Aleppo – Remarks by the newly appointed Governor (By Ehsani)

Since the new Governor of Aleppo took his new post recently, he has been making unflattering remarks about the city’s cleanliness. Back in 2009, similar remarks were made here. The pictures taken of garbage cans make the situation clear.

Aleppo was recently host to a conference entitled “creating 6,000 new jobs”.

This was sponsored by the Chamber of Industry, a private education facility, and the Syrian Trust for Development. During the conference, the Aleppo Governor was quoted as saying that the “sanitation and cleanliness of Aleppo are in a terrible state”.  The conference’s noble goal of creating 6000 jobs was soon overshadowed by news that over 41,000 employees had lost their jobs nationally between January and mid May of this year. Indeed, the head of the Chamber of Industry, Mr. Chehabi, warned that poverty and unemployment are the two major problems that need immediate attention. Unemployment is thought to be somewhere close to 30% (official government figures continue to record a number around 8.5%). The poverty rate is believed to be close to 40% with 400 villages out of 1000 falling under the the poverty line.

The bad news was not done. The official representing the education center reported that close to 40% of Aleppo’s population is illiterate. He referred to this statistic as a “disaster”. Below I list a few other statistics that he cited:

University graduates make up 3.4% of Aleppo’s population.
Vocational center graduates are 2.9% of the population
High school graduates make up 9.2%
Middle school graduates are 13.9%
Primary school graduates are 29.2%
Illiterates who have not attended schooling make up the remaining 41.6%

Aa number of industrialists at the conference complain about the lack of fuel oil (Mazot).  The Governor promised that when Mazot could be purchased an effort should be made to make it available to manufacturers who need it to produce and keep workers employed.

The lack of fuel oil in Syria has been widely reported of late. This has become more acute since the government subsidy was increased, lowering the price of a liter from from SYP 20 to 15. It is now very hard to find it at the official price. The Aleppo Governor admitted that it is being smuggled to neighboring countries. This is not surprising. The price of fuel oil (mazot) in Turkey is now SYP 105. At the official price of SYP 15, the price difference is 86% (as Areal points out in comment 17, the difference is 600%) . This is astounding. No wonder smuggling is rampant. The Governor promised to put an end to this illicit trade soon. It is highly likely that such efforts will not work. Smuggling Mazot across the border to Syria is now the livelihood of many families. Taxis cross the border merely to sell their tanks in Turkey after they fill them up at the last gas station in Syria. Large tankers do the same. The latest joke in Aleppo is that it makes economic sense to drink Mazot in Syria and pee it out in Turkey given the price differential. As winter approaches, the domestic availability of this critical product is on everyone’s mind (the government could be stockpiling it too, hence the acute shortage).

David Goodman of the New York Times is seeking help from readers in deciphering a video showing a dramatic moment of gunfire in the suburbs of Damascus.

The NYT claims that an advisor to the Iraqi Prime Minister visited Syria and sent a message to Mr. Assad that he should resign.

Not long after the article appeared, we get the following denial

*(DP-News – agencies)

The media advisor to Iraq’s Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki “absolutely”
denied statements reported by The New York Times this week that the Iraqi
government urged the Syrian president to step down.

Ali al-Moussawi said these statements, which are allegedly made by him, are
incorrect, and added that “it is neither the nature nor the
followed-discourse of the Iraqi government to intervene in internal affairs
of other countries,” AFP reported.

Moussawi said he “absolutely” denied these statements and added that the
Iraqi government did not request Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to resign.

Assad Has No Friend in Lebanon’s Christians-WSJ

The Maronite Church is not a bastion of democracy. But the church has long been an advocate for an independent Lebanon, free from the shackles of foreign powers—whether Turkish, French or Syrian. For decades the church has been in synch with Arab nationalists who yearn to be free of dictatorship and military occupation.

Syria’s Opposition – USIP

USIP’s Steven Heydemann discusses the state of Syria’s opposition and why the U.S. may be hesitant to recognize an emerging opposition.

The American Ambassador to Syria Robert Ford called Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad evil –

“Yes, actually I do because what’s happening under his authority in terms of people being tortured to death, people being shot who are unarmed and no one being held accountable for it,” Ford responded following a pause after being asked by TheDC if he thought Assad was  “evil.”

“I can understand it if it was against orders and you just were trying to remake a police force or you were trying to remake a prison system and so there are a lot of orders being disobeyed, but you would want people held accountable. But because I see no accountability, I can only assume that on some level that he accepts it if not encourages it. To me that would be evil.”

 

 

Comments (80)


Haytham Khoury said:

Dear MajedKhaldoon:

Can I get your e-mail from the administration of this site.
I would like to send you an e-mail.

September 21st, 2011, 3:41 pm

 

Aboud said:

“David Goodman of the New York Times is seeking help from readers in deciphering a video showing a dramatic moment of gunfire in the suburbs of Damascus.”

As the page’s readership comments are pointing out, the security men are acting in a very casual manner, which they wouldn’t be if someone was firing back at them. Even Rambo took cover when someone aimed a gun at him.

September 21st, 2011, 3:52 pm

 

Majhool said:

Yeah!! very important post indeed given the current events

September 21st, 2011, 3:58 pm

 

TRUE said:

Seems like many new aliases have been posting in the last 24 hours and they all were sharing the same sentence structure, point of view and spelling mistakes!!

On the same line, I wonder how the Jamal & Afram always manage to show up together at the same time? Maybe sharing the shift.

The new thief (governor of Aleppo) is Alawi (again) and a cousin of Betho (not surprised), his name “Mwafaq Khalaouf”
Anyone is talking about nepotism here?!!

That’s the REFORM we’re talking about.

September 21st, 2011, 4:14 pm

 

Khalid Tlass said:

Don’t worry TRUE, I would soon be flying the Mig-23 over Qqqqurdaha. 😆

September 21st, 2011, 4:25 pm

 

Khalid Tlass said:

NORMAN, if Bashar is so protective and good with Christians, and the revolutionaries are evil bloodsucking Islamists; then WHY are people like Samir Geagea and Mr. Gemayel supporting the revolution and opposing Bashar ?

September 21st, 2011, 4:26 pm

 

Khalid Tlass said:

NORMAN, if Bashar is so protective and good with Christians, and the revolutionaries are evil bloodsucking Islamists; then WHY are people like Samir Geagea and Mr. Gemayel and the others supporting the revolution and opposing Bashar ?

September 21st, 2011, 4:31 pm

 

TRUE said:

Observation,

Alawis in general prefer to be called “minorities” not “Alalwis”.

Is it because they are quite insecure about their skin? Or is it just a psychological game to overweight their presence in Syria?

September 21st, 2011, 4:35 pm

 

Amir in Tel Aviv said:

Where is Jad? Long time no see him.
.

September 21st, 2011, 4:44 pm

 

areal said:

In Syria , (transnational ) taxis ( cars ) are running on gasoline not fuel oil .

September 21st, 2011, 4:45 pm

 

TRUE said:

@ Haytham Khoury

During revolutions throughout Europe and other countries especially in South America we could notice a pattern of how the Christian youth managed to disobey the mandate of their church and reach the sky demanding freedom and reform.

In Syria, can you explain why the Christian youth is fully driven by the church with no signs to veto their mandate?

September 21st, 2011, 4:45 pm

 

TRUE said:

@ Khalid Tlass

Sounds good bro, don’t forget to video (not vidio) the scenery from up there while you’re hovering above Basil & Hafiz.

September 21st, 2011, 4:49 pm

 

Syrian Nationalist Party said:

“David Goodman of the New York Times is seeking help from readers in deciphering a video showing a dramatic moment of gunfire in the suburbs of Damascus.”

Staged by someone, the video cam was shaking as being hand held and it focused straight ahead on the gun shooters even in the most intense moment of firing straight at the camera. The person holding the cam did not duck on the ground or hid sideways, the cam stayed focusing straight on the flash of fire. If you are holding a camera and suddenly you come under gunfire from hostile security forces, the video would have shown any aversive action taken by the cameraman running for his life, but he stayed still taken video straight at the gun shouters with no fear.

September 21st, 2011, 4:49 pm

 

Khalid Tlass said:

True, hovering is for helicopters.

September 21st, 2011, 4:52 pm

 

Khalid Tlass said:

“Staged by someone, the video cam was shaking as being hand held and it focused straight ahead on the gun shooters even in the most intense moment of firing straight at the camera. The person holding the cam did not duck on the ground or hid sideways, the cam stayed focusing straight on the flash of fire. If you are holding a camera and suddenly you come under gunfire from hostile security forces, the video would have shown any aversive action taken by the cameraman running for his life, but he stayed still taken video straight at the gun shouters with no fear”

That is because Syrians are BRAVE and we have BALLS, unlike fake wannabe Syrians like you.

September 21st, 2011, 4:56 pm

 

TRUE said:

Kahalid,

Does not matter bro!! as long you’ll be to drop the urine containers right on the target.

September 21st, 2011, 5:00 pm

 

Areal said:

The price of fuel oil (mazot) is Turkey is now SYP 105. At the official price of SYP 15, the price difference is 86%.

The profit is (105 – 15 ) / 15 = 600 %

The illiteracy in Syria and poor maths skills elsewhere.

It is easy to tax at the border the mazot ( fuel oil ) leaving Syria such that the trip becomes non profitable.

September 21st, 2011, 5:05 pm

 

Ehsani said:

AREAL,

I meant to say that the 15 is 86% lower than the 105.

September 21st, 2011, 5:08 pm

 

TRUE said:

@ 13 Syrian Nationalist Party

Honestly!! Are you serious?!!

So you could not see how fully armed thugs were opening real ammunition on vulnerable innocent people?

What a dumb analysis reflects the idiotic mind behind it

September 21st, 2011, 5:10 pm

 

AIG said:

40% illiteracy in Aleppo? Only based on that statistic Assad must go. Again, all those that have been touting the great Syrian education system in last 10 years (looking at you Norman) are proven to be fools.

September 21st, 2011, 5:12 pm

 

Syria no kandahar said:

Khaled
Do have some ideas how the brave Syrian revolutionists will clean up Syria from Shia,Alawis and Christians.God willing when victory comes can you be practical about how to make Syria pure Sunni state.With freedom fighters like you,flying your Meg 23 The future is so bright.Khaled is a living example about our brave,peaceful and secular revolutionists.

September 21st, 2011, 5:20 pm

 

TRUE said:

@ 20. AIG

“the great Syrian education system in last 10 years”

Surely you’re not refereeing to Teshreen University!!

And what a great education system which gives you extra “Unearned” marks added to your baccalaureate for just being the follwoing

50 marks if you were part of Rifa’t ALASSAD death squad
42 marks if you have done the parachute jump with Basel ALASSAD
22 marks if you have been nominated by the national council of the Ba’ath Party
17 marks if you have been nominated by the regional council of the Ba’ath Party

And the list goes on and on …!!!

September 21st, 2011, 5:29 pm

 

Pirouz said:

Per Goldman’s request,

The video depicts the cautious advance of a squad of armed men. They appear to be attempting to locate the source of the gunfire in the background, taking heed of all surrounding directions. They appear especially concerned with higher levels. A firefight breaks out, the gunfire they were tracking is then silent, and they withdraw.

It looks to me like this squad may have been one prong of a clearing operation, to take out a sniper, or a group of gunmen.

Dangerous work.

September 21st, 2011, 5:44 pm

 

Syrian Nationalist Party said:

Oh Yeah, Brave Syrians spent the last 50 years under Baathist rule and the State Security Court and its Mukhabrats, cowards never dared to rise up even when more than 20,000 women and children from Hama were slaughtered. Not when the Golan was lost, not when Iskenderun were given away to Turkey, not when Syrian Parliament and Constitution scrapped, when Lebanon lost, when Israel attacked Deir Alzour… and I can go on and on listing the cowardly deeds of Syrians that if they lack anything the most, it will be bravery and dignity. The most lacking person in Syria of these traits is a paper tiger by the name of Mustafa Tlass, a Sunni stooge for the Baathist who worked with other Sunni scum’s mainly Shahabi and Khaddam.. Coward Syrians, no bravery, no dignity and no honor except in Dureid Laham skits and paid for satellite and video phones faked skits.

September 21st, 2011, 5:50 pm

 

majedkhaldoun said:

Dear Haytham
This regime is brutal,beyond any scope,so secrecy is important,so if you want to contact me I suggest I know your E-Mail first,I do write at Off the walls blog ,you can contact me there.

September 21st, 2011, 7:03 pm

 

OFF THE WALL said:

SYRIAN NATIONALIST PARTY
It seems to me that the Syrian people are too undeserving of the greatness of your ideology. I suggest that you change your nation, how about Germany, It will be a nice name, German National Party….Sorry, taken with minor modification, almost 80 years a go…

EHSANI
This is shocking. Both Norman and I talked about the free or very cheap college education as one of the only accomplishments the Baath Party has managed to do. Now looking at that, I think the two of us, perhaps the most disconnected from Syria, have had no idea about the changes that have happened over the past two+ decades. In the US, and despite of the prohibitive cost of University education, the National average is 27%. The Syrian level is shameful. How can one develop a 21st century economy with 41% illiteracy rate.Where was mandatory primary education for 41% of Aleppans to fall through the cracks.

I am more convinced now than ever that Syria will never see a good day as a nation before throwing the bums out. After 40 years the country is far worst today than it was in 1970.

Worst yet than the Baath are those dummy parties of the regressive national front.

I am waiting to see the stats for health care access. I think a medical exam would be a justifiable cause of death.

Mr. 5 Ballerinas
I agree with AIG that based on the statistics alone the whole regime must be obliterated. This is my second public agreement with AIG…. Do I qualify as colonized mind?

September 21st, 2011, 7:13 pm

 

Amir in Tel Aviv said:

I wish Syria, women as head of political parties.
http://www.jpost.com/DiplomacyAndPolitics/Article.aspx?id=238964
More women leaders = more common sense and fewer wars.
.

September 21st, 2011, 7:34 pm

 
 

Tara said:

I so admire Mr. Ford. What a great man!

\”Ford explained that he tells his embassy staff that despite the tremendous sacrifices they are making to represent the United States in Syria, they can take satisfaction in the fact that they stand on the side of virtue in a “huge morality play.”

September 21st, 2011, 7:46 pm

 

ziadsoury said:

Norman and Alex,

Wow, you guys must be very proud of this. More than 70% of people from Aleppo did not go beyond six grade. This is a great achievement. After 50 years of baath corrective movement and 40 years of leadership by the great assads we are at 70%. I wonder how many of these kids were pushed through the system and never really learned anything.

OTW,

I am very sure that half of the people who did not go beyond elementary school are at first or second grade level.

I also wonder how many of these people were able to read Asma’s vogue spread (the article guys and not the pictures)? That is why the people did not get her freedom message. She said they practice democracy inside the house. Right?

September 21st, 2011, 8:23 pm

 

Ghufran said:

Is this blog still able to give readers information not available on traditional sites?
Where are those people who made it a nice stop at the end of the day?
People like jad and abughassan are being replaced by khlaed and majedkhaldoun.
Too much of very little is still too little for hungry minds.

September 21st, 2011, 8:28 pm

 

Tara said:

Before Asma met with Harvard Alumni, she should have worked on increasing the literacy rate in Syria. What a shame!

September 21st, 2011, 8:30 pm

 

Pirouz said:

SNP,

I suppose it could be staged. But contrast the appearance of that squad with what is usually represented at SANA– there the military and police are always shown to be highly professional. This squad isn’t. Also, it’s quite dangerous to place a videographer in the line of fire. Those guys aren’t using blanks, and 7.62 and even 5.56 ammo can go right through a car. But I can’t account for why the videographer doesn’t move, nor can I tell what type of camera or lens he is using.

I haven’t seen any videos of large demonstrations in a while, nor have I seen videos of large scale troop movements. Not saying such is not taking place, but the video and photo evidence appears to have waned.

Haven’t seen any recent videos of everyday life in Damascus and Aleppo, either.

Hard to tell what’s going on with any degree of certainty.

September 21st, 2011, 8:50 pm

 

ziadsoury said:

Funny clip

September 21st, 2011, 8:57 pm

 

Dale Andersen said:

Isn’t it ironic that the only person in Syria not in denial is Robert Ford? He cuts right through the BS and calls a spade a spade. And Besho hasn’t the guts to expel him. LOL!

Robert Ford for President……of Syria

September 21st, 2011, 9:05 pm

 

Aboud said:

DA @ 35

“And Besho hasn’t the guts to expel him. LOL!”

For once, we are in total agreement on something.

September 21st, 2011, 9:32 pm

 

Syrian Nationalist Party said:

@ OFF THE WALL

Germany is already an industrial modern country having great pride and nationalism, they even have own language. They did not adopt Bedouin text and did not forfeit own great culture and history for the sake of illiterate Bedouin Messiah who cannot write his own name. Not only that, Germany is taking care of few millions refugee from those brave and proud Bedouin countries like Syria.

What we need is to bring the same system to Syria and even other countries so Europeans don’t have to be burdened by few more millions of unemployed, grossly undereducated, proud and brave rapist living on German welfare.

@PIROUZ,

When you examine the video digitally frame by frame, you will notice that whoever taking video never wobbled the camera when straight gun fire is shot toward him straight, at very close range, it does not seem the camera is a mile away, from perspective and focus analysis it is at most 100 feet away, at most. It his humanly impossible to not have reflexes when supposedly enemy security forces suddenly show up and are shooting live amo to kill. Even when the gun fire erupts in a fire ball straight at the camera the videographer never wobbled. Now we analyzed few of these fake tapes and kinda developed a set of markers to immediately tell if the video is genuine or staged. The most common flaw in these staged tapes is that the videographer is there with camera “posing and waiting for the event to happen” oblivion to the tanks that were supposedly shelling in his direction (a controlled event). Then voice over is superimposed. They need a better movie director to make the shot real.

September 21st, 2011, 9:52 pm

 

TRUE said:

The moment Betho does the taboo and expels Robert Ford, all Syrian ambassadors in Western world will be issued with removal orders.

September 21st, 2011, 9:55 pm

 

NK said:

Pure state TV comedy, the same “random” guy interviewed 3 times on 3 different occasions

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xhzm4V2zw6w

But then again with 41.6% Illiteracy rate I guess it all makes sense.

September 21st, 2011, 10:53 pm

 

Haytham Khoury said:

Dear SNP@37:

Those bedouins that you are insulting were able to defeat the biggest two empires of their times, namely the Persian and Roman empires, and then to build one of the biggest civilization in the world. For this reason, you can call the person that inspired them as one of the biggest social reformers in the world.

September 21st, 2011, 11:16 pm

 

SYR.EXPAT said:

You don’t need to be a rocket scientist to analyze this video. It appears that the demonstrators have placed a camera on the ground and used the zoom function to get as close a view as possible of the security thugs. Someone behind the camera, maybe way behind the camera, must have been doing something to get the attention of the thugs. The thugs don’t seem to be in any serious danger. After shooting few bullets, they walk back. All the video shows is that the security thugs use their automatic weapons to subdue the population. Nothing new here. It’s just a very clear video. There is no shkainess and the quality is lot better than many of the videos that we’ve seen over the course of this uprising.

More of these cameras need to be used by the demonstrators. They need to have several of these cameras strategically located. They should be placed on the ground or so form of tripod to get clear video of the events. Some cameras have remote controls that can be used to zoom in and out.

The camera is the best weapon that demonstrators can use. Good use of cameras can be used to document the crimes of the regime and can also be used to detect armed gangs and mundaseen.

September 21st, 2011, 11:24 pm

 

zoo said:

Turkey may slap sanctions on Syria –Erdogan
http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/09/21/turkey-syria-idUSL5E7KL0ZC20110921

How would this impact Syria economically and politically?
– Stopping trucks transit by Syria to export to Arab countries ?
– Canceling Visa waver for Syrians?
– Blocking bank accounts held in Turkey by Syrians?
– Helping the opposition financially and politically?

Any ideas?

September 21st, 2011, 11:25 pm

 

Syrian Nationalist Party said:

@Khoury,

You are relying in your statement not on historical facts but grandiose fictitious slogans and exaltation written by Junky Arab Nationalists since 1916. Reliable and independent historical facts show that the Bedouins never made it past Syria. They did not defeat Rome, Rome abandoned Syria to Byzantium ruler next door to Syria, the Byzantine ruler put stop for their advance.

It was Syrians who helped Muawya form the Umayyad Dynasty that expanded to Spain in the West and to Samara Russia in Bashkiria; it was not the Bedouins of Arabia for they were the first to be defeated by Muawya Syrian army when they marched on Arabia first and foremost.

As to Persia, they found a weakened Zoroastrian and Sassanid nation, not much left of it to fight. Persian maintained all their linguistic and characteristic, never assimilated to Islam. Even now, this is the case with Shia rule which is developed in early days as a mean to thwart the Bedouins. In Egypt, the Bedouins did the remarkable deed of stripping the Pyramid of its face stones to build fortifications. All they built is war garrisons, not much else. Bedouins turned builders in the past few decades. They were destroyers before that, left every place they entered to plunder disguised as Allah servants in tatters. (READ AL ANFAL) that is what they all about.

Khalid Ibn Al Walid died in Homs and was buried on top of the destroyed Temple of Elagabalus where an eternal flame is lit, that was the extent of Bedouins advance. The grave of the Bedouin genocidal slaughterer must be removed and sent back to Arabia, he is not a hero for real Syrians.

“………..Elagabalus was initially venerated at Emesa in Syria. The name is the Latinized form of the Syrian Ilāh hag-Gabal, which derives from Ilāh “god” and gabal “mountain”) compare Hebrew: גבל‎ gəbul and Arabic: جبل‎ jabal), resulting in “the God of the Mountain” the Emesene manifestation of the deity.[1] The cult of the deity spread to other parts of the Roman Empire in the second century. For example, a dedication has been found as far away as Woerden, in the modern-day Netherlands.[2]…………”

September 22nd, 2011, 12:12 am

 

SYR.EXPAT said:

40. HAYTHAM KHOURY said:

Thank you and may God reward you.

The Baath and SNP will soon go to where they belong. Their legacy will be nothing to be proud of.

As for those “Bedouins,” they, as you have so eloquently stated, changed the world and produced one of the greatest civilizations known to mankind.

When Michael H. Hart, a secular Jew, wrote his book “The 100: A Ranking of the Most Influential Persons in History,” his choice for the most influential person was Prophet Muhammad of Arabia, صلى الله عليه وسلم, not a German, not a Roman, and certainly not a Baathist or SNP thug.

The “Bedouins” left the comfort of their homes or tents and went in all direction spreading the religion of Islam and creating a great civilization. The last I checked, the Germans are still benefitting from the fruits of this civilization. They are still using Arabic numerals and they are still teaching Algebra to name just a few of these fruits.

The “Bedouins” created a system of meritocracy that allowed people from different ethnic or religious persuasion to be active participants and contributors to the advancements of mankind. They also introduced laws to protect non-combatants during wars, something that was not done before in Europe and probably anywhere else.

‘It was Abu Hanifa, a leading legal expert of Persian origin, the founder of a school of law in Baghdad, who first forbade the killing of women, children, the elderly, the sick, monks and other non-combatants. He also condemned rape and the killing of captives…. A legal expert in Baghdad, [he] attempted to make war more humane by setting forth rules that were not accepted in Europe until several centuries later—rules that were still not accepted, in any case not practiced, when colored people were involved.’
[Sven Lindqvist, A History of Bombing (New York: The New Press, 2000), 9.]

“In fact, it was Abu Hanifa who first codified these rules in a legal system, but all of the rules were taken from injunctions given by the Prophet Muhammad himself.”
– Statement to the Simpson Fellows, May 7, 2011

The attempts of the Baath and SNP to rewrite and distort history have miserably failed, just like their wretched and failed ideologies.

September 22nd, 2011, 1:01 am

 

Ghufran said:

I read an analysis on the Syrian revolution on this blog when good writings were still available,I forgot the author but he or she concluded that what many super and regional powers want is not reform or democracy but a weak government willing to make certain concessions that suit those powers. Eventually when enough people get killed the two fighting parties will be ready to negotiate. Syrian lives are not valuable except to those who have not lost their humanity yet and those who lost loved ones,most others are busy reserving their piece of the Syrian pie or pretending that their opinion carries any weight in this dirty game of heavy weight players. Advise your hopeful friends not to get too excited because their blood will be sold by big boys in the coming auction.

September 22nd, 2011, 1:07 am

 

Darryl said:

44. SYR.EXPAT said:

Fortunately for you the Baath actually tried to improve the history of Islam and the bedouins by suppressing the embarrassing elements. You will not have written this text if you have read the real story by delving into your religious books and other that are available if you dare to read. However, it is a lot easier on the mind to pick only good bits.

September 22nd, 2011, 1:23 am

 

agatha said:

anouncement for an interview in ‘Die Zeit’

Syrischer Muslimbrüder-Chef: „Der Irak hilft Assad“

Das Oberhaupt der syrischen Muslimbrüder, Mohammed Riad al-Schaqfa, beschuldigt die irakische Regierung, das Regime von Baschar al-Assad in Syrien zu unterstützen. „Der Irak hilft Assad, (…) und die USA lassen das zu“, sagte der 67-Jährige al-Schaqfa der Wochenzeitung DIE ZEIT. Es herrsche ein Bündnis der Konfessionen. Die schiitisch dominierte Regierung in Bagdad sympathisiere mit den Alawiten der syrischen Führung, eine den Schiiten verwandte religiöse Minderheit. Dieselben Bande herrschten zwischen dem Militär und der Regierung. „Die Armee steht hinter Assad, er hat ihre Führung selbst ausgewählt.“
Al-Schaqfa lebt seit dreißig Jahren im Exil, zunächst im Irak, dann im Jemen und in Ägypten. Die Anhänger der konservativen Muslimbrüder werden in Syrien seit 1980 mit der Todesstrafe bedroht. Derzeit hält sich al-Schaqfa in Istanbul auf.

http://www.zeit.de/vorabmeldungen/neu-in-der-aktuellen-zeit/seite-10

September 22nd, 2011, 1:39 am

 

uzair8 said:

Transcript of Interview of Hama Attorney General Adnan Bakkour withe Cairo Daily
Wednesday, September 21, 2011

Syria: Cairo Daily Interview Former Public Prosecutor of Hama Cairo Rose al-Yusuf in Arabic 15 Sep 11 p 8[Interview with the former public prosecutor of the Syrian city of Hama, Adnan al-Bakur, Conducted over the Internet by Ahmad Qandil: “Al-Asad Resorted to the Assistance of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards and Hizballah To Repress the Protests”]

In his first interview with any Egyptian or Arab media, Rose al-Yusuf had an exclusive interview with Adnan al-Bakur, the Public Prosecutor of the Syrian city of Hama which suffered the most horrible massacre committed by the killing machine of the Syrian regime. This prompted Al-Bakur to resign and reveal the bestial massacres still being committed by Al-Asad’s regime. The former attorney general resigned several weeks ago and announced his intention to expose these massacres and to join the revolutionaries.

But Al-Asad regime tried to hound and to kill him. It posted rewards in the millions of dollars to get his head as it has done with the other Syrian activists who are still being brutalized and executed in a police State with no law, a State ruled by the tyranny of Bashar al-Asad. The regime circulated accounts and rumors that abductors are holding the General Attorney and forcing him to make statements. But Al-Bakur denied this. He said he had joined the revolutionaries and was in hiding to avoid being killed. We managed to reach him through a revolutionary source close to him who requested anonymity and who was among those who managed to smuggle Al-Bakur outside the country. Rose al-Yusuf contacted him through the Internet. The text of the interview follows.

[Qandil] To begin with, what prompted you to resign?

[Al-Bakur] The massacres committed in all Syrian provinces: The repression, torture in detention centers, executions, and ethnic liquidation. The human mind rejects such acts and I could not bear any more so decided to shoulder my responsibility toward the nation. I announced my resignation even though I knew the consequences of this resignation, namely execution by this criminal regime.

[Qandil] Are there documents and evidence that convict Al-Asad’s regime?

[Al-Bakur] Any military or judicial order on arrest, execution, or release has to be placed on Bashar’s table to sign it. All officials realize this. Bashar al-Asad is the absolute ruler of Syria. No one whosoever can issue any order without Bashar’s personal signature. As to the rumors circulating that Bashar does not know what is going on, these are misleading and lying reports because all orders to break into cities, make arrests, and execute were the direct orders of Bashar al-Asad. I have many documents signed personally by Bashar which approve executions in the Hama Prison, an order to bury people in collective graves, and forcing me to say that terrorist groups were the ones that abducted and executed them.

[Qandil] How do you see Al-Asad’s style of dealing with the Syrian people?

[Al-Bakur] Bashar al-Asad regards the Syrian people as slaves who have to deify their king continuously. Those who do not do so deserve death. He is prepared to displace the entire Syrian people to the neighboring countries and replace them with another obedient people whom he settles in Syria. The human mind cannot endure the horrendous massacres committed by Bashar and the killing, torture, and brutalization. What this occupying sectarian gang is doing to Syria is difficult to describe. Nothing is forbidden for them and there is nothing to deter them.

[Qandil] Are there external hands involved in the revolution?

[Al-Bakur] This is devoid of truth. Such charges are used by the lying media of the regime to prolong its life. This is the revolution of the poor, the down-trodden, the persecuted, and those suffering injustice. The whole world knows what is happening in Syria in terms of corruption, injustice, killing, violence, and disappearance of people even in normal times, before the revolution. This is nonsense without a basis of truth.

[Qandil] How do you describe the Syrian revolution? Does it differ from the Egyptian, Tunisian, and Libyan revolutions?

[Al-Bakur] Yes, it differs from sister revolutions because it confronts a godless regime that believes in no religion or denomination and does not recognize the existence of God. It has security bodies run by individ uals who are nothing more than talking beasts. These bodies are considered among the most brutal criminal bodies in the world. This is why the Syrian revolution differs.

[Qandil] Is the Syrian regime hounding you?

[Al-Bakur] Yes, they tracked me down to more than one location and set up several ambushes for us. We had major clashes with the elements of the regime but, thank God and the revolutionary heroes who protected me, I managed to leave Syria safely.

[Qandil] Were rewards posted for your arrest?

[Al-Bakur] The regime has posted a large amount of money for any one who kills me. It is undertaking a major intelligence campaign to track me down and liquidate me.

[Qandil] Why does the Syrian regime fear you?

[Al-Bakur] Because I was the general attorney, something which means that I know many of the secrets of the regime during the long years I held this position. I know all the crimes it committed, and I have thousands of documents to prove this. Consequently it fears being condemned in the eyes of Arab public opinion and the world.

[Qandil] Is there a likely date for the end of the regime? Is it near collapse?

[Al-Bakur] What is happening now is different from what happened in Hama in 1982. This is the revolution of a people who are recording heroic epics against the regime. The regime will fall. It might take some time but it is doomed to eventually end. I appeal to all my colleagues to break away from this regime and shoulder their national responsibility toward the people. I also call for civil and military disobedience until the regime is toppled and Bashar al-Asad is arrested and put on trial together with his despotic clique. I also call on all my sons the revolutionaries to continue demonstrations intensely and every day so that we can bring the regime down.

[Qandil] What are the methods followed to repress the revolution?

[Al-Bakur] Torturing demonstrators to death, mutilating the corpses of the martyrs, arbitrary arrests, abductions, terrorism, stirring sedition among various sects, and resort to misleading media reports. The regime is prepared to do anything to extinguish the demonstrations. It is fully prepared to bomb cities but fears the international community.

[Qandil] Is the Syrian regime getting assistance from Iranian contingents to abort the revolution?

[Al-Bakur] Yes, experts and elements from the Iranian Revolutionary Guards and Hizballah to repress the protests and deal with them. I received some of their leaders in Hama to escort them to the places of torture and lead them to the revolting districts so that they can deal with them. I was forced to do this because the regime had placed me under strict surveillance and I was forced to sign documents with my name.

[Qandil] What is the position of the Muslim Brothers toward the revolution?

[Al-Bakur] The Muslim Brothers are taking part in these demonstrations in a civilized and refined way. They have a presence on the Syrian street but without emphasizing the name of the Brothers. However, the Syrian people staged a full uprising against the criminal Bashar al-Asad. The Muslim Brothers are one of the constituents of the Syrian people. There is no mention of such names on the street because everyone has joined hands in order to bring down this tyrant.

http://thesyriareport.blogspot.com/2011/09/transcript-of-interview-of-hama.html?spref=tw

September 22nd, 2011, 1:44 am

 

uzair8 said:

A Syria with no Syrians
By Husam Itani

Wednesday, 21 September 2011

…..

Indeed, how can the state launch a dialogue and a reform movement when there are terrorist actions, killings, and dismemberments being carried by armed men flooding Syria from the outside, or armed men being bought by the enemies among the Syrian society’s perverts and scum (according to the statements of several commentators who support the regime)?

(Read more:)

http://english.alarabiya.net/views/2011/09/21/167951.html

September 22nd, 2011, 1:49 am

 

uzair8 said:

Syria: The internal opposition
By Tariq Alhomayed

Wednesday, 21 September 2011

…..

It is hard to imagine that the al-Assad regime could accept such language, especially when the regime is described by the internal conference with terms such as “authoritarian” and “corrupt”, and likewise the calls for more to join the revolution and continue it. It is strange of course that the conference was held inside Syria, and that the opposition members were able to issue a statement without being attacked by the al-Assad regime’s Shabiha, or the conference being stormed by the security forces.

Thus, the question that comes to mind is: has the al-Assad regime become exhausted and hence unable to pursue the participants in the internal opposition conference, or did the regime allow them to meet in order to achieve its own private goals?

(Read more:)

http://english.alarabiya.net/views/2011/09/21/167925.html

September 22nd, 2011, 1:52 am

 

N.Z. said:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4E0GbJ7MLYs

To those who have connections, or know someone who knows a lot about the infallible trio, who are running the country with their eyes wide shut, to all the trio supporters, bashar, maher and assef, do them a favour and ask them how will they explain what is happening to this man! Please, do them a favour. Let them see, make sure their eyes are wide open.

Alex, through whatever connections you have, make sure, Syria’s trio watch this, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4E0GbJ7MLYs

September 22nd, 2011, 2:06 am

 

Revlon said:

Syrian Revolution Coordinators Union
Plea to Heads of states of Arab and Ismamic countries to sever all diplomatic relations with the Syrian Regime.

اتحاد تنسيقيات الثورة السورية |
الهيئة العامة للثورة السورية | اتحاد تنسيقيات الثورة السورية
مشـــــاركة

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
إلى رؤساء وملوك الدول العربية والإسلامية.
هذه الحرب البربرية الهمجية التي تشن على إخوانكم في سوريا, من المسؤول عنها؟
لقد قلَّدكم الله أمانة قيادة هذه الشعوب الإسلامية , لتدفعوا عنها الظلم, وتحكموا فيها بالعدل الإلهي الذي أمركم الله به, ولتقفوا بجوار المستضعفين من الشعوب في جميع بلاد العالم , فهل أديتم الأمانة؟
نحن لا نطلب منكم إحسانا إلى الشعب السوري أو اليمني , ولا نطلب منكم أن تراعوا جانبهم ,ولكن نطلب منكم أن تحسبوا حسابا لموقفكم بين يدي أحكم الحاكمين يوم الحشر الأكبر, حين تقفون أمام رب العزة والجلال , فيسألكم ماذا قدمتم للمؤمنين المستضعفين؟ وأنتم ترون الدماء تسيل أنهارا؟ ماذا فعلتم لدفع الظلم عن المؤمنين؟ أما سمعتم قوله تعالى: ( وان استنصروكم في الدين فعليكم النصر)!!.

لماذا تركتم هذه الوحوش المفترسة تقتل وتسفك دماء هؤلاء الشباب الذين ينادون بالحرية ورفع الظلم؟ إنكم رؤساء كبار وعظام , وهؤلاء الأولاد (بشار وماهر ومخلوف) طغمة إجرام, لا ينبغي أن تقيموا لهم وزنا.
لقد تعدى إجرامهم إلى بيوت الله عز وجل , فقصفوا المآذن بالرشاشات , ومزقوا المصاحف بالرصاص وسفكوا الدماء في المساجد , كأنهم في حرب مع الله لا مع البشر !! لماذا لم تأخذكم الحمية لدينكم ومقدساتكم , وتُـظْهِروا غضبكم لله عز وجل , وتـُوقِفوا هذا السيل من الدماء؟ التي يرتكبها النظام الغاشم و الذي ضج منه العالم الإنساني بأجمعه.
إنَّ سكوتكم عن هذه الجرائم التي يندى لها جبين البشرية, مشاركة في الإثم, فقد جاء في الحديث القدسي يقول تعالى:( وعزتي وجلالي لأنتقمن من الظالم في عاجله أو وآجله , ولأنتقمن ممن رأى مظلوما فقدر أن ينصره فلم يفعل) أخرجه الطبراني .
هؤلاء الذين تظنون أنهم حكام, ليسوا بحكام إنما هم طغمة إجرام . حتى الحميرَ قتلوها! إلا حمارا واحدا هرب من بطشهم ليبقى شاهدا على إجرام هذا النظام.

نحن لا نريد منكم تسليح الشعب السوري , وإنما نطالبكم بهذه المطالب اليسيرة, لترفعوا المسؤولية عنكم عند رب العزة والجلال, وهي:

أولا : تجميد عضوية سوريا في جامعة الدول العربية ومنظمة التعاون الاسلامي.
ثانيا : طرد سفراءَ وقناصلَ النظام السوري من جميع بلدانكم.

ثالثا: قطع العلاقات السياسة والاقتصادية بينكم وبين هذا النظام الغاشم ….

September 22nd, 2011, 2:56 am

 

Revlon said:

Activist Mohammad Al3abdallah performs AlQashoush classical song:
Ya Bashar Tuzz Feek!
محمد العبد الله يغني يا بشار طز فيك و طز بيلي بحييك

September 22nd, 2011, 3:00 am

 

Syrian Nationalist Party said:

@Khoury

Did we call you a thug? Why are you calling SNP such a names. GOD already rewarded me immensely with a brain and intellect, creativity and innovations, knowledge and comfort, love for animals and nature, healthy vegetarian living and much more, most importantly, a beautiful family. There is nothing more that GOD can reward non materialistic person like me, who prefer getting a kitten for gift than a yacht. SNP does the “True GOD” works, separating the Reptilian demons (JIN-IBLIS) Alien Fictions that is embedded into the consciousness of human from the real consciousness that god gave humans. This bit maybe too far out for you to comprehend. No interest in debating your junk education, you got it all from a cesspool of Arabist and Orientalist. But here is your reply:

“……..When Michael H. Hart, a secular Jew, wrote his book “The 100: A Ranking of the Most Influential Persons in History,” his choice for the most influential person was Prophet Muhammad of Arabia, صلى الله عليه وسلم, not a German, not a Roman, and certainly not a Baathist or SNP thug….”

He could have chosen Mao, Lenin and Carl Marx, Michael Jackson, Madonna, SpongeBob square pants, Mickey Mouse and Ariel..the list is way too long to get to a little Bedouin in Arabia. He could not have skipped over Nicola Tesla, Thomas Edison and many others who without their intellect, creativity and pioneering knowledge, you will still be traveling in paddled boats, donkeys and holding a flame for light as the case was 100 years ago. I am not going to remind you with Penicillin and other Medical advancement of the past 100 years.

“………….They are still using Arabic numerals and they are still teaching Algebra to name just a few of these fruits….”
This is as silly in today world of inventions as the Lebanese claim to Glass discovery (one invention in 4000 years). Anyway, they were Iraqis, Persians, Egyptians and Syrians Moslems, not the Bedouin of Arabia.

“…………….‘It was Abu Hanifa, a leading legal expert of Persian origin, the founder of a school of law in Baghdad, who first forbade the killing of women, children, the…….”

That is right Persians and Iraqis as I said before, Bedouins were still, as the case to this day, kill a girl newborn and curse it, they used to burry’s the girl alive at birth and Arabian Bedouins still do.

Here is the recent Bedouin fatwa, issued last month: A Moslem can have sex with any child even newborn:

http://barenakedislam.wordpress.com/2011/07/23/another-saudi-cleric-issues-fatwa-saying-girls-can-be-married-even-if-they-are-in-the-cradle/

You actually think just like a Baathist, clinging to the 1920 Arabists and Orientalist love affair with, forgot his name, oh yah, Laurence of Arabia.

September 22nd, 2011, 3:13 am

 

Revlon said:

Letters from Syria: The Violent Innocence – البراءة العنيفة
A video clip shot and directed using a Nokia cell phone, by Farah Meidani.

Kids having fun by virtually eliminationg their nemesis; X-Box’s snipers!

September 22nd, 2011, 3:25 am

 

FIRAS said:

SSNP said :

Oh Yeah, Brave Syrians spent the last 50 years under Baathist rule and the State Security Court and its Mukhabrats, cowards never dared to rise up even when more than 20,000 women and children from Hama were slaughtered. Not when the Golan was lost, not when Iskenderun were given away to Turkey, not when Syrian Parliament and Constitution scrapped, when Lebanon lost, when Israel attacked Deir Alzour… and I can go on and on listing the cowardly deeds of Syrians that if they lack anything the most, it will be bravery and dignity. The most lacking person in Syria of these traits is a paper tiger by the name of Mustafa Tlass, a Sunni stooge for the Baathist who worked with other Sunni scum’s mainly Shahabi and Khaddam.. Coward Syrians, no bravery, no dignity and no honor except in Dureid Laham skits and paid for satellite and video phones faked skits.

Well, you call Syrians coward and yet you call yourself Syrian Nationalist. YOu curse Mustafa Tlass but without him you guys would have been history. PSP, PLO and Phalangists would have eaten you alive. Syrians saved your sorry asses, you fake wannnabe Greeek / French lebs.

To this day I cannot understand the SSNP ideology. They want to unify the Fertile Crescent asnd acll it “Syria”. They are insulting the distinctivneess of Jordanians, Iraqis and Palestinians. And now we hear this guys talk crap about Syrians and Sunnis. If Sunnis are indeed scum, why do you guys hide behind Najib Mikati ?

September 22nd, 2011, 3:27 am

 

MNA said:

zoo @ 42

“Turkey may slap sanctions on Syria –Erdogan
http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/09/21/turkey-syria-idUSL5E7KL0ZC20110921

How would this impact Syria economically and politically?
– Stopping trucks transit by Syria to export to Arab countries ?
– Canceling Visa waver for Syrians?
– Blocking bank accounts held in Turkey by Syrians?
– Helping the opposition financially and politically?

Any ideas?”

Dear Zoo,

From my humble knowledge of the Turkish-Syrian trade partnership, any Turkish sanctions on Syria will have the opposite effect.
Few facts:
1- It is a fact that Turkey, and Syria, is the only beneficiary of the Free Trade partnership between Turkey and Syria.
2- Syria is the only transit conduit from Turkey to the Arab world, unless the turks decide to go through Kurdistan Iraq. Turkey’s export to the Arab world is in tens of billions of dollars every year and as a result, Turkey would suffer greatly by stopping their trucks going through Syria.
3- It is also known that many more Syrians go to Turkey then the other way around. They mostly go as tourists or traders. I believe, in 2010 Syria ranked 11th in exporting tourists to Turkey. Syrian traders mostly import from Turkey and not the other way around. So who would suffer the most if the Turkish government cancel the Visa waver to Syrians?

If I were the Syria government, I would take preemptive actions and do the following:
1- Close the borders of Syria to Turkish Truks
2- Cancel the Free trade agreement
3- Prevent Syrians from going into Turkey
4- Cancel the Visa waver to Turkish

Any more ideas?

September 22nd, 2011, 4:27 am

 

Tom said:

The Syrian government is more confident ever in containing protests and insurgents.

في مؤشــر على فشـــل مخططـــه وعمــــق أزمته.. الغرب يبحث عن حلـول للخـروج من مأزقــه فــي سورية
After a series of failures of western plots, they are looking for ways to cool down the Syrian file
http://thawra.alwehda.gov.sy/_View_news2.asp?FileName=31202091520110921020530
http://backupurl.com/s4lzvu
Wednesday 09/21/2011

سقوط الأوركسترا والجوقة المدجنة
The fall of the orchestra and the domesticated chorus
http://www.alwatan.sy/dindex.php?idn=108873
http://backupurl.com/h4c7sz
09/21/2011

Under the guidance of Syrian exiles with CIA connections, domestic activists are forcing their children to shout “No study and no teaching until the President falls own” (or “until the execution of the President” at 00:50 in the 2nd video).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P1ndTpttENk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jl2vfJkOnhc

In this way, human children are made monkey children, and will have a fate to work UNDER the guidance of elites in Damascus. The structure of ruling in Syria doesn’t seem to change.

September 22nd, 2011, 4:43 am

 

agatha said:

I got this information from an unclear source tonight:

rumor? true? old story? red herring?
—> How knows more?

September 22nd, 2011, 5:08 am

 

agatha said:

I got this information from an unclear source tonight:
„Several archeological sites in the ancient city of Apamea were vandalized and pillaged.“

rumor? true? old story? red herring?
—> How knows more?

September 22nd, 2011, 5:25 am

 

Shami said:

Tom ,Syria is Syria and your fears as minorities who refuse change are irrational hopes.
Political Changeover is a natural law of history no one can avoid it ..the one party system ,weapons and the exclusive control of the security apparatuses can not avoid the inescapable change for ever.
There will be no place for Asad in Syria,that’s why they got foreigner citizenships for their children , as much they struggle against history as much they make their end more awful.
Arrogance is the reaction of the weak species.The syrian people are sure of their rights without complexes…but with a lot of pride.

September 22nd, 2011, 5:32 am

 

majedkhaldoun said:

Abbas maneuvre is good,but I believe it is done for internal political reason,The timing is not correct, but he or whoever follow him,will be able to repeat it in two years,however what he is doing is going to embarrass Israel.

Bashar has to understand that Qaddafi and Mubarak,are history,and change in Syria is inevitable,if I was him I would put my family safety first,get money and leave peacefully, now it is late,he chose Qaddafi fate.he and his family,his regime and Shabbiha will be history, wise people will learn from history.

September 22nd, 2011, 6:26 am

 

uzair8 said:

Now I see Menhabeks keeping the company of Far-Right racist anti muslim leaders on twitter.

September 22nd, 2011, 8:21 am

 

uzair8 said:

The regime uses nail-bombs. A tactic that kills 2 birds with 1 stone.

It keeps fatalities low but at the same time inflicts horrific injury on many thereby spreading fear in the hope of deterring protestors.

September 22nd, 2011, 8:37 am

 

uzair8 said:

AJE Live Syria blog 1hr 45 mins ago:

Following a meeting between senior opposition members in Syria, a trusted opposition figure in Homs, who cannot be named for security reasons, recounted to Al Jazeera the events that have unfolded over the last week: “Bab Omr neighbourhood and nearby neighbourhoods (Al Jourah, Al Arayis, Al Sultaniya, and Jobar) suffer from catastrophic situations. The people of these neighbourhoods have been living under siege for the third day today, which includes electricity cut and water cut off, along with a complete communication cut off (landlines, mobiles, internet).”

“Houses are being stormed and raided, many expensive possessions are being stolen and furniture is being destroyed. Families are deciding between fleeing and leaving their homes because they are vulnerable to attacks from the corrupt army, which is the more popular option, or staying at home and facing the risk of getting arrested, beaten up and humiliated.”

“Soldiers have even silenced the calls of help from mosques by cutting off the electricity. Military barriers have been put in many places, even on agricultural lands.”
He also said, “a large amount of people have been arrested from the neighbourhood, to the extent that schools and institutions have been transformed to military grounds and temporary prisons are packed. Many people are detained and held in those transformed schools, before they are sent off to prisons outside the neighbourhood.”

The opposition figure also told Al Jazeera: “Water stores and electricity wires have been targeted, as well as trading places to increase the suffering of people. All types of weapons are used: heavy and light, even nail bombs.”

“There are over 20 severely wounded people, and there is no way they can be moved to a hospital as they face the risk of being arrested, as everyone wounded is accused of being ‘armed’.”
He also provided names of people who were killed while trying to flee, including Um Turba Hisso, Turki Marwan Bakeer, Mo’ataz Mohammad Ghazi. 26-year-old Ghazi was killed outside his front door from a sniper bullet in his neck.

The source described what happened in Bab Assiba, and its surrounding areas, saying it was completely under siege. “[There were] storming and arrests which took many young men and middle aged men. This was all done under heavy gunfire from the checkpoints and tanks and army vehicles around Bab Assiba and inside, where people were targeted when they left their homes either from snipers or tanks or army vehicles.”

“There was a tank at the Almrejeh mosque shooting live fire at times, missiles were fired from army vehicles and tanks randomly onto homes from time to time.”

With regards to Talbiseh, he said that “checkpoints spread across the city and its surroundings, and began shooting very heavily and in a barbaric random way with several missiles and sounds of bombs too.”

The opposition figure also disclosed video footage of an 8-year-old boy who was shot in the face while in the car with his parents east of Al Rastan. The video is too graphic to air. “Also a woman [who] was in the car passed away the next day because they couldn’t treat her,” said the official. “she was around 35 years old.”

These neighbourhoods have experienced numerous clashes between armed opposition groups and the security forces.

http://blogs.aljazeera.net/liveblog/syria-sep-22-2011-1146

September 22nd, 2011, 8:40 am

 

Syrialover said:

Ehsani, you are doing all Syrians an unequalled service with the type of report which headed this post. Your writings expose in brilliant clear light the ineptitude, horrifying misrule and shocking fraudulence and failure of the Assad regime on every possible front.

NZ #51
The sickening reality is that it would please and reassure those 3 vicious criminals to see that video. And their supporters.

My suggestion is that when the day surely comes that those 3 and their teams who are doing those things are cornered as they frantically try to slither away, they should have their trousers removed and be paraded on television for the world to see how pathetically little they have below the waist.

September 22nd, 2011, 8:53 am

 

zoo said:

الاتجاه المعاكس – خرافة الجماعات المسلحة في سوريا

September 22nd, 2011, 9:14 am

 

zoo said:

@58 MNA

What was the balance of exchange between the two countries?
I had the impression that turkish goods had overflowed the Syrian market since that free trade agreement and has surely hampered the growth of local industries. Maybe selected protectionism is a better deal for Syria until it develops a strong industrial base.
It would be interesting that an economist gives us his/her opinion on this issue.
While I agree with you on the impact, I think that Turkey will develop his trading with the soon-to-open Egyptian market through maritime routes. It may cost more but then the reward is there: Egypt is a huge market.

September 22nd, 2011, 9:30 am

 

sheila said:

To dear Ihsani,
You translated correctly from the Syria News article, but the numbers are flawed.
According to the Encyclopedia Britannica, in 1999 Syria’s population was 15,335,000. The male literacy rate was 85.7%, the female literacy rate was 55.8%. Considering the population to be 50% male and 50% female (inaccurate, but close enough), the average literacy rate in Syria would be at 70.75%. This number does not jive with the number that you published, even if we did not improve at all (many of us agree it is the case), but to decline to that level is unrealistic. The author’s number maintains that almost half the residents of Aleppo can not read and write. I say nonsense. He is adding the percentages of graduates; 3.4+2.9+9.2+13.9+29.2= 58.6 then he is subtracting this from 100 to end up with 41.4%. This means that all kids who did not go to school yet and all those who are still going to elementary school (did not graduate yet), are in this 41.4%. We all know that the birth rate in Syria is one of the highest in the world. At one point number 3. This means that kids under 11 are going to be a substantial part of this 41.4%.
I would like to add that even if the literacy rate in Syria is 70 to 80%, it is still pathetic. Even war torn Lebanon is at 98% literacy. How sad when we see that even civil war can be better than the Assad regime.

September 22nd, 2011, 9:54 am

 

Aboud said:

Maybe we should spend more time on Twitter to find menhebaks to torment. The menhebak’s efforts here are almost nonexistent, and what few attempts they make are half hearted.

Typical menhebak post; “Seeeeekuuuuuulaaaaaaaaaaar! HEY DON’T INSULT MY IRANIAN THEOCRACY YOU ZIONIST SALAFI!”

September 22nd, 2011, 10:12 am

 

Humanist said:

“…How sad when we see that even civil war can be better than the Assad regime.”

Sheila,
Palestine (under occupation and continous conflicts) have even better literacy rate than lebanon (under semi-civil war) and for sure MUCH BETTER than Syria(after 40 years of “stability” under Assadist-baathist rule).

Poor Syrians must really be ashamed…

September 22nd, 2011, 11:06 am

 

5 dancing shlomos said:

“And a US official just admitted a few days ago that more Syrian protesters are resorting to arms against the regime…”

the “protesters”/mercenaries/spec ops/thugs were armed from before day 1.

the u.s. official would know since the u.s. and its regional puppets (the u.s. being a puppet of jewry) have been doing the arming and the supplying of thugs to wage war against the govt of syria and the people of syria.

September 22nd, 2011, 11:07 am

 

Ghufran said:

Armed gangs are not khurafaat
Syria is turning into a mini Iraq,some are trying very hard to make it a copy of Iraq.
Alnizaam decided to use the old tactic of waiting until the winds start to blow in their favor.
It is clear now that neither side can claim victory,
Bullets are not strong enough to defeat loyalists on both sides,they can only kill more bodies.

September 22nd, 2011, 11:18 am

 

atassi said:

Syria crackdown risks sectarian strife-US ambassador
22 September 2011
Reuters News
(c) 2011 Reuters Limited

AMMAN, Sept 22 (Reuters) – President Bashar al-Assad is losing support among key constituents and risks plunging Syria into sectarian strife by intensifying a bloody crackdown on pro-democracy demonstrators, the U.S. ambassador to Damascus said on Thursday.

Time is against Assad, Robert Ford told Reuters in a telephone interview from Damascus, citing the resilience of more than six months of what he described as overwhelmingly peaceful demonstrations demanding more political freedoms.

Ford said there was economic malaise in Syria, signs of dissent within Assad’s Alawite minority sect and more defections from the army since mid-September, but the military is “still very powerful and very cohesive”.

“The government violence is actually creating retaliation and creating even more violence in our analysis, and it is also increasing the risk of sectarian conflict,” Ford said.

“I don’t think that the Syrian government today, Sept. 22, is close to collapse. I think time is against the regime because the economy is going into a more difficult situation, the protest movement is continuing and little by little groups that used to support the government are beginning to change.”

Ford cited a statement issued in the restive city of Homs last month by three notable members of the Alawite minority community, to which Assad’s family belongs, that said the Alawites’ future is not tied to the Assads remaining in power.

“We did not see developments like that in April or May. I think the longer this continues the more difficult it becomes for the different communities, the different elements of Syrian society that used to support Assad, to continue to support him.”

He said Assad could still rely on the military to try and crush the protest movement but the killing of peaceful protesters was losing him support within the ranks.

“The Syrian army is still very powerful and it is still very strong,” Ford said. “Its cohesion is not at risk today but there are more reports since mid-September of desertions than we heard in April and May or June. And this is why I am saying time is not on the side of the government.”

September 22nd, 2011, 11:25 am

 

Haytham Khoury said:

Dear Syrian Nationalist Party @54

When I called you SNP I used as abbreviation to (Syrian Nationalist Party). I am so sorry for the misunderstanding.

September 22nd, 2011, 11:26 am

 

atassi said:

Must see..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CCNaFPK-heg

The Syrian army has been demonized …

September 22nd, 2011, 11:57 am

 

5 dancing shlomos said:

when his lips move, ford is lying.

does he mentions sanctions.

September 22nd, 2011, 12:18 pm

 
 

jna said:

Education in Syria (wikipedia)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Education_in_Syria

Despite being a low-income country with a growing population, Syria has a good basic education system.Since 2000 the Government of Syria has significantly increased the expenditure on education. Also as government is the main source for financing education at all stages, the proportion of total government expenditure jumped from 12.6 percent in 2000 to 15.7 percent in 2005, bringing it closer to the average share of education expenditure in the MENA region of 18.3 percent. The total expenditure in the education sector doubled between 2000 and 2005 from SYP 35 billion in 2000 to 72 billion in 2005. During this period, the share of education expenditure to GDP increased from 2.7 percent to 4.3 percent.[1]

Syria ranked 105 out of 179 countries on Human Development Index in 2006.Syria is also one of the few Arab countries that have achieved the target of universal primary education. It is showing remarkable progress in achieving other MDG targets: the gender gap in enrollment is small, with gender parity index of enrollment at primary level at 95 percent and 96 percent at the secondary level in 2007.[2] Literacy rate is estimated at 82 percent in 2004 which is also higher than the average for MENA and lower middle income countries (LMIC ). Literacy among youth (15 to 24) stood at 92.5 percent in 2004.[3]

September 22nd, 2011, 3:54 pm

 

مندس said:

Dear Khaled Tlass
I rarely post here on this forum because I live in Syria and I only do it when I am outside for the obvious reasons. I would like you to get to know the Syrian Shias, not because I give a damn about what happened 1400 years ago, i don’t. But because I am labeled as a Syrian Shia based on my last name. I’m not going to go into all the good stories about the coexistence we had had till these bastards came along, we all have them. Syrian or at least Damascene Shias are not supporters of the regime or Iran. Everyone liked Hozballah till they showed how hypocritical they really are. I, now, hope to see Nassrallah’s beard burning before the flame spreads to the rest of his body.
No excuse can be given to anyone who does not condemn the atrocities of these thugs. I have agreed with every single comment Aboud has made even those about Qurdaha and Qurdahans, even the future uniral in Qurdaha. Ever since the Senior Thug went to hell, I always told everyone that it was my dream to piss on his grave. 
But YOU lost me when you called Saddam Hussein a great leader just because he’s a Sunni. He also killed people and the keyword is “kill”. That makes you a sectarian and as bad as Doctor Death and all brain dead regime supporters on this forum. I hated Nouraldeen Atassi for his ideology. Mustafa Tlass is a typical parasite produced by this regime. I can not describe the hatred I feel towards this regime for the crimes it has committed in the past 40 years. Anyone who does not acknowledge the mountain of evidence against these thugs is an accomplice. Some of them here can not bring themselves to say it even anonymously. They are so sick, when Aboud was absent from this forum for a couple of days, they were hoping the mukhabarat got him.  I have heard of the term “killing عالهوية”, what you have here is “klicking Dislike عالهوية”. These are our electronic shabi7a. They cheer the atrocities committed against their fellow Syrians. Their hearts should ache if these crimes were committed in another country. They have no humanity. 

I have given over a million and half liras directly to the Revolution Coordination Committees so far this month only and I have more budgeted for the future. What have you done for this revolution? You are not helping so far!!!

You do sound like a lunatic, a mukhabarat, or misinformed. Please listen and learn from all the good guys on this forum such as Aboud, Tara, Sheila, Revelon, OTW (sorry if I failed to mention the rest of the good guys). If you listen to them, you can start spelling your last name with a “C” instead of ” T”.
I hope for the day when we discuss the next technology invented in Syria rather than talking about third world topics such as sects.
The regime has no clue how hated it is. It believed its own B.S. And that is our real advantage. I told everyone on this forum back in April and June that the regime was not serious about reforms and the announcements were for external consumption. I am telling you the fight has just begun.

To the good guys, you are amazing!!! It is not easy explaining the obvious to these brain-dead creatures. I have to admit that I enjoy seeing them drop like flies.

September 23rd, 2011, 5:18 pm

 

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