Assad Does not Live Russian Ship; Islamists More Honest and Capable than FSA; Winter Misery
Posted by Joshua on Tuesday, January 15th, 2013
Report says Assad residing on warship [This story has been dismissed as having “no basis” by the CIA]
2013-01-14
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, Jan. 14 (UPI) — Syrian President Bashar Assad and his family have been living on a warship, with security provided by Russia, intelligence sources told a Saudi newspaper. …
The circumstances reinforce Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov’s comment Sunday that Assad’s removal from power is “impossible to implement,” the newspaper said. Assad’s presence on the ship could be a sign of looming negotiations on the conflict in Syria, the report said. “It is necessary to make everybody, including the opposition, which is still categorically denying any dialogue, to sit down at the negotiating table, Radio Free Europe Radio Liberty quoted Lavrov as saying during a visit to the Ukraine.
For one Syrian officer, a months-long wait for the chance to defect to Turkey
Carol Morello JAN 12 – Wash Post
Despite a wave of defections of top officers and draining morale, he says Syria’s military remains strong….
“I think it will take more than six months,” said Hassoun, who taught engineering to about 1,000 army cadets at the Assad Military Academy in Aleppo, during an interview at an Antakya cafe. “The regime’s army is strong and well-trained. It has fighter jets and tanks.”
On his way to Turkey, Hassoun said, he met FSA fighters armed only with shotguns. “The regime can do more killing with one airstrike than the FSA can do with many attacks,” he said.
Although his is just one man’s account, Hassoun’s decision to defect, and the dangers it entailed, helps explain why even more officers have not followed suit.
Hassoun said he spent his adult life in the army, entering the Aleppo academy when he was 18.
He said he was optimistic in 2000, when Bashar al-Assad became president. Hassoun hoped that the son of Hafez al-Assad, the late president, would usher in reforms for society and the military….
Worries about a ‘failed state’ in Syria,
by David Ignatius, Washington Post
…State Department reports North Syria descending toward anarchy, Picture of disorganized rebels, greedy arms peddlers and profiteering warlords … This security vacuum in the Aleppo region appears to have helped Jabhat al-Nusra, which is allied with al-Qaeda. The group is benefiting not just from its prowess on the battlefield but from its refusal to engage in looting and other predatory behavior. In its emphasis on crude but egalitarian justice and social services, Jabhat al-Nusra emulates other successful Muslim extremist organizations, such as Hezbollah in Lebanon and the Taliban in Afghanistan. –
Aleppo Dispatch: The Dark Side of the Syrian Opposition – The Atlantic
–Why civilians are turning from the Free Syrian Army — and into the arms of Islamist groups...In a country where the rule of law is vanishing as the state increasingly recedes, every fighter is policeman and prosecutor. Some have embraced their newfound powers judiciously. Most, however, have abused it. This exploitation of the war has reduced support for nationalist FSA units. Instead, Syrians are increasingly backing Islamists who largely eschew the material spoils of war.
One man who has enriched himself is Ahmad Afash, leader of the Free Syria Brigade from the village of Anadan, just north of Aleppo. At the mention of his name, rebels from neighboring hamlets either curse it or fall silent out of embarrassment. “Afash steals everything from grain to cars,” an FSA fighter says. “He justifies this by saying no one wants to give him money to fund his battalion.”
Rebels lament that men like Afash have taken up arms for spoils and glory rather than a national duty to topple the regime bombarding civilian areas daily. His name has become notorious for the FSA’s excesses, tarnishing its image throughout the province of Aleppo….
6 Months Of Combat, And No Victor In Aleppo, Syria’s Biggest City (RADIO) : NPR
Some six months after Syria’s rebels tried to storm the country’s largest city, they can claim the eastern part of Aleppo and perhaps 60 percent overall. In the west, the government army has the remaining 40 percent of the city.
The line dividing these two areas is supposedly the front line in Aleppo’s war. But lately the front has gone cold, as people here say in Arabic.
You can still hear shots. But peering through a tiny little hole in a stone wall separating the two sides, this particular part of government-held Aleppo looks like a no man’s land. There’s a lot of trash, abandoned buildings, a mosque that looks like it’s been abandoned.
The shots are from a government sniper, posted on top of one of those abandoned buildings. Although there’s not much fighting here anymore, government soldiers sometimes try to pick off rebel fighters or civilians who cross from one side to another.
Marwa just crossed the front line. She and her sister sometimes make this perilous crossing twice a day. One day, a sniper almost killed her sister.
Marwa works on the government side but lives on the rebel side. She says life is almost normal on the government side — there’s more electricity and bread. When asked whether she feels like she has a dual personality, she replies, yes, this is the reality….
Right now this cold front line is a lot like the fight for Syria: Both sides think they can win, but neither side is winning, so neither side is going to back down….As one Syrian civilian leader in the city said: If we use logic, it [win] could happen in three months. If we don’t, it could be years.
Rape has become ‘significant’ part of Syrian war, says humanitarian group – By Jenna Johnson, Wash Post
Rape has become a “significant and disturbing feature” of the war in Syria, one that many refugees cite as their leading reason for fleeing the country, according to a report released Monday by a New York-based humanitarian organization.
More than 50 countries called on the U.N. Security Council to refer the crisis in Syria to the International Criminal Court.
FALLOUT FROM THE FALL OF TAFTANAZ
By Andrew J. Tabler, Jeffrey White, and Aaron Zelin
The latest rebel success, while significant in battlefield terms, has empowered extremist forces and further highlighted Washington’s insufficient support for Syria’s mainstream opposition…..
IMPLICATIONS FOR THE WAR
For the rebels, the airbase capture indicates that major regime positions in the provinces are vulnerable. But it also suggests that better-defended areas — such as Damascus and environs, where regime forces are relatively dense and well supported — will remain a serious challenge…..
The Syrian Islamic Front is a conglomeration of eleven “brigades” outside the FSA. Formed last December, it lacks JN’s coherent structure. Ideologically, the SIF can best be described as a collection of locally focused jihadists with no known connections to al-Qaeda. Three of the brigades took part in the Taftanaz battle: Kataib Ahrar al-Sham (the SIF’s leading unit), Jamaat al-Taliah al-Islamiyah, and Harakat al-Fajr al-Islamiyah. Like JN, the SIF’s goal is to establish an Islamic state based on Salafi interpretations of Islam, but only within Syria proper. The video announcing the group’s creation indicates that its funding comes from the Qatar Charity Organization and Turkey’s Humanitarian Relief Fund (IHH), which supports U.S.-designated terrorist groups such as Hamas….
The Syrian Liberation Front is another grouping of so-called brigades outside the FSA, founded last September. The smallest faction involved in the Taftanaz operation was Liwa Dawoud, one of the eight battalions within Suqur al-Sham, a leading SLF brigade. Ideologically similar to the SIF, the SLF hopes to establish an Islamic state in Syria; its members are a mix of Muslim Brotherhood-type Islamists and Salafists who are less radical than those in the SIF and JN. The SLF is believed to receive funding from the Syrian Muslim Brotherhood and wealthy Persian Gulf donors.
Given their demonstrated fighting prowess, these Islamist forces have earned much respect from Syrians. Unlike some FSA groups, which have increasingly been accused of corruption in places such as Aleppo, JN, the SIF, and the SLF are viewed as fair brokers that do not take advantage of the downtrodden. Unless something changes, Islamists are likely to play a significant role in northern Syria following the regime’s departure….
Al-Nusra – 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. Al-Monitor
Jabhat al-Nusra’s Goals Extend Beyond Syria – Al-Hayat (Pan Arab)
At the end of December, in an unprecedented move, Abu Muhammad al-Julani, the leader of Jabhat al-Nusra in Syria, addressed “the people of Syria and the mujahedeen.”
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 (FSA). Instead, the Islamist group’s leader replaced the term “FSA” with “the brigades and militant groups.”
The speech came in response to the United States designation of Jabhat al-Nusra as a foreign terrorist organization. But it seemed obvious that Julani was speaking from a strong position, warning that “those who sowed the seeds of the revolution will be the ones to reap its fruits.” He also warned his supporters and the people of Syria against attempts to replace the Syrian regime with a Western one.
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. The militant praised those parties that have condemned the US decision to designate it as a terrorist group.
During my visit to Aleppo, I got the impression that Jabhat al-Nusra and Islamist factions were still on the sidelines of the conflict in Aleppo’s countryside. However, inside the city the situation was different, as expected. Jihadist organizations, mainly Jabhat al-Nusra, were well informed and aware of what was taking place at the international and regional levels.
To begin to understand how Jabhat al-Nusra managed to establish itself in this environment, another question must be asked: Is this militant faction merely seasonal, and will it cease to exist when the regime falls — or will it persist to implement a plan that goes far beyond Syria?
War strategy
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. Jabhat al-Nusra bases its work in Syria on three pillars…..
Jabhat al-Nusra’s New Syria Strategy
By: Mourad Batl al-Sheshani. Translated from Al-Hayat (Pan Arab). al-Monitor
…Julani says, “Day after day, you are getting closer to the people; you have entered their hearts and gained their trust. They saw the sincerity of your work, your great sacrifices, noble behavior, faithfulness and good character. This requires you to be more kind and compassionate towards them. The intense disdain you harbor for the enemies of God must be matched by equally intense love and compassion for the Muslim worshipers of God…Be careful not to tighten the noose around their necks.” He then added, “May your preaching be true and sincere.”
Based on this comparison, it is obvious that the critical situation in Syria has provided a new opportunity for the jihadist-Salafist movement. They had previously suffered from marginalization as a result of the Arab Spring in 2011, when Arab youth discovered that peaceful political action was more advantageous and effective than the violence that jihadists had pursued for decades. However, the violent response to these peaceful demonstrators in 2012 opened the door once again for jihadists to implement their new strategy, and to redevelop the movement in a new form assisted by the conditions on the ground.
Hassan Hassan in the National, Jan 15, 2013
…“A salient feature of Iran’s foreign policy is its ability to build influence where least expected. With the ascent to power of Sunni Islamists throughout the region, and Iran’s support of the military campaign in Syria, many have argued that Iran’s regional standing is in decline.”
“The Brotherhood and adherents of Khomeinism share common Islamic views that make them closer to each other than to their fellow Sunnis or Shiites. The Brotherhood deems rulership a religious “asel”, meaning that one’s faith is not complete without pledging allegiance to an imam – unlike the consensus in mainstream Sunni Islam. This is similar to the concept of velayat-e faqih, which holds that a religious jurist has custodianship over the people.”
“It is important to distinguish between the Brotherhood as an organisation and as an ideology. The former is coherent but the latter is loose. The Brotherhood includes Sunni adherents from a wider religious spectrum, from extreme Salafis to moderate clerics, with conflicting views on sectarian issues. According to people I’ve spoken to, the Brotherhood leadership therefore treads carefully in terms of rapprochement with Iran to avoid alienating sectarian forces inside and outside the organisation, but at the same time quietly promotes it.”
“Any alliance between the Iranian regime and the Brotherhood is likely to be more enduring and sustainable than Iran’s alliance with Baathist Syria, for example.”…
Other similarities include the institution of the “general guide”, and the ability to exercise taqiyya, a form of religious dissimulation to avoid persecution or harm. Both ideologies approve of election as a political mechanism but require the rule of Sharia and oversight by religious people of the population’s choice – which can be described as a clergy-supervised democracy, or constitutional theocracy. Also, the two groups tend to be expansionist….
Iran’s current Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has repeatedly praised the organisation and translated some of Brotherhood ideologue Sayyid Qutb’s books into Farsi. After the Egyptian uprising that toppled Hosni Mubarak, more Brotherhood books have been translated into Farsi, including one about the history of the organisation, translated by Ayatollah Hadi Khosrowshahi, the former adviser to Iran’s foreign minister….
Syrian Silent Majority Demands: ‘Transition to Rationality’
By: Geoffrey Aronson for Al-Monitor. posted on January 14
…The Syrian Dialogue Project, an initiative by a group of Syrians from inside and outside Syria, including Nidal Alkhoudari, Nabil Beitinjaneh, Sami Bentinjane, Mazen Bilal and Camille Otrakji. They have constructed a “virtual dialogue” among a cross section of Syrians at home and abroad, and who have not taken up arms for one side or another, in an effort to answer the following questions: What do Syrians believe is important to Syrians today, and how can they best shape their future?….
Time: Uprooted by Syria’s war: ‘Is there a worse way to live than this?’ – CNN.com
2013-01-14
(CNN) — Sharifa lost her foot when the Syrian jets swooped down and fired missiles at the house. Now the hijab-clad girl sits jaded in a dirty, hardscrabble displaced persons camp near Turkey, growing up fast, confused and far from home. CNN …
Independent: ‘It’s only fit for rats’: Syrian refugees on brink of disaster
2013-01-14 18:57:42.702 GMT
http://rss.feedsportal.com/c/266/f/3503/s/2783b42e/l/0L0Sindependent0O0Cnews0Cworld0Cmiddle0Eeast0Cits0Eonly0Efit0Efor0Erats0Esyrian0Erefugees0Eon0Ebrink0Eof0Edisaster0E84514430Bhtml/story01.htm
PageExcerpt:
The tattered rug of the floor of Radwan Salim’s tent is still damp after icy water swept through his tent last week. He sought refuge under a shop veranda with his wife and the 16 other members of his extended family living in the plastic-covered …
RUSSIA SAYS UN SECURITY COUNCIL TO HOLD SYRIA TALKS IN JAN: IFX
2013-01-14
SWISS ASK COUNCIL TO REFER SYRIA CRIMES TO INT. CRIMINAL COURT
2013-01-14
Gary Gambill: Don’t blame America for Syrian strife
Gary Gambill, National Post | Jan 14, 2013
…the claim that jihadists “hijacked” the revolution because ordinary citizens had nowhere else to turn is misleading. Syria had been experiencing a Sunni Islamist revival for years prior to the current uprising. Assad managed to contain it by easing government control over religious expression and sponsoring Islamist causes in Iraq and Palestine. However, there was never any doubt that a precipitous breakdown of state authority would produce a radical Islamist counterforce, particularly in an atmosphere of sustained sectarian polarization and violence. And there was never any doubt that the Sunni Arab Gulf monarchies would actively cultivate this counterforce as a means of gaining equity in Syria’s postwar political order and appeasing jihadists at home….
Syria rebels seize base as envoy holds talksThe capture of Taftanaz air base, after months of sporadic fighting, could help rebels solidify their hold on northern Syria, according to Rami Abdelrahman, head of the pro-opposition Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. But Yezid Sayigh, at the Carnegie Middle East Centre in Beirut, said it was not a game-changer, noting that it had taken months for the rebels to overrun a base whose usefulness to the military was already compromised by the clashes around it. “This is a tactical rather than a strategic gain,” he said.
Failure of Syria Talks Signal Conflict May Be Long Struggle“There’s little sign that we’re any closer to any political solution to this crisis,” said Chris Doyle, director of the Council for Arab-British Understanding. “Because there are divisions in the international community between the United States and Russia, between key regional powers like Saudi Arabia and Iran, there is not a core constituency who are pushing for one single solution to the crisis in Syria.”
Panetta: US Troops Securing Syria’s Chemical Weapons Not an Option in ‘Hostile Atmosphere’Panetta said Thursday that the U.S. is “not working on options that involve boots on the ground.” But he added that ” you always have to keep the possibility that, if there is a peaceful transition and international organizations get involved, that they might ask for assistance in that situation. But in a hostile situation, we’re not planning for that.”
CNN: Syrian officers beg al-Assad to help gain their freedom from rebels
2013-01-15
(CNN) — Two captured Syrian military officers are begging President Bashar al-Assad to help free them from rebels. On Tuesday, a video was posted online purportedly showing the two men, who said they were abducted last October by the Free Syrian …
Syria’s Cu;cultural Heritage Casualty of War – Post Global
At once professional and prescient
January 14, 2013 01:49 AM
By Marlin Dick
The Daily Star
BEIRUT: The late Adib Khair was an innovative Syrian television producer, perhaps best known for igniting the Turkish soap opera craze across the Arab Middle East. He was eulogized Sunday as a pioneer, dedicated to bringing professional standards to his country’s industry.The 48-year-old Khair succumbed to a heart attack Saturday during a visit to Beirut and died at Hotel Dieu hospital. His funeral took place the following day in Damascus.
Comments (243)
ghufran said:
There is a big problem if islamists are “more honest and capable” than the FSA, for 18 months we were attacked with a diarrhea of media programs and press reports about how virtuous and heroic FSA fighters are only to discover that many of them are similar to ,or worse than,the regime they defected from except that they were also pimps of foreign nations like Qatar and Turkey, on the other hand, islamists are branded as terrorists who can not be trusted with Syria’s future,or any country’s future, so where does that leave us if we add the corrupt and brutal regime in Damascus?
May be the “silent majority” was right from the beginning, for now,I will let the confused among you chew on few You Tube videos that glamorize violence or smear the other side !!
January 15th, 2013, 10:11 am
JNA said:
Joshua Landis wrote: “Assad Lives on Russian Ship”
Joshua, why leave out this information? …
Stete Department
Victoria Nuland
Spokesperson
Daily Press Briefing
Washington, DC
January 14, 2013
QUESTION: Toria, there is a report – it’s a Saudi report, just one – about Assad supposedly being – operating from a ship offshore. Do you know anything about that? And can you tell us, where do you think he actually – he and his family actually are?
MS. NULAND: We don’t have any information to confirm that report. We continue to believe that they are in Damascus.
http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/dpb/2013/01/202828.htm
January 15th, 2013, 10:13 am
Visitor said:
Once again, we must thank the good holy Nusra fighters for succeeding in driving the criminal thug to seek refuge among heretics just like his kind.
This is another great victory for Nusra!!
We are certain, that the resourceful Nusra fighters have the means and the will to pursue the criminal thug to the sea and sink him to lowest hell along with his heretic cohorts where they should abide therein 4ever.
January 15th, 2013, 10:17 am
habib said:
So how many of the Nusraites here hope they will spread the Caliphate beyond the borders of Syria when they’re done?
Just a little survey. And no, Tara, they won’t simply disappear once this is over.
January 15th, 2013, 10:20 am
ghufran said:
This is a comment at an opposition web site (Aksalsair):
لاسم : أبو علاء
العنوان : الكل فهمان والشعب غرقان
للأسف بدي أعرف شو حققت الثورة حتى الآن غير زيادة الفقر وزيادة الموت وقطع الكهرباء والماء وكل ماتسألها عن اهدافها بقولوا اسقاط النظام, الله عليكم يعني اسقاط البلد وهدمها هو الحل لإسقاط النظام,, يعني راح النظام حتنصلح البلد ,, لاوالله والأمثلة كتيرة متل العراق وليبيا وحتى مصر مارتاحوا وكل ماكانت أزمتنا أطول رح تكون مصيبتنا اكبر وبس بدي أعرف بعد ماتنتهي الحرب الأمريكية الروسية في أراضي السورية بواسطة السورين من حيعمر هالبلد, حنصير أتباع لأحد الفربقين متلنا متل الخليجيين يلي بالأسم حاكمين بلدهم
January 15th, 2013, 10:28 am
apple_mini said:
I need to repost this in order to debunk those who claimed the attack at Aleppo University today was done by the regime:
The damage clearly shows from either IED or shelling. There is no way it is caused by aerial bombing if you have a little common sense about physics.
Besides, why the regime would attack the university which is fully under the regime’s control? Would that cause more troubles for the regime itself plus adding panic in its turf?
Moderate opposition members should at least have some decency to condemn those terrorist attacks. That way the silent majority of Syrian people can still see some hope on the opposition side. That will also win some hearts from those university students and faculty members who have suffered greatly in this horrific attack.
January 15th, 2013, 10:50 am
Tara said:
Mini,
“Besides, why the regime would attack the university which is fully under the regime’s control? Would that cause more troubles for the regime itself plus adding panic in its turf”
Simple. The Physical plant may be under the regime control but the students aren’t. Except for the Shabeeha students, all other Allepo’s university students are against the regime. This is not the first time the regime attacked Aleppo’s university.
The regime has now acquired a new title in addition to children killer. It is also a student killer.
January 15th, 2013, 10:56 am
Juergen said:
Gee, shall we feel pity for the eyedoc to live on a russian warship? Thousands of Syrians have lost their homes,their livelihood. Surely Asma has taken her Louboutins with her, just in case.
If that report is true, then it shows how desperate the regime has become. So Assad, next destination Sotschi?
January 15th, 2013, 11:06 am
Juergen said:
I forgot: Assad ahoi!
January 15th, 2013, 11:28 am
Majed97 said:
In Mali, they call them Alqaeda fighters/terrorists; in Syria they call them protesters/rebels/oppositions/activists…
January 15th, 2013, 11:31 am
MarigoldRan said:
Al Nusra is likely to become the Hezbollah of Syria.
January 15th, 2013, 12:00 pm
Syrian said:
Mini
Why did the reigeme attacked Alshefa’a hospital witch under all laws is off limits ?, why did he use unguided barrels bombs over town and villages?
mosques, etc.
One like yourself have to have brain firs to get his/her intelligence insulted
January 15th, 2013, 12:07 pm
Visitor said:
It is wrong to compare Nusra to the Hizb of Iran.
They are like day and night.
Hizb of Iran is a criminal oragnization of thugs. Whereas Nusra is fighting criminal thugs
January 15th, 2013, 12:20 pm
ghufran said:
This is how SOHR reported the attack:
هز انفجار عنيف المنطقة الواقعة بين كلية العمارة والسكن الجامعي في التجمع الشمالي لجامعة حلب ومعلومات اولية عن سقوط شهداء وجرحى واضرار مادية وتضاربت الانباء حول طبيعة الانفجار بين قصف وانفجار في المنطقة
المرصد السورى لحقوق الانسان
(watch the language, that bastard probably knows that the place was not bombed by jets but he is “uncomfortable ” spelling the truth)
I looked at pics for the aftermath in Aleppo, few were posted on opposition sites and I found a good one in the Guardian. I compared the damage to the facade to similar pictures after car bombs, they look similar, one regime site reported two heat-seeking missiles that hit the university, I do not know if I buy that, an opposition site claimed that it was an air raid that was targeting a nearby rebels position,they do not say which one, another said that the regime bombed the university on purpose,even though there are no rebels in that place, the video on Aksalsair is not convincing at all and may even be totally fake.
in summary, the opposition claim that regime jets bombed the place is not believable based on what I know as of now, I invite anybody with better info to prove otherwise. the attack has the finger prints of Islamist terrorists who have won territories but lost the support of most Aleppines, I could not care less if the boneheads on this board accept that or not,if they do they won’t be boneheads in the first place.
January 15th, 2013, 12:37 pm
ghufran said:
here is another version of the bombing in Aleppo (from alarabiya comment section):
– انا شاهد عيان علي ما حدثمغيد دمشقية (زائر) 15/01/2013 م، 08:48 مساءً (السعودية) 05:48 مساءً (جرينتش)انا احد طلبة جامعة حلب ومن حسن حظي والاعمار بيد الله اني تأخرت في الوصول للجامعه وشاهدت ماحصل اذا قدومي وللان مصدوم من صوت الإنفجار ، الانفجار ليس بسبب قصف جوي ولكن بسبب قذائف هاون اطلقت عشوائيا من جهة فسقطت قذفية وتبعتها اخري ثم قذيفة ثالثة وبشكل دقيق مما ادي الي تدمير المكان وقتل كل من به والاصابات تنوعت وعلي بعد داذرة لاتيق عن ٥٠ متر واصابات الصدمة الكثير من المنظر المفزع حيث فقدنا اصدقاء لاذنب لهم الا صراع علي السلطة بين الاسد ومعارضة الناتو
(no mention of a car bomb or an air raid)
January 15th, 2013, 1:13 pm
majedkhaldoun said:
Ghufran informations are lies
“” شاهد عيان على مجزرة جامعة حلب””
1- رفيقي كان داخل كلية الآداب بدو يقدم فحص وقال لي قامت قوات الأمن وحفظ النظام بإقفال ابواب الجامعة جميعا” وانسحبت قوات الأمن من الجامعة وتم القصف بصاروخان وانا سمعت صوت الطيران بوضوح بقا لاحدا يقول سيارة مفخخة واذا كانت سيارة مفخخة وين الدولة ولابس شاطرين علينا.
…
2- شهادة شب كان بالعمارة..
القذيفة إجت وضربت الجامعة … القتلى بالأراضي … والإصابات كتيرة
والطلاب كانوا رح يهربوا بس حرس الجامعة كانوا مقفلين باب الجامعة وهربانين …
والطلاب كسروا الأقفال وهربوا …
جيشنا الباسل قفل بواب الجامعة على طلابنا ورفقاتنا … وجاييه يوم إن شاء الله..
3- شهادة شخص من حي المارتيني.. (منطقة سكنية قريبة جدا من الجامعة ).
يلى صار انا في المارتيني كنت وافف بتطلع الطيارة وبتخرق جدار الصوت وبتشلف صاروخ الاول
وبعد دققتين بتشلف صاروخ ثاني مع صدور دخان نار ودخان اثناء القاء الصاروخين
January 15th, 2013, 1:15 pm
ghufran said:
He said,she said is not a proof, Mr “surgeon” who is still learning how to spell, I have a dozen testimonies that deny the attack was done from the air,but when an idiot always an idiot.
I do not expect a rebel force headed by thugs with 6th grade education to care about universities, rebels on numerous occasions have threatened and killed teachers and prevented kids to go to school.
January 15th, 2013, 1:25 pm
Majedkhaldoun said:
Ghuran said
“when an idiot always an idiot.”
that describes you Ghufran
Further my English is better than yours,and your brain is Kookoo brain
January 15th, 2013, 1:29 pm
majrdkhaldoun said:
We have Zoozoo and Kookoo,but Kookoo always tell lies
January 15th, 2013, 1:33 pm
William Scott Scherk said:
At #3 Visitor says:
Once again, we must thank the good holy …
Once again, I would say, speak for yourself. ‘We’ can thank whom we want. As for the part that labels ten percent of Syrians as ‘heretics,’ that is your opinion, your ugly label. “His kind” is an attempt to paint all Alawites as beyond the pale of your god, and shows that however many years you have spent toiling in Canada, you have not a clue how we here keep our polity functioning. Shame on you for using such terms in a time of war.
Visitor continues:
We are certain … heretic cohorts
Why, Visitor, why should anyone here adopt your ugly position, which condemns all Alawites to death and hell?
I suggest you speak for yourself. Vote for yourself, and try not to ape an ethnic-cleansing dictator. Authoritarianism and brutality is a built-in feature of the Baath regime — and here you underline Ghufran’s point that the worst is yet to come.
I am not addressing you as a Syrian, of course, nor as an expat Syrian, obviously — but as a fellow citizen of Canada. Your attitude and your words of death appall me.
January 15th, 2013, 1:42 pm
majedkhaldoun said:
William said to Visitor
labels ten percent of Syrians as ‘heretics,’ that is your opinion, your ugly label.
William, I don’t know how much you read and know, but everyone who studied Alawi religion call it HERETIC from Islam, You put yourself as judge but you don’t qualify for that,I found your comment as silly and stupid as always
January 15th, 2013, 1:52 pm
Visitor said:
WSS,
Actually, I am appalled at your miserable interpretation of what I wrote!!!
Where did I say that which you claim that I said? i.e. your claim I am condemning all Alawites!!
And I thought you’re the Shakespeare in English, or so you think to be…or so you would like others to beleive. Besides being appalled, I am now also disappointed by your miserable skills.
So next time before you jump to conclusions, think again. Because, you may not get a nice response such as this.
His kind refers to the qualities and properties of the person in question and not his sect.
Besides you should learn from Dr. MajedK who knows hundred times more than you.
And FYI, to me being condescending and adopting a lecturing posture is the ultimate sin on this site. So be careful. I give myself the full liberty to respond to such pretenders in a manner that I see fit.
But for now, think again.
January 15th, 2013, 1:55 pm
majedkhaldoun said:
January 15th, 2013, 2:51 pm
ghufran said:
taken from the opposition sources,not SANA (source: The Guardian):
A rebel fighter said the blasts appeared to have been caused by “ground-to-ground” missiles.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based monitoring group, said at least 52 people were killed and dozens wounded, but it could not identify the source of the blasts.
translation: we ,armed thugs,did it but we are not ready to confess.
January 15th, 2013, 3:31 pm
Syrialover said:
Dear Joshua Landis,
With your sensationalist headline stating the Islamists are more honest and capable than the FSA are you expressing your opinion?
You are inferring that the FSA of ordinary Syrians are weak and dishonest. Not just inferring, stating it.
That’s how it looks. An unfortunate, judgemental, non-contructive opinion that will harm your credibility and acceptance among many.
If that’s not what you intended, then clean up that sloppy, damaging headline or lose respect and friends.
January 15th, 2013, 3:34 pm
revenire said:
What happened to Assad on the Russian ship? Food not up to standards?
January 15th, 2013, 3:37 pm
Johannes de Silentio said:
Somebody go to the W/C and get Mossie. We need a truly professional opinion, not these shammers and layabouts like VATTIE…
Oh, there he is…never mind…
January 15th, 2013, 3:40 pm
ghufran said:
Kofi Anan:
“بصراحة قد يكون هناك كثير من السوريين ليسوا مع الرئيس الأسد لكنهم لا يعرفون ما هو آت وما ستجلبه المعارضة وما يخبئه المستقبل” محذرا من أنه إذا لم توضع مقترحات على الطاولة السياسية فإن الجمود سيستمر لفترة طويلة.
واعتبر انان ان خلفه الأخضر الإبراهيمي لم يحصل على الدعم والمساعدة التي يحتاجها لانجاح دور الوساطة الذي يقوم به لحل الازمة السورية، موجها انتقادات الى الدول التي لا تعتقد في الوساطة وتفتقر إلى الشجاعة لتقديم بديل.
وقال أنان خلال توقيع كتابه الجديد تحت عنوان “تدخلات حياة في الحرب والسلام” أن “الإبراهيمي لا يتلقى الدعم الذي يحتاجه.. هناك أناس لا يؤمنون بالوساطة وبالعملية السياسية.. أولئك الذين يقولون ان الوساطة مضيعة للوقت لم يقدموا أي بديل ولم يتدخلوا” لحل الأزمة السورية.
ودعا كل من يريد ان يرى نهاية لاراقة الدماء في سورية لرفع صوته مضيفا أنه “هناك نقص في القيادة بخصوص المجتمع الدولي.. نحن بحاجة إلى قيادة من أوباما وبوتين”.
كما قال أنان إن “خطة النقاط الست التي عملتُ عليها كانت لتكون بداية جدية للحل، لكن دولا كثيرة في المنطقة لم تكن جدية وقد خذلتنا، فكانت تعطينا الدعم الكلامي من جهة وتبيع سورية السلاح من جهة أخرى”. وأضاف: “هذه الدول راهنت على أن المعارضة ستحسم المعارك عسكريا على الأرض خلال سنة، لكن مضت سنة حتى الآن ولم تحسمها، وعندما تدخلنا بشكل جدي لم تتبنَّ هذه الدول خطة الحل بشكل صادق، فأطالت أمد المعارك والصراع وغشت الشعب السوري والقوى المتصارعة”
(I guess the truth has to be told after the cash stopped flowing)
January 15th, 2013, 4:09 pm
William Scott Scherk said:
The missing links …
At #5, “This is a comment at an opposition web site (Aksalsair)”
http://www.aksalser.com/?page=view_articles&id=646dd707d03ad39464731e52af84fd02&ar=718406113
See also:
(Facebook) https://www.facebook.com/aksalser.web.offcial
The Aksalser-posted ‘video’ that ‘could be a fake’ …
For #15, “that bastard” and his atrocious reports of the Aleppo carnage can be found at the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights:
http://www.syriahr.com/index.php?option=com_news&nid=2435&Itemid=2&task=displaynews
See also “that bastard” on SOHR’s Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/syriaohr
[updated: Aleppo city: 83 civilians were killed by the 2 explosions that shook the area in between the University Residence and the Architecture Building, in Aleppo University. Medical and local activist sources report that the number of dead is likely to rise over 90 because there are more than 150 people injured by the explosions, many of them severely. these sources also confirm that many of those killed were students and refugees who settled in the university campus. The SOHR has documented the names of 8 of them. We have not yet been able to identify the cause of the 2 explosions.]
See also the Al-Arabiya story on the Aleppo atrocity:
http://www.alarabiya.net/articles/2013/01/15/260624.html
I cannot find a source for the quotes at #16.
For #24, a link to the Guardian story:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/jan/15/aleppo-university-blasts-kill-52
For #28, there are multiple sources. Here is one with Kofi Annan’s quotes in a substantial story, at Syria-news.net
http://www.syria-news.com/readnews.php?sy_seq=155894
I see negligible difference between Ghufran and Majedkhaldoun’s “he said/he said” attempts to square the circle and denigrate the other — by brandishing unsourced material witnesses. The Poopoo Head and Illiterate ‘Surgeon’ insults cancel each other out.
Ghufran’s second-hand ‘eyewitness testimony’ has the same value as Majedkhaldoun’s second-hand ‘eyewitness testimony,’ in my opinion.
********************************
Re the (probable) war crime of the attack on Aleppo University, I bear in mind that Al-Nusra is proud of its suicide attacks and its car-bombs. It has no problem claiming responsibility — because Al-Nusra believe all their actions are holy.
So, before our forensic detectives close the case on the newest atrocity, maybe we should wait for the fallout to settle. If Al-Nusra claims the attack, then it will shut all our speculating mouths.
I condemn the attack unreservedly, and hope real forensic investigation can determine the culprit with enough evidence to convince both reasonable and Nutterzone commentators.
Meanwhile, the Soviet Union announced it will do what it can to prevent a war crimes investigation referral to the International Criminal Court (according to ‘that bastard‘).
January 15th, 2013, 4:28 pm
revenire said:
Has Assad moved off the Russian ship yet? I can’t believe Landis fell for that one. He had to change the title fast huh?
ICC? That is funny because the entire FSA could be referred as well as Cameron and Hague, Bush (both of them) and Obama, etc. That list would be long. Add Erdogan… and the Saudis.
ICC is a political stunt. Everyone sees that. It will have its cheerleaders but won’t amount to anything.
January 15th, 2013, 4:53 pm
Majed97 said:
Why would the government bomb an area it controls fully!?! How does this serve their image to appear making progress in regaining control of the city…not a good PR campaign.
Why use airplanes to do it!?! wouldn’t it be more clandestine and a lot easier to cover up by using car bombs!?!
Why now when situation in Aleppo is improving, and the public is rallying against the FSA?!?
Why destroy its own infrastructure and check points, not to mention risk hitting the Russian embassy (located nearby)!?! did they run out of targets to hit in the FSA occupied areas!?!
Whenever I see a shaky video with someone running and yelling “Allah Akbar” a red flag always go up.
January 15th, 2013, 4:55 pm
Citizen said:
Mahdi Nazemroaya on Geopolitics with Ryan Dawson Syria, Iran,
http://youtu.be/Oqt9ZjY3gH8
January 15th, 2013, 5:12 pm
Citizen said:
ضابط في وضع مقرف !
http://youtu.be/2Yjc-J2Z0sA?t=7s
January 15th, 2013, 5:14 pm
Hanzala said:
Shiite minorities should not worry too much about a Caliphate, the elite units of the Ottomans, the Janissaries, were an Alevi Bektash order.
January 15th, 2013, 5:29 pm
revenire said:
@31. MAJED97 the Syrian government didn’t blow up Aleppo University and I think you and I know that with 100% certainty. We don’t need any forensic evidence. Only monsters would suggest the government blew up students.
Amal Hanano and her friends blew it up. Bill Scherk blew it up. Tara blew it up. All those who support Jabhat al-Nusra blew it up.
That’s just so obvious.
83 dead
162 wounded
Freedom.
January 15th, 2013, 5:41 pm
majedkhaldoun said:
There are Shabbiha,who are criminals working inside Syria, and there are Nabbiha they comment here on S.C. defending the regime and attacking the opposition, example: Zoozoo, and Kookoo
January 15th, 2013, 5:48 pm
Citizen said:
US MAfia and its allies are not interested in saving lives in the world.. they are the ones that promotes the destruction of it.. with their covert op wars and coups.. like in Syria.. arming terrorist that later Assassinate civilians womens and children. US and kofi Annan promoted intervention in Kosovo a few dozens killed.. but when in Rwanda a million die.. they just look to the sides.. Go see the next documentary and listen carefully how your own president says openly they only interfere in conflicts when they can benefit economically from it. Rwanda was completely ignored because they had no oil , no gas , and your country had nothing to win from helping there.. Shows clearly western Stance is Syria is 100% a business thing.. and nothing to do with Democracy since they welcome many dictators around the world with long human rights violations and opressions. like Saudi Arabia and Qatar and many others and nothing to do with “humanitarian causes” since they supply weapons to terrorist and encourage them to continue fighting regardless of civilians lives .here you can see how Obama supplied weapons to alqaeda and other terrorist to fight in Libya and now Syria.
http://larouchepac.com/node/24789
How US government and its Kofi Annan marionette allows massacres on civilians and look to the sides when is not in their interest. like on Rwanda civil war.millions killed slowly by machete,everyone explained in details of the genocide that was happening and the white house even refused to call a genocide . Shows the garbage that is your government politics that have no morals no values no dignity. Watch the next video so you can see.. how pathetic your Government politicians are. http://youtu.be/533609lZXk4
January 15th, 2013, 6:20 pm
ghufran said:
It won’t be long before the truth comes out about who attacked Aleppo university, I still think the rebels committed the crime, and I will not call thugs who fired on students “opposition” ,that is an honor they do not deserve,they are terrorists and should be treated as such. Honorable people can maintain higher moral grounds only if they condemn violence against civilians regardless of who is behind it, we should not give fighting factions a pass on this issue, it is a form of political prostitution to cover criminal actions of forces or people you support politically, I hope whoever fired on Aleppo university gets caught and brought to justice. I will not dignify terrorist sympathizers and apologists with an answer, if they love Jabhat Al-Nusra so much why on earth they live in the West?
January 15th, 2013, 6:25 pm
revenire said:
@37. CITIZEN I believe what you posted and those videos 100%. The US supported Al-Qaeda in Afghanistan against the Russians back in the 1980s. Things got out of hand and the terrorists turned on the US with 911. The US supported the Muslim Brotherhood too. It is all a game to the US. They don’t care who lives or dies as long as their policies win.
How anyone can believe a “revolution” for “freedom” is supported by Saudi Arabis, Qatar, Israel, France, Turkey, the UK and US is beyond my understanding. Those nations have so much blood on their hands. How can anyone forget how they lied about Iraq’s WMD? Is Iraqi blood so cheap?
All that is happening is Syria is being destroyed. I am happy that Assad will not back down.
Don’t ever back down President Assad. Your people are with you.
January 15th, 2013, 6:31 pm
Citizen said:
Curtains closed all the lights go out ready for the premiere mega blockbuster 3WW! The audience stares munching popcorn and drinking Coke. Only here will show lasts just one session…
Nimitz Strike Group Surface Action Group Ships Depart for Deployment
http://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=71420
January 15th, 2013, 6:37 pm
majedkhaldoun said:
http://thecable.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2013/01/15/secret_state_department_cable_chemical_weapons_used_in_syria
January 15th, 2013, 6:44 pm
majedkhaldoun said:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=66W_VubITQk
Shabbiha supported by Kookoo and Zoozoo
January 15th, 2013, 6:47 pm
Citizen said:
39. REVENIRE
Wahhabi cattle .. they certainly specifically attacked the people on the day of the session, after Assad stressed the need to care about the students.
http://youtu.be/eYL4cajPz_o?t=3s
————
Russian documentation by Marat Musinis, Doctor of Economic Sciences,
Head of Crisis and Strategic Management RGTEU,
Deputy Chairman of the Russian Committee for Solidarity with the people of Libya and Syria
http://www.youtube.com/user/newsanna?feature=watch
January 15th, 2013, 6:58 pm
Citizen said:
America is repeating the mistakes of the Vietnam War
40 years ago, in early 1973, the U.S. withdrew its troops from Vietnam and no longer participate in a war that has cost both sides – both financially and morally. Price war was too high to make the same mistakes. However, according to RT correspondent Marina Portnaya, in recent years, Washington’s foreign policy has led many to doubt that the United States learned the appropriate lessons from those events.
January 15, 2013, 20:47
Video: © RT / Photo: © AFP
Ken Dolphin 61 years. He – a husband, a father, a former firefighter, and now retired. Forty years ago, he served in Vietnam as part of the Navy United States.
“Every year, every day that we spent there, was to the Vietnamese as 11”, – said Ken Dolphin, a veteran of the Vietnam War.
The war claimed the lives of 3 million Vietnamese and more than 58 million Americans. U.S. sided with South Vietnam against the North, which enjoyed the support of the communists and trying to reunite the country.
January 15, 1973, U.S. President Richard Nixon announced the end of offensive operations against North Vietnam. Later, the military campaign was on the theme of U.S. foreign policy, the repetition of which Washington was not to be tolerated.
“The main lesson that the main foreign policy of the USA should have learned from the Vietnam War, and who they are, I think, have not learned – is that the U.S., despite its military superiority, can not interfere in another country, the overthrow government, the occupied territories, to change the country and turn it into a state controlled by the United States or dependent on them “- says Brian Baker, National Coordinator of the ANSWER
It has been 40 years in the United States have been six presidents.
Critics believe that Washington is repeating the mistakes of the past, and does not learn from them.
“We still get involved in the terrible war. Our intervention in other countries – it is a policy of imperialism. We did not win. We did not win in Iraq and Afghanistan – is not at all desire. And the same thing happened in Vietnam. We have not received anything. But, you know, they just do not understand “, – said Ken Dolphin, a veteran of the Vietnam War.
Another veteran of the Vietnam War, Gordon for sale, says that the U.S. is trying to rule the world. And suffer from not only other countries, but the United States itself, which are becoming less free, and the economy – are less viable.
With each decade war brings military-industrial complex has more income. RT TV channel to discuss this subject with the director and a veteran of the Vietnam War, Oliver Stone.
‘Cause we’re not important – what kind of invasion, we would have spoken. But we continue to behave like an empire. You know, we have more than eight hundred military bases, some very secret. We built a huge infrastructure, global. We tried to be the “world’s policeman”, – said director Oliver Stone, a veteran of the Vietnam War.
As for the national security of the U.S., then to place the new defense minister tipped as Republican Senator Chuck Hagel. Vietnam veterans have never admitted to the leadership of the Pentagon. Heigl could be the first.
“When I served in Vietnam in 1968, the U.S. Senate made decisions that affect my life. A lot of people died then. And they have nothing to object to, and I could not. Someone in our government should look at things from this side. While the people in Washington make policy, there are just guys who are returning home in coffins, “- says Chuck Hagel, a candidate for the post of Minister of Defense.
C 2001, in Afghanistan and Iraq have killed at least 6.6 thousand U.S. soldiers. And in 2012 the number of suicides in the U.S. Army has reached a record high – 349 people.
Over the past decade, the United States conducted a series of military operations in Asia, Latin America, Middle East and Africa. However, according to experts, if Washington does not begin to learn from the mistakes of the past, the only thing that will change in U.S. foreign policy – a place where the U.S. military killed and where the authorities again and again repeat their mistakes.
http://youtu.be/_9tu5qWIZAo?t=2m31s
January 15th, 2013, 7:04 pm
zoo said:
“Report says Assad residing on warship [This story has been dismissed as having “no basis” by the CIA]
2013-01-14”
Another of the stupidities carried by Saudi Newspaper Al Watan.
Al Watan earns to join Al Arabya and Al Jazeera with the number of false rumors they have published to mislead the Arab readers.
January 15th, 2013, 7:09 pm
revenire said:
Yes Zoo Syria Comment retracted it but at first Syria Comment ran with the story. They were eager to spread disinformation.
How ridiculous to say Assad was living on a Russian ship. What amuses me is the regular posters here who were all too quick to repeat the lies.
It reminds me of their murder in Aleppo today: the ones who say the air force bombed their own children. We know who said it. We won’t forget.
January 15th, 2013, 7:17 pm
zoo said:
The attack on the University by the rebels appear to be one more desperate and cynical attempt to divert the attention from the serious beating the rebels are getting in the suburbs.
After the “chemical”, the “cluster bomb”, the “massacre of children in the suburbs”, now the rebels accuse the Syrian army of bombing innocent students located in an area of Aleppo that the Syrian army controls.
As the signs of despair of the rebels are growing exponentially so is the hysteria of the pro-rebels, scrambling to justify the absurd media scoops and the obvious decline of the pro-opposition media credibility in favor of the National media..
If it was deliberate and not accidental, there is not doubt that the university massacre will be seen as a major war crime.
January 15th, 2013, 7:22 pm
zoo said:
#46 Revenire
J.L has often shown naivety toward Arab national newspapers and toward ‘saudi intelligence sources’.
I hope he got the lesson that these newspapers such as Saudi Al Watan would have a better usage as toilet papers.
January 15th, 2013, 7:37 pm
revenire said:
You know I am a bit surprised that this big “Arab expert” gets taken in like he does. I feel Landis has an agenda. After all, he did call for arming the “rebels” with weapons not so long ago. Was it Stingers? I forget exactly but Landis did call for arming them knowing full well al-Nusra is all over Syria. Makes you wonder.
January 15th, 2013, 7:39 pm
zoo said:
Ghufran
“if they love Jabhat Al-Nusra so much why on earth they live in the West?”
Schizophrenia…
January 15th, 2013, 7:40 pm
revenire said:
On Facebook just now from Carlos Martinez:
“RIP to the dozens of innocent people that lost their lives today so needlessly in the callous bombing of Aleppo University. The latest reports are saying that 82 people have been found dead; chillingly close to the number killed in the Muslim Brotherhood attack on the Aleppo Artillery School in June 1979 – the event that marked the start of the *previous* full-scale sectarian uprising in Syria. There are so many parallels between that uprising and the current one: disgruntled wealthy Syrian emigrés in Europe and the Gulf enlist the support of Western intelligence agencies and the reactionary Arab regimes; they form an opportunistic alliance with sectarian anti-progress fruit-loops within Syria who are only too willing to be the foot soldiers; terror cells perpetrate vicious attacks against ordinary civilians in order to create maximum instability; the international media is mobilized to paint the perpetrators as the victims.
“How apt that the target of this attack should be a university. Syria has a very commendable record with regard to education, which is provided free at all levels (including university). The stats for literacy, school enrollment, university enrollment and gender parity are all impressive. Knowledge is power; education is the path to progress, independence and freedom. Today’s cowardly bombing is an attack on knowledge, on progress, on sovereignty, on democracy, and on the spirit of anti-imperialist, anti-Zionist resistance.”
January 15th, 2013, 7:45 pm
omen said:
us news & world report:
Reports that Assad Lives on Russian Warship Likely False
January 15th, 2013, 7:49 pm
revenire said:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nVc_yIh1A4E&feature=youtu.be
RIP
This is a compilation of several videos showing the aftermath of the terrorist attack on Aleppo University. Terrorists from the “Free Syrian Army” (FSA) fired rocket shells on Aleppo University and Bani Zaid area today, causing several casualties.
On Jan 15, 2013, an FSA terrorist group fired two rocket shells from al-Layramoun area on Aleppo University, causing casualties and material damage. An official source told SANA that the rocket shells caused the death and the injury of a number of students on the first day of exams. It added that there were also causalities among displaced people whose areas were affected by the terrorist acts and who are staying at the university dormitory. In a relevant context, SANA reporter was informed that terrorists fired two rocket shells on Bani Zaid area in the city, with the initial information indicating victims and injuries among the citizens.
January 15th, 2013, 7:51 pm
Tara said:
Syria Dropped Hallucinogen Weapon on Rebels, U.S. Claims
BY NOAH SHACHTMAN01.15.136:58 PM
….
http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2013/01/syria-agent-bz/
“We can’t definitely say 100 percent, but Syrian contacts made a compelling case that Agent 15 was used in Homs on Dec. 23,” an unnamed U.S. official tells Rogin. Danger Room has been unable to independently verify the claims. It’s important to note that this was the conclusion of a single consulate within the State Department, and there is still wide disagreement within the U.S. government over whether the Homs attack should be characterized as a chemical weapons incident.
Agent 15 is another name for 3-quinuclidinyl benzilate or BZ, a powerful hallucinogen that the American military tested out on its own soldiers during the Cold War. Its emergence on the Syrian battlefield would be nothing short of bizarre. While Syria is well-known to have a massive supply of chemical weapons, international observers haven’t ordinarily included BZ on that list. And while there have been rumors of BZ being used on a battlefield — including one that Iraqi insurgents were dosing themselves with the drug to pump up their aggressiveness — this would be the first confirmed case of BZ employed as a weapon
..
January 15th, 2013, 7:52 pm
Observer said:
Here is the SANA version
حلب-سانا
قامت مجموعة إرهابية أمس بإطلاق قذيفتين صاروخيتين من منطقة الليرمون على جامعة حلب ما أسفر عن وقوع عدد من الضحايا والإصابات بين المواطنين وأضرار مادية بالمكان.
وذكر مصدر مسؤول لوكالة سانا أن القذيفتين الصاروخيتين أسفرتا عن استشهاد وإصابة عدد من الطلاب في أول يوم للامتحانات في جامعة حلب إضافة لعدد من المواطنين النازحين من بيوتهم جراء أعمال المجموعات الإرهابية والمقيمين في المدينة الجامعية.
وفي هذا السياق علم مراسل سانا في حلب أن قذيفتين صاروخيتين أطلقهما إرهابيون سقطتا في منطقة بني زيد في المدينة ما أسفر وفق المعلومات الأولية عن وقوع ضحايا وإصابات في صفوف
Here is the NYT with an eyewitness stating that two missiles hit the University
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/16/world/middleeast/syria-violence.html?hp
Then there is the version of two heat seeking missiles following a heat decoy from a MIG to the ground hitting the University.
First the last one: the AA missiles do not carry that much destructive power for they are meant to shoot down an aircraft and if they carry that much explosives they wound not be able to fly fast to catch the plane
The SANA version says that the missiles were fired from the rebel controlled areas but does not tell us what type of missile. If the rebels had captured anything then they have captured MRL two of which cannot do so much damage.
If these are car bombs then we should see craters and if they are ground to ground missiles the same hods true.
Which leaves the final version of two aircraft missiles air to ground causing the damage.
So far I have no information to sway me one way or the other.
So Ghufran why don’t you take some time before laying the blame on the opposition and refusing outright to change your conclusions when more data come out.
Finally Ghufran you should mention that the Kofi Anna piece you posted is from Alalam news channel in Teheran. I read the report.
Why is it you do not post the link of show where it is from as I copied SANA above?
Is there a sectarian in a closet that does not want to show where he quotes his preconceived and biased news ?
January 15th, 2013, 7:52 pm
Tara said:
If the FSA has missiles that can be fired long distance, why can’t they simply fire them on Tartus, Qurdaha, or the presidential palace?
January 15th, 2013, 7:57 pm
omen said:
41. majedkhaldoun said:
http://thecable.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2013/01/15/secret_state_department_cable_chemical_weapons_used_in_syria
ann-marie slaughter, relying on state dept officials who dismissed earlier reports, accused syrian activists of “crying wolf”!
she should apologize.
January 15th, 2013, 7:59 pm
jna said:
Jan 15 (Reuters) – The United States on Tuesday poured cold water on a media report that chemical weapons had been used in the Syrian conflict, but reiterated that if the regime of Syrian President Bashar al Assad did resort to chemical weapons, it will be held accountable.
“The reporting we have seen from media sources regarding alleged chemical weapons incidents in Syria has not been consistent with what we believe to be true about the Syrian chemical weapons program,” said White House National Security Council spokesman Tommy Vietor in a statement.
The White House was responding to a report earlier on Tuesday in Foreign Policy magazine …
http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/01/16/syria-usa-chemical-idUSL2N0AKPN20130116
January 15th, 2013, 8:12 pm
omen said:
so, this statement must have been made when the admin was well aware chems had been used. this is an attempt to readjust obama’s worthless “red line.” even if one were to buy the argument that the US cannot prevent, surely a price must be extracted & punishment applied for using such weapons after the fact. but obama is too gutless to even do that. what a disgrace. it’s unfathomable the moral bankruptcy this displays. why do we care so little for syrian lives? no wonder assad was so triumphant in his speech. he got away with the last taboo: “gassing his own people.” having got away with it once, he will do so again & on a larger scale.
January 15th, 2013, 8:17 pm
Observer said:
This is arabic RT
http://arabic.rt.com/news_all_news/news/605106/
The Russians do not want the ICC involved in Syria
Why not, why not bring all the protagonists to a court of law if one is to believe the regime and Russia there are only terrorists in Syria.
Perhaps in a court of law people will sit and talk. Who is afraid of talking then ?
January 15th, 2013, 8:18 pm
Syrian said:
Some good news after today’s Aleppo university massacre by Bashar’s regime.
The capture of Bashar’s soldier who carried the sender block and hit the armless Syrian
on his head, he also named all the rest of the group who were beating the Syrian man with metal rods and bricks to death
http://youtu.be/DggFt8uTpOc
The 1st 20 second have the gory sene the rest is the interview of the regime soldier
Justice will prevail even one shabih at a time
January 15th, 2013, 8:22 pm
revenire said:
I like cartoons too. 🙂
http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc6/602998_473998029302651_2088523831_n.jpg
January 15th, 2013, 8:30 pm
Tara said:
Syrian,
I just can’t thank you enough.
Justice for Hamza on Shabeeh at a time.
January 15th, 2013, 8:32 pm
omen said:
“The act of preventing the use of chemical weapons would be almost unachievable…
of course this is achievable. prevention is done by taking out the delivery systems used to launch such weapons. why is dempsey dissembling? it’s insulting enough to be lie to, but to treat us like we wouldn’t know better…argh. the depths this administration will stoop to to provide cover for this regime is breathtaking.
January 15th, 2013, 8:38 pm
Ghufran said:
Observer,
I did not find the article about Annan on alalam or press tv, I rarely check those sites anyway but I am not surprised that they published the article because it supports Iran’s point of view. Annan said something similar before, I do not know why you find it unbelievable and how that makes me ” sectarian”.
As for the Aleppo massacre, I still think that the army had little interest in bombing an area that it controls and is free from rebels who ,by the way , have positions less than one mile away . That crime is an act of terrorism regardless of who did it.
January 15th, 2013, 8:55 pm
omen said:
54. Tara said: Syria Dropped Hallucinogen Weapon on Rebels, U.S. Claims BY NOAH SHACHTMAN
noah shachtman has an odd kind of bias. in an earlier story re richard engel, he kept refering to regime militia as “loyalists” (what are they, boy scouts?) while rebels were described as extremists (& every other adjective meant to discredit.) i don’t trust his reporting.
hallocinogens? this isn’t like dropping acid. the ones used in homs killed people.
January 15th, 2013, 8:58 pm
Syrian said:
Dear Tara
You don’t have to thank me,we have to thank those heros on the ground,
The new generation of fearless standing agianset a regime that has been preparing for 40 years for this day…..
January 15th, 2013, 9:02 pm
Johannes de Silentio said:
39. MOSSIE
“How anyone can believe a “revolution” for “freedom” is supported by Saudi Arabis, Qatar, Israel, France, Turkey, the UK and US is beyond my understanding”
It’s not hard for us to figure out, Mossie. After all, you’re not the sharpest knife in the drawer. When you get right down to it, you’re a bit thick, a dim bulb, a tad slow on the uptake…
A New Bashar Cartoon:
http://www.yalibnan.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/assad-cartoon-war-crimes.jpg
January 15th, 2013, 9:06 pm
DAMASCENE said:
34. HANZALA
What about other minorities?
January 15th, 2013, 9:21 pm
omen said:
1. ghufran said: There is a big problem if islamists are “more honest and capable” than the FSA
i’m going to try to cobble together a post about this. there is suggestion that nusra/islamists are taking credit for operations they didn’t perform.
May be the “silent majority” was right from the beginning,
if early in the uprising, the silent majority had stood up united & had withdrawn support from the regime, syria wouldn’t be lying in ruins as it is. cowardice destroyed the country just as much as the regime.
January 15th, 2013, 9:28 pm
Tara said:
Omen, welcome back.
Silentio, you are so funny.
January 15th, 2013, 9:29 pm
Observer said:
So Ghufran where did you read it?
I wondered about sectarian prejudice but do not accuse.
Again, I find it natural but not wise when people under the loss of a unifying state concept revert back to tribalism and sectarian identity.
For example I am half Kurdish but I have zero Kurdish nationalism in me and considered myself as an Arab through and through this is because I grew up feeling and identifying with Arab culture.
That feeling was significantly weakened when Athad the father took over and went about subserving all of the ideas and institutions of the state for one man/family rule. If Athad regime is Arab nationalism then I do not identify with it.
Justice for Hamza one Shabih at a time in a court of law.
January 15th, 2013, 9:43 pm
Observer said:
By the way Ghufran it is possible that the army does not have an interest in bombing an area under its control except for the following possibilities
1. Missiles that were fired and went off target
2. A campaign a la Algeria scenario to “exhaust” the population from war and hardship. This is the same strategy used by Athad the father when he fought the MB in the 80’s. Today he is faced with a much broader revolt and from his very own constituents who know that the son wants to reinstitute slavery.
3. The opposition does not have missiles of that caliber. They have car bombs alright but SANA does not mention that.
Justice for Hamza one Shabih at a time in a court of law.
January 15th, 2013, 9:48 pm
Ghufran said:
According to one student, insurgent fighters just outside Aleppo who apparently were armed with a heat-seeking missile fired it at a MiG fighter, the pilot dropped a heat balloon as an evasive tactic, the missile followed the balloon, and then exploded near a military post adjacent to the university dormitories. That account, however, did not explain the second explosion.
Others also reported seeing what they described as heat balloons before the explosions. Some said the university dormitories, which were housing students and civilians displaced by fighting elsewhere, were hit by one missile, and that other missiles struck the buildings that house the university’s architecture and humanities departments.
AFP reported that the head of Jabhat Alnusra sharia council was killed in Daraa and that was confirmed by his fellow terrorists, I hope that delivering this piece of news does not make me sectarian.
By the way,observer, we have something in common,one of my parents is Sunni and I have Palestinian blood but I consider myself Syrian first and foremost , the fact that I sometimes come hard on Islamists is because of my political beliefs not tribal loyalty.
As for the theory that the army bombed the area by mistake: thawrajiyyeh here will chew you up for that because it contradicts their charge that the army killed those students on purpose to spread terror, remember also that 2 or 3 bombs or missiles exploded and that is more than enough to kill scores of civilians in a crowded area, rebels do have a variety of heavy weapons, their backers here keep bragging about it.
January 15th, 2013, 9:52 pm
revenire said:
In case you don’t know anyone in Aleppo OBSERVER let me help you clear something up because I do know many in Aleppo: most of the city HATES the FSA with a passion and wanted no part of the “revolution” created by the enemies of Syria. Even the FSA Salafist apes have said this same thing about Aleppo that I have just said.
The idea the army bombed its own university is sick.
As far as what weapons the FSA has, or doesn’t have, how would you know? They’ve been armed by the West through the Saudis, Qataris, Turks, etc. They brag they have heavy weapons constantly in their propaganda videos.
January 15th, 2013, 10:06 pm
zoo said:
#74 Revenire
They bragged they got a lot of heavy weapons in Taftanaz that they showed on videos, didn’t they?
January 15th, 2013, 10:15 pm
Tara said:
Observer,
“For example I am half Kurdish but I have zero Kurdish nationalism in me and considered myself as an Arab through and through this is because I grew up feeling and identifying with Arab culture.
Love it. I am too. Half half something or quarter/ three quarter or whatever mix you like …but even the one ethnic parent of mine considers her/himself an Arab through and through. It is a state of mind or a state of emotion rather than a genetic lineage in my opinion.
January 15th, 2013, 10:21 pm
zoo said:
#60 Observer
The USA, Russia, China, Israel, Syria and others do recognize and have not ratified the ICC.
In addition, the international criminal court (ICC) can only act at the request of the UN security council where Russia and China have a veto.
So what’s the point except for Europe to make some noise to clear their conscience of having done nothing to stop violence in Syria.?
A total waste of time and energy while Syrians are dying because Europe is impotent and the USA undecided…
January 15th, 2013, 10:31 pm
Syrian said:
1st of all the heat seeking missile have very small war head less than 1 kg and it is impossible to make that much damage,
So now after it was proven that there was an airplane at the same time, the propaganda machine in full force to blame it on these missiles
It is most likely the pilot have pushed the wrong button while he is trying to avoid them, same like what happens in Homes few weeks ago when the pilot hit the Aramen neighborhood.
At any case why is there a fighter jet over Aleppo university to begin with ,this fact dose not seem to bother anyone.
January 15th, 2013, 10:38 pm
Syrian said:
1st of all the heat seeking missile have very small war head less than 1 kg and it is impossible to make that much damage,
So now after it was proven that there was an airplane at the same time, the propaganda machine in full force to blame it on these missiles
It is most likely the pilot have pushed the wrong button while he is trying to avoid them, same like what happens in Homes few weeks ago when the pilot hit the Aramen neighborhood.
At any case why is there a fighter jet over Aleppo university to begin with ,this fact dose not seem to bother anyone.!!
January 15th, 2013, 10:41 pm
Syrian said:
@Guffran
“one of my parents is Sunni”
And what is the other one?
Dose the name Guffran has something to do with it?
January 15th, 2013, 10:44 pm
revenire said:
@75. You’re right. They sure did. They’ve bragged they have the most sophisticated weapons available. Thing with whoever “controls” the FSA (no one really because it isn’t an army but a loose knit grouping of terrorists and criminal bands) isn’t very smart when it comes to their video efforts. A lot of the video work they do is to boost sagging morale and a lot of it is to raise money from the Saudis and Qataris (someone has to pay them and they can’t loot enough civilians to do it).
@78. If you know anyone in Syria (sounds like you don’t) you’d know Air Force jets are over the skies daily. There is a war going on. You’re just reaching when you say the jets were “over the university” aren’t you? Of course. You want so badly to pin this on Assad.
It is crazy to think the army would attack an area they control much less a university. It is ridiculous.
Assad knows the eyes of the world are on Syria. Do you honestly believe he would “give” his enemies more grist for the mill? Of course, you will lie because the truth terrifies you.
January 15th, 2013, 10:49 pm
MarigoldRan said:
Revenire, I’d like to see some Arabic from you. If you are what you say are (that is if you do honestly know people in Aleppo), I’d like you to write in Arabic. Otherwise you’re nothing more than a troll who is bad at lying.
If the explosion in Aleppo was caused by the rebels, then it’s no different from what the regime does everyday.
If the explosion was caused by the regime, then that’s standard operating procedure (commit lots of atrocities) from the regime.
Regardless, the war continues. The destruction of the university means little.
January 15th, 2013, 10:55 pm
Ghufran said:
I am not proud and empty enough to pretend that I know for sure who did what at the university massacre,but if you truely believe that the army will bomb that place intentionally then you are not ready to have a conversation about that terrible tragedy. I condemned the actions of the regime from day one but that does not mean that I should believe anything the rebels and their backers say, the reason why there is a war is because we have TWO fighting parties, some of you love to ignore this simple fact, another fact that is conveniently ignored is that more than 10,000 of government soldiers and officers have been killed in the last two years, call me when you are ready to use both of your eyes.
January 15th, 2013, 11:04 pm
MarigoldRan said:
The army has bombed bakeries throughout the country. It drops barrel bombs on neighborhoods. 30 years ago it razed an entire city. Compared to what is has done in the past, this atrocity is nothing.
It is more of the same. The war continues.
January 15th, 2013, 11:12 pm
Ghufran said:
Source: CSM
A number of opposition fighters now say that they fear an eventual battle with the group if and when Mr. Assad is no longer in power. Among those moderates who doubt such an extreme scenario, they still say they worry about the influence such a group could have on a new government in Syria.
“Jabhat al-Nusra is not going to accept someone saying, ‘Thanks for your help, now please go.’” says Abu Mohammad, commander of the opposition’s Dar al Wafa Battalion and a member of the Syrian Muslim Brotherhood. “We’re really betting on the awareness of the young people” to know better than to support Jabhat al-Nusra’s political agenda.
( Assad by staying in power provides a valuable service to rebels and anti regime sources, when he falls, rebels need to find a new grand enemy , many think they will fight each other over control and money)
January 15th, 2013, 11:26 pm
William Scott Scherk said:
At #74, we read:
We read this earlier from the same account:
— and this —
I wonder what the commentator might make of this tweet from Edward Dark today?
@edwardedark
just now: regime jet bombs Aleppo Uni faculty of architecture as students are taking tests. this is in a peaceful regime held area #Syria
3:41 AM – 15 Jan 13
Full disclosure: I am a member of the I Wonder Who REVENIRE Is On Twitter club …
January 15th, 2013, 11:26 pm
MarigoldRan said:
Well, we do know that he is both an idiot and a troll. My guess is that he’s unemployed and lives in his parents’ basement mooching off their money. By all accounts it doesn’t seem like he has a job. On average, people spend more time talking ABOUT him than to him.
After all, who would hire a moron like him?
January 15th, 2013, 11:32 pm
revenire said:
83. MARIGOLDRAN I don’t care what you want.
The SAA has never bombed a bakery. Not once. That is crazy.
“The destruction of the university means little.”
Maybe to an ape who doesn’t value human life but to the rest of us normal people it means a lot.
I know you. With you the terrorists are never wrong and the army always is. If these al-Nusra killers raped your mother you’d blame Assad for it.
January 15th, 2013, 11:33 pm
MarigoldRan said:
Talking to Revenire about Syria is pointless. After all, he is a retard who doesn’t take his medications. And he’s an inept and bad troll to boot, which is rather sad. He pretends to know people in Syria, but he can’t speak Arabic. His trolling has no creativity or intelligence. He only knows how to use hateful words.
In other words, he’s stupid, but he thinks he’s smart, but he’s too stupid to realize just how dumb he is.
As I said, people spend more time talking ABOUT him than TO him. Given his terrible personality, what else are we supposed to do?
January 15th, 2013, 11:36 pm
MarigoldRan said:
People who do not follow rules when dealing with others do not deserve the protection of the rules themselves.
Those who attack others with morally repugnant words or deeds deserve to be attacked with morally repugnant words and deeds.
Revenire does not follow the normal rules of discourse. This means I can insult him with moral impunity.
Similarly, the regime does not follow international law. So its enemies do not have to follow international law either.
What comes around, goes around.
January 15th, 2013, 11:54 pm
GEORGES said:
Mounzer Khaddam
بيان صحفي
تفيد المعلومات الواردة من حلب بتاريخ 15/1/2013 بتعرض جامعتها إلى قصف وحشي من قبل طيران النظام مما تسبب بوقوع عشرات الشهداء إننا باسم هيئة التنسيق الوطنية ندين هذا العمل الاجرامي وسوف يحاسب المسؤولون عنه وعن غيره من الجرائم التي ارتكبت بحق الشعب السوري…هذا هو الحوار الذي تريده السلطة الغاشمة….وهذه هي نتائج رؤيتها للحل…حتى آخر سوري؟!!!
الرحمة للشهداء والشفاء العاجل للجرحى
والحرية للمعتقلين والعودة الكريمة للمهجرين
الحرية لسورية وشعبها
مكتب الاعلام في هيئة التنسيق الوطني
January 16th, 2013, 12:06 am
Juergen said:
So must the Obama administration shift their red line to the usage of nuclear weapons by the regime ?
Exclusive: Secret State Department cable: Chemical weapons used in Syria
“United States diplomats in Turkey conducted a previously undisclosed, intensive investigation into claims that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad used chemical weapons, and made what an Obama administration official who reviewed the cable called a “compelling case” that Assad’s military forces had used a deadly form of poison gas. ”
http://thecable.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2013/01/15/secret_state_department_cable_chemical_weapons_used_in_syria#.UPXekqQJ83U.twitter
January 16th, 2013, 12:13 am
omen said:
January 16th, 2013, 12:16 am
revenire said:
U.S. plays down media report that chemical weapons used in Syria
Tue, Jan 15 19:17 PM EST
WASHINGTON, Jan 15 (Reuters) – The United States on Tuesday poured cold water on a media report that chemical weapons had been used in the Syrian conflict, but reiterated that if the regime of Syrian President Bashar al Assad did resort to chemical weapons, it will be held accountable.
“The reporting we have seen from media sources regarding alleged chemical weapons incidents in Syria has not been consistent with what we believe to be true about the Syrian chemical weapons program,” said White House National Security Council spokesman Tommy Vietor in a statement.
The White House was responding to a report earlier on Tuesday in Foreign Policy magazine that the U.S. State Department had concluded the Syrian military likely used poison gas against its own people in a deadly attack last month.
January 16th, 2013, 12:19 am
omen said:
89. MarigoldRan said: Similarly, the regime does not follow international law. So its enemies do not have to follow international law either.
i understand the logic but fsa chiefs & other oppositional leaders have said they would adhere to international norms.
January 16th, 2013, 12:22 am
revenire said:
Omen like having child soldiers? Executions without trials? Killing police? Beheadings? Bombing civilians? Those norms?
January 16th, 2013, 12:31 am
Juergen said:
A reminder to some what kind of a regime, what kind of action they patronize:
very graphic video:
Syrian soldiers appear here abusing a civilian man in their captive. the man asks to see his wife and child before he dies but is told in order to do so the soldiers wish to sleep with his wife.
Reve
My Goodness what happend, you cite The Washington Post?
January 16th, 2013, 12:35 am
Johannes de Silentio said:
87. MOSSIE
“The SAA has never bombed a bakery. Not once. That is crazy.”
Wrongo, Mossman. There’s the story about Basil back when he was a teenager. He and some of his rowdy friends went to a bakery in the Bab Touma district. They were shoplifting as a lark. Now the bakery owner didn’t know this was the dictator’s son. He slapped him and some of the owner’s sons punched out Basil’s friends and threw them all out of the shop.
The next day, Hafez al-Assad sent a tank to the neighborhood and the SAA blew up the bakery
A New Bashar Cartoon:
http://www.yalibnan.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/assad-cartoon-w-iran-russia-syria-400×249.jpg
January 16th, 2013, 12:39 am
Juergen said:
Good old Kerry, oh Boy
I remember see his face on the wall of fame eating together in the eyedocs favorite restaurant, so he may have fallen into his charme and the best hummos they make there.
Kerry’s Words on Assad Draw Scrutiny
John Kerry in 2012: Assad regime ‘an essential player in bringing peace and stability to the region’
“Sen. John Kerry has held up Syria as a country that could bring peace and stability to the Mideast and predicted that the now-disgraced government of President Bashar Assad would pursue a legitimate relationship with the United States. Those assertions are certain to draw scrutiny at Kerry’s confirmation hearing to be secretary of state as Assad’s brutal crackdown has plunged his country into civil war.
Conservative websites have mocked the relationship as a Kerry-Assad “bromance,” seizing on comments the Senate Foreign Relations Committee chairman has made in speeches and during his six visits to Syria.”
http://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2013/01/11/kerrys-words-on-assad-certain-to-draw-scrutiny
January 16th, 2013, 12:48 am
omen said:
95. revenire said: like having child soldiers? Executions without trials? Killing police? Beheadings? Bombing civilians? Those norms?
i can’t find it now but there have been various articles that describe the opposition organizing and forming civil tribunals that have tried rebels accused of crimes, judged and sentenced them to jail for various violations such as looting.
January 16th, 2013, 12:50 am
revenire said:
Johann all boys have their fun growing up. It’s harmless.
January 16th, 2013, 12:51 am
revenire said:
Omen yes we’ve seen the sharia law tribunals of the terrorists but that is the law of the jungle not civilization. Then again what can we expect from apes? Perhaps when the SAA gives them a few bananas they will move onto jihad in Palestine?
Thank you.
January 16th, 2013, 12:53 am
Juergen said:
Reve
here a piece of quality journalism, you and others seem to adore the “independant” Press TV work.
very smart indeed to link it to the mother of all conspiracies, it must ideal world Press TV “Journalists” have builded themselves, I bet you can break it to this: Its all the fault of the Jews!
And btw, your statement of the apes, many right wing Israelis would share your view, thats quite an alliance dont you think? Liebermann and Assad, would be like Stan and Laurel, dont you think?
Israeli death squads involved in Sandy Hook bloodbath: Intelligence analyst
“Days later, the Sandy Hook Massacre, the iconic slaughter of twenty small children, is now looking like a terrorist attack, not a “murder suicide.” Was “lone gunman” Adam Lanza a “patsy,” the same word Lee Harvey Oswald used to describe himself before being “silenced” in November 1963?”
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/2012/12/18/278706
/israeli-squads-tied-to-newtown-carnage/
Abuhatem:
64,034 Bosnians were killed between 1991-1995 basically the same number as the amount of Syrians killed from 2011-2012.
January 16th, 2013, 1:05 am
revenire said:
Juergen it rivals the wild story of Assad living on a Russian ship doesn’t it? Even our host fell for that one!
Conspiracies? Tish tosh I say. Everyone knows Saddam really had WMD and the Americans and British never lied.
January 16th, 2013, 1:07 am
William Scott Scherk said:
A couple of PressTV (Iran’s international agency, in English/Arabic/Farsi) stories concerning the pilgrim swap.
Iranians kidnapped in Syria to recount ordeal to MPs
At least 15 people were killed in blasts in and around Aleppo University
From the site IranTracker.org:
IRGC Shows Its (True) Hand in Syria
Close readers of Syria Comment will recall that Iran had much earlier (during its denial phase that the pilgrims had any connection to the Revolutionary Guards) explained that the pilgrims were all ‘retired’ members. At the time it was noted that the transport arrangements for the pilgrims was made throught the Guards’s own travel agency.
Cynics might say, “yeah, so what? we all knew they were guards,” but the more interesting reactions will come from those who deny any connection whatsoever, despite multiple lines of converging evidence.
Brings to mind the list of 12 Cognitive Biases posted in the last thread.
January 16th, 2013, 1:53 am
William Scott Scherk said:
Juergen, correction to the dating of the otherwise correct quote from John Kerry just posted.
He made his ‘an essential player in bringing peace and stability to the region’ remark in April 2010.
When the USA rightwing media dives deep into the past, it almost always blasts propaganda from its blowholes.
You will find a rather less drunken/sloppy/partisan report on the terrible John Kerry at the Guardian. They report a bit sardonically on the blowholes of the Fox Axis:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/feedarticle/10606906
It is difficult to follow the logical knots tied by the mysterious REVENIRE, on this subject as on any other pertaining to his mysterious homeland.
More and more he sounds like the Syrian Commando. The Commando (not Syrian, not a commando) has his own blowhole on Twitter, but has been very circumspect of late, barely managing one post a day. As TARA has suggested, Lithium can do wonders. It can depress a rapid-cyle bipolar, but has little or no effect on the underlying delusions … or cognitive distorsions.
MARIGOLDRAN, how dare you expect REVENIRE to respond to Arabic entries, or to demand he make a stab at addressing commentators in Arabic? It is kind of like asking your dead dog to bring you your slippers. Not possible …
Nice try though.
January 16th, 2013, 2:07 am
MarigoldRan said:
Well, miracles have happened before.
January 16th, 2013, 2:24 am
Juergen said:
Iran Sends Monkeys to Space During Revolutionary Festival
“The monkeys that will be sent in a life capsule are for now in quarantine and are scheduled to be sent into space during the Fajr festival,” Fazeli said according to the Mehr state-run news agency, referring to the 10-day celebration leading up to the 34th anniversary of the Islamic revolution on Feb. 10.
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-01-15/iran-sends-monkeys-to-space-during-revolutionary-festival.html
user comment on twitter: 34 years after sending them to parliament…
January 16th, 2013, 2:50 am
omen said:
this jibes with what rose attested:
zaid benjamin:
January 16th, 2013, 3:34 am
omen said:
bit of good news. there must be more examples like this.
January 16th, 2013, 3:40 am
omen said:
thanks, tara.
January 16th, 2013, 3:41 am
omen said:
105. wss: mysterious REVENIRE
what was his earlier nic? despite my not knowing his current persona, when i first returned posting, he addressed me like we’ve chatted before.
January 16th, 2013, 4:01 am
Badr said:
Syrian Rebels Find Hearts and Minds Elusive
By ANNE BARNARD
January 16th, 2013, 4:16 am
Visitor said:
ICG is part of the worldwide leftist conspiracy. Its reports are financed by well known characters of dubious agendas. Reading it is always a waste of time.
January 16th, 2013, 8:38 am
zoo said:
Is Turkey excluded because of the NATO Patriots?
Even serious Turkish newspaper fell for Al Watan lies…
Al-Assad orders army to hit Israel and Egypt if he is killed (and Bashar still lives on a Russian boat!)
January/16/2013
http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/al-assad-orders-army-to-hit-israel-and-egypt-if-he-is-killed-claim-.aspx?pageID=238&nID=39189&NewsCatID=352
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad ordered Syrian army generals in a secret meeting to bomb Israel and Egypt if he is killed, Israeli online newspaper Inyan Merkazi has reported, according to the Algemeiner, a New York-based weekly.
….
Meanwhile, Saudi daily Al-Watan recently claimed that al-Assad and his family have been staying on a warship provided by Russia in the Mediterranean.
January/16/2013
January 16th, 2013, 9:01 am
zoo said:
After the terrorists exploded a car bomb that killed 22 syrians in more signs of increased desperation, the media suddenly informs us that the city of Idlib city is NOT part of the “liberated areas”.
Car bombs kill at least 22 in northern Syria
By ALBERT AJI and BEN HUBBARD | Associated Press – 26 mins ago
http://news.yahoo.com/car-bombs-kill-least-22-northern-syria-122751829.html
…
Rebels control vast areas of the Idlib countryside, but the city itself is controlled by the regime.
The bombings in Idlib come on the heels of the twin blasts a day earlier that ripped through the Aleppo University campus, which anti-regime activists said killed 87 people.
January 16th, 2013, 9:34 am
zoo said:
More lies about Bashar al Assad uncovered.
US clears Assad of chemical weapons accusations
http://www.middle-east-online.com/english/?id=56494
National Security Council spokesman dismisses report saying there is no evidence that Syria has taken new steps towards using chemical weapons.
WASHINGTON – The US government on Tuesday brushed aside a report of a leaked State Department cable indicating that Syria had used chemical weapons in its brutal crackdown on a nearly two-year-old rebellion.
Foreign Policy, an online magazine, said it had acquired a leaked State Department report by US diplomats in Turkey that made a “compelling case” that President Bashar al-Assad’s forces had used poison gas.
The report was said to have been based on interviews with activists, doctors and defectors and to represent one of the most comprehensive US efforts to date to investigate claims by the Syrian opposition.
January 16th, 2013, 9:58 am
revenire said:
Friend of the FSA Martin Chulov writes this today in the Guardian (and you know what? I remember all the pro-Jabhat al-Nusra demonstrations by supporters of the FSA so for them to act like they are not allies therefore have the blood on their hands is sick):
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/middle-east-live/2013/jan/16/syria-us-denies-assad-regime-has-used-chemical-weapons-live-updates
First-hand report from Aleppo
I’ve just been speaking to my colleague Martin Chulov, who has been in Aleppo today and yesterday.
Martin said the suspicion among Aleppo rebels was that the opposition jihadist group Jabhat al-Nusra was responsible for yesterday’s rocket attack on the university, which killed at least 87 people.
The death toll is particularly high … What this tells us is that these explosions were very large. They were extremely significant …
On the eastern side of Aleppo today, which is the rebel-held part of the city, there is much conjecture about who was responsible for what took place yesterday. The rebel groups are insisting that they have no toehold whatsoever in the far north-west of the city, which is where the university is. That’s an area that is controlled by loyalist militias and the loyalist militia the Shabiha. There is a very tight dragnet around it.
That said, there is rising suspicion that these blasts may have been caused by rockets which were fired from the countryside to the west of the city. Now that’s an area that is partly controlled by opposition groups, including the jihadist group Jabhat al-Nusra, who are yet to comment about government claims that terrorist groups such as themselves may have been responsible. Now, them not commenting is not unusual. They very rarely do talk … But this could well be a tipping point in terms of public perceptions in this Syrian civil war.
January 16th, 2013, 10:02 am
zoo said:
Revenire
I agree. It may change the whole course of events.
The power of blind killing from Al Nusra is taking proportions that are becoming unacceptable to the international community.
The opposition coalition is on the defensive scrambling to deny it.
January 16th, 2013, 10:08 am
revenire said:
Even the pro-terrorist Brit Eliot Higgins/Brown Moses believes it was the FSA/al-Nusra (and the FSA is al-Nusra and al-Nusra is FSA) terrorists who bombed Aleppo University:
BrownMoses
16 January 2013 12:41 PM
I’ve been told the explosions were a few minutes apart, so there’s no way they were dropped in one bombing run by a jet, so either the pilot managed to turn back and drop a second bomb quite accurately from a high altituide in a very short amount of time (which I think is pretty unlikely), or the explosions weren’t caused by a jet bombing the university (which seems increasingly likely).
BrownMoses
16 January 2013 12:53 PM
@sam53 – Well as far as I’m aware there’s no reports of an aircraft flying over twice. I’ve not seen any evidence of an aircraft being clearly visible, which means either it wasn’t there or flying very high, in which case even the best pilot in the world would struggle to hit that area twice with an unguided bomb in a timeframe of a few minutes. To me the timing of it all doesn’t add up to it being a jet bombing the area.
January 16th, 2013, 10:14 am
revenire said:
Zoo I wonder if we will see Obama condemn the FSA attack on Aleppo University? Somehow I doubt it. If the do condemn it, and tell the truth (that it was the FSA that did it), they will find a way to blame Assad.
January 16th, 2013, 10:16 am
zoo said:
Where are AFP and Reuters? or Al Jazeera and Al Arabya?
مسيرة جماهيرية في ادلب لرفض الجرائم الوحشية التي ترتكبها المجموعات المسلحة
January 16th, 2013, 10:26 am
revenire said:
“111. OMEN said:
105. wss: mysterious REVENIRE
what was his earlier nic? despite my not knowing his current persona, when i first returned posting, he addressed me like we’ve chatted before.”
My dear Omen I’ve never participated here before and I am not the Commando you are so fond of.
We’ve had a few conversations before about the direction of the fake revolution. You admitted to me you didn’t care for the way things were going with the FSA’s terrorist bombings but felt impotent from doing anything about it while safe and warm in the USA. I suggested you head to Syria. Our conversation(s) ended there.
Does this help you guess my identity?
January 16th, 2013, 10:30 am
revenire said:
Zoo it is telling that the FSA terrorists are so desperate now that they’ve escalated bombings and attacks on civilians.
After nearly two years of war the FSA controls no major Syrian city or town. Their campaign in Aleppo has earned them the hatred of most of the citizens there – ask former terror supporter Edward Dark or any number of others.
January 16th, 2013, 10:34 am
revenire said:
I find it ironic and amusing the the United States is now defending Assad re: the use of chemical weapons. Go USA!
🙂
January 16th, 2013, 10:38 am
Observer said:
ZOO wrote shamelessly
The power of blind killing from Al Nusra is taking proportions that are becoming unacceptable to the international community.
As if the regime was not doing this all along.
Even if Syria is not a signatory to the ICC that does not mean it cannot be brought in front of it. Did the former Yougoslavia participate? Yet Milosevic was brought before the tribunal.
Also it is a moral blow to the regime if it is brought forth, as it is a moral blow to any opposition figures accused of war crimes.
It is a court of law. And it is a court of public opinion. The Bertrand Russell court did bring Bush and Cheney actions to a judgement and that does carry weight even though it was not widely circulated.
And Please do not remind me that in this world politics trumps morality we are talking about the ILLEGITIMACY of the regime and IMMORALITY of the regime and about the CRIMINALITY of the regime.
Now to some really good news: the PM of Syria went to Teheran with the finance minister and the energy minister and they are abou to do oil for food through Iran this is at a time when the Iranians themsleves are saying that they had a 40% drop in exports and their Prethident is saying that relying on an oil based economy is a mistake.
So as we say in Damascus : two asses stuck in the same underwear.
Birds of the same feather flock together.
Jusitce for Hamza one Shabih at a time in a court of law.
January 16th, 2013, 12:03 pm
Visitor said:
A first hand eye witness account from the frontlines in Aleppo,
http://www.alarabiya.net/articles/2013/01/16/260841.html
Syrians must realize that this is no longer about bringing down an illegitimate regime.
This is a war of liberation, where the good fighters of Nusra and other Syrians are driving out criminal thugs occupying a country in which they should not be there.
Allah Willing, all of Syria will be liberated of these criminal assadist thugs by the efforts of Nusra and the good freedom fighters.
January 16th, 2013, 12:27 pm
revenire said:
Visitor I can’t honestly believe you’d post a story from Al Arabiya. Funny and sad.
January 16th, 2013, 12:29 pm
Visitor said:
“Visitor I can’t honestly believe you’d post a story from Al Arabiya. Funny and sad”
# 127 dimwit,
You better believe it and get used to it.
January 16th, 2013, 12:55 pm
omen said:
117. revenire said: (and you know what? I remember all the pro-Jabhat al-Nusra demonstrations by supporters of the FSA so for them to act like they are not allies therefore have the blood on their hands is sick)
trying to taint & condemn fsa supporters for merely waving placards (how evil) is a lame attempt at guilt by association. and unconvincing when you consider because of the regime’s past history of supporting militants in iraq, nusra has more ties to the regime & vice versa. nusra even brags about having moles within secret police. i wonder who has really infiltrated whom. hard to know who is really calling the shots. time will tell.
just to set the record straight, nobody has bloodier hands than the regime.
January 16th, 2013, 1:21 pm
MarigoldRan said:
Yeah. Revenire obviously doesn’t have a job. Nor does it appear he’s spending any effort on trying to find one.
What a loser.
January 16th, 2013, 1:23 pm
revenire said:
Aleppo attack ‘terrorists’ revenge’ – Moscow
Russia believes Tuesday’s terror attack on the University of Aleppo, which left 82 people dead and 160 injured, was terrorist retaliation for defeats suffered at the hands of Syrian government forces.
Diplomatic spokeswoman Maria Zakharova spoke about this to the press in Moscow on Wednesday.
The explosions were caused by two rockets lobbed into the campus by anti-government rebels. The casualties included students and displaced people staying at the University’s dormitories.
Voice of Russia
January 16th, 2013, 1:27 pm
revenire said:
“just to set the record straight, nobody has bloodier hands than the regime.”
Wrong my friend. The backers of the terrorists attacking Syria: the US and the UK (among others) have far more blood on their hands than just about anyone else we can name.
You’re fond of ridiculing conspiracy theories but are dead silent when pressed about US & UK lies on Iraqi WMD that led to a war that murdered over 500,000 innocent Iraqis. The US and the UK conspired to overthrow Saddam (after selling him weapons) for political reasons – not out of a love for human rights and we’re all paying the price while the war criminals – Bush and Blair – are walking around free.
You’re not going to be setting any records straight as you sit in your easy chair in the US moaning about the “regime” Omen.
Not everyone is asleep at the wheel.
January 16th, 2013, 1:30 pm
omen said:
122. revenire
commando wasn’t my guess.
and this imagined lil convo of yours never occurred.
i’ll admit though i was wrong to get caught up in the speculation. i don’t really care who you are.
…
dead silent when pressed about US & UK lies on Iraqi WMD
wrong again.
January 16th, 2013, 1:38 pm
Tara said:
Mari,
Right! Sitting somewhere in the Midwest in the US, on disability or food stamps, collecting your tax money and mine, supporting state-sponsored terrorism, advocating chemical war fare and wholesale slaughter of the Syrian people while worshiping Batta’s toes. A prototype western -based Shabeeh. Although, I advocate rehabilitation only for supporters who do not have blood on their hands, I think anyone who express similar views supporting crimes against humanity should be tried for hate crime and in the US.
Young and unemployed.
January 16th, 2013, 1:38 pm
MarigoldRan said:
Tara,
Yes. It’s sad. Very sad.
Don’t bother discussing Syria with Revenire. He has no connection to the country. Just insult him personally. It’s more fun that way.
January 16th, 2013, 1:50 pm
revenire said:
What? What’s that? I was busy having a game of backgammon with Asma on our Russian battleship. We’re going swimming later. 🙂
January 16th, 2013, 1:54 pm
majedkhaldoun said:
How can you rehabilitate dogs,no way, that is why I call them Nabbiha,they bark
January 16th, 2013, 1:56 pm
Tara said:
Reve,
Do not be sad. Read my post. There were no personal insults. A mere description.. Evidence-based. That is all.
January 16th, 2013, 1:58 pm
ghufran said:
this is from an opposition site (take a note,observer):
أصدرت المحكمة العسكرية في مجلس القضاء الثوري الموحد مذكرة توقيف بحق المدعو ” أحمد شما ” قائد كتيبة ” الشهيد نمر” و عدد من عناصر كتيبته بتهمة القتل العمد للناشط ” محمد خالد أبو العبد”.
و كان ” شما ” قام بتوقيف الناشط ” أبو العبد ” بتهمة تعامله مع الأمن و استغلاله للاغاثة لأغراض دنيئة، كما أنه استند لشهادات مزورة من معارفه لتبرير اعتقاله .
و توفي أبو العبد من شدة التعذيب، إلا أن ” شما ” و بالتعاون مع طبيب مقرب منه ، تمكن من جعل سبب الوفاة “نوبة قلبية” قال ان العبد اصيب بها لدى مواجهته بادلة تثبت تورطه .
you know that a story is worthless when the story teller is trying to convince you that the thugs he supports are angels, this obnoxious David versus Goliath plot is getting old.
January 16th, 2013, 2:02 pm
ghufran said:
أعلنت حركة أطلقت على نفسها “أنصار الشام” عن حملة دعائية ضخمة على حيطان الفيسبوك وتغريدات التويتر
الحملة انطلقت بعبارة واحدة وهي ((اقتل نصيرياً بثلاث دولارات)) .
والحملة من ألفها إلى يائها بإشراف الشيخ “فيصل عوض العنزي” كويتي الجنسية. وقد لاقت هذه الحملة تأييداً من قبل “المجاهدين” في الشام .
فقد سارعت جبهة النصرة إلى تشجيع عناصرها وأنصارها على التبرع لحساب الحملة، وأن “رواتب المجاهدين على الأبواب فخصص جزءاً من راتبك من أجل الحملة”، وذكرت الجبهة في إحدى تغريداتها على صفحتها في تويتر أنها بحاجة إلى المال وحثت الجيمع على التبرع في حساب الحملة.
كما عبر الكثير من النشطاء عن تأييدهم لهذه الحملة فكتب الناشط “عمر صالح” في تعليقه على الحملة أنني ” أتبرع بـ 9 دولارات على أن لا يبقى أحداً منهم” واضاف حرفياً: “انا مع الطائفية وانا مع قتل العلويين واغتصاب نسائهم وذبح اطفالهم وقصف مدنهم وقراهم وضيعهم واسال الله العظيم ان يرينا هذا اليوم حتى تتحقق عدالته جل جلاله”
وكان من بين المؤيدين الكبار لهذه الحملة “قرين كلاش” الشهير الذي أصبحت تغريداته على تويتر محط اهتمام كبير من قبل كافة المنتديات الجهادية .
وكتب أبو سعد العسيري أحد المناصرين المتحمسين للجهاديين في سورية: “أن المجاهدين ذكروا شهادات كثيرة بحق حملة أنصار الشام” فمن الواجب دعمها والتبرع لها.
These are the people who kept muslim countries in a coma for the last 700 years
January 16th, 2013, 2:17 pm
jna said:
Syria allows UN to step up food aid
World Food Programme to work with local groups to reach 2.5 million people, as deadly bombings are reported in Idlib.
Last Modified: 16 Jan 2013 17:35
Syria’s government has authorised the UN World Food Programme to extend its reach in the country where 2.5 million people are suffering from hunger, according to officials.
Ertharin Cousin, the WFP head, said on Wednesday that Syria had allowed the organisation to work with local aid groups to reach more of those in need.
Until now most of the agency’s food aid was delivered through the Syrian Arab Red Crescent, which was overstretched and only able to provide help to some 1.5 million Syrians a month.
To boost the number of people receiving emergency assistance, the Syrian government last week drew up a list of 110 local non-governmental organisations that were allowed to participate in the aid effort,
“We have assessed the operational capacity of that 110 and we have identified 44 NGOs on that list that will give us the ability to scale up to another 1 million persons,” Cousin said.
The WFP aims to reach both government and opposition-controlled areas in all of Syria’s 14 provinces, but Cousin stressed that the aid delivery depended ultimately on the fighting on the ground.
She said one challenge was attacks on supply vehicles by the opposition.
“We can usually talk to them and get our food back, but it makes it more difficult to go into these areas,” she said.
Fuel shortages
The WFP is distributing wheat flour to rural families to help them bake bread.
It is also planning to distribute much-needed fuel to bakeries as part of its operation, Cousin said.
Shortages of fuel and flour have made bread production erratic across the country and people often wait hours to buy bread […]
http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2013/01/2013116141212963604.html
January 16th, 2013, 2:49 pm
Majed97 said:
According to Champress:
جبهة النصرة” تتبنى التفجير الارهابي في جامعة حلب
http://www.champress.net/index.php?q=ar/Article/view/13498
نشرت “جبهة النصرة” على شبكات التواصل الاجتماعي بيانا تتبنى التفجير الارهابي في جامعة حلب ونقتبس من البيان : انطلق ابو معاذ الى هدفه “بتوفيق من الله عز وجل ” وبالرغم من التحصينات الشديدة على الكلية وماحولها مفجرا” سيارته عند جموعهم واحال امنهم رعبا” واذاقهم شيئا” مما اذاقوه لاهلنا ، واتبع ذلك بقصف صاروخي مؤزر طال ما طال من القوم الكافرين “
January 16th, 2013, 2:49 pm
Hanzala said:
“Jeish el Watan”…7amina…lol
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-x8G62O9Ie4
jonood tizi
January 16th, 2013, 3:28 pm
revenire said:
Tara sorry – evidence based facts about? Jabhat al-Nusra has claimed responsibility for the Aleppo bombing. Is that what you mean?
January 16th, 2013, 3:29 pm
majedkhaldoun said:
Champress is source of lies, ,it is the main source Kookoo Ghufran quotes,the massive explosions are only owned by the criminal regime, further only the regime has jets that can fly in Syria
January 16th, 2013, 3:33 pm
Tara said:
Why did the US remained silent?
Referring Syria to the international criminal court is a justified gamble.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2013/jan/16/syria-international-criminal-court-justified-gamble
….
The Russian foreign ministry objects on the grounds that the initiative is “untimely”, and will be “counterproductive” in achieving the immediate goal of ending the bloodshed. China and the United States remain silent.
…
What factors should come into play in deciding whether to invoke the ICC? Experience is limited but instructive: since the ICC began to operate a decade ago, the security council has referred two “situations” to the ICC, with mixed results. In 2005 Sudan was referred in respect of Darfur; five prosecutions are now pending, including against President Omar al-Bashir for genocide. It is not immediately apparent that the referral has had a significant (or any) dissuasive impact on the ground, or transformed the political situation in Sudan. Bashir remains in office, even if his international travel schedule is somewhat constrained by the fear of arrest.
…
There is no reason to imagine that an ICC referral of Syria would immediately cause Bashar al-Assad to stand down. While there is some anecdotal evidence to suggest that some on the frontline may think twice before targeting civilians or engaging in other international crimes, those at the top seem less inclined to turn down the heat in the face of a threat of criminal prosecution. The real significance of a security council referral would be on the legitimacy of President Assad and his regime, and on those who might seek to support it. If Assad was to be indicted, it would be more difficult for Russia to maintain a supportive stance in the face of hardening international public opinion that an arrest warrant would generate.
,,,,
January 16th, 2013, 4:02 pm
Tara said:
Reve @144
No Reve. You know what I mean.
January 16th, 2013, 4:04 pm
revenire said:
Tara I have no idea what you mean. Jabhat al-Nusra claimed responsibility for the attack – you were not only wrong you said you supported them. You support the murderers who killed 80+ Syrian students you call shabiha.
January 16th, 2013, 4:09 pm
ghufran said:
This article is available at the Guardian:
“Referring Syria to the international criminal court is a justified gamble
An international criminal court investigation may split the United Nations – but it would change the civil war’s political dynamics”
author: Philippe Sands
(I support the initiative but average people’s support is not enough, 3 super powers do not want it now, including the US ,because they are worried about being asked to intervene and they are also worried about future law suites against their own citizens and soldiers. Referring Syria’s war crimes to ICC can only help if ALL war criminals are targeted)
January 16th, 2013, 4:21 pm
revenire said:
Tara here is your handiwork:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eDv4-WvioEk&feature=youtu.be
Death and murder visit Syria as you sit warm hiding in the USA, like Omen.
January 16th, 2013, 4:21 pm
ghufran said:
Paul Owen-The Guardian about Aleppo terrorist attack:
• Suspicion falls on jihadist group Jabhat al-Nusra
Make no mistake about it, there are supporters of this terrorist group on this blog,those people love living in the west and going to expensive hotels,etc but they still hate the west. they do not want to fight but they will send money for others to die on their behalf,those bastards are the Syrian islamist version of the Neocons.
January 16th, 2013, 4:28 pm
Observer said:
Here is the video of the second explosion in Aleppo
Draw your own conclusions.
http://youtu.be/alyonmGE13M
January 16th, 2013, 4:42 pm
Tara said:
Reve,
Take your Lithium. Once it reaches therapeutic level in your blod, we may be able to have a meaningful discussion. In the interim, take advantage of residing in the Midwest and go skiing. It is good for your cardiovascular system.
January 16th, 2013, 4:43 pm
revenire said:
Ziad brings us good news for decent people, bad news for terrorists and their supporters.
IDLIB: A massive explosion in the city, apparently in retaliation for the huge demonstration in support of Dr. Assad and the army, takes the lives of over 22 innocent civilians.
In the central district, also, Syrian Army sappers dismantled two car bombs close to a checkpoint.
At Al-Mutlaq, Syrian army regulars fought with a group of cockroaches and killed the following:
Ali Jaber Al-Atiq
Mundhir Samalawi
Muhammad Dhafir Shamlan (Iraqi)
HOMS: A fierce battle was fought at the Youssef Pass near Al-Qusair when a pack of rats were discovered, by Syrian reconnaissance drones, trying to infiltrate Syria from Wadi Khalid. It was another French-engineered fiasco for the terrorists. 28 rodents were killed and 16 taken prisoner. Here are some of the names of the dead:
Muhammad Wafiq Al-Taqi
Dawoud Milhem Hassan-Ali (Lebanese)
Jassem Alloush
Bassam Ahmad Al-Tawil
Muhammad Ahmad Ballat
Muhammad Ali Tfeili
Labib Muhammad Atweh
Of the 16 captured rodents, six have foreign documents.
ALEPPO: In response to the devastating revenge explosion at Aleppo University during examination week, Dr. Assad ordered an “appropriate” response. The Syrian Army backed by elements of the 4th Mechanized Armored Division delivered Hell in a big package to the rats in several areas where their hideouts were uncovered by informants.
In the City Center at Souq Al-Hayl, Bustan Al-Qasr, Al-Kallaseh, Old Aleppo and Qadhi Askar, the army killed over 63 rodents and captured 29. Of the killed and captured, 8 were of Turkish nationality; 2 were Chechens and 5 were from Iraq.
In rural Aleppo Governorate, 10 rodents were killed at Lairamoun, Kafr Ahmar, Al-Bab and Andan.
Ali Ahmad Hishmeh, a rat leader was among the dead. Wael says he had enough Valium on him to “sauce an elephant”.
At Bani Zayd, a unique operation was conducted resulting in the deaths of 4 rats
January 16th, 2013, 4:46 pm
revenire said:
Tara as far as us having a decent discussion that possibility ended when you came out as a supporter of terrorism. You know that.
January 16th, 2013, 4:50 pm
revenire said:
Let’s clear this one up:
“William Scott Scherk @wsscherk
@tabithamordecai, I am not sure how @SusanDirgham will respond if you question her about the ‘Brides.’ She blocked my account …”
You were blocked because you sent an obsessive amount of messages in a rapid-fire staccato manner Bill. You were harassing Susan. Maybe you were jacked up on coffee. I have no idea but no one cares about your ‘Gay Girl in Damascus’ stories. I think Syrian Danny is probably still lurking about. Perhaps he would like to talk to you.
You’re in your 50s and act like this? Great life. Some man you are. I am sure mom is proud. You support terrorism and pound women on Twitter asking them so many inane questions they end up blocking you.
Congratulations.
January 16th, 2013, 4:56 pm
MarigoldRan said:
Don’t skip on your meds, Revenire! It’s bad for you!!!!
Trust your doctors. They mean you well when they recommend meds for you!!!!
And don’t forget to go to therapy. It is an important part of becoming a better (or at least a non-awful) person.
January 16th, 2013, 5:29 pm
revenire said:
Here’s your bloody revolution:
“IT TOOK four months, but last week men from a militant group in Syria’s north-western Idleb province avenged the killing of their leader last year. On January 9th Thaer al-Waqqas, the local commander of the northern Farouq brigade, was killed in Sarmada, his hometown. Locals say he was shot by a Tunisian fighter. Mr Waqqas was involved in the killing in September of Firas al-Absi, aka Abu Mohammed, a Saudi-born Syrian jihadi who had teamed up with foreign fighter friends from Libya to Afghanistan.”
http://www.economist.com/blogs/pomegranate/2013/01/syrias-rebels
Rats falling on each other over spoils of their NATO-fed war.
January 16th, 2013, 5:30 pm
MarigoldRan said:
No, Reve, no. Take your medication.
Only once you’ve accepted that you’re a (very) flawed human being, can true healing begin.
January 16th, 2013, 5:41 pm
zoo said:
#Observer
“Even if Syria is not a signatory to the ICC that does not mean it cannot be brought in front of it”
It can only be with a UNSC resolution. For Yougoslavia there was a voted resolution.
Are you really hoping that China and Russia will go with that? Frankly your naivety is close to infantilism.
Go on.. use uppercase to preach about mortality. It has no place in politics, look at the USA history of crimes as a good example of “morality”.
January 16th, 2013, 6:23 pm
zoo said:
#159 Mari
You stopped the ‘idiot’ stuff and now you are are obsessed by advising medication. Are you a frustrated nurse?
January 16th, 2013, 6:24 pm
Johannes de Silentio said:
153. TARA
“Reve, take advantage of residing in the Midwest, go skiing”
Mossie’s a Chicago dude? Wow! Who wouldda thunk it? He seems too intense, too conflicted to be from that neck of the woods, seems more New York or New England. He has a hair up his ass about everything. Well, shoot, live and learn. Maybe I’ll send him an L L Bean catalog to calm him down…
A New Bashar Cartoon:
http://www.generationaldynamics.com/ww2010/g130109b.jpg
January 16th, 2013, 6:26 pm
MarigoldRan said:
@ Zoo
I’m a kind person and I only have Revenire’s best interests at heart. I believe true progress towards psychological health can be made only when he finally accepts what an awful person he actually is.
January 16th, 2013, 6:30 pm
zoo said:
The “president” of the Syrian Coalition ( Sole …bla bla bla ) was advised to shut up or what after this horrible events ? or he is already in a coma?
Syrian army intensifies offensive against rebels
By ALBERT AJI and BARBARA SURK | Associated Press – 1 hr 52 mins ago
http://news.yahoo.com/syrian-army-intensifies-offensive-against-rebels-211753573.html
The nearly simultaneous bombings in Idlib Wednesday bore the trademarks of Islamic militants, the most organized rebel fighters trying to topple President Bashar Assad’s government
….
Also on Wednesday, clashes erupted between rebels and pro-government Kurdish gunmen in the town of Ras al-Ayn on the Turkish border, a Turkish official said.
At least eight wounded Syrians were taken across the border to the Turkish town of Ceylanpinar for treatment. One of them died in a hospital, an official in the town said. He spoke on condition of anonymity because Turkish government rules bar civil servants from speaking to journalists without prior authorization.
January 16th, 2013, 6:31 pm
zoo said:
#163
Will you accept that you are an “awful” person too if someone tell you so and advise you on medicine?
There are a lot of awful people around but now that they have become indirectly accomplices to Al Qaeda, they are getting a bit worried.
I believe you can advise some remedy to calm their fear of ending up in Guantanamo
January 16th, 2013, 6:35 pm
Tara said:
Silentio,
“seems more New York..”
Hey….watch your language. 😉
Not a New Yorker.
January 16th, 2013, 6:36 pm
Juergen said:
Kurt Pelda the swiss journalist made this report: making of an “FSA Propaganda video”
http://www.srf.ch/player/tv/news-clip/video/making-of-eines-propagandavideos-der-syrischen-rebellen-kurt-pelda?id=08523db0-14e3-4b9d-b602-3760d216a060
January 16th, 2013, 6:36 pm
Johannes de Silentio said:
160. ZOO
“look at the USA history of crimes as a good example of ‘morality.'”
You pathetic little Pak-Man. You talk about morality and accuse the one country in the world that gives your failing state two, three and even four chances to straighten itself out? Any other country would have abandoned Pakistan to the wolves decades ago. You are such a dunce, Zoo-Dude, I usually ignore you…except when you say something extra-special stupid.
A New Bashar Cartoon:
http://media.caglecartoons.com/media/cartoons/15/2013/01/02/124851_600.jpg
January 16th, 2013, 6:37 pm
zoo said:
#153 Tara
I guess you could give these medical of advices to several commenters, even though for some of them, I believe their illness is beyond repair as we can read between the lines of their elaborated and incomprehensible comments or by their use of the US slang flowing naturally between their grinding teeth…
January 16th, 2013, 6:42 pm
Tara said:
Silentio,
Why can’t you accept the truth? The US history is not devoid of crimes. I love the USA and truly consider myself half Arab half American and I do not think I can live anywhere else but I agree governments should admit to their crimes.
January 16th, 2013, 6:44 pm
zoo said:
#168 Silentio
Wrong address… return to sender
January 16th, 2013, 6:49 pm
Tara said:
Zoo,
In real life, I am not that accessible. I should start charging for my services. Business is business…but yours is always free.. 😉
January 16th, 2013, 6:49 pm
revenire said:
US-based terrorism supporters should be aware that the FBI monitors sites where known jihadis congregate and do make arrests. I am quite certain some here have sent money to so-called “Syrian relief agencies” that are nothing but fronts for Jabhat al-Nusra/Al-Qaeda. That sort of felony is something that the US government takes very, very seriously.
Today the rats in Al-Qaeda (al-Nusra) grabbed seven Americans;
“A spokesman for the al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb militant group told VOA there are seven American hostages, and that the United States will ‘face the consequences’ if it tries to help France in its military operation against the group in Mali.”
The West was very foolish to intervene in Libya and that has come back to haunt them now. They are watching all forums for whiffs of terrorist-sympathizers.
January 16th, 2013, 6:51 pm
revenire said:
Johann you seem upset about the fact the FSA are getting their heads handed to them literally and that there won’t be any NATO bombers heading to Syria to save the rats from extinction by the SAA.
January 16th, 2013, 6:52 pm
zoo said:
The New Cold War in the Middle East
Mohammed Ayoob
January 16, 2013
http://nationalinterest.org/commentary/the-new-cold-war-the-middle-east-7974
Because of its strategic location between the two twentieth-century centers of Arab power, Egypt and Iraq, Syria has been for many decades a bellwether of Arab politics, viewed widely in the region as the heartland of Arab nationalism. The fact that the first major pan-Arab nationalist party, the Baath, was established in Syria and the leading roleplayed by Syrian (including Lebanese) intellectuals and activists in making pan-Arab ideology popular contributed greatly to this perception.
Moreover, whichever ideological or political trend emerged victorious in Syria came to dominate, more often than not, the Arab political scene.
…
Syria has thus become a part of a region-wide tussle that is essentially about the re-calibration of two interrelated balances of power: one between Iran and Saudi Arabia in the Persian Gulf; the second the overall regional balance of power between the American-Israeli axis and Iran.
Syria is merely a sideshow of these wider and strategically much more important struggles. Iran’s support for Assad and the US-Saudi support for his opponents can only be understood in the context of these larger struggles for power and influence. The resolution of the Syrian crisis is, therefore, linked to what happens in these other arenas and cannot be separated from them
January 16th, 2013, 6:53 pm
zoo said:
In the eternal city, the FOS is eternally preparing for the post-Assad period..
Syria: next Friends of Syria meeting in Rome, Italian FM
16 January, 15:46
(ANSAmed) – ROME, JANUARY 16 – The next meeting of the Friends of Syria ‘will be held in Rome”, announced Italy’s foreign minister Giulio Terzi at a Senate hearing on international missions.
”It is necessary to continue preparing for the post-Assad period to ensure that Syria” will have internal stability and in order to begin reconstruction efforts, Italy’s foreign policy chief added. He stressed that ”the solution to the crisis must be political”.
”I understand the sense of frustration and the urgency to stop the massacres, but the solution” must be a political one, he reiterated, noting that ”Assad’s actions and words are not helping to identify” how to achieve this goal.(ANSAmed).
January 16th, 2013, 7:02 pm
Tara said:
Should women have owners?
• Single women in Iran will need the permission of their guardians to be able to leave the country if a new bill secures enough votes in parliament, reports Saeed Kamali Dehghan.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/jan/15/iranian-women-fathers-permission-abroad
Shadi Sadr, a prominent women’s rights activist and human rights lawyer, told the Guardian: “The mentality behind these controversial laws is that women should have owners, to give power to men to have control over women.” The majority of people inside Iran who were barred from leaving the country were either women who did not have the permission of their husbands or tax evaders, she added.
,,,,
January 16th, 2013, 7:04 pm
Tara said:
#176
I propose the next meeting after the one in Rome to take place in Maui.
Have these meeting provided any benefit to the Syrian people? Or only made the “friends” not feeling guilty?
January 16th, 2013, 7:08 pm
zoo said:
The oil rich arab countries are known for their generosity to pay for terrorists salaries and weapons that kill and destroy and they love to “invest” in reconstruction.
Don’t ask then to send money to feed the victims of a war they have fueled.
“So far, only a small percentage of the funding has been received, limiting the ability of UN agencies and their humanitarian partners to reach people who desperately need help.”
International Humanitarian Pledging Conference for Syria
http://www.unocha.org/syria-humanitarian-pledging-conference
Representatives from Member States, UN agencies and non-governmental organizations will gather at the Bayan Palace in Kuwait City on 30 January to attend the first-ever high-level International Humanitarian Pledging Conference for Syria.
The conference, hosted by the Emir of Kuwait, His Highness Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmed Al Jaber Al Sabah, and chaired by the UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon, will address the funding gaps for the Syria Humanitarian Response Plan (SHARP) and the Syria Regional Response Plan (RRP). Together the plans seek US$1.5 billion to assist millions of civilians affected by the ongoing conflict in Syria over the next six months, including those inside the country as well as many others taking refuge beyond its borders.
About $1 billion is for the RRP, which will support more than half a million refugees who have fled Syria to Jordan, Iraq, Lebanon, Turkey and Egypt. The SHARP requires more than $519 million to help over 4 million people inside Syria, including an estimated 2 million internally displaced persons. The one-day conference will give Member States an opportunity to continue supporting the much-needed humanitarian response. So far, only a small percentage of the funding has been received, limiting the ability of UN agencies and their humanitarian partners to reach people who desperately need help.
January 16th, 2013, 7:10 pm
zoo said:
Tara
Don’t underestimate them. Many important achievements have been reached thanks to Miss Piggy who ruined her health to save Syria and Obama’s ego.
– Your favorite preacher Moaz al Khatib became ‘president’ at the last FOS and the “sole.. ‘
– The SNC was officially buried, not cremated so they’ ll be still some ghosts haunting the FOS
What surprises are coming?
The promised government in exile?
The replacement of the FSA logo by a more complicated acronym?
The return of Ghaliun?
I guess the rebels PR are already planning the usual massacre that precedes these meeting.
What would it be? Cluster bomb, chemical? or another sadistic events orchestrated by some SC advisors to make Al Nusra look like the ‘protectors’ of the Syrians against the cruel Syrian Army monsters..
In Rome, all is possible
January 16th, 2013, 7:21 pm
Tara said:
What a hypocrites? How about parading Bushra al Assad, her children, and the matriarch, the one and only Mother of all monsters, Anisa?
Facebook page targets unpatriotic regime supporters outside Syria
January 15, 2013 12:31 AM
By Marlin Dick
The Daily Star
http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Middle-East/2013/Jan-15/202254-facebook-page-targets-unpatriotic-regime-supporters-outside-syria.ashx#axzz2IBVUt0pR
BEIRUT: Supporters of the Syrian government have created a Facebook page that they vow will expose people who have fled the country for comfort abroad, focusing their rage on the children of state officials.
…
As one comment put it, “the boot of a Syrian soldier is more honorable than all of the Syrian merchants who have fled abroad, and then in the end start lecturing to us.”
A number of comments, however, focused on whether the efforts should instead target corrupt regime supporters inside the country, rather than those who are abroad.
“There are so-called ‘long-standing’ Damascene families who own half of Damascus, and work with the regime, but in secret, finance terror because of their sectarian affiliation … are you ready to expose them?” one commenter asked.
“Syria should clean itself of these people, and we shouldn’t remain silent again about those who have filled their pockets with the people’s bread and blood, and then fled abroad when living here became too difficult for them,” another commenter said.
(…)
January 16th, 2013, 7:22 pm
Juergen said:
Kurt Pelda made this second longer report in Syria. He focused on the bakery bombing in Halfeya a day before christmas eve last year. He has talked to witnesses and visited for the first time just days after the attack took place the town.
Watch from minute 9:55-18:12
I will wrap up a bit the report for you in English:
Pelda starts to show the life of the people in Aleppo. Its his third time visiting the area, now its winter the city is filled with garbage, everywhere the people are warming themselves at fires.People havent lost their humor though, two men tell him that they think about switching the sides, at least the loyalists of the regime get diesel, and 25.000 SYP a months claims the other.
Parcs no longer stand for recreation, they are a reservoir for firewood. The film team was the last time in September in the historical part of Aleppo,we want to see what has changed.( he shows then images of streets and the basar before and after the war has reached them)
We are looking for the hospital the only one in this part of the town. ( he then shows an image before and after the destroyed hospital)
We are driving now to Halfaya, an town where over 100 people have died in an attack on an bakery shop. The regime claims that the rebels have killed many people there, the rebels themselves claim that the syrian air force attacked the people. The direct way to Halfaya would be 120 km, but we have to take sideways to avoid chekcpoints of the army, after 5 hours we reach the town.
The bakery is in the town center in the basement of the town administration. Shortly after we see the site, its clear that this atack was an aerial attack. One rebel shows us the detonation site of one rocket.
The bakery was for ordinary people. Pictures from before the attack show that women and men stand in queues seperatly.
One man who survived the attack is still shocked.
“The pilot aimed and the rocket hit right here.There women and children stood up. And there the men, small, big, old and young.And all who have been in this area was torn into pieces. One head was flying 150m in this direction, and landed in front of the library.” ( An resident then shows Pelda images of the site after the attack)
Moas an other resident and singer: ” we are here on the roof of the bakery. The airplane came from this direction.From the west.The first rocket hit here.The second one hit the waiting crowd there.All the hits of this plane were in one line. The third rocket hit over there. Ther forth one hit behind the bakery.”
4 rockets hit the area, 1 the waiting crowd, one the roof of the bakery. Since the FSA does not have own warplanes, it is clear that the Syrian Army carried out the attack.
But before the attack, black flags were hoisted, a sign of the rebels on the roof of the bakery.
Ther rebels therefore have labled an civilian building with an military emblem, they are also responsible in part for what has happend after.
Near the site, a young girl named Hiam Yussuf Shalar has miraculously survived the attack. She was injured at her legs, and her back.
Hiam:” Around me I only saw blood and dead people. That is what Bashar Al Assad makes out of us, headless dead bodies.Like slaughtered animals. Children are dying because of Assad and his soldiers.”
Wounds are healing, but the pain of the soul and the hate remain.
“May God curse you Assad! I hope that the same happens to you what has happend to us. Inshallah your wife and all your children should die.All of your house, all of your family shall be destroyed.”
In a secret field hospital the girl and all other victims were treated. Abu Abdu the 20 year old paramedic and others were present on the day of the attack.
” We were only 10 people, and had to treat about 70 victims in this small room. We were overwhelmed and at the end could not distinguish between the dead and the injured people.We had cases of severe burns, the whole room smelled like burned meat. Here are the list of the victims, in total 115 people, of which we could identify 100. The rest were bodies without an head just single parts of a body.”
Our upshot: Assads air force has clearly attacked the bakery, but may be the rebels are not that innocent for what has happend.
http://www.srf.ch/sendungen/rundschau/abzocker-initiative-syrien-carla-del-ponte-lagarde-us-waffen
January 16th, 2013, 7:25 pm
Juergen said:
a new video circles the net, Aldunya style
seems like war and life in Assad Syria is a hell of fun for grownups with guns…
January 16th, 2013, 7:29 pm
zoo said:
Will the USA be forced to intervene in Mali after the kidnappings of American citizens
Militants retaliate for Mali intervention with kidnapping in Algeria
Published: January 16, 2013
By Nancy A. Youssef — McClatchy Newspapers
CAIRO — Apparently in revenge for France’s intervention in neighboring Mali, an Islamist group attacked a foreign-run gas field in southern Algeria on Wednesday morning and reportedly kidnapped an undetermined number of Americans and dozens of other foreign workers.
Two others reportedly were killed in the attack, including a Briton, and scores of Algerians also were captured, though some were released throughout the day, according to Algerian state television.
The kidnapping could lead to more U.S. intervention in the region than American officials had planned just a day ago, when the United States vowed to provide only logistical support to the six-day French-led offensive to rid Mali of al Qaida control over large swaths of the west African nation.
Read more here: http://www.adn.com/2013/01/16/2754989/militants-retaliate-for-mali-intervention.html#storylink=cpy
January 16th, 2013, 7:30 pm
Juergen said:
AJE has pulished a list with 3263 pages full of names wanted by the Syrian regime. And I am sure its not for the Twijaari Medal of Merit…
http://www.aljazeera.net/file/Get/9ff38110-d3dc-430c-ba19-331a504d1c38
January 16th, 2013, 7:34 pm
Juergen said:
New joke in Syria, about the newly printed Liras:
1st man: we can use the new bill with Assad’s face on it as toilet paper. 2nd man: why would we want to go and dirty our behind?
January 16th, 2013, 7:43 pm
zoo said:
The Coalition scrambling to repair its image after it called on to the USA to decriminalize Al Nusra. It is now trying to please the Russians by asking the FSA they don’t even control not to target the Russians.
These show increased signs of its impotence and irrelevance
Syria: Strong Coalition Message Against Targeting Civilians
Sat, 22 Dec 2012 04:49 GMT
http://www.trust.org/trustlaw/news/syria-strong-coalition-message-against-targeting-civilians
The Syrian National Coalition (SNC) sent a clear signal that targeting civilians violates the laws of war, Human Rights Watch said today. The coalition’s statement on December 19, 2012, condemned attacks on civilians, regardless of their nationality.
(New York) – The Syrian National Coalition (SNC) sent a clear signal that targeting civilians violates the laws of war. The coalition’s statement on December 19, 2012, condemned attacks on civilians, regardless of their nationality.
The coalition should use its influence to help release civilians kidnapped by groups across Syria and condemn attacks on civilians when they occur, Human Rights Watch said. The opposition Free Syrian Army, which is not controlled by the coalition, should take immediate steps to prevent violations of the laws of war, including taking appropriate action against those responsible for serious violations.
….
January 16th, 2013, 7:43 pm
Ghufran said:
Martin Chulov- the Guardian:
“What caused the blasts has yet to be determined, but suspicion is focusing on rocket fire from the western outskirts, an area mostly held by rebel groups, including the jihadist organisation Jabhat al-Nusra”
( we are getting closer to finding the truth, ignore the garbage from the few toilet posters on this blog and their Talibani media sources)
January 16th, 2013, 7:44 pm
omen said:
swaida was mentioned earlier. anybody know what to make of this oddity?
January 16th, 2013, 7:44 pm
Tara said:
To those of you who denied that Batta uses cluster bombs.
The gruesome toll of deadly cluster bombs in Syria
By Mary Wareham, Special to CNN
updated 1:14 PM EST, Wed January 16, 2013
Syria’s relentless use of cluster munitions, including in populated areas, is yet another sign of its blatant disregard for international law and the protection of its own civilians. Syria’s use of cluster munitions runs counter to the new international standard being created by the Convention on Cluster Munitions, rejecting any use of the weapons.
Read more here: http://www.cnn.com/2013/01/16/opinion/syria-cluster-bombs-hrw/
January 16th, 2013, 7:46 pm
Tara said:
In my opinion if Jabhat al Nusra confirmed its responsibility for Aleppo University attack, then both the FSA and the coalition should publicly denounce it.
January 16th, 2013, 7:54 pm
omen said:
188. Ghufran said: “What caused the blasts has yet to be determined, but suspicion is focusing on rocket fire from the western outskirts, an area mostly held by rebel groups, including the jihadist organisation Jabhat al-Nusra”
also via the guardian:
The nearest rebel-controlled area, Bustan al-Qasr, is more than a mile away from the university.
an honest question: what ordnance can reach over a mile away?
January 16th, 2013, 8:00 pm
majedkhaldoun said:
Where did the idea that Assad is hiding in a Russian ship,came from?, we know that his sister and her children, and assad mother Aniseh are in Dubai, could it be someone traced phone communications between Assad and his mother?.
My question to Zoozoo If Assad relative is kidnaped would Assad exchange his relative,(sister or mother) for Hussain Harmoush?
January 16th, 2013, 8:03 pm
Observer said:
Yes ZOO let the Russians and Chinese veto another resolution that could potentially bring in the Prethident AS WELL AS any other criminal committing war crimes.
It will prove one more time that Russia and China are IMMORAL in their actions.
Just as the US was IMMORAL in 2003 and before.
I must have hit a nerve. IT IS AN ILLEGITIMATE IMMORAL CRIMINAL REGIME even by its own constitution and standards it is committing crimes and conducting a scorched earth policy.
JUSTICE FOR HAMZA ONE SHABIH AT A TIME IN AN INTERNATIONAL AND LOCAL COURT OF LAW.
January 16th, 2013, 8:06 pm
revenire said:
It’s about time they used cluster bombs.
To Hell.
January 16th, 2013, 8:15 pm
Roland said:
@ #13
If it weren’t for Hezbollah, the Israelis would still occupy a large part of Lebanon.
If it weren’t for Jabhat Al-Nusra, the Syrian rebels would not have made much headway.
Any further comparison would be stretching things too much. After all, Hezbollah is a fully-formed political party with a well-established administrative and social organization.
If trends continue for another 20 years, maybe then.
January 16th, 2013, 8:22 pm
majedkhaldoun said:
قال الحجاج يوما … عن أهل الشام
لايغرنك صبرهم ولا تستضعف قوتهم
… فهم إن قاموا لنصرة رجل ما تركوه إلا والتاج على رأسه
… … وإن قاموا على رجل ما تركوه إلا وقد قطعوا رأسه
January 16th, 2013, 8:23 pm
Tara said:
And to your terrorist family too.
January 16th, 2013, 8:24 pm
revenire said:
I am for the army giving any remaining civilians 24 hours to get out of any villages the FSA holds hostage and then carpet bombing those places. It won’t take long. After a few dozen are leveled no one will shelter the terrorists.
President Assad unleash the full force of your soldiers on the enemy.
January 16th, 2013, 8:40 pm
omen said:
182. Juergen said:
thank you so much for the translation, juergen.
via kurt pelda report cited:
interesting timing, flags hoisted before an attack. i would guess “rebels” should be in quotes. it’s mindboggling how double agents are everywhere.
January 16th, 2013, 8:44 pm
majedkhaldoun said:
واشنطن تتهم النظام السوري بتفجيرات المدينة الجامعية بحلب.. وتحذر ايران من مواصلة دعمه
Source: Syria news
FBI were notified about Revenir.he is a psycho
January 16th, 2013, 9:18 pm
revenire said:
LOL poor poor FSA trash getting beat in Syria and online.
(Reuters) – The United States has no reason to believe Syria has used chemical weapons during its 22-month conflict with rebels seeking to end the Assad family’s rule, the U.S. State Department said on Wednesday.
Asked if the United States had any reason to believe that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s government had used chemical weapons against his own people, State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland told reporters: “No.”
January 16th, 2013, 9:38 pm
Syrian said:
منقول
”
انو من مبارح لهلأ نشقت ط**ي و انا عم اقرا تحاليل….تحليل طالع و تحليل نازل….صار الشعب كلو محلل…شي بيحلل طيارة…و شي بيحلل سيارة….و ما حدا خطرلو يحرم….انو قولو حرام في عالم عم تقرا و ملت من التحاليل
انو خلص…انا فاضي و راضي…متل باقي هالشعب….فأنا كمان بدي حلل….و ما حدا احسن من حدا…و الله يستر ما يطلع معي شي اس تي دي بعد هالتحليل…بس مع هيك بدي حلل….انا الثورة غيرتني….
شي من يلي بيكون مع النظام بيصير قال بدو يكون عقلاني و قال بدو يحاول يحكي بموضوعية…و هدول لحالهون بهون وقفة…قال بيقلك انو يا اخي انا بدي احكي بموضوعية….يعني لو النظام بدو يضرب الجامعة…ليش ليستعمل طيارات…كان جاب سيارات مفخخة….منشان يلزقها بالمعارضة…بس هو يلي صار انو ساقبت لحظة مرور الطيارة صار تفجير ارهابي…جهلأ هادا شرطكون بيكون محبكجي فهمان…. في لسا المحبكجي الجحش يلي قال انو مضاد طيارات ما صاب الطيارة قام وقع و فجر…انو هادا الجحش ما عندو تلفزيون او انترنت ليشوف انو هدول الصواريخ المضادة للطيارات قدها قد البز و انفجارها يا دوب يفجر طيارة فولزفاكن….مو يفجر جامعة….بس اخي شو بدنا بالجحاش هلأ…خلينا بالفهمامين منهون….و طبعا لما بتقول محبكجي فهمان…فهل الشي بالانكليزي اسمو اوكسي مورون…او متل ما بيقول النبي الرضوان…مصطلحين متضاربين بجملة واحدة…المهم…شيلونا من اللغة و تلافيفها…انو هادا الفهمان بيقلك انو اخي شو مصلحتو…يعني سيارة مفخخة و كان اشرفلو…خلص معناها باين مين وراها…هدول الارهابيين…. و طبعا ساقب مرور الطيارات بالصدفة…و بيقلولك الصدفة خيرن من الف ميعاد…اخي هي حكمة من رب العالمين…
منحبكجي تاني فهمان بيقلك انو يا ذكي لو كانت الطيارة هي يلي قصفت…التفجير بيكون عالسقف…مو عالارض و ما كانت تدمرت واجهة الجامعة….هلأ اول الشي بعتذر انو صنفتو كفهمان…بس من القلة…عم حاول اجبر بخارطون… لانومثلا في قانون شرعي انو الصاروخ او القذيفة يلي بتضربها الطيارة لازم تنزل عالاسطوح… الصاروخ ما ممكن يصيب الواجهة مثلا….** اخت القذف الافقي يلي الاستاذ بالبكالوريا ما علمو ياه… او انسو الافقي…انو القذيفة يلي نزلت سقوط حر…ممنوع شرعا تنزل بالشارع…لازم تنزل عالاسطوح….
و عالطرف التاني…بيجيك الثوار المحللين…. يلي تركو الدنية كلها و صار همهون انو يثبتو انو هي طيارة يلي قصفت…. شوف شلون في صورة واحد عم يطلع عالسما…معناها طيارة…خلص معناها النظام…. لانو ع اساس اذا طيارة السوخوي بدها تقصف ما فيها تطير على علو كتير عالي و تقصف….و لما يوصل الصوت عالناس يلي عالارض بتكون صارت ببيت اهلها…لا ابدا… مافي فيزيا بالموضوع…بلحظة الانفجار في واحد عم يطلع عالسما بنفس الوقت…معناها في طيارة… هلأ اذا حدا الو مراق بالفيزيا…بيجي بيقلي يا بهيم….الطيارة قصفت و مشيت…فمنهون لوصل الصاروخ عالارض…وصل صوت هدير محركها…شكلك دارس ادبي انت…. هلأ لاول لحظة الواحد بيقول ايه والله معو حق…اخي يلعن ** الفيزيا ما احلاها…بعدين فجأ بتتذكر شو درست بالفيزيا عن سرعة الصوت..انو مالو كتير سريع….هلأ سريع…بس مو اسرع من الصاروخ مثلا….عالمتوسط ممكن يكون الصاروخ سرعتو ضعف سرعة الصوت…فيعني فكرة انو شب عم يتطلع عالسما وقت لحظة الانفجار مالها علاقة باللياقة…بيجوز الزلمة شاف عصفور…او عم يتفرج ع قوس قزح…او مثلا صدف انو بلحظة طق الصورة كان وضع راسو هيك…ما منعرف…و بالتالي مالو دليل…
بيجي ثائر تاني بيحطلك فيديو الانفجار و بيحط تحتو شريطي يلي بطلع تسجيل لموجات الصوت….انو ع اساس العالم خبراء بهل القصص…لدرجة انو بيقدرو يميزو…و خصوصا انو الصفير يلي بيطلع وقت سقوط قذيفة ما طلع…او بأحسن احوال مدتو كانت ثانية….
و صرلهون من مبارح عم يحللو….انا بقول انا ما حدا ارتاح الا هالطلاب يلي استشهدو و ارتاحو من قراءة هالتحاليل…
هلأ ليش انا مبعوص؟
اولا…انا دايما مبعوص…هيك ربكون خلقني…و عم قول رب و خلقة من باب لغوي مو اكتر طبعا….المهم…يعني مثلا انو لو انخلقت سنفور…كان اسمي سنفور مبعوص…بس مو هدا موضوعنا….
تانيا… مشكلتي هي كالاتي…و حديثي موجه للكل…معارضين و مؤيدين…و بين قوسين…منشان ما حدا ياخد انطباع اني عم حاول كون حيادي…لانو انا ابدا مالي حيادي…فبين قوسين…ان كنت مؤيد…تلحس *يز سعدان مسهل شو انك خرا…يلعن هالطفرة بالدي ان ايه تبع اجدادك يلي خلتك تتطور جسديا و تصير محسوب على الجنس البشري….ا***بعقلك ان وجد..
المهم….هالتحاليل هي كلها اسمها تحاليل الطرشان….و ما رح نعرف مين الصح و شو الصح….و هي لب الموضوع… اساس الموضوع مو انو نعرف شو الصح…ببساطة مافينا…بالمعطيات يلي عنا..افينا…از سيمبل از ذات يعني..
بس ليش بدنا نعرف الصح؟
بدنا دليل انو النظام مجرم؟ يا اخي في صار مليار مجزرة مرتكبها النظام من سنتين و جاية….يوميا النظام عم يقتل بين السبعين و التلاتمية سوري…. في فيديوهات عم تورجي الجيش النظامي عم يقصف و يقتل و يعذب و يدمر و يعمل كلشي….
انو شو يعني بدنا؟
بدنا دليل لحتى نخلي الانسان…مع التحفظ و الاعتذار من البشر…الانسان يلي اسمو منحبكجي او مؤيد يغير رأيو؟ اخي شوف…الشخص يلي لهلأ عم يدافع النظام…بتنساه…يعني الشي الوحيد يلي ممكن يغيرلو رأيو هو انو يجي بشار الاسد و يغتصب امو و يقتل ابوه ادام عيونو…غير هيك اذا ستين الف قتيل…و بلد تدمرت عن بكرة ابيها ما غيرلو رأيو…كتير مثلا متوقع انو قصف جامعة رح يغيرو؟
بدنا دليل لنورجي العالم انو النظام مجرم؟ ع اساس العالم ما بيعرف مثلا؟ فكري اذا في حدا ممكن يعرف شو صار بحلب مبارح هي الاستخبارات الغربية…. بس يعني سنتين مرو و ما بظن في بني ادم في براسو عقل بحجم الجوزة لسا متوقع انو الغرب ناطر دليل…
ثم مين قال انو اذا النظام هو يلي ساواها…فمعناها حصرا رح يستعمل طيارات…يعني اذا سيارة مفخخة معناها الجيش الحر اما اذا طيارة فمعناها النظام؟….ع اساس النظام مالو بقصص السيارات المفخخة؟ مالو سوابق بتفجيرات المناطق يلي هو مسيطر عليها لتعزيز الخوف من الارهابيين و من الفوضى يلي رح تصير في حال سقوطو؟
طيب لنفرض شي كتيبة معارضة هي يلي ساوتها…شو الهدف؟ الهدف انو يورجو انو النظام مجرم مثلا؟ راجع المقطع القبل السابق…بدهون يورجو العالم انو النظام مجرم؟ كمان راجع نفس المقطع اعلاه….
فمين استفاد مثلا؟ النظام هو يلي ركض عالامم المتحدة و طلب الادانة…و روسيا هي يلي ركضت لتدين تصرفات المعارضة…
بس هالحكي كلو ما بيهم….في شي اسمو الروت كوز اناليسس…يعني لما بدنا نحل المشكلة ما منطلع عتفاصيل الانية…لاء..منطلع على السبب الاساسي يلي خلاها تصير…
عنا نظام دمر البلد….و يلي بدو يقول غير هيك…يروح يلاقي اول تواليت افرنجي و يدحش راسو هنيك…الطيارات و المدفعية يلي عم تقصف و تدمر البلد بشكل يومي مالها سرية او ماحدا شايفها و سمعان فيها….في عصابات مسلحة مثلا؟ طيب…وجود عصابات مسلحة بيتطلب تدمير البلد و اعتقال مئات الالوف من الشباب و الصبايا و تعذيبهون؟
مؤامرة و الغرب بدو يدمر سوريا؟ ليش ما فات ع سوريا عسكريا مثلا و ناك الدنية؟ ليكها مالي…خلال اقل من شهر فرنسا فوتت جيشها و عم تحارب هنيك…ما انتظرت لا قرار امم متحدة و لا مجلس امن و لا اضرطي… ليش ما عملو هيك بسوريا و ريحو حالهون مثلا و ارتاحو من هالنظام المقاوم الخارق يلي عم يتحداهون؟ خايفين من الجيش السوري؟ ما الجيش السوري صرلو سنتين عم يحارب عصابات ارهابية و صار خسرات تلت البلد و ما عم يقدر ينتصر…رح يقدر يحارب الجيوش الغربية؟
هي كلها اسئلة بتخلي الاعمى يشوف شو سبب المشكلة بسوريا….و يلي ما بيشوفها او مو شايفها بعد كل هالوقت…عندو مشكلو بعقلو…غالبا مشكلتو الها جذر طائفي او طبقي..مو اكتر
مشكلتنا بالنظام المجرم يلي عنا…و كلشي مشاكل عم تصير و رح تصير خلال فترة اسقاطو هي ردة فعل و ظروف هو خلقها…لا اكتر و لا اقل… الدم رح يجيب دم…القتل رح يجيب قتل…هي مالها فيزيا…هي اسمها طبيعة بشرية…النظام خلق اجيال جاهلة…و الجاهل بيتصرف بناءا على مشاعرو و ردود افعالوا مو بناءا على عقلو او عالمنطق…فما رح لومو….بدنا نحل المشكلة…منقص راسها…و بهل الحالة هو النظام…و منشتغل عالجاهل بعد ما يزول سبب جهلو…
غير هيك…و اي شي تاني عم ينحكي بالموضوع…هو تلوث صوتي و ضجيج…..و عالم فايقة و رايقة و شغلتها تعلك…
و خففولنا تحلياتكون يستر على ب**اتاكون….
January 16th, 2013, 9:43 pm
Tara said:
“بدنا دليل انو النظام مجرم؟ يا اخي في صار مليار مجزرة مرتكبها النظام من سنتين و جاية….يوميا النظام عم يقتل بين السبعين و التلاتمية سوري…. في فيديوهات عم تورجي الجيش النظامي عم يقصف و يقتل و يعذب و يدمر و يعمل كلشي….
انو شو يعني بدنا؟
بدنا دليل لحتى نخلي الانسان… . يلي اسمو منحبكجي او مؤيد يغير رأيو؟ اخي شوف…الشخص يلي لهلأ عم يدافع النظام…بتنساه…يعني الشي الوحيد يلي ممكن يغيرلو رأيو هو انو يجي بشار الاسد و يغتصب امو و يقتل ابوه ادام عيونو…غير هيك اذا ستين الف قتيل…و بلد تدمرت عن بكرة ابيها ما غيرلو رأيو…كتير مثلا متوقع انو قصف جامعة رح يغيرو؟ ”
Outstanding!
It really is hopeless. It is approaching a mental problem to think that one can change a supporter. I truly doubt that even if Batta raped a supporter’s mom or killed his dad, he/she will not change his mind. It truly is a cult…very very sad. The true mental problem is that we are still trying..
January 16th, 2013, 10:22 pm
omen said:
22. Visitor:
not much of a rebuttal, visitor. you deny the sectarian charge but fail to offer what you really meant. a non-denial denial. threatening wss for calling you out? a level of defensiveness that usually happens only when a critic has accurately hit a bullseye.
January 16th, 2013, 11:11 pm
ann said:
Personal attacks in this thread:
18, 19, 21, 27, 36, 42, 68, 79, 81, 86, 88, 89, 105, 128, 130, 134, 135, 137, 138, 145, 147, 153, 157, 159, 162, 163, 168, 198, 201.
All committed by the usual suspect 8)
January 16th, 2013, 11:56 pm
majedkhaldoun said:
Ghufran said this is a sectarian revolution
الحملة انطلقت بعبارة واحدة وهي ((اقتل نصيرياً بثلاث دولارات”))”
This evil sectarian(deeply sectarian) Ghufran is trying to depict this revolution as sectarian one, because he is sectarian,
This is not sectarian revolution, Assad and the Nabbiha here on S.C. are trying hard to convince people that it is sectarian revolution, they want to justify their murderous criminal acts,the fact is,what Syrian revolted against was tyrany ,corruption, dictatorship,inherited family rule,glorifying one family, but the Nabbihas keep injecting this sectarian point .in a democratic system, there is no sectarianism, all are equal,all have the same rights and has the same responsibilties, this revolution is for freedom,dignity, and justice, the people want to choose their leaders by free elections,Assad has always won by 99.99%,.
Anyone who oppose the regime is described by such Nabbihas as sectarian, sectarianism will lead to division,while we are looking to unite and form one large country under democratic system, includes Syria Iraq Egypt KSA and all other small countries,dictatorship is against Arab unity, democracy is for unity,Dictatorship is for sectarianism,and division, democracy is the enemy of sectarianism.
January 16th, 2013, 11:58 pm
Johannes de Silentio said:
206 ANN
“Personal attacks in this thread”
Well, at least we know one thing we didn’t know before: spammie annie can count and do numbers. Good to know she’s able to get out and about from that Gypsy Camp in Bulgaria. I guess she’s taking night classes working up to a Sex Worker certificate so she can get regular employment.
I’ve always said everyone should learn a trade…
A New Bashar Cartoon:
http://www.cartoonaday.com/images/cartoons/2011/04/al-assad-gaddafi-road-cartoon-598×450.jpg
January 17th, 2013, 12:16 am
William Scott Scherk said:
Joshua Landis noted Geoffrey Aronson’s Al-Monitor story on Camille Otrakji’s Syria Dialogue Project.
It is well worth reading, as is the Dialogue site itself. The project has finished its first stage and is ready for Syrian (and Syrian-lovers) input:
English: http://creativesyria.com/dialogue/?lang=en
Arabic: http://creativesyria.com/dialogue/?lang=ar
Here is the list of those questions, in English. They are explored in depth at the site:
1. Survival (Staying Alive)
2. Fate of activists from both sides arrested, kidnapped or fearing punishment
3. Managing the change process of Syria’s political system
4. Fate of refugees and emigrants
5. Future role of President Assad
6. Security and violence
7. Dialogue vs Revolution
8. Need to develop sentiments of belonging, citizenship and other intellectual reforms
9. Restructuring security apparatuses
10. Sovereignty
11. Sectarianism, national unity and future role of religion in Syria’s political system
12. Corruption
13. The role of the army during the crisis and beyond
14. Division Regarding the Direction of Economic Reform in the Future
15. Regional role and the ever present Israeli threat
16. Dignity and human rights
17. Justice, Tyranny, Reform of the Judiciary and Guaranteeing its Independence
18. Roles, Freedom and Responsibility of Official Private and Individual Media on Social Networks
19. The environment
20. Occupied Territories
January 17th, 2013, 12:37 am
revenire said:
Scherk anything a supporter of terrorism such as yourself recommends goes right into the trash.
People outside of Syria, such as yourself, have nothing to say about the future of Syria. That is for Syrians to decide.
Long live Assad.
January 17th, 2013, 12:49 am
MarigoldRan said:
Revenire is a retard.
January 17th, 2013, 1:03 am
MarigoldRan said:
He can post what he wants but everyone knows what he says is worthless.
His insults are a badge of honor. You know you’re doing something right if he talks —- about it.
Well done WSS. Keep it up.
January 17th, 2013, 1:22 am
Juergen said:
Does Anyone Give a Damn About Syria?
“If 80 students had died in a military attack it would have shaken the foundations of the academic world. Professors everywhere would have condemned this violation of the sacred halls of academia. But in Syria it’s just another day of indiscriminate slaughter.”
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rabbi-shmuley-boteach/syria_b_2492155.html
Here is a pic of the newly printed 2000 SYP
https://twitter.com/AlanaBowker/status/291302482020286464/photo/1
January 17th, 2013, 1:35 am
GEORGES said:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FdI7W6zfg2s
FSA announces the beginning of the battle to liberate Hasakeh from the Assad gangs.
January 17th, 2013, 1:39 am
William Scott Scherk said:
Marigoldran, I am afraid for REVENIRE, in a way. There is no way he is going to come out of the Syria crisis with his illusions intact. Perhaps we should treat him as a ringer or an impersonation account. I don’t know. There is a lack of consistency (internal coherence) that suggests to me he makes half of his stuff up as he is going, on the fly.
I find his deep-searching Bill/William Scherk to be sad/hilarious — as he has done a sloppy, half-assed job even there. He hasn’t dug deep enough to discover my immersion in the anti-cult movement (Satanic Ritual Abuse whoopee/Recovered Memory Therapy/False Memory Syndrome) starting in 1995, nor has he cited my Facebook site. He might as well be reading off cue cards …
Funny, but I have always used my real name on the internets, all the way back to my first Usenet postings to sci.psychology.psychotherapy. This vast mine is there for REVENIRE to dig into, but …
Oddly, or not so oddly, he hasn’t touched the topic of my homosexuality yet, which underlines the fleeting impression that he is a cut-out.
The screaming irony of him tarring Camille (Alex) with the Scherk-taint (when Joshua Landis cited it first, above) — this is golden. It rivals the “Goldstein Moment” of Amjad/Aboud.
The manic, ludicrous threats to have TARA (or unnamed ‘terrorists’) investigated by the US powers-that-be — these put him into the top rank of the Nutterzone.
It is deeply disappointing to me that our ZOO gets all snuggly with REVENIRE. Politics sure does make strange bedfellows.
This might help us/him/them: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cognitive_bias_mitigation
Here is one more funny thing that might cause REVENIRE’s head to explode from the dissonance were he not a ringer:
January 17th, 2013, 1:43 am
Juergen said:
This report was aired last night in the main news programme.
Here is the translation:
How Syria might look like after Assad
Inmidst of war developing in Syria, the beginnings of a new state: step by step,the rebels try to create in the areas under their control a lawabiding society. With Sharia courts and police officers to take action against criminals.
Pictures from an freed area which shows the imprisonement of hijacked american journalists, which were taken to get the ransom. By now they are freed.
Freed areas in Syria, that means surely freed from an dictator, but that does not mean security.
The absence of state authority lets crime flourish. The new rulers from the FSA know about that. Here in Bab al Hawa in an former customs office convenes the court.Only a few kilometers from the turkish border, Sheikh Abdul Rahman an educated theologian execute the laws in the name of the Quran.
Today its about an Brigadier of the FSA who has not paid his soldiers their money. If the court later finds him guilty, the court has an own established military force to execute the verdict.
( Interview with the Sheikh)
“An revolution is not only made by honorable people, unfortunatly there are crimnals among the FSA. To find them, to persecute them, may be to give back the stolen goods is our task. We do that according to what God has required us to do.”
Just a dew kilometers away the city of Ad Dana. Normaly 30.000 people live here. Because many have fled to here, now the number is 1.5 times higher.
Since 1.5 months the FSA rule the area, but they are withdrawing.
The so called Free Syrian Police shall take over the control.
Ahmed Lattuf emerged from an fighting rebel to an law abiding police men.His territory is merely a ruinfield and his people are highly armoured folks. Almost everyone here has an Kalashnikov.
Everything is missing nowadays. Golden times for smugglers. With regular controls the police tries to eliminate also usury, even though all prices went up 10 times. Ahmed Lattufs uniforme is still from the Assad times, and many find that disturbing.His colleagues prefer to patrol in civil clothes.
( Interview Ahmed Lattuf)
” Surely there ara people who want to profit from the shortages.If we catch them we impose on them a penalty. If we catch them a second time we bring them to our sharia court.And then prison awaits them.”
The rising criminality in the freed areas is undoubtly to be seen. Every day convoys of luxury cars make their way accross the turkish Syrian border, the cars have passed on their way from East Europe. Fastly installed license plates can not deny their shady history.Car smuggeling has therefore become somewhat of an classic task for the Sharia courts. But the courts can hardly keep up with them. The sharia court of Bab al Hawa shows an Syria after Assad- after the weapons are silenced, new problems arise.
http://tagesschau.de/ausland/syrien2550.html
January 17th, 2013, 2:17 am
SYRIAN HAMSTER said:
WSS
Otrakji’s project is manipulative. You must read between the lines, and in Otrakji’s case, between the lines of design and the laughable methods of splitting participants into groups.
To begin with, there are no reformists. By now, anyone siding with Assad and calling themselves reformist are liars, and from this point on you can carry the projects tortuous B.S.
You have good critical thinking, Otrakji’s bait should not have skipped you. The message there is ….. 1+3=1
January 17th, 2013, 2:46 am
Juergen said:
our saudi friends always helpful
wahed, ithnain, thalafa yallah angiss
January 17th, 2013, 3:06 am
William Scott Scherk said:
HAMSTER, I agree with you for the most part, but I did not want to ‘taint’ the link/project by doing a ZOO — inserting editorial bumf and spin to poison the well. I do really want people to engage over there, and I still hope someone, anyone will bring points and claims from that site forward here for discussion.
Sadly, nobody associated with the project in an official position is doing any promotion. There are only two comments (!) on the 20 ‘questions’ … and the Twitter feed for the project has only 3 followers last time I looked.
If you want to bring forward here the least (or most) manipulative of the 20 questions, I would relish getting into it with you. It does not seem to be of any interest otherwise.
What I am compiling this week are the actual, ‘official’ statements and releases from the Syrian Government (and trumpet media) that pertain to the Assad Peace Plan — including the confusing 3 part whoopup that was the heart of his Berlin Opera performance.
Good to see you posting here … the long slide into the Nutterzone for commentary is almost complete. You might understand that Joshua Landis has not even looked at the comments in a long long time. He has taken his hand off the moderation controls, for better or worse. In a strange way I agree … in that opening the comments to Anything Goes reveals all the scuttling beetles of the Nutterzone, at their absolute worst.
It is sobering, but not shocking. Here we have ZOO, a mature and educated man (albeit with rigid ‘party’ bottom lines) snuggling and coo-ing with the revenant one. Here we have ANN — displaying the kind of cherry-picking behaviour that roots cognitive bias — sorting through this comment thread for ‘personal attacks.’ Hilarious, sad, kooky, and all too telling — the lady who used to relish bringing up Juergen’s Nazi identity …
Regard the frenetic attempts of the mysterious REVENIRE to slur the entire commentariat … this is what Assadists may have come to … insanely incorrect, incoherent, detached from reality, unable to entertain (as with the Edward Dark whoopee) a fact or thought that conflicts with the party line — insane reasoning, insane claims, insane chundering gabble.
I sure miss your sharp and relentless spoofing of the Nutterzone, but I expect the environment here is too target-rich. Where to start?
Check your email for a secret ‘terrorist’ message from me, when you get a chance. We must compare notes backstage …
January 17th, 2013, 3:13 am
omen said:
216. Juergen said: Pictures from an freed area which shows the imprisonement of hijacked american journalists, which were taken to get the ransom. By now they are freed.
juergen, who are these journalists? do you know their names? they are pictured in the video. what was the time frame when this happened?
January 17th, 2013, 3:16 am
True said:
“Otrakji’s project”
This project is a reflection of its founder (the boy called Otrakji)
This Otrakji spent years sucking up for Emad Mustapha, reporting Syrians to his connections in Mukhabarat, in addition to passing IPs of SyrianComment bloggers during his moderation time, all that just to show his loyalty to those thugs.
Anything comes from a loyalist apologist mthfkr is just goddamn wrong no matter what.
January 17th, 2013, 3:19 am
Juergen said:
Omen they have never said who they were, they used this only as an start of the report. From the video itself one is saying that he is working for CNN and ABC.
I will adress the reporter to ask your questions.
January 17th, 2013, 3:26 am
SYRIAN HAMSTER said:
WSS
Will do.
ZOO, ANN, REVENIRE are mere distractions from the real issue. Too much time is being committed to responding to distraction. One article by Michelle Kilo, Yassin Haj-Salih, Hazem Nahar is worth the whole crap here, starting from the prof’s analysis (or lack of real analysis) and ending with revenire’s shrieks and ANN’s stupid cut and paste.
As for Otrakji’s project. TRUE said it better than I would ever had+ some spice. Anything Otrakji does can be shredded easily and exposed for what it really is. (which is more than one objective). But I also think that he is a distraction.
January 17th, 2013, 3:28 am
revenire said:
Bill I am not that interested in you. Honest.
We know were we each stand. You support terrorism. I support Syria.
And, yes support of al-Nusra in the United States is a crime – research it. Perhaps terrorist supporters should keep their support silent.
No one cares about your pet issues. Start a forum and control it. You seem to miss the ability to do so.
Why do you ridicule those who see the world clearly? It makes me weep.
January 17th, 2013, 3:46 am
revenire said:
“This Otrakji spent years sucking up for Emad Mustapha, reporting Syrians to his connections in Mukhabarat, in addition to passing IPs of SyrianComment bloggers during his moderation time, all that just to show his loyalty to those thugs.”
Anyone who doesn’t hide his IP in a nest full of terrorist supporters is a fool.
January 17th, 2013, 3:47 am
Badr said:
This report seems to support the claim “Islamists More Honest and Capable than FSA”:
Why Syrians are turning to extremism
“Western governments then face a dilemma. If arms are allowed to reach the Syrian rebels, they could end up in the hands of radical islamists, but if moderates in the uprising are not identified and supported, power will flow to the best organized and the most disciplined fighters. At the moment, those are the jihadists.”
January 17th, 2013, 4:28 am
omen said:
222. Juergen said: I will adress the reporter to ask your questions.
thank you but i think mystery solved. this was part of the crew that was with richard engel.
the top photo in this article lines up with your video.
January 17th, 2013, 4:28 am
True said:
revenire
Shut the hell up and go change your filthy Menhebak nappy you mthrfkr. You hardly can distinguish your bum from head but still playing Mr.Knowledgeable. Lak tooz feek wo bi elBatta taba3ak, roger that you little fart.
January 17th, 2013, 5:27 am
Citizen said:
225. REVENIRE
البارحة على قناة العربية طلع الشمشوم بسام جعارة و قال أنه سينظف دمشق من نظام الملالي و بعدها سينتقل الى بغداد و من ثم الى طهران ! بدون تعليق !!!!
January 17th, 2013, 5:38 am
Observer said:
Iran is to give Syria one billion dollars.
It is of course hidden as protocols of cooperation.
This is a God sent for neocons who will see this as a golden opportunity to bleed Iran.
Guards and dollars to the rescue.
Syrian Hamster and WSS; I did visit the Syria Dialogue site. One of the issues is that the posts are to be moderated and only “so called acceptable” posts will be allowed.
It is typical Shabih thinking in which the premise of the discussion is set ahead of time.
Why participate in a forum when you do not agree to listen to dissent?
Justice for Hamza one Shabih at a time in a court of law.
January 17th, 2013, 8:18 am
zoo said:
Juergen
“This report was aired last night in the main news programme.”
Which country aired that programme?
January 17th, 2013, 9:15 am
zoo said:
George
“FSA announces the beginning of the battle to liberate Hasakeh from the Assad gangs.”
We count on you for the video of the victory… Don’t forget.
January 17th, 2013, 9:22 am
zoo said:
Ann
The personal attacks are signs of the inability of the commenters to respond to a piece of news or an analysis. Either because they have no argument, or they are in state of hysteria, or because they hate anyone who disagree with them, or simply because they have a mental limitation.
Resorting to insults and personal attacks that demean the commenter gives more information about the writer than the target.
Unfortunately one is tempted to respond to the attack by responding the same way. Wise is the one who just ignores them.
January 17th, 2013, 9:31 am
zoo said:
Is Syria more successful than the USA in killings Al Qaeeda leaders?
Zarqawi brother-in-law killed in Syria: Jordan Salafist
January 17, 2013 04:52 PM
AMMAN: Two jihadists including a brother-in-law of slain Al-Qaeda in Iraq leader Abu Musab al-Zarqawi have been killed in clashes with Syrian regime forces, a senior Jordanian Salafist said on Thursday.
Read more: http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Middle-East/2013/Jan-17/202659-zarqawi-brother-in-law-killed-in-syria-jordan-salafist.ashx#ixzz2IFHh2e5K
January 17th, 2013, 10:07 am
zoo said:
As expected, the opposition PRs are working on building again a case for military intervention on a ‘humanitarian basis’ ahead of the coming FOS meeting in Rome by using the whole propaganda paraphernalia: Chemical, poisonous gas, cluster bombs, war crime, killed children and “massacres”.
Activists Accuse Pro-Syrian Forces of Killing Scores in Homs
http://www.voanews.com/content/activists-accuse-pro-syrian-forces-of-killings-scores-in-homs/1585620.html
January 17, 2013
Syrian activists say forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad have killed more than 100 people in an attack on the central city of Homs.
..
The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said Thursday the attack happened Tuesday, with pro-government forces burning homes and shooting victims. It said the 106 dead included women and children, and it urged the United Nations to investigate.
January 17th, 2013, 10:14 am
zoo said:
The coalition plan has a plan for after Bashar goes but have no plan on how to make him go.
The armed rebels have a goal to make Bashar go but they neither have a plan for that, nor a plan for after he goes.
The Arab and the West are in a dilemma whose solution is impredictable.
Which way forward?
http://weekly.ahram.org.eg/News/1041/19/Which-way-forward-.aspx
As President Al-Assad threatens to remain in power forever, the country’s opposition is planning for the transitional phase after his overthrow, writes Bassel Oudat in Damascus
…
A few days ago, the Syrian National Council (SNC) announced its plan for the transitional phase and the transfer of power after the regime is toppled.
This plan was later approved by the National Coalition, which said that the coalition would choose an interim government and Al-Assad and the key figures of his regime would step down “in line with the demands of the people”.
The coalition would be in charge of all legislative and executive powers and would dissolve the current government and parliament. It would also wind up the country’s security agencies and Republican Guard and retire military leaders.
It would release political prisoners and suspend the current constitution, as well as overseeing the opposition Free Syrian Army (FSA) and the rest of the regular armed forces.
A political process would start that would give rise to a comprehensive national conference after which the coalition itself would be dissolved. The coalition has asked the international community to hand over Syria’s seats in the Arab League and the UN, as well as the frozen assets of the regime, to the transitional government.
However, this plan seems unlikely to succeed, especially since the more than 114 countries that withdrew the Syrian regime’s legitimacy by recognising the coalition as the legitimate representative of the Syrian people have not yet offered anything to accompany this recognition that will change the balance of power in its favour.
Asked whether the opposition was jumping the gun by planning the post-Al-Assad stage, coalition spokesman Walid Al-Bonni told Al-Ahram Weekly that “I do not deny the importance of the transitional phase, but I believe that focusing on this and forgetting the tyrant in Damascus who is still killing Syrians and destroying the country makes me angry. The tragedy of the Syrian people is bringing disgrace on humanity.”
….
The revolutionaries on the ground describe the proposed political solution from the SNC and the Coalition as “daydreams”, claiming that those wanting to negotiate with the regime are indulging in wishful thinking.
…
The Syrian dilemma has become one where almost anything seems possible. Observers even believe that there may be malicious collusion between East and West and the Arab world at the expense of Syria.
While Arab and international confusion could prevent the opposition from overthrowing the regime any time soon, it could also allow the regime to annihilate the opposition.
January 17th, 2013, 10:25 am
zoo said:
United States, solely based on eye witnesses, rushes to accuse Syria of the Aleppo University bombings.
” But on Wednesday, the State Department issued a statement saying that the United States “is appalled by the Syrian regime’s deadly attack yesterday near the University of Aleppo.”
“According to eyewitnesses at the scene, regime planes launched aerial strikes in the vicinity of university facilities,” said the statement from the department’s spokeswoman, Victoria Nuland. ”
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/18/world/middleeast/syria-war-developments.html?_r=0
January 17th, 2013, 10:31 am
zoo said:
Over 50 Countries Ask Security Council to Refer Syria to Court
http://www.globalpolicy.org/component/content/article/266-security-council-and-syria/52182-over-50-countries-ask-security-council-to-refer-syria-to-court.html
More than 50 countries have asked the Security Council to refer the Syrian crisis to the International Criminal Court (ICC).
Given that Syria is not party to the Rome Statute, which established the ICC, Syria can only be indicted if the Council refers the case.
The Council is in a deadlock because it cannot agree on how a peace deal may be arranged.
The US, UK and France believe that Assad’s resignation must be a precondition to any peace deal. Russia and China vehemently disagree, and have vetoed any draft resolutions which seek to impose sanctions on the Syrian regime.
Former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan stepped down from his position of special envoy for Syria last August, blaming the international inaction on the Council. The letter concludes that the Council must refer the case to rectify the ‘accountability gap.’
Such referrals from the Council however, compromise the legitimacy of the ICC by politicizing the legal framework on which it stands.
January 17th, 2013, 10:34 am
zoo said:
An interesting tragi-comical interview
Asharq Al-Awsat interview: Arab League Sec-Gen Nabil Elaraby
16/01/2013
By Sawsan Abu-Husain
http://www.asharq-e.com/news.asp?section=3&id=32580
Cairo, Asharq Al-Awsat – Speaking in the run up to the Arab Economic Summit in Riyadh, scheduled to take place on 21 – 22 January; Arab League Secretary-General spoke about the chances of resolving the Syrian crisis, Palestinian reconciliation and the restructuring of the Arab League.
Nabil Elaraby also spoke about his recent meetings with Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.
The following is the full text of the interview:
….
January 17th, 2013, 10:42 am
Observer said:
Great video from LBC
Athad on LBC interview
January 19th, 2013, 12:10 am
William Scott Scherk said:
Arabic readers can go here for the el Nashra original article «كيلو: إيران ستتخلى عن الاسد اذا حصلت تحولات في توازن القوى على الأرض » but here are some statements from Michel Kilo (who, when younger said he had spent half his life in jail**). The statements in full awful Google machine translation, for the enigmatic beginners-Arabic entity REVENIRE:
If you got through that, you can drink your evening aperatif, North Americans. I should note this article was recommended by Syria Comment and Syria Dialogue contributor Camille Alexandre Otrakji.
That will not satisfy all, so here is a special picture for TARA only:
http://www.SpecialPicture/TARA.jpeg
— and one for ANN and the others at her adult daycare:
http://www.SyrianBloodsportsGiggleVideos/GrossestRebelDeaths/Vol2/spatter.jpeg
January 19th, 2013, 11:52 pm
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