Friends of Syria Meeting in Tunis Accused of “inactivity”
Posted by Joshua on Friday, February 24th, 2012
The Friends of Syria meeting in Tunis is a “challenge” to Assad, not an “ultimatum”, US officials are saying. This means that it will be another exercise in raising the rhetorical bar of condemnation against Syria but will probably not do much damage to the regime or rescue the Syrian opposition in Homs. The Saudi delegation has pulled out of the conference, accusing it of “inactivity.”
Representatives from more than 60 Western and Arab countries are meeting in Tunis, Tunisia today to call for the Syrian government to implement an immediate ceasefire and to allow humanitarian assistance for civilians and people wounded in violence. The group is not expected to discuss military options. They will increase sanctions. Former U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan has been appointed as a special envoy by the United Nations and the Arab League to represent them in finding a peaceful solution to the Syrian crisis.
“One of the things you are going to see coming out of the meeting tomorrow are concrete proposals on how we, the international community, plan to support humanitarian organizations … within days, meaning that the challenge is on the Syrian regime to respond to this,” said a senior U.S. official.
Asked if the group’s call would amount to an ultimatum, a second U.S. official told reporters: “It is a challenge.”
The Syrian opposition council announced it would ask the “Friends of Syria” to prioritize the creation of humanitarian corridors….
News Round Up
….At a news conference on Thursday, Mrs. Clinton moved the United States a step closer to recognizing the Syrian National Council though a formal recognition is not expected in Tunis. She also said later, discussing growing pressure on Mr. Assad: “There will be increasingly capable opposition forces. They will — from somewhere, somehow — find the means to defend themselves as well as begin offensive measures. And the pressure will build on countries like Russia and China because world opinion is not going to stand idly by.”
On Friday, Mr. Hague, the British official, urged Moscow and Beijing to revise their pro-Assad policies. “I think the Chinese government is constantly assessing the position and so I hope they will change their position,” he told reporters.
Syrian state TV referred to the conference as a meeting of “symbols of colonialism” and said the countries attending were “historic enemies of the Arabs.” Neither Russia nor China, who vetoed a U.N. Security Council resolution based on an Arab League plan aimed to end the Syrian violence, attended the conference. The “Friends of Syria” seem to be favoring the opposition Syrian National Council, but are not giving the group exclusive recognition. The other main opposition group, the National Coordination Committee, is boycotting the conference. They lay out their reasons for the boycott, here.
‘Q&A: Nir Rosen’s predictions for Syria’ (Nir Rosen, Al Jazeera English)
“If the struggle drags on, the local civilian “political” leadership of the revolution will lose influence, and the more moderate Sufi sheikhs who exercise an influence over armed groups will also lose control. The insurgency and its supporters will become increasingly radicalised. They will condemn those leaders who looked to the outside world for support, and those who called for restraint. Those voices who say Islam is the only solution will become loudest; those voices calling for a declaration of jihad will be raised, and they will, in my opinion, target Sunni rivals as well as Alawites and other minorities. This scenario is also possible if the regime kills or captures enough senior leaders of the revolution. On the other hand, even if Assad and his family wanted to leave power – or even leave Syria – how would they explain this sudden about face to their supporters? The regime’s fans, especially its base among the Alawites, may also be radicalised, embracing maximalist violence out of fear. And what happens to the cronies who benefit from the system as it is, and to the security forces who have nowhere to go? Do they just go home — or do they fight to the death out of fear of extermination, and then hang on as some kind of insurgency against any new regime installed with the help of the West, Turkey and the Arab League?…
The insurgency will gradually carve out autonomous zones, from Idlib to Hama to Homs and approaching the suburbs of Damascus. Foreign intelligence agencies will eventually provide covert assistance to the insurgency. But Iranian – and possibly Russian – advisers will likely provide advice to the regime in counter-insurgency. So parts of the country will fall into opposition hands, and parts will remain in the hands of the regime. Alawites in Homs may flee to the villages they originally came from. Christians will flee to their former villages or to Damascus. Both of these trends have already started. Sunni remaining in Latakia will be vulnerable, and in the event of Alawites returning to Latakia’s mountain villages, fleeing from other parts of the country, the region’s Sunni may also be forcibly displaced….
Syria is crumbling before our eyes, and a thoroughly modern nation is likely to be set back many decades.
Human rights in Syria – Commission of Inquiry report published
….20. The activity of the Free Syria Army (FSA) groups resulted in the temporary withdrawal of State forces from cities or areas in the Rif Dimashq, Idlib and Homs governorates. Since December 2011, the army has attacked these areas with heavy weapons, leading to massive casualties and the destruction of homes and infrastructure (see paragraphs 38-46 below).
21. The Government stated that other armed non-State actors not affiliated to the FSA are operating in the country, including Al-Qaida and other religious extremists. In its report, the League of Arab States also makes a distinction between the FSA and “other opposition armed groups”. Numerous sources report the presence of extremist groups in the country. The commission was unable to verify information on the membership, background and operations of such groups.
22. On 23 December 2011, 50 people were reportedly killed in two bombings next to the offices of security agencies in Damascus, which the Government attributed to Al-Qaida. No one, including Al-Qaida, claimed responsibility. In its report, the League of Arab States mentioned that its observers in Homs, Hama and Idlib reported the bombing of a civilian bus (with eight casualties), a police bus (two casualties), a train loaded with diesel fuel, an oil pipeline and small bridges. In other cases, League observers found that alleged bombings were falsely reported. On 10 February 2012, 28 people were reportedly killed and 235 injured in two large explosions at Military Intelligence and police buildings in Aleppo. The Government and other sources attributed these explosions to terrorists. On 14 February, a major pipeline near Homs exploded. The Government blamed “terrorist saboteurs”, while opposition activists attributed the act to State forces shelling in the area.
23. According to all accounts, casualties rose steeply as the violence intensified; thousands of lives have been lost.
24. On 27 December 2011, the Government informed the commission that, according to hospital and police reports, at least 2,131 civilians had been killed in the period from 15 March to 19 December 2011. The Government added that a total of 913 soldiers and 215 police officers (1,128 people in total) were killed during the same period.9 According to the Government, from 23 December 2011 to 10 February 2012, a further 651 members of the army and security forces were killed and 2,292 injured.10 In addition, 519 unidentified bodies were found. On 15 February 2012, the Government provided additional figures, according to which 2,493 civilians and 1,345 soldiers and police officers had been killed in the Syrian Arab Republic in the period from 15 March 2011 to 18 January 2012.
25. The Violations Documenting Centre, affiliated to the local coordination committees, counted 6,399 civilians and 1,680 army defectors killed in the period from 15 March 2011 to 15 February 2012.11 The victims included 244 adult women, 115 girls and 425 boys…..
After a year, deep divisions hobble Syria’s opposition
by Neil MacFarquhar, New York Times, February 24, 2012
“Nearly a year after the uprising began, the opposition remains a fractious collection of political groups, longtime exiles, grass-roots organizers and armed militants, all deeply divided along ideological, ethnic or sectarian lines, and too disjointed to agree on even the rudiments of a strategy to topple President Bashar al-Assad’s government…..
“This is a manufactured problem,” said Burhan Ghalioun, the council president, in a brief interview outside an executive committee meeting last week. “Some independent people don’t want to join the S.N.C., but there is no strong opposition power outside the national council.” …..
Scores killed in wave of al-Qaeda bombings across Iraq – Wash Post (Asaad Alazawi, Ernesto Londoño)
BAGHDAD — A wave of bombings across Iraq killed dozens of people Thursday morning, security officials said, in a grim indication of the strength of the insurgency two months after the U.S. military completed its withdrawal….
Syrian opposition will ‘somehow’ carry out offensive operations against Assad, Clinton says
LONDON — Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said Thursday that Syrian opposition forces will become “increasingly capable” of carrying out offensive operations against the government of President Bashar al-Assad….
The Syria Report’s Evelyn Aissa provides a roundup of international reportage and commentary on Syria with close to 100 links! (free access)
UN Accuses Syria of Crimes Against Humanity as Foreign Leaders Prepare for ‘Friends of Syria’ Meeting in Tunisia – Syria Report
Today, a report released by the United Nations and submitted to the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, accuses the Syrian government of committing “gross human rights violations” tantamount to “crimes against humanity”. The report, derived from 360 interviews with individuals inside Syria, also charges that security crackdowns constituted state policy from coming from “the highest levels of the armed forces and the government”. The same report, however, also charges the Free Syrian Army, an armed element of the opposition, of committing serious abuses. To that end, as violence continues to deepen across the country, Syrian officials continue to adamantly charge that they are fighting against armed terrorist groups – an allegation now partially echoed in some parts of Washington, as a number of senior American officials claim that the terrorist group Al-Qaeda is behind some of the country’s violence. The same US officials did not publicly put forth related evidence. …
‘How to halt the butchery in Syria’ (Anne-Marie Slaughter, New York Times)
“The key condition for all such assistance, inside or outside Syria, is that it be used defensively — only to stop attacks by the Syrian military or to clear out government forces that dare to attack the no-kill zones. Although keeping intervention limited is always hard, international assistance could be curtailed if the Free Syrian Army took the offensive. The absolute priority within no-kill zones would be public safety and humanitarian aid; revenge attacks would not be tolerated.”
The U.S. and other ‘Friends of Syria’ still search for a strategy to oust Assad
Posted: 22 Feb 2012
Tony Karon writes: “It is time we gave them the wherewithal to fight back and stop the slaughter,” said Senator John McCain on Monday, referring to Syria’s opposition amid the carnage being wrought by the Assad regime’s efforts to quash a year-old rebellion. But McCain’s call is unlikely to be heeded by the Obama Administration or other Western governments as they prepare for Friday’s inaugural meeting in Tunis of a “Friends of Syria” forum established to coordinate an international response to the crisis. That’s because Western decision-makers are not quite sure just who the Syrian opposition would be — there is no single leadership that speaks on behalf of those fighting the regime on the ground in cities across Syria, and there are certainly signs that its ranks may include elements deemed hostile to the West. And also, because it’s far from clear just how arming rebel forces would, in fact, “stop the slaughter” and not intensify it.
The problem confronting international stakeholders as they grapple for a response to the slow-moving bloodbath is that there at least three different narratives playing out at the same time in Syria, each of them complicating the others. There’s the narrative of the brutal authoritarian regime confronted by a popular citizens’ rebellion that it has been unable to crush despite a year of slowly escalating repression — a crackdown that has wrecked the country’s economy and made it impossible for the regime to restore stability, much less regain its legitimacy. (Nobody’s expecting the constitutional referendum to be staged by the regime on Sunday to yield a credible popular mandate for Assad’s rule.)
Then there’s the narrative of sectarian warfare, in which Syria’s ethnic and confessional minorities — the ruling Alawites who dominate the regime and its security forces, but also the Christians, the Kurds, the Druze and smaller sects — shudder in the face of a predominantly Sunni rebellion in which they see a specter of sectarian retribution that prompts many of them to remain on the sidelines or support the regime for fear of the alternative.
And finally, there are the geopolitical stakes, as the Sunni monarchies of the Gulf see an opportunity to hobble their Iranian nemesis by helping their indigenous allies overthrow a Tehran-backed regime. Syria also becomes an arena for China and Russia to block the expansion of Western influence in the Middle East through toppling regimes. [Continue reading…]
New Opposition battalions take on overtly sectarian nature to combat Assad’s shabiha
The Yazid ibn Muawiyah Battalion announces its formation in Biyada, Homs. This video suggests the rise of anti-Shiite militias in Syria.
‘Yazīd ibn Mu‘āwiya ibn Abī Sufyān: يزيد بن معاوية بن أبي سفيان commonly known as Yazid I, was the second Caliph of the Umayyad Caliphate based in Damascus. Many Muslims condemn Yazid’s rule as contentious and unjust because he was appointed by his father, Muawiyah, and because he killed the Imam, Husayn at Karbala in an effort to stamp out the gathering Shiite movement that looked to the house of the prophet for Caliphs as opposed to the emerging Umayyid dynasty that had moved the capital of the Empire to Damascus.
Salafist Muslims, mostly living in Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Egypt, in sharp defiance to Shia Muslim belief, maintain that Yazid was a just, noble, religious and administratively efficient ruler.
Husayn ibn Ali, the son of the forth Caliph and grandson of the prophet Muhammad, along with many other sahaba among the Muslims, disapproved of Yazid’s appointment to the caliphate, declaring it a usurpation of power and against the spirit of Islam. They rode forth to contest his rule and were cut down at Karbala.
The dead are regarded as martyrs by Shi’ah Muslims, and the battle has a central place in Shi’ah history and tradition, and has frequently been recounted in Shi’ah Islamic literature.
Mock Homs at Your Own Risk
The epicenter of Syria’s revolt has long been the butt of jokes. But Homs may get the last laugh.
BY OMAR ADAM SAYFO | FEBRUARY 17, 2012
The negative stereotypes about Homsis returned in force during the 11th century, when the Mirdasid dynasty recaptured the city and converted it to Shia Islam. Homsis very soon became victims of the polemical debates between Sunni and Shia clerics. The famous Sunni cleric Ibn al-Jawzi recorded many ironic narratives about the strange habits of Homsi religious officials and the supposed stupidity of their followers.
According to one anecdote, three Homsi religious students were discussing a hadith – a saying of Prophet Muhammad — about the parts of the human body. “The nose is for smelling, the mouth is for eating, the tongue is for speaking,” they concluded. “But what is the ear for?” As the hadith did not give the answer, they decided to ask their sheikh. On their way to the sheikh’s house, however, they saw a tailor patching a cloth. The tailor was cutting pieces of yarn and hanging them on his ear. “God has sent us the answer,” the students concluded, and returned to the mosque.
Homs has long been a bastion of resistance — first as a Muslim stronghold in the efforts to repel European invaders during the Crusades, and then as a base for Mamluk commanders’ war against the Mongols. But such heroism did not rid Homsis of their age-old stigma. Rather, many linked Homsis’ victories to their alleged simple-mindedness…..[This is a lovely article… read it all]
The Ordeal of Syria. Hoover Institution, Stanford University
Now nearly a full year into a terrible struggle between a dictatorial regime and a rebellion determined to overthrow it, what can be done? What follows is a range of opinions and preferences. This is the first of what we envisage to be a periodic online symposium on the contemporary dilemmas of the Greater Middle East. We will draw on the membership of Hoover’s Working Group on Islamism and the International Order….
INSTABILITY IN SYRIA: Assessing the Risks of Military Intervention – CSIS
….A number of countries – including US NATO allies such as France and Turkey – increasingly entertain the prospect of creating a “humanitarian corridor” in Syria, potentially along the border with Turkey, to provide relief to both the Syrian population and dissident groups opposed to the Asad regime. These calls are echoed by Syrian opposition forces both in and outside Syria, including the so-called Free Syrian Army (FSA) and the Istanbul-based Syrian National Council (SNC).
These calls do not address the real world challenges of creating such a “humanitarian corridor”: joint and combined military operations to suppress Syria’s air defense network, the need to neutralize the country’s air force, eliminating Syria’s asymmetric deterrence by containing unconventional threats from long range missiles (potentially armed with chemical or biological agents) and instability along the Golan Heights. They also do not address the risk of eventually having to engage loyal Syrian ground forces (including large concentrations of Alawites) that see few prospects in a post-Asad Syria.
Some consider military intervention in Syria to be a potential next step in shifting the regional balance in favor of the US and its allies. There is little question that sustained military operations in Libya would have been impossible without American logistics, targeting, command and control and sheer military capacity. In the case of Syria, military intervention is similarly unlikely to succeed without US involvement. However, military intervention, in the Middle East, let alone near the epicenter of the Arab-Israeli conflict, always involves serious risks and the impact of the law of unintended consequences…..
Washington’s Syria policy is imaginary
February 23, 2012
By Michael Young, The Daily Star
The administration of President Barack Obama has often been ridiculed for what it describes as “leading from behind.” More often than not this has been an excuse for not leading at all, and nowhere has American vacillation been more on display than in Syria.
For instance, it is the United States that has lent credence to accusations by the Syrian regime that Al-Qaeda is assisting the Syrian opposition. Last week, the director of national intelligence, James Clapper, told the Senate Armed Services Committee that he believed Al-Qaeda in Iraq had infiltrated Syrian opposition groups, and was behind bombings in Damascus and Aleppo. Clapper needn’t have made that statement publicly. Not surprisingly, the Syrian opposition read it as a sign of American hostility toward its aspirations
Politically as well, Washington has been all over the place. In an interview with France 24 just over a week ago, the U.S. ambassador to Syria, Robert Ford, said that the Obama administration was looking for a “peaceful political solution” in Syria. “Even the Syrian people do not want a military solution to this crisis,” he said, before adding: “We believe [President Bashar] Assad should step down, but at the end of the day the Syrian people will make the decision, not the U.S.”
A few days later, Victoria Nuland, the State Department spokeswoman, sounded less affirmative. While also defending a political solution, she observed, “[I]f we can’t get Assad to yield to the pressure that we are all bringing to bear, we may have to consider additional measures.” To many people this suggested that the U.S. might possibly endorse arming Syria’s opposition if that became necessary. Evidently, the Obama administration – amid the carnage in Homs and elsewhere in Syria, and rising calls in the Arab world and even in the U.S. Congress for Assad’s opponents to be supplied with better weapons – feared that it would fall behind the policy curve.
There are no easy answers in Syria, but Washington’s trouble is that it has no strategy for the country. This is proving very damaging indeed, given that the Russians and Iranians do have one, and it can be summarized quite simply: Actively support the repression by the Syrian army and security services, bringing the opposition, or a portion of the opposition, to the negotiating table….
Nikolaos van Dam interview on Syria – “Any Western military intervention will be a disaster”….
…ومع ذلك فإن أي تدخل عسكري غربي سيكون كارثياً كما يرى الدبلوماسي الهولندي السابق ومؤلف الكتاب ذائع الصيت الصراع على السلطة في سوريا نيكولاس فان دام. كسفير هولندي سابق في عراق صدام حسين, يدرك فان دام جيداً مدى قسوة وسوء الديكتاتورية ولكنه يرى أن هناك ماهو أقسى وأسوأ من ذلك وهي الحرب الأهلية كالصراع الطائفي الذي عايشه وخَبِرَهُ في لبنان عندما بدأ عمله بالسلك الدبلوماسي هناك. عندما تتصادم الطوائف ضد بعضها البعض يصبح الجميع معرضين لخطر الموت وفي سوريا المنقسمة دينياً فإن حرباً طائفية تلوح في الأفق كما يرى فان دام. يهمين بعض أعضاء الطائفة العلوية على النظام في سوريا وهم فرقة من الشيعة يشكلون ما نسبته 12% من مجموع السكان بينما تَتَشَكل المعارضة من خليط من جميع الطوائف ولكن السنة والذين يشكلون أكثر من 60% من مجموع السكان يلعبون الدور الأهم داخل المعارضة. يخشى العلويون من العودة إلى فترة الخمسينات والستينات حيث كانوا مضطهدين ومهمشين بينما يتجه الإستياء والسَخط داخل السنة نحو الإنفجار وهذا ما يؤجج الصراع. لا يزال النظام متشبثاً بالسلطة, بدأت المعارضة بمظاهرات سلمية ولكنها مالبثت أن رفعت سقف مطالبها وبدأت ترد على النار بالنار. إذا ما أراد الغرب دعم المعارضة عن طريق تسليحها مثلا فإنه بذلك يكون كَمَن يصب الزيت على النار يخشى فان دام. قد تكون المعارضة أقوى عددياً ولكن النظام يملك وحدات النخبة المسلحة بالأسلحة الثقيلة
وهذا قد يؤدي الى سفك دماء قد يستمر لسنوات وهذا مانراه في العراق. ولذلك لايزال السفير السابق يدعو لحوار مع بشار الأسد. يجب إقناع النظام بالتخلي عن سلطاته ولكن فرصة حوار كهذا تتضائل يوماً بعد يوم يُقر فان دام ولكنه رغم ذلك لايرى بديلاً مباشراً ماعدا استمرار الصراع الدموي والذي سيُخلف نتيجة مغايرة تماماً لما هو مُنتَطر. مايجري في حمص يخلق شعوراً بأن على أحدهم أن يتدخل ولكن يجب عليك أن لا تفكر فقط بأنك تشعر بأنك مسؤول وأن الحالة سيئة وأن عَلَيكَ أن تَتَدخل ولكن عَليكَ أيضاً أن تفكر بما سينتُج عن مثل هكذا تدخل وهنا تكمن المُصيبة. إذا أدى التدخل العسكري إلى حرب أهلية على نطاق أوسع ستقول ” لقد قمنا بالخطوة الصحيحة أخلاقياً ولكن هناك مئات الأف من الضحايا الذين سقطوا نعم للأسف ولكن لم نكن نقصد ذلك “…..
Comments (450)
Tara said:
I condone KSA pulling out from the Friends of Syria meeting in Tunisia. The Syrian people are fed up with rhetorics. The world must stand firm against the tyranny. Mass murderers will not stop killing out of sudden benevolence. They should be removed by force. It is time for military intervention to destroy the Assad regime. People including women and children are dying and the world is simply watching. Criminal the second and his thugs are killing the innocent because they simply can….
February 24th, 2012, 12:57 pm
Tara said:
75 killed by Bashar al Assad in Syria today.
February 24th, 2012, 1:03 pm
Areal said:
With “KSA pulling out from the Friend of Syria meeting in Tunisia” , who is going to pay for the bombs that OTAN planes will use to destroy Syrian towns and to kill tens of thousands of INNOCENT people including women and children (the Libyan way) ?
Remark :
In today’s news round up the link for Syrian Report is broken , it is :
http://www.syria-report.com/blog
[Thanks! fixed – SCM]
February 24th, 2012, 1:39 pm
AlexB said:
If Saudi Arabia wants war for regime change in Assad, then why doesn’t it use its own military to achieve that goal?
[Note: there is another Alex in comments, so I have altered the nickname on this post so this account may also comment — SCModeration]
February 24th, 2012, 1:40 pm
bronco said:
#1 Tara
Do you realize the consequences of what you are asking for?
It seems that you share now the same hatred and dark objectives with a country you claimed you have no respect for.
February 24th, 2012, 2:27 pm
zoo said:
70,000 syrians refugees ‘thought’ to be in Jordan, but no tents to avoid ‘pitfalls’
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-17151364
With more than 70,000 Syrian refugees now thought to be in Jordan, it is a heavy burden on the UN refugee agency and the Jordanian government.
…
Thus far the authorities have been able to house and help most of the Syrian refugees inside existing Jordanian communities, avoiding some of the pitfalls and problems of traditional tented camps.
February 24th, 2012, 2:49 pm
zoo said:
Update on #6: Syrian refugees in Jordan.
There are 4,000 registered Syrian refugees in Jordan as of February 2012. As for the “70,000” mentioned by the BBC in its latest article, this is what the Jordanian governmnt said:
.The Jordanian government, which is planning to open a 30-dunum (30,000 square metre/323,000 square foot) refugee camp to host Syrians near the border, has said more than 70,000 of them fled to the kingdom since March.
“Some of them have returned to Syria, while others left for a third country,” said government spokesman Rakan Majali.
Jordan has accepted around 5,000 Syrian students in public schools.
The UN refugee agency, the UNHCR, has said it is providing aid to 4,000 registered Syrian refugees in Jordan, without providing details.
http://www.dawn.com/2012/02/24/syrian-survivors-narrate-horrible-tales-of-torture.html
February 24th, 2012, 3:00 pm
jad said:
مصادر فرنسية تربط عودة السفير الفرنسي المفاجئة إلى دمشق باعتقال ضباط مخابرات فرنسيين في حمص
فرنسا طلبت من روسيا التفاوض لإطلاق سراح أسراها ، و تقرير للتلفزيون الرسمي يلمح بطريقة غير مباشرة إلى اعتقال الفرنسيين
دمشق ، باريس ـ الحقيقة ( خاص من : مازن ابراهيم) : حدثان وقعا اليوم لفتا أنظار المراقبين دون أن يجدوا لهما تفسيرا منطقيا، هما عودة السفير الفرنسي المفاجئة إلى دمشق ، و انسحاب السفير الفرنسي في ” مؤتمر أصدقاء سوريا ” بتونس من المقاعد الأمامية إلى الخلف ومنح مقعده لمندوب الإمارات العربية . وكانت فرنسا استدعت سفيرها “للتشاور” في السابع من الشهر الجاري ، وهو ما قامت به أيضا دول غربية أخرى.
مصادر في فرنسا ، مقربة من الخارجية الفرنسية، عزت هذين الواقعتين إلى اعتقال عدد كبير نسبيا من ضباط وعملاء المخابرات الخارجية الفرنسية DGSE ، التي تعمل تحت إشراف وزارة الدفاع الفرنسية، في حي ” باباعمرو” غربي حمص خلال الأسبوعين الماضيين. وعلم أن من بين المعتقلين ضابطا برتبة عقيد.
{…}
وبحسب ما قاله ميسان ، فإنه ، وخلال الهجوم على “معقل للمتمردين المتحصنين في منطقة باب عمرو في حمص، القى الجيش السوري القبض على أكثر من 1500 مسلح، معظمهم اجانب، و من هؤلاء اثنا عشر من الفرنسيين الذين طلبوا معاملتهم كأسرى حرب، ورفضوا اعطاء هوياتهم ورتبهم وتفاصيل وحدات مهمامهم، واحد منهم هو كولونيل في الادارة العامة للأمن الخارجي”. وبحسب الصحفي الفرنسي ، فإن فرنسا ” قامت بشن حرب سرية ضد الجيش السوري من خلال تسليح فيالق الوهابيين ومدهم بوسائل استخبارات الأقمار الصناعية،مما تسبب في أكثر من 3000 حالة وفاة في صفوف الجيش، وأكثر من 1500 ضحية من المدنيين في عشرة أشهر من القتال”.
http://youtu.be/4QG4VHmIgB8
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http://www.syriatruth.org/%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A3%D8%AE%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%B1/%D8%A3%D8%AD%D8%AF%D8%A7%D8%AB%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B3%D9%80%D8%A7%D8%B9%D8%A9/tabid/93/Article/6782/Default.aspx
The original report:
France’s secret war against the Syrian people
http://www.voltairenet.org/France-s-secret-war-against-the
February 24th, 2012, 3:06 pm
jad said:
Zoo,
Ref#6, Check out this, the Jordanians are saying that only 2000 Syrians did registered as refugees:
وزير الإعلام الأردني يكشف بالأرقام حقيقة الأكاذيب المتعلقة بعدد اللاجئين السوريين إلى الأردن
عمان ، الحقيقة ( خاص) : قال وزير الدولة لشؤون الإعلام والاتصال الناطق الرسمي باسم الحكومة الأردنية ، راكان المجالي، إن ألفي مواطن سوري فقط طلبوا المساعدة الإنسانية في الأردن منذ بداية الأزمة في سورية. وكشف الوزير المجالي في حديث نقلته وكالة أنباء” بترا” الرسمية أن “عدد السوريين الذين دخلوا عن طريق الشيك الحدودي ( الشريط الحدودي ، بشكل غير قانوني) يقدر بحوالي 1500 شخص” فقط ، مشيرا إلى أنه ” تقدم حوالي 2000 مواطن سوري من مجموع الذين دخلوا إلى المملكة بطلبات إيواء ومساعدة للحكومة الأردنية” منذ بداية الأزمة في سوريا. وقال المجالي إن 73 ألف مواطن سوري هو مجموع السوريين الذين دخلوا الأردن بطريقة نظامية ، عبر منافذ الحدود ، منذ بداية الأزمة قبل نحو عام من اليوم. وأضاف القول ” إن الأردن يتحمل تأمين إيواء السوريين الذين يحتاجون إلى مساعدة وإغاثة وتقديم المعونات الضرورية لهم بالتعاون مع الهيئة الخيرية الأردنية الهاشمية والعديد من المنظمات والجمعيات الاغاثية المحلية والخارجية”.
ومن المعلوم أنه لا يعبر الحدود بطريقة غير شرعية سوى المطلوبين والملاحقين من قبل أجهزة أمن السلطة في سوريا، بينما من يعبر الحدود بشكل نظامي يكون وضعه” الأمني ” طبيعيا. وهو ما معناه أن الـ 1500 الذين عبروا الحدود بطريقة غير شرعية هم وحدهم الذين لهم وضع ” أمني” خاص في سوريا ( مطلوبين أو مطاردين).
{…}
http://www.syriatruth.org/%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A3%D8%AE%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%B1/%D8%A3%D8%AE%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%B1%D9%88%D8%AA%D9%82%D8%A7%D8%B1%D9%8A%D8%B1%D8%A3%D8%AE%D8%B1%D9%89/tabid/94/Article/6775/Default.aspx
Also more details bout evacuating the journalists, this report claims that the armed militias refused to surrender the journalist to the government which lead to a battle between the two sides ended up with killing many gunmen and take the journalist out by force:
استسلام العشرات من مسلحي”بابا عمرو” ، وأجهزة الأمن تصل إلى “عمق ” الحي و تجلي الصحفيين الأجانب
دمشق ، الحقيقة ( خاص) : قالت مصادر ميدانية إن وحدات من القوات الخاصة خاضت خلال الساعات الماضية حرب شوارع ، ومن بيت إلى آخر، مع المئات من المسلحين الأصوليين السوريين والعرب الذين يتحصنون في البنايات والأزقة الضيقة في “حي بابا عمرو” غربي حمص. وجاء في آخر الأنباء الواردة من ساحة المواجهة أن القوات الخاصة اعتقلت وقتلت المئات من المسلحين ، فيما سلم العشرات منهم أنفسهم دون قتال. وكشفت هذه المصادر أن وحدات الأمن السورية تمكنت من الوصول ظهر اليوم إلى عدد من الصحفيين الأجانب في عمق الحي المذكور ، حيث جرى نقلهم إلى مكان آمن خارج الحي. وبحسب مصادر”الحقيقة” ، فإن أجهزة السلطة “طلبت مساعدة وجهاء محليين من أجل إقناع المسلحين بتسليم جثتي الصحفيين ، الأميركية والفرنسي، اللذين قتلا قبل يومين ، و الصحفيين الجرحى ، من أجل نقلهم وعلاجهم في مكان آمن ، إلا أن المسلحين رفضوا تدخل الوجهاء ، فما كان من أجهزة الأمن والجيش إلا أن داهمت المكان الذي يتحصنون فيه ، حيث جرى “تحرير” الصحفيين وجثتي الصحفيين القتيلين بالقوة ونقلها إلى مكان آمن في حمص”. وكان عدد من هؤلاء الصحفيين أصيب بجراح خلال المواجهات بين الجيش والمسلحين المتحصنين في البنايات والمنازل وسط الأهالي. كما أن اثنين من هؤلاء الصحفيين قتلا خلال هذه المواجهات قبل يومين ، وهما ماري كولفن (أميركية تعمل لحساب صحيفة “صنداي تايمز” البريطانية)، والمصور الفرنسي ريمي اوشليك.
http://www.syriatruth.org/%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A3%D8%AE%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%B1/%D8%A3%D8%AE%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%B1%D9%88%D8%AA%D9%82%D8%A7%D8%B1%D9%8A%D8%B1%D8%A3%D8%AE%D8%B1%D9%89/tabid/94/Article/6779/Default.aspx
February 24th, 2012, 3:11 pm
AIG said:
Tara,
I understand what you are saying but have you asked the men in your life to enlist and go fight? Your husband or brother? Would you send your sons when they are old enough?
Don’t get me wrong, I want to see Assad gone yesterday, but to be honest, I would not risk my life nor my children’s life to fight a fight in which the leaders should be the Syrian diaspora. Organize hundreds or thousands of diaspora Syrians willing to train and then fight in Syria and then I will respect your call. Until then it smells of asking others to do your dirty work for you.
February 24th, 2012, 3:17 pm
Alan said:
Syrian Rebels Captured With Israeli Weapons
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qgznlLHb-44
of course israel and the west have never supplied arms or expertees
to support uprisings in countries whos regimes are considered hostile to them
but if it was cnn showing you iranian made roket shell found in afghanistan or iraq
it would be ,undeniable proof of state sponsored terrorism
the rebels in syria are backed armed and encourage by israel and the west and this is a fact ,they have helped propagate this civil war to unstablize iran and u know it
February 24th, 2012, 3:20 pm
zoo said:
U.S. Pledges $10 Million For Syrian Aid as Evacuation of Homs Begins
http://www.theatlanticwire.com/global/2012/02/us-pledges-10-million-syrian-aid-evacuation-homs-begins/49145/
After the International Red Cross opened up talks with the Syrian government, aid workers started to evacuate sick or wounded women and children from Homs on Friday, according to Reuters Carla Haddad, chief spokeswoman for the Red Cross, called it “a first step forward.”
The United States is making its own steps to calm down the situation as Secretary of State Hillary Clinton announced plans to send $10 million in humanitarian aid to Syria. “These funds will help support makeshift medical facilities, train emergency medical staff, and get clean water, food, blankets, heaters, and hygiene kits to Syrian civilians in need,” Clinton said in the release. “This is not the end. The United States will provide more humanitarian support in coming days.”
February 24th, 2012, 3:40 pm
Tara said:
Bronco
What about you? You have all along supported Assad and his thugs “pacifying” the revolution, mentally giving the regime the right to kill.. whoever, whatever, whenever, and wherever a dissenting voice is heard. You all along sheltered your sensitive soul from watching the killing, the humiliation and the torture of innocent Syrians while allowed this same sensitive soul to absorb and behold what fits the regime narrative. You declined many of my invitations to take a look.
You have not even once, not once, condemned any murder, abuse of human rights, targeting children, targeting women, beating the elderly, or any other atrocious acts that even the most ardent regime loyalists have by now condemned.
You have given yourself the “moral right” of condemning the revolution under a self deceiving imaginary fear of Islamists jihadist taking over, while you are well aware how this all started. Well, I have news for you, I am considered more of a target to the Islamic fundamentalists than you can ever be, being the woman that I am, but I would never ever let my imaginary fear or my selfishness blinds my eyes from seeing human suffering.
You have always stated that you have deep affection to Syria. I did believe you… And I at some point had an affection towards your affection to my homeland. However over the last several month, reading through your posts, I started wondering to whom really is your beloved? The land? The people? The history? The concept? Or the man??
I could have been easily blinded by what is blinding most of the supporters. After all, I come from a corrupt family intimately intertwined with the core inner circle. I did not inherit any hatred towards the man. To the extreme opposite, I should’ve been his biggest supporter … Ironically!
It is out of desperation that after living through hell over 11 month watching the unwatchable that I came to a conclusion that Bashar will burn Syria and most Syrians for the throne and that peaceful will only mean more devastation, more killing, more torture, and more inhumanity..and you know, my sensitive soul can not simply tolerate any of this. I do support the Syrians in their demands. They are asking for the world to either arm them or protect them and I do too.
And finally thank you for your comment to Norman..I did think you are better than that.
February 24th, 2012, 3:40 pm
annie said:
“I salute the heroic people of Syria who are striving for freedom, democracy and reform.” Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh”.
THANK U ISMAIL
THANK U HAMAS !
http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/02/24/us-syria-palestinians-idUSTRE81N1CC20120224
February 24th, 2012, 3:47 pm
Jad said:
Tsk tsk tsk 🙂 As i have any doubt about this tv network, Aljazeera fabrications exposed through bunch of hacked email by the Syrian Electonic Army
الجزيرة ليكس محطّة الرأي الآخر تزوّر التاريخ
وسام كنعان
دمشق | أول من أمس، تلقى كل العاملين في شبكة قنوات «الجزيرة» رسالة إلكترونية تطلب منهم تغيير كلمات المرور الخاصة بكومبيوتراتهم وبريدهم الإلكتروني. هذه الخطوة لم تفاجئ الموظفين والصحافيين بعد عملية القرصنة التي تعرّض لها الأسبوع الماضي جهاز الشبكة من قبل «الجيش السوري الإلكتروني»، وهي العملية التي أدّت إلى خروج أسرار المؤسسة إلى وسائل الإعلام. التسريب الأبرز كان مراسلة بين المذيعة في المحطة رولا إبراهيم ومراسل القناة في بيروت علي هاشم. وكشفت إبراهيم لزميلها أنها باتت «مرتدّة على الثورة» بعدما اكتشفت أن التحركات الاحتجاجية «ستخرب البلد وتودي به إلى حرب طائفية». ثمّ تطرّقت إلى موضوع «الجيش السوري الحرّ» المعارض ووصفته بأنه «فرع من فروع القاعدة». وانتقلت للحديث عن بعض زملائها في الدوحة قائلةً: «أنا شاهدة على إعلام فاطمة التريكي، وماجد عبد الهادي، ومازن إبراهيم، وبسام القادري، وفراس ناموس، وأحمد زيدان …
(…)
http://www.al-akhbar.com/node/35889
February 24th, 2012, 3:48 pm
Alan said:
Lebanon, Iraq, Turkey supply arms to the troops of Syrian opposition
http://www.itar-tass.com/en/c32/351209.html
February 24th, 2012, 3:51 pm
Tara said:
AIG
I am sorry but I think your comment is rhetorical and meaningless… I support the Palestinian struggle against the Israeli occupation even though I am not a Palestinian and I do not have a father, a brother, a husband or a son fighting. Do you get my point now?
February 24th, 2012, 3:51 pm
AIG said:
Tara,
I don’t get your point at all. Supporting a struggle is one thing, calling for others to risk their life for it is another. I support the struggle of the Syrian opposition, but I would not fight for them. If I am not mistaken, you are calling for others to fight for the Syrians, no?
February 24th, 2012, 3:54 pm
Alan said:
West Seeks Regime Change in Iran – Putin
http://en.rian.ru/russia/20120224/171516114.html
Arab League As An Anti-Arab Weapon
http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=29478
February 24th, 2012, 4:00 pm
Tara said:
AIG
No that is not what I meant. I do not want anyone to fight our fight, nor do I want a foreign boot on a Syrian land. I do not want to hear anymore empty rhetorics. I have heard rhetorics for 30 some years. I do not want to watch dignitaries ranting their placebo support to make them feel good and humane at the end of the day while Syria is being burned. Either help or shut up.
February 24th, 2012, 4:10 pm
bronco said:
Tara
Sorry, about blindness, I wonder who really suffers of it.
I have been constantly against any violence from any side and more than that, I have been against hatred and revenge as the motivation factors for violence.
I have not seen any pro-regime rally calling for revenge or the death or the blood of anyone. Can you say the same about most of the anti-regime demonstration? Now after you’ve seen hundreds of horror videos, you still call for more violence as a way out and you are just counting the scores on your Ipad abroad! Sorry, we are very afar apart.
In my view the most important need for any human being is security, physical and economical and it comes with a price tag.
For you it’s freedom of expression and dignity whatever it means because you take the others for granted so our priorities are different and therefore our views of the events are different.
Did you notice than even an Israeli commenter AIG replied to you as he was as shocked as I was by your sudden burst of bellicose calls by proxy that justified my spontaneous next comment to Norman.
February 24th, 2012, 4:12 pm
Jerusalem said:
Barak slams Peres for his objection to possible Israeli attack on Iran
Defense Minister Ehud Barak strongly criticized President Shimon Peres on Thursday, after a Haaretz report revealed that Peres is expected to tell U.S. President Barack Obama that he does not believe Israel should attack Iran in the near future.
Published 02:22 24.02.12
http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/news/barak-slams-peres-for-his-objection-to-possible-israeli-attack-on-iran-1.414500
February 24th, 2012, 4:15 pm
bronco said:
21. Tara said:
“AIG
No that is not what I meant.”
I see you are retracting your calls for violence.
Thank you, that’s sound more like you.
February 24th, 2012, 4:16 pm
Alan said:
Syria: Seeking a Convenient Casus Belli
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article30629.htm
February 24th, 2012, 4:19 pm
jad said:
I’m not surprised at all of those who keep calling for more violence more blood and begging the NATO to invade Syria.
I’m not sure why people are ‘shocked’, isn’t ‘hatred’ the only message those people master.
صرح وزير خارجية السعودية الامير سعود الفيصل أن تزويد المعارضة السورية بالاسلحة تعد فكرة ممتازة.
ورداً على سؤال في بداية إجتماع ثنائي مع وزيرة الخارجية الامريكية هيلاري كلينتون في العاصمة التونسية عما اذا كان يعتقد ان تسليح المعارضة السورية فكرة جيدة، أعرب الفيصل عن إعتقاده بأنها فكرة ممتازة، معتبراً أنه يتعيّن على المعارضة الدفاع عن نفسها.
وقال مساعد لوزير الخارجية السعودي رداّ على سؤال لوكالة رويترز بشأن التقرير: “غادرنا لحضور اجتماعات ثنائية على هامش المؤتمر”.
http://alkhabarpress.com/%D9%85%D9%88%D8%B3%D8%B9-%D8%B3%D8%B9%D9%88%D8%AF-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%81%D9%8A%D8%B5%D9%84-%D8%AA%D8%B3%D9%84%D9%8A%D8%AD-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D8%B9%D8%A7%D8%B1%D8%B6%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B3%D9%88/
February 24th, 2012, 4:27 pm
AIG said:
Bronco,
Are you for Arabs and Muslims going through special security checks before flights if Americans think it will help their security? I am just trying to figure out if your position is principled or not.
Regarding violence, you completely misunderstood what I was saying to Tara. I would be fighting much sooner myself, but I would not be sending someone else to do my fighting or hiding behind an autocratic regime that has been dispensing violence for decades while calling for non-violence (which is basically what you are doing).
February 24th, 2012, 4:29 pm
Tara said:
Bronco
Your definition of violence is contingent upon its target. You have not even once condemned the regime violence against the people. Prove me wrong.. You even kind of blamed the dead journalist for playing with death. Yes, indeed. We are very different and the world apart.
I have not retracted anything. Through peaceful demonstrations 7 k were killed and 30k disappeared. What magic number should we wait for before we armed ourselves? 50k? 100k? The first shabeeh goal is to kill 60 k of us. Should we wait for 60,001 to fight the fight? Bashar need to be removed by force. The FSA should be armed and provided logistical support to end the Syrian slaughter.
February 24th, 2012, 4:35 pm
mjabali said:
Here is a link to a video which I just saw and deserves a look.
The video is titled : ” a Present from al-Faruq Brigade, Capturing and killing Shabiha.”
When looking at the video you see that the soldiers captured and killed in it are Sunnis who has nothing to do with any Assad crackdown or Shabiha activity. Their story tells volume about a deteriorating situation where the Government tried to evacuate them. One of them even stated that he wanted to join the Free Syrian Army when his post was attacked. He is from Dara. The injured soldier is from the countryside of Alleppo. The third is from Muarat al-Numan. The dead soldier is referred to as a Shabih and we do not know where he is from. All we know is that he has blonde hair and got mocked for that.
The three do not even have the body armor associated with the fighting forces of al-Assad. None of them looked he is from any fighting unit, especially the soldier in the middle.
The video ends with the killers making fun of the soldier whom they killed in the ambush.
Syria is going to Hell ladies and gents. The vindictive bastards calling for more blood shed are participants in this massive spilling of Syrian blood.
February 24th, 2012, 4:40 pm
bronco said:
#27 AIG
I am not. These supposed “random’ search in US airports always end up on Arabs or Moslems. It’s disguised discrimination.
I understood that you were shocked that Syrians expats, sitting in the confort of their homes in a western countries, are cowardly calling for other Syrians to fight, instead of going themselves.
I am also shocked by the fact that these expats, blinded by revenge and hatred, stubbornly prefer to call for wider and more violent confrontations and send money to buy weapons instead of trying to promote a compromise where more human lives in Syria could be spared.
February 24th, 2012, 4:41 pm
AIG said:
Bronco,
I see you are a hypocrite. If security is more important than democracy, why are you against dedicating more efforts to checking Arabs and Muslims? After all, these are the people that are most likely to be dangerous.
I am not shocked by Tara’s position, it is the natural one. I am shocked by your cowardly position in which you support a murderous non-democratic regime that you know has murdered thousands of people. If you want non-violence, let’s hear you say that the regime should take its tanks out of Syrian towns.
February 24th, 2012, 4:50 pm
jad said:
Terrorists of the world unite. The ‘humane’ west is already providing advance weapons to the armed militias in Syria, which means that the Syrian Army has the full right to defend the country against those criminals, it’s a legitimate war against terrorists:
Syrian opposition says West is already aiding rebels
Western powers have begun providing military support to the Syrian rebel army, a major opposition grouping claimed today, as world leaders gathered in Tunis to discuss how to end Assad rule in the country.
Bassma Kodmani, a senior figure on the executive of the Syrian National Council, said countries she refused to name were already supplying equipment including military communications technology, body armour and night-vision goggles to the Free Syrian Army.
She was more reluctant to discuss the provision of light arms such as rifles, but she hinted that other allies were beginning to send in lethal weapons.
The rebels have issued desperate calls for weapons to enable them to take on the heavy armour of President Bashar al-Assad’s forces.
“Defensive and light equipment are what they are doing on the ground,” she said. “It has begun.”
Her claims were immediately denied by western officials. A senior diplomat said that provision of military supplies had not begun nor was even being discussed between them. “There are lots of people saying that the Qataris and Saudis are talking about it, but I’m not even aware of that.”
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/syria/9103759/Syrian-opposition-says-West-is-already-aiding-rebels.html
بسمة قضماني: دول غربية بدأت إرسال “أسلحة فتّاكة” لـ”الجيش الحر”
في تقرير لافت كتبه مراسلها من تونس، نشرت صحيفة “ديلي تيليغراف” البريطانية تصريحات أدلت بها المسؤولة البارزة في المجلس الوطني السوري بسمة قضماني وتحدثت فيها عن “دول غربية تقوم فعلا بتزويد الجيش الحر بمعدات عسكرية بما فيها تكنولوجيا الاتصالات العسكرية، والدروع الواقية، ومناظير الرؤية الليلية، ملمحة “إلى وجود حلفاء أخرين بدأوا بإرسال أسلحة فتاكة”.
وقالت الصحيفة البريطانية إن تصريحات قضماني تم تفنيدها فورا من قبل مسؤولين غربيين، ونقلت عن دبلوماسي غربي رفيع المستوى قوله “توفير إمدادات عسكرية لم يبدأ ولم تتم مناقشته أصلا، وهناك الكثير من الناس يقولون إن القطريين والسعوديين يتحدثون عن ذلك ولكن أنا لست على علم حتى بهذا الأمر”.
إلا أن قضماني قالت أيضا للصحيفة أن “الأمور كانت بالفعل أكثر تقدما من ذلك، ولكن الآن توفير الأسلحة يحتاج توافق في الآراء”.
وأوضحت “هناك شبكات غير رسمية تعمل على الأرض، وتدخل أسلحة كثيرة إلى سوريا”، وأضافت “أن دولا غربية تقوم بتوفير الاتصالات والدروع الواقية ومناظير الرؤية الليلية”.
http://syria-politic.com/ar/Default.aspx?subject=403#.T0gKWIePUsd
February 24th, 2012, 5:10 pm
jad said:
Finally! one of the most radical and provocative Zionist Israelis support the Palestinian and Lebanese resistance techniques to free occupied Palestine and the Lebanese lands!
“If they (Palestinians and Lebanese resistance fighters) use the weapons to fight the Israeli army and associated para-military (Settlers) forces, it is not terrorism.”
February 24th, 2012, 5:21 pm
jad said:
Mjabali,
What a horrific clip, yet the same terrorists in this clip if they were to be killed or captured, every thug will start crying ‘THOSE WERE INNOCENT’…
February 24th, 2012, 5:32 pm
Amir in Tel Aviv said:
Tara,
Just to let you know. I don’t share your admiration and fondness towards the KSA and the Qatari monarchs. I think that the Syrian revolutionaries should distance themselves from characters like these, and from the political and religious cultures that they represent.
.
February 24th, 2012, 5:44 pm
jad said:
More reports about funding and supporting weapons to get get smuggled into Syria:
Syria: Foreign Countries Allowing Opposition To Buy Weapons – Source
Foreign countries are allowing Syrian opposition supporters to buy and smuggle light arms, communications equipment and night vision goggles to Free Syrian Army rebels inside Syria, an unnamed Syrian opposition source said Feb. 24, Reuters reported. Though no foreign country has made a decision to arm the rebels, weapons are coming from everywhere, including Western countries, the source said. The opposition supporters also hope to smuggle in anti-aircraft and anti-tank weapons to the rebels, as well as retired Syrian military officers to help coordinate the opposition, the source said.
http://www.stratfor.com/situation-report/syria-foreign-countries-allowing-opposition-buy-weapons-source
February 24th, 2012, 5:48 pm
jad said:
Mjabali,
The footage you linked earlier about executing young Syrian soldiers by terrorists, made it to Syriatruth along two other clips revealing the bloody work of the terrorists in Homs:
مزيد من الأشرطة تفضح جرائم الوهابيين في حمص ، وصحيفة فرنسية تكشف المزيد عن عمالتهم
إعدام الجنود المخطوفين بإطلاق النار على ظهورهم بينما وجوههم إلى الحائط ، وسيارات تحمل رشاشات ثقيلة في الزواريب، وسطو مسلح على صوامع الحبوب
دمشق ، حمص ـ الحقيقة (خاص) : سرّب المسلحون الوهابيون من “كتيبة الفاروق” في حمص ، التي يشرف عليها ضباط مخابرات فرنسيون ، عددا من الأشرطة التي تفضح ما يقمومون به من جرائم وحشية تفوق الجرائم التي التي تتهم السلطة بارتكابها ، سواء من حيث القتل الوحشي للأسرى أو السطو المسلح على المنشآت العامة ، علما بان السلطة ـ وباستثناء مذبحة سجن تدمر الشهيرة التي اقترفها مجرمو رفعت الأسد مطلع الثمانينيات ـ لم يسبق لها أن قتلت معتقليها وأسراها عن سابق إصرار وتصميم ، وإن كانت قتلتهم بطريقة غير مباشرة تحت التعذيب.
الشريط الأول يظهر عددا من جنود الجيش السوري من وحدات الاستطلاع وقد صلبوا على الجدران قبل أن يجري إعدامهم رميا بالرصاص بالطريقة نفسها التي مارسها ” سفير” إسرائيل في لبنان سمير جعجع مع عناصر الجيش اللبناني في بلدة “عمشيت” خلال الحرب الأهلية وفي “ثكنة رومية”.وتثبت عملية قتل عناصر الجيش السوري بهذه الطريقة الصهيونية أن استهداف الجيش السوري هو ـ قولا واحدا ـ من بنات أفكار مشغلي ما يسمى “الجيش الحر” ، لاسيما إسرائيل التي تزوده بقذائف مضادة للمدرعات ، والمخابرات الفرنسية التي تزوده بمعلومات عبر الأقمار الصناعية ، كما كشفت وسائل إعلام غربية عديدة خلال الأشهر الماضية ( “لوفيغارو”، تلغراف ، مركز” ستراتفور” الأميركي للاستخبارات ، ثم صحيفة “لوكنار إيشينيه” في عددها الأخير). وقد كشفت ” لوكنار أشينيه” في عددها الأخير الصادر أمس أنه جرى إرسال ضباط “فرع العمليات” من المخابرات الخارجية الفرنسية ومن “العمليات الخاصة” إلى شمال لبنان وتركيا لتدريب وتنظيم وحدات الفارين من الجيش السوري والمنضمين إليهم تحت لواء ما يسمى “الجيش السوري الحر”. ونقلت الصحيفة عن ضابط رفيع المستوى في جهاز المخابرات المذكور قوله لها إن البريطانيين والفرنسيين هم أول من أخذ المبادرة إلى الاجتماع بعناصر “الجيش” المذكور. وكشفت الصحيفة أن قصر الإليزيه (الرئاسة الفرنسية) وحلف شمال الأطلسي يعدان لـ”عملية محدودة” ضد سوريا.
ويظهر الشريط الثاني عملية سطو مسلح على صوامع الحبوب في منطقة “القصير” جنوب غرب حمص وتخريبها ، وهي الصوامع التي تزود المطاحن العامة بالقمح لتحويله إلى طحين يوزع على الأفران العامة والخاصة . وبعد ذلك ييتحثون عن أزمة في الطحين والخبز!!
{…}
مسلحو “كتيبة الفاروق” يطلقون النار من بين الأهالي
http://youtu.be/7RV2QP-nabI
لصوص”كتيبة الفاروق” يسطون بالسلاح على صوامع الحبوب
http://youtu.be/hHv9LyuszUw
http://www.syriatruth.org/news/tabid/93/Article/6784/Default.aspx
February 24th, 2012, 5:56 pm
ann said:
Weapons supply issue splits Friends of Syria – 24 February, 2012
http://rt.com/news/weapons-syria-rebels-supplies-181/
The opposition National Syrian Council has called on the Friends of Syria to provide the rebels with arms. “Excellent idea,” said the Saudi foreign minister, while the US is calling for an end to “supplying weapons to kill civilians.”
Therefore, if everyone gathered in Tunisia for the Syria conference gets their way, the Syrian rebels will be equipped to fight, while President Assad’s forces will not.
“The Friends of Syria should not constrain individual countries from aiding the Syrian opposition by means of military advisors, training and the provision of arms to defend themselves,” said a member of the Istanbul-based Syrian National Council to the outright approval of the Saudi delegation.
The Saudi stance may well set them at loggerheads with Turkey, who have actually called for an arms embargo to be imposed on the troubled country.
A Friday report by Reuters says the West has been turning a blind eye to weapons purchases made by the Syrian rebels, though international arms contracts should be sanctioned by governments.
“We are bringing in defensive and offensive weapons. It is coming from everywhere, including Western countries and it is not difficult to get anything through the borders,” a source in the Syrian opposition told the news agency, speaking on condition of anonymity.
“There is not a decision by any country to arm the rebels, but countries are allowing Syrians to buy weapons and send them into the country,” he added without elaborating on the exact suppliers.
[…]
February 24th, 2012, 6:16 pm
jad said:
This is what Syria’s ‘lovers’ want to see happening to Syria…what a disgusting ‘love’:
“The opening of the Iraq War.”
Shock & Awe
http://youtu.be/R30cbnkMG3s
February 24th, 2012, 6:18 pm
zoo said:
How to protect Israel if the Syrian regime collapses? The WMD song.
Exclusive: State Department quietly warning region on Syrian WMDs
Posted By Josh Rogin Friday, February 24, 2012 – 3:03 PM Share
http://thecable.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2012/02/24/exclusive_state_department_quietly_warning_region_on_syrian_wmds
The State Department has begun coordinating with Syria’s neighbors to prepare for the handling of President Bashar al-Assad’s extensive weapons of mass destruction if and when his regime collapses, The Cable has learned.
This week, the State Department sent a diplomatic demarche to Syria’s neighbors Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, and Saudi Arabia, warning them about the possibility of Syria’s WMDs crossing their borders and offering U.S. government help in dealing with the problem, three Obama administration officials confirmed to The Cable. For concerned parties both inside and outside the U.S. government, the demarche signifies that the United States is increasingly developing plans to deal with the dangers of a post-Assad Syria — while simultaneously highlighting the lack of planning for how to directly bring about Assad’s downfall.
Syria is believed to have a substantial chemical weapons program, which includes mustard gas and sophisticated nerve agents, such as sarin gas, as well as biological weapons. Syria has also refused IAEA requests to make available facilities that were part of its nuclear weapons program and may still be in operation.
(…)
February 24th, 2012, 6:32 pm
zoo said:
“Skype is the most important program of the revolution”
Deserters Battle Assad from Turkey
By Oliver Trenkamp, on the Turkish-Syrian Border
Photo Gallery: Tackling Assad from Turkey
http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/0,1518,817225,00.html
At first they served the regime, but now they are fighting against it. Operating out of southern Turkey, units of the Free Syrian Army, driven by hatred toward Assad, are infiltrating their home country and fighting soldiers loyal to the dictator. SPIEGEL ONLINE visits the troops.
…
The FSA also has an image problem, most recently because of al-Qaida’s call for Muslims to join them in fighting the Assad regime. That’s one of the reasons why FSA leaders have stressed that they respect all religions. Doing so might help them gain hoped-for support from neighboring countries and Europe.
…
February 24th, 2012, 6:41 pm
Tara said:
Amir
I have no admiration or fondness towards KSA and Qatari monarchs. My next revolution to support in the Arab spring saga is the KSA’s one. It has to be though one after the other. I can’t support two revolutions at the same time. It tires me.
In regard to the Syrian revolutionaries distancing themselves from the KSA’s and the Quatari’s monarch, is that really an option? I love idealism and perfection too, but Syrians are all alone. They are being slaughtered by the hundreds every day by Damascus butcher. Do I remain romantic to my principals and refuse a helping hand from HBJ? After all the massacre would have been on much more enormous scale had Qatar and KSA remained silent. Don’t you think
———–
No fondness towards HBJ, I linked his pictures once to counteract Zoo’s mesmerization with Emma, (aka, Asma) Assad. I was jealous…
February 24th, 2012, 6:41 pm
Tara said:
Mjabali
By the way, there is certain pride to your personality that is admirable…. I have asked you once to not interact with me. You graciously honored my request and I admire this. Some people need to learn from you how to be gracious. You and I have landed on the wrong foot the first post and that escalated later. I now retract my request.
February 24th, 2012, 6:50 pm
zoo said:
The first meeting of the Friends of Syria, in a planned series of meetings, did not seem to achieve much.
What happened to the ‘tough message to the Syrian government’? The international call for the resignation of Bashar al Assad? The presence of the FSA at the meeting? The decision to arm the FSA?
All these predictions that the media has been hammering us the last week from anonymous ‘officials’ were just small talk?
The final meeting message sounds empty and weak. The SNC is now stuck with the label ‘ peaceful democratic change’.
Next rendez-vous of the club is in March in Istambul and the next in Paris who knows when.
Syria summit urges humanitarian action
http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/syria-summit-urges-humanitarian-action.aspx?pageID=238&nID=14629&NewsCatID=338
World powers emphasize the urgent need for humanitarian access to Syria for civilians, also recognizing the main opposition group as ‘a legitimate representative of the Syrians seeking peaceful democratic change’ in Tunis
[…}
February 24th, 2012, 6:57 pm
zoo said:
AT LAST?
U.S. does not believe Iran is trying to build nuclear bomb
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-iran-intel-20120224,0,5827032.story
The latest U.S. intelligence report indicates Iran is pursuing research that could enable it to build a nuclear weapon, but that it has not sought to do so.
…
A highly classified U.S. intelligence assessment circulated to policymakers early last year largely affirms that view, originally made in 2007. Both reports, known as national intelligence estimates, conclude that Tehran halted efforts to develop and build a nuclear warhead in 2003.
The most recent report, which represents the consensus of 16 U.S. intelligence agencies, indicates that Iran is pursuing research that could put it in a position to build a weapon, but that it has not sought to do so.
Although Iran continues to enrich uranium at low levels, U.S. officials say they have not seen evidence that has caused them to significantly revise that judgment. Senior U.S. officials say Israel does not dispute the basic intelligence or analysis.
..
U.S. spy agencies also have not seen evidence of a decision-making structure on nuclear weapons around Khamenei, said David Albright, who heads the nonprofit Institute for Science and International Security and is an expert on Iran’s nuclear program.
Albright’s group estimates that with the centrifuges Iran already has, it could enrich uranium to sufficient purity to make a bomb in as little as six months, should it decide to do so.
It is not known precisely what other technical hurdles Iran would have to overcome, but Albright and many other experts believe that if it decides to proceed, the country has the scientific knowledge to design and build a crude working bomb in as little as a year. It would take as long as three years, Albright estimated, for Iran to build a warhead small enough to fit on a ballistic missile.
Albright said a push by Iran to build a nuclear weapon probably would be detected.
(…)
February 24th, 2012, 7:03 pm
jad said:
10 Alternative Names For The “Friends Of Syria” Conference
The following are ten alternatives for the sarcastically named “Friends of Syria” conference which would be a more honest and accurate description of the American organized, Arab oil-Sheiks funded spectacle in Tunisia.
1. Friends of Israel Conference
2. Balkanization of Syria Conference
3. Colonial Nostalgia Conference
4. Enemies of Syria Conference
5. Iraq: The Sequel Conference
6. Puppets of the Empire Conference
7. Destroy Hizballah Pre-Conference-Conference
8. We All Got Screwed By Russia Conference
9. Join-Us-For-Free- America’s-Barking-Arab Sheiks-Will-Pay-Conference
10. Kofi Annan’s Cameo Comeback Conference.
11. America Al-Qaeda Reconciliation Conference
12. Libya Chaos 2.0 Conference
http://ikhras.com/2012/02/10-alternative-names-for-the-friends-of-syria-conference/
February 24th, 2012, 8:00 pm
zoo said:
Difficult negotiations to allow the evacuation of the two journalists ( in custody of the rebels in Homs).
WS/world
ICRC evacuates Syrian wounded, Westerners still in Homs
File – AFP
Red Cross and Red Crescent ambulances entered the besieged Homs district of Baba Amr on Friday and evacuated seven Syrians wounded in bombardment by regime forces, the ICRC said.
But the ambulances did not evacuate two wounded Western journalists and the bodies of two others, a spokesman for the International Committee of the Red Cross said, adding that negotiations in their case were still under way.
“Three ambulances entered Baba Amr and they have left. They evacuated so far seven wounded Syrian citizens,” Saleh Dabbakeh said.
“Negotiations continue with the Syrian authorities and the opposition in an attempt to evacuate all persons, without exception, who are in need of urgent help,” he added.
[…]
French reporter Edith Bouvier and British photographer Paul Conroy suffered leg wounds in the same attack.
On Thursday Bouvier was seen in a video message appealing for medical evacuation.
“My leg is broken at the level of the femur, along its length and also horizontally. I need to be operated upon as soon as possible,” she said in the video shot by anti-regime activists.
“The doctors here have treated me very well, as much as they are able, but they are not able to undertake surgical procedures,” she said.
“I need a ceasefire and a medically equipped vehicle, or at least one in good condition, that can get me to the Lebanese border so I can be treated in the shortest possible time.”
Earlier Dabbakeh said that the ICRC and the Red Crescent would seek to evacuate from Homs “everyone in need of urgent help,” not just the foreign reporters.
Syria accused rebels in Baba Amr of refusing to hand over Bouvier and the bodies of the two killed Western journalists to rescuers, the state-run SANA news agency reported.
“The concerned authorities in Homs, moved by humanitarian considerations, sent several local officials and Red Crescent ambulances to evacuate the Western journalists who entered Syria illegally,” SANA quoted a foreign ministry official as saying.
[…]
February 24th, 2012, 8:07 pm
jad said:
tsk tsk tsk….
عضو بالمجلس الوطني السوري: المجلس في أيامه الأخيرة
دمشق ـ د ب أ: قالت عروبة بركات عضو المجلس الوطني السوري المعارض إن المجلس الوطني يعيش أيامه الأخيرة بسبب ‘غطرسة بعض الكتل فيه وأن هناك انتفاضة حقيقية ستحدث بالمجلس قريبا إن لم يغير من مساره’.
وأضافت عروبة بركات، في تصريحات خاصة لموقع ‘سيريا بوليتيك’ السوري الاخباري المستقل الجمعة، أن ‘هناك انتفاضة حقيقية سيقوم بها بعض أعضاء المجلس للتخلص من ديكتاتورية البعض’، مؤكدة وجود انسحابات جماعية من المجلس ستحدث في القريب العاجل.
وأعلن عن تشكيل المجلس الوطني السوري، وهو جماعة سياسية تضم أغلب أطياف المعارضة، في الثاني من تشرين الاول (اكتوبر) 2011 في مدينة اسطنبول التركية.
وقالت عروبة بركات ‘إن برهان غليون (رئيس المجلس) هدد بالإنسحاب من المجلس أو الإستقالة إن لم يتم انتخابه مجددا’.
وأضافت أن العديد من ‘أعضاء المجلس مستاء جدا من سيطرة كتلة دون غيرها على المجلس’، كما أكدت ‘عدم رضاها على السيدة بسمة قضماني في الكثير من الأمور’، وقالت إن ‘الإسلام دين نعتز به ولا يمكن تحت شعار الثورة أن نقزم هذا الدين وأن نقلل من عظمته إرضاء للبعض في المجلس’.
وقالت ‘من يجلس مع الصهاينة ويؤيدهم لا يمكن اعتباره وطنيا وإن كان يتحدث باسم الشعب السوري’.
http://www.alquds.co.uk/index.asp?fname=data%5C2012%5C02%5C02-24%5C24z499.htm&arc=data%5C2012%5C02%5C02-24%5C24z499.htm
Zoo,
I read something similar on couple FB pages:
“HNN شبكة أخبار حمص
We found out that the news about taking out the injured ,foreign, journalists from Baba Amr was inaccurate because the news are saying that those journalists refused to join the Red Cross , which tried to help them ,without giving any reasonable excuse”
https://www.facebook.com/homs.news.network.alternative
February 24th, 2012, 8:11 pm
zoo said:
ICRC evacuates Syrian wounded, but did not succeed in evacuating the two wounded journalists and the bodies of two others from Bab Amr, Homs
AFP
http://www.ntn24.com/news/news/icrc-evacuates-syrian-wounded-10973
Red Cross and Red Crescent ambulances entered the besieged Homs district of Baba Amr on Friday and evacuated seven Syrians wounded in bombardment by regime forces, the ICRC said.
But the ambulances did not evacuate two wounded Western journalists and the bodies of two others, a spokesman for the International Committee of the Red Cross said, adding that negotiations in their case were still under way.
..
Syria accused rebels in Baba Amr of refusing to hand over Bouvier and the bodies of the two killed Western journalists to rescuers, the state-run SANA news agency reported.
“The concerned authorities in Homs, moved by humanitarian considerations, sent several local officials and Red Crescent ambulances to evacuate the Western journalists who entered Syria illegally,” SANA quoted a foreign ministry official as saying.
“Despite efforts that lasted several hours, armed groups in Baba Amr refused to hand over the wounded woman (Bouvier) and the two bodies, thus endangering the life of the wounded French journalist,” the official added.
Diplomatic efforts were stepped up on Friday to evacuate the wounded Western journalists and the bodies of their two colleagues, with the French, British and Polish working closely together, a Western diplomat said.
And the French embassy said that Ambassador Eric Chevallier returned to Damascus, more than two weeks after he was recalled by Paris in response to the Syrian regime’s crackdown on dissent.
..
Meanwhile French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe, in Tunis for an international “Friends of Syria” meeting on Friday, “solemnly” urged Syria to allow for the evacuation of the wounded journalists.
February 24th, 2012, 8:21 pm
irritated said:
Jad #53
Miss Piggy and Gonzo at the Friends of Syria meeting, alias The Muppets go to Tunis.
http://img.allvoices.com/thumbs/event/609/480/90328838-us-secretary.jpg
February 24th, 2012, 8:33 pm
jad said:
Irritated
Good one! 🙂
I’m happy to see that there are still some Arabs with honour:
ملخص وقفة الشرف اليوم بقمرت تونس ضد اعداء سوريا.
http://youtu.be/OnkC7ex0Bz0
شرفاء تونس يحاولون اقتحام مؤتمر أعداء سورية
http://youtu.be/NCu2fJIFJpI
February 24th, 2012, 8:40 pm
zoo said:
Clinton … predicts Syria coup
Associated Press – 5 hrs ago
http://news.yahoo.com/clinton-blasts-russia-china-predicts-syria-coup-203413108.html
…
She said that members of Syrian President Bashar Assad’s own security forces would overthrow him if forced to continue targeting civilians. Many rebel soldiers already have defected to the opposition’s side.
“We also know from many sources that there are people around Assad who are beginning to hedge their bets — they didn’t sign up to slaughter people,” she told reporters
…
Clinton noted that in several other cases over the past year, militaries have stepped in to remove unpopular leaders, as happened in Tunisia and Egypt.
“We saw this happen in other settings last year, I think it is going to happen in Syria,” she said.
February 24th, 2012, 9:05 pm
Ghufran said:
It is beyond depressing to see that some western,and even Jewish,politicians and bloggers are being more sensible than some Syrians when it comes to Syrian issues.
Actually,wars by proxy are becoming the trend now. Poor alawis are dying while the regime fat cats are busy smuggling money and family members outside Syria,Hizballah fought,and will fight,on behalf of Iran,Libyans killed each other while NATO pilots were practicing air assaults unharmed,Kuwaiti men were partying at Beirut and Cairo night clubs while others were liberating their country from Saddam,and many wealthy Syrians and khalijis with 6 or 7 figures income are sending their lethal advice on TV and the Internet,while they vacation in Europe and their kids study at ivy league colleges,etc.
If the regime and the anti regime militias stay the course ,a destructive civil war followed by sectarian cleansing will be the most likely outcome of this bloody conflict. I just heard that the talks about a plan-B for Latakia and Tartous provinces are not just talks now,there is a real movement now in those areas to prepare for a possible autonomy including the return on thousands of Syrians who emigrated to areas outside the coastal provinces for work or military service. Like it or not,this uprising with the help of regime thugs is taking Syria back to the dark ages,and this is why many wealthy Syrians are becoming more interested in preserving what they can instead of trying to keep the country united.
February 24th, 2012, 9:15 pm
Tara said:
Syrian regime accused of crimes against humanity by UN
A UN list of senior Syrian officials who should face investigation is reported to include the president, Bashar al-Assad
Julian Borger and Peter Beaumont
guardian.co.uk, Thursday 23 February 2012 15.45 EST
The UN has accused the Syrian regime of “crimes against humanity” – including the use of snipers against small children – and has drawn up a list of senior officials who should face investigation, reportedly including President Bashar al-Assad.
…
The UN report found evidence that “army snipers and Shabbiha gunmen [from pro-Assad militias] posted at strategic points terrorised the population, targeting and killing small children, women and other unarmed civilians. Fragmentation mortar bombs were also fired into densely populated neighbourhoods.”
It said: “Security agencies continued to systematically arrest wounded patients in state hospitals and to interrogate them, often using torture, about their supposed participation in opposition demonstrations or armed activities.”
…
The report also says rebel groups, known collectively as the Free Syrian Army, have committed torture and extra-judicial executions, but argues those violations are in no way “comparable in scale and organisation” to the abuses being carried out by the Assad regime, which have led to thousands of deaths.
…
“There is no military option at the moment on the table,” Juppé said. “We are hugely frustrated. I can understand the sense of impotence. The dead are piling up. I can’t say it’s anything but a very deep source of anguish for me. We are doing everything we can, but we can’t break the rules and act without the approval of the UN security council.”
{…]
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/feb/23/syrian-regime-crimes-humanity-un
February 24th, 2012, 9:21 pm
jad said:
More from Tunis:
المناضلة التونسية فافاني : سورية ستنتصر يا ولاد الكلب
http://youtu.be/VBRpewmidaw
February 24th, 2012, 9:35 pm
Yusef said:
I am so concerned about the Syrian people. I have relatives in Lebanon and I know war creates refugees, leaving with little to nothing. I want to see a free Syria. A free Syria, free from western dictates. It seems to me many of the problems stem from the western powers at the end of WWI, carving up land that wasn’t theirs, giving it to people it didn’t belong to. I hate so see western powers even involved at all because of history.
Do you think Arab people will ever be totally free of western self interest? I’m concerned that if the west is involved in any way, the west will demand a place at the table and say “we earned a say in what happens”.
February 24th, 2012, 9:52 pm
Ghufran said:
مجلس الشعب المصري
February 24th, 2012, 9:53 pm
majedkhaldoun said:
It is obvious now that the liberation of Syria from the criminal Assad and his thugs can only be accomplished by the FSA, The FSA has to act as the leader of this revolution,it is not the SNC or the NCB or any other self claimed leaders, the Syrian people themselves are the true leaders, and it is a fight till death, either the Assad supporters,or the people of Syria, the FSA must act in the most powerful way possible,this is a war and there is no rules in war, everything is possible in war,this war is forced on us by the Assad thugs, The regime has no mercy.
in the post Assad Syria it will be pure.
February 24th, 2012, 10:25 pm
SC Moderation said:
Apologies again for the double-whammy to one of SC’s many fine commentators — Ghufran. There were six more short posts of his filtered to spam two days ago. One of his posts was set aside to add a URL, and this backed up all his subsequent posts for many hours, to his frustration.
We are only one moderator on shift for a 24 hour period. It would be really useful to have another moderator from a time zone close to the Middle East/North Africa.
Some personal comments and exchanges have been curbed tonight. I will clear the queue so no one is prevented from posting freely. The choice with moderating personal attacks is to edit or trash. Tonight comments that contain personally provocative or attacking phrases go in the trash.
I have to thank everyone who posts here for their passionate and informative posts. Readability, tone and temper of comments has improved, in the greatest part due to our commentator’s self-moderation.
Please continue to help each other keep discussion civil and open to the widest possible range of opinion.
February 24th, 2012, 10:53 pm
Hans said:
either the journalists in Bab Omer are refusing to leave because they have issues to hide and afraid that the regime may expose them, or truly the terrorists holding them hostage for negotiation!!! or this people have with them many other french and Brits officers who are in Bab Omer supporting the terrorists.
the regime better get inside Bab omer and spread its authority over all Syrian territory.
The friends of Syria are only the enemy of Syria and Syrians, you can’t be Syrian friend if you send weapons and mercenaries to kill innocent Syrian.
The Saudi couldn’t take orders from a woman ( Hillary Clinton) therefore they walked out.
it is not going to be an easy year for Syria, Assad is not the issue here anymore. Even if assad step down, Syria will turn into a failed state no difference than Libya, somali, Yemen, etc…
only with endless civil war with risk of fragmenting Syria, divide it or not it is not going to be anything but a sectarian country divided into small states.
Israel is the only winner from the Arab spring so far, although many the radicals on SC accused me of being an islamophobic, or a conspiracy manic person in the past but it is clear that Syria is being dealt a bad card called the Arabs traitors, which with their naive mentality are working for Israel, USA paying the price for any move the west takes.
it is not going to be long before we see Syria as a previous Lebanon where slaughter based on the ID card, although we claim we don’t have the religion listed on the ID card in Syria but it doesn’t take much to know who is who from the name, where they live and who they affiliate with.
the 21st century didn’t bring freedom to the Arab world but is bringing worse wars and self destruction from within associated with increased violence against each others.
February 24th, 2012, 10:54 pm
jad said:
In case you missed Al Jazeera scandal in Arabic here is the story in English:
Syria’s Electronic Warriors Hit Al Jazeera
Emails said to reveal dismay among Al-Jazeera staff over its “biased and unprofessional” coverage of Syria have been leaked by pro-Assad hackers.
Damascus – On Wednesday, the entire staff of the Al Jazeera network allegedly received an email instructing them to change their computer and email passwords.
Earlier in the week, the network’s server had been hacked by the self-styled Syrian Electronic Army, and some of its secrets were released to the media.
The major find to be made public was an email exchange between anchorwoman Rula Ibrahim and Beirut-based reporter Ali Hashem. The emails seemed to indicate widespread disaffection within the channel, especially over its coverage of the crisis in Syria.
Ibrahim wrote to her colleague saying that she had “turned against the revolution” in Syria after realizing that the protests would “destroy the country and lead to a civil war.” She went on to deride the opposition Free Syrian Army, which she described as “a branch of al-Qaeda.”
Ibrahim also complained about the attitudes of various colleagues at the channel’s Doha headquarters, saying some of them “have refused to greet me ever since the outbreak of events in Syria because they hold a grudge against my sect.”
Hashem responded sympathetically, saying he had opted to sit on the fence after sending the channel footage of armed men clashing with the army which he had witnessed while reporting from northeastern Lebanon. He said that after he submitted the video, he was told to return to Beirut on the grounds that he was exhausted.
In her response, Ibrahim once again protested that she had “been utterly humiliated. They wiped the floor with me because I embarrassed Zuheir Salem, spokesperson for Syria’s Muslim Brothers. As a result, I was prevented from doing any Syrian interviews, and threatened with [a] transfer to the night shift on the pretext that I was making the channel imbalanced.”
Ibrahim also spoke of how Syrian activists invited onto Al Jazeera use terms of sectarian incitement on air, “which Syrians understand very well.”
Hashem wondered in response where the channel’s head of news, Ibrahim Hilal, stood in all this. Ibrahim answered that he was “stuck between a rock and a hard place: the agenda and professionalism…”
This conversation was broadcast in full on the state Syrian News Channel, which also interviewed the hackers who broke through Al Jazeera’s information system.
However, the scoop did not attract the attention that had been hoped for. Like other official Syrian media, the channel is not widely watched and has suffered a loss of viewer confidence.
Thus the report was barely noticed, and Al Jazeera itself completely disregarded it.
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http://english.al-akhbar.com/node/4525/
February 24th, 2012, 11:18 pm
jad said:
حرب التدخل الخارجـي لإسقاط الأسد
«مؤتمر أصدقاء سوريا»: مساعدات إنسانية تُزعج السعوديّة
كلّ الكلام الذي قيل عن «مؤتمر أصدقاء سوريا» قبل انعقاده، سقط مع صدور البيان الختامي، الذي خلا من أيّ قرارات، لا على صعيد الممرات الإنسانية، التي راج الحديث عنها قبل أيام، ولا في ما يتعلق بالاعتراف بالمجلس الوطني السوري، الذي أقر بأنه يمثل جزءاً من السوريين، مع إبقاء باب توحيد المعارضة مفتوحاً. وبناءً عليه، كان المؤتمر ساحة لـ «الصراخ» من دون أفعال، وهو ما أثار امتعاض الخليجيين
لم يخرج مؤتمر «أصدقاء سوريا»، الذي عقد في تونس أمس، بأكثر من الكلام المتفاوت الحماوة بين ممثلي «الأصدقاء»، الذين تقاطروا إلى العاصمة التونسية. كلام السقف العالي، الذي كان الخليجيون أبطاله، لم يخرج من قاعة المؤتمر إلى الورق، فجاء البيان الختامي عاماً، مع التلويح بسيف العقوبات، وهو ما أثار امتعاض وزير الخارجية السعودي، سعود الفيصل، الذي رأى أن الحل هو بتنحي الرئيس السوري «طوعاً أو بالقوة»، فيما جاء الاعتراف بالمجلس الوطني السوري مجتزءاً، ليكون ممثلاً لجزء من هذا الشعب الساعي «الى إحداث تغيير ديموقراطي سلمي».
ودعا «مؤتمر أصدقاء سوريا»، في بيانه الختامي، الى وقف كافة أعمال العنف «فوراً»، وفرض المزيد من العقوبات على النظام السوري. وجاء في البيان الختامي للمؤتمر «أكدت مجموعة الأصدقاء على الحاجة الماسة إلى وقف كافة أعمال العنف فوراً». والتزم المشاركون في المؤتمر بـ «اتخاذ الخطوات المناسبة لفرض القيود والعقوبات على النظام السوري وأعوانه».
وأضاف البيان إن المؤتمر يريد أن تكون العقوبات «رسالة واضحة» تجاه النظام السوري «بأنه لا يمكنه مستقبلاً الاستمرار في الاعتداء على مواطنيه دونما عقاب».
وتشمل الإجراءات العقابية التي يريدها المؤتمر «حظر السفر على أعضاء النظام وتجمبد أرصدتهم في الخارج ووقف شراء النفط والاستثمارات في سوريا، والتعاملات المالية معها، وخفض مستوى العلاقات الدبلوماسية»، كما تشمل العقوبات «منع وصول الأسلحة وما يتصل بها من عتاد الى النظام السوري، وبحث سبل الحد من قدرة النظام على الحصول على الوقود والتموينات الأخرى المستخدمة لأغراض عسكرية».
كذلك أعلن المؤتمر دعم المعارضة السورية و«أثنى على جهود المجلس الوطني السوري الرامية الى تكوين هيكل واسع وتمثيلي». وجاء في البيان أيضاً أن «مجموعة الأصدقاء تعترف بالمجلس الوطني السوري كممثل شرعي للسوريين الساعين الى إحداث تغيير ديموقراطي سلمي، واتفقت على تعزيز التزامها الفعلي للمعارضة السورية». وسجل المؤتمر «طلب جامعة الدول العربية، الذي تقدمت به الى مجلس الأمن قصد إصدار قرار بتشكيل قوة حفظ سلام عربية ـــــ أممية مشتركة بعد انتهاء اعمال العنف». واتفق المشاركون في المؤتمر على «مواصلة النقاشات بشأن السبل المناسبة لانتشار هذه القوات».
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http://www.al-akhbar.com/node/36013
February 24th, 2012, 11:20 pm
jad said:
أنطوني شديد والتغطيّة الإعلاميّة الغربيّة للشرق الأوسـط
أسعد أبو خليل
يستحق أنطوني شديد أن يُكتب عنه. خبر وفاته ملأ الصحافة الغربيّة. لكن خبر وفاته حظي بتغطية في الصحافة العربيّة أيضاً، لأسباب خاطئة أو ضارّة على الغالب. لماذا تمرّ أخبار الاعتداءات على الصحافيّين العرب عرَضاً أحياناً (من غطّى اعتداء أنصار الحريري على سيّارة مراسل «الجديد»، رامز القاضي، في بيروت؟ من غطّى خبر الاعتداء على منزل مراسل «السفير» في سوريا، أو خبر قتل «ثوّار» الحلف السعودي ـــــ القطري في حمص لمراسل فرنسي؟ كشفت جريدة «لو فيغارو» مسؤوليّة «الثوّار»، ما يفسّر صمت الصحافة الغربيّة عن اغتياله، وإلا كان مجلس الأمن قد تدخّل، أو خبر اعتقال النظام السوري المدوّنين والمدوّنات)، ومنظمة «سكايز» مشغولة في خوض صراعات آل الحريري وسائر الممولّين وفي التزام شروط عدم مقاطعة العدوّ الإسرائيلي. لا جدال: الصحافي الغربي لنقل الرجل الأبيض يحظى بأهميّة قصوى، وهو أكثر قيمة في نظر مُستبطني عقيدة الاستعمار بيننا. هناك صحف عربيّة تنشر مقابلات طويلة مملّة مع مراسلين أجانب (أوروبيّين فقط لا آسيويّين أو جنوب أميركيّين) لمجرد أنّ فيهم مسحة الرجل الأبيض، وحتى لو لم يكن لديهم ما يقولون عن العالم العربي. جريدة «السفير» باتت متخصّصة أخيراً، على طريقة «النهار» العريقة، في ترجمة كل ما يقوله أي رجل أميركي عن العالم العربي، حتى لو كان غير عليم في شؤون المنطقة، وهي تحرص على إجراء مقابلات مع كل مارّ غربي في لبنان. إنّها، مرّة أخرى، عقدة الرجل الأبيض. أذكر أنّ جريدة «النهار» أجرت مقابلة مع توماس فريدمان في 1982 ولم يكن لديه ما يقوله عن لبنان والمنطقة. يسألون فريدمان يومها عن توقّعه لمستقبل لبنان وكان بالكاد قد تعلّم اسم عاصمة لبنان. لكن، ماذا تقول عن الذي يرى تفوّقاً في عنصر غيره ويرى دونيّة في نفسه؟ ماذا تقول عن الذي يتسقّط أخبار وطنه عبر استفسار لجوج لكل مارّ غربي في بلاده التي يحبّها حبّاً جمّاً؟ نحن في عصر صحافة يكرّس فيه سركيس نعوم معظم مقالاته لما يُمكن أن يُدرج تحت باب «حدّثني الرجل الأبيض الأميركي قال…»، بعدما كانت مقالاته تندرج لسنوات تحت باب «حدّثني عبد الحليم خدّام قال…».
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http://www.al-akhbar.com/node/35973
February 24th, 2012, 11:23 pm
Jerusalem said:
عضو بالمجلس الوطني السوري: المجلس في أيامه الأخيرة
2012-02-24
دمشق ـ د ب أ: قالت عروبة بركات عضو المجلس الوطني السوري المعارض إن المجلس الوطني يعيش أيامه الأخيرة بسبب ‘غطرسة بعض الكتل فيه وأن هناك انتفاضة حقيقية ستحدث بالمجلس قريبا إن لم يغير من مساره’.
وأضافت عروبة بركات، في تصريحات خاصة لموقع ‘سيريا بوليتيك’ السوري الاخباري المستقل الجمعة، أن ‘هناك انتفاضة حقيقية سيقوم بها بعض أعضاء المجلس للتخلص من ديكتاتورية البعض’، مؤكدة وجود انسحابات جماعية من المجلس ستحدث في القريب العاجل.
وأعلن عن تشكيل المجلس الوطني السوري، وهو جماعة سياسية تضم أغلب أطياف المعارضة، في الثاني من تشرين الاول (اكتوبر) 2011 في مدينة اسطنبول التركية.
وقالت عروبة بركات ‘إن برهان غليون (رئيس المجلس) هدد بالإنسحاب من المجلس أو الإستقالة إن لم يتم انتخابه مجددا’.
وأضافت أن العديد من ‘أعضاء المجلس مستاء جدا من سيطرة كتلة دون غيرها على المجلس’، كما أكدت ‘عدم رضاها على السيدة بسمة قضماني في الكثير من الأمور’، وقالت إن ‘الإسلام دين نعتز به ولا يمكن تحت شعار الثورة أن نقزم هذا الدين وأن نقلل من عظمته إرضاء للبعض في المجلس’.
وقالت ‘من يجلس مع الصهاينة ويؤيدهم لا يمكن اعتباره وطنيا وإن كان يتحدث باسم الشعب السوري’.
p.s.: I don’t have the link
February 24th, 2012, 11:43 pm
jad said:
The constitution referendum on Sunday Feb 26th. Albouti encourage Syrians to vote:
سوريا تستفتي غداً على الدستور الجديد
زياد حيدر
تفتح مراكز الاستفتاء في سوريا أبوابها غداً في الساعة السابعة صباحاً وتغلق في السابعة مساء على أن تعلن نتائج الاستفتاء الاثنين المقبل، وسط أجواء مثيرة على المستويين الداخلي والخارجي.
وعلم أمس أن حزب البعث العربي الاشتراكي الحاكم، أكبر الأحزاب السورية على الإطلاق، أوعز لمنتسبيه الذين يقاربون المليون ونصف المليون بالتصويت بـ«نعم» للدستور، كما فعلت أحزاب الجبهة التقدمية التسعة الأمر ذاته.
لكن مستوى الإقبال على التصويت، كما نتيجته تبقى معلقة بناء على تقديرات المراقبين، خصوصاً أنه على الرغم من الحملة الإعلامية الرسمية والخاصة لتحفيز التصويت، ولا سيما «بنعم»، يقف مواطنون في حيرة، ولا سيما أن الدستور كمشروع فيه الكثير من النقاط المثيرة للجدل.
ويرى دبلوماسي من دولة شرقية صديقة لسوريا أن التصويت سيكون محبطاً إن شابته نسبة المشاركة التي سجلتها رسمياً الانتخابات البلدية في سوريا نهاية العام الماضي، والتي قدّرها بـ40 في المئة، مشيراً إلى الصعوبات الأمنية في بعض المناطق التي تجعلها خارج هذه العملية بالكامل. كما انتقد مغتربون عدم إمكانية التصويت في الخارج، وهو أمر استبعد بعدما كان مطروحاً في بداية الإعداد للتصويت، وذلك بسبب مخاوف وزارة الخارجية السورية، ولا سيما بعد الاعتداءات التي تعرّضت لها سفارات في الخارج، وتحديدا في أوروبا ومصر.
من جهته، دعا العلامة محمد سعيد رمضان البوطي، في خطبة الجمعة، المواطنين إلى التصويت، بغض النظر عن الموافقة أم لا، مشيداً بالمادة المثيرة للجدل والتي تحدد دين رئيس الجمهورية بالإسلام. وقال الشيخ الواسع التأثير «إن الشرع يأمرنا بأن نلتفت إلى مشروع الدستور الجديد ونتبناه بدقة، ومن ثم نعلن موافقتنا عليه أو إعراضنا عنه، فلا يجوز لإنسان أن يقول يكفي أن أصمت، حيث لا ينسب لساكت قول». وأضاف «إن مشروع الدستور الجديد يحوي ضمانتين اثنتين، فإذا نفذتا تنفيذاً حقيقياً فإنهما تسيران بنا إلى مستوى السعادة والأمن والطمأنينة ورغد العيش. الأولى، هي عدم إهمال هذا الدستور هوية الأمة، حيث وضعنا أمام مرآة دقيقة أمينة تعبر عن هذه الهوية، فدين رئيس الجمهورية الإسلام والشريعة الإسلامية أو الفقه الإسلامي هو مصدر التشريع. والضمانة الثانية هي أن سوريا اليوم بصدد تجاوز نظام الحزب الواحد، وسيكون بوسع السوريين الإدلاء والحكم بما يقررون ضمن الأنظمة المرعية».
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http://assafir.com/Article.aspx?EditionID=2085&ChannelID=49653&ArticleID=2564
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Jerusalem,
The link can be found in 47 🙂
http://www.alquds.co.uk/index.asp?fname=data%5C2012%5C02%5C02-24%5C24z499.htm&arc=data%5C2012%5C02%5C02-24%5C24z499.htm
February 24th, 2012, 11:45 pm
Ghufran said:
Tunisia conference was a waste of time and a disappointment to those who built too much on its promises,this is why Saud Alfaisal left the conference early after inviting Syians to take arms and kill each other. I called the conference a still birth,I was wrong,it was more like hot gas.
The SNC was unhappy too,it received a boost but that was not enough to make it fly.
A conference under the UN supervision with the active participation of Rusia,China,US and reps from all opposition parties and political figures from the regime would have achieved a lot more,such a conference has a zero chance of success if fighting parties in Syria do not accept a cease fire and allow civilians to receive much needed supplies and security,it is clear now that neither the militias,nor the regime care much about civilians,and please do not lecture me about the sin of equating the regime’s violence with that of the opposition,one is dependent on the other,this evil has two faces and I do not care which face is less ugly.
February 25th, 2012, 12:08 am
jad said:
Funny report about the “enemy of syria” conference Beat version since there will be Beta2 in the Ottomans’ Topkapi and Beta3 on top of Tour Eiffel!
مؤتمر “أصدقاء سوريا” .. هذيانات “عصفورية” بالجملة والمفرق : نعم لسلمية الثورة ونعم لتسليحها!؟
تونس ، الحقيقة ( خاص): البيان الختامي الصادر عن “مؤتمر أصدقاء سوريا” يستحق أن يوصف بأنه بيان صادر عن مقيمين في “عصفورية”. فليس سوى المجنون أو المعتوه أو المخبول من يكتب بيانا يتحدث فيه ، في جملة واحدة، عن ” سلمية الثورة” وعن ” تسليح الجيش الحر”! كيف تكون سلمية وكيف تدعو إلى تسليحها ، فهذا ما يعجز أي عاقل عن فهمه! أما القضايا الأخرى ، فحدث ولا حرج ، فهو يسعى إلى إنشاء ” مناطق آمنة داخل سوريا”! كيف؟ لا أحد يعلم . كاتبو البيان يعتقدون أن الجيش السوري ، كي لا نقول النظام ، سيفتح لهم الطريق ليقيموا مناطق آمنة ، ويزينها بأقواس النصر قبل أن ينشر عليهم الورود وليس الصواريخ! لا يزالون يعتقدون ، رغم الضربات القاصمة التي تلقاها مسلحوهم المجرمون وقطاع الطرق في “بابا عمر” والزبداني وريف دمشق ، وأماكن أخرى، أن إقامة ممرات أو مناطق آمنة أمر ممكن دون أن يؤدي في النتيجة إلى حرب أهلية أو إقليمية. هم ـ وبسبب ابتذالهم ـ يعتقدون أن “مناطق آمنة وعازلة”من هذا النوع سيكون مصيرها أفضل من مصير ” الشريط الحدودي” الذي أنشأه جيش الاحتلال الإسرائيلي في جنوب لبنان عير عميله ووكيله أنطوان لحد الذي يطمح رياض الأسعد ليلعب دوره ، مثلما يطمح مرشده الروحي برهان غليون للعب دور سمير جعجع!
أعذرونا ، لا نستطيع إكمال التعليق على هذه الهذيانات. ومن لديه المقدرة على دس أنفه في مزبلة ، دون أن يخشى الموت اختناقا ، يمكنه قراءة البيان هنا :
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الحسم الأمني في وادٍ وأصدقاء سوريا في واد آخر
نقولا ناصيف
“تحت وطأة هذا التجاذب، يخرج مؤتمر تونس وقد افتقر إلى عناصر القوة التي أوحى بها، وكان يتطلبها:
1 ــ لأن الهدف منه تقديم مساعدات إنسانية، لا الخوض في قرارات أساسية تقلب توازن القوى الداخلي، وتحيل الدول المشاركة فريقاً مباشراً في النزاع، تجنّب مؤتمر تونس تجريد الرئيس السوري ونظامه الشرعية الدولية، واكتفى بضم المجلس الوطني إلى المجتمعين كي يمنحه صفة تمثيلية إضافية ضيّقة، يتمتع بها أساساً، لا تنقض شرعية النظام ووجوده في قلب المجتمع الدولي، على وفرة ما يُقال فيه. تُقتطع للمجلس الوطني قطعة من الشرعية كي يكون في ما بعد جزءاً من التسوية، لا صانعها.
2 ــ من دون مجازفة تقضي بإقامة منطقة عازلة عند الحدود التركية أو اللبنانية أو الأردنية مع سوريا، يصبح تسليح المعارضة ـــــ المسلحة أساساً ـــــ متعذّراً لأسباب تتصل مباشرة بوسائل إيصال السلاح إليها في المناطق الأكثر سخونة في المواجهة، كحماه وحمص، اللتين تقعان في وسط سوريا، وكذلك جنوب إدلب المحاصر بالجيش السوري الذي لم يتردّد في حمأة المواجهة في بلوغ الحدود التركية. الأمر الذي برّر تمركز قيادة الجيش السوري الحرّ داخل الأراضي التركية، وتشتيت أفراده على الميليشيات الموزّعة على مناطق تقع في قبضة الإخوان المسلمين والتيّارات السلفية وتحديداً الوسط السوري المحيط بحماه وحمص، صعوداً إلى الشمال الغربي في إدلب، وإخفاقه في السيطرة الفعلية على مناطق في هذا النطاق أو في وسط البلاد أو في جنوبها كدرعا، وفشله في المحافظة على ريف دمشق، بعدما أوشك على أن يضع بين يديه مفتاحي العاصمة: المطار والحدود الشرقية مع لبنان.
3 ــ من دون منطقة عازلة تُقتطع من سيادة النظام وسيطرته على سوريا، وتتيح للمعارضة قاعدة تجمّع وتنظيم يلوذ ظهرها بتركيا أو الأردن أو لبنان، لا يكتسب الكلام عن تسليح المعارضة جدّية تذكر. الواقع أن المعارضة المسلحة ـــــ كجيش الانشقاق ـــــ لا تحتاج إلى سلاح خفيف متوافر لديها بالآلاف المهرّبة من لبنان وتركيا والعراق، بل إلى أعتدة ثقيلة كالتي يستخدمها الجيش السوري النظامي في المواجهة، وتمكّنه من السيطرة السهلة على المناطق التي يهاجمها.
إلا أنها تحتاج أساساً إلى المنطقة التي تطبعها بهويتها المناقضة لنظام الأسد وحزب البعث، وتتحوّل قاعدة سياسية بمقدار ما تكون عسكرية. فلا يعود المجلس الوطني، كاليوم، ضيفاً على باريس ولندن والرياض والدوحة والقاهرة.”
http://www.al-akhbar.com/node/36011
————————————–
An interesting report from RT
Red Cross evacuates women and children in Syria
http://youtu.be/hYPyOLfxNwI
“The United Nations’s humanitarian chief is headed to Syria to try to deliver aid to the conflict-torn country. The Red Cross has been hoping for a ceasefire in order to get in with aid and medical help as well, but still has heard no answer for this request, but in some cases have started to evacuate wounded and sick women and children from the city of Homs. There is of course growing unrest and bloodshed on the streets of Syria, which includes the death of nearly 70 people just in the last 24 hours. RT’s Maria Finoshina brings more in her report from Damascus.”
February 25th, 2012, 12:18 am
Equus said:
U.S. Agencies See No Move by Iran to Build a Bomb
By JAMES RISEN and MARK MAZZETTI
Published: February 24, 2012
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/25/world/middleeast/us-agencies-see-no-move-by-iran-to-build-a-bomb.html?hp
February 25th, 2012, 12:18 am
zoo said:
Kofi Annan to try to end Syria violence
Joe Lauria
Feb 25, 2012
http://www.thenational.ae/news/world/kofi-annan-to-try-to-end-syria-violence
NEW YORK // Kofi Annan, the former UN secretary general, was given perhaps the most challenging assignment of his career yesterday: end the violence tearing apart Syria.
Mr Annan was named as a joint envoy of the United Nations and the Arab League to Syria. He “will consult broadly and engage” with all sides inside Syria and out, “to end the violence and the humanitarian crisis,” a UN statement said.
Mr Annan, who served as UN chief from 1997 to 2006, called on all parties to cooperate “to help bring an end to the violence and human-rights abuses, and promote a peaceful solution to the Syrian crisis.”
Mr Annan won acclaim in 2008 for his hard-nosed negotiations that resolved post-election violence in Kenya. But Syria will be a far more difficult task.
“About 90 per cent of the people will say that it is too late in Syria, even for Kofi Annan, but if there is a 5 per cent chance, you have to try,” a western diplomat said.
Mr Annan, a Ghanian, is said to have kept good lines of communications open with the Syrian regime in recent years. He “will provide good offices aimed at bringing an end to all violence and human- rights violations, and promoting a peaceful solution to the Syrian crisis,” the UN said.
He is backed by a UN general assembly resolution and Arab League resolutions that support the league’s plan for Mr Al Assad to delegate power to a vice president while a national unity government is formed ahead of elections. He will try to “facilitate a peaceful Syrian-led and inclusive political solution that meets the democratic aspirations of the Syrian people,” the statement added.
It remains to be seen whether Mr Al Assad will receive Mr Annan in Damascus, however.
Russia yesterday welcomed Mr Annan’s appointment, saying that it would be “ready for close cooperation with him in the search for mutually acceptable paths to solutions”. Russia, along with China, vetoed UN Security Council resolutions condemning the Al Assad regime for its violence.
By picking a non-Arab household name rather than a lesser- known diplomat from the region, the UN and the Arab League are counting on Mr Annan’s high profile to get Mr Al Assad to end the bloodshed.
A western diplomat said that efforts by the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon to find an Arab envoy had failed because of the difficulty in appointing someone acceptable to both Mr Al Assad and the opposition.
{…}
February 25th, 2012, 12:33 am
Syria no kandahar said:
Wahabism:Syria’s Cancer:
February 25th, 2012, 1:38 am
Syria no kandahar said:
This guy:Omar Altalawi is a piece of crap,All his clips were lies.even looking at him befor talking you can tell he will lie.watch this and find out why
This is a doomed terrorist movement:
February 25th, 2012, 1:46 am
Syria no kandahar said:
The army which will burn Syria:FSA
Listen to:
بالروح بالدم نفديك رسول الله
Supported by Europe !
February 25th, 2012, 1:58 am
Syria no kandahar said:
خيار البحرين وفقوس سوريه
February 25th, 2012, 2:17 am
Revlon said:
More defections from Assad militias, and FSA grows by the hour!
ادلب ريف خان شيخون تشكيل كتيبة فارس العطور
Idlib
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lTEORWIh3ss
Uploaded by AljizahNews on Feb 23, 2012
https://www.facebook.com/Aljizah.News.J.N.N
كتيبة المهاجرين والأنصار التابعة للواء صقور الشام
Daraa
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r2tr0js-0Gk
Uploaded by ahmedasee on Feb 23, 2012
February 25th, 2012, 2:40 am
Revlon said:
Assad militias are on the decline and FSA forces are on the rise.
Assad militias can only manage to destroy neighbourhoods from distance; they have neither the means nor the guts to control them.
The news provided by pro-regime posters about the existance of tangible military support to FSA by several countries are promising.
Advanced communication equipment, nightly warfare gadgets, and bullet-proof vests would be most suited for clandestine operations against command and control posts and personnel as well as logistics.
Once better organisation and training is achieved at the hands of foreign military experts, perhaps in Turkey and Jordan, FSA can start offensive operations against Assad tank and artillary militia positions using advanced, portable rockets. Such would expedite the crumbling of its last vestiges.
February 25th, 2012, 3:02 am
Pirouz said:
Have yet to see ATGMs or MANPADSs being fielded by rebel forces. Given that jihadis such as AQ have publicly entered the picture, I doubt very much this level of support will be extended by Western powers.
My guess is Western covert assistance will be just enough to maintain a certain level of resistance and not much more.
The object will be to wear down over months and years, which means the agony of the Syrian people will continue for a prolonged period.
From the perspective of the West, this effectively neutralizes this linchpin to Zionist resistance, putting forward a blocking action before the Shia Crescent’s extension from Iran to the Mediterranean Sea.
February 25th, 2012, 3:22 am
Revlon said:
The upside of the new “draft constitution”, set for referandum tomorrow is dual:
FIRST, It constitutes the ultimate of reforms that the Assad mob is willing to accept, even after murdering over 9000 of Syrian citizens.
The new “Reformed Constitution” in essense has replaced the facade of the president’s ideological legitimacy, with an unabashed, constitutional, totalitarian presidency.
SECOND, It proves that Assad is planning, and is confident in his chances to stay in power; otherwise, with such pervasive presidentail powers, he and his mob would be committing a stupid gamble and risking to surrender themselves and his grass roots supporters to their nemesis, the natural expected winner of any upcomming fair election.
February 25th, 2012, 4:58 am
Mina said:
Haaretz tries to put in Mashaal’s mouth what until now is only in Haniyeh’s (see the picture illustrating the article, that of Mashaal):
http://www.haaretz.com/news/middle-east/hamas-ditches-assad-backs-syria-revolt-1.414701
http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/1/64/35293/Egypt/Politics-/We-will-not-recognise-Israel-Hamas-leader-at-Azhar.aspx
February 25th, 2012, 4:59 am
ann said:
When all else fails, bring out that tried and tested WMD hysteria card 8)
http://thecable.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2012/02/24/exclusive_state_department_quietly_warning_region_on_syrian_wmds
Exclusive: State Department quietly warning region on Syrian WMDs – February 24, 2012
The State Department declined to provide access to any officials to discuss the private diplomatic communication on the record, such as the author of the demarche Assistant Secretary of State for International Security and Nonproliferation Tom Countryman. In a meeting with reporters earlier this year, Countryman expressed confidence that the United States knows where Syria’s WMD stockpiles are, but warned that they could become a very serious security issue for Syria and the region going forward.
“We have ideas as to the quantity and we have ideas as to where they are,” Countryman said. “We wish some of the neighbors of Syria to be on the lookout… When you get a change of regime in Syria, it matters what are the conditions — chaotic or orderly.”
Today, in response to inquiries from The Cable, a State Department official offered the following statement:
“The U.S. and our allies are monitoring Syria’s chemical weapons stockpile. These weapons’ presence in Syria undermines peace and security in the Middle East, and we have long called on the Syrian government to destroy its chemicals weapons arsenal and join the Chemical Weapons Convention,” the State Department official said. “We believe Syria’s chemical weapons stockpile remains under Syrian government control, and we will continue to work closely with like-minded countries to prevent proliferation of Syria’s chemical weapons program.”
“It’s essentially a recognition of the danger to the regional and international community of the stockpiles that the regime possesses and the importance of working with countries, given the potential fall of the regime, to prevent the proliferation of these very sensitive weapons outside of Syria’s border,” one administration official said. “It’s an exponentially more dangerous program than Libya. We are talking about legitimate WMDs here — this isn’t Iraq. The administration is really concerned about loose WMDs. It’s one of the few things you could put on the agenda and do something about without planning the fall of the regime.”
“The WMD program is in play now, and that’s important because it highlights the innate danger that the existence of this regime poses to U.S. security and regional interests,” the administration official said. “[The demarche] puts Syria’s neighbors on notice and it reflects the recognition that a dangerous Assad regime is willing to do anything to save its own skin. If they are willing to kill the country to save the regime, they might be willing to do a great deal more damage throughout the region.”
“Our strategic calculus can’t be solely about what comes after Assad without taking a hard look at how to bring about Assad’s downfall as safely as possible,” said this official. “The reality is, at some point, there will be a recognition you can’t plan for a post-Assad scenario without planning how to shape the downfall itself. You can’t separate the two.”
[…]
February 25th, 2012, 5:13 am
ann said:
Syria says armed groups hinders deliverance of slain foreign journalists’ bodies – 2012-02-25
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/world/2012-02/25/c_131430466.htm
DAMASCUS, Feb. 24 (Xinhua) — Syria’s Foreign Ministry said Friday that armed groups in central Homs province rejected to hand over the bodies of two slain foreign journalists to the authorities.
“Out of humanitarian motives, the competent authorities in Homs sent Friday ambulances of the Syrian Red Crescent and delegated a number of Homs’ elders to convince the armed groups in restive Baba Amr neighborhood to hand over the bodies of the two foreign journalists as well as other journalists who are working illegally in Syria,” the ministry said in a statement carried by state-run SANA news agency.
“Despite hours of strenuous efforts, the armed groups in Baba Amr refused to hand over the bodies of the killed journalists as well as the injured French reporter,” the statement said, adding that “this delay would further jeopardize the life of the injured journalist and would delay the deliverance of two bodies to their countries.”
[…]
February 25th, 2012, 5:27 am
Mina said:
Now that they have a pricey asset… Wonder if they gave the journalists some uppers to get them smile on camera.
February 25th, 2012, 5:39 am
ann said:
Save the People; Kill the European Superstate – 24 February, 2012
http://rt.com/usa/columns/paleolibertarian-column-ilana-mercer/people-eurozone-eu-greece/
“The EU is our biggest trading partner. We cannot afford to let it fail. We send much of our goods and services to Europe. We share their values.” Without our European accomplices we are unable to crush Iran and Syria. Or bomb and regulate the world and its people into submission. If the Eurozone disintegrates.
“We must not let our rulers load us with perpetual debt,” Thomas Jefferson forewarned. “We must make our election between economy and liberty, or profusion and servitude.” For rejecting “economy and liberty,” Greece got “servitude.” Athens, the cradle of democracy,has also gone and sundered direct democracy by refusing to allow a popular referendum on whether the country should leave the Eurozone.
[…]
February 25th, 2012, 5:40 am
Revlon said:
75. Pirouz:
((Have yet to see ATGMs or MANPADSs being fielded by rebel forces. Given that jihadis such as AQ have publicly entered the picture, I doubt very much this level of support will be extended by Western powers))
FSA shall acquire such equipment.
It is a matter of time and finances.
I believe the green light has been given.
Release of such weapons can be covertly approved by officials of certain governments. Intelligence units could use arms dealers as second party to mediate the transfer of weapons to the third party, the FSA.
The decision to video the acquisition and use of such weapons and the timing of video release will be dictated by political and field operative considerations.
February 25th, 2012, 5:40 am
Mina said:
Forget the Haaretz article… it is a Reuters article!
Same in the Independent
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/hamas-in-policy-shift-as-it-turns-against-assad-7440487.html
Control the 4 press agencies who publish 90 percent of world news (Reuters, AP, AFP, Bloomberg) and you control the world!
Fisk on the new cold war
http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/fisk/robert-fisk-the-new-cold-war-has-already-started–in-syria-7440620.html
February 25th, 2012, 5:54 am
ann said:
“Friends Of Syria” burn Korans!
Hundreds clash with Afghan security forces over Koran burnings – 25 February, 2012
http://rt.com/news/clashes-afghanistan-koran-burnings-199/
Hundreds of people are clashing with security forces in Afghanistan as violence over Koran burning at a NATO base in Bagram enters its fifth day. At least three protesters have died on Saturday, while 28 have been killed in total.
The shooting took place in Logar province south of Kabul after hundreds of angry protesters clashed with security forces. Two people were wounded, reports Reuters. Protests erupted in several other provinces on Saturday as security forces remained on high alert.
[…]
February 25th, 2012, 5:58 am
ann said:
Hamas’ support to Syrian opposition not mean cutoff with gov’t: official – 2012-02-25
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/world/2012-02/25/c_131431440.htm
“Voicing rejection to the continuation of violence doesn’t mean an official cutoff to our relations with the Syrian regime,” said Salah al-Bardaweel, a Hamas official in Gaza.
Al-Bardaweel confirmed that all members of Hamas’ frontline leadership have left Syria collectively. Hamas is still seeking a new foothold. “We are no longer carrying out activities in Damascus and the movement’s leaders travel here and there.”
[…]
February 25th, 2012, 6:10 am
ann said:
Iraq officially invites Arab countries for Baghdad summit: report – 2012-02-25
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/world/2012-02/25/c_131431439.htm
“High-level government delegations started Friday hand-over of official invitations to Arab kings and presidents to attend the Arab summit to be held in Baghdad on March 29,” the state-run newspaper al-Sabah said.
“Syria is not invited to the coming AL summit in Baghdad,” Zebari told the television.
“The decision not to invite Syria is not ours, it is the decision of the Arab League, and Iraq has to abide by its decision, ” Zebari said.
“Syrian opposition is not invited as well,” he said.
[…]
February 25th, 2012, 6:15 am
ann said:
Syria’s official media slams Friends of Syria Conference – 2012-02-25
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/world/2012-02/25/c_131431421.htm
DAMASCUS, Feb. 25 (Xinhua) — Syria’s official SANA news agency on Saturday unleashed scathing criticism on the Friends of Syria Conference which convened in Tunis Friday, regarding it as “a new conspiracy episode by old-new colonial foreign ministers under the leadership of U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
Signaling out the Qatari Foreign Minister Hamad Bin Jassem al- Thani for criticism, SANA said “Qatar’s foreign minister showcased himself as the one who runs the meeting by calling for the formation of joint Arab-foreign forces to be sent to Syria to oversee the process of preserving security despite the Arab observers’ reports that acknowledged the existence of armed groups, which are targeting governmental and civil facilities.”
It said Hamad had tried to portray the humanitarian situation in Syria as “tragic” by calling to permit humanitarian corridors to rush in relief aid, while he himself had imposed sanctions on Syria to prevent basic materials from entering the country.
SANA, the mouthpiece of the Syrian government, accused the Qatari foreign minister of “soliciting foreign intervention in Syria to serve Israel and the West,” and ignoring hundreds of reports which prove his country’s involvement in arming and supporting the armed terrorist groups in Syria.
Meanwhile, the state-run al-Thawra newspaper sharply criticized the Friends of Syria Conference, saying the participants were overtly encouraging and supporting terrorists to trigger off more bloodshed in Syria.
In an editorial, the newspaper singled out the Saudi Foreign Minister Saud al-Faisal for criticism, saying “it’s shameful for the vocabularies of the Saudi speech… to announce so rudely a support for terrorists to be the direct partner in shedding more Syrian blood.”
Al-Thawra said the meeting has revealed the participants’ ” latent grudge toward the Syrians… and unveiled the involvement of Arab, regional and international parties” in the Syrian crisis.
[…]
February 25th, 2012, 6:20 am
ann said:
China: US, Europe have hegemonistic goals in Syria – February 25th, 2012
http://ktar.com/46/1497878/China-US-Europe-have-hegemonistic-goals-in-Syria
The official Xinhua News Agency said in a commentary that China’s position on Syria was balanced and that “most of the Arab countries have begun to realize that the United States and Europe are hiding a dagger behind a smile.”
“In other words, while they appear to be acting out of humanitarian concern, they are actually harboring hegemonistic ambitions,” it said.
Both China and Russia boycotted the Friends of Syria conference, which Xinhua said ended with a “broad consensus” on avoiding a militarization of the conflict in Syria.
“any action taken by the international community should help to cease tensions, boost political dialogues, resolve differences and maintain peace and stability in the Middle East.”
[…]
February 25th, 2012, 6:30 am
ann said:
Hillary to William Hague: “are these arabs dmub or what!”
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/slideshow/ALeqM5hMJVxHA5Hpt0XGR65vhGYPvlPWow?docId=0c4d5fea5c7e41afa69e651d9517947e&index=2
February 25th, 2012, 6:39 am
Tara said:
The heart of the Palestinian people bleeding for the Syrians. What a nice expression! The Palestinians are denouncing Assad’s regime, self-titled as the pulsing heart of Arabism. If this is not utter humiliation, what is?
http://www.haaretz.com/news/middle-east/hamas-ditches-assad-backs-syria-revolt-1.414701
Leaders of the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas turned publicly against their long-time ally President Bashar Assad of Syria on Friday, endorsing the revolt aimed at overthrowing his dynastic rule.
The policy shift deprives Assad of one of his few remaining Sunni Muslim supporters in the Arab world and deepens his international isolation. It was announced in Hamas speeches at Friday prayers in Cairo and a rally in the Gaza Strip.
…
In Gaza, senior Hamas member Salah al-Bardaweel addressed thousands of supporters at a rally in Khan Younis refugee camp, sending “a message to the peoples who have not been liberated yet, those free peoples who are still bleeding every day”.
“The hearts of the Palestinian people bleed with every drop of blood shed in Syria,” Bardaweel said. “No political considerations will make us turn a blind eye to what is happening on the soil of Syria.”
…
“Nations do not get defeated. They do not retreat and they do not get broken. We are on your side and on the side of all free peoples,” said Bardaweel.
“God is Greatest,” the crowd chanted. “Victory to the people of Syria.”
February 25th, 2012, 8:16 am
Tara said:
Saudi Arabia backs arming Syrian opposition
Foreign minister tells conference on Syria that supplying weapons to rebels fighting Assad regime is ‘an excellent idea’ as Obama vows to use ‘every tool available’ to stop the slaughter
Friday 24 February 2012 17.47 EST
…
In Baba Amr, where 20,000 residents remain under military siege, neither the west nor the opposition Syrian National Council are seen as saviours. “Nothing has changed it is the same situation, the same siege,” one resident told the Guardian. “They keep killing and nobody cares about our lives. We feel a lot of anger.
“Is there any real action from the world? We don’t want statements. He [President Bashar al-Assad] will never stop. He will keep killing. We want them to protect our families, our children, our women. To provide food, to provide medicine. To remove this dictatorship from our head.
“Any kind of protection for civilians would be welcome. Military [intervention] would be welcome. We want action to stop the bloodshed. We want them to remove Bashar al-Assad.”
In Washington President Barack Obama said the US and its allies would use “every tool available” to stop the slaughter of innocent people in Syria, uttering his most forceful words to date in response to an increasingly grim crisis that has gripped the world.
…
Britain has formally recognised the SNC as a legitimate representative of the Syrian people in a move it hopes will propel the disjointed opposition and generate a global shift away from Assad’s regime….”We, in common with other nations, will now treat them and recognise them as a legitimate representative of the Syrian people,” Hague said.
…
“If the regime fails to accept the terms of the political initiative outlined by the Arab League and end violence against citizens, the Friends of Syria should not constrain individual countries from aiding the Syrian opposition by means of military advisers, training and provision of arms to defend themselves,” the SNC said.
…
The Friends of Syria conference marks the best opportunity yet for the political opposition to shake off the same misgivings and win the confidence of the west, which has waited a year before choosing to embrace it. The SNC represents only around 70% of Syria’s opposition movement and had so far struggled to adopt unified stances on many key issues.
{….}.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/feb/24/saudi-arabia-backs-arming-syrian-opposition
February 25th, 2012, 8:43 am
majedkhaldoun said:
Can the supporters of Bashar(Basharon)explain why the Asad troops has not sent troops into Bab Amro, after 25 days of shelling the place?,It may be due to presence of FSA, it may be due to the fact that most of the low ranking soldiers are sympathizers of the revolution,and the Alawis officers are afraid of defection, .it may be that the Assad troops in Homs are no more than few thousands, and you need three time the number of FSA there.
I do not believe the regime has good heart, and I do not believe that the external pressure is the reason.
It is possible the regime wants to cut food and health supplies from reaching the people in Homs, but the videos show healthy well determined people there,long siege indicates the siege will fail.
February 25th, 2012, 9:22 am
irritated said:
85. ann said:
Hamas’ support to Syrian opposition not mean cutoff with gov’t: official – 2012-02-25
So what does it mean?
What an absurd statement! As Hamas has not found an Arab country to host them that would not pressurize them ( they’ve tested Jordan and Qatar, Egypt, all have either refused or attach conditions) so they want to keep the door open on Syria while approving the violent rebellion against the government.
In my view Syria should stop to be so generous with Arabs, it did not serve them much. After years of hosting Hamas and 600,000 palestinians refugee, it’s time they invite Hamas out with a one way ticket.
February 25th, 2012, 10:04 am
Hans said:
Skype working very normally in Homs which means that the foreign intelligence has been operating and running the war inside Homs.
it is clear that the mercenaries are well equipped with food, medicine, communication and weapons.
it is the innocent people who are suffering because of the terrorists act.
Civilians are used as human shield by the terrorists regardless if this civilians are in support of the MB terrorists Alqaida alliance.
the Answer is a military one, i don’t see the USA not defending its southern border against the Mexican who are entering illegally and deporting them or using armed forces to chase them.
I don’t see any difference of the Syrian army defending its country against insurgents and terrorists. If this is not the case than the regime would have fallen months ago at least someone would have been able to assassinated the president either from the higher or lower rank.
As long assad have the support of the Sunni people all this terrorists are considered as an armed groups and in another word foreign killers, who happened to be financed by the arab traitors and the blessing of the Israeli and the USA.
February 25th, 2012, 10:19 am
bronco said:
#92 majedkhaldoun
It was explained in numerous article. If the army use planes or massive forces it can destroy Bab Amr in a day. They are not doing that for two reasons. First they don’t want to kill randomly the thousands of civilians still present and second they don’t want that this triggers an international request for a no-fly zones.
The strategy is to have ALL the civilians out of Bab Amr. This may take time to organize with the Red Cross/Red Crescent and because the armed rebels prefer to hold the civilians inside as a way to deter massive attack and to continue focusing the media on the violence made to civilians by the army rockets. There is now an official request by the UN that Syria has approved to rescue the civilians, so we will see gradually the civilians leaving Bab Amr. When they will be all out, either the armed rebels will surrender or there will be a very large attack as the international community will not object anymore since civilians will be safe.
This may take time.
February 25th, 2012, 10:21 am
irritated said:
#91 Tara
“We want them to protect our families, our children, our women.”
I am surprised that none asks to have their families taken out of Bab Amr. That’s the best protection possible, isn’t?
Instead of the Red Cross/Red Crescent to save their families, they prefer military intervention and a regime change…
“Any kind of protection for civilians would be welcome. Military [intervention] would be welcome. We want action to stop the bloodshed. We want them to remove Bashar al-Assad.”
If this is a real dialog, something is not right.
February 25th, 2012, 10:32 am
Alan said:
جديد الياسمينة الزرقاء..
http://www.jpnews-sy.com/ar/news.php?id=38963
مكالمة مسربة لحمد بن جاسم حول تآمر قطر على تقسيم السعودية
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rRjwhd9lDaY
يقول برنارد لويس في إحدى المقابلات معه وتحديدا في 20.05.2005 قال حرفيا (( ان العرب والمسلمين قوم فاسدون مفسدون فوضويون , لا يمكن تحضرهم , وإذا تركوا لأنفسهم فسوف يفاجئون العالم المتحضر بموجات بشرية إرهابية تدمر الحضارات , وتقوض المجتمعات , لذلك فإن الحل السليم للتعامل معهم هو اعادة احتلالهم واستعمارهم , وتدمير ثقافتهم الدينية وتطبيقاتها الاجتماعية , وفي حال قيام أمريكا بهذا الدور فإن عليها أن تستفيد من التجربة البريطانية والفرنسية في استعمار المنطقة , لتجَّنُب الاخطاء والمواقف السلبية التي اقترفتها الدولتان , إنه من الضروري إعادة تقسيم الأقطار العربية و الإسلامية إلى وحدات عشائرية و طائفية , ولا داعي لمراعات خواطرهم أو التأثر بإنفعالاتهم وردود الأفعال
February 25th, 2012, 10:43 am
irritated said:
Saudi Arabia regime breeds terrorists like rabbits. Most 9/11 terrorists were Saudis, Ben Laden was Saudi, money feeding the Al Qaeda and terrorism in Pakistan and everywhere in the Arab world come from the Saudis.
A country that doesn’t give basic civil rights to half of its population should shut up and clean its filthy background first. It’s apartheid and should not be tolerated.
This country is a shame for humanity.
Syria attacks Saudi over arming opposition calls
By BASSEM MROUE | Associated Press – 46 mins ago
http://news.yahoo.com/syria-attacks-saudi-over-arming-opposition-calls-144844218.html
February 25th, 2012, 10:46 am
Tara said:
Irritated
If god forbidden someone raped your 4 to daughter, do you host him in your house and engage in a dialogue with him to not rape her again?
February 25th, 2012, 10:48 am
majedkhaldoun said:
There are around 50,000 civilians in Bab Amro, asking those civilian to leave is just like the Israeli asking the palastinians to leave creating large refugee , what if the civilian decided not to leave their properties and their life there?.BTW this is not what the regime did in Suburb of Damascus.
Asking the civilians to leave is a crime,let us say if things turn around would the Alawis leave the mountain and go to another country?is this policy justified? then the Basharon Christians will have to leave too,this is absurd.
February 25th, 2012, 10:54 am
irritated said:
99. Tara
On an individual point of view, it is difficult to accept and revenge is the first reaction. Yet in a time of war, consideration must be given to the safety of the whole community and try to prevent other occurrences by deflating the tensions and remove the reasons of such behavior.
In war, you don’t negotiate with an friend but with a hated enemy, responsible of crimes.
Your view is not to negotiate, to let the violence escalate until one wins and one looses, whatever the death toll on the innocents becomes.
I don’t buy these heroic ideas of the middle age. In an obvious power stalemate, the survival of the community is the first priority, not the ego of some individuals.
February 25th, 2012, 11:01 am
Ghufran said:
Describing the tragedy in Homs as a one sided assault on unarmed civilian population is dishonest. Even after 3 weeks of fighting,there are still armed militias in Bab Amr,those militias enjoy some,or a lot of,support among the people in that area and many areas in Homs,and most of those groups use regular houses to hide and launch their attacks.
Any negotiations that do not include representative of average people will not lead to any sustainable truce,when people want to make peace,they have to talk to other people they hate,it is a choice between fighting to death or peace. Civilized people try to make peace until the last breath,savage people take a different course,at the end of the day,we need to remember that Assad is not Syria,and that other Syrians who are different from us politically or culturally are still Syrian and are more interested in living than dying.
February 25th, 2012, 11:04 am
bronco said:
@100. majedkhaldoun
During Lebanese civil war, hundred thousands Lebanese moved out of the city center and dangerous areas of the city that were heavily shelled. Many never went back to their homes and stayed in other places. That’s one of the consequences of a civil war, people prefer to relocate where they feel safe.
When you are attacked, you look for safety first. If safety means leaving your home, you’ll do it.
The crime would be not to allow the people to leave and suffer the shelling.
I read that 2/3 of the area of Bab Amr is already emptied of civilians who moved to other locations. I don’t know where you got the 50,000 figure.
It’s time the UN moves the civilians out for safety.
February 25th, 2012, 11:12 am
zoo said:
“Up to 20% of Syrians actively support al-Assad, approximately 40% are against any change, believing that the current regime is better than the alternatives, about 10% are radically opposed to the government, and about 30% are in favor of some form of change. This is a classic split”
Why Does Russia’s Stance on Syria Baffle Everyone?
23 february 2012
Fyodor Lukyanov is editor in chief of the journal Russia in Global Affairs.
http://eng.globalaffairs.ru/redcol/Why-Does-Russias-Stance-on-Syria-Baffle-Everyone-15478
…
The situation in Syria was discussed at the third meeting of the Middle East Section of the Valdai International Discussion Club entitled Transformation in the Arab World and Interests of Russia. It was held in Sochi on the Black Sea coast at the end of last week. Given the impressive list of experts from the region and around the world who attended the meeting in Sochi, it can be viewed as a good illustration of the general attitude to the Syrian issue.
…..
It is worth noting that, unlike the Arab countries, the West has changed its position slightly, something which the debates in Sochi confirmed. The general opinion is that the events cannot be reversed, but they have clearly taken a wrong turn and it would be dangerous to become actively involved in them.
It is becoming clear that the potential consequences of the overthrow of al-Assad are dramatic. Given the vague composition and unclear intentions of the opposition, obvious interference from outside, and the interests of the Sunni monarchies from all directions, the outcome could spell disaster for the Alawi, Christian, Kurdish and possibly Coptic minorities. The possibility of a bloody internecine conflict is frighteningly real.
The Russian experts in Sochi said that the current mood in Syria is creating the ideal conditions for a large-scale and lengthy civil war. Up to 20% of Syrians actively support al-Assad, approximately 40% are against any change, believing that the current regime is better than the alternatives, about 10% are radically opposed to the government, and about 30% are in favor of some form of change. This is a classic split
No one wants to see a repeat of Libya in Syria, or of the war in Iraq, which went against a decision by the UN Security Council. Any decision on Syria will require the support and shared responsibility of Moscow to make it legitimate.
One suggestion is for Russia to guarantee the interests and security of the minorities in Syria, Lebanon and Egypt, who fear reprisals by the Sunni majority if Assad’s government (a privileged minority) were to fall. This would be a way for Moscow to take a morally correct and a politically promising stance.
Summing up the impressions of the discussions in Sochi, the conclusion seems to be that despite the sharp criticism, Moscow acted correctly in refusing to vote for the Syrian resolution. Its decision has raised the stakes, as now acting without Russia would be risky and ignoring its opinion impossible, despite the scathing criticism of its stance.
However, it now needs to readjust its position, because refusing to do anything will achieve nothing apart from escalating the civil war. All participants in the Sochi meeting said that Russia could play a key role in persuading Damascus to accept a transitional compromise.
However, the extent of Moscow’s influence on al-Assad should not be overestimated, particularly as the competence of the Syrian leadership is in question. But even the Arab representatives, who have reacted very negatively to Russia’s policy, admit that the room for maneuver has decreased dramatically since the collapse of the Soviet Union disturbed the balance of power in the Middle East.
If Russia acted as the balancing force, its prestige would soar. However, this would entail not only a firm stance but also flexibility, a creative attitude and political will, which Russia does not seem to have yet.
February 25th, 2012, 11:24 am
zoo said:
Putin to Win Presidential Vote in First Round ( march 4), Polls Show
Saturday, February 25, 2012
Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/g/a/2012/02/24/bloomberg_articlesLZVY7J0UQVI901-LZWF7.DTL#ixzz1nPbGwl00
February 25th, 2012, 11:31 am
Leo Syriacus said:
Bronco
Help me understand your logic here:
You want the inhabitants of Homs to flee their city so the regime destroys it and who is left in it at will? You are calling for people to move to safer areas.
So with the same logic once the regime falls like all other dictatorship and minoritarian regimes ( double whammy here!) where will all the Basharophiles move? They will be slaughtered or be driven outside the country!! Aroor would not have dreamt of that!!
The solution is for the regime to stop the bombardment, withdraw the army, the armed groups put their weapons down, Bashar resigns,and all political Syrian powers to work on a transitory period where all Syrians are protected
Enough bloodshed!
And the families of seven thousand martyrs will insist on his resignation
February 25th, 2012, 11:32 am
majedkhaldoun said:
Bronco
You seem to be supporting civilian to leave and you are not against it, remember it is not only Baba Amr there are other places in Homs the people there are against the regime, there is bab sba3,Hamidieh Khaldeyyeh Qussour Karm alzeitoun.
Do I understand that you support such policy?remember things can turn around one day and you will be asking Basharon christians to leave too and the Alawis to leave, this policy is criminal ,
Ghufran
The FSA do not have missiles and artillary, they are not attacking the assad troops,they are defending the civilians,so your point is mute.
February 25th, 2012, 11:33 am
zoo said:
Fewer Feel Safe in Several Arab Spring Countries
Egyptians feel least safe
by H.A. Hellyer
http://www.gallup.com/poll/152894/Fewer-Feel-Safe-Several-Arab-Spring-Countries.aspx
Do you feel safe walking alone?
February 25th, 2012, 11:34 am
Ghufran said:
I did not believe the story of Captain Wasel from Air Force until I saw this video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IZUpxSlKgQQ
The guy was kidnapped,handcuffed ,and forced to read a statement from a Toshiba laptop declaring his “defection”. The producer of this video “forgot” to release Wasel’s hands 🙂
February 25th, 2012, 11:39 am
bronco said:
#107 Majedalkhadoon
Yes, I strongly support that civilians temporary leave preferably than to die as violence is not stopping. I know it is easier said that done, as there are snipers, soldiers everywhere in the area, this is why I think the UN should find a way to save these civilians from their ordeal as I guess they all prefer to leave but cannot find a way.
As for the eventual movement of christians, alawites and other minorities regrouping in other areas where they feel safe, as I told you this is the logical consequences of the civil war and the distrust. It happened like that in Lebanon, Christians living in majoritarian Moslem areas, moved out in majoritarian Christian areas. The distrust seed is there and it can’t be cured. It is unavoidable that communities will attempt to regroup geographically, that it will happen in Syria too.
February 25th, 2012, 11:49 am
Ghufran said:
“The FSA do not have missiles and artillary, they are not attacking the assad troops”
I do not know what weapons the militias have but the second part of the statement is not true. What is more dangerous than the FSA attacking the Syrian army is the presence of numerous militias in Syria,some of them use the name FSA for cover. Supporting armed resistance against the regime has weakened the opposition and will only increase the death toll and drive Syria off the cliff.
February 25th, 2012, 11:50 am
Mina said:
Ghufran
No one should laugh at the exactions of the terrorists and their cousins in the mukhabarat, but if you haven’t see it, watch “We Are Four Lions”, a British fiction film of 2010 on young al-Qaeda sympathizers which is probably close to the truth.
February 25th, 2012, 11:56 am
Tara said:
Bronco
When Christian marries a Muslim, where do they move?
February 25th, 2012, 11:57 am
bronco said:
#106 Leo
“The solution is for the regime to stop the bombardment, withdraw the army, the armed groups put their weapons down, Bashar resigns,and all political Syrian powers to work on a transitory period where all Syrians are protected”
After 10 months, more than 70 countries in Tunis could not find a way to reach the solution that you describe, so what is to be done? Watch the civilians shelled and killed and not attempt to rescue them.
If you had some of your family in Bab Amr now, do you think you’ll be telling them to wait and get killed until Hillary Clinton forces Bashar to resigns? You’ll them to get out as soon as possible.
February 25th, 2012, 12:02 pm
bronco said:
#113 Tara
First they have to marry in Cyprus as no Arab countries allow civil marriage…
February 25th, 2012, 12:07 pm
Equus said:
The so-called “activists” in Syria are wondering why the world is turning their collective backs on them. The simple answer to that question is that in spite of the propaganda being fed to them via the complicit corporate media and the fake dissident organizations like Democracy NOW!, Saloon, and Media Matters, the rest of the world has come to understand that the “activists” in Syria, like the “activists” in Libya, are greedy, self absorbed foreign mercenaries hired by NATO countries to destabilize Syria with violence and terrorist tactics targeting civilians and government employees alike.
http://willyloman.wordpress.com/2012/02/25/webster-tarpley-discusses-enemies-of-syria-conference/
February 25th, 2012, 12:09 pm
irritated said:
66. jad said:
“Funny report about the “enemy of syria” conference Beat version since there will be Beta2 in the Ottomans’ Topkapi and Beta3 on top of Tour Eiffel!”
Jad, I think this was the first and the last “Friends of Syria’ meeting. It was such a disaster and photo-op waste of time that I doubt many of the 70 countries will come to the next one in Topkapi.
By the way, I think that HBJ looks like Big Bird, except that he wears white instead of yellow. A nice photo of him with Hillary Clinton when he did’nt look like Miss Piggy yet.
http://images1.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20100428193518/muppet/images/e/e1/1994-hillary-clinton-and-big-bird.jpg
February 25th, 2012, 12:18 pm
Tara said:
Bronco,
Then we need a marriage revolution. …I guess i will die from old age before fulfilling my revolutionary ambitions.
February 25th, 2012, 12:26 pm
bronco said:
#118 tara
“Then we need a marriage revolution. …”
I agree with you … yes, it happens sometimes.
February 25th, 2012, 12:34 pm
Revlon said:
109. Ghufran:
((I did not believe the story of Captain Wasel from Air Force until I saw this video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IZUpxSlKgQQ
The guy was kidnapped,handcuffed ,and forced to read a statement from a Toshiba laptop declaring his “defection”. The producer of this video “forgot” to release Wasel’s hands))
So you did not believe the story, but you were easily convinced that the defector was handcuffed??
Did you really see hand cuffs?
Play the video again!!
Some peple position their hands like that when the speak from behind a table or podium!
Try it your self!
No verifiable hand cuffs can be seen.
February 25th, 2012, 12:52 pm
Tara said:
75 killed in Syria today.
Aleppo is waking up from a long hibernation.
February 25th, 2012, 1:03 pm
Ghufran said:
This video was sent to CNN by Mani, a photographer :
http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=on+the+front+lines+of+Homs+battle&source=web&cd=1&ved=0CDkQqQIwAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fedition.cnn.com%2F2012%2F02%2F24%2Fworld%2Fmeast%2Fsyria-homs-closeup%2F%3Fhpt%3Dhp_c1&ei=NyNJT_jDKPL0sQLaqvTqCA&usg=AFQjCNFkDjCk0qsM5vOzdpGOp_s4Kw65-Q
February 25th, 2012, 1:11 pm
Tara said:
Waleed Jounblat wants the Syrian revolution to be militarized and supports arming the FSA. Lebanese Druze are with the revolution.
February 25th, 2012, 1:17 pm
Alan said:
مجرد لفت لفت انتباه
الجزر السعوديه المحتلة من قِبل إسرائيل
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sanafir_Island
الغالبية العظمى من الشعب السعودي ومن الامة العربيه والاسلامية لا يعرف أن هناك جزراً و ممرات بحرية سعودية محتلة من قبل اسرائيل منذ 1967
وحتى يومنا هذا، هاتان الجزيرتان هما صنافير و تيران
جزيرة تيران مساحتها: 80 كم مربع
جزيرة صنافير مساحتها: 33 كم مربع
هاتان الجزيرتان تقيم بهما اسرائيل في الوقت الحالي محطة كبيرة للانذار المبكر .. اما عن المياه الاقليمية في هذه المنطقة فحدث و لا حرج
الجزيرة الكبرى هي تيران والصغرى هي صنافير ولو وضعت أي دولة فيها معدات عسكرية لإستطاعت ان تشل حركة السفن الاسرائيلية عبر ميناء ايلات وخليج العقبة تماما
لأن أهميتهما كبيرةً جداً بسبب الموقع الاستراتيجي الحساس حيث يقعان في بوابة مضيق تيران وبهذا فموقعهم يُسيطر على بوابة خليج العقبة وإيلات الإسرائيلية وهما يُعادلان في الأهمية بالنسبة للموقع كجزر حنيش التي استرجعتها اليمن من أرتيريا عبر التحكيم الدولي
احتلتها اسرائيل عام 1967 لأهميتها الاستراتيجية
كان الملك فيصل ، قد قام بتأجيرهاتين الجزيرتين لمصر خلال فترة حربها مع اسرائيل ، نظراً لأهميتهما الإستراتيجية و الجغرافية و لقطع مرور السفن الى ميناء إيلات الإسرائيلي ، وبعد نكسة 67 و احتلال اسرائيل لأجزاء كبيرة من عدة دول عربية و من ضمنها هاتين الجزيرتين، صارت السعودية ومصر كل واحدة ترمي مسؤولية الجزر على الثانية وقال السادات عنهما
” لا ياعم الجزر مش بتاعتنا دول تبع أرض الحجاز” ورفض ضمها في اتفاقية كامب ديفد ، والحقيقة أنها فعلا اراضي سعودية %100
و الناظر الى خريطة المملكة العربية السعودية المعلقة في الدوائر الحكومية في السعودية، و كتب الجغرافيا السعودية يجد أن هاتين الجزيرتين تابعتين للسعودية
جزيرة تتبع في تقسيمها الى امارة منطقة تبوك في المملكة العربية السعودية ، ومسجلة رسمياً لدى الامم المتحدة بأنها تابعة للملكة العربية السعودية، طبعاً تم تعتيم الموضوع إعلامياً ، حيث أن إسرائيل تحتاج و بشدة الى الممر البحري لمرور السفن و المار بجانب هاتين الجزيرتين وصولاً الى ميناء إيلات الإسرائيلي
ودية دون أن يجرؤ أحد على قول كلمة واحدة
[…]
February 25th, 2012, 1:45 pm
Amir in Tel Aviv said:
1500 reactionary Arabs demonstrated this evening in Haifa, in support of B. Assad, and against the “conspiracy” that is being waged on Syria.
I have no link. I heard it on the Israeli radio. Sorry. You’ll have to trust me on this.
.
February 25th, 2012, 1:48 pm
jad said:
How I knew! Let’s bring the Druz subject to the discussion.
{…}
——————————————-
Russia raising the stinking credibility of Rami Adb Alrahman AGAIN:
موسكو تشكك في مصداقية المرصد السوري لحقوق الانسان
علق الكسندر لوكاشيفيتش، الناطق الرسمي باسم الخارجية الروسية يوم 25 فبراير/شباط، على نشاط المرصز السوري لحقوق الانسان الذي يقع مقره في لندن، مشيرا الى عدد العاملين فيه ومدى صحة المعلومات التي ينشرها.
وقال لوكاشيفيتش: “لقد انتبهنا الى ان عددا من وكالات الانباء الاجنبية وخاصة الغربية تستند في اخبارها وتقاريرها على المعلومات التي تحصل عليها مما يسمى بـ”المرصد السوري لحقوق الانسان” الذي يتخذ من لندن مقرا له.
واضاف “المعلومات المتوفرة لدينا تشير إلى أن شخصين فقط يعملان في هذا المرصد (مدير وسكرتير)، وأن مديره يدعى رامي عبد الرحمن وهو لا يحمل شهادة صحفية او حقوقية، بل وحتى لم يكمل الدراسة الثانوية. وكان هذا الشخص قد صرح في نوفمر/تشرين الثاني من السنة الماضية، بأنه يقيم بصورة دائمة في لندن، ويحمل الجنسية البريطانية وهو رجل اعمال ويملك مقصفا”.
واشار لوكاشيفيتش الى أن “تهرب ممثلي المرصد من لقاء دبلوماسيينا، هو خير شاهد على ذلك”. وقال: “اعتقد أن الحقائق المذكورة تسمح بالحكم على مدى صحة المعلومات التي ينشرها هذا المرصد
———————————————-
It’s Russia turn now, a Puttin support demonstration reported as an ANTI Putin demonstration in the Westerns’ and Khalijis’ media
موسكو تشهد مظاهرة مؤيدة لفلاديمير بوتين
http://youtu.be/u0d7FA9nQaQ
February 25th, 2012, 1:51 pm
jad said:
LOLOL…the Russian is telling the Tunisian president to ‘Shut it’
الكرملين ينصح الرئيس التونسي بعدم التحدث نيابة عن روسيا حول احتمال لجوء الرئيس الاسد
نصح الكرملين، الرئيس التونسي المنصف المرزوقي، الذي اقترح يوم الجمعة 24 فبراير/شباط، أن تكون روسيا ملجأ للرئيس السوري بشار الاسد، بأن يتحدث باسم بلده وأن يقترح حلولا تهدف الى تسوية سلمية للنزاع السوري.
وقال المرزوقي في مؤتمر “اصدقاء سورية” إن المطلوب “البحث عن حل سياسي وتمكين الرئيس السوري وعائلته وأركان حكمه من حصانة قضائية ومكان لجوء يمكن لروسيا أن توفره”.
وقال مصدر رفيع المستوى في الكرملين معلقا على هذا التصريح: “كان على الرئيس التونسي ان يقترح باسم بلاده، وليس دعوة دول اخرى الى أمر ما. ويجب أن تكون هذه المقترحات موجهة نحو التسوية السلمية للنزاع الداخلي في سورية”. واضاف: “خاصة وأن اكثر الدول العربية قد عاشت نتائج “تعزيز الديمقراطية”
http://arabic.rt.com/news_all_news/news/579396/
February 25th, 2012, 1:53 pm
jad said:
Not surprised that many Palestinians are still smart enough and have conscious to speak out against Tunis conference of ‘shame’!
February 25th, 2012, 1:56 pm
Syrialover said:
#13. Tara
Thank you. Spoken from an honest and reasoning heart.
Sometimes reading some of the commentators here I wonder. If they are posting from outside Syria in a safe and civilized country with rule of law etc, how would they react if the government of that country sent the army to shoot civilians and rounded up people for torture and disappearances? They would be shocked and very uneasy, thinking of moving elsewhere.
But I guess if they are posting in a systematic campaign (the Assadist version of the Israeli Lobby), they have chosen this as a way of maintaining their own personal interests and beliefs at all costs, regardless of rationality and humanity.
February 25th, 2012, 1:58 pm
jad said:
ديبلوماسي خليجي : أخطأ سمو الأمير فيصل في مواقفه من تسليح المعارضة السورية !
عربي برس – بيروت .
تخوف ديبلوماسي خليجي مخضرم من تبعات الموقف الذي أطلقه وزير الخارجية السعودي الأمير سعود الفيصل من تونس والذي قال فيه ” إن تسليح المعارضة فكرة ممتازة وعلى الأسد التنحي كرها أو طوعا ”
وكشف الرجل أن إتفاقا سعوديا إيرانيا كان يضبط حدود الصراع بين محوري الإعتدال والممانعة وخاصة في سورية وفي البحرين وهو ما إنعكس إيجابا على الإستقرار في لبنان وضبط ردود الأفعال التي كان يمكن أن تتحرك من قبل حلفاء النظام السوري في بلاد الأرز واليونيفيل وسوليدير والتوظيفات المالية والسياسية السعودية الهائلة.
وأضاف الرجل : حين قرر السوريون رفع يدهم عن مسؤولية الأمن في بيروت بعد خروجهم منها إثر الإجتياح الإسرائيلي ، إستطاعت مجموعات متفرقة وضعيفة من حزب الله طرد الأميركيين والغربيين والسعوديين من بيروت الغربية ، فما الذي يمكن أن يحصل لنفوذ السعوديين والأميركيين في لبنان أو في العراق أو اليمن إذا ما قررت إيران وقف العمل بشروط الإنفاق – الهدنة مع السعودية ؟
وأبدى الديبلوماسي الذي يزور العاصمة اللبنانية بيروت خلال حديثه مع عربي برس أبدى خشيته على المصالح السعودية خاصة والخليجية عامة في لبنان بعد ذهاب الموقف السعودي في معاداته لنظام الرئيس بشار الأسد إلى حدوده الأبعد ، وتسائل المصدر عما سيفعله السعوديون لو نجح الرسميون السوريون في دفع الملايين من شعبهم إلى المشاركة بكثافة في الإستفتاء على الدستور وبنسب ذات مصداقية تزيد عن الخمسين بالمئة مثلا ؟
{…}
http://www.arabi-press.com/?page=article&id=24440
February 25th, 2012, 2:08 pm
irritated said:
123. Tara
Jumblatt is overdue to pass his crown to his son as planned. His head has been whirling too quickly in the last few months.
Syrian druzes are much more independant that the Lebanese ones eternally tied up to the Jumblatt family for almost a century.
February 25th, 2012, 2:09 pm
Amir in Tel Aviv said:
#128,
It’s one thing to express worries about Syria and the Syrian people, and a totally different thing to declare support for the murderous butcher in the palace overlooking Damascus.
Recent opinion polls show zero support for Assad among the Arabs. Those Arabs from Haifa are almost in a state of extinct species.
.
February 25th, 2012, 2:14 pm
Majed97 said:
Now that the highly hyped “friends of Syria” gathering failed miserably, KSA and Qatar’s next conference may have to be called “the best of best friends of Syria” in order to qualify Israel to attend. They are determined to control Syria, or destroy it trying. They’re acting like a jealous lover who’s strategy is: if I can’t have you, no body else will…
February 25th, 2012, 2:15 pm
Alan said:
http://www.godlikeproductions.com/forum1/message1792497/pg1
U.S. to announce AERIAL BLOCKADE ON SYRIA
‘US readies for possibility of intervention without UN resolution, Asharq Al-Awsat reports, citing US military official; plan to include humanitarian aid to Syrian refugees on Turkey’s border
Roi Kais
The Pentagon is readying for the possibility of intervention in Syria, aiming to halt Syrian President Bashsar Assad’s violent crackdown on protesters, the newspaper Asharq Al-Awsat reported Saturday, citing a US military offical.
According to the official, the intervention scenario calls for the establishment of a buffer zone on the Turkish border, in order to receive Syrian refugees. The Red Cross would then provide the civilians humanitarian aid, before NATO crews would arrive from Turkey and join the efforts.’
February 25th, 2012, 2:16 pm
jad said:
A strong stand by Haytham Manna about the ‘enemies of Syria’ conference, he refuse the western and Khalijis’ undemocratic regimes to dictate on Syrians what to do using their ‘salafiests’ on us:
قناة فرنسا24: الدكتور هيثم مناع
http://youtu.be/lBG0cimdj8w
“حول قرارات مؤتمر أصدقاء سوريا في تونس”
February 25th, 2012, 2:16 pm
zoo said:
How Israel Could Remove Assad Diplomatically and Bring Peace to Syria
[Bruce Riedel, Daily Beast]
How could Netanyahu topple Assad and weaken Hizbullah in one fell swoop—a far more strategic opportunity than a strike on Iran? Hand over the Golan Heights with one condition, says Bruce Riedel.
If Israel is willing to think outside the box, it can deal Bashar al-Assad, Iran, and Hizbullah a body blow without firing a shot. Defense Minister Ehud Barak simply needs to convince Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu to put back on the table the offer Barak made to Assad’s father in 2000—return of the Golan Heights to Syria in return for peace with Israel.
..
And it should include one more issue. In return for full peace and full withdrawal, a post-Assad government would need to cease all military and intelligence cooperation with Iran and Hizbullah. Cooperation with parties still at war with Israel would be inconsistent with a Syrian-Israeli peace agreement.
…
The Syrian opposition, of course, already hates the Shiite Iranian regime and its terrorist ally Hizbullah for backing the Assads for the past three decades. Since the start of the Syrian uprising a year ago, Iran and Hizbullah have done all they can to help Bashar, so this would not be a hard sell.
By putting its peace offer back on the table, Israel can play a constructive role in the Syrian crisis. It can say that not only can a post-Assad Syria move toward freedom after decades of dictatorship, it also can move toward peace. Syria has been at war since 1947—it is the cold war with Israel that two Assad presidents have used to justify their brutal regimes.
Of course, Bashar and his allies will denounce the Israeli move as evidence the opposition is really just a Zionist conspiracy. Many in the opposition or its extremist allies, like al Qaeda, will denounce it as well. But it will get support from those Syrians who want an end to decades of war and a restoration of their national sovereignty over the Golan. Syria can never restore its territorial integrity by war; only negotiations offer a chance to do that.
The entire international community will applaud Israel’s initiative. The United States can help rally support behind it. Israel will be seen as a peacemaker and a friend of change.
Israel has nothing to lose. It has already made this offer before. If Assad survives, Israel keeps the Golan. If he is replaced by chaos, then there will be no negotiations and no peace. If a new Syrian government arises ready to make peace, then Israel has helped to isolate Hizbullah and broken the Syrian-Iranian axis.
February 25th, 2012, 2:16 pm
Syria no Kandahar said:
Even In sports Aljazera carries on the evil spirit:
February 25th, 2012, 2:18 pm
irritated said:
#133 Majed97
“They’re acting like a jealous lover”
I would say they are spoiled kids who can’t accept a “NO” and walk out sulking and furious.
Big Bird HBJ was very quiet in this conference, or I missed something?
February 25th, 2012, 2:22 pm
zoo said:
What is preventing the Red Cross again from accessing the wounded journalists? The regular army soldiers or the armed rebels and the uncontrollable snipers? Where is the French ambassador?
Red Cross frustrated in Syria evacuation effort
Associated Press – 19 mins ago
http://news.yahoo.com/red-cross-frustrated-syria-evacuation-effort-190654767.html
GENEVA (AP) — The Red Cross says it has failed to gain access to a besieged neighborhood in the Syrian city of Homs.
The humanitarian group and its Syrian chapter are seeking safe passage to evacuate wounded and sick civilians from Baba Amr after managing to bring out 27 people Friday.
But a spokesman for the International Committee of the Red Cross in Geneva says negotiations Saturday “yielded no concrete results.”
Hicham Hassan told The Associated Press that talks with the Syrian government and opposition forces would continue Sunday.
{..}
February 25th, 2012, 2:30 pm
jad said:
An opinion about Jumblat hysteria ‘strategy’ when he stuck:
ثلاثة أسباب لعودة جنبلاط إلى «ساعة التخلّي»
جان عزيز
ماذا تعني المؤشرات الأميركية والفرنسية والتركية حيال الوضع في سوريا؟
بداية ثمة إجماع لدى المعنيين والمراقبين على قراءة واحدة لكلام واشنطن حول اختراق تنظيم «القاعدة» للمعارضة السورية. والقراءة الموحدة هي البحث الأميركي عن باب للخروج من التزامات معينة في الملعب السوري، ولتنفيذ إعادة انتشار في هذا التوقيت الانتخابي بالذات، وتحت ستار دخاني مفهوم من قبل الناخب الأميركي، وإن كان مرفوضاً من قبل مشاريع الحلفاء في الخارج أو أصحاب أوهام الاتكال على واشنطن. وفي القاموس الأميركي للألفية الثالثة، «القاعدة» هي الكلمة السحرية المرادفة لأمر العمليات التالي: اهربوا، او ابتعدوا. ولذلك لم يصدر كلام «القاعدة» عن سياسيين أميركيين، بل عن الجهتين الأكثر صلاحية ومرجعية: الاستخبارات وهيئة الأركان المشتركة.
تبقى ملاحظة عابرة بالنسبة الى الموقف الأميركي في أبعاده اللبنانية: ما هو السر في أن تنفلت كل ألسن الفريق الحريري بالشتم والقذف حيال كلمة واحدة عن اختراق «القاعدة» للوضع السوري، إذا كان مصدرها بلدياً مثل فايز غصن مثلاً، في مقابل أن تنعقد تلك الألسن نفسها وتُبلع وتخرس، إذا كانت الكلمة نفسها مصدرها خارجي مثل ديمبسي أو غيره؟؟ سؤال يستحق أكثر من تمعن …
أما في الجهة الأوروبية من الأطلسي، فكان لافتاً تنصّل باريس من استضافة ما سمي «مؤتمر أصدقاء سوريا». إذ يتساءل المراقبون: لو أن نيكولا ساركوزي، الغارق في حملته الانتخابية الشرسة، واللاهث خلف أي ورقة أو عنوان أو كلمة تساهم في ردم الهوة الاستطلاعية بينه وبين منافسه الاشتراكي فرنسوا هولاند، لو أن ساركوزي نفسه لا يزال يعتقد بربحية الورقة السورية أما كان تهافت لعقد المؤتمر في دياره ورحابه؟؟ اما كان كرر سابقته الليبية، يوم جاء بمسلحي طرابلس الغرب، من عشائر و«قاعدة»، وجمعهم بخليط من صهاينة هنري ليفي ومستثمري الماس الأسود، وولَّف منهم «ثورة» نموذجية من رحم أرض الثورة الفرنسية بالذات؟؟ أليس إدراك الرئيس المرشح لمدى تثقيل الورقة السورية على أي حامل لها، وتراجع ربحيتها، هو ما جعل باريس ترمي ثوارها الجدد على الشاطئ التونسي، رغم الإغراءات القطرية الهائلة لتمويل الاستضافة وإكرام كل من له علاقة بها، من حاجب فندق حتى رئيس قصر؟؟
{…}
أما على الجانب الآسيوي من عواصم العناية بالوضع السوري، فيقال إن أحمد داوود أوغلو قال لوليد جنبلاط في آخر لقاء بينهما في أنقرة ما معناه: هذا أقصى ما يمكننا فعله من الخارج لإسقاط النظام في دمشق، الباقي على معارضي الداخل. لم يعد ثمة ما يمكننا تقديمه. ويقال إن هذا الكلام التركي هو ما رفع منسوب الهستريا في المواقف الجنبلاطية حيال الوضع السوري، من كلام عن حلول سيبيرية أو رومانية أو «صَدَّامية»، وصولاً الى نقل الوردة الحمراء من ضريح كمال جنبلاط في المختارة الى مزار ضحايا حمص في سوليدير. وهو ما شكل نقلة متوقعة ضمن الرقصة الجنبلاطية التقليدية، بين «ساعة التخلي» و«ساعة الندم»، على وقع عقارب «ساعة الحقيقة» الضائعة… اندفاعة جنبلاطية تذكّر بمواقفه في 14 آذار 2006، يوم سمع من الأميركيين أنهم تحولوا في سياستهم حيال دمشق من مقولة «تغيير النظام» الى مستوى الاكتفاء بهدف «تغيير سلوكه»، ففجر يومها خطابه الزوولوجي الشهير على قبر رفيق الحريري. وهو تكتيك جنبلاطي معروف، يقال أن الهدف منه افتعال التغيير بالقوة، عبر محاولة إلزام الخارج بمواقف معينة ومنعه من التراجع عنها وتوريطه أكثر في الدفاع عن زبائنه المحليين والانخراط لإنقاذهم، بعد أن يكون هؤلاء قد ذهبوا الى خرق كل السقوف والانزلاق نحو خانة الانتحار…
{…}
http://www.al-akhbar.com/node/36008
February 25th, 2012, 2:37 pm
zoo said:
Can loud Moncef Marzouki of Tunisia dare say the same to his rich “friend” Saudi Arabia hosting Ben Ali?
http://news.yahoo.com/libya-says-diplomacy-hinges-judicial-cooperation-184813420.html
Libyan leader Mustafa Abdel Jalil on Saturday threatened to review diplomatic relations with neighbouring states sheltering former regime figures and “wanted criminals.”
“But he warned “the Libyan people will not forgive any country that delays the act of handing over these criminals.”
{..)
February 25th, 2012, 2:38 pm
zoo said:
The role of mosques in the political landscape of a Moslem country
Algeria Elections Ignite Battle Over Mosques
By: Mourad Traboulsi
Published Friday, February 24, 2012
http://english.al-akhbar.com/content/algeria-elections-ignite-battle-over-mosques
Algiers – In the run to upcoming parliamentary elections, tensions are on the rise in Algeria between pro-regime imams and the ministry for religious affairs on one hand, and radical Islamists who support the banned Islamic Salvation Front (FIS) on the other.
The rival parties are at odds over the control of the country’s mosques. Security and press reports describe daily verbal confrontations that sometimes turn into brawls and knife attacks.
The protagonists are political groups that have taken the country back to what it was like 20 years ago. At that time, mosques became political battlegrounds and Islamists eventually took almost complete control of them.
{…}
February 25th, 2012, 2:43 pm
Tara said:
Syria’s Assad commits nearly all his forces in race to crush uprising, experts say
BY JONATHAN S. LANDAY
MCCLATCHY NEWSPAPERS
WASHINGTON — Syrian President Bashar Assad is now using most of his regular ground forces in an intensified drive to crush the uprising against his family’s four-decade-long rule in what could be a critical test of his minority-run military’s cohesion, according to U.S. officials and experts.
Assad and his inner circle are apparently betting that their ferocious artillery-backed onslaught on the city of Homs will deal a crippling blow to the insurgency, which will quickly be followed by seizures of other rebellious cities and towns. Refugees arriving in Lebanon say Assad’s forces already have retaken the town of Zabadani.
The regime, however, may be in a race against time: The longer the insurgents hold out, the greater the risk of the army becoming overstretched; the more civilians killed and maimed in the wanton pummeling of opposition strongholds, the greater the threat of the army fraying, plunging the country into all-out sectarian war, some experts warn.
“We’ve been building up to a critical test over the last few months and that test is in the form of whether or not the regime can make significant gains in terms of taking back critical terrain,” said Aram Nerguizian of the Center for Strategic and International Studies, a think tank based in Washington.
… .
Moreover, the regime’s assaults on Homs and other rebel strongholds have primarily involved the army’s elite 4th Division and the Republican Guard, both commanded by Assad’s brother, Maher, and armed Alawite criminal gangs controlled by other family members, Slim said.
The loyalist formations “are the ones they (the regime) can count on and it brings them into cities like Homs to do the clear-and-hold operations and the real killing,” she said. “The Sunnis are kept outside and then are brought in after the … operations.”
This approach helps the Assads avert a coup because it makes Alawite officers who might otherwise conspire to topple them complicit in the shelling of civilian areas and other acts that U.N. human rights officials are publicly condemning as war crimes, Slim said.
“The strategy of the Assad family is to bloody the hands of every Alawite officer and the hands of all the Alawites … binding their fate and their survival to the survival of the Assads,” she said.
Assad, however, appears to be gambling that his scorched-earth strategy will succeed before the growing sectarian strains begin to seriously unravel his army, experts said.
(…}
http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/02/22/2655662/syrias-assad-commits-nearly-all.html
February 25th, 2012, 2:43 pm
Syrialover said:
All those pouring scorn and hostility on the “Friends of Syria” conference, for whatever reason, have their thinking on a closed loop.
They are like children sulking and saying to adults “I don’t want to play!”.
You get 60 countries together to make a statement of alarm and concern about what is happening in Syria, you are seeing historical evolution of how the world community is attempting to tackle its problems.
This hasn’t come from the Syrian situation alone, it’s come from Rwanda, Srebrenica and yes, Iraq and Afghanistan, and last century’s terrible wars.
Note the word evolution, and read the various comments on possible solutions and scenarios. They are trying to communally respond to the problem, explore what could save the Syrian people and their country from destruction. Maybe nothing can work, but they want to work on it.
You might not like some of those 60 countries and wish them ill. But that is not the point. Not the point at all. It’s 2012 with all its complicated geopolitical realities and they want to find a way to do something, rather than nothing.
February 25th, 2012, 2:51 pm
zoo said:
Hamas Damage control.. waiting for Syria’s reaction
Hamas denies rupture of diplomatic relations with Syria
http://rt.com/news/line/2012-02-25/#id27067
Hamas leaders have now left Syria but they are not going to officially cut ties with Assad’s government, Hamas leader Salah al-Bardaweel told Xinhua news agency.
He said that top Hamas leaders are now in “Arab countries.” However, al-Bardaweel said that criticism of violence against civilians does not mean the rupture of diplomatic relations with Syria. Salah al-Bardaweel stressed that it is too early to say that Hamas and Assad had chosen different paths. He pointed out that since the violence began in Syria, Hamas has always called for the Syrian government to avoid the use of weapons. It also was against any foreign intervention into the country’s interior affairs.
February 25th, 2012, 2:52 pm
Syrialover said:
# 136. Zoo
While in many ways I would rejoice to see the entire territory of Israel handed over to its neighbours, handing the Golan to the Assad regime is giving it to a decayed and dying dinosaur, whose rotting teeth couldn’t chew and digest it.
But let’s call for it put in under some kind of firm mandate to be handed over to a future Syrian government. Shoot another arrow at the dinosaur’s heart rather than just its hide.
February 25th, 2012, 3:18 pm
Alan said:
‘CIA & Western media’s total fiasco in Syria’
Faysal: Syrian Vitnam is a good idea !!!
‘Israel has no capability to attack Iran’
, Israel rulers need to be removed. not killed, lets not get excited about political threats from a cornered animal. Iran hasn’t attacked anybody in 600 years. Israel, on the other hand is controlling the worlds, just as all scriptures said it would. the time of the golden age is upon us. hooray the humans. time of freedom is at hand 🙂
February 25th, 2012, 3:23 pm
Pirouz said:
82. REVLON said:
That level of support wasn’t even provided to the Libyan militias. In fact, there was an effort to round up LyA MANPADs.
The Libyan militias used “technicals”, with Western support being provided by in the form of aerial ground attack and interdiction. That isn’t happening in Syria, as Russia and China feel they were taken advantage of by their yes vote in the UNSC with regard to Libya. It won’t happen again, to Syria.
In Libya, LyA armor was neutralized by NATO air power, not ATGMs. NATO also supplied small arms, ammunition, SF assistance and money.
Without a negotiated settlement, this is a slow agony for the Syrian people.
The Russians, Iranians and Chinese have each attempted to bring the two sides together, but a settlement is not in the interests of certain opposition elements and their Western backers. In fact, any opposition elements that enter into any sort of negotiation with the regime will, at this stage, automatically forfeit their credibility with the West. For the West, the present level of turmoil adequately suits their purposes for the region.
Meanwhile both sides in the conflict continue to lose family members in the violence.
February 25th, 2012, 3:24 pm
Alan said:
UK Gov Ignore Pro-Assad Civilians, but Al Qaeda Confirmed In Opposition
Keelan Balderson, Contributing Writer
Activist Post
http://www.activistpost.com/2012/02/uk-gov-ignore-pro-assad-civilians-but.html
UK Foreign Secretary William Hague has announced today at the fluffily named “Friends of Syria” conference, that Britain will only recognise the anti-Assad side of the conflict, as “legitimate representatives” of the country’s people [1]; meaning hundreds of thousands of citizens loyal to the Assad Government will now be ignored and effectively treated as enemy combatants – typical of the biased reporting so far……( ..
February 25th, 2012, 3:43 pm
jad said:
There is no contrast between Negotiation and Dialogue..political solutions is the only way out, violence is not the answer:
مجنون من يصدق وجود تناقض بين الحوار والتفاوض
ميشيل كيلو
“والآن، إلى الموضوع الرئيس.
الحوار: نعم، كنت من أوائل الداعين إلى الحوار داخل صفوف المعارضة الحزبية وبين التنسيقيات وبين المعارضة والمنخرطين في هذه التنسيقيات، فهل كانت الدعوة خاطئة؟. ألا ندفع اليوم ثمن عدم إجراء هذا الحوار الثلاثي الأركان والعام، الذي كان يجب أن يتم كي يتعرف المعارضون بعضهم على بعض، ويعرفوا آراء بعضهم، ويتفقوا على سياسات مشتركة تحدد خطواتهم في الحقبة التي تفصلنا عن سقوط النظام، وعلى مواقف دقيقة وعملية من عقبات مهمة تعترض سبيلا النضال الشعبي هي، بين أشياء أخرى: المشكلة الطائفية، ومشكلة العسكر، ومسألة التحالف بين المجتمعين المدني والأهلي اللذين حملا الانتفاضة والثورة، ومشكلة كسب وتنشيط الكتلة الشعبية المحايدة، التي تتفرج إلى اليوم على ما يحدث، يدفعها إلى ذلك خوفها من إسلاميين مزعومين، أرعبها النظام منهم طيلة قرابة نصف قرن، ولم يفعل الإسلاميون جميعهم شيئا حقيقيا وميدانيا لإزالة هذا الرعب، كما لم تحدد المعارضة المنظمة والتنسيقيات مواقفها من بعض هؤلاء الإسلاميين، الذين يتحولون اليوم إلى ظاهرة منفلتة من أي عقال، غامضة وخطيرة، تهدد بالإسهام من جانبها في تحويل معركة مجتمعية من أجل الحرية إلى معركة طوائف ومذاهب متنافية.
إلى هذا، دعوت أيضا إلى حوار مع النظام في ظل شروط ثلاثة لا مفر من التمسك بحرفيتها هي: إن كان الحوار يعزز الحراك الشعبي، وينزل الكتل المحايدة إلى الشارع للتظاهر، ويضعف النظام وينهكه ويؤدي إلى تفكيك وحدته. وقد قلت في نهاية كلمة ألقيتها في لقاء سمير أميس التشاوري: «بغير هذه الشروط، لن أحاور النظام ولو قطعوا رأسي»، وهو ما حدث بالفعل، فقد عملت على إقناع معارضين كثيرين بعدم المشاركة في لقاء صحارى، الذي نظمته السلطة، وأخبرت كل من تحدث معي بصدد الحوار مع السلطة أن هذه لا تريد الحوار، بل تسعى إلى تغطية سياسية للحل الأمني تريد أن تستدرج المعارضة إليها باسم الحوار، وان من يشارك في حوار كهذا يخون نفسه والشعب، لكونه يغطي حلا أمنيا هدفه القضاء على حراكه ومطالبه، يتمسك النظام بتطبيقه كي يغلق باب الحل السياسي، الذي لا مدخل له غير الحوار، فعلى أي شيء نحاور إن كان الحوار لا يفضي إلى حل سياسي يلبي مطالب مواطنينا المشروعة؟ وللعلم، فإن الأستاذ فاروق الشرع، نائب رئيس الجمهورية، خابرني قبل مؤتمر صحارى للحوار الوطني بيومين، وأخبرني أنه تقرر أن تكون كلمة اللقاء الأولى لي، وأن هذا سيكون حدثا تاريخيا مهما، فأعلمته برفضي الحضور وقلت له أسباب الرفض التي ذكرتها قبل قليل.
هل كان من الخطأ الدعوة إلى حوار بين فصائل المعارضة، وبين فصائل التنسيقيات، وبين المعارضة والأخيرة؟.
وهل كان من الخطأ الدعوة إلى حوار يعزز حراك الشارع ويقلل عدد المتفرجين والمحايدين وينهك النظام ويشق صفوفه؟.
يجب أن يكون المرء مجنونا كي يرى في حوار كهذا خطأ أو كي يرفضه. لكنه وجد في سوريا مجانين فعلوا ذلك، بثمن فادح دفعه الشعب وحده، وحجتهم أن الحوار، أي حوار، ينقذ النظام، كأن سقوطه كان في متناول أيديهم، أو كأن تعبئة الشعب وراء الحراك وإقلال أعداد المحايدين وإنزالهم إلى الشارع، وتفاهم المعارضة على سياسات مشتركة أو موحدة يقويه ويحسن مواقفه!.
بقي شيء أخير، هو أن هؤلاء فهموا من الدكتور عزمي بشارة أن هناك فارقا بين الحوار والتفاوض، فاستنتجوا أن التفاوض يقضي على النظام والحوار ينقذه. هل كان هناك ما يمنع الحوار بالقصد الذي تحدثت عنه من أن ينقلب، بعد ما سيترتب عليه من تحول في ميزان القوى لصالح الشعب، إلى تفاوض يطيح بالنظام؟. يجب أن يكون المرء مجنونا كي يصدق وجود تناف بين الحوار والتفاوض، وجدار يستحيل تجاوزه بينهما، وأن الحوار داخل الصف الوطني وتوضيح مواقفه وتنشيط دوره في قضايا يتوقف عليها مصير الصراع يؤذي الشعب وينقذ النظام، بينما يسقطه التفاوض معه. مثل هذه الترهات تسيطر على عقل متخلف، غير سياسي وغير ثوري، يعتقد حملته اليوم أن الحوار بين طرفين في المعارضة هما: المجلس الوطني وهيئة التنسيق يضر ب«الثورة» ويخدم النظام. وقد رأينا جميعنا رأي العين كيف انقض أتباعه على برهان غليون، الذي وقع باسم المجلس وبتفويض منه ما سمي «وثيقة القاهرة» مع الهيئة، التي لم يكن هناك أية علاقة للسلطة أو للنظام بها، وكيف اتهموه بالخيانة ورفعوا في وجهه «كرتونات ثورية» تقول له: «الشعب السوري ما بينباع «!.
هل قرر ثوريو آخر زمن أنه لم يعد هناك أي دور للسياسة بفرعيها الحواري والتفاوضي، في العمل السوري العام، وأن مطالب الشعب لا تتحقق إلا بوسيلة واحدة هي العنف ورفض أي حوار حتى مع أطراف تاريخية من المعارضة والشارع.
يا لتفاهة هذا العقل ومنظوراته!”
{…}
http://www.assafir.com/Article.aspx?EditionId=2085&ChannelId=49660&ArticleId=2472&Author=%D9%85%D9%8A%D8%B4%D9%8A%D9%84%20%D9%83%D9%8A%D9%84%D9%88
February 25th, 2012, 3:43 pm
Ales said:
There has been no election in Libya…they are still busy preparing law to prevent any Gaddafi supporter to candidate and torture some.
In Yemen elections, people were free to vote for 1 candidate…which supposedly won 99% of votes.
This is democracy imposed by West and Arabs allied with them.
If 60% syrians voted for Assad, these outsiders would still demand his resignation. No doubt elections results would be faked and he would had no legitimacy…still.
But, a big progress has been made, a new Yemen president has legitimacy.
February 25th, 2012, 3:54 pm
Mina said:
Yemen president has legitimacy? He was vice-president since 1994!
February 25th, 2012, 4:08 pm
zoo said:
“The key thing will be not just the result of the referendum, but the number of people who are allowed to take part in it and thus it is being shown as a legitimate consultation of the people.”
Syria gears up for referendum
Published: 25 February, 2012, 18:05
http://rt.com/news/syria-referendum-vote-constitution-211/
War-torn Syria is gearing up for an unprecedented referendum on a new draft constitution that would put an end to five decades of single-party rule. But the opposition is calling on the population to boycott the vote, which is set for Sunday.
On Sunday millions of Syrians are expected to vote on their country’s new constitution. Posters and banners calling on people to come and vote are everywhere in the capital and all around the country, RT’s Maria Finoshina reports from Damascus. For the first time in the country’s history the Interior Ministry is urging people to come and vote without actually telling them how they should vote, she says.
The draft of the newly proposed constitution has been made public days before the referendum takes place. Hundreds of its copies have been distributed among people to let them know what changes the new law puts forward.
The draft constitution includes 14 new and 47 amended articles.
One of the main changes is Article 8, which actually ends over 50 years of single-party rule in Syria. It proclaims that political system in Syria is based on pluralism and multiparty system is permitted.
Also very important is Article 88, as it says that president of the country could only be elected for two seven-year terms. This change however will come into power only after the next presidential elections, which is scheduled for 2014.
The draft constitution meets the majority of democratic demands of the Syrians.
According to the Interior Ministry 14,000 polling stations have been set up for the referendum. About 15 million Syrians have the right to vote, but it is hard to predict how many of them will actually turn out.
However, as Maria Finoshina reports, the referendum may come too late as violence is continuing in the country between the opposition and the authorities.
The opposition has already called to boycott the vote and go on strike. RT’s correspondent says warnings are circling in Damascus that there could be attacks and explosions at the polling stations during the vote.
…
Historian and political analyst Peter Rushton told RT that the main challenge for the Syrian government right now is to assure that the referendum gets through smoothly, “without terrorist attacks to disrupt it.”
“The major problem for the government in Damascus and everybody on the ground in Syria will be allowing the process to go ahead relatively uninterrupted,” Rushton said. “The key thing will be not just the result of the referendum, but the number of people who are allowed to take part in it and thus it is being shown as a legitimate consultation of the people.”
Rushton believes that if any kind of violence takes place during the vote, the West may say: “The result is illegitimate! That may well be the reason why the bombs are going off in the first place.”
February 25th, 2012, 4:20 pm
jad said:
Zoo #140
After all it seems that the terrorists armed gangs are holding the journalist hostage and the Syrians inside those infested area as negotiation cards and human shields, where is the ‘western’ press? I guess the press is only interested in dead journalists’ stories, those who are still alive don’t count.
The opposition lies were immediately exposed by the ICRC when they claim that the evacuated injured citizens were ‘arrested’.
I’m very surprised that Alkhanzeera is the one reporting this news!? WOW! What’s wrong with them?!!
Red Cross pushes to rescue wounded in Homs
Syrian Free Army blocks Syrian Red Crescent ambulances from entering area, in climate of “deep mistrust”.
{…}
“The ICRC said the Syrian Arab Red Crescent had evacuated a total of 27 people from Bab Amr on Friday. On Saturday, it carried out two evacuations in other neighbourhoods in Homs.
The injured were taken to a privately owned local hospital, the Red Cross said.
A journalist involved in Saturday’s negotiations told the AFP news agency that ambulances entered rebel stronghold Baba Amr twice in the afternoon but were blocked by the Free Syrian Army.
“At one point they said they could not allow more evacuations, including those of foreign journalists, because nine people evacuated on Friday had been arrested,” she said on condition of anonymity.
She said the ICRC investigated the rebel claim and reported that the charge that evacuees had been arrested “were totally false”.”
{…}
http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2012/02/201222514220400355.html
February 25th, 2012, 4:47 pm
Syria no Kandahar said:
Hamas is advising Assad not to use weapons,and has advised its members in the past to blow pizza restaurants.
February 25th, 2012, 5:00 pm
Ghufran said:
The SNC, the Qatar-KSA same sex marriage, and the Harirites are directly responsible for the failure of the opposition to recruit more Syrians in the legitimate struggle to change the regime by resorting to violence and buying the loyalty of power-hungry Syrian expats.
There was always thugs in Syria, like all countries, but those thugs were contained due to the presence of a strong central government. By attacking the army and targeting national institutions and trying to establish enclaves controlled by regular thugs, the armed militias are only serving their own interest, not the interest of the country.
There is a line that separates thugs from anti regime patriots, this line must be preserved if support for a civil and peaceful regime change is to be achieved, many Syrians have unfortunately decided to abandon the political path using the regime violence as an excuse.
February 25th, 2012, 6:03 pm
DAWOUD said:
Reply to Mr. IRRITATED, COMMENT # 79 ON THE PREVIOUS ARTICLE: https://www.joshualandis.com/blog/?p=13756&cp=2#comments
Regarding Ismail Haniyah’s support for the Syrian Revoluiton, Mr. IRRITATED says: “In addition, his new position may affect negatively the 600,000 Palestinians in Syria who have been benefiting of the same rights as the Syrians for years, contrary at how they are treated in other Arab countries […]”
Surprisingly, I strongly agree with Mr. IRRITATED that al-Assad’s regime (Assad the first, and Assad the 2nd) has treated the Palestinian refugees exactly like the Syrian citizens. In fact, I support this agreement in opinion between me and Mr. IRRITATED with the following two links:
1) “Syria assault on Latakia drives 5,000 Palestinians from refugee camp,” http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/aug/15/syria-palestinians-latakia-assault
2) Regarding the Tal Az-Za’atar massacre by Hafez, see:
جرائم النظام السوري بحق الفلسطينيين … مجزرة تل الزعتر
February 25th, 2012, 6:04 pm
Observer said:
Can anyone direct me to Off the Wall blog post I must have deleted by mistake.
Thank you all.
The plot thickens
The best political nose in testing shifting winds is that of Jumps a Lot Jumblat.
The second political shift is Hamas coming out in favor of the Syrian Revolution.
The third political shift is the Chinese response to the Tunis Conference being not outright hostile.
All three indicate that the inability of the regime to finish the resistance in Homs in more than three weeks of shelling is a sign of a failure of the regime to consolidate its hold on the country.
Arms will flow into the country and the stubborn insistence of Fredo on one tool in dealing with the revolt is truly astounding in its stupidity.
The window for any dialogue is closed. What is there to talk and negotiate about?
The regime shamelessly is not even willing to let the Red Crescent evacuate wounded in Homs. How more humiliating is it going to be that the Syrian Red Crescent is now involved in evacuating citizens of Homs.
If as the official narrative is correct it is due to armed gangs the inability to restore order is mind boggling and if as is more truly the situation they have no ability to crush the revolt and do not wish to appear on an equal footing with opposition then they have lost big time the propaganda war.
Nir Rosen is the only account that we need to look into on this latest posting.
By the way on Maysaloon there is a brilliant transcript that was posted today.
February 25th, 2012, 6:05 pm
Observer said:
Conversation with an Anti-Imperialist: A Transcript
This is usually how some of my conversations with anti-imperialists go:
Me: Assad is not fit to rule Syria, he must leave after what he’s done.
Them: But can’t you see that there is a conspiracy against Syria?
Me: Yes.
Them: Don’t you know that if Assad goes then that will be exactly what they have wanted?
Me: Yes.
Them: So why are you against Assad?
Me: Because Assad is murdering his own people and that is wrong.
[End of discussion]
February 25th, 2012, 6:08 pm
Tara said:
Observer
I think it is 7ee6an.wordpress.com
February 25th, 2012, 6:08 pm
Tara said:
Sting disgusted by Asma and hubby. I am too. I am sure someone will spent the night adoring the picture..
Sting and the tyrant: Human rights champion jokes with Syria’s brutal leader
By SIMON NEVILLE and DAVID WILLIAMS
Last updated at 6:30 PM on 25th February 2012
He has championed human rights causes around the world for more than 30 years.
From displaced tribes in the Brazilian rainforest to earthquake victims in Haiti, Sting has supported them all.
So he will no doubt rather forget the time he spent laughing and joking with brutal Syrian dictator President Al-Assad.
Pictures have emerged of the pop star, who has been an ambassador for Amnesty International since 1981, meeting Assad in Damascus.
Last night a friend of the singer explained how the couples met: ‘Trudie and Sting were on holiday in the Middle East in 2008 when they were invited to meet President Assad and his wife Asma.
‘At that time, Assad was relatively new to power and regarded as Westernised and, so, a potentially democratising influence in the Middle East.’
However, a spokesman for the pair insisted they were now ‘disgusted’ by the brutality of his military regime.
{……}
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2106182/Syria-President-Bashar-al-Assad-jokes-human-rights-champion-Sting.html?ito=feeds-newsxml
February 25th, 2012, 6:11 pm
Antoine said:
GHUFRAN,
I have noticed, in your comments, you have consistently refused to call the FSA by its name, instead you have chosen to refer to it as “the militia”. Is it a matter of principle ? Why do you refuse to use the term “Free Syrian Army” ?
I would like to know.
And I would really appreciate it if you could answer my question.
February 25th, 2012, 6:35 pm
Son of Damascus said:
Obsrerver,
here is the link to the Maysaloon post
http://www.maysaloon.org/2012/02/conversation-with-anti-imperialist.html
February 25th, 2012, 6:36 pm
zoo said:
Jad #156
So the wounded french and english journalists who need immediate care are held as hostages and bargaining items! I just hope they don’t die because of these delays.
Al Jazeera was obliged to report it because once out, the journalists will report it too
February 25th, 2012, 6:38 pm
irritated said:
160. Observer
Do you ever read posts here? Try #156 before writing this
“The regime shamelessly is not even willing to let the Red Crescent evacuate wounded in Homs.”
February 25th, 2012, 6:44 pm
Hans said:
http://www.shukumaku.com/Content.php?id=42389
Way to go opposition!!
Here is another face of a traitor who sold his soul to someone else but Syria.
I think if the opposition starts attacking each other it is the best way to liberate Syria.
well I don’t know but it doesn’t look good for the Syrians anyway I flip it.
it must be the end of the Arabs in the 21st century.
one Israeli is exchanged for few hundreds Arabs and one Americans is worth thousands, therefore, the more killing happened in Syria is saving the Israeli and the Americans from being involved is a win win situation to the Israelis.
dam it People don’t learn from history lessons.
February 25th, 2012, 7:09 pm
bronco said:
There is nothing ‘laughable’ about this referendum, quite the opposite
I have noticed that the turn of the events seems to go exactly opposite to the predictions of the media ( and of some overoptimistic commenters).
The latest was the flurry of declarations in the media that the FOS will give a “strong messsage” that it will reiterate the call for Bashar Al Assad to resign, make calls for the humanitarian corridors, arm the FSA etc.. etc..
None of this has materialized. Hillary shook hand with Davutoglu and Moncef Marzouki suggested Russia and not Ben Ali’s residence in KSA as a refuge for fleeing Bashar family.
And what about the collapse of the economy we’ve been hearing? the total collapse of the Syrian pound, the Kurds and the Druzes joining the uprising, Aleppo joining the uprising etc.. etc..
Now the media are saying the referendum is ‘laughable’, it is “too little too late”, “it will change nothing” etc.. etc..
The Russians cleverly pointed out that the turnout for this referendum is more important than the result.
This is the first democratic event in Syria and it will bring in the open the real percentage of the Syrians that supports the government and its reforms, versus the percentage who are against and who will therefore boycott the referendum.
If the opposition is sure about its majority it will stay quiet and allow the vote to happen. If they are not, they will instigate fear and increase terrorists acts to prevent the voters to vote.
This is the first moment of truth in the last 10 months.
February 25th, 2012, 7:15 pm
Tara said:
Bronco
The draft constitution is laughable because it makes Mr. Besho, the father,the son and the wholly sprit. Amen. It concentrates all the power in his persona and finds him not accountable for anything except the act of high treason and guess who decides if the president has committed high treason? It is the president himself that must be Muslim. The regime will tell us tomorrow that the turn out was outstanding even if no one shows. It also tells us that the sun rises from the west and there is no god except Bushbush.
I am awaiting for Bushbush 99 names…
February 25th, 2012, 7:30 pm
zoo said:
The FOS recognised the main opposition umbrella group, the Syrian National Council (SNC), as “a legitimate representative of Syrians seeking peaceful democratic change” but fell short of giving it exclusive recognition.
YET…
Syrian opposition praises Saudi FM position
25/02/2012
By Nadia Al-Turki
http://www.asharq-e.com/news.asp?section=1&id=28610
Tunis, Asharq Al-Awsat – The Syrian opposition expressed its appreciation of the position taken by the Saudi Arabian Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal with regards to the “Friends of Syria’ meeting that took place in Tunis yesterday. Prince Saudi al-Faisal had said that focusing on humanitarian aid to Syria was “not enough”, whilst he also described arming the Syrian rebels fighting against the al-Assad regime as being “an excellent idea.”
(…)
February 25th, 2012, 7:34 pm
zoo said:
SNC: Next half in Turkey in 3 weeks at the next FOS meeting?
SNC ‘halfway to recognition’ by Friends of Syria
Published: 25 February, 2012, 03:56
http://rt.com/news/syria-friends-opposition-recognition-191/
..
The Friends of Syria meeting in Tunisia has gone halfway to recognizing the Syria’s opposition umbrella group the National Council as legitimate representatives of the Syrian people. And promised more pressure and sanctions on the existing regime.
The Syrian National Council (SNC) was recognized as a legitimate representative of the Syrian people, although not the sole representative.
Other representatives of increasingly fragmented Syrian opposition groups were invited, including the Damascus-based National Coordination Committee. The NCC boycotted the meeting because it would not rule out the idea of military intervention.
But the Tunisian foreign minister, who chaired the conference, promised Western and Arab powers will probably fully recognize the Syrian National Council during the next meeting of the Friends of Syria group in Turkey.
“We have gone half the way and we will probably do the other half in Turkey,”stressed Rafik Abdessalem.
{..)
February 25th, 2012, 7:37 pm
Syrialover said:
# 160. Observer
Not Nir Rosen, don’t look at Nir Rosen unless you want to drink deeply of despair and fear and worst case deadend scenarios. He specialises in a hellish landscape with no space for Syrian people’s hope, resilience, courage and ingenuity.
Rosen’s approach has been thoughtfully critiqued by others over the months. He built his reputation on reporting on Iraq and that’s his rigid template.
For example: “And surprisingly, Nir Rosen’s recent series for Al Jazeera English seems to suffer from the same regime-tainted myopia. Rosen spent seven weeks this summer in Syria, touring([5 main cities], speaking as he says, “to all sides.” But from the first article entitled, “The revolution will be weaponized,” it is clear how heavily one-sided this series was designed to be. His focus on the deep, historical grievances of the Alawite (but not Sunni) sect and his endless comparisons of Syria to Iraq casts a distinct air of doom and hopelessness over every piece.”
(http://www.jadaliyya.com/pages/index/3209/framing-syria)
and
“Unfortunately, Rosen sees Syria through the prism of Iraq’s sectarian war. He expects to find expressions of sectarian hatred, and he finds them aplenty.” (Read more: http://qunfuz.com/2011/11/22/reporting-syria/#more-1874)
Reading Nir Rosen just drives home the enormous loss of Anthony Shadid and Marie Colvin.
February 25th, 2012, 7:41 pm
ss said:
هورستل المستشار السياسي للحكومة الالمانية
أخجل أن أكون ألمانياً
WE ARE LYING OUR TEETH OFF
February 25th, 2012, 7:45 pm
majedkhaldoun said:
Syrialover
The basharon they call self defence, they call it violence, their thinking is anyone who oppose Assad should never defend himself, they deny us self defence and if we defend ourself they call that violence,
But ignore them they know nothing,they are trumpet to the regime,even that some they give different impression, like they are against Bashar but they are really support bashar ,since they call the FSA thugs or armed MILITIA, they try to deceive us ,(THAT WHAT THEY THINK) but we know better
February 25th, 2012, 7:46 pm
jad said:
Bronco,
Ia agree with your evaluation regarding the referendum tomorrow, I noticed that many Syrians are really excited about tomorrow, many of them don’t really care about the YES or NO issue, they just want to VOTE…While the opposition are asking their supporters not to vote.
My only hope is that the voting tomorrow pass with no terrorist attack anywhere by the armed militias since according to one news site the fsa terrorist group is planning for something evil with the help of the Turks in Damascus and Aleppo.
بدء عملية الاستفتاء على الدستور الجديد الاحد .. والداخلية تخصص 14185 مركزاً في جميع المحافظات
يتوجه المواطنون السوريون صباح الاحد للإدلاء بأصواتهم حول مشروع الدستور الجديد للجمهورية العربية السورية حيث استكملت وزارة الداخلية كافة الإجراءات اللازمة لعملية الاستفتاء في كل المراكز الموزعة في المحافظات وعلى المراكز الحدودية والمطارات والبادية.
وقال معاون وزير الداخلية للشؤون المدنية العميد حسن جلالي، بحسب وكالة “سانا” للأنباء، إن الوزارة اتخذت كل الإجراءات الكفيلة بحسن سير عملية الاستفتاء التي ستبدأ في الساعة السابعة من يوم غد وذلك ضمانا لنزاهتها بشكل يكفل حق المواطن في الإدلاء بصوته بجو من الحرية والشفافية داعيا المواطنين إلى المشاركة الفعالة في هذا الاستفتاء كونه يشكل الطريق الصحيح لرسم مستقبل سورية وتحقيق آمال وطموحات مواطنيها في الحرية والديمقراطية.
وأصدر الرئيس بشار الأسد الأسبوع الماضي مرسوما بتحديد يوم الأحد الواقع في 26-2-2012 موعدا للاستفتاء على مشروع دستور السوري الجديد.
وأضاف جلالي أن “الوزارة أصدرت التعليمات العامة بشان من يحق لهم الإدلاء برأيهم حول مشروع الدستور الجديد”، لافتا إلى أنه “يتمتع بحق الاستفتاء كل مواطن عربي سوري من الذكور والإناث أتم الثامنة عشرة من عمره في 1-1-2012 أي من كان مولودا في 1-1-1994 وما قبل ما لم يكن محروما من حقوقه المدنية والسياسية بمقتضى المواد 63 أو 65 أو 66 من قانون العقوبات أو القوانين الأخرى النافذة ولا تدرج أسماء هؤلاء في جداول الاستفتاء”.
وأوضح جلالي أن “العدد الإجمالي للمراكز التي خصصت لعملية الاستفتاء يبلغ 14185 مركزا بعد طلب بعض المحافظات زيادة أعداد المراكز المحددة مسبقا بـ 13835 بما فيها المراكز التي تم افتتاحها على الحدود البرية وفي المطارات لتمكين المواطنين المغادرين والقادمين من الإدلاء بأصواتهم”، مشيرا إلى “وجود مراكز سيارة متنقلة في البادية للبدو الذين لا يتمكنون من الحضور إلى مراكز الاستفتاء ليتمكنوا من ممارسة حقهم بيسر”.
وبين جلالي أن الاستفتاء سيتم بموجب جداول انتخابية وقد أنهت الشؤون المدنية استخراج هذه الجداول على مستوى سورية وسلمت إلى المحافظين حسب القيود وتم توزيعها على المراكز الانتخابية”، منوها “إذا كان قيد المواطن في المزة بدمشق مثلا فعليه أن يحضر إلى المركز بموجب ما يثبت شخصيته وعلى رئيس المركز أن يبدأ بالبحث بالجدول حسب القيد وإذا وجد اسمه بهذا الجدول فيشطبه إشعارا بممارسة دوره في الاستفتاء ثم يعطيه مغلفا وبطاقة استفتاء ويتوجه إلى الغرفة السرية”.
وتابع جلالي “في حال لم يوجد له اسم في الجدول فهناك جدول ملحق بالجدول الانتخابي يتم من خلاله إضافة الاسم إلى الجدول ليتمكن المواطن من ممارسة حقه بالاستفتاء وإذا كان المواطن في محافظة غير محافظته فبإمكانه ممارسة حقه بالاستفتاء بأي مركز في سورية شريطة أن يضيف رئيس المركز اسمه في الجدول كملحق بالجدول الانتخابي حيث ستتم عملية مطابقة بين الجداول خوفا من استخدام التصويت مرتين”.
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وفي حال حدثت ازدواجية في التصويت من قبل أحد المواطنين، قال جلالي أن “هذا المواطن يعرض نفسه لمساءلة قانونية ويعتبر تزويرا فإن كان اسمه بالجدول الانتخابي يشطب إشعاره وإن لم يكن يثبت اسمه في الجدول الملحق”، موضحا أن “الغاية من هذه الجداول هي عملية مطابقة مع الشوءون المدنية التي ستقوم بالبحث عن هذا المواطن وتلاحقه قضائيا”.
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The Syrian Kurds are also invited and encouraged to vote
أما بالنسبة لأجانب الحسكة الذين حصلوا على الجنسية العربية السورية، أوضح جلالي أنه “يحق لهم أن يمارسوا دورهم في الاستفتاء حيث أعطوا أقدميه في الجنسية منذ خمس سنوات ليتمكنوا من التصويت ما سمح لهم حق الترشح للإدارة المحلية والآن التصويت على الدستور ومستقبلا يحق لهم الترشح والانتخاب في مجلس الشعب والاستحقاقات الأخرى”، مشيرا إلى أن “عدد الذين تقدموا بطلبات للحصول على الجنسية العربية السورية من أجانب الحسكة بلغ 105320 طلبا والذين منحوا بطاقات شخصية بلغ 68520 شخصا”.
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http://www.syria-news.com/readnews.php?sy_seq=144558
February 25th, 2012, 7:47 pm
bronco said:
Tara #171
“if no one shows” be sure that they will a lot of chinese mobiles dumping on youtube the empty poll stations videos.
It won’t be easy to hide it if there is a massive turn out.
There must be lots of foreign journalists watching the turn out.
The constitution is a draft, it will modified once it gets a majority approval of principle.
It is laudable that it happens despite the fury of many who prefer to see Syria, headless in the gutter.
February 25th, 2012, 7:47 pm
Tara said:
The day before she was killed, Colvin had given media interviews to networks like ITN and CNN about the ongoing clashes in Homs, and about a child who was killed in the city.
“The baby’s death was just heartbreaking,” she told CNN’s Anderson Cooper. “We just watched this little boy, his little tummy, heaving and heaving as he tried to breathe. It was horrific. My heart broke.”….
That baby probably will move more people to think, ‘What is going on and why is no one stopping this murder in Homs that is happening everyday?'”
“There are no military targets here,” Colvin reported, refuting Syria claims that its forces are only hunting terrorists.
“Its a complete and utter lie,” she said of the government’s response. “The Syrian Army is basically shelling a city of cold, starving civilians.”
A day later, Colvin and Ochlik were killed.
Journalist Marie Colvin to be buried in Syria, mother says
By David Ariosto, CNN
updated 5:12 PM EST, Sat February 25, 2012
Marie Colvin’s mother says she believes her daughter was targeted
Since her death, Colvin’s family has started a fund in her honor
The Marie Colvin fund is intended to direct resources to support charities
New York (CNN) — The body of Marie Colvin, a veteran correspondent for The Sunday Times of London who was killed in a shelling attack in the Syrian city of Homs, will likely be buried inside Syria, her mother said Saturday.
Rosemarie Colvin said aid workers, who have been trying for days to remove her daughter’s body from the war-ravaged country, tried again Saturday but ultimately determined that the situation was too dangerous.
“We were told yesterday that today was probably the last day,” the elder Colvin said.
(..}
http://www.cnn.com/2012/02/25/world/syria-marie-colvin/
February 25th, 2012, 7:52 pm
ss said:
176. majedkhaldoun
“they call the FSA thugs or armed MIL”
Will call it FSA, but with all my rspect the FSA will never be able to take over the Syrian army. You know better!
I do not have any problem addressing it as FSA or any name you select because its useless army as far as I know. Unfortunately this army finds civilians an easy target. I said before the regime is strong and I believe that 10x the size of the current FSA will not be able to cause a scratch in the skin of the regime, the ones who will pay the price are civilians, its sad.
February 25th, 2012, 7:57 pm
Tara said:
Bronco
I will give you that. If empty poll booth we will see it, but you can never estimate the turnout from what will be shown on Youtube.
Are they working on Bashar’s 99 names?
February 25th, 2012, 7:59 pm
jad said:
Nir Rosen is bad now! I guess he said too much facts about the identity of the victims not being all CIVILIANS:
[AJ: Who is being killed?
NR: Every day the opposition gives a death toll, usually without any explanation of the cause of the deaths. Many of those reported killed are in fact dead opposition fighters, but the cause of their death is hidden and they are described in reports as innocent civilians killed by security forces, as if they were all merely protesting or sitting in their homes. Of course, those deaths still happen regularly as well.
And, every day, members of the Syrian army, security agencies and the vague paramilitary and militia phenomenon known as shabiha [“thugs”] are also killed by anti-regime fighters.]
http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/features/2012/02/201221315020166516.html
February 25th, 2012, 8:04 pm
bronco said:
Jad #176
I think the debacle of the FOS meeting and the shocking declaration of the Saudis will affect greatly the decision to vote of many hesitant Syrians.
I also got the feedback that Syrians, at least in Damascus are enthusiastic about voting.
After months of frustration of being ignored and represented by people they did not choose, this is a chance for each Syrian to express directly his/her trust or mistrust for the government.
February 25th, 2012, 8:05 pm
bronco said:
#180. jad
Is there a noticeable shift in Al Jazeera reporting recently?
February 25th, 2012, 8:07 pm
bronco said:
179. Tara said:
Despite the loud silence of the western media about that referendum, be sure there will be ‘banned’ journalists that will suddenly popup to give their scoop account, and what about the Western embassies who will be watching carefully what is going on. It’s not easy to miss a high turnout, even if you hate that it is happening.
February 25th, 2012, 8:11 pm
Jad said:
Dear Bronco
I didn’t notice any change at all, the Syrian mighty uprising is the only news on the Arabic AJ 24/7 with the exact same outlandish stories repeated over and over.
February 25th, 2012, 8:13 pm
bronco said:
#184
Dear Jad
Thanks, I had false hopes that after the new slap on HBJ’s face in the failed FOS meeting and the scandal of Al Jazira leaked memos it will have some effects on the propaganda machine, but it does not so, at least for now.
February 25th, 2012, 8:18 pm
Tara said:
Syria assails Saudi over arming opposition calls
Associated Press – 27 mins ago
DAMASCUS, Syria (AP) — Syria lashed out at Saudi Arabia on Saturday, a day after the kingdom’s foreign minister backed the idea of arming the rebels fighting President Bashar Assad’s regime, accusing Riyadh of becoming “a partner” in the bloodshed in Syria.
….
A Saturday commentary in the state-run Al Thawra daily sharply criticized Saudi Foreign Minister Saud al-Faisal, who said during Friday’s 60-nation gathering in Tunisia that he supported giving weapons and ammunition to groups fighting the Syrian regime.
“I think it’s an excellent idea,” Prince Saud told reporters in Tunisia. Asked why, he replied: “Because they have to defend themselves.”
Al Thawra said that the prince, by “rudely” supporting an armed opposition, has become a “direct partner in shedding more Syrian blood.”
“It’s shameful for the vocabulary of the Saudi speech to reach this level … and to announce so rudely support for terrorists,” Al Thawra said. The paper reflects the Syrian government’s point of view.
….
In Istanbul, Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said Saturday that Syria was seeking to crush its opposition and then proceed with reforms.
“That kind of logic unfortunately renders any kind of reform meaningless,” he said. “To fight on the one hand with your people and then to claim that there is reform is contradictory.”
He criticized the Syrian government’s assault on Homs just before holding a referendum.
…. .
February 25th, 2012, 8:29 pm
jad said:
Bronco,
Talking of the real ‘devil’ please check out this excellent article about AJ and the ‘virtual’ Qatar:
Qatar, Al Jazeera, and the Age of Virtual Power
By: Hareth Hassan
In the beginning, there was Al Jazeera…then there was Qatar. Does anyone recall anything about Qatari politics before Al Jazeera was established in 1996? Can anyone tell us something about Qatar’s direction and goals, if in fact it had any at the time? And today, can anyone ignore Qatar’s political role in the region?
Through Al Jazeera, Qatar has played a major role in toppling Zine el Abidine Ben Ali and Hosni Mubarak. If Al Jazeera had not been able to set up its cameras in the center of the protests and build support for the protesters through its Arabic and English channels, it would not have been possible to create an international consensus and force the world powers to at least feign the appearance of supporting the protesters, and call on Mubarak to step down.
But that’s not all. Al Jazeera helped set the stage for the standoff in Libya by fostering the belief among many that the Libyan people must not be left at the mercy of their mad dictator Muammar Gaddafi. After being seen as widely critical of the American occupation of Iraq, Al Jazeera ended up as a platform for justifying foreign intervention in Libya.
Al Jazeera has also constructed most of the narrative employed by the Gulf states and the West to move the crisis in Syria from a popular movement against a corrupt, dictatorial regime, to a geopolitical conflict whose aim is to justify foreign intervention for the purpose of regime change. This intervention relies upon Al Jazeera’s narrative for moral justification.
By contrast, Al Jazeera’s silence about the Bahraini protests contributed to the lack of international pressure or popular outcry towards the uprising there. As a result, politics in the region no longer reflect reality as it is, but rather as told by Al Jazeera.
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http://english.al-akhbar.com/content/qatar-al-jazeera-and-age-virtual-power
February 25th, 2012, 8:45 pm
Tara said:
Syrian bankers face struggle to survive as turmoil spreads
February 23, 2012 01:38 AM
By Suleiman al-Khalidi
http://www.dailystar.com.lb/Business/Middle-East/2012/Feb-23/164309-syrian-bankers-face-struggle-to-survive-as-turmoil-spreads.ashx
February 25th, 2012, 8:49 pm
Tara said:
Details of Colvin death disclosed
Sunday Times war correspondent Marie Colvin, who was killed in Syria, died trying to retrieve her shoes so she could escape an army bombardment, her newspaper has reported.
Details of her last hours emerged as efforts went on to rescue journalists wounded alongside her in the Baba Amr district of Homs, the Sunday Times said.
They had followed the Middle Eastern custom of taking off their shoes when they went into a building housing a rebel press centre, and tried to recover them as rockets fell.
Colvin, 56, was on the ground floor on Wednesday morning when missiles hit the upper floors.
The journalists – who included Paul Conroy, a photographer working for The Sunday Times, three French nationals and a Spaniard – were covered in dust but unhurt. They prepared to flee but had to get their shoes first.
….
Seven rebels were found dead with their hands tied after trying to smuggle medicines into Baba Amr to help the journalists and other injured civilians. The medicines were scattered and two other rebels were missing, the newspaper said.
http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/uk/stranglehold-on-syrian-regime-16122539.html
February 25th, 2012, 9:06 pm
Tara said:
Turkey’s patience with Besho is running out. Oh please. Spare us the rhetoric.
Ankara is turning up the pressure on Damascus over its ongoing crackdown on dissent. The Turkish foreign minister hosted an international meeting on mediation of conflicts on Saturday in Istanbul and has warned the country’s patience is running out over the ongoing violence in Syria……. On Saturday, Davutoglu warned that if the situation in Syria continues, Ankara may have to consider other options than diplomacy.
Read more:
http://www.voanews.com/english/news/middle-east/Growing-Concern-in-Turkey-over-Bloodshed-in-Syria-140432043.html
February 25th, 2012, 9:29 pm
Revlon said:
150. Pirouz:
((82. REVLON said:
That level of support wasn’t even provided to the Libyan militias. In fact, there was an effort to round up LyA MANPADs.))
That was for obvious reason!
NATO took care of Qidaffi’s tanks, artillary and air power and thus protected the rebels.
In Syrian scenario, NATO has chosen to stay away from the conflict. Therefore, FSA shall assume all the responsibilities for the liberation of Syria from Assad militias.
February 25th, 2012, 9:44 pm
majedkhaldoun said:
Neither the turn out at the referendum nor the results are important at all,the results are already known, the regime rigged it so it will be approved, the turn out is going to be large ,in Damascus because the goverment will take the ID from all employee and tell them you will take it at the booths.
This constitution is a replica to the old one, we already pointed to the bad parts
Assad can run for relection for 10 more years.
The president Bashar is not liable for the murders he committed
There is no seperation of the judicial and executive branch,nor there is seperation of the president and the executive or the legislative branches.
In the last 41 years The Assads did not follow the constitution, infact they killed they tortured syrians and corruption is rampant.without outside monitoring,and without support for equality this is useless constitution
This constitution is a joke, true reform is Bashar to leave immidietly, He is not leaving so he will face his end in Syria.
February 25th, 2012, 9:48 pm
Tara said:
“Tunisia’s Jasmines” to be shown during Women’s films in Turkey
Mandy’s mass screening will include the films “A Diary of Healing” in which the director, having found out that she had breast cancer, filmed the journey she had to make through the medical world as a part of her artistic and personal pursuits; “Artificial Uterus, Birth without Bodies,” which discusses the possibility of artificial uteruses, fabricating human babies outside of a woman’s body, that is, the discovery of a life-making machine; “Our Parents Are Gay and So is Life” that handles the story of the young who have gay parents and intend not to live like their parents; “Breasts also Started as a Small Thing,” which is a musical documentary that narrates estrogen and testosterone and shows how a 15-year-old who does not like his/her body that much copes with desire; and “Judith,” the story of a woman who goes between reality and dream.
One of the special sections at the festival in which Tunisian female directors will participate is film screenings of Tunisia titled “Tunisia’s Jasmines.”
Among the movies to be displayed in this section are “The Other Half of the Sky,” a 2007 film directed by Khaltom Bornaz, which narrates the story of Selim and Selime, fraternal twins, whose relationship with their widowed father is problematic; “The Trace,” a 1998 film directed by Nejia Ben Mabrouk, which reveals Tunusia’s patriarchal culture showing Sabra’s present life and childhood, aged 10. She loves her nation and culture but finds them suffocating; “Neither Allah, Nor Master!” a 2011 film directed by Nadia El Fani inquiring what if, for once, a Muslim country opted for a secular constitution whereas Tunisia, which initiated the wind of revolt, is once again a “laboratory country” for its outlook on religion while the Arab world enters an era of radical change; “The Season of Men,” a 2000 film directed by Moufilda Tlatli concerning the birth of Aziz, a boy expected after two girls, makes life difficult for Ayşe and Said.
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http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/womens-films-to-hit-screens-in-march-.aspx?pageID=238&nID=14585&NewsCatID=381
February 25th, 2012, 9:54 pm
jad said:
مغامرة العقل الأخيرة ..والرحيل في الظلام الى الظلام
by بقلم: نارام سرجون
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فأنا أرى أن اندفاعي في رفض الثورة لايجب ان يخفف اندفاعي لايقاظ من لازال يحلم بالثورة ..
وربما لا أبالغ ان قلت أنني في قلبي أميل للتعاطف مع الحالمين بانتصار الثورة لأنني أدرك كثيرا أنهم “يتامى وأيتام” لاينالون الصدق من آبائهم الروحيين من قيادات الثورجية وزعماء المجالس والغرب والعرب الذين أخذوهم من وهم الى وهم .. ومن كارثة وطنية الى أخرى .. وأوقعوهم في فخ كراهية الآخر في الوطن .. وفوق كل هذا لاتوجد قيادة ناضجة وواعية تجنبهم الخطأ .. قادتهم لم يبادلوهم الصدق وكانوا يحقنونهم بالكذب والسم والكراهية بلا مسؤولية ولا أخلاق .. فلا يزال مؤيدو الثورة في البلاد يجرون خلف جزرة لن ينالوها .. فقد وعدوا بالناتو والناتو لم يصل بعد .. ووعدوا بتركيا وأردوغان، ولكن أردوغان لم يصل بعد .. ووعدوا بركوب الدب الروسي ولكن الدب وراكبيه لم يصلوا بعد .. ووعدوا بفرسان العرب لينقذوهم فصدقوا ..ولكن فرسان العرب في الملمات لايسرجون الا السلاحف .. وآخر هذه الخدع مؤتمر تونس الذي ليست فيه الا رسالة يتيمة لخصها قارئ أميريكي في تعليق على أخبار الموت في سوريا بقوله: “فليقتلوا بعضهم …هذا جيد ..ليت كل هذا الشرق يتقاتل حتى يفني بعضه دون أن نطلق رصاصة واحدة”..فقد قالت لهم هيلاري نفس الكلام بديبلوماسية منمقة: “حاربوا بالنيابة عنا وتقاتلوا ينصركم الله.. ومن نصرته هيلاري فلا رادّ لنصره” ..
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ومن رأى بالأمس السيد اسماعيل هنية خطيبا منفعلا في الازهر الشريف يعرف تماما ما أعني .. لأن العقل المغامر المنفعل الباحث عن الله الذي أطلق في الربيع العربي هو الذي كان يتحدث بالأمس وليس العقل الذي بناه الشيخ عز الدين القسام وعبد الناصر والثورة الجزائرية والفدائيون الفلسطينيون في الأغوار وليس مابناه زكي الأرسوزي ولاميشيل عفلق ولا أنطون سعادة .. هنية الذي كان يخطب من الأزهر ليحرر الأقصى كان وللمفارقة المفجعة في مهرجان آخر ..مهرجان لتحرير سوريا .. وكانت النداءات حوله تضع اسرائيل وحزب الله وايران وسوريا معا في سلة واحدة على مسمع منه بطريقة تدعو للرثاء على ماأصاب هذا العقل من خلط وفوضى وفقدان ذاكرة وفقدان البندقية وضياع جعبة الرصاص .. وبالطبع كان لاسرائيل النصيب الأقل من النداءات..انها انطلاقة مغامرة العقل الأخيرة .. الخطيرة ..
{…}
فالبعض يقرأ غضب الوزير السعودي وانسحابه من مؤتمر تونس بأنه غضب من شركائه وتباطؤهم .. وأن صراع الشركاء انتقل من الكواليس الى حارات بابا عمرو حيث يقال في بعض المجالس الخاصة ان الصحفيين الغربيين القتيلين انما قتلا بشحنة ناسفة بتعليمات عليا من السعودية للضغط على زعماء الغرب وانتقاما من تردد الغرب ازاء سوريا .. وصور المكان الذي تم اظهاره تشير الى ضعف احتمال سقوط قذيفة أو صاروخ بل تشير الاستنتاجات الأولية الى انفجار داخلي .. والأكثر من ذلك أن الأقمار الصناعية الروسية كانت ترصد اتصالاتهم وتزود السوريين باماكنهم لاعتقالهم وليس لقتلهم .. كما أن هناك صحفيين جريحين يماطل الثورجيون في تسليمهما بتعليمات سعودية للثأر من الموقف المتردد الغربي وللضغط على الغرب وفرنسا التي ربما صار لها أسرى حرب بعد أن أشيع في الكواليس أن السعوديين سربوا خريطة المواقع والانفاق والممرات السرية التي كان الفرنسيون يتسللون منها الى حمص بعد أن رفض الفرنسيون التورط بدعم عمل عسكري على غرار ليبيا خوفا من عواقبه ومن استفزاز الروس .. وكانت تلك رسالة السعودية لفرنسا بعد ان يئست السعودية من تحرك فرنسا.. وهي: ان فرنسا لم ترفع مستوى الضغط كما يجب .. فليسقط ساركوزي قبل الأسد!! ساركوزي الذي هرول الى مؤتمر صحفي لرفع الضغط ويثرثر بأنه سيسقط الأسد ..
عمليا لم تنجح ذئاب محمد بن عبد الوهاب وعقارب الغرب في نهش جسد الشعب الذي بدأ مغامرة العقل الأولى نحو الله لان هذا العقل قد حدد مصدر العواء وعرف موقع أوجار الذئاب .. وبدأ في القاء الماء المغلي على أوكار العقارب في حمص وادلب والأرياف .. وهذا العقل سيوقف هذه المغامرة الربيعية المجنونة .. فالشعب الذي أطلق مغامرات العقل البشري الأولى لن يصعب عليه القاء المراسي حول العقول الهائجة والهائمة على وجهها وربط العقول التي تستعد لخوض الحجيم بالأوتاد .. ولن يصعب على هذا الشعب اطلاق المغامرات العقلية العظيمة المضيئة في الشرق العربي .. كمغامرات حسن نصرالله وبشار الأسد عام 2006… فمسؤوليته تاريخية في عقلنة هذا الربيع وايقاظه من أحلام السفر وأحلام اليقظة ..وايقاف مغامرات الرحيل في الظلام .. من الظلام الى الظلام ..
https://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=314425498605197
February 25th, 2012, 10:25 pm
irritated said:
#190 Tara
“Ankara may have to consider other options than diplomacy”
I wonder which? The French shock corridors or a cruise on the Bosphorus for the next ” The Muppets go to Turkey” so no one dares walk out?
February 25th, 2012, 10:40 pm
jad said:
From As’ad AbuKhalil at Angry Arab:
When US and GCC manage a transition to democracy
It was a glorious day in Yemen. Incredible, really. The US and GCC gently managed the transition to something–not sure what it is but certainly not democracy. The features of the election are this: 1) there was one candidate only–even Iran allows more than one. 2) The winner received 99% of the votes. Does this not signal a new beginning in Yemen? I mean, he could have received 100% of the votes but he did not because Yemen is a GCC-managed democracy now. And silly Tawakul Karman hails the election and hails the fact that the new president comes from the South. Yes, Ms. Nobel Prize. He was the butcher who enforced the violent annexation of the South. (thanks Farah)
small scale war crimes
“The 72-page report said that the insurgent Free Syrian Army, made up of defectors from forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad, had also committed abuses, but that those were “not comparable in scale and organization to those carried out by the state.””
Burhan Ghalyun
Burhan Ghalyun has lived in the West longer than I have. Yet, yesterday, he had no qualms about speaking on behalf of the whole Syrian people. No wonder he threw a fit and threatened to resign when the Syrian National Council refused to extend his term as supreme leader.
Saudi-, Qatari-led Syrian opposition
“Isaac Herzog, a member of Parliament with the Labor Party, said he had been in touch with Syrian opposition leaders in France and the United States”…
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/22/world/middleeast/israel-both-hopeful-and-fearful-about-unrest-in-syria.html
[Links added, personal attack removed. Warning to commentators: Such terms as ‘you _____ criminal’ are not tolerated]
February 25th, 2012, 10:56 pm
Samara said:
196. Revlon,
[Edited for personal attack]
Rather than condoning the killing of innocent people, you should be denouncing such inhumane acts, by both sides. The Alawi militants who are killing sunnis are doing what they need to survive. The entire revolution is an attack on Alawi people. No need to deny it, it’s OK.
Furthermore, look at the Army, the majority who have been killed are Alawis. Look at the innocent citizens who are being attacked and killed; predominantly Alawis.
February 25th, 2012, 11:36 pm
zoo said:
The multiple dramatic faces of activist Khaled Abu Saleh in Homs.
As a doctor who seems to have given such strong drugs to Edith Bouvier that despite her hidden ‘multiple broken’ leg, she is relaxed and smiling. No apparent wounds.
http://www.20minutes.fr/tv/actus/9691-blessee-a-homs-la-journaliste-edith-bouvier-appelle-a-l-aide
As a wounded witness of the spectacular pipeline burn on 15 February, he has his left hand covered and he is accusing Bashar al Assad of the sabotage :
As a dying man on 6th february calling for help to the international community
As another dying man on the 19th of february strong enough to throw imprecations applauded by the “hospital staff”
February 25th, 2012, 11:37 pm
majedkhaldoun said:
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4194506,00.html
If this is true, Assad should pack and leave soon
February 25th, 2012, 11:41 pm
Ghufran said:
Antoine asked about the term “militias” and whether it applies to the FSA in my opinion.
The FSA is a mystery to western intelligence and to most people because nobody knows its size and true capabilities and most people are unable to tell who is who in the jungle of armed militias in Syria. Until there is a unified command and better evidence of the true nature of the FSA, I have to place it under the umbrella of armed militias. The infiltration of those militias by terrorists, thugs and militants is making a lot of people nervous about the turn this revolution has taken, this nervousness is harming the opposition and helping the regime and is directly linked to the hesitation of major western powers when it comes to taking additional measures to support the opposition. It is not unreasonable to ask the opposition for a roadmap before they take all of us on a ride on board the change wagon.
February 25th, 2012, 11:41 pm
jad said:
Moderator
[Links added, personal attack removed. Warning to commentators: Such terms as ‘you _____ criminal’ are not tolerated]
You wrote me the comment, edited my writing, deleted my earlier comment in reply to Amir #128 calling me names and threatening me while you edited his threats without even explaining that.
WHY?
[When personal attacks and escalating provocations arise, a moderator uses SC’s rules and regulations. Please help keep SC civil and open.]
February 25th, 2012, 11:44 pm
zoo said:
” لدولة بابا عمرو المستقلة
كتب طارق نركماني – حمص – عربي برس.
http://www.arabi-press.com/?page=article&id=24049
لا أسرار في حمص ، المدينة معتادة على الثرثرة وسنوات القمع والخوف من التعبير عما في النفس لم تؤدي سوى إلى عكس المطلوب ، فمع بدء فعاليات الإنتفاضة في المدينة في اذار من العام الماضي تحررت ألسن المواطنين وإرتقت نفوسهم وتمتعوا جميعا بشيء رائع إسمه الحرية.الحرية التي لا تزال هي محرك كل ما يجري في سورية من تظاهرات وإنتفاضات مسلحة .
حمص الفارغة من ستين بالمئة من سكانها بفعل تركهم للمدينة إلى مناطق آكثر أمنا يتسلى من بقوا فيها بقتال الجيش او بمساعدة الثوار لوجستيا وفي كل الحالات يتسلى الجميع بالثرثرة .
قتلى اليوم عرف العالم أسمائهم ، وأما قتلى الشهور الماضية فلم يسمع بهم أحد ، هي العنصرية الخاصة بالرجل الأبيض ، الأوروبي والاميركي ولا عزاء للشهداء السوريين
وقد قُتل اليوم في القصف على المركز الإعلامي بالحي المذكور مصور فرنسي وصحفية أميركية
وتسائل السكان هنا عن الطريقة التي وصل بها صحافيون أجانب وبعدد كبير إلى المركز الإعلامي ” لدولة بابا عمرو المستقلة ” وصدق أو لا تصدق المركز الإعلامي يحوي أجهزة بث مباشر عبر الأقمار الصناعية لا يملكها الجيش السوري النظامي نفسه بينما يملكها الجيش الحر كما يحلو للسكان الحماصنة تسميته مع أنهم أكثر من يعرف بأنه مجموعة ميليشاوية تتلقى معونات من أثرياء سوريين مدعومين من أمراء وشيوخ الخليج ومن تيارات سياسية في لبنان ولو وجهت تلك الجهات نفس المساعدات لحمص على شكل أموال لا أسلحة ولا معدات لإشترى كل منهم منزلا للشتاء ومنزلا للصيف في سواحل أسبانيا وجبالها . الناس تتحسر هنا على الأموال التي يسمعون عنها ولا يرون منها شيئا …الخوف والجوع يحلوان مع قناة أبو ضبي ودبي والحبل على الجرار ، تلك القنوات التي أشعرتنا للمرة الأولى أن الثورات قد تطيح أيضا بكراماتنا وهي تسعى لحفظها فصرنا دون أن ندري شحاذين ، تماما مثل تلك المرأة التي وضعت إبنها الكسيح في عربة كرو أمامها على الطريق لإستعطاف الناس فيدفعون المعلوم . هكذا وضعت قنوات الإمارات قبل أيام صورة اللاجئين السوريين للشحذ همم المتبرعين على الهواء مباشرة وأما السبب فهو أن السوريين يحتاجون لممرات إنسانية.
بالتأكيد حمص تعيش في أسواء أيامها ولكن المعارك هي المشكلة لا الغذاء ولا الدواء فكله متوفر حتى في بابا عمرو التي تملك في حصارها أكثر من عشرة مشافي ميدانية وثلاثة مراكز إعلامية ميدانية تكلفتها تزيد عن عشرات ملايين الدولارات وقد تفاجأ الصحافيون الذين أتوا إلى الحي بدعوة من الثورة على حد تعبير مصادر في وزارة إعلام بابا عمرو (ابو أنس الحمصي ) وهو الإسم الذي يتحدث عنه كل صحافي أجنبي زار حمص ، فهذا الشاب العشريني مسؤول عن كل النشاطات الصحافية في بابا عمرو وهو من أدخل الصحافيين الأجانب الذين قتلوا وجرحوا في حمص اليوم
صحيفة صنداي تايمز أشارت إلى أن ماري كولفين (28 عاما) كانت المراسلة الوحيدة لصحيفة بريطانية التي تنقل من داخل بابا عمرو الأحداث.
يشار إلى أن كولفين كانت على الهواء مباشرة مساء أمس مع محطة سي أن أن تتحدث عن مشهد لمقتل طفل بعد تدمير منزله بالكامل.
{…}
February 25th, 2012, 11:48 pm
irritated said:
#202 Majedalkhaldoon
“if this is true, Assad should pack and leave soon”
You worry about Bashar’s safety now?
February 25th, 2012, 11:52 pm
bronco said:
Jad
it seems that the reason why the armed men do not want to release the journalist is because these journalists are NOT wounded, it was a theatrical arrangement to appear in the media one day before the FOS meeting to force the meeting to take military action to rescue the journalists.
The plan failed when the Syrian government collaborated with the Red Cross/Red crecsent to rescue the journalists.
Now the armed activists are in trouble because if they release the journalists the whole hoax will be everywhere in the media.
The danger is that they may decide to kill the journalists and accuse the government.
In addition there is a possibility is that these journalists are actually spies and it would be very embarrassing for the French government if they are interrogated by the Syrians. The French ambassador, present in Damascus, did not accompany the ambulances in Bab Amr so it seems that the French government is confused on how to proceed and is probably negotiating with the Syrians a face saving outcome.
Are we going to see another Gay Girl in Homs hoax? This Khaled Abu Saleh is good actor, but the journalists were not very convincing as severely wounded patients.
February 26th, 2012, 12:06 am
bronco said:
Jad
I have found several articles of Edith Bouvier in Le Figaro in December 2011. She had sneaked in Edlib during almost all december and reported about the FSA, the civilians ordeal, the high level Libyan commanders who are helping the Syrian rebels as well as the refugees in Hatay.
After December he has not published any article as she was probably back in France.
Her articles offer very detailed and dramatic descriptions. She is obviously a supporter of the FSA and it is not impossible that she is willingly trying to help them with that video in Homs and worried about being interrogated about her whereabouts by the Syrians. As she has entered the country twice illegally, she could face jail and prosecution as a spy.
I guess it is a headache for the French.
February 26th, 2012, 12:43 am
Revlon said:
Minority Alawi families, including women and children have no more right to live than their Sunni neighbours.
Since the Alawi regime, and behind them the Alawi community have chosen and have been bent on the destruction of Sunni neighbourhoods it has become necessary for the attacked Sunnis who are under the real threat of annihilation to respond in kind, in order to deter Alawi forces from further atrocities
The Alawi militias who are involved in the siege and destruction, and the killing of every moving soul in Sunni neighbourhoods of Syria have to be deterred through the only way they can understand; inflict the same on their neighbourhoods across Syria.
Officers and soldiers should be made to think of what would happen to their own homes when they shell their Sunni neighbours’, and bear in mind the grave consequences to their own families every time they shell or snipe at their neighbours.
Holding the high moral ground has caused the Sunnis thousands of civilian lives and loss of livelihood of millions more.
[Warning: There is no room in these comments for provocative calls to reprisal killings or ‘deterrent’ attacks on Alawis areas.
This pointed discriminatory language is not acceptable:
This account is banned from posting to Syria Comment for one week. A reprise of these kinds of comments by any commentator will be followed by a two week ban.]
February 26th, 2012, 12:44 am
admir said:
‘inflict the same on their neighbourhoods across Syria.’
and thus begins the iraqi-style sectarian war
February 26th, 2012, 12:45 am
Revlon said:
Dear Moderator,
I have reposted my earlier comment to remove “Sectarian language”.
After reposting, I noticed your explanatory note for censoring the earlier version.
Your premise was it called for “reprisal killing”
I never mentioned the word reprisal or implied its meaning.
The purpose of such attacks would be deterrant, to make it harder for the others to continue the carnage.
I have decided to keep my revised post as is, notwithstanding your threat to ban me for two weeks.
___________________________________________________________________________
Families of the perpetrating Assad formal militias and paramilitias, including women and children have no more right to live than their victimised neighbours.
Since the regime, and behind them their supportive community have chosen and have been bent on the destruction of their opposite’s neighbourhoods it has become necessary for the attacked who are under the threat of annihilation to respond in kind, in order to deter their forces from further atrocities
The Assad militias, and supportive community who are involved in the siege and destruction, and the killing of every moving soul in their opposite’s neighbourhoods of Syria have to be deterred through the only way left they have been proven to understand; inflict the same on their neighbourhoods across Syria.
Officers and soldiers should be made to think of what would happen to their own homes when they shell their neighbours’ and the grave consequences to their own families every time they shell or snipe at their neighbours.
Holding the high moral ground has caused the majority thousands of civilian lives and loss of livelihood of millions more.
February 26th, 2012, 1:35 am
ann said:
Syrian troops kill 20 gunmen ahead of constitutional referendum – 2012-02-26
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/world/2012-02/26/c_131431604.htm
Private Sham FM radio reported that the Syrian troops clashed with an armed group in Saraqeb in Idlib’s countryside, killing 20 gunmen, arresting seven others and seizing their weapons.
Meanwhile, Syria’s Red Crescent was able to enter restive Baba Amr neighborhood in central Homs, Syria’s official news agency SANA said, quoting a resident as saying armed groups had been shelling their houses and preventing them from going out.
Syrian Interior Minister Lt. Gen Mohammad al-Shaar said recently that necessary measures had been taken to make sure the referendum would be a success, and that the draft constitution is a “qualitative leap” in Syria’s history.
According to the interior ministry, there will be 14.6 million eligible voters and 13,835 ballot centers across the country.
[…]
February 26th, 2012, 1:54 am
ann said:
Syria starts referendum on new Constitution – 2012-02-26
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/world/2012-02/26/c_131432181.htm
The referendum begun at 7:00 a.m. (0500 GMT) and over 14 million Syrians are eligible to vote at 13,835 ballot centers across the country.
The new Constitution, if approved, will allow Syrian citizens to enjoy more freedom, end the monopoly on power of President Bashar al-Assad’s Baath Party and set a timetable for multiparty elections.
Under the Constitution, al-Assad will end his two seven-year terms in 2014 at the latest and, with it, his family’s 40-odd years of control over the country.
[…]
February 26th, 2012, 2:02 am
ann said:
Russia questions credibility of Syrian Observatory for Human Rights – 25 February, 2012
http://rt.com/news/syrian-observatory-human-rights-reliability-223/
“As far as we know, this organization employs only two people (its head and secretary-translator). It is headed by Rami Abdulrahman, who has no training either in journalism or law or even a complete secondary education,” Lukashevich said.
“The fact that representatives of the ‘observatory’ have been avoiding contact with our diplomats speaks for itself,” the spokesman added. “We think that these facts allow one to judge how trustworthy the information provided by this structure is.”
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/slideshow/ALeqM5hMJVxHA5Hpt0XGR65vhGYPvlPWow?docId=0c4d5fea5c7e41afa69e651d9517947e&index=2
[…]
February 26th, 2012, 2:11 am
Alan said:
Syria gears up for referendum
http://rt.com/news/syria-referendum-vote-constitution-211/
Red Cross corridor to Homs paves way for intervention in Syria?
http://presstv.com/detail/228540.html
In Search of Syria’s True Friends
http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=29490
‘Friends of Syria Conf after replay of Libya scenario’ Tarpley on PressTV
February 26th, 2012, 2:28 am
ann said:
Why is Obama in bed with the Muslim Brotherhood? – February 26, 2012
http://www.americanthinker.com/2012/02/why_is_obama_in_bed_with_the_muslim_brotherhood.html
Dr. Essam Abdallah, an Egyptian liberal intellectual, in an article published last October in the leading liberal pan-Arab journal Elaph, refers to certain reports coming out of Washington:
These reports reveal the depth of the below-the-surface coordination between the Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR), Hamas, Hezbollah, the Iranian regime and the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt, Syria, Tunisia, Libya and Jordan. This bloc of regimes and organizations is now becoming the greatest Islamist radical lobby ever to penetrate and infiltrate the White House, Congress, the State Department and the main decision making centers of the US government. All of this is happening at a time when the US government is going through its most strategically dangerous period in modern times because of its need to confront the Iranian Mullahs regime, which is expanding in the Middle East, as well as penetrating the United States, via powerful and influential allies.
Abdallah alleged that “the popular revolts in the Arab world — and the Obama Administration’s position towards them — were determined by political battles between various pressure groups in Washington.”
The most damning bit of evidence was reported by Herb London in his article, “U.S. Betrays Syria’s Opposition”:
In an effort to understand and placate Syrian opposition groups, Secretary Clinton invited them to a meeting in Washington. Most of those invited, however, have links to the Muslim Brotherhood. Missing from the invitations are Kurdish leaders, Sunni liberals, Assyrians and Christian spokesmen. According to various reports the State Department made a deal with Turkey and Muslim Brotherhood representatives either to share power with Assad to stabilize the government, or replace him if this effort fails. One organization, the Syrian Democracy Council (SDC), an opposition group composed of diverse ethnic and religious organizations, including Alawis, Aramaic Christians, Druze and Assyrians was conspicuously — and no coincidentally — omitted from the invitation list.
For the last six months at least, Obama has been cultivating a relationship with PM Erdoğan of Turkey. The budding relationship prompted Barry Rubin to ask, “Why Is an Anti-American Islamist, Obama’s Favorite ME Leader?”
According to Sherkoh Abbas, one faction of the SDC had family connections in various Gulf States at the highest level and went to them for financial support. They were turned down, as Obama had instructed them to give money only to the SNC.
[…]
February 26th, 2012, 2:33 am
Alan said:
“UN must prosecute Israel for war crimes,” says Bloody Sunday lawyer
http://electronicintifada.net/content/un-must-prosecute-israel-war-crimes-says-bloody-sunday-lawyer/10987
‘US, Saudis started arming Syrian gangs eight months ago’
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/228578.html
February 26th, 2012, 2:43 am
ann said:
On Syria, of Kofi & “Mission Impossible,” Double Pensions & Boutros, Baker
http://www.innercitypress.com/syria2kofi022412.html
UNITED NATIONS, February 24 — Around the UN in New York the day after former Secretary General Kofi Annan was appointed joint Arab League – UN special envoy to Syria, diplomats and staff were abuzz about other candidates considered, and what the naming of “Kofi” meant.
Sources told Inner City Press that the other candidates considered included not only Finland’s Martti Ahtisaari, who garnered Russian opposition for his Ahtisaari plan for Kosovo independence from Serbia, but another former UN Secretary General, Boutros Boutros Ghali, vetoed by the US for a second time.
An American, James Baker, was in the mix, as was Algerian former prime minister Mawloud Hamrouch and Kuwaiti former foreign minister Mohammad Sabah Al-Salem Al-Sabah.
Annan was selected. Inner City Press asked his former chief of communications Edward Mortimer, who replied, “I salute Kofi for his courage in undertaking what looks like the ultimate ‘mission impossible.'”
Another long time UN source told Inner City Press that this work might be a way of “making Kofi pay for his two pensions,” referring to his double dipping of pensions as former UN staffer and then Secretary General. Inner City Press has asked Ban Ki-moon’s top two spokesmen about this, and how Annan’s mission will be funded, after for an answer before noon.
[…]
February 26th, 2012, 2:49 am
Mina said:
Thanks Zoo #198, I take the liberty to re-post it here (“spread the word”):
The multiple dramatic faces of activist Khaled Abu Saleh in Homs.
As a doctor who seems to have given such strong drugs to Edith Bouvier that despite her hidden ‘multiple broken’ leg, she is relaxed and smiling. No apparent wounds.
http://www.20minutes.fr/tv/actus/9691-blessee-a-homs-la-journaliste-edith-bouvier-appelle-a-l-aide
As a wounded witness of the spectacular pipeline burn on 15 February, he has his left hand covered and he is accusing Bashar al Assad of the sabotage :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eYVH3CdVCZ0
As a dying man on 6th february calling for help to the international community
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=ZXODzejuYKQ#!
As another dying man on the 19th of february strong enough to throw imprecations applauded by the “hospital staff”
February 26th, 2012, 4:37 am
Alan said:
الدكتور عدنان منصور وزير خارجية لبنان
February 26th, 2012, 4:57 am
SYRIAN HAMSTER said:
An Eye for an Ear????
REVLON @ 206
I am glad that FSA as well as many others disagree with your comment Below is a comment from OTW on WALLS
OFF THE WALL wrote
While regime propagandists continue to deny the atrocities and paint the revolution with the worst. A single item in the new report by the Human Rights Council, in which the report hinted at potential human rights abuses by the FSA, drew the attention of FSA command who condemned all these types of actions and promptly initiated investigation. FSA is now working SNC to provide training on Geneva convention to all of its members. I served in the Syrian army, and the only thing we learned about the Geneva convention was that a released prisoner of war can be executed if captured again. We were never taught neither our rights nor our responsibilities.
with This is unheard of in the history of this regime. I think this is excellent thing and a good promising start. I will be waiting for the results of the investigations, which I hope will be honest and made public.
الجيش السوري الحر
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم:
بيان هام صادرعن قيادة الجيش السوري الحر
إن الجيش السوري الحر يدين الإنتهاكات التي يقوم بها النظام ويؤكد على حرصه بالإلتزام على المعايير الدولية الأنسانية لجهة الحفاظ على سلامة المدنيين الأمنين والإلتزام بالقوانين الدولية التي ترعى الحروب وقواعد الإشتباك والجيش السوري الحر يدين حالات الإنتهاك لحقوق الإنسان وحياة المدنين وإرتكاب مجازر ضد الإنسانية من قبل كتائب الأسد كما يدين محاولة هذه الكتائب إلصاق بعض جرائمها ومجازرها بالجيش السوري الحرو الكل يعلم أن الجيش السوري الحر لا علاقة له بهذه الإرتكابات لا من قريب ولا من بعيد فقد أدناها ومازلنا ندينها و ندين النظام السوري الذي يرعاها ويرتكبها ويفبرك الأكاذيب حولها وقد أخذ الجيش السوري الحر علماً بالفقرة 133 بتقرير حقوق الإنسان الصادر عن الأمم المتحدة والتي تحدثت عن بعض الإنتهاكات لحقوق الإنسان ونسبت جزءاً منها إلى الجيش السوري الحر وبناءً عليه قام الجيش السوري الحر بفتح تحقيق على أعلى المستويات للتحقق من حدوث أي انتهاكات من قبل أفراده وذلك من أجل محاسبة المسؤولين عنها في حال حدوثها علماً أن قيادة الجيش السوري الحر تقوم بالتنسيق مع المجلس الوطني السوري بتدريب عناصر الجيش كافةً على قواعد أتفاقيات جنيف المتعلقة بحالات الحروب .
العقيد رياض موسى الأسعد
قائد الجيش السوري الحر
February 26th, 2012, 5:17 am
Mina said:
Another philanthropist war soon
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/feb/25/britain-oil-dash-somalia
Alan, thanks for this clip, splits in the AL are getting wider by the day. Still looking for the foreign minister of the Emirates conference in Moscow (it was on RT, any link?)
Details on the journalists’death
http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/2/8/35400/World/Region/Journalist-Colvin-killed-trying-to-retrieve-shoes-.aspx
February 26th, 2012, 5:21 am
Alan said:
218. MINA
Moscow seeks full Arab League Syrian peacekeeper brief
http://rt.com/politics/lavrov-syria-peacekeepers-un-155/
February 26th, 2012, 5:36 am
Mina said:
Alan,
Thanks for the link, it mentions the press conference which I had watched on air on RT. The journalists’s questions at the end of the joint conference showed really good professionals who all spoke a perfect Arabic.
February 26th, 2012, 6:23 am
PUNTROAD said:
This is apparently the work of the FSA, in Hamidiya, Homs. Nothing more than terrorism and fanaticism.
February 26th, 2012, 6:26 am
Amir in Tel Aviv said:
Norman Finkelstein becomes a Zionist. Angry Arab will not be happy.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ol8xhTySKfM&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ONlacD6f1cg&feature=player_embedded#!
.
February 26th, 2012, 6:37 am
Amir in Tel Aviv said:
Dear Revlon #208,
I’m against banning you, though I don’t agree with what you call for.
You said “officers and soldiers should be made to think of what would happen to their own homes when they shell their neighbours’ and the grave consequences to their own families every time they shell or snipe at their neighbors”.
If you want to be different than this junta and their policies, you should not adopt their methods.
I would add that the heads of this murderous junta, the entire Assad and Ma7louf families, are a legit target. NOT the whole Alawi sect / soldiers and officers.
.
February 26th, 2012, 6:49 am
Alan said:
Funeral of Temple Mount rioter provokes further clashes (VIDEO)
http://rt.com/news/idf-israel-palestine-jerusalem-219/
February 26th, 2012, 7:20 am
Alan said:
High turnout registered at polling stations in Syria
http://www.itar-tass.com/en/c32/352167.html
February 26th, 2012, 7:40 am
Alan said:
خاص توب نيوز | خلاف كلينتون – الفيصل
سببان رئيسيان وراء الخلاف الأمريكي السعودي الذي عبر عنه وزير الخارجية السعودي بالانسحاب من مؤتمر تونس، بعدما لمس من هيلاري كلينتون عدم استعداد حكومتها للانضمام الى الاطراف الداعية لتدخل عسكري في سوريا وطلبها منه الاستمرار في الضغط مع تحذيرها من التمادي كشركاء في التصرف بعيداً عن الموقف الأمريكي.
أول هذه الأسباب هو أن المخابرات الأمريكية أبلغت وزارة خارجيتها أن ٩ شبكات تابعة لتنظيمات يسارية متطرفة في اميركا وأوروبا عادت لممارسة نشاطات تثير الريبة خاصة انها تمتلك عقول الكترونية مدربة تدريباً جيداً ولديها قدرات وخبرات في التملص من المتابعات الأمنية، وربطت اجهزة المخابرات تحركات هذه الشبكات بتقرير سابق وصل لمكتب التحقيقات الفدرالي عن استعداد مجموعات لارسال رسائل كيميائية صغيرة الحجم لأكثر من ألف شخصية عربية وعالمية ومحاولتها الحصول على تلك المواد من مصادر شرق اوسطية لكنها جوبهت بالرفض، كما ابلغت اجهزة المخابرات تلك وزارة خارجيتها بمضمون التقارير الواردة عن المناورات السورية الصاروخية ونجاح تلك الصواريخ في الافلات من ملاحقة الباتريوت وفشله في اسقاطها.
أما الثاني فوصول معلومات متقاطعة من بكين وموسكو وطهران تؤكد أن تقنيات الطائرة التي اسقطت فوق سوريا أصبحت بحوزة المؤسسات المعنية فيها، بعدما استطاع السوريون انزالها سالمة والسيطرة على ما تحتويه من معلومات سرية عن مواقع اغلب المجموعات المسلحة وخطوط الاتصال التي كانت هذه الطائرة بمثابة غرفة عمليات لها.
February 26th, 2012, 8:01 am
Amir in Tel Aviv said:
Look at this funny photo, which is illustrating the farcical nature of the “referendum”.
http://www.haaretz.co.il/news/world/middle-east/1.1650827
Could you imagine a referendum in any normal country, let’s say Germany, with the photo of Angela Merkel hanging on the wall in the polling station?
.
February 26th, 2012, 8:16 am
Tara said:
Reading some of the posts and links on SC makes me wonder how wide some people imagination is and how talented of a conspiracy theorists they are. Is it a genuine talent or have they had little too much Scotch to drink?
Come on. It really is a stretch.
February 26th, 2012, 8:20 am
majedkhaldoun said:
The referendum,where a person can vote several times,THE Id, the DRIVER LICENSE,tHE HEALTH CERTIFICATE, HIS JOB id, HIS BIRTH CERTIFICATE, also his family minibook,his passport AND SO ON,
February 26th, 2012, 8:28 am
Tara said:
Revlon
I am going go miss you dearly. I am know left with members of عيلة فستق “dear-ing” and complementing each others.
Only Damascenes would understand whatعيلة فستق is.
Revlon, please come back in one week. You are the rare voice of truth on SC.
February 26th, 2012, 8:33 am
Tara said:
Government employees are forced to vote. People walking in the street are also forced by the security officers to vote. This is a mockery. One person can vote 10 times…
Are they gonna show us photos of Emma and hubby voting? I am sure SC fans are patiently waiting..I wonder if they usually print out those photos and hang them all over their house and work place.
February 26th, 2012, 8:40 am
Alan said:
انتصار في العالم الافتراضي وهزيمة في العالم الحقيقي
أظهرت هزيمة مجلس التعاون الخليجي والناتو توازن قوى جديد كان الجميع يرجّح وجوده لكن لم يتمكّن أحد من إثباته. فاز الغربيون في الحرب الإعلامية لكنّهم عجزوا عن خوض الحرب العسكرية وكما قال ماو تسي تونغ “باتوا نموراً ورقية”.
خلال الأزمة وحتى اليوم تمكّن الملوك العرب والقادة الغربيون من تضليل ليس فقط شعوبهم بل ومعظم الرأي العام العالمي. قاموا بتصوير ما يجري على أنه انتفاضة شعبية في سوريا على النظام وأن هذا الأخير يقمع هذا الاحتجاج السياسي بالنار والدم. لم تكتف قناواتهم الفضائية بتركيب التقارير الكاذبة بل قامت بتصوير مشاهد وهمية في استديوهاتها تخدم الغرض الأساسي للبروبغندا التي تعتمدها لتضليل الرأي العام. في المحصلة قام مجلس التعاون الخليجي والناتو بخلق ثورة وهمية وجعلا الرأي العام يتابع أحداثها المزعومة على امتداد عشرة أشهر في حين كانت سوريا تواجه على أرض الواقع حرباً منخفضة الوتيرة تقودها الفرق الوهابية ويدعمها حلف شمال الأطلسي.
لكن بما أن الصين وروسيا استخدمتا حقّ الفيتو وبما أن إيران أعلنت استعدادها لدخول الحرب إلى جانب سوريا إذا اقتضى الأمر ذلك، فهمت الولايات المتحدة وأتباعها أن الاستمرار في مشروعها قد يؤدي إلى اندلاع حربٍ عالمية. بعد أشهر من الضغط والمناورة اعترفت الولايات المتحدة أنها كانت تمارس خدعة وأن ما لديها لا يكفي لاستمرارها في اللعبة الخطرة.
http://www.voltairenet.org/%D9%85%D8%AC%D9%84%D8%B3-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AA%D8%B9%D8%A7%D9%88%D9%86
February 26th, 2012, 8:46 am
Antoine said:
REVLON my friend,
I advise you to heed the Moderator’s call and accept his decision. Please do not try to break the rules and circumvent the ban by trying to post before your 1 week ban is over. I really like your FSA videos and am going to miss them, please do not do anything that will get you permanently banned.
February 26th, 2012, 8:52 am
Antoine said:
Dear GHUFRAN,
What is your opinion about the referendum ?
Are you aware that there is not one single polling station in the whole of Idleb Governorate, just a few polling stations in a few enclaves in Homs and Hama Governorates, and only 2 polling stations in Daraa Governorate ( near Interior Ministry HQ and Governor’s offices in Daraa City).
Also polling stations are absent over large stretches of Reef Damascus and Deir el Zour.
I would also like your opinion regarding these, and please keep obliging me, I like your views, they are interesting, and please do not ignore my questions as you have done a couple of times.
February 26th, 2012, 8:57 am
Mina said:
Sorry Amir, we do have the picture of the president in every city hall in France. They can be used at polling stations in some places.
You know the best proof of democracy these days? Until we know what the Iranians vote on 5th of March (and if they vote, because they have been cheated last time by Ahmadinajad… but after him the Afghans and Iraqis were cheated too and the West did not find anything to say against it), we won’t see any progress in the Syrian situation either…
February 26th, 2012, 9:00 am
majedkhaldoun said:
I like Joshua or the moderator to give Revlon my E-Mail
February 26th, 2012, 9:00 am
Ghufran said:
I think the moderator was soft on Revlon,I do not see why a reputable site like SC would allow anybody to use it as a launching pad to incite violence and sectarian killings as if Syria does not have enough problems.
Antoine,my views on the const and the referendum were posted weeks ago,the const.does not represent me or any Syrian who wants this revolution to produce a civil and free political system,I am particularly opposed to article-3 which I think was a gift to albouti and the religious establishment,that const. was written to please the old and corrupt power houses in Damascus including albaath and its army of parasitic beneficiaries. The referendum is even more pathetic,it was done to give Russia the fig leaf it needs,Putin-style. In reality,this const-ref business smells bad and no perfume can take that smell away.
February 26th, 2012, 9:43 am
Ghufran said:
Qatar gave its blessing to open a mini embassy for the Taliban in Doha while they expelled Syrian diplomats. The Talibans have killed,and continue to kill,Americans who were sent to Afghanistan by the Neocons and their chief,GW Bush,to punish Taliban.
The US army went to Afghanistan in 2001 and may not leave until 2014.
http://www.cnn.com/2012/02/26/world/asia/afghanistan-burned-qurans/index.html?hpt=wo_c2
February 26th, 2012, 10:00 am
Ghufran said:
Brian Whitaker at The Guardian:
Syrians should beware of some of their foreign ‘friends’
Syrians should fear eastern, not western, intervention – especially autocratic ‘friends’ like Saudi Arabia.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/feb/26/syria-beware-foreign-friends-saudi-arabia
February 26th, 2012, 10:08 am
Antoine said:
Interesting Guardian report 12 years ago –
Saddam rallies for votes in Iraqi election
Share reddit this Staff and agencies
guardian.co.uk, Tuesday 15 October 2002 18.06 BST Article history Saddam Hussein’s regime is pushing for a maximum number of votes in today’s presidential elections in Iraq – as it is hopes to signal his popularity to the west as the country faces a possible war against US-led forces.
Saddam faces no challenger as he seeks another seven-year term – it is up to the voters to approve or disapprove him for another seven years. However, the government is looking for a greater percentage of “yes” votes – in the last referendum, held on October 15 1995, Saddam received 99.96% of the “yes” vote.
The ruling Baath party has staged neighbourhood-by-neighbourhood rallies and vote drives, built around the slogan “Yes, Yes, Yes Saddam”. State television and radio has also aired a constant campaign pitch for Saddam.
Nearly 12 million people are expected to cast ballots at one of 1,905 polling stations spread across 72 districts. Voting booths are separate for men and women, in line with Islamic segregation of the sexes.
Most polling stations are schools, plastered with posters of the leader. To encourage voter turnout sorbet, biscuits and hot tea are served, and children put on shows of patriotic songs.
Iraq has sought to picture the vote as a national show of solidarity to counter US pressure for a war to drive Saddam from power. Yesterday, the US president, George Bush, called Iraq “part of the war on terror”, as he decried the attacks in Yemen, Kuwait and the resort island of Bali.
At an election eve rally in Baghdad’s people’s stadium, the Iraqi vice president, Taha Yassin Ramadan, condemned the US over reported plans for a post-Saddam military occupation of Iraq – saying it showed the Bush government as a “crazy and evil administration”.
In Iraq, where it’s unheard of to publicly criticise Saddam, it’s not hard to find average people speaking bitter words about the US and its allies along with flowery praise for the Iraqi president.
Sitting at the door of his house in Kerbala, 75 miles south of Baghdad, Ali Ahmed Abdul Munaim waited for the school across the road to open so he could vote “and get it over with”.
“I am voting not for Saddam, because my vote for Saddam was determined long ago, but I am voting against America and Britain,” Abdul Munaim told the Associated Press this morning.
A polling station in Mahmoudia, 25 miles south of Baghdad, was crowded already in the first hour of voting.
“We are voting for our country and our dignity. Saddam is one of us – he was not forced by international powers to run the country,” Hikmat Sadoun said while waiting to vote.
“When he became president in 1979, we looked at him as the young challenging man and we still do,” he said.
Polls opened at 8am and were due to close at 8pm, and the government organised tours for journalists to different parts of the country to witness the voting. More than half of the journalists went to Saddam’s hometown of Tikrit.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2002/oct/15/iraq?INTCMP=ILCNETTXT3487
February 26th, 2012, 10:08 am
majedkhaldoun said:
Moderator
Do you speak and understand Arabic?
February 26th, 2012, 10:10 am
Antoine said:
Ghufran, are you resentful of the fact that Syrian Diplomats have been expelled from a number of countries ?
If yes, I would like to know the reason.
I have been following your posts for a long time, i would like to elicit another post from you – one long post- that highlights your views on how to end the violence, how to convince the regime to cede power.
Also, I would like to know your personal opinion, whether satisfying both practising Sunni Muslims as well as Minorities at the same time is possible.
February 26th, 2012, 10:13 am
Tara said:
Tonight is the Oscar’s night. One can’t not help to pay tributes to all Arab’s film directors and producers who were not appropriately recognized before or after their death.
February 26th, 2012, 10:20 am
Mina said:
Wonderful illustration of “how things go in the Arab world”:
Sunday, February 26, 2012
Aljazeera and Morocco
Yassine sent met this: “So al-Jazeera decided not to air the documentary on Morocco and the 20th of February Movement (nuqta sakhina), which they had been promoting for more than a week. Why not? Again? (In November the same thing happened (back then the al-Jazeera crew was forbidden to go to Tanger and the al-Hoceima area: two centers of the Moroccan uprising). The Moroccan king recently ‘gave’ the Qatari emir some 4 5.000 hectares (=450 km²) in the Guelmim area so that the Qatari emir could go hunt there. And also, these two weeks al-Jazeera has been negotiating a possible return to Morocco with the new minister of information. So I guess the negotiations are concluded. Perhaps the documentary was just a card in the negotiation-process. This is Gulf-media””
(from http://angryarab.blogspot.com/)
February 26th, 2012, 10:25 am
Ghufran said:
Antoine,I am not resentful about imposing diplomatic sanctions against the regime as long as Syrian citizens abroad can continue to get the services they need,I was just exposing the hypocrisy of Qatar and other “brotherly” Arab countries ruled by Sheikhs and Sheikhs in disguise.
I do not have a formula to stop the violence but arming anti regime militias will not stop or reduce the violence. Doing no harm is necessary if there is no immediate cure.
The excitement about creating Syrian Binghazis is actually an invitation for a civil war and the collapse of the Syrian state not just the regime,if we allow those Binghazis to emerge in areas hostile to the regime,similar Binghazis will appear in areas less hostile to the regime and sectarian cleansing will follow.
I do not write long posts,Antoine.
BTW,I visit hitaan from time to time and I am not sure I hear the same message from you there,let me know if I am being unfair in my judgement.
February 26th, 2012, 10:34 am
DAWOUD said:
# 226 Amir in colonial Tel Aviv
I agree with you that the referendum is preposterously silly. I think that the plane of the International Criminal Court, which would transport Bashar and his murderous enablers to the Hague, should (in order to save money and appear consistent, rather than hypocritical, to the entire world) also stop in occupied Jerusalem and colonial Tel Aviv to pick up Ehud Olmert, Ehud Barak, Tzipi Livni, Moshe Mofaz, comatose Sharon, etc. to try them for their war crimes against the Lebanese and Palestinians.
240. MAJEDKHALDOUN
I admire your efforts and determination NOT to be silenced/intimidated by what you validly term “Basharons!”
To Ms. ANN:
Your earlier post on the U.S. and the MB makes me wonder whether Islamist movements are anti-democratic, unless they are Shia. Given your earlier replies, you seem to know a lot about Hizballah. Why do you think that Hasan supports Bashar? Does this reflect shia sectarianism? As to supporting the resistance, whose houses were open to the fleeing Lebanese Shias: Bashar’s palaces or ordinary Syrians’ houses? Didn’t Sunni Syrians open their houses and donate their gold to support the Shia refugees in 2006?
Dear TARA:
You and I can be, given the opinions you express in your comments, intellectual friends on this blog-particularly if you choose to denounce Zionism and what it has done to the Palestinians and the Lebanese.
February 26th, 2012, 10:54 am
Equus said:
Home made elections are better than fast food imposed elections with one candidate ONLY. In lame terms, home made soup is better than Subway’s soup.
Barack Obama has issued a statement in support of a one candidate “election” in Yemen which will replace their brutal dictator of 30 years, Field Marshal Ali Abdullah Saleh, with Saleh’s vice president of 18 years, Major General Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi.Replacing one military dictator for another from the exact same regime. Shockingly, Obama actually called this “a model for how peaceful transition in the Middle East can occur.
http://willyloman.wordpress.com/2012/02/21/yemen-holds-an-election-one-candidate-major-general-abd-rabbu-mansour-hadi/
If you don’t see the hypocrisy of the White House… May God professionally help you.
February 26th, 2012, 11:07 am
jna said:
FSA holding civilians hostage in Homs, caught lying about arrests
http://news.yahoo.com/syrian-security-forces-kill-16-civilians-ngo-002020123.html
February 26th, 2012, 11:25 am
zoo said:
Miss Piggy talks about honor…
Clinton appeals for all Syrians to abandon Assad
By MATTHEW LEE | Associated Press – 1 hr 8 mins ago
RABAT, Morocco (AP) — Syrians in the military and business who still support President Bashar Assad should turn against him, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said Sunday.
“The longer you support the regime’s campaign of violence against your brothers and sisters, the more it will stain your honor.
(…)
February 26th, 2012, 11:25 am
Tara said:
Dear Dawoud
Of course I denounce Zionism and what it has done to the Palestians and the Lebanese. I do support what Abu Ammar said to be a just peace or peace of the brave.
I am surprised why you would think otherwise!
February 26th, 2012, 11:29 am
Ghufran said:
Emirati authorities have cancelled the residencies of dozens of Syrians for taking part in a protest against their regime outside the consulate in Dubai, Syrian activists told AFP on Sunday.
http://news.yahoo.com/syrian-protesters-quit-uae-visas-cancelled-142214433.html;_ylt=AjoReAzFZO1W4E4FoR871OJvaA8F;_ylu=X3oDMTNnMDVhaWJqBG1pdAMEcGtnAzZkZTY0ZWM3LTIxNTYtMzVlNi1hM2E3LTBiNDVmYjFmZWEwZgRwb3MDMTMEc2VjA2xuX01pZEVhc3RfZ2FsBHZlcgNlOWJiNTIzMC02MDg1LTExZTEtYWJmOS0yMTliNDg5NjU3MTg-;_ylv=3
February 26th, 2012, 11:30 am
jna said:
Voting in Damascus.
http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/dam/assets/120226101932-syria-vote-story-top.jpg
February 26th, 2012, 11:31 am
Amir in Tel Aviv said:
Dawoud,
You’re wasting your time. I’m not going to argue Israel with you. You are anti Zionist and I think that the HolyLand is a Jewish property for eternity. Arguing with you is futile.
Also, I don’t think that Tara is Zionist. Still, Tara and me can discuss Syria while we respect each other, and kindly agree to disagree on the subject of Israel and Zionism.
Mina,
I’m not sure that your claim about Sarko’s photos in French polling stations, is accurate. In Israel you can find photos of Ben Gurion, and maybe of president Peres in public places. Not of Bibi Netanyahu or other serving PMs.
.
February 26th, 2012, 11:38 am
Hans said:
Traitttttttttttttttttttttttoooooooooooooorrrrrrrssssssssssssss!!!!!!!!
http://www.shukumaku.com/Content.php?id=42425
where is the guy who was the body guard for SNC here on SC to defend them, i have not seen him posting for a while
February 26th, 2012, 11:42 am
DAWOUD said:
# 249 TARA
Thanks for your excellent reply. I was just inquiring. We are friends. Thanks for quoting Abu Ammar’s statement, with which I agree; although he died (or killed) while realizing that Israel wanted to make “peace” only with the Palestinians who choose to surrender 100 % of their rights, including the sacred “right of return.”
let me repeat my earlier comment for clarification.
245. DAWOUD said:
# 226 Amir in colonial Tel Aviv
I agree with you that the referendum is preposterously silly. I think that the plane of the International Criminal Court, which would transport Bashar and his murderous enablers to the Hague, should (in order to save money and appear consistent, rather than hypocritical, to the entire world) also stop in occupied Jerusalem and colonial Tel Aviv to pick up Ehud Olmert, Ehud Barak, Tzipi Livni, Moshe Mofaz, comatose Sharon, etc. to try them for their war crimes against the Lebanese and Palestinians.
240. MAJEDKHALDOUN
I admire your efforts and determination NOT to be silenced/intimidated by what you validly term “Basharons!”
To Ms. ANN:
Your earlier post on the U.S. and the MB makes me wonder whether Islamist movements are anti-democratic, unless they are Shia. Given your earlier replies, you seem to know a lot about Hizballah. Why do you think that Hasan supports Bashar? Does this reflect shia sectarianism? As to supporting the resistance, whose houses were open to the fleeing Lebanese Shias: Bashar’s palaces or ordinary Syrians’ houses? Didn’t Sunni Syrians open their houses and donate their gold to support the Shia refugees in 2006?
Dear TARA:
You and I can be, given the opinions you express in your comments, intellectual friends on this blog-particularly if you choose to denounce Zionism and what it has done to the Palestinians and the Lebanese.
PS., please see Walid Junblat’s interview with Le Monde:
http://www.nowlebanon.com/NewsArticleDetails.aspx?ID=369166
“Jumblatt calls for ‘arming Syrian opposition'”
Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblatt has called, during an interview with French newspaper Le Monde, “for arming” the Syrian opposition.
Jumblatt also called for the opposition, which has been struggling against the Syrian regime “to unite its ranks.”
The PSP chief, who is also the Druze leader, addressed the Druze community in Syria saying: “I do not want to take on a sectarian tone [but] the Syrian regime is promoting coalitions comprised of minority [communities].”
[…]
February 26th, 2012, 11:45 am
Mina said:
French U-turn on Qatar (I may start to believe that some French soldiers have been caught in Syria.. but 120 that’s hard to believe):
Le Monde (aka “La voix de son maître”) has a highly polemical article today:
http://www.lemonde.fr/proche-orient/article/2012/02/25/sur-qatar-airways-on-ne-badine-pas-avec-l-autorite_1648393_3218.html#ens_id=1648474
February 26th, 2012, 11:56 am
majedkhaldoun said:
Haytham Manna3 can never agree to arming the FSA, he has a problem, he doesnot realize that he is helping the regime to last long, he is meanwhile allowing the regime to kill syrians by over hundred a day,he is against the regime,
My problem with Haytham, I like to see the skin of his abdomen to see the needle scars he has, I want to know if he is drug addict or not,when he talk he sounds delusional,as if he is on drugs , and I do not trust drug addicts.
February 26th, 2012, 12:00 pm
bronco said:
237. Ghufran said:
“Qatar gave its blessing to open a mini embassy for the Taliban in Doha while they expelled Syrian diplomats.”
Qatar attempts to rehabilitate Sunni Islam.
It’s been a while that the Qatari have appointed themselves the “rehabilitators” of the misjudged Sunnis in the region. They have been offering a hand to all the Sunni extremists with the hope that they would moderate them and bring them into the mainstream of the consumption society. This is similar to the approach of Turkey in taming religious extremism. While it has apparently been successful in Turkey, any false move or a faltering economy may bring extremism back in the front.
The attempt of the Qataris is laudable in view of the harm that Saudi Arabia has done to the Sunnis by creating monsters like Al Qaeda and salafi fanatics in all the countries they put their hands on. Afghanistan and Pakistan are example of the Saudi Wahhabi negative influences.
Will the Qatari succeed? They have been helped tremendously by Al Jazeera spread in all Arab homes. Yet, Al Jazeera is increasingly criticized for dishonest reporting. In addition the Qataris have made several mistakes in Egypt, Tunisia, Libya and Syria by supporting too obviously religious groups against minorities or secular groups. They are looked upon increasingly suspiciously by Arab seculars who suspect that they have another hidden agenda close to Saudi Arabia’s religious proselytism and to the USA’s dedication in protecting Israel. These agenda may appear disguised into calls for democratic practices that neither the Qataris nor the Saudis are practicing or intend to practice in the short term.
It’s an long term experimentation, heavily supported by the USA that want to see the end of Moslem terrorists that not only threatens them at home and in the region but also threatens their increasingly isolated ally in the region,Israel.
As long as the question of Israel is not solved, the efforts of the Qatari will be stained with suspicion. So it’s a complex game where it is not easy to win.
February 26th, 2012, 12:00 pm
Syria no Kandahar said:
Comedian terrorists:
February 26th, 2012, 12:17 pm
irritated said:
#258. Syria no Kandahar
Thanks SNK, it’s really funny and it was posted by Ugarit! They do have a sense of humor.
February 26th, 2012, 12:24 pm
zoo said:
Iran hosts Lebanese defense minister
By NASSER KARIMI | Associated Press – 4 hrs ago
TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — Iran’s President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad met with Lebanon’s visiting defense minister on Sunday, telling him that Beirut and Tehran should work toward unity to confront the west and Israel, the country’s official news agency reported.
The visit comes amid an apparent move by Tehran to strengthen its regional ties, as it faces both pressure from the West over its nuclear program and the possible loss of a key ally, Syria’s President Bashar Assad.
Ahmadinejad told visiting Lebanese Defense Minister Fayez Ghosn to “resist the plots” of “domination-seeking powers,” IRNA said.
Ghosn is a member of the Christian political party Marada, which is allied with Tehran’s main partner in Lebanon, the Shiite Hezbollah movement. Marada and Hezbollah are also closely linked to Syria’s embattled President Bashar Assad, who is traditionally a major power-broker in Lebanon but faces an uprising against his rule.
(…)
February 26th, 2012, 12:27 pm
ann said:
New Mediterranean oil and gas bonanza – 26 February, 2012
http://rt.com/news/reserves-offshore-middle-east-engdahl-855/print/
The discovery of Leviathan by Israel in the waters offshore immediately triggered a new geopolitical conflict as Lebanon claimed that part of the gas field lay in Lebanese territorial waters in the country’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). Lebanon delivered maps to the UN to back its claim, to which Israeli Foreign Minister Lieberman retorted, “We won’t give an inch.”
The fly in the Mediterranean energy soup is the fact that Israel, like the USA, has never ratified the 1982 UN Convention on Law of the Sea dividing world subsea mineral rights. The Israeli gas wells at Leviathan are clearly within undisputed Israeli territory as Lebanon affirms. But Lebanon believes the field extends over into their subsea waters as well. The Lebanese Hezbollah claims that the Tamar gas field, which is due to begin gas deliveries by the end of this year, belongs to Lebanon.
Washington has lost no time adding political gasoline to the natural gas dispute between Lebanon and Israel. In July of 2011, Israel was preparing to submit its own proposal to the UN as to where the offshore demarcation line between Lebanon and Israel should run. At the same time, Frederick Hof, the US diplomat responsible for special affairs regarding Syria and Lebanon, told Lebanon that the Obama administration endorsed the Lebanese document. This addied to the growing tensions reported since the outbreak of the Arab Spring between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Obama.
Netanyahu has reportedly recently urged America’s eighth-wealthiest person, his close friend Las Vegas casino billionaire Sheldon Adelson to pour millions directly into the campaigns of Republicans, including Newt Gingrich and Mitt Romney. This would represent an unprecedented direct Israeli intervention into US presidential candidates’ campaigns, in order to try to avert a second Obama term.
[…]
February 26th, 2012, 12:32 pm
zoo said:
Mysterious Western Journalist: FSA opposes the evacuation of the wounded journalist in Bab Amr
http://news.yahoo.com/talks-resume-evacuating-wounded-syrias-homs-141542340.html;_ylt=Aj.tP5ktn4v37nYo2cvrtZXzWed_
…
A Western journalist involved in Saturday’s negotiations said ambulances twice entered Baba Amr, the district in the flashpoint central city that has been pounded by Syrian troops for more than three weeks.
But each time they were blocked by members of the rebel Free Syrian Army.
The female journalist, requesting anonymity, said the FSA refused to allow the evacuations, alleging that the regime had arrested nine people who were evacuated on Friday, claims the ICRC investigated and said afterwards “were totally false.”
Dabbakeh confirmed on Friday that the Red Cross and the Red Crescent had evacuated seven Syrians wounded in shelling, as well as 20 sick women and children, from Baba Amr. They were taken to Homs’ Al-Amine hospital.
But they were unable to evacuate two wounded Western journalists and the bodies of two of their colleagues killed on Wednesday in a rocket attack.
American reporter Marie Colvin and French photojournalist Remi Ochlik died when a rocket hit a makeshift media centre in Baba Amr.
French reporter Edith Bouvier and British photographer Paul Conroy suffered leg wounds.
February 26th, 2012, 12:32 pm
b said:
@ZOO – thanks to your research I put together a post that looks into Khaled Abu Saleh and Edith Bouvier.
Something there stinks.
http://www.moonofalabama.org/2012/02/what-is-edith-bouviers-role-in-sarkozys-humanitarian-corridors-plans.html
February 26th, 2012, 12:52 pm
Ghufran said:
Three interesting names for new FSA brigades:
يزيد بن معاويه
عمرو بن سعد بن ابي وقاص
وليد بن عقبه
The first two were clearly implicated in the killing of Hussein ibn Ali ibn abi taleb,prophet muhammad’s grand son who is particularly revered by Shia and honored by all Muslims .
The third was an Omayyad loyalist with a mixed history.
Any thoughts ?
February 26th, 2012, 12:57 pm
ann said:
Feature: Constitutional referendum day is historical in Syrians lives: FM – 2012-02-26
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/world/2012-02/26/c_122756025.htm
DAMASCUS, Feb. 26 (Xinhua) — Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al- Moallem said Sunday that the new draft constitution would transit Syria to a new phase, stressing that “this is a historical day in the lives of Syrians.”
“Today we are moving toward a new democratic era, and Syria will emerge much stronger than it used to be,” Moallem said while he was voting on the new constitution at the ministry of foreign affairs.
The Syrian foreign minister declined to comment on the opposition stance towards taking part in the referendum, saying ” the opposition is not connected with the interest of the Syrian people.”
Meanwhile, al-Moallem lambasted the Wests interference in Syria ‘s affairs, saying “they should deal with their own internal concerns and to leave Syria.” “We tell them that whosoever is keen about the Syrians’ interests shouldn’t have imposed sanctions.”
For his side, Syrian Prime Minister Adel Safar told reporters during his vote Sunday that “the new constitution is a turning point and a true response to the needs of people in political pluralism, democracy and freedom.”
In response to the criticism of the constitution, Safar said ” some parties just don’t want reform, but we don’t care about that.. . what we care about are our people as this constitution has answered their aspirations and granted freedoms and judicial independence.”
“There is a controversy about this particular article (number three), said Safar, noting that some article can be reviewed and modified and “nothing is prefect in life.”
Under the constitution, al-Assad will end his two seven-year terms in 2014 at the latest.
[…]
February 26th, 2012, 12:59 pm
Mina said:
Ghufran,
Yes, one: “We’re in the 21st century, for God’s sake!”
February 26th, 2012, 1:00 pm
Tara said:
Ghufran
I vote to name them Jake, Jade, and Jeujeu.
February 26th, 2012, 1:03 pm
ann said:
Iraqi PM says 13 top Arab leaders to attend Baghdad summit – 2012-02-25
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/world/2012-02/25/c_131431590.htm
“The Arab League (officials) informed us that all the Arab states accepted to participate in the summit, and according to AL’ s estimations there are 13 Kings and presidents that will attend ( the summit),” the state-run channel of Iraqia quoted Maliki as saying in his speech during a meeting in Baghdad for an Iraqi think-tank group, named the Iraqi Group for Strategic Studies.
[…]
February 26th, 2012, 1:17 pm
zoo said:
Daily detailed military situation in Syria
English عربي
February 23, 2012, Syrian Crisis Updated
by Syrian Center for Documentation
http://www.voltairenet.org/_Syrian-Center-for-Documentation_?lang=en
February 23, 2012, Syrian Crisis Updated
http://www.voltairenet.org/February-23-2012-Syrian-Crisis
February 26th, 2012, 1:19 pm
irritated said:
#264. Ghufran
Ghufran, what are you insinuating? These brigades are secular and inspired by the principle of democracy only.
February 26th, 2012, 1:25 pm
Amir in Tel Aviv said:
Creative Syria Watch:
large turnout at referendum
Voters are being encouraged to vote. Voting is confidential
.
February 26th, 2012, 1:26 pm
Equus said:
US politicians have said they may cut off Egypt’s $1.3 billion in annual military aid if the US citizens are tried.
The first day of a controversial trial of 43 pro-democracy workers accused of working illegally and trying to push American and Israeli interests in Egypt has adjourned in Cairo.
The defendants include 19 Americans and 16 Egyptians, though only seven of the US citizens reportedly remain in the country, where they are prevented from leaving. The others include Serbs, Lebanese, Germans, a Norwegian, a Jordanian and a Palestinian.
http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2012/02/201222603131476423.html
—————
Don’t you love it when big brother bullies you? But make no mistake Americans are very humanitarians they give $1.3 billion annually to the military, so people see nothing of that money….only tear gas.
February 26th, 2012, 1:29 pm
zoo said:
#263 B
I don’t deserve the credit of the research as my post on Edith Bouvier and Khaled Abu Saleh made use of the information from a thread by Kinan I found in the french blog InfoSyrie.fr where there is still a big discussion going on the subject. He recently added that Khaled abu Salkeh has a blog on Al Jazeera
http://blogs.aljazeera.net/liveblog/Khaled-Abu-Salah
http://www.infosyrie.fr/actualite/les-insurges-de-homs-veulent-ils-garder-les-journalistes-francais/#comment-29970
February 26th, 2012, 1:35 pm
Tara said:
Amir
Loved it. Thank you.
February 26th, 2012, 1:35 pm
majedkhaldoun said:
Arming the FSA is extremely important, it must be armed with all the sophisticated weapons, this will force the Assad army, to use the airforce, at that time a no fly zone becomes necessary, this has to start from Turkey and I am sure Jordan will participate,Syria is a small country and can be monitored easily.
Such decision probably will be approved in Turkey meeting,once NFZ starts any one who thinks normally will see the end coming and bashar will have to surrender after a short period of resisting,Russia is unlikely to interfere,
February 26th, 2012, 1:39 pm
irritated said:
#275 Majedalkadoon
“Arming the FSA is extremely important, it must be armed with all the sophisticated weapons”
I suggest chemical and nuclear, very effective.
February 26th, 2012, 1:47 pm
jad said:
مراكز الاستفتاء في المحافظات تشهد إقبالاً متزايداً والمشاركون يؤكدون أن مشروع الدستور يؤسس لمستقبل جديد لسورية
محافظات-سانا
نظرا للإقبال المستمر من المواطنين على مراكز الاستفتاء على مشروع الدستور الجديد للجمهورية العربية السورية في عدد من المحافظات تقرر تمديد عملية الاستفتاء لغاية الساعة العاشرة من مساء اليوم في هذه المحافظات بينما بدأت عمليات فتح الصناديق وفرز الاصوات في عدد من مراكز المحافظات التي انتهت عملية الاستفتاء فيها.
ويواصل المواطنون السوريون توافدهم إلى مراكز الاستفتاء الموزعة في المحافظات للاستفتاء على مشروع الدستور الجديد حيث تشهد هذه المراكز اقبالاً متزايداً مع تقدم ساعات النهار يعكس حرصهم على السير قدما ببرنامج الاصلاح الذي يعد الدستور احد ابرز انجازاته.
وبدأ المواطنون ممن يحق لهم الاستفتاء منذ الساعة السابعة صباحا بالتوافد إلى مراكز الاستفتاء البالغ عددها 14185 مركزاً والتي تم افتتاحها في مختلف المحافظات والمراكز الحدودية والمطارات والبادية للاستفتاء حيث تم وضع لوحات ارشادية في كل مركز ليتمكن المواطن من معرفة الخطوات التي يقوم بها للاستفتاء في جو من الشفافية والديمقراطية ضمن الغرف السرية التى خصصت لهذه الغاية.
{…}
http://www.sana.sy/ara/2/2012/02/26/402732.htm
February 26th, 2012, 1:53 pm
irritated said:
Equus #272
“They give $1.3 billion annually to the military”
The billions (minus the commissions) find their way back into the US military industry.
The Egyptian military buy sophisticated and very expensive US made weapons that end up rusting in warehouses and they use the hefty commissions to build their luxury villas for the member of their families in Sharm Al Sheikh or Mountazah for their early retirement.
February 26th, 2012, 2:00 pm
Badr said:
I recommend you listen to this audio stream of Hillary Clinton speaking to the BBC’s Kim Ghattas about the conflict in Syria
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p00nx7sx#p00phf2p
February 26th, 2012, 2:01 pm
zoo said:
Gregoire III Laham, patriarch of Antioche of Greek-Melchites, voting in Damascus.
http://static.lorientlejour.com/images/news/multimedia/201202/20120226T152640-1330262800023950200.jpg
Bashar and Asma al Assad voting in Damascus
http://static.olj.me/images/news/medium/746904_114352304466.jpeg
February 26th, 2012, 2:21 pm
irritated said:
@281 Badr
BBC predicts minimal attendance at the referendum.
Kim Ghattas has good and clear questions and Hillary sounds totally confused… She keeps repeating “to our best ability” and “I don’t understand”
She is dumber than I thought, and she laughs like Miss Piggy
February 26th, 2012, 2:30 pm
zoo said:
Where are the new Hamas offices?
AP Interview: Hamas out of Syria, leader says
Associated Press – 2 hrs 2 mins ago
http://news.yahoo.com/ap-interview-hamas-syria-leader-says-173546035.html
..
However, Abu Marzouk confirmed that “practically we are no longer in Syria,” even if Hamas still maintains offices there.
Abu Marzouk now lives in Cairo. He says the movement’s top leader, Khaled Mashaal, and his aides have moved to Doha, Qatar.
{…}
February 26th, 2012, 2:40 pm
Jad said:
Zoo
Albouti too
العلامة البوطي يستفتي على الدستور الجديد 26-2-2012
February 26th, 2012, 2:46 pm
zoo said:
U-turn in the UAE? The UAE expels Syrian opposition supporters
http://news.yahoo.com/syrian-protesters-quit-uae-visas-cancelled-142214433.html
…
Emirati authorities have cancelled the residencies of dozens of Syrians for taking part in a protest against their regime outside the consulate in Dubai, Syrian activists told AFP on Sunday.
Two of them have already fled the Gulf country, arriving in Cairo on Saturday, after “all efforts failed to convince Emirati authorities to retract the decision,” one of the activists said.
“My son can’t go to Syria” for fear of being arrested there, the father of one of the protesters told AFP. “They have no mercy. They didn’t even give him a warning. They just cancelled his residency right away.”
The opposition activist told AFP that the UAE “authorities went ahead with the measures to cancel residencies despite promises to retract the decision.”
Nearly 2,000 Syrians took part in a demonstration outside the Syrian consulate in Dubai on February 10.
{…}
February 26th, 2012, 2:50 pm
b said:
@ZOO – could you please post my link to that French forum at some relevant space?
(I speak/write only quite bad French and no Arabic at all – (sorry, I’m German))
February 26th, 2012, 2:52 pm
Tara said:
I support Qatar opening an embassy for Taliban in Doha. The Qarai are thinking outside the box. Integrating them then modifying their ideology is a more effective approach than attempting to annihilate them.
February 26th, 2012, 3:12 pm
Mina said:
Far from the evening news
http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/1/64/35415/Egypt/Politics-/Dying-young-Egyptian-activists-face-postrevolution.aspx
http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/1/64/31461/Egypt/Politics-/V-for-vengeance-In-Suez,-the-blood-of-martyrs-rema.aspx
Between the wanabee actors and cinderella in Disneyland, not sure where revolutionaries 2.0 are going. Probably to the dustbin of history.
February 26th, 2012, 3:23 pm
majedkhaldoun said:
http://www.alarabiya.net/articles/2012/02/26/197120.html
I wonder what reaction would come from our brothers the christian ,this clearly proves that Islam and christianity speak the same ideas
February 26th, 2012, 3:52 pm
Alan said:
I am living with Russian and I know their thinking and work of their international institutes and politicians! Russia can fight in protection of the geopolitical interests on arena of Syria and there can be 2nd Vietnam! Will suffice Russia will pretend to be ignorant to fight!
February 26th, 2012, 3:58 pm
newfolder said:
the FSA attacks the Baath party Hq in Hamidieh Homs, frees prisoners and destroys tanks
February 26th, 2012, 4:07 pm
ann said:
Clinton says Syrian opposition not yet united – 2012-02-27
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/world/2012-02/27/c_122756057.htm
WASHINGTON, Feb. 26 (Xinhua) — U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said on Sunday that the opposition in Syria was not yet united, vowing to continue to keep up pressure on the Assad regime.
In an interview with CNN, Clinton said that the opposition in Syria, including the Syrian National Council, was not yet the kind of united opposition force that had ousted former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi last year.
She said that the Libyan opposition, led by the country’s National Transitional Council and based in the city of Benghazi, gave the West “an address” to deliver support to.
“We don’t have that in Syria,” she said. “The Syrian National Council is doing the best it can but obviously it is not yet a united opposition.”
[…]
February 26th, 2012, 4:41 pm
ann said:
Lebanon not to recognize Syrian National Council: FM – 2012-02-27
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/world/2012-02/27/c_122756054.htm
BEIRUT, Feb. 26 (Xinhua) — Lebanon will not recognize the opposition Syrian National Council even if the Arab League does, Lebanese Foreign Affairs Minister Adnan Mansour was quoted as saying by local media Sunday.
Lebanese media quoted Mansour as telling Russian TV that dialogue is the only means to ending the current political crisis in Syria.
According to Mansour, Lebanon would be harmed at various levels should the government decide to implement sanctions against its biggest neighbor.
[…]
February 26th, 2012, 4:45 pm
newfolder said:
the infamous revolutionary prank caller Hussien Jabri (AbuZuhier) on AlArabiya
February 26th, 2012, 4:47 pm
newfolder said:
in other news, 89% (8350 people) vote no to the new constitution on the official website of the Syrian parliament, hurry up and take a look before they take it down:
http://parliament.sy/
February 26th, 2012, 4:55 pm
ann said:
Putin warns against ‘catastrophic’ attack on Iran – February 27, 2012
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-02-27/putin-warns-against-attacks-on-iran-and-syria/3854136/?site=melbourne
“I very much hope the United States and other countries… do not try to set a military scenario in motion in Syria without sanction from the UN Security Council,” Mr Putin said, according to a transcript.
On Iran, he said that “the growing threat of a military strike on this country alarms Russia, no doubt”.
“If this occurs, the consequences will be truly catastrophic,” he said.
“It is impossible to imagine their real scale.”
[…]
February 26th, 2012, 5:01 pm
newfolder said:
the Christians of Syria threatened with death by the regime
مسيحيو سوريا يتعرضون للتهديد بالقتل من النظام
يشاركون في إغاثة المناطق المنكوبة من جراء القمع والحصار
http://www.alarabiya.net/articles/2012/02/25/196945.html
February 26th, 2012, 5:12 pm
newfolder said:
ah yes of course as I’d guessed, the Parliament website was quickly taken down, so much for Assad’s democracy eh? here’s a screen shot for those who didn’t get a chance to see it:
http://i40.tinypic.com/207nbll.jpg
February 26th, 2012, 5:33 pm
Shami said:
Ila mazbalet el tarikh !
February 26th, 2012, 5:35 pm
jna said:
296. newfoldersaid: in other news, 89% (8350 people) vote no to the new constitution on the official website of the Syrian parliament, hurry up and take a look before they take it down:
Glad to see people voting, even if just for show, despite the opposition’s demand for a boycott. If enough people get involved in realistic peaceful expressions maybe there will be a constructive transition.
February 26th, 2012, 5:45 pm
Jerusalem said:
إعادة إنتاج تجربة القمع الذي قاده الرئيس التونسي السابق بن علي لصحافيين التونسيين يتعرضون منذ مدة إلى “ضغوط رهيبة من مجموعات وأشخاص من أنصار الحكومة، وذلك للسيطرة على وسائل الإعلام عبر الممارسات العنيفة وغير الحضارية وعن طريق الدعوة الصريحة للحرق والقتل”.ودعت في المقابل كافة المنظمات والهيئات والإتحادات والجمعيات الوطنية إلى “الوقوف إلى جانب الصحافيين في معركتهم من أجل حرية التعبير والصحافة والإبداع”.وكان نحو 10 صحافيين تونسيين تعرضوا اليوم إلى الإعتداء أثناء تغطيتهم للمظاهرة السلمية التي دعا إليها الإتحاد العام التونسي للشغل “أكبر منظمة نقابية”، والتي فرقتها قوات الأمن بالقنابل المسيلة للدموع والهراوات والعصي
http://www.arabtimes.com/portal/news_display.cfm?Action=&Preview=No&nid=10635
February 26th, 2012, 5:47 pm
ann said:
Russia and the changing world – 27/02/2012
Topic: Vladimir Putin on foreign affairs
http://en.ria.ru/world/20120227/171547818.html
No one should be allowed to employ the Libyan scenario in Syria. The international community must work to achieve an internal Syrian reconciliation. It is important to achieve an early end to the violence no matter what the source, and to initiate a national dialogue – without preconditions or foreign interference and with due respect for the country’s sovereignty. This would create the conditions necessary to introduce the measures for democratization announced by the Syrian leadership. The key objective is to prevent an all-out civil war. Russian diplomacy has worked and will continue to work toward this end.
I hope very much that the United States and other countries will consider this sad experience and will not pursue the use of power in Syria without UN Security Council sanctions. In general, I cannot understand what causes this itch for military intervention. Why isn’t there the patience to develop a well-considered, balanced and cooperative approach, all the more so since this approach was already taking shape in the form of the aforementioned Syrian resolution? It only lacked the demand that the armed opposition do the same as the government; in particular, withdraw military units and detachments from cities. The refusal to do so is cynical. If we want to protect civilians – and this is the main goal for Russia – we must make all the participants in the armed confrontation see reason.
[…]
February 26th, 2012, 5:59 pm
Darryl said:
290. MAJEDKHALDOUN said:
I will be the first to disappoint you Dr Khaldoun, but Islam preaches the exact opposite of what the Messiah said in the Gospels. Please read the Gospels which were written within 30-50 years after the Messiah and you can see the difference in the message.
In conclusion, if the two messages are opposite, the Messiah could not have talked about the Islamic message to come. I gather you never read the Gospels and if you were to read them you will clearly see what I mean.
February 26th, 2012, 6:03 pm
Tara said:
Darryl
I am worried about you when you get to read the link provided by Majedkhaldoun @ 290. Please take a deep breath before reading it but if deep breathing does not, may be you want to click on the link below. Pay attention @ 2:26
February 26th, 2012, 6:05 pm
zoo said:
#287 B
Your link has been posted in a reply to Kinan, the blogger who first gathered the information, indicating that he deserves the credit of the original story
http://www.infosyrie.fr/actualite/les-insurges-de-homs-veulent-ils-garder-les-journalistes-francais/#comment-30145
February 26th, 2012, 6:18 pm
syria no kandahar said:
let us just leave religion alone,no one had any choice in deciding which family or religion he was born in.Syrians have enough problems and don not need any more.christians,jews,moslems all can be good or bad.if any one practices the spirit of any religion he will be a good person and god will not fry him.
February 26th, 2012, 6:24 pm
Darryl said:
305. TARA said:
Tara, a spunky kick boxer like you listening to Um Kalthoum? I would not have even contemplated this. I am a SabaH Fakhry, Muhammad Khairy (God rest his sole), Fairuz type not Um Kalthoum.
February 26th, 2012, 6:25 pm
Tara said:
SNK
SNK?????. I am soo proud of you.
Darryl
It is called versatility.
February 26th, 2012, 6:29 pm
Tara said:
Paul Conroy has a wife, 3 children, and a soul mate worrying about him.
Joss Stone praises Syria photographer Paul Conroy
The 25-year-old singer, who lives in Devon, said she “bonded” with Mr Conroy when they were making a documentary in Africa.
“Paul’s silly, as brave as he is. I wish he didn’t do it,” she said.
“He’s doing it for a bigger better braver reason than what people realise. These stories have to be told.
“I’m speaking from a selfish point of view because I want a best mate to talk to.”
Stone added: “If he does not go out there the story is not told, then the massacre would be worse. They are saving lives just by being there.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-devon-17172817
February 26th, 2012, 6:32 pm
Uzair8 said:
I came across the following elsewhere. I don’t understand arabic so can’t confirm. Perhaps someone can summarise?
Copy/paste word for word:
Shaykh Sabuni Condemns Dr Buti and Hassoun
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AbIjO…eature=related
Wahabi’s really hate Shaykh Sabuni hafizahuAllah.
Shaykh Sabuni is the student of Shaykh Najib Siraj alDin father of Shaykh Abdullah Siraj alDin, rahimahumAllah.
[From: http://www.sunniport.com/masabih/showthread.php?t=10062 ]
February 26th, 2012, 6:42 pm
Uzair8 said:
Info on Sheikh al-Sabuni:
Shaykh Muhammad `Alī al-Sābūnī was born in the city of Aleppo in Syria in 1930 to a family of learning. His father was one of the senior scholars of Aleppo. He received much of his initial and formal education in Arabic, inheritance and sciences of religion from his father, Shaykh Jamīl.
http://marifah.net/biographies/articles/biographies/shaykh-muhammad-ali-al-sabuni.html
February 26th, 2012, 6:46 pm
Ghufran said:
I think whatever little chance the opposition had to win any support from Christians in Homs is lost for good,alhamidiyyah,with a large presence of Christians,was today attacked by armed thugs who shot,looted and destroyed everything they can reach,even the church was targeted. I will find links for those who like “a proof” ,my information came from Homsi residents and their relatives in the state.too much for god-blessed “angels” !!
February 26th, 2012, 6:48 pm
ann said:
Seven gov’t troops killed by armed attack near Syrian capital – 2012-02-27
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/world/2012-02/27/c_122756229.htm
DAMASCUS, Feb. 26 (Xinhua) — At least seven law-enforcement members were killed Sunday night when an armed group opened fire at the forces’ checkpoint in a suburb of the Syrian capital Damascus, private Sham FM radio reported.
The attack took place in the Yabrud suburb of Damascus, said the report without further details.
Meanwhile, state-run SANA news agency said Sunday that more than 40 armed men surrendered themselves to the authorities along with their weapons at the restive Baba Amr neighborhood in central Homs province.
In northern Idlib province, another hub of armed clashes, engineering units dismantled six explosive devices weighing between 40 kg and 50 kg and rigged for remote-controlled detonation near the town of Oweid in Jabal al-Zawye area.
Another six explosive devices were dismantled in the town of Kansafra in Idlib, said SANA, adding that the devices were hidden in bathroom boilers.
[…]
February 26th, 2012, 7:28 pm
Tara said:
Zoo
Ok Zoo. I get it. I am sorry. It was Kinan who had a little too much to drink last night.
February 26th, 2012, 7:39 pm
PUNTROAD said:
Ghufran and Newfolder
Re: 313 and 314
Ghufran, if you have links, that would be good.
Why would Assad’s army shell a church? Has the FSA taken it over?
February 26th, 2012, 7:39 pm
bronco said:
304. Darryl
Ref: Majedalkhaldoon post about the new Bible found in Turkey
I have noticed that very often Moslems confuse the Bible (The Old Testament) with the Gospels (the New Testament) when they refer to the beliefs of the Christians.
The Holy Koran mentions many episodes and important individuals of the Bible, such as Abraham, Isaac etc… It also mentions episodes and individuals contemporary to Jesus-Christ, such as Saint Mary, or the prophet John the Baptist, yet it never refer to the teachings of Jesus-Christ that are present in the Gospels written by the Apostles. The Koran also eludes the death and resurrection of Jesus-Christ, events fundamental to the Christian religion. This is probably why many Moslems do not know about the existence and the importance of the Four Gospels in the Christian beliefs.
The Four Gospels relating the life, the teachings and the death of Jesus-Christ are the essence of the Christian religion.
Therefore it is fundamental to understand that the core and the dynamic of the Christian religion is not the Bible (The Old Testament) but the Gospels. The Bible stories are the historical foundation of monotheism for Judaism, Christianity, Islam, the Sabian religion ( Ahl al Ketab) in the Middle East. The Gospels, the Koran, the Tora and other sacred books have greatly overhauled and complemented the Bible’s teachings.
If monotheists religions share a similar base, the Bible, they differ greatly in many areas. They do not oppose to each other, but among other differences, they have a different philosophy of the notion of sin and a different perception of the relation between a human being and God and human beings among each others.
As for the Bible predictions, they are complex and difficult to decipher therefore there has been several interpretations of their meaning.
There has also been several versions of the Bible, which makes the predictions even more esoteric.
This probably applies to the new version of the Bible just found in Turkey.
February 26th, 2012, 7:46 pm
ann said:
Putin Blasts US, Outlines Firm Stand On Foreign Policy – February 27, 2012
http://www.eurasiareview.com/27022012-putin-blasts-us-outlines-firm-stand-on-foreign-policy/
Addressing the unrest in the Arab world, Putin said Russia would not permit a “Libyan scenario” to take place in Syria, where he said Moscow wanted to see an immediate halt in violence and a national dialogue to resolve the crisis.
He defended the decision by Russia and China to veto a resolution earlier this month pushed by Washington and its European and Arab allies that Moscow said would have opened the door to foreign military intervention in Syria.
Russia in particular faced blistering criticism that “bordered on hysterical” from Western countries for its decision, Putin said, adding that Moscow strongly hoped the United States and others would not resort to force in Syria without UN approval.
Referring more widely to the Arab Spring, Putin said that efforts backed by the United States and the West to bring about “democracy with the help of violent methods” were unpredictable and often led to precisely the opposite result.
“Certain forces, including religious extremists, are emerging who are trying to change the direction of development of these countries and the secular nature of their governments,” he said.
Putin noted the importance that social networks and mobile devices had played in uprisings in several Arab states last year and said “soft power” had been used by states to advance their foreign policy goals there without resorting to force.
At the same time, he warned, “soft power” and new communication methods were used to provoke extremism, separatism, nationalism, to manipulate public opinion and “interfere directly in the internal affairs of sovereign states.”
[…]
February 26th, 2012, 7:48 pm
majedkhaldoun said:
Darryl
I am sorry to say to you that you are wrong on many issues
First the bible was written 130 years after the death of Jesus.not 30 years as you claim.
second If you read John 16 you will find out that jesus said He has to go for him to come ,he is the instructor who will teach everything about religion, he will speak out of holy spirit,,,he was talking about Muhammad
third if you read mathew 47 Jesus asked who is the messiah, the people said to him he is son of David, then jesus said how is it then that David call his son GOD.
Darryl read your your bible nefore you say anything to me,as I read the bible myself, but what do you know?
Barnabas bible has been known by christians but jealous people were denying the truth, Barnabas was a desiple ,the new manuscript that was found few years ago,has been hidden and the pope now said he wants to verify it, this manuscript has been written by a student of Barnibas, before you deny the truth at least verify, but your hatred overwelme you mind.
Ghufran
you changed the truth, the church 40 has been bombarded by the regime by the artillaries,not by the FSA, The thugs are the Assad troops.,Soryy to expose your untrue story.
February 26th, 2012, 7:53 pm
newfolder said:
AlArabiya:
Syrian regime threatens Christians, clamps down on churches
http://english.alarabiya.net/articles/2012/02/26/197075.html
article+pictures of Um Zinar Church in Homs, shelled by Assad’s forces:
http://all4syria.info/web/archives/54984
Damascus, Syria: Christian and Muslim joint demonstration in solidarity of the martyrs in Homs
n the neighborhood of Tiamneh of Syria’s capital, Damascus, Muslims and Christians join together in a joint demonstration to show their solidarity for those killed in Homs and their unity against Assad’s regime.
February 26th, 2012, 7:53 pm
Tara said:
Bronco
Thank you for your last post. The Injil is referred to what? the old or the new testament?
February 26th, 2012, 8:05 pm
bronco said:
#322 Tara
The الإنجيل is the Gospel(s), it’s how Christians call the New Testament telling the story of the life and death of Jesus-Christ.
The Bible, the Old Testament, is referred to as الكتاب المقدس
February 26th, 2012, 8:10 pm
ann said:
Primakov: United States Now in the Same Boat with al-Qaida in the Middle East – Feb 26, 2012
http://www.sana.sy/eng/22/2012/02/26/402868.htm
“Does anyone seriously believe that if the regime changes in Syria, a democratic system will replace it?” he said, stressing that the US and al-Qaida are in the same boat now as al-Qaida’s leader Ayman al-Zawahiri announced his support of the “opposition” in Syria, referring to the terrorists running amok in it.
[…]
February 26th, 2012, 8:12 pm
Tara said:
Bronco
Thank you. 😉
February 26th, 2012, 8:30 pm
Tara said:
The referendum is dismissed by the world as nothing but a farce. I think the only goal it has achieved is the make the supporters feel good about themselves.
“As with other reforms flagged during an increasingly savage year-long crackdown, the referendum was roundly dismissed Syria’s opposition groups and by the west, which insist Assad has lost all legitimacy.
Turkey said the ongoing crackdown on dissent belied calls for refom. The White House described the referendum as meaningless, and the German foreign minister, Guido Westerwelle, said it was “nothing but a farce”.
“Sham votes cannot contribute to a solution of the crisis. Assad needs to put an end to the violence and clear the way for a political transition,” he said in a statement.
..
The Friends of Syria conference, which was attended by more than 70 states in Tunis over the weekend also denounced the process, which it said was designed to create a veneer of change while the lethal assault on opposition groups – some of them armed – continued unabated.”
[…}
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/feb/26/syria-referendum-constitution-homs-shelling?newsfeed=true
February 26th, 2012, 8:32 pm
irritated said:
#321 Newfolder
This video like the majority of the recent videos looks fabricated.
We don’t see any face, the whole filming is from the back, all the heads are covered and there is not a single woman when in ALL demonstration by Christians, women were always visible. The church they are passing or that text written on a white bedclothes and the small candle looks totally theatrical.
I have not seen a single cross…. very unusual for a Christian demonstrations
It’s no surprise that the opposition is working hard to prove to the faithful Youtube watchers that Christians are now opposed to Bashar al Assad.
Please inform when is the anti-regime Druze demonstration, the Circassian, the Kurd?
February 26th, 2012, 8:34 pm
ann said:
Rift develops in Syrian opposition group – Sun Feb 26, 2012
Prominent members of the main Syrian National Council formed a splinter organisation on Sunday, exposing the most serious rift among President Bashar al-Assad’s opponents.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/02/27/us-syria-opposition-idUSTRE81Q02020120227
At least 20 secular and Islamist members of the 270-strong council, which was set up in Istanbul last year, announced the formation of the Syrian Patriotic Group.
The new group is headed by Haitham al-Maleh. He is joined by Kamal al-Labwani, an opposition leader. Catherine al-Talli, Fawaz al-Tello, and Walid al-Bunni. Several ‘neo-Islamists’, who are seen as somewhat more liberal than the Brotherhood, have joined the Syrian Patriotic Group, including Imadeldin Rashid, a preacher who was jailed early in the uprising.
[…]
February 26th, 2012, 8:35 pm
Tara said:
I think the regime will never again fabricate results to 90 some per cent. They will come up with more modest figure like 60 some or 70 some percent hoping for plausibility.
“This is Syria’s third referendum since Assad inherited power from his late father. The first installed him as president in 2000 with an official 97.29 per cent ‘yes’ vote. The second renewed his term seven years later with 97.62 per cent in favor.”
{….}.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/syria/9106657/Syria-votes-in-referendum-on-constitution-as-death-toll-mounts.html
February 26th, 2012, 8:43 pm
Ghufran said:
Thanks for the link,Ann
From the first look,this new group may actually be more militant than the mother organization,the SNC.
This is a sign of frustration due to the fact that the SNC did not deliver on its promises,the new group will probably focus on the military side of fighting the regime which is not a welcome step.
February 26th, 2012, 8:45 pm
Anton said:
Dear Branco , you are right, here more clarification
The Bible is any one of the collections of the primary religious texts of Judaism and Christianity. There is no common version of the Bible, as the contents and the order of the individual books (Biblical canon) vary among denominations. The 24 texts of the Hebrew Bible are divided into 39 books in Christian Old Testaments, and complete Christian Bibles range from the 66 books of the Protestant canon to the 81 books of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church Bible
The Hebrew Bible, or Tanakh, is divided into three parts: (1) the five books of the Torah (“teaching” or “law”), comprising the origins of the Israelite nation, its laws and its covenant with the God of Israel; (2) the Nevi’im (“prophets”), containing the historic account of ancient Israel and Judah focusing on conflicts between the Israelites and other nations, and conflicts among Israelites – specifically, struggles between believers in “the LORD God” and believers in foreign gods, and the criticism of unethical and unjust behavior of Israelite elites and rulers; and (3) the Ketuvim (“writings”): poetic and philosophical works such as the Psalms and the Book of Job.
The Christian Bible is divided into two parts. The first is called the Old Testament, containing the (minimum) 39 books of Hebrew Scripture, and the second portion is called the New Testament, containing a set of 27 books. The first four books of the New Testament form the Canonical gospels which recount the life of Jesus and are central to the Christian faith. Christian Bibles include the books of the Hebrew Bible, but arranged in a different order: Jewish Scripture ends with the people of Israel restored to Jerusalem and the temple, whereas the Christian arrangement ends with the book of the prophet Malachi.
February 26th, 2012, 8:49 pm
irritated said:
326. Tara said:
“The referendum is dismissed by the world as nothing but a farce”
You mean the world = USA + EU, right? I have not read South America or China, or Japan or Russia who make up more than half the ‘word’ use that term.
These ‘world’ countries are furious and frustrated by their impotence to bend the majority of the Syrians to their design.
Do you think they would applaude an event that may put an end to their destructive expectations?
As far as farce, the USA should recall Collin Powell in the farcical UN meeting about the war in Iraq. That was a farce, a farce that costed millions of death. As usual the Americans have Alzeimer when it concerns their bloody “laughable farces”.
What counts is what the majority of Syrians think, not the ‘world’
February 26th, 2012, 8:51 pm
Anton said:
Dear Ann and Ghufran
Thank you for your clarifications
February 26th, 2012, 8:53 pm
Darryl said:
320. MAJEDKHALDOUN said:
Dr Khaldoun, are you for real? do you actually find Christianity as preached in the Gospel and letters written by the apostles which builds on the Torah and the rest of the old Testament books preach the same message as Islam?. Hey what ever happened to do not kill, honor your parents, turn the other cheek, if you look at a woman you have sinned, Gods words will not change etc etc.
Mate, I will end this discussion at this point as many feeling could be hurt by going any further as I am now convinced you do not understand Islam or Christianity, stick to medicine and support for FSA.
February 26th, 2012, 8:55 pm
Ghufran said:
I will send an email to the moderator and the owner of this blog,this site needs to stay clean if “clean” people are to continue posting.
I welcome any response to the claims that armed rebels inflicted damage on property and lives in alhamidiyyah,calling posterns name will not change the facts,sorry mr folder.
February 26th, 2012, 9:05 pm
Tara said:
Irritated
“What counts is what the majority of Syrians think, not the ‘world’”
Can’t agree more. And the majority of the Syrians said: Yalla Irhal Ya Bashar!
February 26th, 2012, 9:05 pm
bronco said:
#331 Anton
Thanks for the interesting details.
I think the confusion is created when different books some distant of 2000 years are gathered under a denomination “The Bible”.
Most Christians make a distinction between the Old Testament that they call the Bible, and the New that they call the Gospels. Their teachings are quite different.
While the Bible, dated 4,000 years is the basis of the monotheist religions, Moslems don’t read it but they know some episodes that are included in the Koran. They also now about Jesus-Christ exclusively from the references in Koran. Many ignore the mere existence of the Gospels.
Most Christians know nothing about the Koran, except some basic precepts and they are often surprised to hear that the Virgin Mary has a whole Sourate in the Koran or that John the Baptist is called a Prophet and that Jesus-Christ, born from a virgin, has a unique status as a Prophet.
February 26th, 2012, 9:16 pm
Tara said:
Hay…
Back to square one. Bronco says the bible is the old testament. Anton says the bible is a combination of the old Testament and the new Testament. Anton also says there is no common version of the bible. Different books to different denomination.
I usually trust Bronco.., but can you agree among each other and give us a conclusion.
February 26th, 2012, 9:18 pm
ann said:
Syria awaits referendum result; Putin warns West – Mon Feb 27, 2012
Syria is expected to announce a vote of approval for constitutional changes on Monday when it announces the result of the referendum.
http://in.reuters.com/article/2012/02/27/syria-idINDEE81N09P20120227
Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin issued a strong warning to the West against military intervention in Syria, its longtime ally, but U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton made clear there was no enthusiasm in Washington for war.
Dozens of people lined up to vote in two polling stations visited by a Reuters journalist in Damascus. “I’ve come to vote for President Bashar, God protect him and give him victory over his enemies,” said Samah Turkmani, in his 50s.
Another voter, Majed Elias, said: “This is a national duty, whether I agree or not, I have to come and vote.”
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said any foreign intervention could just fuel further violence.
“I think there is every possibility of a civil war. Outside intervention would not prevent that, it would probably expedite it,” she told BBC television in an interview.
“We have a very dangerous set of actors in the region: al Qaeda, Hamas and those who are on our terrorist list claiming to support the opposition. You have many Syrians more worried about what could come next.”
[…]
February 26th, 2012, 9:21 pm
irritated said:
Tara #336
“And the majority of the Syrians said: Yalla Irhal Ya Bashar!”
Who said so? Mr Youtube or Mrs AL Jazeera?
February 26th, 2012, 9:29 pm
habib said:
321. newfolder
Al-Arabiyah, lol.
About as trustworthy as Debkafile.
February 26th, 2012, 9:36 pm
irritated said:
#328 Ann
It was previsible, the SNC is desintegrating and will probably cease to exist before the next FOS meeting on the Bosphorus, in 3 weeks.
Will it get a posthumous ‘full’ recognition then?
February 26th, 2012, 9:38 pm
ann said:
Let them divide instead of uniting 😀
February 26th, 2012, 10:15 pm
Son of Damascus said:
Bashar’s thugs show what his reforms are all about:
February 26th, 2012, 10:22 pm
son of Damascus said:
Puntroad,
“Why would Assad’s army shell a church?”
Maybe because they have no respect for any of the religions in Syria, and only revere their own cult leader in the name of Bashar.
Assads thugs fear their master only, and have shown repeatedly that nothing sacred is untouchable.
February 26th, 2012, 10:31 pm
ann said:
Top China paper criticis Clinton over Syria – 27 Feb 2012
http://www.trust.org/alertnet/news/top-china-paper-criticises-clinton-over-syria
“The United States’ motive in parading as a ‘protector’ of the Arab peoples is not difficult to imagine. The problem is, what moral basis does it have for this patronising and egotistical super-arrogance and self-confidence?,” said a commentary in the paper that cited the U.S. invasion of Iraq.
“Even now, violence continues unabated in Iraq, and ordinary people enjoy no security. This alone is enough for us to draw a huge question mark over the sincerity and efficacy of U.S. policy,” it said.
“They are setting themselves not only against the Syrian people but also the entire Arab awakening,” Clinton said of China and Russia, which have resisted Western and Arab calls to push Syrian President Bashar al-Assad from power.
“It is disturbing that as it fully enters into Syria’s domestic turmoil, the United States has never seriously considered how to end this calamity quickly and at a minimal cost to the Syrian people,” said the newspaper.
“While U.S. foreign policy claims the moral high ground by trumpeting ‘democracy’ and ‘freedom’, Washington is also constantly flinging epithets at Russia and China,” it said.
[…]
February 26th, 2012, 10:34 pm
ann said:
Watch them scramble to wash their hands from the blood of innocent Syrian Christians.
February 26th, 2012, 10:48 pm
ann said:
Strong blast rocks airport in eastern Afghanistan – 27 February, 2012
http://rt.com/news/blast-jalalabad-airport-afghanistan-267/
Massive explosion hit the Jalalabad airport in eastern Afghanistan on Monday morning, Afghan police say adding that many casualties are feared. The incident comes amid the ongoing violence sparked by Koran burning at a US military base.
Police in Nangarhar province have confirmed that “a very strong” explosion has gone off at the entrance to the airport on Monday morning.
[…]
February 26th, 2012, 10:54 pm
Pirouz said:
The single photo of the church front appears to be incidental battle damage, rather than targeted damage.
February 26th, 2012, 10:58 pm
Ghufran said:
This video was made available today,it is about the terrorist bombing in Almidaan :
February 26th, 2012, 11:07 pm
Darryl said:
339. TARA said:
Although Bronco usually has his facts about right, he is off this time. The Bible is the combinations of new testament (4 Gospels, and various letters written by the apostles) and old testament which includes the 39 books of Jewish scripture.
For your information Tara, the Qur’an draws material which is contained also in the Talmud and other Jewish sources, which are not taken into account by Christians and Jews as central to the faith.
February 26th, 2012, 11:11 pm
Jad said:
After all the Aericans are right about Alqaeda, they documented the terrorist attack on Almidan.
The second clip is showing what the terrorists of fsa+Alqaeda fighters doing in Homs
مسرب فضح الهجوم الارهابي على حي الحميدية بحمص 26.02.2012
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lKrfQ9L8NWw&feature=youtube_gdata_player
القاعدة تتبنى تفجير حي الميدان بدمشق بالصوت والصورة
February 26th, 2012, 11:13 pm
Jad said:
Ghufran, you were faster than me today 🙂
Thank you!
February 26th, 2012, 11:15 pm
Jad said:
Dear Ghufran
Don’t even bother about what NF wrote to you he is too emotional sometimes and it reflects bad on him not you.
You are the most respected and polite person on SC.
جاد فستق.
February 26th, 2012, 11:22 pm
Ghufran said:
Here is what I was told about alhamidiyyah in Homs,I do not use larabiya or aljazeera for proof or lack of it because they are tools for their owner sheikhs,I also do not rely on Sana or the government tv. Some people are unable to process the truth and fall victims of group thinking,a term I read here,I never claimed that I own the truth,but this is how much I know:
1. The regime has little or no control of alhamidiyyah as of 4 hours ago
2. The area is full of armed thugs,almost all are the anti regime thugs
(notice,mr folder,that I know that there are regime thugs in Syria,they are not the ones who are terrorizing alhamidiyyah now)
3. The church,um azzinar,entrance was hit,I do not know if that was done on purpose or not.
4. A store next to the church that sells Christian religious items was burned and looted.
5. Many cars,stores and houses were looted and burned especially behind albaath HQ area which was attacked and that was caught on video.
6. At least one civilian was killed by bullets that came from armed thugs in the streets ,his family is blaming the rebels.
My source of information are Christian families from Homs,not aljazeera or alarabiya 🙂
The buttom line: I am not interested in pointing fingers or scoring points,I am too old for that. Violence in Syria has two parents: the regime and the rebels,the parents are divorced and decided to fight,and their kids,all Syrians,are paying the price.
To all underage posters (mental or otherwise) please focus on the message,not the messanger. Thanks
February 26th, 2012, 11:39 pm
ann said:
The intelligent people of Damascus and Aleppo are frustrating Hillary 8)
Clinton: Arming Syria rebels could help Al-Qaeda – February 27, 2012
http://www.emirates247.com/news/region/clinton-arming-syria-rebels-could-help-al-qaeda-2012-02-27-1.445322
“We really don’t know who it is that would be armed,” the top US diplomat told CBS News during a visit to Morocco, as she noted that Al-Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri has expressed support for the Syrian rebels.
.
.
“Are we supporting Al-Qaeda in Syria?” she said. “Hamas is now supporting the opposition. Are we supporting Hamas in Syria?”
.
.
“This is not Libya, where you had a base of operations in Benghazi, where you had people who were representing the entire opposition” to Libyan strongman Moamer Kadhafi, whose regime fell last year.
.
.
“You’re not going to bring tanks over the borders of Turkey, Lebanon, and Jordan. That’s not going to happen.”
.
.
“What about the people in Damascus, what about the people in Aleppo? Don’t they know that their fellow Syrian men, women, and children are being slaughtered by their government? What are they going to do about it? When are they going to start pulling the props out from under this illegitimate regime?”
.
.
[…]
February 26th, 2012, 11:49 pm
PUNTROAD said:
Thank you Ghufran for the update.
An alarming development for Homs.
February 26th, 2012, 11:54 pm
Ghufran said:
The new developments in Homs make most of old Homs under the control of armed thugs. More than half of the residents in affected areas have left,but until lately,alhamidiyyah was not as bad as other areas,not any more !!
Two restaurants are now being used as field hospitals by the rebels,and numerous houses were invaded and looted,this Homi nightmare does not want to end.
I hope the voting on the constitution went well !!!!
February 27th, 2012, 12:07 am
bronco said:
#351 Darryl, Tara
Sorry for that, I checked on internet, you are right and I was wrong.
Curiously I have always used the word “Bible” to refer to the Old Testament that Christians share with Judaism and Islam and I used the word Gospels for the new Testament that Christians do not share neither with the Christians nor the Moslems. These books have anyway a gap of 2000 years.
It looked more logical to me as the word “Bible” is used for different combinations of holy scriptures and therefore refer to very different contents, that adds to the confusion.
Thanks for allowing me to clarify it for myself.
February 27th, 2012, 12:10 am
irritated said:
#357 Ann
” The intelligent people of Damascus and Aleppo are frustrating Silly Hillary”
February 27th, 2012, 12:13 am
jad said:
كلينتون تحذر من تسليح المعارضة … و«المجلس الوطني» يتشقق بعد مؤتمر تونس
الأسد في يوم الاستفتاء الحاد: نحن أقوى على أرض الواقع
زياد حيدر
أعلن الرئيس السوري بشار الأسد، خلال مشاركته في الاستفتاء على الدستور الجديد في دمشق امس، ان «الهجمة التي تتعرض لها سوريا هجمة إعلامية، ولكن الإعلام رغم أهميته لا يتفوق على الواقع ويمكن أن يكونوا أقوى في الفضاء لكننا أقوى على الأرض من الفضاء، ومع ذلك نريد أن نربح الأرض والفضاء».
في هذا الوقت، حذرت وزيرة الخارجية الاميركية هيلاري كلينتون من ان التدخل الاجنبي في سوريا «سيسرع من مخاطر اندلاع حرب اهلية»، مضيفة «لدينا مجموعة خطيرة جداً من العوامل في المنطقة: القاعدة وحماس وأولئك الذين على قائمتنا للإرهاب الذين يدّعون انهم يدعمون المعارضة. إذا جلبت اسلحة آلية، والتي ربما تستطيع تهريبها عبر الحدود، فما الذي ستفعله تلك الأسلحة أمام الدبابات والأسلحة الثقيلة؟».
وكشف وزير الخارجية التركي احمد داود أوغلو جانباً من كواليس المرحلة الحالية بعد مؤتمر «أصدقاء سوريا» في تونس الجمعة الماضي، معتبراً أن الأسد وصل إلى النهاية، وأن سوريا ليست ملكه الشخصي. وقال «إن من أهم ما تقرر في تونس اعتبار المجلس الوطني السوري ممثلاً شرعياً للسوريين. ونحن نريد أن يتمثل في المجلس الوطني السوري الأكراد والتركمان والدروز والعلويون». (تفاصيل صفحة 13)
وأدى فشل «المجلس الوطني» في الحصول على تعهد واضح من المشاركين في «مؤتمر أصدقاء سوريا» في تونس يتبنى الخيار العسكري، أو أي إجراء قهري يلزم النظام السوري بفتح معابر إنسانية والاعتراف بحصريته في تمثيل الشعب السوري، أو المعارضة، الى انقسامات عميقة كانت تتعايش تحت سقف «المجلس الوطني». وتفاوتت نتائج الإخفاق في تونس على بنية المجلس بين من فضل الاستقالة من عضويته، ومن فضل البقاء فيه ولكن ضمن تشكيلات جديدة. وأعلن المحامي نجاتي طيارة، استقالته من المجلس في رسالة وجهها إلى المكتب التنفيذي، «لأنه لم يحقق أي تقدم ملموس لوقف حمام الدم تجاه شعبنا السوري، وعدم ارتقاء المعارضة بأطرافها كافة، إلى مستوى الحدث وفشلي الشخصي والمجلس في ثني الإمارات عن قرارها إبعاد مواطنين سوريين بسبب تظاهراتهم ضد النظام السوري». وهاجمت رسالة استقالة بعث بها سبعة أعضاء، طريقة رئيس المجلس برهان غليون في إدارته. وأقدم 19 عضواً في تونس، على الإعلان عن تشكيل مجموعة العمل الوطني السوري، وإقامة مكاتب عمل موازية لمؤسسات المجلس الوطني، على الرغم من بقائها داخل المجلس.
{…}
http://assafir.com/Article.aspx?EditionId=2086&articleId=2715&ChannelId=49674&Author=%D8%B2%D9%8A%D8%A7%D8%AF%20%D8%AD%D9%8A%D8%AF%D8%B1
February 27th, 2012, 12:17 am
Tara said:
Dear Darryl
I appreciate your answer and Anton’s too, but coming to think about it, to me, the Bible is what most Christians refer to as the Old Testement only. The New Testement or the Gospel is what most Christians refer to as the Injil. And that is that.
February 27th, 2012, 12:25 am
Darryl said:
356. GHUFRAN said:
“3. The church,um azzinar,entrance was hit,I do not know if that was done on purpose or not.”
What a shameful way this has turned out. For those who are not familiar with it, the Church of Um-Azzinar is called as such because it houses a belt that was supposedly worn by the Virgin Mary and it is a landmark church.
February 27th, 2012, 12:26 am
jad said:
An article about Damascus’ life nowadays..depressing
دمشق: Zoom out Zoom in
دمشق عشية الاستفتاء على الدستور الجديد قلقة، ليس على مصير الاستفتاء، فمقاطعة المعارضة هي عامّة، لكنها قلقة على نفسها وأهلها وباقي المدن السورية. التعب موجود في كل مكان. الغلاء واحد على الجميع. هناك لبننة لسوريا في انقطاع الكهرباء والسؤال عن المكان والطائفة. دمشق «سوريا مصغّرة»، أحاديث أهلها مليئة بالرموز
أرنست خوري
دمشق | النظرة من بعيد إلى دمشق وبعض ريفها تختلف تماماً عن التوغُّل بين ناسها والاستماع إلى وشوشاتهم وأحاديثهم وهمومهم الكثيرة. مشهد «الزوم أوت» يوحي بالهدوء. أما الزحمة التي تختلف درجتها بين حي وآخر وبين باب وآخر من الأبواب السبعة لدمشق (الادارية) حتى يومَي العطلة (الجمعة والسبت)، تجعل المراقب يشكّ بأنّ ما يحصل في البلاد قريب جداً من العاصمة.
لكن التنقُّل بتاكسيات الشام ومحاولة استنطاق سائقيها والتحرُّش بأهلها المتعبين سرعان ما يزيل الغشاوة، إذ إنّ حديثين لا ثالث لهما يهيمنان على سكان دمشق التي يمكن اعتبارها اليوم، أكثر من أي وقت مضى، سوريا مصغَّرة، وخصوصاً بعدما زاد عدد قاطنيها مع موجات النزوح والهرب التي تشهدها أحياء دمشق وريفها:
سؤال تعجيزي أول: ما مصير «الأحداث» بلغة «المحايدين»، أو«الثورة» بمصطلحات المعارضين، و«الفتنة» بمفردات الموالين؟ سؤال تعجيزي ثانٍ: كيف سنعيش إلى أن ينتهي كل شيء، سواء كان ذلك بسقوط النظام أو بتمكنه من إنهاء الحراك، وخصوصاً في حال طالت الأحداث وتطورت أشهراً أو سنوات؟
بكلام آخر، حتى في حال ظلّ قلب دمشق بعيداً عن المعارك العسكرية وإطلاق النيران وسقوط القتلى، وحتى لو تمّت السيطرة بالكامل على شرارة التظاهرات، ولو خمدت نهائياً نشاطات المعارضة في حيّ الميدان الشاسع، حتى لو لم تتكرر التفجيرات الاجرامية التي ضربت منطقة كفرسوسة، كيف سيتمكن المواطن السوري من التعايش مع كارثة الغلاء والشح المالي وانقطاع الكهرباء وتوقف عجلة الاقتصاد في معظم القطاعات؟ كيف سيعيش الملايين الستة القاطنون في دمشق (معدل وسطي لكون العدد يختلف بين المساء والنهار) حتى ينتهي كل شيء؟ لا جواب طبعاً.
{…}
http://www.al-akhbar.com/node/40226
February 27th, 2012, 12:29 am
jad said:
A la 6a6rour, anybody who dares to vote will be killed:
الديمقراطية على مذهب الشيخ الداعية برهات غليون والبروفيسور عدنان العرعور في إدلب : من يصوت سنقتله
كتب أديب جاموس – إدلب
إذا كان مقياس الديمقراطية التي سنتنعم بها في ظل الشيخ العرعور وحليفه برهان غليون هو يوم الإستفتاء في إدلب على الدستور فإن مستقبل الشعب السوري مع هكذا معارضة يشبه إستبدال كحل النظام بعمى السلطة الكالح ، السلطة حين كانت تريد الضغط على المواطنين كانت تستخدم الضغوط المعنوية أو الوظيفية أو الأمنية التي تتمثل بالتحقيق والإستدعاء إلى مقابلة (المعلم ) بينما يبدع مسلحو المعارضة في فنون التهديد والوعيد ومن لم يرتدع من التهديد له الذبح والقتل .
مساجد الله عادة هي للصلاة والدعاء والتهجد والإعتكاف وحتى للتجمع قبل الإنطلاق في التظاهرات المعارضة ، أما أن يصبح المسجد مركز بث إذاعة التهديدات بقتل أي مواطن يشارك أو ينوي المشاركة في الإستفتاء فذاك ما وعدنا به شيخ الثورة عدنان العرعور وقد صدق وعده وربما هذا هو ما قصده البروفيسور المثقف برهان غليون عن الدولة المدنية في سورية .
و بعيداً عن اليوم المنشود والاستفتاء على مشروع الدستور الجديد ، وقريباً من الوضع الميداني في محافظة ادلب في الشمال السوري، فإن الوضع يختلف عما هو عليه في بقية المحافظات ، فادلب التي ما زالت تعيش على وقع التهديدات التي يمارسها ما يسمى بالجيش السوري الحر ، وما يفعله من ممارسات شنيعة بحق المخالفين له بدء من القتل نهاية بتهديد المواطنين في حال مشاركتهم في الاستفتاء اليوم .
وبالرغم من قيام الجهات الأمنية بالكثير من العمليات للتطهير المدينة من المسلحين ، حيث نفذت الجهات الأمنية في محافظة ادلب أمس عملية نوعية خلال ملاحقتها للمجموعات المسلحة في بلدة آفس والمزارع التابعة لها بناحية سراقب أسفرت عن قتل وجرح عدد منهم والقت القبض على آخرين ممن كانوا يعتدون على قوات حفظ النظام والأهالي ويقومون بتخريب الممتلكات العامة والخاصة.
{…}
http://www.arabi-press.com/?page=article&id=24667
February 27th, 2012, 12:41 am
zoo said:
The NYT lies shamelessly when all the media repeated that the armed rebels were the ones not allowing the evacuation of the wounded journalists. What else is the NYT lying on ?
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/27/world/middleeast/as-fighting-continues-syria-offers-a-new-charter.html?ref=global-home
“Meanwhile, there was no progress on Sunday in getting the government to allow the evacuation of two wounded foreign correspondents and the bodies of two others who had been killed in an attack on the besieged neighborhood of Baba Amr in Homs last Wednesday, the International Committee of the Red Cross said on its Web site.”
February 27th, 2012, 12:44 am
jad said:
Watching Alqaeda footage-planning clip linked earlier of the terrorist attack in Almidan can be recognized as step by step in this analysis of Stratfor (CIA agents)
Defining the Terrorist Attack Cycle
Analysis
Terrorist attacks and criminal operations often require meticulous planning and preparation. This process takes place in a six-stage attack cycle: target selection, planning, deployment, the attack, escape and exploitation. During the target selection and planning stages, terrorists conduct pre-operational surveillance to determine the target’s patterns of behavior if it is an individual or possible weaknesses and attack methods if the target is a building or facility. After a target is selected and surveilled, operational planning for the actual attack begins. During this phase, the who, how, where and when of the attack are determined. To make these decisions, the plotters must conduct more surveillance, initiate logistic support and assemble the attack team. When the planning stage is complete, the terrorists deploy for the actual attack — the point of no return. In the deployment stage, the attackers will leave their safe houses, collect any weapons, assemble any improvised explosive devices being used, form into teams and move to the location of the target. If counterterrorism and law enforcement personnel have not stopped them by this point, the terrorists will press home their attack. In the beginning phases of the terrorist attack cycle, planners must determine the method of escape and the precise timing for implementing the escape plan. Without such planning, those carrying out attacks are further vulnerable to detection and capture — an eventuality that risks limiting future operations due to the loss of the operatives and also to the intelligence that law enforcement can glean from the detainees. (In suicide attacks, militants obviously do not need to take into account an escape route.) After the perpetrators successfully stage an attack and escape, they will attempt to derive additional value from it by generating publicity. The goal — beyond flaunting the success and spreading terror — is to gain wider support and sympathy from those most inclined to agree with the perpetrators’ goals and tactics. The best way to elicit widespread coverage, of course, is to carry out spectacular, brazen and particularly violent acts or attacks against prominent people — meaning potential media reaction is considered during the target selection phase of the attack cycle.
http://www.stratfor.com/image/defining-terrorist-attack-cycle
February 27th, 2012, 12:51 am
jad said:
Zoo
“What else is the NYT lying on?”
EVERYTHING.
————————————————
Syrian SNC Official: A Free Syria Will Never Attack Israel
Syria’s revolution strives to liberate the Syrian people from the dictatorship of Bashar al-Assad, not to establish a government that will attack Israel, according to Riad Muasses, the France-based Syrian National Council (SNC) press spokesman.
“We lost the Golan Heights in 1967 the last time we attacked Israel, and since then the Syrian Army has never had the capacity to attack Israel,” Muasses said.
“The only thing that would happen if we attacked Israel is that we would lose more land. Israel really has nothing to fear about a free Syria,” he went on.
Muasses added that the SNC will not be the government that replaces the al-Assad regime but an organization that facilitates a democratic transition culminating in a free and fair election after which a new parliament would govern a post-al-Assad Syria.
While Muasses said that Syria’s new foreign policy vis-à-vis Russia, Iran and Hezbollah should be decided by a forthcoming parliament, he believed it likely that the new Syrian government would want to distance itself from those parties. “We should have nothing to do with Hezbollah, what have they done for Syria?” Muasses asked.
He added that the post-revolution government would deliberate on the possibility that the revolution would be an opportunity for a new Syria to “liberate the Golan Heights with negotiations with Israel.”
{…}
http://www.tunisia-live.net/2012/02/24/syrian-snc-official-a-free-syria-will-never-attack-israel/
February 27th, 2012, 12:52 am
jad said:
Some Syrians never learn how to play according to the rules they always want to shout instead, hence the humiliation…
[برنامج خاص عن “سوريا ومستقبل الأزمة” على قناة روسية ضخمة لمدة ساعة, شارك فيه 8 أكاديميين روس مخضرمين(ليسوا كلهم شبيحة)
الضيوف: رئيس مدير مركز لدراسة رجب الحديثة سافاروف إيران، رئيس اللجنة الإسلامية في روسيا حيدر جمال، نائب الرئيس الأول للأكاديمية المشكلات الجيوسياسية، كونستانتين Sivkov، الكاتب شخصية عامة يسرائيل شامير، نائب مدير معهد الولايات المتحدة وكندا بافل Zolotarev، المدير العلمي للمعهد Gafurov، خبير استشاري في دائرة العامة، ودكتوراه في الحقوق فلاديمير Ovchinsky؛ مجلس الدوما Bagdasarov، منسق لجنة لدعم الثورة السورية، صالح سليمان.
في الثلث الأول من البرنامج, تم قطع البث بالدعاية وعند العودة مقدم البرنامج فاجئ الجمهور بإعلان التصويت على طرد الفورجي
طرد المعارض السوري سببه ان الروس الباحثون يقولون انه مستاجر وانه قال انه لا يوجد احد ساعد الثورة السورية سوة هاتين اليدين ويشير الى يديه ومن ثم تاقض نفسه وقال ان اميركا دعمتهم بالسلاح
والنتيجة جاءت مذهلة… فتم طرده ولم يعرف كيف يتصرف,
فما كان الا الصراخ ” أين الديمقراطية]
http://youtu.be/-Ynz6EknDTk
February 27th, 2012, 1:11 am
majedkhaldoun said:
Sorry I was watching the Oscar,I missed all these nonsense.
Bronco there is another mistake you made, The Sabeaa are not the Ahl Alkitab, Ahl Alkitab is a name refer to the jews, Sabeaa are the people who follow Noah, they are very good people who mostly now live in southern Iraq and they are peaceful people, they denounce all kind of violence and they have a treaty with the Shiite to protect them,they are against killing, and while they do not follow Muhammad,they are considered in Islam as good people.
Tara
The Bible is the Injil,and it is old and new testement.
There are many wrong and misleading informations that are mentioned by Ghufran, please verify before you believe anything, the first victim of war is THE TRUTH.
The christians in Homs may turn against Bashar,after this bombardment by the regime at the church in Homs.
February 27th, 2012, 1:19 am
majedkhaldoun said:
Ahl Al Kitab are jews and christians.
February 27th, 2012, 1:25 am
ann said:
PROF. LANDIS in The News
No clear successor to Assad’s “coup-proof” rule in Syria – 27 Feb 2012
* No heir apparent within or outside ruling circle
* Assads spent 40 years planning against coup
* US probes divisions, but elite remains together for now
http://www.trust.org/alertnet/news/no-clear-successor-to-assads-coup-proof-rule-in-syria
“The ruling establishment there is so entrenched and it is so self-interested, even if, and this is purely speculative, even if they overthrew Assad, it’s not clear that we would like his successor much more,” said a U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity. “There is no heir apparent.”
“The Assads have been planning for this for 40 years, for a Sunni uprising against them. And that’s why they’ve poured family members and sectarian members into the top upper ranks. It’s all about loyalty to coup-proof this regime,” said Joshua Landis, a professor at the University of Oklahoma who writes a newsletter on Syrian politics.
“The place is one exercise in nepotism,” Landis said.
“Almost anyone in the security services as of today would have good reason to fear for their future in a Syria in which the regime has fallen,” said Paul Pillar, a Georgetown University professor and former top CIA analyst.
“Syria is a police state with a very strong military and intelligence capability inside Syria,” the U.S. official said.
“They are pervasive throughout Syria, they have sophisticated means of obtaining information and that is something the opposition has to battle,” the official said.
“They are heavily networked, literally and figuratively, inside the country. They use a variety of collection means at their disposal to obtain information. It is your classic police state,” he said.
U.S. Director of National Intelligence James Clapper told a recent congressional hearing that one factor to watch is the “cohesion of the elites.”
“And while we’ve seen signs of some of the seniors in the Assad regime making contingency plans to evacuate, move families, move financial resources, to this point they’ve held together,” he said.
“Assad himself probably because of his psychological need to emulate his father, sees no other option, but to continue to try to crush the opposition,” Clapper said. “Short of a coup or something like that, Assad will hang in there and continue to do as he’s done.”
[…]
February 27th, 2012, 1:36 am
jad said:
As if the Russians need another reason to be against similar background terrorists in Syria:
Putin assassination plan foiled
Russian and Ukrainian intelligence services have successfully foiled terrorist plans to assassinate Russia’s Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, according to Russia’s Channel One.
Russia’s Channel One said on Monday the internationally-wanted criminals detained in Ukrainian city of Odessa confessed they had intended to assassinate Putin. The attack was supposed to be carried out in Moscow right after the presidential elections of March 4.
One of the two initially detained revealed they had flown into Ukraine from the United Arab Emirates via Turkey. They got all the instructions from Russia’s most-wanted terrorist Doku Umarov. According to the detained, they were instructed to carry out a number of attacks in Moscow and to plan a further attack on Putin.
The detained also informed about another group participant, who was later arrested in Ukraine. The suspect is now cooperating with investigators in fear of possible extradition to Russia.
The information on the detention of the alleged terrorists in Ukraine became known at the beginning of February. However the details of the detention and the goals of the suspects have not been disclosed.
The press-secretary of Russia’s head of government and presidential hopeful has confirmed the report.
“I confirm the information, but make no comment on it,” Russia’s Itar-Tass news agency quotes Dmitry Peskov as saying on Monday.
http://rt.com/news/putin-assassination-attempt-thwarted-271/
February 27th, 2012, 1:40 am
ann said:
Prof Landis said:
“””He is doomed because he’s the LAST minoritarian regime in the Middle East,” Landis said. “One presumes that they will eventually fall in this age of democratic revolution and popular revolt.”””
Are you forgetting the minoritarian ruler of Bahrain Prof. Landis?!
February 27th, 2012, 1:41 am
jad said:
I’m sure the Syrian Christians trust Alsha2fe so much they will believe every thing he says, especially with a ‘peaceful’ ‘non-sectarian’ and ‘tolerant’ ‘piece’ of work like him, his MB history is his ‘bright’ witness:
رفض مراقب عام “الإخوان المسلمين” بسوريا رياض الشقفة، كلام رئيس أساقفة حلب للكلدان المطران أنطوان أودو بأن “المسيحيين هم الأقلية الأكثر تهديدا من جراء الحرب الأهلية، وهم يحاولون الفرار من البلاد، وهم يشعرون بالعجز في مواجهة تصاعد العنف المستمر منذ أشهر عدة”، معتبرا أنه بالنسبة إلى أن “عددا كبيرا من المسيحيين، يمثل الهرب السبيل الوحيد للخلاص، على غرار ما يحدث في بلدان الشرق الأوسط الأخرى، وفي العراق بشكل خصوصي”، فإنه كلام يصدر على لسان من يجهل التاريخ.
وأشار الشقفة، في حديث لصحيفة “الشرق الأوسط” الى أن “الجميع يعرف أنه عندما كان المسيحيون يضطهدون كانوا يلجأون إلى سوريا، والطائفية لم يعرفها بلدنا إلا في عهد حزب “البعث”، مؤكدا أن هذه المخاوف غير حقيقية ولا تمت إلى الواقع بصلة، وهي من صنع النظام الذي يلعب لعبته لتخويف الطوائف من بعضها والتلويح بحرب أهلية، ولا سيما الأقليات منهم.
ولفت الشقفة إلى أن جزءا من المسيحيين – كغيرهم من الطوائف – يشاركون في الثورة، موضحا أنهم يتعرضون لضغوط كبيرة من النظام وأعوانه.
وأكد الشقفة أنه “إذا استطاعت المعارضة أن تحصل على الأكثرية في المجلس النيابي لن نكرر سياسة النظام ولن نقصي أحدا، سنتعاون مع الجميع لأن الوطن بحاجة إلى سواعد كل الأفرقاء في الوطن”، مشيرا الى أن “المجلس الوطني الذي يمثل كل الطوائف خير دليل على سياستنا ونهجنا في العمل الذي نعتمده في المرحلة القادمة”.
{…}
http://aawsat.com/details.asp?section=4&issueno=12144&article=665564&feature=
February 27th, 2012, 1:55 am
ann said:
China calls US critique on Syria “super arrogant” – 27 February 2012
The official newspaper of China’s Communist Party has described US criticism of Beijing’s stance on Syria as “super arrogant”.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-17175658
“The United States’ motive in parading as a ‘protector’ of the Arab peoples is not difficult to imagine,” the People’s Daily said in a commentary.
“The problem is, what moral basis does it have for this patronising and egotistical super-arrogance and self-confidence?”
“Even now, violence continues unabated in Iraq and ordinary people enjoy no security. This alone is enough for us to draw a huge question mark over the sincerity and efficacy of US policy,” it added.
[…]
February 27th, 2012, 2:01 am
ann said:
Putin to West: Calm ‘militarist itch’ through cooperation – 27 February, 2012
http://rt.com/politics/putin-russia-world-politics-265/
Arab Spring
Prime Minister Putin insists that people in Russia sympathized with those who were seeking democratic reforms in the Arab countries. However, it eventually became clear that events in many of those countries “were not following a civilized scenario.”
“Instead of asserting democracy and protecting the rights of the minority, attempts were being made to depose an enemy and to stage a coup, which only resulted in the replacement of one dominant force with another, even more aggressive dominant force,” he said.
Putin believes that the biased position of the foreign powers that were interfering in such conflicts gave developments a negative aura.
“A number of countries did away with the Libyan regime by using air power in the name of humanitarian support. The revolting slaughter of Muammar Gaddafi – not just medieval but primeval – was the incarnation of these actions,” he said, adding that, “No one should be allowed to use the Libyan scenario in Syria.”
The international community must work to achieve an internal Syrian reconciliation, Putin stressed, pointing out that Russia is against the adoption of any resolutions at the UN Security Council that could be interpreted as a signal to armed interference in Syria’s domestic developments.
In the light of the reaction to the Russian-Chinese UN veto, which he called “almost hysterical,” Putin warned the West against the temptation to resort to a “simple, previously used tactic: If the UN Security Council approves of a given action – fine; if not – we will establish a coalition of the states concerned and strike anyway.”
“I cannot understand what causes this itch for military intervention” he wondered.
“It appears that with the Arab Spring countries, as with Iraq, Russian companies are losing their decades-long positions in local commercial markets and are being deprived of large commercial contracts,” he observed. “The niches thus vacated are being filled by the economic operatives of the states that had a hand in the change of the ruling regime.”
With that in mind, Putin says, it would be reasonable to conclude that the tragic events have been encouraged by someone’s interest in a re-division of the commercial market, rather than a concern for human rights.
Mentioning the Arab-Israeli conflict, the prime minister regretted that the “magic recipe” for a final settlement has not been invented yet, but, he believes, it would be unacceptable to give up on this issue.
“Considering our close ties with the Israeli and Palestinian leaders, Russian diplomacy will continue to work for the resumption of the peace process both on a bilateral basis and within the format of the Quartet on the Middle East, while coordinating its steps with the Arab League,” he continued.
[…]
February 27th, 2012, 2:24 am
jad said:
From FB
(و تتوالى الإنشقاقات و الذي منو
العرعور يهاجم مجلس أسطنبول و يسألهم :
من فوضكم بأن تتحدثو بإسمنا ؟؟ و يتابع نحن لا يمثلنا لا مجلس وطني ولا عفريتي ولا شيطاني
على الهامش : معو حق حتى الشياطين ما بترضى تكون قادة لهالفوار )
عدنان ” الجربوع ” يهاجم المجلس اللاوطني
February 27th, 2012, 2:24 am
ann said:
Analysis: Oil price rise raises specter of global recession – Sun Feb 26, 2012
A jump in energy prices is jamming the slow-turning cogs of an economic recovery in the West, but that may be nothing compared to the economic shock an Israeli attack on Iran would cause.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/02/26/us-oil-recession-idUSTRE81P0JA20120226
Oil rose to a 10-month high above $125 a barrel Friday, prompting responses from policymakers around the world including U.S. President Barack Obama, watching U.S. gasoline prices follow crude to push toward $4 a gallon in an election year.
Europe may have more to fear as its fragile economic growth falters and Greece, Italy and Spain look for alternative sources to the crude they currently import from Iran, where an EU oil embargo, intended to make Iran abandon what the West fears are efforts to develop nuclear weapons, comes into force in June.
[…]
February 27th, 2012, 2:56 am
Mina said:
And the Sabeans, Majed (see Quran, 2:62).
February 27th, 2012, 3:23 am
Antoine said:
GHUFRAN said : “BTW,I visit hitaan from time to time and I am not sure I hear the same message from you there,let me know if I am being unfair in my judgement.”
I’m sorry but I did not quite get what you’re trying to say. What “message” are you talking about, GHufran ?
February 27th, 2012, 3:53 am
Antoine said:
356. GHUFRAN said:
“Here is what I was told about alhamidiyyah in Homs……”
I am sorry sir, but it seems you have been a victim of misinformation from biased sources. The information you got was clouded by the fog of war. Christian support for the opposition was highest in Homs over all other places in the country. Of late tyhe Christians have been less prominent in the oppsoition in Homs, and the reason is the fear caused by the massive artilery shelling of Homs and the presence of large numbers of regime snipers in al Hamidiyah. FSA presence in al Hamididyah was not too great, as a result the Christians of the area were feeling very unsecure. The Baath Party HQ was used as a base ofr Air Force Intelligence and was used to detain and interrogate a number of Christian youth who are active in the LCCs. Their parents, and other Christian residents sent an appeal to the FSA to clear the neighborhood of the regime thugs. The FSA launched a concerted attack at the Baath HQ and other regime bases. A fierce gunfight ensued in which the Church was shot up, and FYI the shell that landed on the Church was a 105 mm shell used by a BMP-2 armoured personell carier. The regime thugs were driven out, the prisoners were released and the Baath HQ was not burned down, but suffered damage from RPG hits fired by rebels. A lone civilan was shot by a stray bullet.
Al Hamidiyeh is now totally in safe hands of the FSA and the residents at last got relief after 11 months of bullying and intimidation from the regime. Indeed, many resiednts have had to flee the neighborhood, but those were known mukhabarati families.
That, my friend, is the truth, and my sources are from Christian families in Homs as well. The truth has come out more clearly only when the confusion due to the fog of war was cleared.
February 27th, 2012, 4:05 am
Antoine said:
I should also add, Ghufran, that your account was a sort of cruel joke for the residents of al Hamidyeh who have been living under constant regime bullying for past 11 months. al Hamidyeh was well-known for being an anti-regime neighborhood and had observed a complete shutdown and strike when the SNC gave a strike call for Dignity.
February 27th, 2012, 4:09 am
VOLK said:
“A fierce gunfight ensued in which the Church was shot up, and FYI the shell that landed on the Church was a 105 mm shell used by a BMP-2 armoured personell carier.”
LOL.. What rubbish .. BMP-2 is armed with 30mm automatic gun and can’t use 105mm shells 🙂
February 27th, 2012, 4:16 am
PUNTROAD said:
If Volk’s rebuttal is true (I don’t know anything about BMP-2) then Antoine’s credibilty and that of his ‘Homsi’ sources is shot in the foot.
Eitherway, the sooner the FSA and other lawless armed militias disintegrate the better.
There is a significant difference between not supporting the one-party system and supporting the this armed terrorist rebellion – the former is harmless active citizenship, the latter treason. It seems some fail to appreciate this difference.
February 27th, 2012, 4:49 am
Mina said:
No better than the Egyptian army dealing with foreign activists and their NGO umbrellas:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-17176602
http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/israel-kurdish-fighters-destroyed-iran-nuclear-facility-email-released-by-wikileaks-claims-1.415066
February 27th, 2012, 5:14 am
John Khouri said:
@383 – ANTOINE – u say u speak for the residents of Hamidiyeh? Didnt u claim u were a maronite from lebanon months ago? And u were a staunch supporter of Samir Gaegae. My family is from hamidiyeh homs and all my relatives have fled to wadi nasara and mashta halou. How absurd for u to claim that christian homsi’s r with the terrorist revolution. Unlike lebanese who identify themselves by religion before their nationality, the majority of syrians (including christians ) identify themselves as syrian arabs before they classify themselves as christian. Sorry we are not like the maronite “phenocians” who dont claim to be arabs.The FSA terrorists have run out of laneways to control so they come to a christian area of homs and start looting and robbing stores. Christians of Syria are more fanatical with President Assad than any other sect. Why did the terrorists come to hamidiyeh? Who were they claiming to protect us from? Not a single bullet has been fired in hamidiyeh prior to these terrorists coming along. The real reason is that the christians chose to go about their normal day to day lives and that drove the terrorists crazy
February 27th, 2012, 5:18 am
Tara said:
Truth eventually comes out.
The FSA did not block the evacuation of the wounded journalists. The journalists refused to be evacuated because they mistrust the red crescent. I mistrust anyone allowed to do anything by the regime. You just don mot trust hyenas.
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/injured-british-photographer-refused-to-be-evacuated-7441301.html
Injured British photographer ‘refused to be evacuated’
MONDAY 27 FEBRUARY 2012
The wife of the British photographer injured in a rocket strike in Homs has said her husband refused to leave with the Syrian Red Crescent (SRC) ambulances because he was advised they could not be trusted.
Medics from the SRC, assisted by the International Committee of the Red Cross, had entered the city’s besieged Baba Amr district on Friday in hopes of rescuing the Sunday Times photographer Paul Conroy and the French journalist Edith Bouvier who are in need of medical attention. “They were advised that the Syrian Red Crescent were not to be trusted and so they refused to leave with them unless they had somebody from the British or French embassy with them,” Mr Conroy’s wife Kate told BBC Radio 4. The events are testament to the levels of distrust in the beleaguered city.
February 27th, 2012, 6:55 am
majedkhaldoun said:
Antoine
Ghufran admitted that he does not own the truth,I do not think that any informations should be said here till it is verified,but people like Ghufran and Jad do not abide with this idea,
Ghufran once said he did not know that Zennobia was Arabic,even that it is well known fact, how he went through studying in Syria and he did not know that, it is beyond any imagination.
February 27th, 2012, 7:43 am
DAWOUD said:
http://www.alarabiya.net/articles/2012/02/26/197170.html
سوريون يسخرون من “مسرحية الاستفتاء” على الدستور
العربية.نت
سخرت أعداد كبيرة من المحتجين والمعارضين السوريين الذين يطالبون برحيل الرئيس بشار الأسد من الاستفتاء على الدستور الجديد وإعلان الإضراب احتجاجاً على ما أسموه “مسرحية الاستفتاء”، معبرين بذلك عن تشكيكهم بصدق نوايا النظام السوري حيال إجراء الاستفتاء على مشروع الدستور الجديد.
وتعددت الأساليب في التعبير عن امتعاض المعارضين واستنكارهم من الدعوة للاستفتاء على الدستور الجديد والذي يبقي على صلاحيات واسعة للرئيس.
وفي أحد المقاطع على “يوتيوب” يظهر مراسلو التلفزيون السوري أثناء تغطيتهم مراكز الاستفتاء وبثه أحد الناشطين، يبين فيه خلو مركز الاستفتاء في اللاذقية من المواطنين، ليعج المقطع بمئات التعليقات بعد دقائق من تحميله.
مؤامرة جزر “الواق واق”
ويسخر أحد المعلقين على خلو المركز من المشاركين مشيراً إلى أن ذلك عبارة عن مؤامرة من بعض الدول التي أطلق عليها أسماء مثل جزر الواق واق وسكان كوكب زحل على سوريا.
في حين يستهزئ آخر من كلمة أحد مراقبي الاستفتاء الذي عبر فيها عن ولائه للرئيس السوري منتقداً التناقض في افتقاد الحيادية في النتائج المعدة مسبقاً من “التمثيلية الغبية” على حد قوله.
ويشكك معلق في صدق مراقب حين أكد هذا المراقب جهوزية “صناديق الانتخابات” في حديثه الى التلفزيون مما دعا مذيعة التلفزيون بتذكيره أن الحدث هو استفتاء وليس انتخابا، متسائلاً عن صدقية من لا يعرف الانتخاب من الاستفتاء.
وصور مجموعة من الشباب السوري في بلدة حاس التابعة لمحافظة إدلب مشهداً قصيراً يسخرون فيه من الاستفتاء، حيث يظهر المشهد شباباً يرتدي بعضهم زياً عسكرياً، يجبرون أفراداً من الشعب على التصويت لصالح بشار، عبر ضربهم وشتمهم مقلدين اللهجة الساحلية وهي لهجة الرئيس بشار الأسد، في إشارة إلى أن النظام يُجبر الشعب على التصويت لصالحه، مُدعياً أنه يطبق الديمقراطية، في حين يرحب نفس الشباب بآخر يرغب بالتصويت لصالح النظام، حيث يُقبِّلونه ويمنحونه مبلغاً مالياً مقابل تصويته.
استفتاء “أبو عنتر”
بينما عبر أهالي منطقة عامودا وهي إحدى مدن محافظة الحسكة عن استيائهم على طريقتهم حيث نظم الأهالي “حفلا استفتائيا” وذلك من خلال إيداع بطاقات كتب عليها “ارحل” و”انقلع ياغبي” داخل صندوق وذلك على وقع بعض أغاني الثورة
[…]
February 27th, 2012, 8:03 am
Anton said:
Dear John Khouri @ 387
your are totally right , the person @ 383 , couple days ago told us different story about Christians orthodox hates the Muslims Suni , which was totally untrue too , with all those thump down het got , he has been declared a persona non grata on this blog
And you are again right, although we are proud to be Christians , but we are Syrian first .. No one will change that in Syria, which also means we love all other Syrians regardless their faiths , we are all Syrians first.
February 27th, 2012, 8:14 am
DAWOUD said:
388. TARA said:
“Truth eventually comes out.”
Nice for the truth to come out despite the fact the King Murderer the Second (Bashar)yesterday said that he controls “land” and his goal was to conquer the space. He wasn’t talking about sending research and telecom. satellites to space, but rather on having his SANA (which is UNASHAMEDLY quoted by some on this blog)propaganda machine prevail over Satellite TV: Aljazeera, etc.
Below is an article in London’s al-Quds al-Arabi on Bashar’s desire to conquer space.
PS., his wife was standing with him and she seemed like wanting to sing Um-Kulthoum’s song: “give me my freedom, release by hands.” لأطلال ( مقطع أعطني حريتي ) – أم كلثوم
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5c8AwIgkteA
http://www.alquds.co.uk/index.asp?fname=today\26z499.htm&arc=data\201222-26\26z499.htm
دمشق ـ ‘القدس العربي’ من كامل صقر ووكالات: قتل 34 مدنيا وجنديا سوريا على الاقل الأحد في قتال على مستقبل سورية تزامن مع تصويت على دستور جديد قد يبقي الرئيس بشار الأسد في السلطة حتى عام 2028، فيما اعلن المجلس الوطني السوري انه ‘يمد اليد’ الى الطائفة العلوية من اجل بناء ‘دولة المواطنة والقانون’.
وتباين مستوى إقبال السوريين على المشاركة في الاستفتاء بين منطقة وأخرى ومدينة وأخرى تبعاً لمواقفهم السياسية مؤيدة كانت أم معارِضة.
وشارك الرئيس السوري بشار الأسد وزوجته اسماء في الاستفتاء على الدستور في مركز للاقتراع في مبنى هيئة الإذاعة والتلفزيون في ساحة الأمويين في وسط العاصمة، وقال الاسد بعد ادلائه بصوته أن نظامه يحكم السيطرة على الأرض تماماً، بينما يفتقد السيطرة على الفضاء، في إشارة إلى الهجمة الإعلامية التي يتهمها بالتحريض على سورية، إلا أنه استدرك: ‘يمكن أن يكونوا أقوى في الفضاء لكننا أقوى على الأرض من الفضاء ومع ذلك نريد أن نربح الأرض والفضاء’.
الاسد: الاعلام يربح الفضاء.. لكننا نسيطر على الارض
[…]
February 27th, 2012, 8:28 am
Anton said:
Dear Syrians
Please permit me to tell you a true story
In Holland they have an event called The International Four Day Marches Nijmegen (or Vierdaagse) is the largest marching event in the world. It is organised every year in Nijmegen in mid-July as a means of promoting sport and exercise. Participants walk 30, 40 or 50 kilometers daily, and, on completion, receive a royally approved medal (Vierdaagsekruis). The participants are mostly civilians, but there are also a few thousand military participants from USA calibrating the liberation of the City from the Germans.
After the US invasion to Iraq in 2003 , couple days from that year’s event ,, the Dutch news paper came with a story about a “terrorist” wants to kill the Americans those participating in the event has been arrested and criminal act being averted
Next day, on the first page of all news papers again with big bold letters said “ the arrested terrorist was a Syrian “ and start telling fake stories .
A day after the sensational story disappeared from the front pages to be a little story in the back pages, with the police declaration this time saying the following:
A “fake” Lebanese came to the police saying that he knew a Syrian wants to plan to kill the Americans during that event , the police has supervised the Syrian and has been arrested for interrogation , they found out that the “fake” Lebanese was entered illegally in Holland and for the last couple weeks has been given shelter by a friend Syrian’s family house , the Syrian was just emotionally upset about the whole invasion in the same way the whole world at that time and was only kind of talk around a cup of tea with his friend nothing more at that time… but the “fake” Lebanese attention was trying to prove to the police that he is a good citizen which could be awarded with a work permit and a legal status in the country.. Unfortunately for him, the Dutch police has arrested the “fake” Lebanese and deported him back to Lebanon immediately, and Syrian back to his family.
Conclusion:
, truth always prevails
February 27th, 2012, 8:37 am
majedkhaldoun said:
Dawoud
It was so funny from Bashar who said he wants to take the space too,this guy is a clown I am ashamed that he is Syria president,may be we should call those people who support him spacers
February 27th, 2012, 8:51 am
ann said:
Prince Talal bin Abdul Aziz, the Brother of the King of Saudi Arabia Warns of Qatar’s Scheme to Divide Saudi Arabia and to Hit Syria, as a Service to the zionist Entity
http://tunisianquestfortruth.wordpress.com/2011/12/04/prince-talal-bin-abdul-aziz-the-brother-of-the-king-of-saudi-arabia-warns-of-qatars-scheme-to-divide-saudi-arabia-and-to-hit-syria-as-a-service-to-the-zionist-entity/
Prince Talal admitted that “the sons of al-Thani (Qatar) will later on attempt to divide the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, confine Al Saud in the mini-state “of Mecca and Medina,” as well as take a part of the Kingdom on the borders with Jordan and use it for the resettlement of Palestinian refugees.”
The Arab figure added that “the USA will not keep the Kingdom’s territory united. It transformed Qatar into an arm to be used against the Arab world and the Gulf in particular. Chaos will reach the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). Qatar has made an agreement with a number of princes in Saudi Arabia who have accepted an alliance with Qatar, following American instructions.”
The Saudi prince who will soon held a press conference disclosed the existence of “advanced security ties between Saudi officials and zionist officials that are planned to target the Arab identity of the region and to be used against Syria and Palestine. They also plan to use Saudi Arabia as the spearhead of the European-American-Israeli aggression against Iran.”
[…]
February 27th, 2012, 9:01 am
DAWOUD said:
375. ANN said:
Prof Landis said:
“””He is doomed because he’s the LAST minoritarian regime in the Middle East,” Landis said. “One presumes that they will eventually fall in this age of democratic revolution and popular revolt.”””
Are you forgetting the minoritarian ruler of Bahrain Prof. Landis?!
I agree with Prof. Landis. As to Bahraini King, I support majority rule in Bahrain, which should give rights to ALL THOSE BORN IN BAHRAIN AND THOSE NATURALIZED THERE BECAUSE OF LONG RESIDENCY. My parents are Syrian-American and became naturalized U.S. citizens. I was born here and I am a U.S. citizen. When al-Wifaq, the sectarian Shi’a party talks about “naturalized” it reveals its sectarian intentions to create a Shia state, a puppet of Iran and Hizballah. Ali Salman, the Wifaq leader, seems like Hasan Nasrallah in-waiting. He is hiding behind “Tuqiah” (saying something and truly believing in something else, which is a common practice in Shia Islam) and his complaints about “naturalized” is only because they are NOT shias from Lebanon or Iraq, or Iran,
Free Bahrain for ALL, not just al-Wifaq’s favored people. It was recently reported that al-Wifaq is seeking counsel from Nasrallah and hiring the con artist, Ahmad Shalabi (who is a dual American-Iranian agent) to lobby the United States on behalf of Bahraini Shias.
Funny that those propagandists for Syria’s dictatorship champion Bahraini democracy. I support Bahraini democracy for ALL, including the naturalized and long residents. If I don’t my parents would be now U.S. citizens.
February 27th, 2012, 9:07 am
ann said:
395. DAWOUD
al-Wifaq, Iran, Hizballah. Ali Salman, Hasan Nasrallah and Ahmad Shalabi did NOT attack us on 9/11. Al-Qaeda did.
February 27th, 2012, 9:19 am
DAWOUD said:
To 396. ann:
I agree with you that al-Qaida is a terrorist group that attacked us, and I believe that it should be defeated.
Ms. Ann seems to resent al-Qaida but loves Shia terrorists who kill Americans. Isn’t strange that an American loves Shia terrorists and defends Syria’s King Murderer the Second (Bashar)?
On why one shouldn’t believe Hasan Nasrallah, Ali Salman, Ahmad Shalabi, see this on Taqiyya in Shia Islam:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taqiyya
Below are articles on Shia terror:
1) http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Local-News/2012/Feb-25/164578-hezbollah-linked-lebanese-prisoner-in-iraq-faces-us-military-charges.ashx#axzz1natZJ9VN
“Hezbollah-linked Lebanese prisoner in Iraq faces U.S. military charges”
February 25, 2012 02:00 AM
The Daily Star
Read more: http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Local-News/2012/Feb-25/164578-hezbollah-linked-lebanese-prisoner-in-iraq-faces-us-military-charges.ashx#ixzz1natdGDFe
(The Daily Star :: Lebanon News :: http://www.dailystar.com.lb)
2)Hizballah’s/Iran’s/shia Saudis’ role in the terrorist attack in Saudi Arabia:
“Khobar Towers indictments returned”
http://articles.cnn.com/2001-06-21/justice/khobar.indictments_1_indictment-saudi-hezbollah-iranian-officials?_s=PM:LAW
3) on Robert Fisk’s valid view that Iran and Syria hired on of Hafez al-Assad’s Palestinian agents to carry out the PAN AM 103 terorist attack, see:
http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/fisk/robert-fisk-first-the-syrians-then-the-iranians-then-the-libyans-were-the-expedient-culprits-2305065.html
NOTE from me: the dying Libyan is having a book very soon, watch out Iran and Syria.
4) Ahmad Chalabi indirectly “killed” many Americans when he lobbied for the invasion of Iraq, which resulted in the killing of many Americans and Iraqis
5) Iran was giving al-Sadr’s Shia “Mahdi Army” IEDs to kill Americans (in addition to sheltering al-Qa’ida’s terrorists who fled Afghanistan in 2001):
“Officials: Iran behind advanced, lethal IED”
http://www.armytimes.com/news/2007/02/apiraniniraq070211/
PS, before you play the “resistance” card, I am against Zionism and what it has done to the Palestinians and the Lebanese. I am also critical of the U.S. foreign policy that supports Israeli colonialism.
February 27th, 2012, 10:10 am
SyrianPatriot said:
Syrian democracy at its best:
“The Interior Ministry on Monday announced the results of the referendum on the new draft resolution of Syria, with 89.4% of voters agreeing to it.
In a press conference, Minister of Interior Maj. Gen. Mohammad Ibrahim al-Shaar said that that 8,376,447 citizens voted in the referendum on the new draft constitution, which constitutes 57.4% of the 14,589,954 eligible voters, with 7,490,319 (89.4% of voters) agreeing to it while 753,208 (9% of voters) didn’t agree.”
http://www.sana.sy/eng/21/2012/02/27/402978.htm
A nice interpretation I found on twitter on the Results states:
“57.4% of eligible voters have voted in favor for the new referendum… the rest are killed or arrested. ”
https://twitter.com/#!/KareemLailah/status/174138576374743042
Maybe someone did his math wrong. Usually, we get 99% in favor of tyranny.
February 27th, 2012, 10:11 am
ann said:
Syria’s new draft constitution win 89.4 % support – 2012-02-27
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/world/2012-02/27/c_122762055.htm
DAMASCUS, Feb. 27 (Xinhua) – Syria’s Interior Minister Mohammad Chaar said Sunday that as many as 89.4 percent voters supported the new draft constitution.
The results showed that those who approved the draft constitution were 89.4 percent while 9 percent said “No” to it, Chaar said, adding that a total of 7,490,319 voters Okayed the constitution.
Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem said that the new draft constitution would transit Syria to a new phase, stressing that “this is a historical day in the lives of Syrians.”
[…]
February 27th, 2012, 10:12 am
ann said:
EU tightens sanctions against Syria – 2012-02-27
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/world/2012-02/27/c_131434540.htm
According to a conclusion adopted by the EU Foreign Minister who met in Brussels, trade in gold, precious metals and diamonds with Syrian public bodies and the central bank would no longer be permitted.
Cargo flights operated by Syrian carriers would no longer have access to EU airports, with the exception of mixed passenger and cargo flights.
The 27-member bloc also froze the assets of the Syrian central bank within the EU, but said legitimate trade could continue under strict conditions.
Meanwhile, seven ministers of the Syrian government who are associated with the human rights violations were subjected to asset freezes and visa bans.
[…]
February 27th, 2012, 10:34 am
DAWOUD said:
To 396. ann:
I agree with you that al-Qaida is a terrorist group that attacked us, and I believe that it should be defeated.
Ms. Ann seems to resent al-Qaida but loves Shia terrorists who kill Americans. Isn’t strange that an American loves Shia terrorists and defends Syria’s King Murderer the Second (Bashar)?
On why one shouldn’t believe Hasan Nasrallah, Ali Salman, Ahmad Shalabi, see this on Taqiyya in Shia Islam:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taqiyya
Below are articles on Shia terror:
1) http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Local-News/2012/Feb-25/164578-hezbollah-linked-lebanese-prisoner-in-iraq-faces-us-military-charges.ashx#axzz1natZJ9VN
“Hezbollah-linked Lebanese prisoner in Iraq faces U.S. military charges”
February 25, 2012 02:00 AM
The Daily Star
Read more: http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Local-News/2012/Feb-25/164578-hezbollah-linked-lebanese-prisoner-in-iraq-faces-us-military-charges.ashx#ixzz1natdGDFe
(The Daily Star :: Lebanon News :: http://www.dailystar.com.lb)
2)Hizballah’s/Iran’s/shia Saudis’ role in the terrorist attack in Saudi Arabia:
“Khobar Towers indictments returned”
http://articles.cnn.com/2001-06-21/justice/khobar.indictments_1_indictment-saudi-hezbollah-iranian-officials?_s=PM:LAW
3) on Robert Fisk’s valid view that Iran and Syria hired one of Hafez al-Assad’s Palestinian agents to carry out the PAN AM 103 terorist attack, see:
http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/fisk/robert-fisk-first-the-syrians-then-the-iranians-then-the-libyans-were-the-expedient-culprits-2305065.html
NOTE from me: the dying Libyan is having a book very soon, watch out Iran and Syria.
4) Ahmad Chalabi indirectly “killed” many Americans when he lobbied for the invasion of Iraq, which resulted in the killing of many Americans and Iraqis
5) Iran was giving al-Sadr’s Shia “Mahdi Army” IEDs to kill Americans (in addition to sheltering al-Qa’ida’s terrorists who fled Afghanistan in 2001):
“Officials: Iran behind advanced, lethal IED”
http://www.armytimes.com/news/2007/02/apiraniniraq070211/
PS, before you play the “resistance” card, I am against Zionism and what it has done to the Palestinians and the Lebanese. I am also critical of the U.S. foreign policy that supports Israeli colonialism.
Results of the fraudulent/silly Syrian Referendum:
http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2012/02/2012227132547956907.html
“Syria says new constitution approved
Charter meant to end decades of one-party rule receives 89.4 per cent approval, state TV says.”
February 27th, 2012, 10:39 am
jad said:
مؤتمر صحفي لوزير الداخلية بخصوص الاستفتاء ونتائجه
http://youtu.be/AYKPfxgarRI
February 27th, 2012, 10:54 am
jad said:
Saudis and Qataris barking for more violence and weapons to be sent to the terrorists in Syria as the ONLY solution…how telling, Alqaeda hub countries of the world are asking for weapons to their ‘agents’ in Syria:
المملكة تحذر من استمرار الموقف “المتخاذل” للبعض تجاه سورية
http://www.alwatan.com.sa/Local/News_Detail.aspx?ArticleID=88750&CategoryID=5
Qatari Big Bird* wants more weapons to the terrorists to ‘stop’ more blood!? And I thought we heard it all by now!
قطر تدعو الى تسليح المعارضة السورية
“طالب رئيس الوزراء القطري حمد بن جاسم آل ثاني المجتمع الدولي بتسليح المعارضة السورية، مؤكدا ضرورة مشاركة الدول العربية في عمل عسكري دولي في سورية لوقف اراقة الدماء.”
{…}
http://arabic.rt.com/news_all_news/news/579568/
While Ghalyoun is still busy with HA..why don’t they come up with plans to upgrade the LOCAL Syrians issues instead of this shameless and meaningless political stands to give the west
غليون: لن نضحي بحزب الله إذا لم يضح بنا كشعب وكقضية لكن بدأنا نشكك به
*Big Bird rights reserved to Irritated
February 27th, 2012, 11:16 am
jad said:
France started the negotiations with Syria over their captured agents:
فتحت فرنسا باب التفاوض مع سوريا من أجل أن تستعيد 18 عميلا
و ابتدءا من 26 شباط تؤكد شبكة فولتير أن العدد أرتفع إلى 18.
إذا اعترفت باريس بأنهم مكلفون بمهمة رسمية سوف يُعاملون كأسرى حرب ويخضعون لحماية معاهدة جنيف لأسرى الحرب أما في حال نفت باريس إرسالهم فسوف يُعتبرون من المدنيين الأجانب المتواجدون بشكلٍ غير شرعي داخل الأراضي السورية وحينها سيُحاكمون على هذه الجريمة التي قد تصل عقوبتها في سوريا إلى حدّ الإعدام.
فتحت فرنسا ثلاث قنوات تفاوض عبر كل من روسيا الفدرالية والإمارات العربية وسلطنة عمان.
(…)
In English
France opens negotiations with Syria to recover its 18 agents
On 13 February 2012, Thierry Meyssan revealed on the first Russian television channel that Syria had captured a dozen French soldiers. Voltaire Network is now in a position to confirm that as of 26 February the number of French prisoners is 18 (eighteen).
If Paris admits that they were on a mission, they will be entitled to prisoner-of-war status and protected by the relative Geneva Convention; but if Paris denies having sent them, they will be considered as foreign civilians and judged in Syria for their crimes, which are punishable by the death penalty.
France has opened three negotiation channels via the Russian Federation, the United Arab Emirates and the Sultanate of Oman.
(…)
February 27th, 2012, 11:21 am
majedkhaldoun said:
congratulation to Basharons 89.4 % approved the constitution ,it could have been 99.9%,what a shame
The problem is once bashar is removed we are going to see the opposite results,I guess this is dictatorship,there are too many ways to rigg the voting.
February 27th, 2012, 11:47 am
Equus said:
I couldn’t help but to comment. I heard on the news while driving to work that Canadian prime minister calling Syrian referendum a sham.
But he, himself, Mr. Harper forgot that his party was blasted over the weekend for fraudulent election. And there will be no redo of elections, Canadians just have to digest it and by 2015 it will all be forgotten. ..Democracy à la Canadienne.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/story/2012/02/27/pol-robocalls-house-back.html
http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/politics/article/1137273–conservative-scripts-misdirected-voters-in-2011-election-say-call-centre-staff?bn=1
February 27th, 2012, 11:58 am
ann said:
Russia dismisses Friends of Syria meeting – 2012-02-27
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/world/2012-02/27/c_131434479.htm
MOSCOW, Feb. 27 (Xinhua) — The Friends of Syria meeting held at the weekend in Tunisia had failed to facilitate a settlement of the Syrian crisis, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Monday.
The meeting was “unilateral” and did not help create conditions for a national dialogue in Syria, Lavrov told a press conference after talks with visiting Myanmar counterpart Wunna Maung Lwin.
Lavrov said Russia “did not understand the status of the document” distributed by the delegates from the Friends of Syria group.
He said Moscow would continue to work for a ceasefire as soon as possible to prevent civilian deaths.
He also welcomed Sunday’s referendum on a new constitution in Syria, hailing it “a movement toward democracy.”
Any new amendments to the Syrian constitution were not a prerogative of external forces, he said.
[…]
February 27th, 2012, 12:11 pm
ann said:
Interview: Syria rejects dictates and imposed decisions: deputy FM – 2012-02-28
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/world/2012-02/28/c_122762110.htm
DAMASCUS, Feb. 27 (Xinhua) — Syria’s deputy foreign minister said Monday his country wasn’t consulted about the issue of sending a UN envoy to discuss the crisis in Syria, stressing that it’s “unacceptable” to impose decisions on the country.
The United Nations and the Arab League appointed former UN head Kofi Annan as a joint envoy to handle the months-long deadly Syrian crisis.
In an exclusive interview with Xinhua, Syria’s Deputy Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad said the Syrian government is handling the issue from a strategic perspective and a concept of sovereignty.
Mekdad said Syria has sympathy for the French and U.S. journalists that were, according to Mekdad, killed and wounded by those armed gangs, which would convince the western public opinion of the need to stop providing funds and weapons to those groups.
He indicated that the government has sent a delegation from the Syrian Red Crescent to bring in the two bodies of the deceased journalists and other wounded from the flashpoint Baba Amr neighborhood in the central province of Homs.
He, however, also blamed those journalists for crossing into Syrian territories illegally, adding that foreign journalists and some armed gangs “are trying to impose their own dictates on us and place complicated conditions on how to go out of that area.”
The International Red Cross said that its efforts to gain access to the area and bring out some 27 people, reached a deadlock.
“The problem is theirs and we have no problems,” Mekdad said, adding that the western countries that have funded those armed groups have given “instructions to their agents of armed gangs not to go backward.”
He reiterated what the Syrian government has been claiming since the start of unrest in the country in mid March 2011 about the presence of armed terrorist groups in Syria backed by regional and international powers.
“There are plans by superpowers and the West in general to support those gunmen to disrupt the achievements of the Syrian people and to change Syria’s political path,” he said.
Mekdad said he believes the conditions in Syria are improving, adding that the crackdown in Homs is a “chance to restore security and tranquility to this city via shunning armed gangs that target civilians and hinder the arrival of food stuff provided for them.”
He said the draft constitution that was put for a public referendum on Sunday, is not a “divine document,” raising prospects that the next parliament could work to improve its articles.
“The attacks reflect the barbarism of those groups and their rejection of democracy or any progress in the political and economic life in Syria,” he said.
“The armament of the opposition is a crime and it’s totally rejected,” Mekdad said, adding that the meeting gathered Syria’s foes not friends.
“When antagonists meet, we could imagine what kind of decisions would come out… therefore, we paid no attention to this conference that has come basically to increase pressures on Syria, step up the misleading media campaign, distort facts and lay foundations for foreign interference in Syria’s internal affairs,” he said.
“We don’t want to see the Syrian people suffer under the pretext of a false democracy which they are talking about, while they themselves are farthest from democracy,” he said.
[…]
February 27th, 2012, 12:43 pm
DAWOUD said:
408. majedkhaldoun
Thanks brother Majed Khaldoun ماجد خلدون for agreeing with me regarding Bashar’s attempts to “conquer space.” Had King Butcher the Second (Bashar) been a reader of SC, he would have believed that he has already “conquered space” with the abundant favorable comments that he receives here-including posts form SANA (WHICH, ACCORDING TO BASHAR, REFLECTS HIS VICTORY ON “EARTH”), Putin’s “Russia Today,” dictatorial China’s “Xinhua,” etc. , !
Brother Majed: How long do you think it would take the courageous Walid Jumblatt, who has become a frequent critic of Bashar’s war crimes, to leave the Hizballah/Auon gov’t, re-unite with Marwan Hmadah (who survived Hizballah’s/Bashar’s assassination attempt in 2004) and topple the current Lebanese gov’t?
I pray to God to protect the Druze leader, Jumblatt, so that the Syrians wouldn’t kill him in the same way they killed his father, the Arab hero Kamal Jumbalatt! The people who killed al-Hariri in a huge terrorist attack (Bashar and Hasan) may try to kill him. I hope that they fail.
Mr. Khaldoun: Don’t you think that Bashar’s wife seemed so embarrassed to stand next to him while he was trying to “conquer space?” Wouldn’t she liked to sing Um Kulthoum’s song: “give me my freedom, release my hands?!” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z3S2Hg5epvw
Nice article:
http://weekly.ahram.org.eg/2012/1086/op9.htm
The sick man of the Arabs
Al-Assad and his clique have to be routed out, says Ayman El-Amir*
Syria’s President Bashar Al-Assad has become the sick man of the Arab world, hopelessly addicted to Baathist ideology and ruthless autocracy. Like Libya’s colonel Gaddafi before him, he continues to live in a virtual world of illusions, mindless of the fact that the Syrian people are rebellious against him and the authoritarian rule of his family.
More than four decades of iron- fist rule and Baathist indoctrination since the rise of his father Hafez Al-Assad to power in 1970 have failed to endear the family regime to the Syrian people. Al-Assad has developed the mentality of a psychopath. The fact that more than 6,000 Syrians, including women and children, have been killed by his troops, artillery and tanks, that many more have been barbarically tortured and that the country is tottering on the brink of civil war, have not persuaded him that his countrymen want him out.
He is following in the footsteps of his father who, in 1982, shelled rebellious Hama for one month, reducing it to ashes and killing 20,000 of its inhabitants. And, like other Arab dictators, he believes it is worthwhile to kill half the population of the country in order to retain his seat of power. It is doubtful that any set of reforms, constitutional amendments or international diplomacy could resolve the situation. Al-Assad and his clique have to be routed out.
[…]
February 27th, 2012, 12:47 pm
ann said:
UN Human Rights Council to hold urgent debate on Syria – 2012-02-27
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/world/2012-02/27/c_122762056.htm
After initial hesitation, Russia agreed to hold the special meeting but stressed the discussion would not result in a written document as that would not be useful in resolving the situation in Syria.
Cuba said that it hoped that the special meeting would not be used as a pretext to promote military action in the country against the territorial sovereignty of the Syrian nation.
[…]
February 27th, 2012, 12:52 pm
DAWOUD said:
Video: http://aljazeera.net/channel?GoogleStatID=33
أربعة سوريين جمعهم سجن تدمر ثم مخيم بابلاداغي بتركيا
25/02/2012
أربعة سوريين جمعهم سجن “تدمر” سنواتٍ طويلة، واليوم يجمعهم مخيم يايلاداغي للاجئين على الحدود السورية التركية. يعكف هؤلاء اللاجئون اليوم على توثيق ذكرياتهم خلال فترة اعتقالهم بسجن تدمر من خلال تأليف كتاب يسجل ما عاشوه من معاناة.
February 27th, 2012, 1:05 pm
Syria no Kandahar said:
Moderator
Please note new folder insults to ghufran(the king
Of manners here)calling him kazab(liar)and kalb(dog).That is definite red card.
[NOTE: Thanks for the mention of unacceptable personal attack that was missed. The offending words have been removed.]
February 27th, 2012, 1:08 pm
newfolder said:
[WARNING: a repeat of the personal attacks in this comment will lead to a ban from posting to Syria Comment]
# 313 Ghufran [Edited for personal attack], this is the video of the Church Asad’s army shelled yesterday, not the rebels [Edited for personal attack]:
February 27th, 2012, 1:09 pm
Equus said:
SYRIA: US-NATO behind the Killings of Civilians
http://globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=29516
February 27th, 2012, 1:49 pm
Anton said:
Dear Mr. Dawoud @ 395
Please permit me to tell you another true story
I have a son born in Holland, at the age of 18 and for the first time after getting his own passport , went down to Damascus by his own, to have a Christmas holiday, he insist there to be baptized again in the same church I have had back then in “ Saidnaia” saying it was the real one, and since then he spent each summer and winter holidays year on year until last year in Syria. At his second visit to Damascus he start learning Arabic insisting that one day he should speak only Arabic with his family there, back at his home in Holland the real Syrian flag hanged at the wall beside the president’s picture, and saying always to all people he knows that I am from Syria, and very proud Syrian, even he does not have the Syrian passport.
One of his earlier holiday couple years ago , he wants to visit by his own the Ommiad mosque and the old city of Damascus including Souk Alhamidia , he is tall, good looking young man speaks only foreign language , I said no problem but, take off the cross from your neck , or at least do not show it, but he refused, saying I am Syrian and proud of it .. to be honest I was afraid, as people may not appreciate that … but he insisted, and finally I wished him good day.. when he came back ,, he said Dad I have had the day of my life .. and he was very impressed by the people helping him around especially the the taxi drivers when they knew that his father is Syrian and how proud he is, they refused to let him pay for the transport cost.
Until today he is calling me very regularly asking me about Syria saying I am missing it too much and hope I can go back for holiday very soon , although sometime he disagree , but he always has high respect for his county men and women , to the Syrian flag and to the president, and never ever said any bad word about his county.
February 27th, 2012, 2:31 pm
SALAH ADDIN said:
NEWFOLDER @414
The video you posted shows a deserted street and a deserted church in a deserted part of town. The only evidence shown is the detonation of an explosive device with sound and smoke with no telltale evidence of a mortar round (shell)or its crater in the ground.
It is a staged clip intended to inflame people using inflaming words that have been a familiar scenario in the Syrian tragedy.
This video is worthless as far as evidence of attacks on churches.
The only evidence it provides is the conniving methods of the hate perpetrators in the Syrian tragedy.
February 27th, 2012, 2:35 pm
Jad said:
First, NYT is not telling the truth at all, especially when a Sunday Times’s reporter who is in the negotiation and in Homs said otherwise, so Alqaeda supporters need to let it go this time like many times before, supporting democracy is needed supporting terrorists is something else.
From Twitter
@HalaJaber: @camanpour Wrong!! This time it was armed Homs rebels who refused to let her body be recovered.
Second,
The results of the referendum are the first democratic results Syria saw in decades, when 52% of the total Syrians allegible to vote say YES it means democracy at its finest, again tryin to discredit this outstanding and historical step forward under an unprecedented international war against Syria is the thing we need to ridicule.
Better than the Yamani 99.999% under the American and their Khaliji slaves support and dictations….
Third,
I fully agree with Anton and Ghufran on Alhamediyeh attack it was done and orchestrated by the sectarian terrorists of Homs.
The credibility of the terrorists story of Alhamediyeh is zero, they did the same crimes too many times before and this time is not different, as usual the only thing they are good at is violence and crimes based on sectarianism.
تحيا سوريا.
February 27th, 2012, 2:36 pm
JMU said:
Dr. Landis do you have an contacts within Syria who can verify the government’s reports of high participation in the constitutional referendum. I think if a significant portion of citizens participated, we may see support growing for Assad’s reforms rooted in the fact that Syrians are very hesitant of all the violence taking place in the country, fearing a civil war and instability. Furthermore, will Syrian law permit more changes to be made to this constitution even though it has already been voted on and accepted by the majority of voters?
February 27th, 2012, 2:37 pm
jad said:
Praising a Lebanese sectarian warlord who killed tens of thousands of Christians and Muslims and who is now calling for another sectarian war to be upon the Syrian Druze, by someone writing many sectarian messages on SC is very telling.
Thank you Moderator for the twitter link, I didn’t know how to link it.
February 27th, 2012, 3:11 pm
Ales said:
Could this be true?
http://www.voltairenet.org/For-the-release-of-our-compatriots
February 27th, 2012, 3:18 pm
zoo said:
The US and the EU are trying to find all sorts of reasons why Bashar al Assad and the regime are still solidly in power despite the relentless media campaign and overwhelming sanctions.
Is is so hard to understand that the menu proposed to the Syrians by the AL, the SNC, the FSA, the USA and their allies is so repulsive that they’d rather stay with an imperfect system they know and that seems to be adapting to the new realities of the country.
Analyis: Assad’s ‘coup-proof’ rule lacks successor
By REUTERS 02/27/2012 09:05
http://www.jpost.com/MiddleEast/Article.aspx?id=259551
US probes divisions, but elite remains together for now; Assads spent 40 years planning against coup.
WASHINGTON – The Obama administration along with its Arab and European allies are trying to push Syria’s leader from power, but US officials acknowledge they see no good candidates to replace him, either inside the government or from the nation’s fractured opposition.
That is due in no small part, the officials and experts on Syria said, to President Bashar Assad’s determination to “coup proof” his rule to ensure no challenge emerged from within.
February 27th, 2012, 3:31 pm
jna said:
reply to #418 JMU
If I recall correctly there is an article in the new constitution which states that the newly adopted constitution cannot be amended for a period of 18 months.
February 27th, 2012, 3:34 pm
Son of Damascus said:
Woman voting on behalf of absent family members for the referendum on the Constitution, As seen on Syrian State TV.
February 27th, 2012, 3:48 pm
Amir in Tel Aviv said:
I came now, expecting to find a new thread covering the referendum. Nada.
This shows how unimportant and worthless the so called referendum was.
The most significant event in a nation’s life, not even worth a new post on SC!
.
February 27th, 2012, 3:50 pm
majedkhaldoun said:
The killing and murders by the regime today in Homs,is so brutal ,one would get severly angry,mad,,cussing and cursing ,and swearing to revenge,this brutality is beyond anyone that could be tolerated, people tried to flee,over 150 person, they were slaughtered by the regime and the children and women were taken to places no one knows what happen to them, ,the fire in the heart of us is so strong,it will burn any politeness and reason we could have, it will be hard to forget , or let it go unanswered.
Joshua , Banning people who respond to this massacre,because they can not stand it anymore is not a fair thing, we have reach a point anyone who support this regime is not human.
Moderator
Our hearts are hurting badly, our eyes tearing, our voices crying,the banning is so unjust, you might just ban all of us, and leave Syria Comment for the supporters only.
February 27th, 2012, 3:51 pm
bronco said:
According to ministry, the turnout of the referendum is 57,4% despite the difficulties in voting in many areas.
If this number is correct, it confirms that a majority of Syrians ignored the call for boycott and that they are in support of the Syrian government path to democracy rather than the violent and unclear path the Opposition, Qatar, the AL and the western country want to impose on them.
February 27th, 2012, 3:58 pm
irritated said:
#425 Majedalkhaldoon
Let me remind you that you were repeatedly and strongly in favor a few months ago of a “small” civil war and you are now in favor of arming more the opposition to escalate the violence. You seem not to care about the human casualties until they happen.
Instead of cursing and expressing you anger on SC, my advice is that you pack and go to Homs to help.
February 27th, 2012, 4:06 pm
Jad said:
Bronco
The results are as democratic as it get in such a horrific and war like situation in Syria, not the ridiculous 99.99% of the Yemenis or the old usual Syrian referendum.
This is why the Khalayjeh and those who are in their influence are screaming for more weapons and more violence without any logic so they can destroy what left of the Syrian society today.
Just today Dr boring Zibaleh is saying that giving weapons to the terrorists is NOT enough a full scale NATO intervention along the weapon smuggling is the Solution..
How criminal can someone be to call for such thing…zibaleh!
Check out this news, the US is helping against Alqaeda in Yemen while financing and giving weapons to Alqaeda in Syria
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/27/world/middleeast/us-teaming-with-yemens-new-government-to-combat-al-qaeda.html
February 27th, 2012, 4:08 pm
JMU said:
Thanks JNA,
18 months is a long time, I wonder if you can request multiple changes to amendments at the same time period. I heard that people were protesting against the article which says that the country’s president has to be Muslim, and a few articles that give the president control over other branches of government. when will thisconstitution be adopted?
February 27th, 2012, 4:19 pm
zoo said:
Al Jazeera absent in Syria’ referendum, but Chinese, Turkish, Indian and foreign reporters are covering the situation in Syria
http://english.al-akhbar.com/content/arab-media-absent-turkish-present-syria%E2%80%99s-referendum
But that does not explain the arrival of a large delegation of Turkish journalists who came to report on the referendum, despite the sharp political differences Damascus and Ankara.
..
“A delegation of journalists from Tunisia was heading to Syria three days ago, but its members were prevented by the airline from going there,” said a Syrian official in charge of handling foreign reporters. But other than a few Lebanese and Egyptian reporters, Arab journalists were hardly to be seen at all.
The official was upbeat, however, about the big international media presence that had assembled in Damascus, perhaps believing it would irk the “Arab brethren” or compensate for their “regrettable” absence.
About 75 foreign journalists were said by the information ministry to have been in Syria (with its knowledge) on Sunday. The authorities arranged a separate tour for the Turkish media delegation at its request, and also a 13-strong group of Indian journalists.
Many Chinese reporters could also be found in the Syrian capital. When a group of Chinese journalists toured Damascus on Sunday, a Syrian passerby jokingly told them: “Seek media even in China,” a reference to the old Arab adage, “seek knowledge even in China” attributed to Prophet Muhammad. They smiled back. It turned out that they understood and spoke Arabic too.
Chinese television reporter Li Hang said he’d seen no sign of problems in Syria. But he added: “I have arrived only recently. I have only been in Damascus thus far. All I know is that the situation here is good, and there’s nothing to suggest there is a revolution.”
A German TV reporter, who identified himself as Thomas, saw things differently. He said he had no real complaints about the treatment accorded him by the Syrian information ministry and did not like to discuss his personal political views too much. He sufficed with the remark: “The referendum on the constitution is good, but unfortunately, it has come very late.”
February 27th, 2012, 4:21 pm
Tara said:
The 57% participation is a farce.
Syria is our country and it is business as usual. A person can vote multiple times. The numbers are always fabricated. A family member of mine got her/his driver license without being tested. A parliament member becomes one miraculously without lifting a finger. As long as you get nominated by the “Jabha” , youmiraculously win, etc..Bashar can fool the world but you can not fool the Syrian people because we know better. Syria is a lawless country when it comes to governmental affairs.
February 27th, 2012, 4:22 pm
Tara said:
No offense but, if you have a president’s picture on a wall inside your house, you should be screened for a mental illness.
February 27th, 2012, 4:28 pm
bronco said:
Jad
I understood that the new Constitution is largely copied from the French V republic Constitution where large power is granted to the president and where the president is elected directly by the people, unlike other Arab countries. I did not hear any country criticizing the French Constitution on these aspects.
I also understood that this is a “draft’ Constitution and that it will modified once there is a new parlament.
The opposition are saying it’s cosmetic. That’s not true. The major change are the multi party system and the removal of article 8. There is nothing “cosmetic” about that, it is what the opposition has been hammering.
Anyway we have learned what is the one thing that would satisfy the SNC and its western allies: A regime change favorable to the West and ready to dump Iran, Hezbollah and the Palestinians by signing peace with Israel.
This won’t happen.
February 27th, 2012, 4:35 pm
irritated said:
#432 Tara
Most Turkish have a picture of Ataturk prominent in their house and offices. Is this to say that Turks all need a shrink?
February 27th, 2012, 4:39 pm
irritated said:
#431 Tara
Syria’s rigged voting is like Florida’s rigged voting then?
February 27th, 2012, 4:42 pm
Tara said:
Irritated
You do not chose the art work hanged in your work place. Show me where you get that Turks have Ataturk’s picture hanged in their house?
It is most definitely not a normal sign. If my husband has a president’s picture hanged in his apartment when we were dating, I would’ve not proceeded with the marriage. It is an alarming sign in my eyes.
February 27th, 2012, 4:52 pm
Alan said:
EU hits Syria with toughest-yet sanctions, recognizes SNC
http://rt.com/news/eu-recognizes-syrian-national-council-321/
((The EU has recognized the Syrian National Council, one of the main opposition groups, as a legitimate representative of the Syrian people. The decision came as the EU ministers met in Brussels to slap Syria with its toughest set of sanctions yet.))
for us Syrians to spit that EU recognized the Syrian National board, one of the main oppositional groups, as the lawful representative of the Syrian people.
From our point of view the Syrian people will solve all main political problems of the country!
February 27th, 2012, 4:59 pm
jna said:
JMU
Text of the constitution… http://www.sana.sy/eng/361/2012/02/27/401178.htm
“Article 153
This constitution shall not be amended before 18 months of coming into force.”
I assume the new constitution comes into effect almost immediately now that it passed the referendum. There’s probably a provision in the constitution.
There is one piece of the constitution I definately do not like:
It seems that the President has a veto over any amendment.
February 27th, 2012, 5:04 pm
Tara said:
Irritated
I had to pull over to write you this. Now that the EU officially recognized the SNC as the legit rep of the Syrian people, and since I think you are a nice guy, Please take a baby Aspirin today.
February 27th, 2012, 5:13 pm
jad said:
Dementia at its best!
شيخ المعارضين هيثم المالح لـ “عربي برس “: أدين بسمة قضماني وأتمنى لو يقبل الأمير سعود الفيصل رئاسة سورية بعد إسقاط النظام
“إعتبر المحامي هيثم المالح أن ” مجموعة العمل الوطني” التي أعلن عن تأسيسها برئاسته اليوم ليست إنشقاقا عن المجلس الوطني بل تكملة لعمله مخالفا بذلك تصريحات كان قد أدلى بها زميله في المجموعة المعارض الليبرالي المقرب من المحافظين الجدد في أميركا كمال اللبواني.
اللبواني كان قد صرح لوكالات الأنباء اليوم مهاجما المجلس الوطني واعضائه معتبرا أن مجموعة العمل الوطني هي إنشقاق عن المجلس وبديل له .
من جهته ثمـّن هيثم المالح ، رئيس مجموعة العمل الوطني وعضو المكتب التنفيذي في المجلس الوطني، الموقف السعودي في مؤتمر اصدقاء الشعب السوري الذي انعقد في تونس معتبراً إياه من “اروع المواقف والتي تتناسق مع ما يطالب به المجلس الوطني” ، متمنيا ” لو ان سمو الأمير سعود الفيصل يقبل بأن يكون رئيساً لسورية بعد رحيل النظام الحالي”.
المالح وفي حديثه لـ”عربي برس” قال : “ان مؤتمر تونس حقق بعض النجاحات وان كانت لا ترتقي الى الأمال التي بنيت عليه، فجمع سبعين دولة في تونس مهد ثورات الربيع العربي له مغزى كبير، كما ان المجلس الوطني حصل على نوع من الإعتراف الضمني بتمثيله الشرعي والوحيد للمعارضة السورية، كما لا يمكن إغفال مطالبة المؤتمرين بتطبيق قرارات الجامعة العربية والداعية الى رحيل النظام السوري”، مضيفاً : ” سنرى ما سيحدث في المؤتمر الذي سينعقد في تركيا، بالإضافة الى مؤتمر آخر دعا اليه وزير الخارجية الفرنسي وسيعقد في باريس”.
وفي رده على الكلام الذي اطلقه الشيخ عدنان العرعور بحق اعضاء المجلس الوطني والذي اتهمهم فيه بأن ” همهم انحصر بتناول العشاء دون مؤازرة إخوانهم السعوديين الذين غادروا المؤتمر ”
ورد المالح على الشيخ عدنان العرعور فقال :
” كلام (الشيخ عدنان) العرعور غير صحيح وبعيد عن الحقيقة، ومهمتنا حتمت علينا البقاء لضرورة التواصل مع الوفود المشاركة، والشيخ عدنان عضو في المجلس الوطني ولكن لا نعرف اين موقعه ، ومواقفه تتسم بالهجومية دائماً ولنسأل السوريين عن مدى تأثير عدنان العرعور عليهم”.”
{…}
http://arabi-press.com/?page=article&id=24848
February 27th, 2012, 5:47 pm
jad said:
د.عبد العزيز الخير ل(روسيا اليوم):هناك اطراف تريد دفع الوضع السوري الى الانزلاق نحو استنزاف متبادل
http://youtu.be/OaCPzTiPlzw
“قال الخير: ان وسائل الاعلام الروسية عموما ، والسلطات الروسية ايضا، ماتزال ترتكب خطا متكررا بالحديث عن المعارضة السورية وكأنها ذات موقف واحد ، فليس للمعارضة السورية موقف واحد، وانما هناك مواقف متعددة من القضايا ، واحيانا تكون هذه المواقف غير منسجمة على الاطلاق. وبالنسبة لنا في هيئة التنسيق الوطنية نحن معارضة الداخل السوري بصورة اساسية ، ولنا فرع فعال في الخارج، ولكن نحن الكتلة الاساسية للمعارضة في الداخل.”
{…}
“وأكد : ان الوقائع على الارض وسياسة الاطراف المختلفة يمكن ان تسمح بالاستنتاج القائل بان هناك اطرافا تريد دفع الوضع السوري الى الانزلاق اكثر فاكثر نحو استنزاف متبادل داخل صفوف الشعب من جهة وقوى الدولة وامكانياتها من جهة اخرى، اي انهاك الوضع السوري ككل ، الشعب والمعارضة والسلطة. ونعتقد بان هذه الامور لا تجري بعفوية . ولسنا الوحيدين الذين يرون ان الوضع ينزلق نحو هذا الاتجاه ، ولابد ان هناك قوى ذات مصلحة ، ان لم تكن بوعي تام بهذا المنحى، فهي تقبل به على الاقل.”
{…}
http://syrianncb.org/2012/02/27/%D8%AF-%D8%B9%D8%A8%D8%AF-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B9%D8%B2%D9%8A%D8%B2-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AE%D9%8A%D8%B1-%D9%84%D8%B1%D9%88%D8%B3%D9%8A%D8%A7-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%8A%D9%88%D9%85%D9%87%D9%86%D8%A7%D9%83-%D8%A7/
February 27th, 2012, 5:52 pm
jad said:
Irritated, Alan et al,
Don’t take any ‘aspirin’, it’s not needed, the EU recognition of the SNC is short…..they recognize it as ‘A’ not as ‘THE’ ‘legitimate representative of the Syrian people’
BIG DIFFERENCE between the two, however, this recognition is a very alarming sign since the EU has no right to force on the Syrians any body as their own representative, it’s another form of dictatorship by the west overt the ‘coloured’ people of the world… colonialism is back in a more ugly face.
We will read lots about the same mantra and threats..
February 27th, 2012, 6:14 pm
irritated said:
#439. Tara
The devil is in the details.
“A” or “THE’ ? that is the question!
Gonzo and Basma must be furious. I think they need oxygen, not aspirin.
February 27th, 2012, 8:29 pm
zoo said:
Syria FM expects no Turkey intervention
Hande Aşık – DAMASCUS / CNNTürk
Monday,February 27 2012,
http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/syria-fm-expects-no-turkey-intervention.aspx?pageID=238&nID=14817&NewsCatID=338
Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Muallem has dismissed the possibility of a military intervention led by Turkey while also promising that the Arab republic would “resist” any invasion.
…
“Frankly speaking, I do not see this [military intervention from Turkey] happening. I believe there is some wisdom left in Turkey,” he said, while also noting Turkey’s stance.
“[Before we can say anything], Turkey has suspicions. They are part of the plan against Syria,” al-Muallem said. “We listen to good advice, but that doesn’t mean you [can] put a timetable before us and we fulfill that. We fulfill [reform promises] according to the interest of the Syrian people.”
…
“My advice to Davutoğlu is that he should think twice before losing Syria forever.”
The minister also said, “As long as this policy continues against Syria I do not see a future for relations [with Turkey].”
….
“Turkey is hosting the Free Syrian Army and letting them move across the border. This is not good neighborly policy. But we are not treating Turkey similarly. We respect the Adana Protocol, the security agreement we have signed. The rumors that we are supporting the PKK are inaccurate,” al-Muallem said.
Lt. Col. Hussein al-Harmoush, who was captured by the Syrian forces after he defected from the Syrian military and fled to Turkey, was not captured on Turkish soil but in Idlib, the foreign minister said.
…
The defector reportedly faces execution.
Al-Muallem said he had “no concrete information” about allegations that around 40 Turkish intelligence officers had been captured by Syrian forces.
The minister also alleged Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan advised Damascus to engage in dialogue with the Muslim Brotherhood when he met with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. “But we have a history about that party,” al-Muallem said. “Al-Assad has always said we will allow them to return to the country as individuals, but not as a party. This made Erdoğan unhappy.”
February 27th, 2012, 8:42 pm
ann said:
Russia lauds Syrian referendum results – 2012-02-28
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/video/2012-02/28/c_131435448.htm
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said: “I think that those people who see the referendum as a move towards democratization are right. The end to a one-party political system should be welcomed in itself. What additional reforms are needed, what other changes should be introduced into the constitution – this is an internal issue. All political forces, that is both the government and the opposition, have received a signal from abroad that we want them all to sit down around the negotiation table, so that they themselves can determine the fate of their country.”
[…]
February 28th, 2012, 1:30 am
ann said:
Tunisia reiterates opposition to military intervention in Syria – 2012-02-28
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/world/2012-02/28/c_122762531.htm
Tunisia calls for a political solution in Syria and will not support any military intervention due to the special situation in the country and the military intervention’s consequences on the region, the spokesman said.
He also excluded any intention by Tunisia to provide arms to the Free Syrian Army, an armed militia against the Syrian government, as it would be “tantamount to a foreign intervention as well as a military intervention in Syria.”
[…]
February 28th, 2012, 1:34 am
ann said:
Visiting PFLP leader says to return to Damascus soon – 2012-02-28
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/world/2012-02/28/c_131434622.htm
“I’m happy for having the opportunity to visit the Gaza Strip. I will be staying here for several days and then will get back to my office in Syria,” al-Taher told Xinhua as he held talks in Gaza with Ismail Haneya, premier of the deposed Hamas government in the Gaza Strip.
Israel killed former PFLP chief Abu Ali Mustafa in an air strike in the West Bank city of Ramallah in 2002, and put his successor Ahmed Saadat in jail in 2003. As a member of the PFLP politburo, al-Taher has been based in Damascus since 1984.
“I’m basically a refugee, as my family came from the city of Haifa… and I have never been to any part of Palestine or the Palestinian territories since I was born. I have been living all my life in the Diaspora, mainly in Lebanon and Syria,” said al- Taher.
Asked about the situation of the Palestinian refugees in Syria after unrest erupted in the country, al-Taher said that “We wish a good situation and stability for Syria. Syria has hosted the Palestinian people for ages and all what we hope is to see Syria calm down and peace prevail.”
[…]
February 28th, 2012, 1:39 am
ann said:
At UN on Syria, Annan Expected in NY Wednesday, Stonewall on How Paid, Pensions
http://www.innercitypress.com/syria3kofi022712.html
UNITED NATIONS, February 27 — Last week the UN announced that former Secretary General Kofi Annan would be its special envoy to Syria, jointly with the Arab League. But on Monday, UN deputy spokesman Eduardo Del Buey said he had no information when Annan might come to New York, or get started.
Minutes later, Inner City Press and another media were told by a senior UN official that Annan is expected on Wednesday, and appointments are being set up for him on March 1 and 2. There: was that so difficult?
Even easier for the UN to have answer was a question Inner City Press sent to Del Buey and lead spokesman for Ban Ki-moon Martin Nesirky on Friday morning:
What will Kofi Annan’s status be as special envoy? Will he receive a UN salary (on top of his two concurrent UN pensions)? How is Mr. Annan’s mission to be funded? Will payments be made directly to Annan or through a third party?
[…]
February 28th, 2012, 1:48 am
jad said:
Ann, a new post is on
https://www.joshualandis.com/blog/?p=13804
February 28th, 2012, 2:07 am
Mina said:
I confirm what Zoo says about Ataturk pictures in Turkey. Actually, typing Ataturk + Turkey + tourism on Google you ‘ll find a lot of related notes.
It’s not enough to watch Turkish soaps on Arabic channels, you should see the real people once in your lifetime.
February 28th, 2012, 3:06 am
Tara said:
Mina
“It’s not enough to watch Turkish soaps on Arabic channels, you should see the real people once in your lifetime.”
Can a comment get more retarded than that??. My family has a house in Istanbul. additionally, it was Irritated, not Zoo who made the comment about Pictures of Ataturk.
February 28th, 2012, 7:15 am
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