We don’t listen to the news. We only hear the sound of shells falling and the rumbling of tanks – all we want is for these things to end. Syria has been destroyed. We don’t want freedom or elections or anything – we want this war to end.”

March 15th, 2013, 9:05 pm

 

revenire said:

Majed is clearly a liar yearning to eat the forbidden pork.

March 15th, 2013, 9:07 pm

 

ALI said:

257. Ghufran said:

“I may start to like you and our Jewish friends will start calling you anti Semite and try to ” silent u “.

They’re not capable to silent my ass

Those filthy Hasbara Zionists are busy eating pork pen1s now

March 15th, 2013, 9:08 pm

 

ALI said:

I wonder why Majed prefers to lie rather saying the truth

Majed good Muslims don’t lie neither eat pork

bad bad boy

March 15th, 2013, 9:12 pm

 

Visitor said:

وجعل رزقي تحت ظل رمحي وجعل الذل والصغار على من خالف امري

شكرا جبهة النصرة واحرار الشام وشورى المجاهدين ولواء الحق

A comment from the comment section of video @244,

Translation:

My provisions were allocated to me under the shadow of my javelin; and those who oppose me were destined to disgrace. Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).

Thank you Nusra Front, Ahrar of Cham and Haq Brigade for following in the footsteps of the Holy Prophet as will all of Syria.

March 15th, 2013, 9:15 pm

 

zoo said:

Syria accuses Jordan of opening borders for jihadists

http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/2/8/66936/World/Region/Syria-accuses-Jordan-of-opening-borders-for-jihadi.aspx

Damascus accuses Jordan of opening its borders and permitting the entrance of weapons coming from Saudi Arabia, claiming it could ‘intensify the conflict’
AFP , Friday 15 Mar 2013

A Syrian security official on Friday accused Jordan of opening its borders to jihadist fighters and allowing weapons bought by Saudi Arabia in Croatia to be smuggled into the country.

“We deplore the change of attitude of Jordan, which in the past 10 days has opened its borders and is allowing to cross over (into Syria) jihadists and Croatian weapons bought by Saudi Arabia,” said the source.

“This can only intensify the conflict and cause more casualties,” the source told AFP in Beirut on condition of anonymity.

“There’s been a change of attitude because up until now, Jordan had imposed strict controls on its border to prevent the passage of terrorists and weapons,” said the source, blaming “pressure by countries that are hostile to Syria” for the change.

Last week, a Croatian daily said the country was used between November and December as a “transit point” for the transport of weapons and ammunition destined for Syrian rebels fighting the regime of President Bashar al-Assad.

March 15th, 2013, 9:19 pm

 

ALI said:

Visitor

How are you sure that God is supporting your side? what if your Jihadi friends are fighting next to Satan

March 15th, 2013, 9:21 pm

 

zoo said:

During King Abdallah visit to Turkey, Erdogan promised large investments in Jordan to the King (who cried in front of the Ataturk Mausoleum) in exchange for letting weapons and Jihadists cross to Syria.

That explain Jordan’s sudden shift.

March 15th, 2013, 9:29 pm

 

Ghufran said:

ورد  الى المرصد  السوري  لحقوق الانسان بيان  من  رجال  من ابناء احياء النزهة الزهراء وادي الذهب المهاجرين الأرمن العباسية وعكرمة و السبيل في مدينة حمص التي  تقطنها غالبية من  الطائفية العلوية  بمدينة حمص يعربون فيه  عن  استيائهم  من ما وصلت  اليه  الاوضاع  في  سورية  ويعربون  عن  خشيتهم  من  تقسيم  سورية  على يد  السلطة  في  حال استمرار تازم  الوضع  في البلاد
ونتحفظ  عن نشر  اسماء الرجال الـ38 من ابناء الطائفة العلوية  الذين وقعوا البيان والكثير منهم معروف  للمرصد وذلك خشية  على حياتهم
نص البيان كما  ورد  الى المرصد  السوري  لحقوق الانسان
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
منذ عامين ونحن نرسل أولادنا للدفاع عن سوريا والموت في سبيل وحدة سوريا وبقائها حرة
بعد كل هذا الموت وهذا الدم المسفوك من أبناء الشعب السوري تبين لنا أن المطلوب هو حماية سلطة معينة والاساءة الى سوريا
تماما كما يفعل الجهاديون القادمون من خارج الحدود ليس الا صراعا على السلطة ولايهمكم تهديم سوريا وربما تقسيمها وهذا يتقاطع مع مايريده أعداء سوريا ودماء أبناءنا نقدمها فداء لسوريا وليس فداء لسلطة اذا كان الحل لسوريا برحيل السلطة القائمة فلترحل من أجل اقامة سوريا حرة لكل السوريين سنبقى مستعدين لتقديم الغالي والرخيص لأجل سوريا وضد قوى العدوان لذلك سيبقى أولادنا جاهزين للدفاع عنها وليس عن سلطة أحد
تسقط القوى التي تريد تمزيق سوريا
وليحيا الشعب السوري العظيم

March 15th, 2013, 9:42 pm

 

Hanzala said:

No terrorists except the US, it is the most hypocritical brutal genocidal nation on this planet. Responsible for the deaths of millions. Americans need to be aware what their nation is doing abroad because it will blow up in their face one day, and when that day comes, don’t start crying to the world about terrorism.

March 15th, 2013, 9:46 pm

 

Tara said:

Today marks the second anniversary of our sacred revolution. Inshaalah, we will all have a party in Zabadani on July 19 celebrating free Syria.

March 15th, 2013, 9:53 pm

 

Ghufran said:

وصلت إلى عكس السير مؤخراً شكاوي عديدة من سوريين تعرضوا للسطو من قبل عناصر كتيبة تدعي أنها من الجيش الحر في حلب.
و قال مصدر لـ عكس السير إن المجموعة، التي يتزعمها شخص يدعى “عبد القادر زمزم” من بلدة “عين جارة”، نصبت حاجزاً لها في بلدة المنصورة بريف حلب الغربي، و تقوم بالسطو على السيارات المارة من هناك.
ويقوم أفراد المجموعة المسلحة بتوقيف السيارات و احتجازها، بعد انزال الركاب منها ، بما فيهم النساء الذين تعرضوا للاهانة في آخر حادثة وصلت إلى عكس السير اليوم الجمعة.
وبين المصدر أن عدد السيارات المحتجزة على هذا الطريق وصل خلال الخمسة عشر يوماً الاخيرة إلى 9 سيارات، و يقوم بفك الحجز عنها مقابل مبلغ مادي كبير.
It is obvious that the war in Syria has an economic dimension, most of the thawrajiyyeh could not hide their hate towards the rich and powerful, the regime certainly managed to alienate a large section of the Syrian society especially in rural areas, however, the new regime will inherit a country that is poorer and less able to help the same people who are the fuel of this war. Some of you get upset when news about theft and looting is posted but I still see a benefit from reminding people that the most common color in Syria, after red, is gray, enjoy the 50 shades of gray.

March 15th, 2013, 10:01 pm

 

Akbar Palace said:

Mr. Silentio,

Guf wanted to know if I could use my special joo powers to “silent u”? Do I have your permission? As the famous gekko says in his tv ads, “we can do this the easy way, or the hard way”.

Don’t make me call you an anti-uknowwhat;)

March 15th, 2013, 10:25 pm

 

Akbar Palace said:

Ali the regime cheerleader states:

“Stop the killing stop the hate”

Denial isnt just a river in Egypt….Akb

March 15th, 2013, 10:35 pm

 

Ghufran said:

What do you think of Abbas new declaration that an armed struggle against Israel is ” useless” ?
( I am too lazy to translate)
«لا فائدة من الكفاح المسلح»
أكد الرئيس الفلسطيني محمود عباس أن السلطة الفلسطينية حققت مكاسب كثيرة بعد اعتراف الأمم المتحدة بفلسطين كدولة. وقال، في مقابلة مع قناة «روسيا اليوم» أمس، إن المكاسب التي حققتها السلطة الفلسطينية بالأساس، أن أراضي السلطة الفلسطينية أصبحت أراضي دولة تحت الاحتلال. وبشأن إجراء مفاوضات في ظل التركيبة الوزارية الجديدة في إسرائيل، التي تضم الكثير من المستوطنين المتطرفين، قال الرئيس الفلسطيني، سواء أكانوا مستوطنين أو لم يكونوا يعتبرون الاستيطان حقهم. وقال الرئيس الفلسطيني إن الشعب لا يملك إلا أن ينتفض ثانية وثالثة، ولا يعني ذلك أن يعود إلى الكفاح المسلح، لأن موازين القوى ليست معنا. وبالتالي لا فائدة منه، موضحاً أن الشعب بيده أسلحة أخرى مثل التظاهرات السلمية الشعبية.

March 15th, 2013, 10:50 pm

 

AIG said:

So, I see Ali the douche bag has still not told us why he lives in the gulf while the Gulf countries fund the rebellion. He has not told us why he has run away from Syria while claiming that real Syrians do not leave Syria. He has not told us why his father has ran away. And he has not told us how much he had to pay to get out of the Syrian army.

In short, all we get from the regime supporters is just hypocrisy and hot air. No missiles on Israel yet this night. We are waiting. When are you cowards going to act? Give us an approximate time.

March 15th, 2013, 11:28 pm

 

Johannes de Silentio said:

271. AKBARIO PALAZZO

“Mr. Silentio, Do I have your permission?”

Call me Johan. And the answer is, “Yes.” But on one condition. Bring me the head of Ali the Douchebag….

March 16th, 2013, 12:12 am

 

apple_mini said:

The Jordanian government is getting themselves too deep. Due to the gravity of this new development, I will see the regime is going to getting tougher and iron-handed when handling infiltration of weapons and fighters from Jordan.

It is a very serious matter. There is no way what has happened along Turkey border will be allowed to happen on Jordan border.

Now it is time to see more involvement of HB and Iran.

So far after Kerry came in his new office, we only saw more escalation everyday.

They claimed they are pressing more on the regime so Assad and his government will hand over power. To whom, the opposition? Those clowns and puppets. Not a chance. Besides, they do not even have enough fighters as body guards. The rebels? Those backward and bloodthirsty rogues? Not going to happen.

While other old ”third world” countries are competing to advance in every fronts. Syria is slipping back. A very real future of Syria will be Afghanistan under Taliban rules.

March 16th, 2013, 12:27 am

 

MarigoldRan said:

Most Syrians at this point would consider Islamic rule better than the regime.

Rubbish from you as usual. The regime CAN’T do anything about Jordan because they don’t have control of the borders anymore. The Saudi arms flowing through Jordan into Syria are already making a difference in the south.

At the rate things are going, Daraa’s going to be liberated pretty soon. Most of that province is now in rebel hands.

March 16th, 2013, 12:46 am

 

Observer said:

I quote ZOO:”During King Abdallah visit to Turkey, Erdogan promised large investments in Jordan to the King (who cried in front of the Ataturk Mausoleum) in exchange for letting weapons and Jihadists cross to Syria.

That explain Jordan’s sudden shift.

Well ZOO I thought the Turkish economy was failing and that Turkey does not have any money left.

I agree with AIG your Prethident is winning and you are whining about him losing as the rebels are getting arms.

So let us see what will happen next: 50 000 or 500 000 Iranian Basij and Mahdi army are going to come and fight in Syria?

Get it bigger then and bring in more countries to the fray and let it blow up.

What in the name of God are we trying to preserve? The great stupid desert Kingdom or Jordan; the family country called Saudi Arabia? The beacon of freedom and progress called Iraq? The wonderful coexistence example called Lebanon? The superb families with flags called the GCC? Or how about prosperous Yemen?

Blow it up and divide it because the peoples cannot live together at this time in their cycle of history.

Long Live Damascus Republic

March 16th, 2013, 12:58 am

 

Syrian Atheist Against Dictatorships said:

#267 Statement by 38 Alawi men from several (ALAWI) Homs localities:

بعد كل هذا الموت وهذا الدم المسفوك من أبناء الشعب السوري تبين لنا أن المطلوب هو حماية سلطة معينة والاساءة الى سوريا

“After all this death and bloodshed of the Syrian people we found that what is desired is the protection of a certain authority and the harming Syria”

So it took them 2 years and thousands of dead and injured to realize it was for the protection of an authority they were not even men enough to name explicitly as that of Betho the Butcher?

Better late than never I suppose, but it would have been a lot more sincere had they supported and participated in the early, peaceful protests calling for no more than freedom and dignity right in the very center of their city.

March 16th, 2013, 1:10 am

 

apple_mini said:

The alleged Syrian suicide bomber said on video:” There is great sadness, really, in leaving. But my passion for God is honestly greater. Passion for God is greater than everything.” and ”I want to say to my brothers the jihadists in the jihad, and to Muslims in general, do not give up or reduce your efforts, until Islamic law is implemented on the earth.”

The naked truth about those Jihadists’ mindset: Serving their God by killing those infidels is their call in this fight and their purpose of existence.

If you confront them lecturing them what a noble cause to ”liberate” Syria from the oppressive regime and bringing in human rights and democracy to this land, they will be laughing at you and mocking you for your religious naivety.

Those Jihadists are out of mind after their souls got washed away by those medieval creeds. Those opposition members who are still convinced it is a glory revolution are out of mind because they pack with those wolves.

March 16th, 2013, 1:33 am

 

Juergen said:

AIG

See whole generations of Syrians have lived abroad in the Gulf because the regime could not deliver the bliss they were promising for their people. I know folks who have spent decades in the Saudi zoo, and who came back some years ago to Idleb. Almost in every neighborhood of Idleb you could find such expatriates. Not only me noticed that the laisser vivre attitude Syrians normaly have disappeared among them and the Saudi halal haram version of life was imported, another success story of this regime, funny actually that Assad digged his own grave by fundamentalizing his own people, years before the revolution started.

Another aspect, if you are Syrian and live in Qatar or KSA you are highly suspicious nowadays. A Syrian I know works for a movie production company in Doha. He regulary posts on FB his love for the lionking and how much he loves to kill the terrorists with his own hands. I confronted him with this BS ( since I know he despises the regime wholeheartly) and he argued to me, its my life insurance and also a guarantee that my parents back home are well. So we dont know what reasons some of the regime cheerleaders here have to bluntly spread their nonsense, but people always have a motive.

March 16th, 2013, 1:40 am

 

revenire said:

Juergen what an arrogant fop you are. Unbelievable.

In your tiny mind no one could actually support the Syrian government.

What I find amusing, and not just from you – from all with the same argument, is that if only Assad had implemented reforms none of this would have happened.

“All the poor demonstrators wanted was freedom.”

Aside from that being a lie there is nothing Assad could have done to prevent the foreign conspiracy against Syria. He didn’t radicalize anyone.

March 16th, 2013, 1:59 am

 

ALI said:

Boycott Israel

Divest from Israel

Sanction against Israel

March 16th, 2013, 2:00 am

 

revenire said:

US using the rats as cannon fodder and then will kill them. LOL Allahu Akbar

Report: CIA May Target Syrian Extremists with Drones
http://www.naharnet.com/stories/en/75839-report-cia-may-target-syrian-extremists-with-drones

The U.S. Central Intelligence Agency is collecting information on Islamic radicals in Syria for possible lethal drone strikes against them at a later stage, The Los Angeles Times reported late Friday.

Citing unnamed current and former U.S. officials, the newspaper said President Barack Obama had not authorized any drone missile strikes in Syria yet, and none were under consideration.

However CIA’s Counterterrorism Center, which runs drone programs targeting militants in Pakistan and Yemen, had recently shifted several targeting officers to improve intelligence gathering on militants in Syria.

The targeting officers have formed a unit with colleagues who were tracking al-Qaida operatives in Iraq.

Veteran militants from Iraq are believed to have moved to Syria and joined anti-government Islamic militias there, the report said.

The targeting officers focusing on Syria are based at CIA headquarters in Langley, Virginia, the paper said.

But the agency is working closely with Saudi, Jordanian and other regional spy services active in Syria, according to The Times.

The preparations come as radical Islamic fighters have won a growing share of rebel victories in Syria, the paper said.

The State Department believes that one of the strongest Syrian opposition militias, al Nusra Front, is a terrorist organization that is indistinguishable from the group al-Qaida in Iraq, The Times noted.

March 16th, 2013, 2:03 am

 

Juergen said:

Reve

so what brought you out of the country of bliss? A Baath scholarship?

March 16th, 2013, 2:09 am

 

revenire said:

Juergen don’t you have a Nazi rally to attend somewhere?

March 16th, 2013, 2:14 am

 
 

Juergen said:

Reve

No but I am looking forward to see Father Paolo again, he will be in Berlin this weekend.

March 16th, 2013, 2:23 am

 

Syrian said:

276. APPLE_MINI said
“Now it is time to see more involvement of HB and Iran.”
If you are willing to live under the foreign Shia theocracy why can’t you live under the Syrian Sunnis majority that may or may not become a Sunni theocracy, the minorities in Iran are in a worse situation than all minorities under any Sunni rules
I really don’t get the amount of hate the minorities have towered the Sunnis.
Ok so the Ottomans in the 19 century made the Christian walk in the middle of the street and Alawites up in the mountains but at that time white America was inslaveing their minorities and hanging them from trees, the Europeans were doing crimes against humanity all over the world,
Why did every one moved on and you are still living your 19th century grudges?!
have not you learned from past history that foreign powers moves on and you will alway live next to Sunni majority ?

March 16th, 2013, 2:25 am

 

revenire said:

Be sure to wear something that doesn’t unzip too easily. I’ve heard bad things about priests.

March 16th, 2013, 2:26 am

 

revenire said:

289 “Syrian” our nation is secular. The religious aspect is not as you claim. Our army is a secular army but the majority of our soldiers are Sunni. Are they self-hating Sunnis?

Iran is a friend and unlike your patrons in KSA or Qatar Iran a democracy.

March 16th, 2013, 2:29 am

 

Syrian said:

291rev.
How is it secular if in the constitution even the new one by Bashar the president has to be a Muslim.
And how is Iran a democracy if it follow welayat al faqeh

March 16th, 2013, 2:36 am

 

revenire said:

Iran has elections. It is as democratic as any country. Name another Middle Eastern / Southwest Asian country more democratic. I can’t think of one.

Syria is a bastion of secularism. Everyone knows that.

March 16th, 2013, 2:39 am

 

Johannes de Silentio said:

291. MOSSIE

“Iran is a friend and unlike your patrons in KSA or Qatar Iran a democracy”

In the same sense your patrons in Israel a democracy? Right, Mossie?

March 16th, 2013, 2:40 am

 

Juergen said:

Gee Reve, how can you not state that Syria is the masterpiece of democracy in the ME? They have elections, even an parliament which attracts mostly poetry lovers. See Iran may serve as an role model only if you compare it with Somalia and KSA. Iran is an inspiring democratic nation which is headed by the Imam al Mahdi, unfortunatly noone has seen him since 800 years. Sorry but this is an other episode of Laila and Madschnun.

Red Yasmine

March 16th, 2013, 2:54 am

 

MarigoldRan said:

Ali,

It’s too late. Consider this:

In the 60 or so years of its existence, Israel has killed several thousand Syrians during it wars.

In two years of this war, the Alawite-dominated regime has killed over 70000 Syrians.

Compare the damage Israel has done to Syria to what the civil war has done. It’s not comparable.

The real blood feud is now between Alawite and Sunni. Both sides might may lip service to attacking Israel, but the real hate is with one another.

As I’ve said before: What comes around will go around.

March 16th, 2013, 4:04 am

 

SYRIAN HAMSTER said:

Double speak at its worst…
So, the venerable doc objects to Palestinians taking on political route to their liberation, and constantly badmouths Syrians defending their lives from explosive barrels and scud missiles.

Bearing in mind that within historical Palestine, the only groups that have effectively carried any armed action in the past decade or so is HAMAS, or Jihad, both of which never received the venerable doc hyperventilation for their undemocratic practices, are not much different from “Islamic Factions” within FSA or Jabhat Alnusra, respectively. I think the venerable doc likes the the rest of the armed Palestinian resistance, stationed in camps in Syria, and doing the buffoon’s bidding in oppressing and intimidating their free spirited brethren to keep their “leaders” lucrative business deals with the mafia family ruining Syria.

My objection to Abbas has nothing to do with what he says for this is a Palestinian issue, and I am in no place to be an “overlord” over their destiny. Rats like me do object to Abbas’s rather with his unconstitutional rule, which is something the venerable doc never brings up. This is the difference between the remnant of the foolish resistance camp, and those who know that beating Israel starts by beating the thugs in our midst and throwing dirt bags like the athads and their liar supporters under the bus.

I have major objections to Israel as well as to zionizm, which i think by now has become as outdated as arab nationalism. I don’t have to be an antisemite to be critical, or to rely on antisemetic dirtbags to argue humanitarian, human rights, and political issues. The bozos, athad-lovers on the other hand, have no other argument. Intellectually, ethically and morally bankrupt, they will borrow from all the filth that is antisemitism, neo-nazi quotes, and fantastic conspiracy theories and libels to do the bidding of their masters. Judging by the intellectual quality of their sophistery blathering buffoon master, one should not be surprised to find them being called retards, across the board.

The one thing the blabbering idiots can’t recognize is that by adopting democracy, flowed as it is due to the composition of Israeli society, and the methods of founding their state, the zionists opened up Israel to the winds of history, with its inevitable trend towards progress on human rights and development even if slow or obstructed. Syrians will re-join history after half a century of being outside it and being forced, by brutality (including propaganda assaults) to live in the bubble of deceptive tyrants. When that happens, the Arab Israeli conflict will have a different meaning, especially for the Palestinians, who will be fully liberated from the dictators who traded with Palestinian blood for nearly 70 years so that their mafia families continue to rob the countries surrounding Palestine in the name of a cause they never had the intention to defend.

Defeat is victory
Slavery is Freedom
Despotism is Liberty

This is life in the athad farm… well.. Farms are only suitable for animals.. which is why the animals here want to keep it. Fools, when your master buffoon runs out of sheep and chicken, he is coming after the rabbits, and eventually skunks like you.

March 16th, 2013, 4:52 am

 

Juergen said:

Al Wahash lately asked the names of those killed in the conflict, 57904 can be tracked, I assume the regime keeps an record of their own armed personal killed in action.

these two sites offer comprehensive evidence of mass killings and go back as far as the start of this revolution.

http://syrianshuhada.com/default.asp?lang=en&a=st&st=8

http://www.vdc-sy.org/index.php/en/home

March 16th, 2013, 5:09 am

 

SANDRO LOEWE said:

The main argument against rebels is that by asking dignity and freedom they will only get death and destruction. So let the Assad Mafia rule as long as like. Assad is a dictator but they love him because the country will be destroyed by Assad himself if he is forced to go out.

Now the message is clear: Syria will live without Assad mafia or die. This is the syrian people desire. Assad must go but he cannot understand the message because he conisder syrians are all dogs without dignity who will obey Assad mafia for fear and for a piece of bread.

Fxx you Assad, fxx all the tribal, corrupt, ingorant and slave minds around Assad.

March 16th, 2013, 5:25 am

 
 

Mina said:

For you Jürgen
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OB8Wq8pXrps
on the problems faced by women in Egypt
(the other two parts of the halqa are worse seeing too)

From stone age to democracy, it might take more than two years.

March 16th, 2013, 5:50 am

 

Syrian Atheist Against Dictatorships said:

Yes, the most secular country in the middle east indeed.

“We were lucky. We got through because I’m Druze,” my friend said. “Everything is sectarian now. If I were Sunni, I’d be in jail and you’d be in trouble.”
The sectarian divisions that are ubiquitous in Syria now extend even to the roads. The road into Damascus is partitioned by concrete blast barriers, with the right-hand lane officially designated for civilian traffic and the left-hand lane for military and government traffic.
But Alawites always travel on the left, regardless of their job, and so it has been universally dubbed the “Alawite lane” by locals. It’s a sadly tidy metaphor for an evolving conflict that has destroyed so many lives, and that will destroy so many more.

http://www.thenational.ae/news/world/middle-east/a-journalist-takes-a-road-from-damascus-after-five-years#full

March 16th, 2013, 6:43 am

 

Syrian Atheist Against Dictatorships said:

http://www.thenational.ae/news/world/middle-east/two-years-after-deraa-street-protests-hope-lies-bleeding-in-syria#full

Perhaps the only thing pro and anti-regime factions share is an unshakable belief in the inevitability of victory, each adamant history will vindicate their side. Both cannot be right.
Both can be wrong however, if Syria’s war becomes one of those in which everyone loses and no one wins. The longer it drags on, the more it seems to be taking that shape.
“Certainly we will win even if we have to keep our revolution going for another ten years,” said a 28-year-old, unemployed university graduate from Deraa, who took part in those early peaceful protests.
“The regime’s men say ‘Assad or we burn the country’, we reply ‘we will burn Assad and keep the country’, whatever that will cost us in lives and property,” he said.
Somewhere, wandering lost in the political wasteland between the two irreconcilable factions, is the remnants of what used to be called the ‘silent majority’, the vast bloc of ordinary Syrians who had neither taken up arms for the regime, nor against it.
Their silence and inaction, borne of justifiable fears and propagated by life in a political vacuum, appear to have condemned them to the role of passive victims.
“I have one wish, and that is to return to before March 15, 2011,” said Abu Bashar, a retired teacher, 60, living in Barzeh, a suburb in northern Damascus.
“I want to go on a picnic with my family, to visit my sons anytime I want. I want to walk in Damascus at midnight without fearing that I will be arrested or killed. I want to reach Damascus’ downtown in ten minutes not spending one hour on a checkpoint. I want to see my country stable and secure.”
But no one, except perhaps the most deluded of regime hardliners, seem to believe the clock can be turned back completely.
Abu Bashar, the old teacher, added caveats to his own time-machine fantasy, belying the understandable nostalgia he feels for the pre-war days.
“I want my old Syria back but with democracy and freedom, and no power for the security services or the army, and to have a good income to live from,” he said.
“Whoever can achieve these hopes and wishes, I will stand with him, but after all of this brutality, we need a new president. The people cannot accept Bashar Al Assad any more.”

psands@thenational.ae

http://www.thenational.ae/news/world/middle-east/two-years-after-deraa-street-protests-hope-lies-bleeding-in-syria#full

Fantasy is almost an understatement, the old teacher, wants his cake and eat it too, all without doing anything for it. Well, I have news for the all of theose in the so-called silent majority, you can’t bow your head to a dictatorship for 40 years and expect freedom and democracy to mushroom out of the ground after a spring shower.

March 16th, 2013, 7:04 am

 

majedkhaldoun said:

Mini-Apple said:
There is no way what has happened along Turkey border will be allowed to happen on Jordan border
So what can you do about it?

Increasingly,it appeared that the syrian revolution is going to spread in the third year to Lebanon and Iraq,and as neighbors of Syria see Syria is getting weaker,they will interfere in Syria more

Why Buthaina Shaaban is moving to Dubai? she does not feel safe in Damascus anymore

March 16th, 2013, 7:15 am

 

apple_mini said:

#303 “Fantasy is almost an understatement, the old teacher, wants his cake and eat it too, all without doing anything for it. Well, I have news for the all of theose in the so-called silent majority, you can’t bow your head to a dictatorship for 40 years and expect freedom and democracy to mushroom out of the ground after a spring shower.”

That is an unrealistic statement. Syrians are in pain. They just want the violence ends asap. How much blood do they need to shed? How many lives do they need to offer to satisfy you and your revolutionists for your ideal goal?

Why revolutionists had to tie the nation and all Syrians on their burning chariot dashing to the front?

The most powerful way to bring a tyrant down is through peaceful protest. It requires sacrifice from the truth-loving and truth-seeking protests. The more sacrifice they offer, the more support they will gain from general public.

This quickly militarized ”Arab Spring” in Syria not only was suspicious for its motive, also very counter-productive. After two years, it has become so deadly and brutal. It is no longer a revolution. It is a fighting for power, for religious dominance and for serving their puppet masters.

March 16th, 2013, 8:42 am

 

Tara said:

Wadah Khanfar has it right.  When is the US going to see the light?

It is time for the west to take sides in Syria, and lift the arms embargo
Wadah Khanfar
The Guardian, Friday 15 March 2013 14.30 EDT

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2013/mar/15/lift-syria-arms-embargo

..
The western approach, led by the US, has so far achieved only a stalemate between the rebels and the regime. The regime’s recent use of Scud missiles, and the continued supply of arms from Russia and Iran, have tipped the balance between the rebels and the regime in the regime’s favour. Seen in this light, the latest move by the British and French is simply an attempt to rebalance the conflict, and is part of a wider western strategy to use stalemate to force both sides to achieve a peaceful settlement. This will not put an end to the violence, nor will it lead to a settlement any time soon. Indeed, the third year of the Syrian revolution will now almost certainly see a shift in the crisis: it is set to become a cross-border conflict posing the greatest challenge to the region’s stability since its current borders were drawn after the first world war.
……
Iraq, which has not yet recovered from the wounds of the civil war that tore it apart after the US invasion, would take the sectarian conflict in the area to unprecedented levels. It would also pull neighbouring countries, such as Iran, Turkey and the Arab Gulf states, into the conflict as the fight over Iraq will be not only for its oil resources, but for the true soul of the Middle East. What happens there would determine the balance of regional power and redraw the political map.

Can this scenario be avoided? It depends on how the regional and international forces act in the coming months. The US must redirect its priorities to allow the rebels to overthrow the regime. Although direct military intervention is not welcome, the west should not prohibit supplies of weapons to the revolutionaries.
..
The US has justified such prohibition in various ways: the fear of post-Assad chaos; the possibility of Islamists rising to power; the fact that Syria is a neighbour of Israel and that weapons could fall into the hands of jihadists. But that hesitation has been disastrous for the US’s objectives. Because of its fear of potential terrorism, it failed to bring down the Syrian regime at a time when the revolution was completely removed from the influence of al-Qaida or any other jihadist groups. US hesitation drove the revolution to become what the US feared most: it was a self-fulfilling prophecy.
……

March 16th, 2013, 9:04 am

 

Observer said:

Well well, I am waiting for the trolls to praise and cheer the “evil” CIA as it is gathering information for a drone war on Syrian Jihadists as a sign that the regime in Syria is winning and is right in his description of the revolution as a Jihadist enterprise.
Drones do not do anything against an ideology that has taken root in the people. This is not a strategy it is a tactic. Without a overriding strategy there is nothing that the US can do.
At present, it is sitting in the background and holding the region at a distance, including Israel. I am still waiting for Kerry to articulate an Obama foreign policy.

Today they scrapped the missile defense in Europe. Is this a small gift to Russia? Of course they can reinstate it quickly if they so wish. So give a bone to the Russians.

The horse has left the barn; there is no way to stop the revolution. There is no one that can influence the outcome to its own interests.

The dithering and the lack of a decisive foreign policy that goes beyond declarations has allowed for the regime to use all lethal means and on a massive scale short of chemical weapons and for the revolution to decide that it will never go back to slavery and will do whatever it takes to uproot the regime.

Buthaina is on vacation? It is clear that she needs a permanent vacation. I guess her recent travels have convinced her that the prethident is doomed and therefore she made the conclusion to go on permanent vacation in Dubai. I had hoped her permanent vacation would be in Mezzeh awaiting a trial for crimes against humanity.

I just finished looking into the pro regime media. It is interesting that there are no news on the strategic campaign to take back Raqqa or to defeat the revolution in Aleppo and nothing on Homs but there are news of regime troops shelling villages in Lebanon.

If this is not desperation I do not know what is.

I urge you to go and read the news from their side. It is most informative.

The EU is debating while Al Nusra is advancing. I would say it is the sunset of Western influence in the region for some time. In the meantime, Iraq is buying weapons at a tune of 16 billion this year with the US the number one supplier.

I wonder who are they going to fight? Iran? Turkey backed by NATO? KSA backed by the US? or as usual in the ME their own people.

What a sorry bunch of backward and hateful people living in this part of the world.

Let it be divided, they cannot even agree in the same apartment building on maintaining the elevator functioning properly let alone have a functioning state.

March 16th, 2013, 9:29 am

 

majedkhaldoun said:

Tara asks
When is the US going to see the light?

in 2050
let me explain,I said before(Akbar Palace will attest to this)that Israel is behind most evil in the middle East,When US asks what will be Syria after Assad,it means how the future post Assad goverment ,how would it be its policy toward Israel, when US says we will not provide specific weapons to the rebels,US says the rebels may use them against Israel,or the victory of the rebels will endanger Israel,and that is the reason why US is against arming the rebels.
I said before in US there is democracy,and democracy means free election,which means the number of votes will bring someone to the house or senate or presidency,right now most candidates running for political office has to please the jewish lobby,they depend on the jewish vote,when our number(means Arab and Moslem votes) exceeds jewish vote then there will be pro islamic representative and US policy will then change,our population in US has to increase to be able to change american policy,and that is expected to be in 2050.

For that I say the best thing you can do is have more children,it is American Arabs in USA who will change the middle east.

March 16th, 2013, 10:08 am

 

Tara said:

# 252

“Zoo,.. himself and Lover-Of-All-Things-Bashar, can’t stand him”

Zoo’s taste is improving!

March 16th, 2013, 10:11 am

 

zoo said:

Tara

“the best thing you can do is have more children”

Listen to the words of wisdom and get busy…

March 16th, 2013, 10:13 am

 

zoo said:

#309 Tara

Beware of second hand affirmations, especially when they come from known manipulators always trying to put people one against each others.

March 16th, 2013, 10:19 am

 

zoo said:

Sunnis ask why US drones seem to target them only

Hussain Abdul-Hussain
Mar 17, 2013
http://www.thenational.ae/thenationalconversation/comment/sunnis-ask-why-us-drones-seem-to-target-them-only

Does America’s Middle East policy tilt against Sunni Muslims and in favour of the Shia? That is certainly how many Sunnis perceive events, and especially the way the US uses its drone weapons.

America toppled Iraq’s Saddam Hussein and Afghanistan’s Taliban, both brutal Sunni regimes, and in the process empowered, though unintentionally, an equally notorious regime in Shia Iran.

More recently, President Barack Obama’s policies have deepened the Sunni sense of American bias: US drones hunt down Sunni militants while the Shia – in Iran and Syria – receive invitations to talks and grand bargains, instead.

Read more: http://www.thenational.ae/thenationalconversation/comment/sunnis-ask-why-us-drones-seem-to-target-them-only#ixzz2NiGgz7fd
Follow us: @TheNationalUAE on Twitter | thenational.ae on Facebook

March 16th, 2013, 10:28 am

 

Tara said:

Zoo,

You can stand Reve?

I just hope you do not share his behavior he was so proud to share.

March 16th, 2013, 10:32 am

 

zoo said:

Only the Friends of Syria is a failure?

America’s ‘shift’ towards Syria’s rebels is a dangerous illusion

Radwan Ziadeh
Mar 9, 2013
http://www.thenational.ae/thenationalconversation/comment/americas-shift-towards-syrias-rebels-is-a-dangerous-illusion#page2

Moaz Al Khatib and the rest of the organised opposition should have followed through on their threat to boycott the Rome meeting.

Secretary of State John Kerry used the meeting only as a platform to show his domestic audience that the United States was “doing something” about Syria. Tragically, that something is a weak, ineffectual and belated response to the two years of mass murder forced on Syrian society.

The Friends of Syria group has proven itself to be a failure. The Syrian opposition should not attend another such meeting until the international community proves to the Syrian people that it is ready to take steps that will result in a real change on the ground. Syrians don’t need more statements of support, sympathy or tears.

Read more: http://www.thenational.ae/thenationalconversation/comment/americas-shift-towards-syrias-rebels-is-a-dangerous-illusion#ixzz2NiHWjUEf
Follow us: @TheNationalUAE on Twitter | thenational.ae on Facebook

March 16th, 2013, 10:33 am

 

AIG said:

MAJEDKHALDOUN,

Take a look at this just published poll:
http://www.gallup.com/poll/161387/americans-sympathies-israel-match-time-high.aspx

It is not the Jewish vote versus the Arab vote that matters. There are tens of millions of Zionist Christians in the US and the general public is favorable to Israel. You are not going to change the US in the next 100 years, so I would think of another plan.

March 16th, 2013, 10:38 am

 

zoo said:

No hands cut… Welcome to “Soft” Sharia?

A Glimpse of Post-Assad Syria: Inside Aleppo’s New Islamic Justice Committees

By Florence Aubenas, Le Monde
March 16, 2013
http://www.realclearworld.com/articles/2013/03/16/a_glimpse_of_post-assad_syria_100626-2.html

“Will you be cutting hands off? Will you be stoning women?” He says he is for a softer Islam.

Another round of tea is served. The youths joke. “I hope there won’t be any hand cutting, but then again, that wouldn’t shock me. No more than an American would be shocked in front of an electric chair. Who knows what is going to happen?”

March 16th, 2013, 10:54 am

 

zoo said:

#313 Tara

Sorry, I am not ready to share my likes and dislikes.
And if I do, I will certainly address it directly to the concerned person and not to a third party.

March 16th, 2013, 11:02 am

 

zoo said:

Lebanon must stem flow of fighters: Lebanese president

Sulaiman asks army to arrest any militants intending to fight in Syria
AFP
Published: 18:18 March 16, 2013

Beirut: Lebanon must prevent fighters from crossing into Syria, Lebanese President Michel Sulaiman said after Damascus threatened to respond to cross-border infiltrations.

Sulaiman made the remarks while meeting with the Lebanese community in the Ivory Coast during an official visit, according to a statement from his office on Saturday.

Lebanon’s stability depends “on all of us… not sending militants to Syria and not receiving them,” he said, adding “we must commit ourselves to neutrality.”

Sulaiman said he had tasked Lebanon’s army with “the arrest of any militants intending to fight [in Syria], whether for the opposition or not.”

March 16th, 2013, 11:07 am

 

revenire said:

Tara Zoo supports Assad over the rats. That’s all you need to know. We’re two men and bound to have disagreements over ideas. That’s how it works in a free society like Syria.

For example, I am in favor of sarin gas being used on every town, village and rat hole harboring a single fighter against the government. I doubt Zoo would approve of that but maybe he does. It is hardly important because neither Zoo, nor myself, are SAA generals who can order carpet bombing with sarin gas cluster bombs.

I am not shy about my extreme hatred of anything and anyone supporting the so-called FSA. I believe in showing no mercy for anyone involved against the government.

I also am 100% behind Assad and want him reelected and believe he is one of the most generous and wise leaders the Middle East has ever produced. That is why the majority of Syrians support him and love him.

Bashar is my hero.

I am in favor of killing every filthy rat in Syria and all their supporters without mercy. No forgiveness. No mercy. No restraint. If we destroy a few rat towns and the civilians have to die that is a small price to pay for saving the MAJORITY of Syrians.

It is about saving lives at this point and showing any mercy to anyone supporting these murderous pigs will only cause more death.

March 16th, 2013, 11:18 am

 

Akbar Palace said:

Majedkhaldoun,

Does the Holy Koran state the Jews can’t create their own state?

March 16th, 2013, 5:31 pm

 

Leith said:

These “rebels” are nothing but western funded thugs.

March 29th, 2013, 3:03 pm

 

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