Homs Intense Fighting; Bakkour Taken by Gov; Roadside Bomb Wounds 11 Soldiers; Defections

Posted by Joshua on Wednesday, September 7th, 2011

Homs is the scene of intense fighting. One Homsi writes, “Bullets and explosions heard heavily and simultaneous attacks on the police station and the political security buildings [are taking place.] Another writes: “Liberation forces are assembling around town.” There have been a growing number of military defections in the Homs and Rastan region, leading some activists to suggest that the cohesion of the military is finally coming unglued, as they had hoped.

Death of Aleppine Imam Angers Followers

A large bomb injured 15 people in southern Syria, reports the Xinhua news agency. About 11 law-enforcement members and four civilians were injured Wednesday when an explosive device exploded in Syria’s southern town of Naeima, the official SANA news agency reported. The blast ripped through a military bus carrying law-enforcement and security members near Daraa.

Adnan Bakkour, Hama’s Attorney General, has been “Freed from his Captors by Syrian Special Forces”, claims Sana and Syria Steps, government sources. They report that ????? ??? ?? ?????? ?????? ??? ????? ????? ?? ??????? ???? ???? ?????? ?????? ??????. If the opposition has failed to spirit Bakkour out of the country, it will act as a grim warning to other potential defectors who may be thinking of placing their safety in the hands of the opposition forces within the country.

The Arab League has been asked to delay its visit.

This Youtube of demonstrators in Rastan cheering military defectors demonstrates the growing problem of the collapse of military moral that the regime faces.

Five More soldiers defect and announce joining the Free officers??????? ?????? ??????? ??? ????? ???????? ?????? ?????? ??????? 3 9 2011

Explosion of violence in Syria caught in series of horrifying video clips, Ian Black, guardian, Wednesday 7 September 2011

Horrifying film clips were posted on YouTube, one showing a dead or injured man in the central city of Homs apparently being shot by uniformed men. Another showed a young man named Abdel-Hadi Mustafa dying after being shot by a sniper. A third recorded the death of 15-year-old Zakaria Firzat from al-Rastan on Tuesday. None of the incidents could be independently authenticated as most foreign journalists have been banned from Syria. Casualty figures cannot be easily verified either.

A plea from the Free Officers Movement To PM of Turkey,

May peace be upon you. We are displeased and stunned at receiving the news of the disappearance of our Spokesman Colonel H Harmoush after meeting with a turkish security officer, in one of the Syrian refugees camps in turkey on 29-08-2011.

Such an incident is bound to damage relations between Turkey and Syrian people and to have happened with the full kinowledge of the Turkish authorities. We hereby urge you to clarify the whereabouts, and gurantee the safety of Colonel harmoush!

Here is Adnan Bakkour’s second video, where he says Syrian regime reports that he was coerced are a lie.
31 August 2011

SYRIA: Death of popular Sunni cleric stirs unrest in Aleppo
September 6, 2011 | LATimes

The funeral of an outspoken Sunni cleric who died under tight security in a hospital Tuesday interrupted the calm that has largely prevailed in the Syrian commercial center of Aleppo throughout the nation’s six-month uprising. Plainclothes pro-government security forces attacked mourners, and mourners and activists calling for an end to President Bashar Assad’s regime.

Videos posted on the Internet showed at least several hundred people joining the funeral procession, chanting “death but not indignity,” a slogan of the anti-government protests.

The paid, pro-government militiamen known as “shabiha” and the regular government security forces with them beat and detained mourners when the funeral march reached the cemetery, activists said.

Dr. Ibrahim Salkini, 77, the Sunni mufti of Aleppo and dean of theology at Damascus University, died earlier Tuesday after spending several days in the hospital. According to the Union of Aleppo Coordinators, the Aleppo branch of Syria’s activist network, the Local Coordination Committees, the mufti suffered a heart attack after security forces visited him following what some deemed a defiant Friday sermon by the cleric last week.

According to the Union of Aleppo Coordinators, the family of the sheikh was not allowed to visit him in the hospital and his room was under tight security. Suspicions that the death involved foul play spread quickly Tuesday.

Firebrand `Ar`our risks playing into Assad’s hands
By Abigail Fielding-Smith in Beirut in Financial Times…

Burhan Ghalioun claims in this video recorded in 2007 that 90% of Arabs are Islamists and that Islamists are not better than dictators in that they do not tolerate differences.

France Says EU Pushes New Round of Syria Sanctions: Reuters, 2011-09-06

PARIS, Sept 6 (Reuters) – The European Union is working on a new round of sanctions against Syria that would target economic entities, a French foreign ministry spokesman said on Tuesday, days after the bloc imposed its last punitive measure.

Syrian merchants are stockpiling raw materials and products before things get worse.

One friend writes: I just spoke to my dad. He exports tires from turkey to Syria. His Syrian clients called asking him to send as much as he can as they intend to stock up. They fear more trade restrictions soon.

COMMENTS FROM READERS

Atassi:

HOMS will be a free city soon. Liberation forces are assembling around town.

Kinda Khamasmie in Homs:

“To those who are asking what’s happening in Homs right now:

Traffic is Almost Paralyzed, all shops are closed including the Pharmacies.

Bullets and explosions heard heavily even at 6 am, and simultaneous attack on the police station and the political security buildings.

Gunmen heavily deployed with Kalashnikovs and RPGs and sounds of jihad are everywhere.

Khalid ibn al-Walid Brigade appear publicly in the streets and give guidance to the people on how to act.

All the banks and private institutions have sent invitations to their employees not to come to work.

Mobile coverage is very bad and electricity is cut off from some places.

Internet is available in all areas.

Currently the army is deployed in some areas of Homs and talking about a quality operation coming in Homs.

Everyone who is carrying Kalashnikov and RPG and calling for Jihad should die, because enough is enough!”

SANDRO LOEWE said:

Last week I was in Syria once again. During last 6 months I have been visiting Syria and my parents on a regular basis. I can have
an idea of what is going on through friends and colleagues who explain their experiences and positions.

In Damascus city (bussiness center) many medium to high class people keeps on defending the idea that this regime never will fall and that they are fighting the West and their armed gangs in Syria. But at the same time there is an increasing feeling that bussiness is going to a cathastrophic situation if things do not improve. Anyhow from last 6 months I keep on hearing the same (yet old) story; that last days things are more under control and that in 15 days crisis could be over.

At Damascus suburbs and some in city center medium and low class people I know attack the regime and ask for inmediate change and even death penalty to regime capos.

Outside Damascus, Rif, Homs and Idlib the situation is dramatically going to worse every day. People is absolutely crazy about destroying every single sings and detritus of this regime. But the feeling is generated by killings more than by political ideas in itself.

Even towns that had never seen problems are beginning to dare to express against the regime. There are many many stories about innocent people who refused to cooperate in any way with Security Services men and were arrested sine die. This are 2 last stories I saw and I can personally confirm:

1- My friend’s brother was asked by security services to drive its van to transport security services to arrest activists.
He denied and told the services that if he was seen cooperating with them he would get killed. Following day he disappeared. Two months later their family received news from the services in Damascus that he was in prison. Notice that this person had no idea nor previous political contacts. He is still in prison.

2- While in a restaurant in Amman a person began shouting like a possessed person in the kitchen. When I asked some one I know in the restaurant he told me he is a Syrian who received word that his brother died one month ago in Idlib. He was serving in the army and their family informed him that security services killed him. Last thing I heard was:

WRITE “MEAL FOR THE ASSADS” AT THE GARBAGE BASKET…

3- Some one living in Rif Dimashq told me “muasiqeen” began distributing light arms even to young people aged 16-18 years old but asking them not to use by now because it could cause a massacre

Draw your own conclusions.

NZ Writes:

Dear Tara, you have asked “When is it in your individual opinion justified to defend your country when it is invaded by an enemy?”

It is my personal belief that there is currently a dire need for a professional organized armed resistance.

The goal is to neutralize security forces and shabbeeha and disrupt the lines of communication and logistics to the organized armed forces.

The FOM and the FSA need to consolidate and be given logistical and reconnaissance support. They would be very instrumental in
– deterring and disrupting Jr’s killing machine, and thus save lives.
– expediting defections and the collapse of the armed forces,
– Forming a nucleus for a freedom and people conscious armed forces.
– averting a real threat of emergence of less controllable form of armed resistance, namely revolutionar militias.

Some guy in Damascus

Homsi, there are no armed rebels In Damascus city. Rif dimashq is another story. Do you think taking up arms is a legitimate action?

MNA writes:

Thank you Tara for inviting us to participate.
Whether one agrees or not with your question, it is flawed by false assumptions and statements that even many hard core opposition figures would find objectionable.

First, you are assuming that “revolutionaries” have not yet taken up arms against the regime. Many people would disagree with you.

Second, Equating the national army with the that of an occupying foreign army is just a prime example of your flawed statements. I know that many of the commentators on here will jump and start siting many examples of the brutality with which the army handled the situation on the ground in Syria, but most of the evidence is nothing more than part of a propaganda war. I m not saying that it did not happen, but it is expected when you send any army or armed forces anywhere? Can anyone tell me with a straight face that the revolutionaries forces in Libya did not commit atrocities, or in the event of a Libya like scenario in Syria, the “armed revolutionaries” would not commit such atrocities?

Let me remind you that this is the army that fought many wars against Israel and gave thousands of martyrs in the line of duty. I know that many of the commentators will jump up again and say “fought wars and lost”, but this does not diminish the fact that it is the army that fought against Israel more than any other in the region and gave thousands of martyrs. At least this is how many Syrians still see it. Let me remind you also that you can hardly find a family in Syria that does not or did not have a son or daughter serving in the army. So your statement might be an insult to millions of Syrians.

Third, your statement ” the regime in the eyes of the Syrian people is the enemy!” is flawed as well. Even the worst optimistic views still agree that between the different minorities, the beneficiaries, the elite, etc..this regime still commands at least 40% support. this is a sizable chunk of the population that would straight out disqualify your statement.

Fourth, you statement “I will support the decision of the youth on the ground who are sacrificing themselves and their families for us.” is at best is not shared by many Syrians. No ONE HAS THE EXCLUSIVE RIGHT TO MAKE SUCH A DECISION.

So to answer your question, the majority of Syrians believe that it is never justified. I still believe that Syria could still benefit from this terrifying experience, but the moment that more people decide to take up arms is the moment that Syria will be lost for ever.

Muhammad writes:

If Alawis want to defend Assad regime at all costs then they are asking for a sectarian war. It\’s so sad. Bashar does not even care about the Alawis.

People came out asking for democracy, you called them armed gangs. It soon became a self-fulfilling prophecy.

Give people a third way of genuine reform and they will take it. If the only options available to them are worshiping the village idiot (aka Bashar) or sectarian war then it is no wonder they will take the war option.

And don\’t BS us about Alawis and Shias being brothers. Shias considered Alawis as heretics until Assad came to power. I bet you the Alwais would not be allowed to practice their religion on Iran.

Abboud Wrote:

I’ve stated time and again on this forum that;

1) I will personally turn Hafez’s grave into a public urinal

2) I believe that soldiers who abuse and kill civilians should be boiled in their own urine.

3) The security men killed at Jisr al Shoghour deserved what they got. I hope to hear of many more such retributions.

4) Alawites have pillaged this country for 40 years, and since they have done nothing to remove this murderous regime, they have failed the test of a modern and pluralistic society, by instead pandering to sectarian hate and allowing themselves to be tools in a barbaric oppression of a people yearning to be free. Therefore, Alawite power must be severely curtailed and their bases of power utterly destroyed.

Feel free to quote me far and wide. I’d be happy to remind you if you ever forget.

SS Writes:

The regime supporters left this forum [Syria Comment] months ago. When I am board I come over to Syria Comment to write and vent a little bit, also I feel sorry for you as you do not have anyone to keep you busy so I throw a comment like a bone to hungry ———–.

Aboud also is supported by many…. This is why the Syrian army is chasing the criminal radical thugs who want to wipe out and kill minorities. They want to send Christians to Lebanon. …

“Khalid Tlass wrote “Alawis are not Muslims, Christians can sit in the lap of MICHEL AOUN for all I care”. His other fellow reformers instead of attacking him and disagreeing with him, they asked him to cool off and relax. The radicals on SC are well educated and not lay people. They represents the best of the best of the Syrian society and they do not hesitate to threaten minorities, and mass killing them.

Khalid Tlass is a Sunni and a friend of the so called reformers on SC. He wrote:

“We will convert the fake shrines of al-Hussein and Ali in Iraq to public toilets.” This is an example of the hatred Sunni hold to minorities.

He went on to threaten the minorities by stating “Qurdaha will be Halabja…lets see what your Majoosi Iranian daddies will do.” Halabja is where Sadam Hussein massacred Kurds and killed them with chemical gases. Khalid Tlass is supported by many on SC and has many of the opposition on SC consider a friend. I think they all share the bloody personality but some of them are calm and will not show it until the gain power in Syria and then they will kill minorities including Christians, Alawi, and druze.

Khalid Tlass is dreaming to reestablish Caliph. Basically he is a radical Sunni who wants an Islamic Imara in the middle east. Look what he wrote “Sunnis deserve to rule the Middle East; Shia are fake and creations of Abdullah ibn Saba”….

HA, Iran and Alawites will be your masters forever….

NEWS ROUND UP

Opposition Leader asks for International Military Intervention to Solve the Syrian Crisis: The following article quotes Ashraf Miqdad, Australia based head of the Damascus Declaration, who says that there is no escape from the necessity for military intervention.

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???????: ???? ??????? – ????? ????? ??????
All4Syria 2011/09/06

???? ??????? ?????? ???? ???????? ???? «????? ????» ?? ????????? ?? ??????? ?? ?????? ?????? ??????? ?? ????? ???? ??? ?? ???? ???? ????? ????? ????? ?? ?????? ?????? ????? ??????? ???????? ?? ???? ??? ????? ?? ????????? ?????? ?? ??? ?????? ???? ?? ????? ?????? ???? ????? ??? ?????? ?????? ??????? ????? ?? ?? ????? ????? ?????? ?????? ?????? ?? ????? ???????? ??? ???? ????? ?????? ???? ?????.
????? ???????? ???? ??? ???? ????????? ???????? ?? ??????? ???? ????? ??????? ??? ???? ????? ?? ?????? ?????? ??? ??????? ??? ?? ??? ??? ????? ??? ?????? ??? ??? ?????? ??????? ?????? ??????? ?? ????? ???? ???? ???? ?? ???? ?????? ?? ??????? ??? ???? ?? ?????? ??? ?????? ????? ???? ???????? ????? ??? ???? ?????.

Saydnaya Prison Massacre Explained via latest Wikileaks

Gulf to help EU as Syrian oil banned, Sep 4, 2011

The Gulf is poised to help Europe to meet its energy needs as a ban on Syrian oil comes into play. Yesterday, the EU formalised an embargo on Syrian oil, increasing pressure on the regime of Bashar Al Assad, the Syrian president, to halt its violent clampdown on protests.

The fresh sanctions come at a particularly tough time for the EU, which relies on Syria for 1.5 per cent of its oil supply, as demand grows for winter fuel and oil production from Libya remains stalled.

Sanctions cloud Syria’s big plans, Sep 4, 2011
The National

The EU’s ban on oil from Syria has further jeopardised energy projects in the country, where pressure is being put on the Al Assad regime over the violent treatment of political protesters. With foreign investors reluctant to get involved, there is much at stake — and little time, April Yee reports

Until recently, Syria was not a big presence in energy markets, coming in at number 33 on the list of the world’s top oil producers.

Yet it hoped to transform itself from a minor crude exporter into a major transit point for the world’s energy.

News Analysis: Syria rummages around for other markets after EU
2011-09-03, DAMASCUS, Sep 03, 2011 (Xinhua via COMTEX) — by Hummam Sheikh Ali

Oil embargo lately slapped by European countries on Syria would inevitably overburden its stagnant economy, but experts believe that the country that has been put into a tight squeeze after nearly six months of unrest is still able to withstand the sanctions and find alternatives.

Warning: Syria is much stronger than Libya, September 7th, 2011, CNN Blog
By Shashank Joshi – Special to CNN

Syria’s elite units and officer corps are dominated by the Alawi sect, to which the Assad dynasty belongs. They have neither disintegrated nor turned on Assad. In Libya, a very large portion of the army, particularly in the east, melted away at the beginning of the conflict. In Syria, defections are much more sporadic, and that’s despite months of severe violence against unarmed protesters. That means any armed rebellion would face far worse odds of success, and intervention in support of such a rebellion would involve a longer and more serious commitment.

None of this is guaranteed to avert war. If refugee flows reached unacceptable proportions, or a civil war began to seep outside the country, the US might judge that strategic – rather than simply humanitarian – interests were at stake. But we should be under no illusions that a war in Syria would look identical to the one being wrapped up in North Africa.

Why Rushing to the Polls Could Reignite Civil War
Dawn Brancati and Jack L. Snyder
September 2, 2011

With Libya still in the hands of armed regional and tribal factions — each challenging the other’s pretensions to political authority — it seems wishful to believe that the country will enjoy a smooth and quick transition to stable democracy. Even so, Libya’s National Transitional Council and the United Nations are already planning for Libya’s first elections.
……
The UN memo is right to stress the need for preconditions. Our research on all first elections after civil wars since 1945 underscores the dangers of hasty voting. We found that the sooner a country went to the polls the more likely it was to relapse into war. On average, waiting five years before holding the first election reduced the chance of war by one-third…..

Tribunal Concealed Evidence Al-Qaeda Cell Killed Hariri
Analysis by Gareth Porter*

WASHINGTON, Aug 31, 2011 (IPS) – In focusing entirely on the alleged links between four Hezbollah activists and the 2005 bombing that killed Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, the indictment issued by the Special Tribunal for Lebanon earlier this month has continued the practice of the U.N investigation before it of refusing to acknowledge the much stronger evidence that an Al-Qaeda cell was responsible for the assassination.

Several members of an Al-Qaeda cell confessed in 2006 to having carried out the crime, but later recanted their confessions, claiming they were tortured.

However, the transcript of one of the interrogations, which was published by a Beirut newspaper in 2007, shows that the testimony was being provided without coercion and that it suggested that Al-Qaeda had indeed ordered the assassination.

But the United Nations International Independent Investigation Commission (UNIIIC) was determined to pin the crime either on Syria or its Lebanese ally Hezbollah and refused to pursue the Al-Qaeda angle.

Detlev Mehlis, the first head of UNIIIC, was convinced from the beginning that Syrian military intelligence and its Lebanese allies had carried out the bombing and went to extraordinary lengths to link Ahmed Abu Adas, who had appeared in a videotape claiming responsibility for the assassination for a previously unknown group, to Syrian intelligence…..

Hariri Bombing Indictment Based on Flawed Premise
Analysis by Gareth Porter*

WASHINGTON, Aug 29, 2011 (IPS) – The indictment of four men linked to Hezbollah in the 2005 assassination of Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri made public by the Special Tribunal on Lebanon Aug. 17 is questionable not because it is based on “circumstantial evidence”, but because that evidence is based on a flawed premise.

The evidence depends on a convoluted theory involving what the indictment calls “co-location” of personal mobile phones associated with five distinct networks said to be somehow connected with the plot to murder Hariri.

The indictment, originally filed Jun. 10, says that, if there are “many instances” in which a phone is “active at the same location, on the same date, and within the same time frame as other phones”, but the phones do not contact each other, then it is “reasonable to conclude from these instances that one person is using multiple phones together”.

Based on that assumption the indictment asserts that “a person can ultimately be identified by co-location to be the user of a network phone.”

On that reasoning, one of the four accused, Salim Jamil Ayyash, is said to have participated in a “red” network of phones that was activated on Jan. 5, 2005, only contacted each other, and ceased operations two minutes before the blast that killed Hariri. The “red” network is presumed to have been used by those who carried out surveillance as well as prepared the logistics for the bombing.

But Ayyash is also linked by “co-location” to a “green” network that had been initiated in October 2004 and ceased to operate one hour before the attack, and a “blue” network that was active between September 2004 and September 2005. The only basis for linking either of those two sets of mobile phones to the assassination appears to be the claim of frequent “co-location” of Ayyash’s personal cell phone with one of the phones in those networks and one red phone.

But the idea that “co-location” of phones is evidence of a single owner is a logical fallacy. It ignores the statistical reality that a multitude of mobile phones would have been frequently co-located with any given phone carrying out surveillance on Hariri in Beirut over an hour or more on the same day during the weeks before the assassination.

In the area of Beirut from the parliament to the St. George Hotel, known as Beirut Central District, where the “red” network is said to have been active in carrying out its surveillance of Hariri, there are 11 base stations for mobile phones, each of which had a range varying from 300 metres to 1,250 metres, according to Riad Bahsoun, a prominent expert on Lebanon’s telecom system. Bahsoun estimates that, within the range of each of those cell towers, between 20,000 and 50,000 cell phones were operating during a typical working day.

Given that number of mobile phones operating within a relatively small area, a large number of phones would obviously have registered in the cell tower area and in the same general time frame – especially if defined as an hour or more, as appears to be the case – as at least one of the red network phones on many occasions.

The indictment does not state how many times one of Ayyash’s personal phones was allegedly “co-located” with a “red” network phone.

To prove that Ayyash was in charge of the team using the red phones, the indictment provides an extraordinarily detailed account of Ayyash’s alleged use of red, green and blue phones on seven days during the period between Jan. 11 and Feb. 14, the day of the assassination.

But according to that information, during the final nine days on which the red network was active in surveillance of Hariri, including the day of the bombing itself, Ayyash was in phone contact with the red and blue networks on only three days – a pattern that appears inconsistent with the role of coordinating the entire plot attributed to him….

Bernazzani called that use of link analysis by SIDE “speculative” – the same word that Brammertz used to describe the U.N. investigation’s employment of the same tool. Such speculative use of link analysis “can be very dangerous”, Bernazzani said. “Using that kind of analysis, you could link my telephone to [Osama] bin Laden’s.”

*Gareth Porter is an investigative historian and journalist specialising in U.S. national security policy. The paperback edition of his latest book, “Perils of Dominance: Imbalance of Power and the Road to War in Vietnam”, was published in 2006.

Russia to oppose any moves to arm Syrian opposition
By Antoine Ghattas Saab
September 06, 2011 02:08 AM

According to Western diplomats and political observers watching the developments in Syria, the next stage of the international community’s response to events in Damascus will move from supporting the people’s uprising and condemning the oppression of the regime by waving the stick of economic and financial sanctions – including the travel ban on political officials who have been blacklisted – to arming the Syrian opposition, similar to what was done in Libya.

There, rebels were able to take control of the country, including areas that were subject to Col. Moammar Gadhafi’s rule, and assume power gradually through the National Transitional Council which is now recognized by the international community, as was demonstrated by last week’s conference in Paris.

The U.S., France and Britain will participate in strengthening the military side of the opposition in Syria to create a balance with the security apparatus controlled by President Bashar Assad and his regime. It’s likely that Turkey will spearhead the operation to arm the opposition given the overlap of political, geographic and demographic factors between it and Damascus, which have led Ankara, more than once, to show its discontent with the Syrian regime’s elusive promises of reform.

However, diplomatic sources expect that this course would face the objection of Russia, which has previously rejected draft resolutions against Syria by using its veto in the U.N. Security Council and opposing the Western community by dealing unilaterally with Syria.

The sources explain the reasons behind Russia’s rejection of the West’s evolving response and their opposition to the consensus of the international community on the battle between the Syrian regime and the opposition:

First, the Russians have decided not to fall again for the trick they encountered when NATO failed to uphold its commitment to Resolution 1973 – which limited the mission in Libya to a narrow framework of protecting civilians from aerial bombardments by Libyan forces – by expanding their mission to strike Gadhafi’s positions and supporting rebels’ military operations.

These sources also speak of the struggle over the Middle East in which geo-strategic weapons – from oil to expanding political influence to strengthening military bases – are used and such actions would advance any country’s position internationally. Russia has a military base in the city of Tartus which it will never give up and is protected by Assad’s regime. If the opposition backed by the West takes power, it will constitute a real threat to the base.

The sources also say that it seems that the United States-Russian struggle is the dynamo that is driving the regional and international initiatives on Syria, especially as Washington attempts to compensate for its declining influence in Iraq and Afghanistan by riding the wave of change in the Arab world.

Turkish opposition in Syria: We are not here to decry Syrian regime
05 September 2011, Monday / TODAYSZAMAN.COM,

Deputy chairman Faruk Lo?o?lu, who is heading a committee of deputies from the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) has said the opposition is not in Syria to decry the Syrian regime but to investigate matters closely.

Stressing the brotherhood between Turkey and Syria, Lo?o?lu said they traveled several regions in Syria accompanied by local administrators and officials, and that they will present their findings as a report to CHP leader Kemal K?l?çdaro?lu.

Lo?o?lu also noted that the committee met with Syrian President Bashar Al Assad and Parliament speaker Mahmoud Al Abrash in Damascus.

Before going to Mediterreanian city of Latakia, five CHP deputies visited the Yaylada?? district of the southern province of Hatay in Turkey along the Syrian border on Sunday to meet with Syrian refugees who had fled the violence in their country. Hatay deputy governor Akgün Corav and Yaylada?? district governor Tolga Polat briefed the investigative team on the situation in the refugee tent camp.

Lo?o?lu then told reporters at the camp that they came to Yaylada?? to help prepare them for their visit to Syria. “We want to witness events in Syria on the ground,” he said.

In Damascus, Abrash and Lo?o?lu reviewed in the meeting the current events in Syria, the foreign interference, incitement campaigns to undermine Syria’s role and destabilize its security, Syria’s state-run Sana news agency, which often distorts facts related to the incidents in the country, reported on Monday.

According to Sana, Abrash stressed that the reform process will continue in order to build a strong Syria, adding that the awareness of the Syrian people will foil all attempts of weakening their national unity.

Lo?o?lu said the CHP considers Syria’s stability and security to be important to Turkey and that Syria’s freedom, independence, sovereignty and unity are essential to CHP’s principles.

CHP’s deputy chairman reportedly stressed the CHP’s rejection of any interference in Syria’s internal affairs, adding that the Syrians are able to solve this problem.

The report also said that Lo?o?lu visited Homs and Hama and briefed by local officials.

Lo?o?lu reportedly stressed his support to Syria and the reform steps taken by the Syrian leadership, Sana alleged.

Life in Syria’s Capital Remains Barely Touched by Rebellion
2011-09-06, By THE NEW YORK TIMES

DAMASCUS, Syria — As protests broke out across a restive Syria on a recent Sunday, and crowds were dispersed yet again by gunfire that left many dead, the conversation in the capital dwelled not on the uprising but rather on nails, along with the choice of polish and hair color and the latest in makeup trends.

“I want either fuchsia or orange to match my dress,” a woman in her 50s said as she rummaged through a box of nail polish in an upscale beauty salon in Damascus. “Either one.”

It does not take long to realize that there is a disconnect between Damascus and the rest of Syria. With a mix of denial and fear, and occasionally even satisfaction at the government’s determination to stanch dissent, many Damascenes insist on another reality. …

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Comments (326)

homsi said:

very peaceful demonstrations

warning peaceful but very graphic !!!

September 7th, 2011, 4:03 pm

True said:

@ 1. Homsi

Poor Menhebkes and DOUNIA TV still playing the stupid media horns!!

Actually, the first part of the video was in Lebanon for an Egyptian man who raped a young girl and killed her grandfather last year.

September 7th, 2011, 4:16 pm

Aboud said:

I’m honestly fed up of CNN quoting Shashank Joshi. The guy has never been to Syria, and doesn’t know anything about it that he hasn’t read in the MSM. “Syrian air defense is stronger than Libya’s”…wow, you need a Ph.D for *that* bit of insightful brilliance?

And just how strong is an air defense system that the Israelis managed to infiltrate time and time and time again.

The reason why the Syrian army hasn’t deserted en mass is because, unlike Libya, there is no safe area for them to desert to. Mesrata and Benghazi had their backs to the sea.

The international community is toothless. The best it could come up with, in the face of murderous Alawite sectarian genocide, is an oil embargo that doesn’t even go into effect until November. Maybe if 10,000 turds from Qurdaha had to camp out on the Turkish border, the world would take matters in Syria a bit more seriously.

Now, here are some demonstrations from Homs tonight. Hey Besho, how did sending in your turd army work out for you? LOL!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=egigoKrWnBk&feature=player_embedded

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GN4W7M7pvWY&feature=player_embedded

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=amhl_sQj5ys&ref=nf

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AW7WVwZk85M&feature=player_embedded

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ne51RyfsKSs&feature=player_embedded

See, that’s the difference between Methi snorting turds who get paid 10,000 liras a week to beat up and murder civilians, and brave freedom loving Syrians who risk their lives, every single night and day, for the chance of a free life. In the days to come, we will remember every despicable piece of filth who stood by this regime. Like that disgraceful “professor” in Al-Baath university who writes reports on his students. My sincerest hope he gets strung up in his classroom.

September 7th, 2011, 4:17 pm

Aboud said:

LOL Good one True. The menhebaks are truly desperate 🙂

September 7th, 2011, 4:19 pm

True said:

MUST SEE

Alwai Assadian Death Squads enjoying on field executions, check out this video in Homs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EBNjVArnvbo&feature=player_embedded&skipcontrinter=1

11 Alawi thugs using guns on one DEAD Sunni.

Any comments stupid Menhebeks!!

September 7th, 2011, 4:23 pm

Aboud said:

“The Arab League has been asked to delay its visit, presumably because of the Homs fighting.”

Rubbish. Someone here obviously hasn’t been paying close attention. Syria told the Arab League sectary to delay his visit on *Monday*. The military’s crackdown in Homs only started Wed morning.

True, that’s the extent of Alawite bravery. 11 of them against one dead guy.

September 7th, 2011, 4:24 pm

EHSANI2 said:

Haytham Al manaa and other members in the opposition were received by the Arab League in Cairo. When Damascus heard about this, they canceled the visit. In a conversation with Mr. Al moualem, the Arab League had to explain that it was not an “official” meeting before they got the approval to visit.

September 7th, 2011, 4:31 pm

Aboud said:

By the way Landis, quoting “SS” the way you did is a new low for you. That entire pathetic menhebak whine consisted of nothing but “Khalid said this and Khalid said that”. If Khalid said anything, then quote directly from Khalid, from Khalid’s comments. In the American court system, what you did would be called “Hearsay”.

September 7th, 2011, 4:37 pm

True said:

@ ABOUD

What can I say bro, those Alawi militias lack the DNA of bravery, a kid from Homs, Dara’a, Hama or anywhere else but Qurdaha can kick Betho’s bum with his little toes.

Did you hear about the new clerk horn (the Mufti’s son) who was really annoyed of people who turned yesterday’s funeral into a protest in Aleepo.

They were chanting

Min Halab 7ata Elsham bedna neekak ya Bashar lol

September 7th, 2011, 4:42 pm

Aboud said:

Another protest in Homs tonight

True, good one 🙂 I like one I’ve been hearing recently

Zenga Zenga, dar dar, bedna [Edited for vulgarity] ya Bashar!

LOL!

The names of the shabeha turds who beat up Sheikh Al refa3i

??? ?? ????? ??? ????? ????? ??????? ???? ?? ??? ????? ?????? ? ???? ??????? ???????? ?? ?????? ???? ? ??? ?????? ?? ??? ? ????? ??????????.
???? ??? ?????? ??????? ?? ????? ?????? ???? ( ??????? ???? ???? ) ???????? ???.
??????? ?? ???? ?? ???? ????? ???? ?????? ????? ? ??????? ?? ???? ??????? ??? ????? ???????? ???????? ????????? ??? ????? ? ???? ??? ?????? ????? ?????? ???????.

? ??? ??? ????? ??????? ????????? ?? ??????:
???? ?????? – ????? ?????? ?????? ????
???? ?????- ???? ??? ???????? -?????? ????
???? ???? – ???? ?? ???? ????????
??????? ????? ( ???? ???? ?? ??? ?????? ) ???? ?????? ???? ???? ? ????? ???? ????? ????? 50 ???

September 7th, 2011, 4:48 pm

Omar said:

The real new low for this site is that it’s got people like “aboud” and “true” dominating the boards…. What happened to this website? Is no one moderating? Less propaganda and kids chatter and more intelligent conversation please…that was the whole appeal of this site…or at least it was last year

September 7th, 2011, 4:52 pm

Humanist said:

No, Syria under Assad Jr. is not a “strong country” by any means. The Syrian asSADISTS can only create troubles in weak states (i.e “playgrounds”) like Lebanon and Iraq post-Saddam – in the later case by supporting the same salafist groups (killing poor Iraqi shias) they now claim to fight in their own country.

What goes around comes around…

September 7th, 2011, 4:53 pm

Aboud said:

By the way, the video Landis labeled as “Video of revolutionary violence” is the same one True identified as being from Lebanon. *facepalm*

September 7th, 2011, 4:54 pm

True said:

@ ABOUD

Yeah I heard about this stupid Ghassan Alfareh, actually he’s been located already by the shabab on ground

????????????????????: ??????? ???? ???? ?????? / ?????

???? : 009635626662 ???? :009632247978

September 7th, 2011, 5:00 pm

Khalid Tlass said:

Good to hear. Rastan soundly kicked the butts of the Besho butt kissers.

September 7th, 2011, 5:06 pm

True said:

@ 12. ABOUD

Ah “Video of revolutionary violence”!!! if that’s the case then Dr.Landis should amend his blog to rectify this mistake, maybe next time he would learn not to trust Menhebkes

And I’m still in waiting for an explanation why did he drop the word “Palestinians” while he was quoting OTW?

This is my evidence

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/8654604.stm

Videos

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l_ZAlSBbyx8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y8LlU-CJoQI

and more
http://www.youtube.com/results?search=Search&resnum=0&oi=spell&search_query=Ketermaya+Lebanon&spell=1&suggested_categories=25%2C17&sa=X

September 7th, 2011, 5:13 pm

sahar said:

Moderator!!!!!!

Are you going to allow the tag team ABOUD and TRUE to post vital personal information in 12 and 13 without doing anything about it!!!!!!!

This is extremely dangerous!!!!!!!

September 7th, 2011, 5:17 pm

Khalid Tlass said:

I do hope Khalid ibn alWalid phalange offer us a holocaust of the Besho buttkissers. Offer us a holocaust for the great Syrian Arab people, offer us a holacaust of the Iranian Majoosi and Hizbullah mundaseen. By God, where are you, SS ?

September 7th, 2011, 5:21 pm

sahar said:

Moderator!!!!!

Number 17 is advocating a HOLOCAUST on your blog!!!!!!

Is that OK?!!!!!!!

September 7th, 2011, 5:26 pm

Humanist said:

BTW: Someone knows why former Assadist-Ba’athist war heros like old Khaddam and Bashar’s gentle uncle can live and travel freely in the West (unlike the current to-a-lesser-extent war heros of Syria)?
And has the later finally given up the fight for “freedom and democracy” in his home land (as he seems very quiet lately)?

September 7th, 2011, 5:26 pm

Aboud said:

Yeah, Landis likes to quote menhebak whines that we are all a bunch of sectarian blood suckers, but of course conveniently skips over SS’s “HA, Iran and Alawites will be your masters forever”. Pathetic.

September 7th, 2011, 5:28 pm

Aboud said:

Humanist, two Assad cousins are marrying each other next week in Spain. Friggin inbreds.

September 7th, 2011, 5:30 pm

Gus said:

Homs will be cleaned soon. This fake revolution was armed from the beginning. Despite the wishes of the terrorists the syrian army is still solid, Lying and fabricating movies is not going to change anything. I am becoming more optimist as babbling nonsense on SC does not reflect what is happening on the ground

September 7th, 2011, 5:32 pm

Aboud said:

“babbling nonsense on SC does not reflect what is happening on the ground”

Yes, that’s always been the trademark of the menhebaks; rants and boasts that did not reflect reality in any shape, way or form. Just look at the fake Dunya video that Landis labeled as proof of revolution violence LOL!

September 7th, 2011, 5:36 pm

True said:

@ Khalid Tlass

Would you take down this (20.GUS) horn?

PS: LOL no need, bro ABOUD is already kicked his bum 🙂

September 7th, 2011, 5:38 pm

Khalid Tlass said:

Aboud, I think its hugh time we started calling a spade a spade snd stopped going out of our way to seem extra nice to these sectarian turds. Saddam genuinely commanded the love and respect of the Iraqi people UNLIKE the Shia-Neocon war criminakl Nouri al Maliki, a traitor to his own country, who spent most of his years in, surprise surprise, DAMASCUS, under the care of Branch 225.

Iraqi people’s love for Saddam Hussein al-Tikriti :

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KqKTMIgE4Hc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K8jsgHLabw0&feature=related

Remember, these people were rallying 2 days before the invasion of Baghdad, when bombs were raining down. I doubt if the inbreds from Qurdaha can show similar guts.
( I must say I’m surprised hearing the “Bil roh bil dam” slogan in Iraq as well)

September 7th, 2011, 5:45 pm

Humanist said:

Well, the current Iranian regime will not last for many years from now. The young Iranian generation in the big cities is very educated and often irreligious. Finally these people will run Iran and THEN it will hopefully have a good influence on its neightboors, INCLUDING SYRIA.

I’m longing for that day…

September 7th, 2011, 5:45 pm

True said:

@ Menehbeks

Scratching the surface would not get you anywhere, stop wasting times with these shallow posts and try to build up an actual “argument” instead.

Something more sophisticated than “Wo 7aq 3ali la Qawsak Wala” lol

September 7th, 2011, 5:58 pm

Humanist said:

To be honest Aboud, inbreeding in the Middle East isn’t restricted to the Assads. I think there are more serious problems in this family to complain about.

September 7th, 2011, 6:02 pm

Haytham Khoury said:

http://jidar.net/Policy/%D8%AC%D8%AF%D8%A7%D8%B1-%D9%8A%D9%86%D8%B4%D8%B1-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A8%D9%8A%D8%A7%D9%86-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AE%D8%AA%D8%A7%D9%85%D9%8A-%D9%84%D9%80-%D9%84%D9%82%D8%A7%D8%A1-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AF%D9%88%D8%AD%D8%A9-%D9%84%D9%85%D8%B9%D8%A7%D8%B1%D8%B6%D9%8A%D9%86-%D8%B3%D9%88%D8%B1%D9%8A%D9%8A%D9%86

September 7th, 2011, 6:08 pm

Khalid Tlass said:

24. Humanist said:

“Well, the current Iranian regime will not last for many years from now. The young Iranian generation in the big cities is very educated and often irreligious. Finally these people will run Iran”

Its funny how the Ayatollean regime in Iran sees “secularism” as the protector of its interests in Syria, but in Iran this same secularism is their most irrevocable enemy.

September 7th, 2011, 6:11 pm

Haytham Khoury said:

September 7th, 2011, 6:16 pm

Humanist said:

No Khalid, more Iraqis probably prefer Neo-Con rule to Saddamist-Baathist rule. The “neo-con” invaders did/do not blow upp themselves in the middle of innocent iraqi civilians (including sunnis), mostly foreign arab sunni jihadist groups supported by BOTH Saddamist-Baathists (former) and Assadist-Baathists (current) did/do.

September 7th, 2011, 6:27 pm

homsi said:

@True and Aboud

i am menheback now?? just because i posted something to expose your people crimes? how you know i love Bashar?i actually despite him not as a person but as a symbol , what you know about me? how you give yourselves the right to judge me? shame on you !

i was a supporter of this uprising at the beginning but because of people like you, i met in the start of the uprising i discovered that this is not struggle for democracy this is a power struggle, you categories people either with you or against you, you are morally much worse than the regime you pretend to fight ,if your uprising wins we will end up in the exactly same shit but with different names !!

PS. i have seen the video of the poor Egyptian guy who was executed in Lebanon and I am sure you saw it and you know its not the same, if you don’t agree provide me the link to the same video already posted and I will never believe Adduia again , you said the same about the poor guy was executed in Hama I’m sure .

September 7th, 2011, 6:34 pm

uzair8 said:

Menhabeks, a suggestion for you. You’ll feel at home on Press Tv site.

At the end of one article a user recieved just 0 likes and 5 dislikes for just asking the following:

“Why doesn’t the Syrian regime ever mention which country is supposedly involved in aiding the revolt?”

http://www.presstv.ir/detail/197958.html

September 7th, 2011, 6:38 pm

Aboud said:

“i have seen the video of the poor Egyptian guy who was executed in Lebanon and I am sure you saw it and you know its not the same, if you don’t agree provide me the link to the same video already posted and I will never believe Adduia again , you said the same about the poor guy was executed in Hama I’m sure .”

Here you go

Allow me to say, toooooz bi Al-Dunya wa kel bok ba3the.

Sho habibi? Still claiming it’s an example of revolution violence? Shall I point out the date it was posted? May 2nd, 2010. Yet another major blunder by Landis. It’s getting to be something of a habit.

“just because i posted something to expose your people crimes”

Actually, all you exposed was your pathetic and desperate need to post fake videos. Is there anyone alive today who didn’t see that video of the beating on TV? I did, and it’s not something one forgets. But apparently, the menhebaks and Landis hope that we did in fact forget.

“what you know about me? how you give yourselves the right to judge me? shame on you !”

I think you’ve adequately demonstrated how gullible you are. Fake videos of so called revolution violence anger you, and yet authentic and numerous videos of regime atrocities don’t seem to move you at all. Disgraceful. What kind of a Homsi would defend the shabiha SHITs firing on the Khaled ibn Waleed mosque?

When we catch the shabeehas who did it, THEY WILL WISH TO THEIR GOD BESHO THAT THEY WERE THAT EGYPTIAN! Compared to what I will do to them, it would have been a mercy.

September 7th, 2011, 6:50 pm

some guy in damascus said:

lol aboud owned homsi.
SC is only big enough for 1 homsi i guess…..

September 7th, 2011, 6:56 pm

Tara said:

Joshua

I can’t agree more with Aboud’s post# 18

Sectarianism must be quoted on both sides. SS said “HA, Iran and Alawites will be your masters forever”. I can not find a more sectarian and repulsive comment than this one. This is exactly why at least some of us support the revolution. When the revolution started, there was a famous you tube clip of a university professor beaten up by Sabeeha thugs telling him how dare he standIng up to his masters. Many other clips have surfaced to that effect that led some of us to characterize the current regime’s behavior of intentional humiliation as “reign of slaves”, meaning a severe inferiority complex affecting some of the Alawis regime figures and most of it’s Alawis thugs perhaps from their perception of having being enslaved, subjugated, and abused in the past by the Sunnis.

It is my opinion that the atrocities committed by the Shabeehas can’t come from people with normal psych development. It is a reflection of being raised impregnated with profound hatred and grudges that I can only find a word in Arabic for it which is ???

I think it is only fair that SS’ sectarian comment be also featured in the main post just next to Khalid.

September 7th, 2011, 6:56 pm

Aboud said:

The video of the 11 Alawite [Edited for vulgarity] shooting a dead man is on all the TV channels. Was there a weapon anywhere near him? He was a fat middle aged guy, in civilian clothes.

But of course, the Besho bum kissers will conveniently forget that video. But I will never let them forget.

You can hear the peasant Qqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqaaaaaaaqqqqqqqqqqefing of the Alawite (edited, the word “turds” is banned on Syria Comment from now on)

And you people wonder why we hate you.

Al sha3eb yureed, E3DAM AL RA’ES! In the most anally invasive way possible.

September 7th, 2011, 7:03 pm

uzair8 said:

A comment from AJE blog ‘Crucial moments to save the peace in Libya’ :

I have just followed a trail marked by JuJu 09 starting with the cold bloodied murder of a civilian by the Syrian Army. On the same video site a civilian a graphic scene of a civilain with his head blown of in the street..and then a small child stot in the eye I think but still alive, later shown in care but not responding. I was so angry that I put them on my fb. but removed them because I thought they are just too soul destroying to put up to unsuspecting friends. The sight of murdered men I can cope with but not children and I have unashamedly wept.

This regime with its smart sleek president and his puppetmasters must be eradicared from existance for the sake of humanity. I am one very small voice, I am not young any more. I have no influence or power. But I will stand up and speak against these evil forces until they have been removed from the face of the earth.

I ask the United Nations why is this regime tolerated. Countries have gone to war for far less reason. Men have died for less worthy causes. So why has the world not united in war agaist these evil powers. Is this not a cause worth fighting for.

Libyia, Bless it, is in the final act of gaining its well deserved freedom. I have done what little I could to support and encourage – many have done much more. I think Libyia can manage without me :)))) My fingers march across my keyboard to the Syrian front.
I will drop in of course because I will miss you all, the good, the bad and the ugly.

http://blogs.aljazeera.net/africa/2011/08/24/crucial-moments-save-peace-libya

(Liked by 78 people)

(switch to ‘Popular Now’ comments.)

September 7th, 2011, 7:11 pm

uzair8 said:

AbuGhassan and Menhabeks. The above post (#40) is why people have long decided that there is no compromise or dialogue with this evil entity in Syria.

Im not Syrian but seeing the stories of young Hamza and others my mind was made up.

I will quote the commentor quoted above:

“This regime with its smart sleek president and his puppetmasters must be eradicared from existance for the sake of humanity.”

This has been my view for a while.

September 7th, 2011, 7:21 pm

Haytham Khoury said:

September 7th, 2011, 7:22 pm

Aboud said:

Red Crescent ambulance in Homs, shot up by the Alawite pieces of filth

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7IuEg2PiEu8&feature=player_detailpage

If the ICRC president wants to discuss something with the X-Box (edited, pieces of filths, not allowed either ), maybe he should bring up the small matter of the minor-(edited) shooting up ambulances.

(Turd and scum aren’t the only words I know)

September 7th, 2011, 7:23 pm

True said:

@ 34. Homsi and all Menhebks horns

Honestly!! Are you for real daring us to prove the authenticity of Katrmaya video? Very typical ba3thi horn mentality RETARDS!!!!!
You Menhebkes love to get your bums whipped hard eh

For all those bloody Alwais wo bi el3arabi 3alawis, Nu?ayr?s criminals your superior days are gone for good, got that FOR GOOD and yes Khalid is coming back to you.

Surprised eh? Ohh how bad of us Sunnis hurting your feelings oh nooo we should be more nice maybe next time considering your heroic actions of 11 Alawi criminals shooting at a wounded Sunni man

Run to the moderator run you sympathy seekers, but maybe he’s busy putting more FABRICATED videos to incriminate the protesters

September 7th, 2011, 7:50 pm

Aleppo said:

I have been reading SC silently for quite some time. I can’t understand how someone can support Bashar. This must be a combination of Stockholm Syndrome and a delirious belief that there is no future without him. This is utter nonsense.

If you have economic or political interests, however shortsighted because Bashar will be gone sooner or later, I can understand it but it doesn’t make it less criminal to support the regime.

There is no way any decent human being can support what has been done and is being done in Syria. The more Bashar sticks to his crimes, the more likely Alawis will face difficulties in the future.

September 7th, 2011, 7:58 pm

Tara said:

France Accuses Syria Of Committing Crimes Against Humanity
9/7/2011 4:46 PM ET

http://www.rttnews.com/Content/GeneralNews.aspx?Id=1708854&SM=1

(RTTNews) – French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe on Wednesday condemned the continued suppression of pro-democracy protests in Syria and noted that the ongoing brutal crackdown on protesters by the Syrian regime amounts to “crimes against humanity.”

“The Syrian regime has committed crimes against humanity. We believe that this country must be sent a strong signal that the continuation of these actions is unacceptable,” Russia’s Interfax news agency quoted Juppe as saying while addressing a joint press conference in Moscow alongside his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov.

Juppe also urged Russia to back western efforts at the UN to to get sanctions and other punitive measures imposed on the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad over its crackdown on pro-democracy demonstrators.

Acknowledging that the French and Russian stands on the Syrian issue were different, the French Foreign Minister said: “I hope Russia will back us in the Security Council even if our positions do not yet fully agree.”

more….

September 7th, 2011, 7:59 pm

OFF THE WALL said:

Dear TRUE

There is a very reasonable explanation for why Prof. Landis dropped the word Palestinian. It was not there in the original post, which I edited seconds after posting and realized that It is also Palestinian blood that was shed by the regime not only in the past, but also very recently in Lattakia. In fact a more accurate wording would be Syrian,Palestinian, Iraqi, And Lebanese blood.

Dr. Landis, I think, does not cut and paste from the blog. He takes from the posts delivered to him in raw form, and probably from his email. We see the front-end of the operation, but I am confident that he works from a different level and view. Therefore, the incident of the text he saw was initially without the word Palestinians. To me this sounds the most simple explanation that does not require sinister plotting on Joshual’s side.

I have been blogging on this site for a long time now. Joshua quoted Aboud a few times, he quoted ss’s rant, and a few of my own rants as well. I personally have no reason to suspect and/or hint at sinister plans on his side. It is simply me who edits my posts too much, sometimes three times in the 9+ minutes allowed. I tend to make mistakes even when I use word processor and if the word Palestinians was dropped, it is most likely because it was not in the first instance. I am not sure if the Prof. gets records of every edit, which probably explains things, Occam’s razor style.

That said (this is an edit). It is obvious now to me that ss is now officially unhinged. One more in a long line of unhinged, thanks to the Aboud Syndrome

September 7th, 2011, 8:16 pm

Aboud said:

I now have a syndrome named after me *sniff tears of joy*

Thank you OTW 🙂

Are we allowed to swear in French? :p

September 7th, 2011, 8:27 pm

Joshua said:

Happy to oblige with the SS quote. ““HA, Iran and Alawites will be your masters forever” I cannot possible read all comments or I would have happily included it as an example of the rising level of hatred in Syria.

September 7th, 2011, 8:29 pm

Some guy in damascus said:

I don’t believe sana,dounia,Syrian state, ikhbairia sooriya( lol)
I don’t think bakkour was caught.
Btw guys I checked out Syrian commando. What a train wreck, I really wanna give him a whipping in debating.

September 7th, 2011, 8:36 pm

Abughassan said:

Homs is Hama#2 on steroids due to the dangerous sectarian fighting including random killings,assassinations,kidnapping,destruction of properties and a load of YouTube videos.
New lows include attacks on hospitals,buses,roadside bombs (alana’emah),etc.
This is what violence produces: more violence. Homs is slowly becoming little Baghdad.
Regardless of where you stand,be ready for a major confrontation in Homs. The regime will not allow Homs to be dominated by non government groups,and the armed opposition is not likely to stop anytime soon. In times like this,guns will have the upper hand and we all lose.Syrians in Homs and few other places are being forced to choose between a civil war or a foreign intervention that may never come. The vision by the regime hardliners is to subdue any rebellion by force then feed the opposition a “reform” plan that falls short of people’s expectations. Armed rebellion supporters know they can not win without a foreign intervention or a major defection in the army ,both possibilities are not likely as of now,and until we see a real political breakthrough,we can only expect more casualties in Syria.
SC is becoming less hospitable to anybody who refuses to rubber stamp the violent plan of militants on both sides,there are no winners in this bloody conflict,but violence will certainly prolong the life of the regime and the suffering of Syrian people…

September 7th, 2011, 8:44 pm

Aboud said:

SGID, I don’t believe SANA either. Let’s think it through. If they had him, they would have shown him in some video or picture by now.

And the fact that Syrian Commando has retreated to a place like Shiachat just shows that he is not in your league. Trust me, you are way, way better a debater than him.

September 7th, 2011, 8:46 pm

uzair8 said:

#50 SGID

I was gutted to read on here about Bakkour being caught. I asked someone on another blog and was told it wasnt reported on SANA (english) and may be a hoax unless it is reported on SANA Arabic.

I hope it isnt true.

About Syrian Commando. I have been checking out his twitter feed in recent days. Just visited a few minutes ago and his twitter feed is locked. Can no longer follow.

September 7th, 2011, 8:47 pm

Naji said:

http://www.nybooks.com/articles/archives/2011/sep/29/arab-counterrevolution/?page=1
Robert Malley and Hussain Agha are perhaps the finest analysts out there, and having spent the last six months in the region closely observing and interacting with the events, I can confirm that this is the most profound, succinct, and spot-on account of the uprisings you will read anywhere! Wow…every single carefuly studied word…!
Malley and Agha have out done themselves in this one…I’m awed!
(But I was about 3 months ahead of them in my personal assesment!:)
If you read nothing else, read this essay…

September 7th, 2011, 8:51 pm

uzair8 said:

It must be hell being a defector.

Remember the stories from both Syria and Libya about soldiers pretending to defect approaching defected soldiers only to open fire on the defectors? Can defectors trust anyone?

How can they operate in such an environment when the regime is willing to stoop to any depths?

September 7th, 2011, 8:52 pm

Some guy in damascus said:

Uzair8 ,
I checked the Arabic sana site, it did not mention it.
Btw may I ask you, where are you from?

September 7th, 2011, 8:54 pm

ann said:

15 people injured in blast in southern Syria

2011-09-07

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/world/2011-09/07/c_131114478.htm

DAMASCUS, Sept. 7 (Xinhua) — About 11 law-enforcement members and four civilians were injured Wednesday when an explosive device set by armed “terrorist” groups exploded in Syria’s southern town of Naeima, the official SANA news agency reported.

The blast ripped through a military bus carrying law- enforcement and security members in Naeima near the flashpoint city of Daraa, said SANA. The four injured civilians included a father and his two sons.

The explosive device was detonated by remote control, said SANA, adding that it contained metal pieces, steel nails and metal balls in order to cause the largest possible number of casualties.

In a separate incident Wednesday, an armed group fired heavy machine guns and rocket-propelled grenades at a military hospital in the central city of Homs, SANA said without giving a death toll.

Also on Wednesday, a “terrorist group” kidnapped Izz al-Din Ebeid and Abdul Razak Dali, two members of the ruling Baath party division in the Rastan city near Homs, SANA said.

Syria has been in unrest since mid-March when anti-government protests broke out in the southern province of Daraa and spread to other cities.

Activists and human rights groups said more than 2,200 civilians have been killed in alleged government operations against the protest movement, but the Syrian government disputes the toll, blaming the unrest on armed groups backed by foreign conspiracy with the aim of unseating Syrian President Bashar al- Assad.

Doha-based Al-Jazeera TV cited activists as saying that at least 11 people were killed in clashes with security forces across Syria Wednesday.

The report could not be independently verified as journalists are banned from heading to restive areas.

September 7th, 2011, 8:55 pm

uzair8 said:

@56 SGID

Im from the UK.

September 7th, 2011, 8:59 pm

True said:

@ 47. OFF THE WALL, JOSHUA

Thanks the matter is settled.

@ ABOUD, SGID, uzair8

I’m just about to call some mates in Syria to confirm Bakur’s arrest story.

@ ANN

Who woke you up?!! It’s spam time eh!!

@ Wazup Menhebkes

Why are you hiding? Come out and debate instead of just doing the like/dislike buttons

September 7th, 2011, 9:16 pm

atassi said:

register your extreme condemnation for the civilians killing and criminal acts committed by the regime in Syria and my dear Homs in particular….

September 7th, 2011, 9:17 pm

ann said:

Iran: Syria should hold talks with protesters

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jyqcM1OHG1b-XvytMl7epIkzd7fQ?docId=831ffe15ab5a427db5da8a3414c34b51

LISBON, Portugal (AP) — Syrian President Bashar Assad should back away from his violent crackdown on protesters and enter talks with the opposition, Iran’s leader Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Wednesday.

“There should be talks” between the Syrian government and its opponents, Ahmadinejad said in a live interview in Tehran with Portuguese broadcaster Radiotelevisao Portuguesa.

“A military solution is never the right solution,” Ahmadinejad said, according to a simultaneous Portuguese translation of his comments.

“We believe that freedom and justice and respect for others are the rights of all nations. All governments have to recognize these rights,” he said. “Problems have to be dealt with through dialogue.”

Iran’s Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi said last month that Assad should answer the legitimate demands of his people.

“Other countries in the region can help the Syrian government and people to talk to each other with a view to resolving their differences and introducing the reforms that are needed,” Ahmadinejad said.

Iran, Damascus’ chief ally, has blamed the U.S. and Israel for instigating more than five months of protests in Syria.

The U.S. and other nations have accused Iran of helping Assad crush the uprising.

“Other countries have no right to interfere in … domestic discussions,” Ahmadinejad said, citing NATO’s intervention in Libya as an example of misguided actions.

September 7th, 2011, 9:25 pm

True said:

@ Khalid Tlass

Do you have an idea where does “Mustafa Tlass” and his inner family members stand in terms of supporting the regime?

Do you think there’s a toppling point where he will disengage with Betho?

My full respect to the courageous people of Rastan.

September 7th, 2011, 9:26 pm

Haytham Khoury said:

Dear True @59:

I should admit you are an astute observer.

September 7th, 2011, 9:26 pm

Haytham Khoury said:

Ugarit News|| a Message from the Rebels In Hama to their Fellow Rebels in Homs:
Our Brother and Sisters in Homs, we in Hama, did not go out protesting today for your aid, not in fear for our safety, but because the regime’s security forces threatened any mosque in any neighborhood had a demo emerged from it. Anyone in that area, whether participated or not in any form of demonstration, will be arrested, indiscriminately, including, women, children and elders. We are not afraid, and what we did today was for the sake of our elders and women, taking into account the intense security forces presence with their armored vehicles at the doors of all mosques.

September 7th, 2011, 9:34 pm

sheila said:

To #54. Naji,
Thank you very much for the link. You are right. This is a must read. In depth analysis of the Arab Spring. The best that I have read so far.

September 7th, 2011, 9:38 pm

Aboud said:

Haytham, if I could speak to the people of Hama, I would tell them this. God bless you. God bless you and watch over you. If Hama goes out and demonstrates, the regime loses. If the regime has to post tanks at every Hamwi mosque to stop Hama from demonstrating, the regime still loses.

The fact that the regime has to go to such extreme and murderous measures, speaks volumes to the world; it says to the world that Hama is not subdued, and will never be subdued. Let the regime aim its tanks at mosques for a week, two weeks, a month. We know that the thirst and desire for freedom burns still in every Hamwi heart.

September 7th, 2011, 9:43 pm

ann said:

Syria seeks ‘alternative’ crude oil importers

September 7, 2011

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/39c7c870-d969-11e0-b52f-00144feabdc0.html

Syria is looking for new customers for its crude oil after the European Union imposed sanctions last week in response to a crackdown that has seen more than 2,000 people die in the past six months.

Mohammad al-Jleilati, the country’s finance minister, told reporters in Abu Dhabi that the move by the EU, which until now has purchased about 96 per cent of Syria’s crude oil exports, “shouldn’t become a problem”.

“We’re looking for alternatives,” said Mr Jleilati. “Syria is looking for any importer; it could be any country, Russia, China or Malaysia.”

The approximately 150,000 barrels Syria exports per day are relatively few compared with other producers, but human rights activists say that the $16 million a day generated by these sales provide an economic lifeline to a regime which has seen other sources of foreign currency such as tourism slow to a trickle since anti-government protests erupted in March.

At least 20 people were reported to have been killed on Wednesday as the crackdown continued in the protest hotspot of Homs in central Syria.

Syria now faced “a near-term hiatus” in selling oil, said Catherine Hunter, a senior Middle East energy analyst with IHS.

Transportation costs, the potential for operational disruptions and “the inconvenience factor” of dealing with a country under EU and US sanctions are likely to deter buyers given the relatively small volume of oil for sale. It would take “the right discount” for Syria’s relatively heavy crude to find a market, Ms Hunter said.

Syria may also have to resolve contractual issues with existing customers before they can sell elsewhere, she said. Under the terms of EU sanctions, existing contracts can be fulfilled until November 15, when a complete embargo comes into force. This may give Syria time to find another buyer for its oil, albeit at a discount, analysts say.

The Economist Intelligence Unit estimates that Syria will have to offer a discount of up to 20 per cent to attract buyers. “It’s going to eat in to their earnings, but not in a critical sense in the immediate term,” said the EIU’s Syria analyst Christopher Phillips. “If people were expecting the EU sanctions to have an immediate effect, they’re going to be disappointed.”

Nabil el-Arabi, the head of the Arab League, had been due to visit Damascus on Wednesday, but the Syrian government asked him to postpone his trip “for objective reasons”, according to the state news agency.

September 7th, 2011, 9:44 pm

Haytham Khoury said:

@ Aboud #66:

God be with you. Our hearts and minds are with you.

September 7th, 2011, 9:47 pm

Haytham Khoury said:

Dear True @62:

Mustafa Tlass and his inner circle are supporting the regime. His son is profiting from the regime.

September 7th, 2011, 9:50 pm

Aboud said:

Very useful website, with a listing of every single video of demonstrations in Syria

http://www.onsyria.com/

September 7th, 2011, 10:02 pm

Haytham Khoury said:

I found this article, talking about the Syrian society, as interesting.

http://mondediplo.com/blogs/the-syrian-people

September 7th, 2011, 10:03 pm

ann said:

China opposes pressing Syria to solve crisis

2011-09-08

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2011-09/08/content_13645136.htm

BEIJING – China said on Wednesday that the Syrian crisis should be solved through dialogue and consultations instead of simply putting pressure on the country.

“We think the first thing to do is to ease tensions in Syria in order to avoid escalation,” Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu said during a regular press briefing.

Jiang’s comments came in response to a question regarding whether or not China will communicate with the Syrian opposition, as Russia has already received a delegation from the Syrian opposition.

Jiang said that simply putting pressure on the country offers no solution and the correct approach to solving the crisis will be to launch a Syria-dominated inclusive political process.

“We should give Syria more time to carry out its commitment to reform,” Jiang said.

Syria has endured unrest since mid-March, when anti-government protests broke out in the southern province of Daraa and spread to other cities.

September 7th, 2011, 10:04 pm

majedkhaldoon said:

Rami Makhloof, circulated newly printed 500 lira,it is not acceptable outside Syria,
EHSANI we need your input on that.

September 7th, 2011, 10:08 pm

True said:

@ 63. Haytham Khoury

Thanks bro

Could you please prescribe something for those sick Menehbkes?

@ 66. Aboud

Very good website.

Allah ykoon ma3kom wo yla3an ro7ak ya Hafiz (got that SS)

September 7th, 2011, 10:12 pm

NK said:

LOL, have you guys seen the latest presidential decree ?

http://www.syria-news.com/readnews.php?sy_seq=137001

I loved this comment
????? ???? ????? ?????????

September 7th, 2011, 10:20 pm

Aboud said:

“Rami Makhloof, circulated newly printed 500 lira,it is not acceptable outside ”

o_O

He did what….????? Has he completely and utterly lost his mind?????

My God, if word got round that the regime is flooding the economy with bills it can’t back up (or worse, counterfeit money), that would screw the economy more than anything sanctions could do.

September 7th, 2011, 10:22 pm

abughassan said:

http://www.arab2.com/akhbar/f/f.html?http://www.all4syria.info/
The Gulf governments may be asking NATO to bomb Syria

September 7th, 2011, 10:25 pm

ann said:

Syria’s Day is Yemen’s Night

09/07/2011

http://www.palestinechronicle.com/view_article_details.php?id=17090

The Wall Street Journal explicitly spelled out U.S. foreign policy during a March editorial: “Since the beginning of the Arab Spring, we have argued that the Obama Administration needs to distinguish between its friends and enemies in the region, urging reforms on the former and encouraging regime change with the latter.”

September 7th, 2011, 10:26 pm

abughassan said:

http://www.arab2.com/akhbar/f/f.html?http://www.all4syria.info/
Did Turkey give Harmoush to the Syrian government or took him away for his own safety?

September 7th, 2011, 10:28 pm

True said:

@ 73. majedkhaldoon & 76. Aboud

This is very true, Betho and his thugs are running counterfeit currency fraud operation. The government is paying its employees using the new forged 500 note

This is my evidence

September 7th, 2011, 10:30 pm

ann said:

Israel isolated ahead of U.N. Palestinian vote

First published 24 minutes ago – Updated 3 minutes ago

http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/world/52539376-68/israel-palestinians-vote-netanyahu.html.csp

Jerusalem • Rising tensions with some of its closest and most important allies have left Israel increasingly isolated ahead of a momentous vote on Palestinian independence at the United Nations.

Troubles with Turkey, Egypt and even the U.S. are adding to Israel’s headaches ahead of the vote, which is shaping up to be a global expression of discontent against the government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

The Palestinians plan to ask the United Nations this month to recognize their independence in the West Bank, Gaza Strip and east Jerusalem — areas captured by Israel in the 1967 Mideast war — probably by embracing them as a “nonmember observer state.” The measure is expected to pass overwhelmingly in the U.N. General Assembly.

The assembly’s decisions are not legally binding, so the vote will be largely symbolic. But the Palestinians hope the measure will increase the already considerable pressure on Israel to withdraw from occupied territories, and add leverage should peace talks resume. The Palestinians refuse to negotiate while Israel continues to expand Jewish settlements in the West Bank and east Jerusalem.

Ghassan Khatib, a spokesman for the Palestinian government in the West Bank, said Israeli isolation is playing right into Palestinian hands. “We are seeing that result in increased support for us in the United Nations,” he said.

On Wednesday, China announced it would support the Palestinian bid. And a French Mideast envoy, Valerie Hoffenberg, said she had been fired after publicly arguing against the Palestinian initiative. France has not publicly said how it will vote, but her comments signaled that the government favors the Palestinians.

The vote is seen by many not only as a message of sympathy with the Palestinians, but also a barometer of discontent with Israel’s settlement policies. Some 500,000 Israelis now live in territories claimed by the Palestinians.

“There’s no question that had Israel been seen as a country doing its utmost to promote peace, no such vote would be taking place,” said Yossi Beilin, Israel’s former deputy foreign minister.

September 7th, 2011, 10:56 pm

ann said:

Ya’alon: Turkey Consorting With Terrorists

Vice premier Moshe Ya’alon responded to Turkish attacks on Israel saying Ankara was consorting with Hamas and Iran

9/8/2011

http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/147655

Vice premier Moshe Ya’alon called Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan out Wednesday, saying Ankara is consorting with terrorists.

“How can you trust a government that consorts with Iran and Hamas?” Ya’alon asked during a speech on Tuesday. “Since his government rose to power, Turkey has decided to turn east instead of west. Turkey turned into an Islamic republic from a secular republic.”

Relations between Turkey and Israel reached a new low Tuesday after Erdogan said Anakra would cut all defense-related trade with Israel and was considering “further sanctions.”

Erdogan’s latest rhetoric came just days after announcing Israel’s top level diplomats would have to leave Turkey by Wednesday.

Ya’alon dismissed whether the current diplomatic tensions between Jerusalem and Ankara were truly centered on whether Israel should apologize for the 2010 incident on board the Gaza-bound Mavi Marmara, in which nine Turkish nationals were killed.

“We are talking about a phenomenon that goes beyond this specific incident,” Ya’alon said. “The goal is to defeat the State of Israel. If anyone thinks that one word can settle the matter, they fail to understand.”

Ya’alon, who was involved in efforts to bring about reconciliation between Turkey and Israel, added that “what happened during the flotilla was without a doubt a Turkish provocation.”

According to Ya’alon, “We had no intention of ending the incident with fatalities but the soldiers had no other choice but to defend themselves. The result was not good and we tried to resolve the crisis later on.”

Ya’alon also countered criticism voiced by Opposition Chairwoman Tzipi Livni against the conduct of Netanyahu’s government in handling the current diplomatic crisis.

“Israel is not at fault for the situation with Turkey. I regret hearing the Opposition chairwoman say that the absence of Israeli-Palestinian peace talks led to the situation with Turkey. Whoever says that in an interview is asking for outside pressure. Perhaps he fails to understand or perhaps he is driven by political interests.”

September 7th, 2011, 11:03 pm

Some guy in damascus said:

Tehran urges assadistan to stop violence on demonstrators……whoa did besho just make the Iranians and the Americans agree on a issue????
Yil3an ro7ak ya 7afez

September 7th, 2011, 11:04 pm

Revlon said:

18. Dear Haytham Khoury, thank you for the complimentary information on CV Mr Muhammad Rahhal’s background.

September 7th, 2011, 11:09 pm

True said:

Anyone to tweet Betho “Yil3an ro7ak ya Hafiz wo yala er7al ya Bathar”

September 7th, 2011, 11:10 pm

some guy in damascus said:

Syrian President Bashar Assad should back away from his violent crackdown on protesters and enter talks with the opposition, Iran’s leader Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Wednesday.

“There should be talks” between the Syrian government and its opponents, Ahmadinejad said in a live interview in Tehran with Portuguese broadcaster Radiotelevisao Portuguesa.

“A military solution is never the right solution,” Ahmadinejad said, according to a simultaneous Portuguese translation of his comments.

did besho’s incompetence just make the iranians agree with american policy??????
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jyqcM1OHG1b-XvytMl7epIkzd7fQ?docId=831ffe15ab5a427db5da8a3414c34b51

YIL3AN RO7AK YA 7AFEZ!

September 7th, 2011, 11:11 pm

some guy in damascus said:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Grg7dMN7R4
haahahhaha
yil3an ro7ak ya 7afez!

September 7th, 2011, 11:17 pm

majedkhaldoon said:

Has anyone hear anything lately from Hassan Nasrallah?what does AhmadiNajad mean that Syrian regime should abandon the military solution and negotiate with the protesters?

Mustapha Tlass has two sons,Firas and Talal,he lives in a house next to Rawda circle,and has a big mansion in Ya3foor,and they own among other things,SYRIANEWS

September 7th, 2011, 11:27 pm

True said:

@ 87. SGID

Hahahaha wicked bro, i love it 🙂 this is the Syrian spirit “having fun and kicking bums” at the same time

Ba3 el Golan ibn el 7aram
Ba3 el Golan ibn el 7aram
wo yal3an ro7ak ya Hafiz

bro how come you’re still awake?

And yeah seems like the Menhebkes of mukhabarat division 225 are gone or asleep eh

September 7th, 2011, 11:30 pm

ann said:

Colonial imperialism is back with a bang!

08 September, 2011

http://rt.com/news/colonial-imperialism-sanctions-syria-049/

Old colonial powers like Britain and France seem to live as in the old days, attempting to regain their empires and control the Middle East, by starting puppet regimes through the Arab Spring “revolutions”, thus enabling them to extract oil safely.

The situation in one of the countries in a ‘spring condition’, Syria, has been discussed in Moscow at a meeting between the Russian and French foreign ministers.

Both Sergey Lavrov and his counterpart Alain Juppe stressed the need for dialogue between the Syrian government and opposition. But the meeting also outlined a few differences in approach.

France is seeking tough sanctions on the Syrian government, while Russia wants a more peaceful solution. But both look forward to discussing possible measures at the UN General Assembly later this month.

Russia’s foreign minister stressed Syria must not face a repeat of the Libyan scenario.

“We are convinced that it is vital today to start talks and this is actually what the Syrian leaders are calling for. It is extremely dangerous to prompt certain forces in Syria to boycott these talks. And neither Russia nor France want to see that happen,” Lavrov stated. “Every party in Syria should stop using violence and we have proposed a resolution to this effect. We encourage the [Syrian] government to carry out the reforms it has launched and the opposition should not use provocations and reject invitations into dialogue,” he warned.

The French foreign minister in Moscow has once again said UN sanctions must be imposed on the Syrian regime, but such sanctions traditionally strike not the regime, but the people, insists Jacob Hornberger, the president of the Future of Freedom Foundation.

Embargoes against Cuba and Iraq never succeeded in toppling the regimes there.

“This is a matter for the Syrian people to decide how far they want to go to oust this dictatorship. Do they want to go for a revolution – which is a very costly enterprise? A lot of people lose their lives,” says Hornberger. “This is a choice that people of that country need to make, it is not a decision that can be imposed on them through the US government.”

But according to Hornberger the situation is only going to get significantly worse once it becomes clear that games with sanctions are not going to shatter the regime of President Bashar Assad. “You may see a Libya-type situation,” he concluded.

in central Syria, resulting in at least six people being killed.

This news came just hours after activists claimed several people had been killed when government forces used armored vehicles in the besieged city of Homs.

The UN has been calling for more pressure to be put on President Assad.

The truth is that there is no true information from Syria, and the information transmitted via Arab satellites should not be trusted completely, warns Dr. Hisham Ghassib, professor at Princess Sumaya University for Technology in Jordan.

“It is a very confusing situation. We intellectuals in Jordan feel that Syria is being targeted by foreign powers for various reasons,” Ghassib observed.
The media is focused tight on the Syrian situation, forgetting about the same problems in Bahrain, Yemen and other Arab countries as “obviously there are no democracies in the Arab world.”

September 7th, 2011, 11:36 pm

Revlon said:

( Kinda Khamasmie in Homs said:
To those who are asking what’s happening in Homs right now:
– simultaneous attack on the police station and the political security buildings.
– Gunmen heavily deployed with Kalashnikovs and RPGs and sounds of jihad are everywhere.
– Khalid ibn al-Walid Brigade appear publicly in the streets and give guidance to the people on how to act.
– All the banks and private institutions have sent invitations to their employees not to come to work.
– Currently the army is deployed in some areas of Homs and talking about a quality operation coming in Homs.
– Everyone who is carrying Kalashnikov and RPG and calling for Jihad should die, because enough is enough!”)
______________________________________________________________
Good heavens, Listen to a desparate Shabbeeh/Mukhabarati/Informant, who is well on top of fresh Regime communiques:
– Private banks have been asked to shut down (not public ones, mind you)!
Are shabbeeha planning mass raids on private Banks to settle their unpaid due salaries?

– A quality army operation is coming to Homs soon!
Ouch, it looks like their first poaching was a fiasco. They are shouting louder to drive attention away from the the shit in their pants.

– Everyone who is carrying Kalashnikov and RPG and calling for Jihad should die, because enough is enough!”
Oooooooooooh! FSA RPG hits on army cowards and security eunuchs did reeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeal damage.

Thank you Khamasmieh for your insightful contribution and advance warning!
Please, do come again!

September 7th, 2011, 11:36 pm

True said:

Ok lads & gals I’m off for the day,

keep kicking the Menhebks’ bums eh, trust me they keep asking for it.

Wo keep in mind Yel3an ro7ak ya Hafiz 🙂

September 7th, 2011, 11:39 pm

some guy in damascus said:

i sleep from 10 am to 6 pm Damascus time , so i can have good stamina in a demonstration. most of them are occurring at night.
plus the internet at night is faster , easier to watch videos and stuff 🙂

September 7th, 2011, 11:41 pm

Haytham Khoury said:

Dear Revlon@84:

You are welcome.

September 7th, 2011, 11:46 pm

ann said:

Erdogan the hypocrite

Op-ed: Turkish prime minister has gall to preach to Israel while massacring the Kurds

Shaul Rosenfeld
Published: 09.07.2011

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4119341,00.html

An apology, returning the vessels that took part in the flotilla, compensating the casualties and their families, lifting the Gaza blockade, and Israeli acquiescence to an international probe – these were the Turkish demands from Israel a few weeks after the Marmara events, so that the Turks won’t slam the door in our face and be kind enough to return the Turkish ambassador to Tel Aviv.

Yet now, after their hopes were dashed, with the international committee that the Turks so much wanted failing to meet Turkey’s incredibly impudent demand for an anti-Israeli legal document, Erdogan has no option left but to raise the bar of threats and sanctions.

And so, in the finest tradition of the Turkish crescendo, Erdogan’s threats and sanctions had been growing since the Palmer Report; it appears that it’s only a matter of time and some current excuse that would prompt the successor of the Ottoman Empire to demand that we hand over parts of the Land of Israel.

Erdogan’s appearances and repeated threats are reminiscent of parodies about neighborhood thugs who do everything they can to sow fear in their environment, even if they fail to understand where their words lead to or whether they can deliver on every rash pledge.

Yet in his own eyes, Erdogan is no less than a Pasha who wishes to restore the Ottoman glory days, as long as everyone follows his decrees and threats. All of this is of course done in the spirit of Islam, which Barak Obama characterized in his 2009 Cairo speech as offering “justice, progress, tolerance and respect for the dignity of all human beings.”

Given these noble Islamic principles, we can understand why the current Pasha, in his role as the regional guardian of morality, sees fit to preach to Israel and explain how terrible it is to violate the incredibly important commandment “thou shalt not murder.”

Erdogan’s memory lapse

Yet somehow, Erdogan forgot a few trivial facts along the way. For example, that only two weeks after his “thou shalt not murder” speech he threatened the Kurds with extermination, some 95 years after his forefathers did the same, in practice, to the Armenians while completely denying their actions. He also forgot Turkey’s war against these Kurdish rebels, the use of chemical weapons, the detention of many Kurdish political leaders, and the utilization of the secret police against opposition groups.

Indeed, only last month, Turkey launched a massive bombardment of Kurdish areas in northern Iraq, including population centers, while killing civilians indiscriminately.

Almost every indication shows that Erdogan has decided to grant Israel a divorce, yet despite this there are quite a few Israelis who lament and criticize the “reckless” act of not apologizing – even if the Turkish demand for apology is only meant to bring Israel down to its knees, thereby glorifying Ankara. Of course, later there will be another excuse in order to trample Israel’s honor, and mostly tie its hands vis-à-vis the Palestinians.

And so, based on the same logical lapse that prompted many Israelis to say that “we must make peace, because without it the situation is unbearable” – while wholly relaying on wishful thinking – today we are hearing apology fans asserting that “we must apologize, because a rift vis-à-vis Turkey is intolerable,” assuming that “appeasing the Turks is possible because we really want it.”

At times, a bad option is unavoidable, for the simple reason that all other options are worse.

September 7th, 2011, 11:53 pm

Revlon said:

Hi Abboud, do you know more about Khamasmie’s claim of attacks on Political Security Bransh and police station?
Where is that branch located anyway? Gardenia?

September 8th, 2011, 12:00 am

ann said:

Letter to US President, Vice President, Secretary of State and Secretary of Defense, Senate Foreign Relations Committee

Kurdishaspecct.com – By Kurdish-Americans and Kurdish Canadian Citizens

We, as Kurdish-Americans and Kurdish Canadian, would like to submit the following letter to President Barack Obama, the Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, the Secretary of Defense Robert Gates as well as the Senate Foreign Relations Committee

September 06, 2011

http://www.kurdishaspect.com/doc090711KA.html

To: President Barack Obama
Vice President Joseph Biden
The Secretary of State Hillary Clinton
The Secretary of Defense Robert Gates
Senate Foreign Relations Committee
Subject: Turkish and Iranian military actions inside Kurdistan region (Northern Iraq).
Dear Mr. President,
Dear Mr. Vice President
Dear Secretary Clinton,
Dear Secretary Gates,
Dear Senate Foreign Relations Committee

We are writing to you on behalf of a large number of Kurdish-Americans concerned about Turkish and Iranian military actions inside Kurdistan region in Northern Iraq.

The killing of civilians and the destruction of villages – homes and property represent a gross violation of the Geneva conventions.

Turkish and Iranian Army flattened a series of small villages ranging between 20 and 70 kilometers inside Iraq. The attacks against civilian Kurds are violent invasion of territory.

Both countries are bound by international law. The effect of Article 2(4) Charter of the United Nations is very simple. It makes it illegal under international law to use force against another state.

The 1970 Declaration on Principles of International Law describe the duty as one to avoid “military, political, economic or any other form of coercion aimed against the political independence or territorial integrity of any state.” It is clear that any form of punitive action is illegal. It is also important to note that it is not just the use of force that is prohibited, but the threat of force. This raises questions as to the legality of these two countries determination to continue their military cross-border operations.

Turkey stated that these raids were with consent of the United States and providing intelligence assistance and information to Turkey and we all know that the United States, in charge of monitoring Iraqi airspace!!

We strongly condemn Turkish air strikes and Iranian military actions which were probably designed to terrorize the local Kurdish civilians, we urge you to do everything necessary in your power to protect civilian Kurds and call upon Turkish government to immediately end the military actions and use dialogue to solve their internal issues particularly Kurdish issue. A continuous escalation of the conflict will cause more suffering to civilians in the region, which so far has been de-stabilizing part of Iraq.

Finally we request to ensure in all circumstances the respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms in accordance with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and with international and regional human rights instruments ratified by Turkey, Iran and Iraq.

We look for your urgent intervention into this matter.

September 8th, 2011, 12:22 am

Revlon said:

Russians always arrive late!
????? ????? ??????? ??????!
???? ??????
???????? 07 ????? 2011
http://www.annahar.com/content.php?priority=9&table=makalat&type=makalat&day=Wed

??? ??????? ???? ??????? ?????? ??????? ???????? ??? ??????? ?? ????? ????? ?? ???????? ???????? ??? ????? ???? ?????? ?? ??????? ??????? ?”??????? ????????” ????????. ???? ???? ??? ??? ?????? ??? ??? ???? ????? ?? ???? ?? ???? ?? ????? ??????? ?? ?????? ????? ???? ?? ????? ??????? ??? ???? ???? ???? ????? ????????? ?????? ?? ???? ?? ???? ????? ???? ?????? ???? ???? ?????? ?? ???? ???? ???????? ?? ??????? ?? ???? ???? ?? ???? ????? ??? ???? ??? ????? ???? ???? ?? ??????????? ??? ??? ??? ???? ???????? ??? ???? ????? ????? ?????? ??????? ????? ???? ?? ????.
?????? ?? ????? ????????? ?? 20 ????? ?????? ??? ???? ???? ?????? ???????? ??? ????? ???? ?????? ?? ????? ??? ????????? ??? ??? ??? ?????? ??? ????? ?? ???? ????? ??????!
More ……

September 8th, 2011, 12:44 am

ann said:

Israeli general: Arab Spring could bring winter war – September 8, 2011

http://www.christiannewstoday.com/Christian_News_Report_900100.html

Maj-Gen. Eyal Eisenberg, chief of the Israeli army’s Home Front Command, warned on Monday that thanks to the recent revolutions in surrounding Arab states, Israel could face a multi-front war in the very near future.

While Western leaders, and especially Western media, have portrayed the presumedly pro-democracy revolutions in Egypt, Tunisia, Libya and Syria as a positive development, Israeli officials have been warning that they are quickly being hijacked by radical Islamists.

In Egypt, the Muslim Brotherhood looks poised to win the country’s first truly democratic election in decades. Reports in recent days are that other Islamist groups are making their moves in post-revolution Tunisia and Libya.

Far from being optimistic, Gen. Eisenberg told a conference at the Institute for National Security Studies in Tel Aviv that “after the ‘Arab Spring,’ we assess that a winter of radical Islam will arrive and as a result the possibility for a multi-front war has increased including the potential use of weapons of mass destruction.”

Government officials in Jerusalem blasted Eisenberg in the local media for “exposing classified materials” and “stirring up tensions in the region.”

But Eisenberg was not alone in sharing his concerns over what the coming months could hold for the Middle East.

Speaking at a news conference in Brussels on Monday, European Union counter-terrorism chief Gilles de Kerchove cautioned that the Arab revolutions could lead to a power vacuum that terrorist groups will seek to fill.

“Democracy does not happen overnight,” said de Kerchove. “Let’s hope [the revolutions] do not lead to some disappointment in which Al Qaeda … might be attractive once again.”

While de Kerchove’s remarks were focused on Al Qaeda in the run-up to the 10th anniversary of the September 11, 2001 attacks in the US, there are many other groups in the region far more capable of radicalizing Israel’s neighbors.

A perfect example of what can happen in an Arab country that experiences a power vacuum while playing host to a dangerous terror group is Lebanon. As successive Western-backed governments failed to hold the reins in Beirut following the 2005 revolt against Syrian occupation, Hizballah began to increase its power to the point that today it holds most of the important cabinet positions and enjoys veto power over the government.

September 8th, 2011, 2:15 am

ann said:

Syria: Testing Time – 07.09.2011

Syria remains relatively calm as efforts to destabilise its government through orchestrated attacks by rebels fail.

http://mrzine.monthlyreview.org/2011/cherian070911.html

Life in the Syrian capital, Damascus, seems to be continuing as normal. The streets and the mosques are crowded after the devout break their Ramazan fast in the evening. The security presence is minimal. In fact, there are more armed police and paramilitary men in central Delhi than in the heart of Damascus. This does not mean that all of Syria has suddenly become calm. Although the two biggest cities, Damascus and Aleppo, have not witnessed any major anti-government demonstrations or violence so far, smaller cities such as Homs, Jisr al-Shughour and Deraa continue to be rocked by intermittent protests and violence.

The Syrian Army has withdrawn from the smaller towns, but there are reports about civilian casualties every other day. Many of those killed have been victims of sectarian clashes. The government in Damascus does not want to publicise this fact as it gets busy dousing the fire. One of the slogans preferred by the militant groups ranged against the government is “Alawites to the grave, Christians to Beirut”. Alawites and Christians constitute sizable minorities in Syria. The Sunni population is around 60 per cent.

Relative calm has now returned to the town of Hama though tensions are still visible. On a visit to the city in the last week of August, this correspondent saw the impact of the violence unleashed against the government by organised gangs of militants. The government had responded by briefly sending in troops to restore order. Many people lost their lives. Among them were policemen and security personnel. Government buildings, especially those housing the security forces, were specifically targeted.

The newly appointed Governor of Hama, Anas Abd-Alrazeq, presented evidence to the media about the well-planned and supervised mayhem that was witnessed in the city in July and early August. Hama, like nearby Homs, has been a stronghold of the banned Muslim Brotherhood. In 1982, President Hafez al-Assad had crushed a revolt in the city. The death toll at the time was estimated to be between 10,000 and 20,000. Obviously, the scars left behind by that grave episode are still to heal.

Outside the hall in which the Hama Governor addressed the visiting mediapersons, a small group of anti-government demonstrators, including young men and women, were boldly shouting slogans and airing their grievances. The police and the security forces made no attempts to stop them. The demonstrators complained of torture and other abuses by the security forces during the course of the recent events. One activist said he would welcome any kind of help from America. His argument was that Russia and China were propping up the Syrian government by supplying weapons. It was obvious that the young protesters had been trained well in the art of propaganda warfare too.

The walls of Hama were full of anti-government graffiti, much of it crudely painted over. The fact that the government is also allowing small protests to be staged and publications critical of its policies to be printed is seen as a welcome sign. On the streets of Damascus, English-language magazines such as Syria Today and Forward containing articles critical of the Syrian government and its handling of the protests are available freely.

The most graphic instance of the brutality exhibited by the anti-government rioters in Hama was the dumping of the bodies of three tortured government soldiers from a bridge over the river Orontes. Bloodstains were still visible on the spot from which the bodies of the soldiers were dumped into the fast-flowing river, when this reporter visited the site. The video of the heinous act is available on the Internet. The Hama Governor said that the local populace helped the civic authorities clear up the barricades and the mess that weeks of turmoil had created. In many parts of Hama, the local people who had suffered many days of lawlessness welcomed the army with flowers. The Governor said that stories that the military was still present in the city and widespread protests were continuing were canards spread by vested interests controlling media outlets such as Al Jazeera and Al Arabiya.

Abd-Alrazeq added that the two media outlets had gone to the extent of spreading false information that the army tanks had flattened mosques and hospitals. This correspondent found that the only institutions destroyed were police stations and government buildings that were gutted in the town centre. Diplomats based in Damascus are also of the view that much of the reportage by the two Arab satellite channels was highly biased and politically motivated.

The story about Syrian naval ships allegedly firing on a Palestinian refugee camp in the coastal city of Latakia, first aired by the two Arab channels, was picked up by the Western media and given credibility. Syria immediately issued a denial. Diplomats said that the Syrian Army had requested the leaders in the densely populated Palestinian camp to hand over a few militants hiding in their midst. Latakia had witnessed large-scale violence in July in which protesters and soldiers were killed. When the Palestinian community leaders conveyed their inability to get the militants out of the camps, the Syrian Army had no other option but to send in troops. There were a handful of civilian casualties in the operations that followed.

Syria had housed the Palestinians on prime real estate in the Mediterranean town after they were expelled from Libya following the Oslo Peace Accords in the mid-1990s. The former Libyan leader, Muammar Qaddafi, was resolutely opposed to the peace treaty with Israel.

Qatar and Saudi Arabia, which own the two television stations, are being suspected of materially helping the anti-government groups, which are increasingly resorting to armed insurrection. More than 500 Syrian security forces have been killed so far. The United Nations has put the civilian casualties at around 2,000 since the upsurge in the violence began more than five months ago.

In late August, there was yet another attack targeting the armed forces. Thirteen soldiers, including an officer, were killed in the recent attacks in the governorate of Homs and further north in al-Rastan. Senior Syrian officials, including Foreign Minister Walid Muallem, are not yet ready to reveal the names of the militant groups involved in the orchestrated attacks on the security forces. The Hama Governor only went to the extent of saying that those involved probably belonged to “Salafist” (militant Sunni) groups. The Swedish media have said that 80 to 90 per cent of the funding for the Salafist groups comes from Saudi Arabia with the United States’ tacit support.

The Hudson Institute, a leading American think tank, has said that the Barack Obama administration has decided, along with Turkey, to back the Muslim Brotherhood in Syria. In July, Hillary Clinton, the U.S. Secretary of State, convened a meeting on Syria. Most of the Syrian invitees belonged to the Brotherhood. The secular opposition, which includes a wing of the Syrian Communist Party, was ignored. “Missing from the invitation were Kurdish leaders, Sunni liberals, Assyrians and Christian spokesmen,” the Hudson Institute report said.

According to various reports, the U.S. State Department made a deal with Turkey and the Muslim Brotherhood either to share power with President Bashar al-Assad to stabilise the government or to replace him if the effort failed. In Egypt, too, the Obama administration seems to be in favour of a deal between the still powerful Egyptian Army and the Muslim Brothers, currently the largest political force in that country.

Walid Muallem, who met a small group of Indian journalists in his office, said that the government was carrying out a thorough inquiry into the attacks and would soon provide evidence about those involved and the sources of their funding and arms supplies. He conveyed his government’s happiness with the “objective position” taken by the Indian government at the U.N. Security Council and other international fora. India, along with China, Russia, Brazil and South Africa, has been opposing outside interference in the internal affairs of Syria and want the Syrians to sort out their own problems.

President al-Assad, in an interview aired on Syrian television on August 21, warned against any outside intervention in the affairs of his country. He said that Syria’s geopolitical position and military capabilities would guarantee “greater consequences” for those who dared to carry out a military intervention.

The U.S. and the European Union had demanded that al-Assad step down. The President emphasised that such a demand was not even worthy of a response, adding that he was elected by the Syrian people and not appointed by the West.

Syria will need more consistent support from countries such as India as it braces itself for immediate pressure from the West in the form of a more punitive Security Council resolution. India was among the countries that abstained during a recent vote at the U.N. Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in Geneva on a draft resolution criticising Syria for human rights violations. The resolution called on the Syrian government to put an immediate end to the excessive use of force and stop the intimidation of peaceful protesters. Russia, China, Cuba and Ecuador were the only four countries that stood by Syria and voted against the proposed resolution. The Russian envoy to the UNHRC described the resolution as “politicised and lopsided”. Russia is planning to present a draft resolution of its own in the coming days at the Security Council.

The Western media had talked of mass graves near Deraa, where the current unrest has its origins. Human rights groups found only six bodies. Walid Muallem said the militants had been burying their dead in unmarked graves so as to avoid identification. The other allegation against the Syrian government was that it was implementing a scorched earth policy in the cities that had witnessed massive anti-government protests and violence. “This is total misrepresentation. The West is going to absurd lengths to vilify the regime,” said a senior Asian diplomat based in Damascus.

Walid Muallem said the government would allow a UNHRC fact-finding mission into the country only after the investigations by Syria’s own Human Rights Commission was over. He said other human rights groups had been given permission to visit Syria. He said many foreign powers were behind the Hama violence. “The Hama protests are under investigation. Many outside powers are behind it. The American embassy in Damascus is also instigating the protesters,” the Foreign Minister said.

The American and French Ambassadors had made unauthorised visits to Hama at the height of the recent violence and had even met the protest leaders there. Walid Muallem said the American Ambassador was in direct contact with certain elements in the opposition.

He warned Turkey against interfering in the internal affairs of his country. Syria and Turkey share an 850-km-long border. A motley crowd of exiled dissidents have set up a “transitional council” in Istanbul. “We urge Turkey to respect our sovereignty,” the Foreign Minister said. Until the crisis erupted earlier in the year, the two countries had managed to build excellent bilateral relations. But now, with Washington urging Ankara to play a lead role in the destabilisation of Syria, relations have once again deteriorated sharply. In 1998, the two countries were on the verge of a war as Turkey accused Syria of providing bases for the rebellious Kurds.

Walid Muallem was also critical of the additional sanctions imposed by the West on Syria. “Economic sanctions are an act against the well-being of the Syrian people,” he said.

The government is angry with the way some U.N. agencies have been compiling the civilian casualty figures based on speculative satellite television reports. They do not bother to reconcile their reports with hospital records released by the government.

The West wants to use the alleged instance of widespread human rights abuse to corner Syria in the Security Council. This was the game plan the West adopted against Libya, first persuading the Security Council to impose a “no-fly zone” and then using the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) to facilitate regime change. Describing the present constitution of the Security Council as “an instrument of the U.S.”, Walid Muallem warned that “no country is immune from destabilisation”. He accused many Arab countries of having a “special relationship” with the U.S. and Western Europe and helping in the efforts under way to destabilise Syria.

The Americans, according to Walid Muallem, are encouraging these efforts, as they think they will be able to isolate the two main resistance movements in the region, Hizbollah and Hamas, and in the process help their principal ally, Israel, to ride roughshod over the Palestinians. Both Hizbollah and Hamas have strong links with the Syrian government. Today, after the fall of Qaddafi, Syria and to some extent Lebanon are the only countries to have independent foreign policies opposed to American hegemony in the region.

“The geographical location of Syria in the region is very important. The Americans want to prevent Syria from playing a meaningful role. They want to divide Syria and the neighbouring states into smaller states to implement their blueprint for the region,” the Foreign Minister said. This was the original plan of the Bush administration after the 2003 Iraqi occupation was completed. A senior George W. Bush administration official had said at the time that Syria was a “ripe fruit ready for the picking”.

According to Walid Muallem, immediately after the Iraq war ended, the then U.S. Defence Secretary, Colin Powell, visited Damascus and presented President al-Assad with six demands, which included cutting off links with Hizbollah and Hamas and distancing his government from Iran, with which it traditionally had close links. Al-Assad refused to kowtow to the demands of the U.S. The Bush administration immediately started accelerating its destabilisation efforts by pumping in funds for anti-government groups and “pro-democracy” activists.

Walid Muallem said that the recent decisions of the Syrian government had shown that the well-being of the people was of utmost importance. He reiterated the President’s commitment to hold free and fair elections by February 2012. This would make Syria a “shining example for the rest of the region”, he said, acknowledging that “certain demands” of the opposition were legitimate and had prompted the government to implement reforms. “We will allow political parties to function freely and let them have their own media forums.”

But it takes two hands to clap. To make free elections a reality, the cooperation of the opposition is necessary. The opposition, bolstered by the support of the U.S. and its allies in the region, is in no mood to compromise on either negotiating a peaceful end to the protests or participating in the elections. As Walid Muallem told this correspondent, the protests in Syria are attempting to take the shape of an “armed insurrection”.

However, the Foreign Minister sought to point out that any comparison of the situation on hand with that in Libya was misplaced. “We don’t have enough oil to be as attractive to the West as Libya. We are not divided like the Libyans were, nor do we have an open revolution. We have only some religious and sectarian groups out on the streets. Damascus and Aleppo, the two main cities, are calm,” he said.

September 8th, 2011, 2:35 am

ann said:

Israelis could face trial in the Hague if Palestinian statehood recognized at UN, experts warn

According to the statute of the court, the direct or indirect transfer of an occupier’s population into occupied territory constitutes a war crime.

08.09.2011

http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/news/israelis-could-face-trial-in-the-hague-if-palestinian-statehood-recognized-at-un-experts-warn-1.383144

Recognition of a Palestinian state could, in theory, lead to Israeli officials being dragged repeatedly before the International Criminal Court in the Hague for claims regarding its settlement policies in the West Bank, legal experts say.

According to the statute of the court, the direct or indirect transfer of an occupier’s population into occupied territory constitutes a war complaint is being investigated by Israel and those responsible are prosecuted,” explained Prof. Robbie Sabel, a former legal adviser to the Foreign Ministry and an expert in not trying to ascertain the guilt of the accused, the court may get involved,” he said.

(edited. New rule on SC, please limit your post to few paragraphs when the article is not about Syria)

September 8th, 2011, 2:36 am

Revlon said:

This link below is to a video of the special forces unit that defected in Bustan Addeewan, Homs yesterday.

Humataddiar is a privilege and honor bestowed by The People.
Many more will be coming back home to where they belong, The people.
Humatalasad will soon be ditching their helmets, camouflage uniforms and gears and run for cover, inside the nearest hole!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cdBKtczPISM&feature=player_embedded
??? ????? ??????? ????? ????? ???? ????? ????? ??? ??????? ??????? ???????? ?? ????? ?????? 7 9 2011

September 8th, 2011, 3:18 am

Revlon said:

The Syrian regime and the fallacy of protection of minorities
Ali Hmadeh
?????? ?????? ???? ????? ????????
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07 Sept 2011
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http://www.annahar.com/content.php?priority=14&table=makalat&type=makalat&day=Wed

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More ……….

September 8th, 2011, 3:31 am

SYR.EXPAT said:

As far as Mr. Bakour is concerned, I won’t believe anything until I see him on video. The gov. claims to have him and the opposition claims he’s outside, but no video proof has emerged.

September 8th, 2011, 3:52 am

SYR.EXPAT said:

The killing of Ibrahim Kashoush and the attack on Ali Ferzat has generated a lot of sympathy locally and internationally. Here’s a long poem by a well-known Egyptian poet praising Kashoush and Ferzat.

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http://www.ali-ferzat.com/ar/?????-??????-???-??????-????????-????-??????-??????.html

September 8th, 2011, 4:00 am

SYR.EXPAT said:

Iranian president says that Assad must stop the violence…
http://www.syria-news.com/readnews.php?sy_seq=137036

Also in the same article, Syria’s ambassador Imad Mustafa lies by claiming that all demonstrations without exception come out of mosques and never came out universities in his speech or interview to NPR in Washington.

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?????????

September 8th, 2011, 4:29 am

Aboud said:

“Hi Abboud, do you know more about Khamasmie’s claim of attacks on Political Security Bransh and police station?
Where is that branch located anyway? Gardenia?”

Hi Revlon, no, the amin al seyasi is in insha’at, near the train station.

It’s always guarded by overweight men who couldn’t repel an attack by a flock of geese, so if any armed group attacked Amin Al Seyasi, they would have burned it down without too much trouble. If I go near that area I’ll take a look.

It’s interesting that the security forces have abandoned one of the checkpoints at the bridge leading to the university. They couldn’t even be bothered to take away the sand bags with them LOL!

September 8th, 2011, 6:26 am

ss said:

WAZUP radicals, MBs. This news is for you

???? ??? ???? ???? ??????? ?? ???????? ????? ????? ???????? ???? ????? ???? ?? ?????? ???? ??? ??????? ??? ????? ?????? ?????? ?? ?? ???? ?? “???? ????”? ???? ??????? ?? ???????? ?? ????????? ?? ??????? ???????? ????? ?? ????? ?????? ??? ???????.

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???? “?? ???? ????? ?? ???? ?????? ??? ??? ???? ?????? ?? ??? ???????? ??? ?? ????? ?? ??? ?????????? ???? ?? ??? ?????? ??????? ????? ????? ?????? ?????? ?????? ??????? ??????? ?????? ?? ?????? ???? ??? ?????”.

????? ??? ?????? ??????? ??????? ?? ????? ????? ???????? ??????? ??? ??? ?? ???? ??? “???? ????” ?? “?? ??????? ???????? ?? ??????? ?????????? ?????????”? ?????? ?? “????? ?? ??????? ?? ???? ????? ?????? ??? ?????? ?? ???? ??? ????? ?? ?? ???? ????? ??????? ?? ???????”.

September 8th, 2011, 7:18 am

Revlon said:

Signs of destructive desparation:
Heavy tank/artillary sheeling of the Village of Bleen, Jabal Azzawiyeh, Today.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1pkZ_HzAy5Y&feature=player_embedded#!
???? – ???? – ??? ??????? – ???? ?????? ? ??????? ???? ????? ????? ???? ????? ?? ????? 8-9-2011 ??? 2

September 8th, 2011, 7:20 am

ss said:

Those who keep saying; civil war will happen, I tell them this will not happen under the watch of the army. Things went out of control in Banyas, Hama, and Lattakia before; with the help of the army; order was restored. Homs in no exception; once the army starts I assure you the order will be restored as well. Civil war will happen if there is no goverment. That is not the case with Syria.

September 8th, 2011, 7:23 am

Revlon said:

Erdogan is to sever diplomatic relations with Asad regime
Hameed Ghiryafi
2011/09/08
http://www.sooryoon.net/?p=32423

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??? ?????? ????, ??? ??? ????????? ?????????? ?????? ?¯”???????” ?? ??? ?? ????? ???? ??? ???? ???? ?????? ???????? ???? ??? ???? ??????? ?? ??????? ??????? ????? ???? ??? 80 ????? ????? ???? ?????? ?????? ??????? ??????, ??? ????? ???? “??? ????” ??????? ?? ????? ???? ?????? ?? ?? ????? ????? ????? ???? ???? ?????? ?? ?????, ????? ??? ??? ????? ??? ??? ???? ?????? ????????? ??????? ????? ??? ???????? ?????? ???? ????, ???? ???????? ????? ????? ????? ??? ?? ???? ??????”.

???? ??????? ???????? ???? ???? ???? ?????? ?? ???? ?? ?????? ????? ????? ???????? ?????? ??? ????? ?????? ?? ?????? ?? ?? ?????, ???? ??????? ????????? ???? ??????? ????????? ???????? ??????? ?? ????? ??????? ??? ??? “8 ????” ??????? ???? ???? ????? ?????, ??? ?? ????? ?????? ??????? ?? ????? ?????? ?? ????????? ??? ??????? ???? ?? ????? ????? ????? ??? ??????, ?????? ???? ??????? ??????? ??? ??????? ????????? ?? ??? ????.

????? ??????? ?¯”???????” ?? “???? ???? ??????? ??????? ??????????? ????????? ??? ??????? ???? ?? ???? ????? ?????? ????? ??? ???? ?? ???????? ?????? ??????? ????? ??? ???? ????? ??????? ??????? ????? ?????? ??????, ??? ??? ????? ?? ????? ??? ??????? ????????? ????????? ???? ??? ?????? ???? ??? ????? ????? ???? ?? ?????????, ??? ?? ???? ????? ?? ??? ????? ???? ???????? ??????? ???? ???? ??????”.

September 8th, 2011, 7:26 am

Akbar Palace said:

Once is a While the Editors show Up for Work

(edited. New rule on SC, please limit your post to few paragraphs when the article is not about Syria)

Professor Josh,

Nice call! It seems the last thing Spann wants to do is DISCUSS SYRIA.
Cutting and pasting articles we’ve already read offers nothing except more scrolling.

September 8th, 2011, 7:27 am

Revlon said:

Family AlYusef has perished as a result of Jr’s onslaught on Homs.

Father: Ammar Naasan AlYusef
Child: Uday Ammar AlYusef
Child: Ahmad Ammar AlYusef
Child: Ula Ammar AlYusef
Mother: Sahar

AlFatiha upon their souls,
May God bless their families with solace and empower them with patience.
???? ????? ???? ?? ??? ?????? Youth Syria For Freedom
???? ????? #syria ? ??? >> ????? ????? ?? ??? ??? ???? ???? ???? ????? :: ???? ???????? ??????? :
?????? ???? ????? ?????? – ?????? ????? ??? ??? ?????? ???? ?????? – ?????? ????? ???? ??? ?????? ???? ?????? – ??????? ?????? ??? ??? ?????? ???? ?????? – ??????? ??? ???? ???? ??????

11 hours ago

September 8th, 2011, 7:56 am

majedkhaldoon said:

The syrian regime will refuse the Arab League suggestions,This will be followed by the Arab League will definitely freeze Syrian membership in it by next tuesday,this is very important step,because the next step will be a demand by the Arab league from the UN to help and protect the syrian citizens.this certainly will encourage Turkey to sever relations with Syrian president,Bashar Assad.
The economy in Syria is getting much worse,with massive transfer of money out of Syria.

September 8th, 2011, 8:42 am

Revlon said:

The Syrian political scene: Spectrum of its forces
07 Sept 2011
Radwan Ziyadeh,
Human rights activist
http://www.assabeel.net/studies/53724-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D8%B4%D9%87%D8%AF-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B3%D9%88%D8%B1%D9%8A-%D9%82%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%A1%D8%A9-%D9%81%D9%8A-%D8%A3%D8%B7%D9%8A%D8%A7%D9%81-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D8%B9%D8%A7%D8%B1%D8%B6%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B3%D9%88%D8%B1%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D9%85%D9%86-%D9%8A%D9%82%D9%81-%D9%88%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%A1-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A7%D8%AD%D8%AA%D8%AC%D8%A7%D8%AC%D8%A7%D8%AA%D8%9F.html

?????? ??????.. ????? ?? ????? ???????? ???????.. ?? ??? ???? ??????????? .

????????? 07 ????? 2011 00:25

????? ?????
?? ?? ?? ????? ?? ??????? ?? ????????? ??????? ?? ??????? ????? ??? ????? ?? ??? ????? ????? ??? ???? ?? ?????????? ?????. ???? ????? ?????? ??????? ???????? ???? ???? ????????? ??? ???? ??????? ???????? ??? ???? 6 ????? ?? ?????? «???? ???? ????» ????? ??????? ?? ????? ??? ?????? ??????? ?? ???? ?????? ????? ?? ??? ??? ?????? ?? 25 ????? ?????? (?????) ??????? ??? ?? ?????? ??????? ????? ??? ?????? ??????? ??? ??? ?? ???????? ?????? ???? ????? ????? ?? ??? ????? ?????? ????? ??? ??? ???? ?? ????? ????? ????? ??????? ????? ?? ????? ???? ????????? ?? ?? ????? ??????? ??????? ??? ??? ????? ????? ???????? ???? ?? ????? ??? ???????? ??? ??????? ?????? ??? ?????? ???????? ???? ?? ???????? ??????? ??????? ?????? ???????? ??? ??? ?????? ?????? ??????? ??????? ?????? ??????? ?? ????????.

??? ?? ???? ?????????? ???? ????????? ????? ????? ?? ????? ??? ???? ??? ?? ??????? ????????? ????? ???? ?? ????? ????? ??? ????? ???? ?? ??? ???? «????? ???? ????? ??????»? ??? ?????? ?????? ???? ??? ?? ???? ????? ?? ??? ???? ?? ????? ?????? ?? ???? ??????? ??????? ?? ??????? ???????. ??? ?? ??????? ??? ??? ?? ???? ???? ???????? ?? ?? ????? ?????? ??? ????? ????????? ??????? ?????? ???????? ???? ??? ?? ????? ??? ??? ????? ?????? ?????????? ????? ??????? ?? ????? ??? ??????????. ??????? ?? ???? ?? ????? ??? ??? ??????? ???? ??????? ???????? ??? ?????? ?? ?????? ???? ??? ??????? ??????? ???? ????? ????? ??? ??? ?????? ??? ?? ????? ????? ????????? ???? ?? ???? ??????? ?? ??? ???? ?????? ?? ????? ????????? ??? ??????? ??????.

??? ??? ?????? ??? ????? ????? ??????? ????? ?? ????? ????? ???????? ?? ???????? ????? ??? ????????? ???? ?? ???? ?????? ???? ?????? ????? ??????? ?? ????? ???? ???? ??? 47 ??? ?? ????? ??? ??? ??? ????????? ????????? ????? ??? ??? ???????? ???????? ?????? ?????? ??? ?????? ???????? ?? ??? ???????? ???????? ??? ?????? ???? ??????? ?????? ?? ?????? ????????? ??? ???? ??????? ????? ??????? ?? ????? ?????????? ?? ??????? ???????? ????? ????? ???? ????? ?? ??? ?????? ???????. ?? ??????? ?? ????? ?? ?? ????? ?????? ?????????? ??? ?? ?? ??????? ???????? ???????????? ?????????? ?? ???? ??????? ???????? ????? ?? ??? ??? ???? ?? ?????? ??? ??????? ???? ?? ??? ????? ??? ????????. ???? ??? ???? ???? ????? ???????? ??????? ????? ??? ????? ????? ?????? ???? ????? ?? ????? ?????????? ??????? ?? ?????:

???????? ?????????
– ???????? ?????????: ??? ???? ????? ???????? ????????? ???? ????? ?? ???? ?????? ?? «?????? ??????? ????????» ??????? ???? ????? ?? ??? 1972 ?? ?????? ???? ???? «?????? ?????? ???????????» ?? ??? 1983 ??? ???? ??? ??????? ????????? ???? ????? ??????????? ???? ?????? ?????? ???? ????? ?????? ????????? ???????????? ???? ???? ???? ???? ?????? ?????? ???????? ??? ?????? ?? ??????? ???????? ?? ??? ??????? ????? ????? «??????? ????????» ????? ????? ?????? ?????? ?? ??????? ??????? ?? ????????? ????? ?????? ???? ????? ?????? ?? ?????? ????? ??????? ??????? ??????? ??????? ???? ?? ??? ??? ???? ???? ??????????? ??????????? ?? ??? ??? ??????????? ???? ???? ???? ???? ?? 17 ??? ????? ?? ???? ???????? ??????? ??? ????? ??????? ??????? ??????? ??? 49 ???? ???? ???????? ??? ?? ????? ??? «??????? ????????».
????? ??????? ??? ????? ????? ?????? ?? ???? ??? ??????? ?????? ????? ??????? ?????? ?? ????? ?????????? ??? ?? ????? ???? ???? ?? ??????? ?? ???????? ????????? ?? ????? ?????? ????? ???????? ????? ?????? ?? ??? ???? ?????? ?? ????????? ??????? ???? ??? ??? ???? ??????? ????? ??? ??????? ?? ??? ??????? ???? ?????? ??? ??? ?? ?????? ?????? ???? ?????????? ?? ?????. ??? ??????? ???????? ??????? ???????? ??? ??? 2005 ?? ????? ???? ???? ?????? ????? ?????? ??? ???? ?? ???? «????? ???? ??????? ?????? ???????????»? ??? ?? ??? ????? ???????? ??? ?????? ?????? ??????? ??? ???? «??????? ????????» ???????? ????????? ???? ????? ?? ??????? ???? ??????? ????????? ????.
?? ????? ????? ????? ??????? ?? ?????? ????????? ???? ??????? ?????? ????? ?? ??? ???? ????? ???????? ????????? ??? ??????? ???????? ?????? ????????? ?????? ??? ???? ??? ?????? ?? ??? ????? ??????? ?????? ???? ????????? ??? ????? ?? ??????? ???????? ???? ???? ???? ?????? ???????? ??? ?? ?? ?? ??????? ??? ?? ??? ??? ???????? ???? ????? ?????? ?? ????? ????????? ???????? ???? ?? ????? ??????? ??? ??? ??? ??????? ????????? ?? ????? ????????? ?? ????? ???? ?????? ?? ????? ???? ??? ???? ??????? ??? 50 ??? ??????.
??? ?? ?? ?? ????? ??? ??? ????? ???? ??????? ???????? ??????? ??? ??? ???????? ????????? ????? ??????? ???????? ???????? ?? ??????? ???? ?? ??? ????? ??????? ?????????? ??????? ?? ????????? ????? ????? ????? ???? ??????? ??????? ??????? ??????? ?? ???????? ?????? ?? ???? ???? ?????? ????? ??????? ?? ????? ?????????? ????? ???? ?? ??? ????? ?????? ?? ????? ?????? ??????? ????????? ???? ???? ?????? ?????? ?????? ??? ???? ?????? ??????? ???? ????? ??? ?????? ?? ?????? ?????? ???.

???????? ?????????
– ??? ????? ?????? ?? ???????? ??? ?????? ??????????? ??? ??? ???? ??? ????????? ??? ???? ?? ?????? ?? ?? ????? ???? ????? ???? ???????? ??????? ????????? ???? ????? ???????? ??????? ???? ??? ??????? ?????? ????????? ????????? ??? ??? ????? ??????? ?????? ??? ?????? ???? ??? ????? ??????? ?????? ?? ?????? ?????? ???? ?????? ????? ?? ??? ???????? ??? ?????? ????????? ??? ?????? ?????? ??? ?????? ?????? ???? ????? ???? ???. ?? ?? ????? ?????? ?????????? ??? ??????? ?? ?????? ?????? ??? ????????? ?? ???? ??????? ??? ??? ???? ???? ???? ??? ????????? ?? ???? ????? ???? ??? ??? ?? ???????? ??? ?????? ????? ??? ?????? ???????? ???? ?? ??? ??????? ???? ?????? ????? ???? ????????? ????? ?????.

– ??? ????? ?????? ?? ???????? ???? ???? ???? ??? ????????? ??? ??????? ????????? ?????? ???????? ????? ????? ???? ????? ?????? ??? ??? ???????? ???? ??????? ?????? ?????? ??? ????????? ??? ???????? ???????? ???????? ?? ???? ?? ??? ??? ??????? ???????? ?? ??? ???? ????? ??????? ???? ?? ??? ?????????? ?? ??? ???????? ??????? ???????? ??????? ??? ?? ??? ?? ??? ?????? ??????? ???? ??? ?????? ???? ???? ?? ???? ???? ??????? ?????? ????? ??????? ?????? ???? ????? ????? ??? ????? ??????? ?? ?? ???????? ???? ??????? ???? ??? ???? ?????? ???????.

??? ??????? ???? ??? ???????? ??????? ?? ??????? ?????? ????????? ?????? ?????? ?? ?????? ???? ???? ???? ????? ??????? ???????? ?? ????? ??? ???????? ??? ?????? ??? ??????? ???? ??? ???? ??????? ???????? ?? ?? ????? ???????. ??? ???????? ????? ??? ???????? ???????? ????? ?????? ??????? ??? ?????? ??????? ??? ????? ?? ??? ???? ??? ???????? ?? ?????? ???? ?????? ???? ???????? ?? ????? ?? ?????

????? ?????
?????? ???????? ??????

September 8th, 2011, 8:42 am

Abughassan said:

Imad Mustafa
http://www.google.com/m/url?client=safari&ei=2bxoTsCOEKT9sgfMq5s5&hl=en&oe=UTF-8&q=http://www.npr.org/2011/09/07/140256961/syrian-ambassador-responds-to-deadly-crackdown&te=12&ved=0CCEQFjAC&usg=AFQjCNEEnAeVJkL8PHwB6oo67TZJIi37uw

September 8th, 2011, 9:06 am

Revlon said:

Regime’s armored vehicle strafing a civilian neighbourhood.

This video proves that scenes of smoke in neighbourhoods under attack by Jr’s forces are not a result of burning tires.

They result from fire due to shelling by Asad’s coward army forces.

08-09-2011 Homs ??????? ??? , ????? ??????? ??? ?????? ???? ????

September 8th, 2011, 9:22 am

Aboud said:

Imad Mustapaha said that not a single demonstration took place in Aleppo.

LOL!

http://www.onsyria.com/?cat=39&parent=1&page=1

71 pages of protests ya zaki inta.

I like how he said that the whole world, even the UN’s general Secretary is involved in a great big plot against the regime.

September 8th, 2011, 9:25 am

Student said:

It seems that Bakkou wasn’t finally recovered.
The mouhafazah of Hama denied that the Syrian forces got him back.
They just got another lawyer who’s name escaping me.

Who’s voice was it in the tape the Syrian TV diffused ?
I think he really defected and is now in a safe haven.
I hope so.
The lies of the regime are revealed days after days… There is definitely no credibility in all this SANA-Addounia reports of wahabbi gangs.

The armed people there are of two categories:
– defected soldiers who are opposing regular army and republican guard of Maher
– civilians who are exhausted, and want to protect there home-shops-farms-families-neighborhoods from the regime’s thugs.

There are no salafi terrorist in Syria.
The governement used the riot in Sedanaya prison to eradicate them, years after what they did in Tadmor.

September 8th, 2011, 9:44 am

OFF THE WALL said:

I guess his excellency is reading Syria Comment, it seems that he is suffering the early signs of the Aboud Syndrome (Denial).

Think of it, some of the most brutal responses in Aleppo were in response to few repeated attempts at the University. There was a point where 2000 managed to come out, which led to their dorm rooms being trashed. Same thing about the law school at the University of Damascus. His excellency also forgets that the Mouasat Hospital is part of the U of Damascus.

Really sad when you see someone with Imad Mustafa’s intellect being cheapened so badly to whitewash the crimes of this regime.

September 8th, 2011, 9:52 am

Revlon said:

News of possible postponemnt of the starting date of school year.
Hundreds of female teachers lodged requests for back to their home towns in the costal areas.
2011/09/07
http://all4syria.info/web/archives/26658

??????? ?? ????? ??? ????? ???????: ???? ???????? ?????? ?????? ??? ??? ??????
2011/09/07??? ??: ????? ?????

????? ???????? – ???? ?????

???? ????? ??????? ???? ????? ???? ?? ??????? ????? ??????? ?? ????? ????? ??? ????? ???????.

??? ??????? ???? ?????? ????? ???? ??? ?????? ?????? ??????? ????? ??? ???? ????? ?????? ?????? ?????? ??????? ?? ????? ??????? ?? ???? ????? ????? ?? ???? ?????? ??? ????? ????????.

????????? ???? ???? ??????? ????? ????????? ??? ???? ?????? ???? ???? ??? ??????? ????? ???? ????? ??? ??????..???? ???? ??????? ???? ??? ?? ??? ???????.

September 8th, 2011, 9:55 am

Aleppo said:

I sense the idea that Aleppo and Damascus are quiet will change very soon. At least in the eyes of the press as in the ground this is a given.

September 8th, 2011, 10:15 am

Abughassan said:

http://www.shamlife.com/?page=show_det&select_page=9&id=7201
This is about article-8
Baathists are afraid that elections will bring them back to their real size. I do not support calls to prevent baathis from running in free elections,but Syria did not have elections since the 1950s. If albaath is really popular why not prove it by allowing people to choose their government?

September 8th, 2011, 10:22 am

Haytham Khoury said:

@ Revlon #103

I remember when I was doing my military service in 1989, they were preparing to attack Michel A’aon, who was the de facto president at that time. I was serving in unite related to the special forces as physician. One day one of the officers came to me and said to me “You Maronite”. I laughed and I said to him: “But, I am not Maronite”. And really, at that time I wanted to just finish and leave the country. I did not care about politics or about their conflict with A’aon.

This is just to show how the regime is sectarian. It sees everything from sectarian point of view. The regime is no protector to any body. The regime is protecting itself by the minorities, including his own one.

September 8th, 2011, 10:24 am

Abughassan said:

Revlon,
Those female teachers have reasons to move away from locations where their lives are threatened,it is another sign of the deteriorating situation in Syria. A number of those teachers received threats because they belong to a different sect,and some have already left,their $ 150 salary is not good enough to risk their safety.

September 8th, 2011, 10:29 am

Revlon said:

Further signs of escalation of defection and reorganisation.
The FOM are now demanding a no fly zone and recognition of their legitimate authority in protecting civilians.

Uploaded by ebnalrstn2 on Sep 6, 2011

?????? _???? ????? ????? ???? ?? ??????

Communique by Khaled Ibn AlWaleed Phalange, Free Officers Movement.
The speaker, a Colonel introduces his 14 officer comrades of the unit
– Unit mission:
o Protection of unarmed civilians and demonstrators
o Guarding public and private properties
o Enrollment of interested defected officers and soldiers in the unit

– Unit Demands
o Passing a UN resolution to protect unarmed demonstrators and civilians by enaforcing a No-Fly-Zone and demanding withdrawal of regime’s army units to its bases.
o Recongnise the legitimacy of the FOM in defending demonstrators and civilians against armed attacks.
o The release of all civilians who were arrested for demonstrating.
o The release of all members of FOM who were arrested for defending civilians. We particularly mention Officer mYa3rob Taqtaq.
o We hereby declare that we have no ties to any foreign authority, and we oblige only to The People and their demands.
o Victory is near!
o May peace be upon all of you.

September 8th, 2011, 10:30 am

annie said:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-14831387

UK citizen describes being shot in Syria .
Having read and heard this repeatedly does not blunt the horror one feels.

September 8th, 2011, 10:31 am

Revlon said:

123 and 125. Dear Abughassan, I agree!

September 8th, 2011, 10:35 am

Haytham Khoury said:

@ Majedkhaldoon114.

Surely the regime will finish. Bashar suffers from a “personality disorder”. I am not saying that just to criticize him, but this is a real medical diagnosis. The mainstay in personality disorders as defined in medical books is rigidity. Bashar is so rigid; he has no resilience at all. People with personality disorder have no insight. They continue on the same course of action, even if that course of action will lead to their destruction and the destruction of people around them. This is what I tried to write in the article below; I hope I was clear exposing Bashar rigidity and how it will lead to his destruction and the destruction of people around him.

http://haytham-khoury2.blogspot.com/2011/08/bashar-and-mounting-pressure.html

September 8th, 2011, 10:38 am

ann said:

Arab League chief says Syrian events have “direct impact” on Lebanon

Thursday, September 8, 2011

http://www.nowlebanon.com/NewsArticleDetails.aspx?ID=309451

Arab League Secretary General Nabil al-Arabi said that Damascus holds “a key position” in the Middle East and warned that Syrian events have a “direct impact” on Lebanon and Iraq.

“Syria is not Libya… The country holds a key position in the region, [and] what happens there has a direct impact on Lebanon and Iraq,” Arabi said in an interview with German Der Spiegel newspaper published on Wednesday.

He added that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad promised to introduce changes in his country, but added, “I have not seen any reforms [yet].”

Asked if he supports a regime change in Syria, Arabi said that “it is something for the Syrian people to decide for themselves.”

“No one can dictate to a sovereign nation how it should change.”

Arabi also said that “only the United Nations has the right to make decisions on the use of force” in Syria.

“The Arab League has no mandate to bring about change by force in a member state.”

September 8th, 2011, 10:56 am

Aboud said:

“A number of those teachers received threats because they belong to a different sect”

Where did you hear this from? Do you have any evidence for this, besides rumors and “he said she said”? Or am I yet again going to be disappointed in how unforthcoming you are in backing up some of your statements (like when you said every police station had been burned down in Hama, and that the Latakia sports stadium had never been used to hold prisoners)?

September 8th, 2011, 10:59 am

Revlon said:

124. Dear Haytham Khoury, I lived in Beirut in 1978-1979, during the peak of the civil war.

When I hear foreigners or Mnhibbaks speak of life being normal in Damascus, Aleppo and other big cities, I get flash back memories of those days.

Then, there used to be an unwritten agreement between fighting forces on hours of engagement.
During lull hours, usually daylight, Hamra and Rowshi would be business as usual and bathers would be strewn on the beaches in Hammam Al3askari and others.

During the day, signs of turmoil were ever fleeting. One would notice them if happened to come across a local burst of infighting which usually lasted for minutes.
Or you would notice it in the Emergency room of hospitals where you see victims of Sniper fire. The latter were mostly women and children; easier targets for rookie snipers.

Fighting used to start at dusk and intensify at night.

During my stay, I was blessed to be able save two lives; a Palestenian and Lebanese boy!
After so many years of practice, I still see that achievement as the pinnacle of my career.

September 8th, 2011, 11:08 am

Abughassan said:

Aboud,
I know of two families who left Daraa after receiving threats from locals,another friend told me about a similar incident in Idleb,and two in Hama.These are not rumors,aboud.
I do not have YouTube videos to prove my “claims” 🙂
As for Hama,even the most passionate anti regime supporter can not deny the fact that a number of security,Ba’ath and public buildings were destroyed or burned,when I challenged the story by a Syrian expat ,an assistant professor in economics in a US college,about the destruction in Hama,he was only able to point out that ONE building he saw was not burnt !!
If our disagreement is about all,many or most,I am willing to take the blame for being imperfect in my reporting,but please let us try to be factual and admit mistakes when we make them.
No objective person today can pretend that every evil act committed in Syria was perpetrated by the regime forces,but most,me included,realize that you can not equate the brutality of the regime with that of anti regime forces.

September 8th, 2011, 11:20 am

Abu Umar said:

” 50. Some guy in damascus said:

Where is he posting?

September 8th, 2011, 11:25 am

Aboud said:

“As for Hama,even the most passionate anti regime supporter can not deny the fact that a number of security,Ba’ath and public buildings were destroyed or burned”

I do actually challenge that. Ford said he didn’t see a single burnt out building. Neither did Anthony Shadid. Neither did the Swiss reporter who stayed in Hama for ten days before the army came in.

September 8th, 2011, 11:30 am

Haytham Khoury said:

Please take action.

http://www.avaaz.org/ar/middle_east_peace_now/?slideshow

September 8th, 2011, 11:57 am

ziadsoury said:

OTW,

I take issue with you referring to Imad as “his Excellency”. People need to be called by titles that fit them best. “His Excellency” is designated for honorable and intellectual people who defend and protect their people. Based on that interview, Imad is not a free man and is a slave to his masters in Damascus. Even after killing at least 2500 innocent people, the thugs are still peddling their Salafi, Israeli and everyone that has any brain cells conspiracy. And slaves like Imad are blaming the people and calling them terrorists.
According to his definition we (you and I) are also terrorists and their thugs are defending minorities (like Norman) from us.

All what I can tell Imad is the stench from his masters, their thugs and their slaves is getting stronger and very soon the Syrians will clean that mess.

September 8th, 2011, 12:29 pm

Some guy in damascus said:

Abu umar
He’s active on twitter.

September 8th, 2011, 12:41 pm

Revlon said:

Jr is digging in and bracing for a long confrontation.

Public sector employees might be forced/enticed to join the army as reserves.

The incentive being to stay on the payroll of their original employer as well as enjoy the new benefits of being employed by the armed forces!

The stick would be to punish abstainers by imprisonment.

Enlistment tables and procedures are considered classified information. Those who divulge related information would be punished by imprisonment.

According to the decree, partial mobilisation does not require the approval of the parliament. Therefore, enlistment might procede without official announcement.

08/09/2011
http://all4syria.info/web/archives/26757

????? ???? ??????? ???? ??? ??????? ??????.. ??? ?????? ??????
2011/09/08

???? ?????? ???? ????? ??????? ??? 104 ????? ????????, ??? ???? ??? ??????? ????? ???? ???, ??? ???? ??????? ?????? ?????.

?????? ?????? 16 ?? ??????? ??? ??? ??????? ????????? ??? ?????? ???????? ?????????? ??? ????? ??????? ????? ???? ??????? ???????? ??????? ???? ????? ?????? ?? ????????? ??????? ???????, ???? ???? ????????? ??? ?????? ???????? ?????????? ??? ????? ??????? ????????? ???????? ?? ???????? ???????? ????? ??????? ??? ??????? ?? ?????? ??? ?????? ???????? ?????????? ??? ????? ???????, ???? ???? ????? ????????? ???????? ?? ???????? ??? ?????? ???????? ?????????? ??? ????? ???????? ?? ??? ????? ?? ????? ???????? ???????? ?? ?????? ???????, ???? ?? ???? ?????? ??? ?????? ???????? ?????????? ??? ????? ??????? ????????? ????????? ?????? ???? ????? ??? ??? ?????? ??????? ?? ??????? ?? ??????? ???? ?? ?????? ?? (236 ??? 289 ??? 291 ??? 307) ?? ????? ???????? ?????.

????? ??? ??????, ????? ?????? 23 ?? ???????? ?????? ??????? ???????? ?? ????? ???? ?????? ????? ????? ???????? ???????? ???????, ???? ??? ?????? 24 ?? ???????? ?? ?????? ????? ?????? ???? ???? ??? ???????? ?? ????? ???? ?????? ????? ??????? ?? ????? ???? ?????? ????? ???? ???????? ?????????? ???? ???? ????????? ?????? ????? ?? ???? ????? ????, ?? ??? ????? ?????? 25 ??? ?? ???????? ?? ???? ?????? ????? ?????? ???? ???? ??? ???????? ?? ????? ???? ?????? ?????? ????? ??????? ???? ?????? ?? ???????? ?? ????? ?????? ????? ??????? ?? ??? ?????? ???????? ????? ??????? ????????? ?????????? ??? ??? ??? ???????? ?????? ?????? ?????????? ???? ????? ?????? ????????? ??????? ??????.

???? ?????? 26 ??? ?? ???????? ????? ??? ?????? ??? ???? ????? ?????? ????? ???? ????? ?????? ???????? ???????? ??? 30 ???? 2007 ?????????.

???? ?? ?????? 27 ??? ??? ??????? ???????? ?????? ???????? ?? ???? ???? ?????? ??????? ?? ??????? ???????? ??? 9 ???? 1985 ?????????, ???? ????? ?????? 28 ??? ??? ?? ??? ?????? ?? ??????? ?? ????? ?? ??????? ???? ??? ???????? ????? ????? ???????? ???????? ?????? ???????? ? ??????? ??? 17 ???? 2003 ?????????.

????? ??? ???????? ????????? ??? ???????, ????? ?????? 32 ??? ??? ????? ?????? ?? ????? ???? ??? ????? ?? ?? ????? ????? ????? ??????? ?? ??????? ?? ????? ??????? ????????? ????? ?? ????? ???????, ???? ???? ?????? 33 ??? ??? ????? ?????? ?? ??? ??? ????? ???? ?? ?? ???? ?????? ???????? ?????????? ?????? ?????? ??????? ??? ???? ??????? ?? ??? ???? ??? ?? ????? ????????? ????? ????? ???????.

???? ?????? 34 ??? ????? ?????? ?? ??? ??? ????? ???? ?? ?? ??? ???? ?? ??? ??????? ???? ????? ?????? ??? ???? ???? ?????? ???? ???? ????? ??? ??? ???? ????? ????? 15 ????? ??? ??? ???? ?????, ???? ??? ?????? 35 ??? ????? ?????? ????? 3000 ?.? ????? ???? ???? ????? ?? ?? ???? ??????? ?? ??? ??????? ?????? ????? ???????, ?? ??? ????? ?????? 36 ??? ??? ? ????? ?????? ?? ????? ???? ??? ??? ???? ?? ???? ?? ???? ??????? ???? ???????
More …………….

September 8th, 2011, 12:51 pm

ziadsoury said:

I forgot to say Imad Mustapha as known as “Syria No Kandahar” (SNK)on Syria Comment.

September 8th, 2011, 12:55 pm

majedkhaldoon said:

I met Imad Mustapha on three occaisions, all ended up with arguments and since then he always avoid me, he proved to me always,as an incompetent ambassador,he is despicable and lier,he has done nothing good to Syria and to Syrians,his art collections are disgusting,he is boring,and I can not stand this guy.the only reason he is ambassador,is he is half Alawi,with connection to the regime,thru his wife father.he did not study to become ambassador.
The schools may not open on time, many of the schools are used as jailing places,it will be better for the kids to stay home so they will not be kidnapped by the regime thugs,to harass their parents.
soon we will enter the seventh month of this revolution, that Bashar initially said it would not happen in Syria.some people here in SC still blame the protesters ,those who blame the protesters deserve no respect,over 2500 known dead and over 3000 disappeared,this kind of denial,and accuse the protesters is despicable,they attract enemies,and they do not realize that they are the problem

September 8th, 2011, 1:02 pm

OFF THE WALL said:

Dear ZIADSOURY
I was trying to be cynical. In diplomatic correspondences one never writes that word (standard for all ambassadors and above) with lower case (e). But you are right, the honorific should be reserved for those deserving. One may even argue that ever since 1963 and more so 1970, rarely a Syrian ambassador deserved the honorific since most of them were simply fronts tools to extend the hand of the regime’s empire of fear and echos of the maltreatment of Syrians.

Are you serious about SNK…… !

September 8th, 2011, 1:08 pm

Haytham Khoury said:

@141 Majedkhaldoon:

All of us can imagine how your meetings with Imad Mustafa could be.

(Just teasing you)

September 8th, 2011, 1:45 pm

ann said:

*** A MUST READ BY ALL ISRAEL MENHEBAK ON THIS BLOG ***

Turk warships to escort any Gaza aid vessels: Erdogan

CAIRO | Thu Sep 8, 2011 12:51pm EDT

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/09/08/us-turkey-erdogan-idUSTRE78750L20110908

CAIRO (Reuters) – Turkish warships will escort any Turkish aid vessels to Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan said in remarks broadcast on Al Jazeera television on Thursday.

Erdogan also said that Turkey had taken steps to stop Israel from unilaterally exploiting natural resources from the eastern Mediterranean, according to Al Jazeera’s Arabic translation of excerpts of the interview, which was conducted in Turkish.

*** SHORT AND SWEET ***

September 8th, 2011, 1:46 pm

ziadsoury said:

OTW,

Just listen to the interview again. He mentions in it that Syria is no Kandahar. Also listen to the way he speaks and compare that with SNK writing style. Here is a link to one
https://joshualandis.com/blog/?p=10899&cp=all#comment-263417

What do you think?

September 8th, 2011, 1:49 pm

Shami said:

He is not SNK(a”christian” islamophobic) who is more a victim than an evil actor ,Imad Mustapha is of the worst kind ,he is an hypocrit.

September 8th, 2011, 2:16 pm

Aboud said:

I read somewhere that Joshua and Imad Mustapha are good friends. Somehow, I can’t imagine Joshua banning Imad Mustapha from his website (No Klue got banned a few days ago)

“A MUST READ BY ALL ISRAEL MENHEBAK ON THIS BLOG ”

Wait…what’s an Israeli Menhebak? An Israeli who hearts Besho? Are there any such rare creatures on this website?

Or did you mean a person who likes Israel? Then you shouldn’t have used “menhebak”, an Arabic word. You should have used the Hebrew equivalent.

For a superb analysis of Turkey’s bungling, read this

http://hussainabdulhussain.blogspot.com/2011/09/turkeys-foreign-policy-shift.html

You see, no one asked Turkey to get involved. But once you start to talk tough to a dictator, you have to follow through on your threats, otherwise all you’ve managed to do is get yourself humiliated by said dictator, who then thinks he can get away with anything. He will think he is impervious to any and all pressure, and get an inflated sense of his own power.

Thanks Erdogan, you f*cking nitwit. It had been better if he had kept his mouth shut, then to ineffectually threaten junior, and then find out he didn’t have the means to back up his threats.

“Turkish warships will escort any Turkish aid vessels to Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan said in remarks broadcast on Al Jazeera television on Thursday.”

As sure as I’m having kebi tomorrow, no Turkish warships will go anywhere near Israeli or Gazan waters.

September 8th, 2011, 2:22 pm

Akbar Palace said:

Spann’s all-consumming anti-Israel parallel universe NewZ

*** A MUST READ BY ALL ISRAEL MENHEBAK ON THIS BLOG ***

Turk warships to escort any Gaza aid vessels: Erdogan

Spann,

Although this issue has little to do with Syria, as an pro-Israel “Menhebak”, I’d be delighted to respond. The UN/Palmer Report found the Gaza blockade to be prefectly legal. Going against a UNSC decision is usually a bad idea (just ask Saddam Hussein), but if Erdogan feels this is a priorty for Turkey, I suggest that he try to the best of his ability.

I have doubts he’ll go through with it, just like his empty words to the Syrian government. The Syria Ambassador is still comfortably roaming the streets of Ankara while over 2000 Syrians have died trying to get their basic human rights. Turkey, OTOH, threw out the Israeli Ambassador because they didn’t apologize for defending themselves from bodily injury.

you f*cking nitwit

Aboud,

I couldn’t have said it any better myself…

September 8th, 2011, 2:34 pm

uzair8 said:

An interesting take on Syria abuses. Opinion article fro Al Arabiya.

Abu Ghraib…in Syria:

http://english.alarabiya.net/views/2011/09/08/165944.html

“The fact is that we [as viewers] have suffered a form of abuse and humiliation from what we have seen, and this could be the motive for the perpetrators to broadcast it. The direct victims of torture are already victims, but the evil minds are also trying to turn the viewer into a victim. The intention is not to intimidate the Syrian viewer, but rather the Arab viewer and the global viewer, who stand in solidarity with the revolution in Syria. After seeing these images, we are meant to fear for the Syrians, just as they are meant to fear for themselves.”

September 8th, 2011, 2:50 pm

Haytham Khoury said:

Snipers

September 8th, 2011, 3:22 pm

ann said:

Syria cites Jordanians, Saudis as financiers of opposition

Thursday, September 8, 2011

NICOSIA — Syria has identified what officials described as major foreign facilitators of the revolt against President Bashar Assad.

Officials said the Syrian Defense Ministry has identified Arabs from at least three regional countries believed to be financing or helping organize the massive protests against the Assad regime. They said Jordanians appeared the most active and were being used to attack security forces and civilians.

“There is a lot we are not saying because we don’t want an open confrontation with our Arab brothers,” an official said.

Officials said the Syrian security forces have captured Jordanians accused of joining the revolt. In one case, they said, 10 Jordanians were identified as shooting toward civilians in an effort to inflame opposition against Assad.

A Defense Ministry official confirmed that foreign Arab nationals were in custody in connection with the revolt. The official told the Brussels-based International Crisis Group that foreigners from Lebanon and Saudi Arabia were paying Syrians to demonstrate against Assad, particularly in the southern city of Dera.

“The Saudis are also pouring money into Dera,” the official was quoted as saying. “And there are Lebanese providing slogans and paying people to demonstrate.”

Palestinians from several countries were said to be involved in the smuggling of weapons to insurgents in Syria. Officials said Turkey was also helping the insurgents and provided communications to an Islamic force that killed 120 Assad troops in Jisr Al Shughur in late June.

“This was an excellent example of the foreign influence in this campaign,” the official said. “The communications and weapons found in Jisr were from Iraq and Turkey and the methods reflected Al Qaida operations in Iraq.”

September 8th, 2011, 3:27 pm

Amir in Tel Aviv said:

Dear Tara,

I hope this just uprise will never turn militant. There’s no deadline attached. It’s very effective as is. And yes, I’m not ignoring the huge sacrifice.
.

September 8th, 2011, 3:53 pm

majedkhaldoon said:

Haytham
You have to give me credit, I waited till long after he finished his meal

September 8th, 2011, 3:54 pm

annie said:

http://youtu.be/Uc0Ql6Qfn9k

Some of you will love this, others too but not in the same way

September 8th, 2011, 4:18 pm

True said:

New defection

Date: 7 Sep, 2011
Vehicle# 908759
Location: Homs –Bab Alsbaa’
Personals: 6 soldiers and 2 lieutenants

September 8th, 2011, 4:18 pm

True said:

Seems like the Menehebkes made their exodus out SC, or no more resources available at division 225 to cover 24/7 shifts eh

Heck yeah we kick bums, hooray 🙂

Good luck on Shiachat losers!!!

September 8th, 2011, 4:23 pm

Atassi said:

Syrian activists appeal for international help
By Khaled Yacoub Oweis
8 September 2011
English
(c) 2011 Reuters Limited

(Recasts with appeal for foreign help)

AMMAN, Sept (Reuters) – – Syria’s underground opposition appealed to the international community on Thursday to send in human rights monitors to help deter military attacks on civilians in an increasingly bloody crackdown on popular unrest.

In a first direct call by the opposition for foreign intervention, the Syrian Revolution General Commission umbrella bloc of grassroots activists said a rise in the number of protesters killed during the almost six-month-old revolt had won over many reluctant Syrians to the need for outside help.

“Calling for outside intervention is a sensitive issue that could be used by the regime to label its opponents as traitors. We are calling for international observers as a first step,” spokesman Ahmad al-Khatib told Reuters.

“If the regime refuses it will open the door on itself for other action, such as no-tank or no-fly zones,” he said.

The announcement came as Syrian forces arrested tens of people in house to house raids in the city of Homs following military operations that killed at least 27 civilians in the last 24 hours. Activists and residents also reported more defections among the rank-and-file army.

September 8th, 2011, 4:25 pm

annie said:

SGID : Syrian commando was posting at Sophia’s.
She would moderate you out, most probably

September 8th, 2011, 4:26 pm

Khalid Tlass said:

As far as I know Mustafa Tlass is still supporting Besho. He has a special loyalty to the Assads becoz he was Hafez’s lover. Yes, they had a homosexual relationship.

I don’t think Mustafa Tlass is relevant anymore, even if he “defects” to the opposition, he no longer holds any weight even in the military.

But his son should be placed on the sanctions list.

September 8th, 2011, 4:33 pm

Khalid Tlass said:

Btw, good to see Amjad alHameed, Enrahim Ayuub and Abdur Razzaq Tlass in the video. I was worrying for them after the sadists burned alive the 4 FSA members.

Btw, does anybody have any news abt Yaroub Taqtaq ? I feel sorry for the guy, I don’t think he’s alive. He seemed so sweet in his introductory video.

September 8th, 2011, 4:36 pm

Haytham Khoury said:

Aboud:

Can you comment on this.

September 8th, 2011, 4:36 pm

Khalid Tlass said:

Dr. Khoury, you are not Maronite ? Isn’t it true that Maronites usually have French names like Michel, Jean, Pierre, Emile, Francois ?

September 8th, 2011, 4:38 pm

Haytham Khoury said:

???? ?????? ????? ???? ?????? ???????
??? ?????? ??????? ???? ?? ???? ????? ????????? ??? ??????? ??????? ?????? ??? ????? ??????? ?????? ??? ??? ????????? ???? ???? ???? ???????? ?? ?????? ????? ?????? ??? ???????? ???????? ??? ??????? ?? ??? ?????? ????? ?????? ?????? ??? ????? ??????? ?????? ?? ?? ????? ?? ????? ?? ??????? ??????? ?? ????? ??????? ??? ?? ??????? ???????? ????? ?? ????? ???????? ?????? ?? ??????? ??? ?????? ??? ??????? ?????? ?? ????????? ?????? ???? ???????? ????? ?? ?? ???? ???? ?????? ?? ??? ????? ?????????

September 8th, 2011, 4:39 pm

Abu Umar said:

This, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EFh73jNJguA&feature=related
will be the sad, pathetic ending of long-necked, Fashar al-Fasad.

September 8th, 2011, 4:42 pm

atassi said:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PzbDIjpnFx8&feature=share
New…

September 8th, 2011, 4:50 pm

True said:

@ 160. Khalid Tlass

“He has a special loyalty to the Assads becoz he was Hafez’s lover. Yes, they had a homosexual relationship”

Hehehehhhehe I have to admit he’s a weirdo MF

I’ve seen Mustafa Tlass few times back in the days when I was working for the Meridian swimming pool during summer breaks, he sued to come every Wed accompanied with good looking young girls and surely few body guards. He had this disgusting habit of throwing his cigar butt in the water every time.

September 8th, 2011, 4:53 pm

Aboud said:

Thanks Annie, I’ve bookmarked that video. Anytime anyone wants to quote anything from Al-DUHnya or Syrian state TV, we’ll just show them that clip.

Haytham, I think the video speaks for itself. Those men were in full combat gear. God alone knows what odious and despicable mission they were being sent on, that proved the last straw for them.

For every soldier that defects, there are ten who want to. I know this for a fact. I know for a fact that the motivation of much of the shabiha are at an all time low.

Don’t judge the overall motivation of Besho’s force by the enthusiasm with which they beat up unarmed demonstrators. Judge them by the action of those deployed to areas like Homs, where they run the risk of getting killed by soldiers who break away. Today, I did not see a single checkpoint manned in all of Homs In Baba Amr, four APCs were just sitting there in the sun, with nary a soldier in sight.

September 8th, 2011, 4:57 pm

Aboud said:

Khalid, you asked me sometimes when will people start hitting back at the Shabiha. Not to go into details, but there is a nice little town near the Lebanese border where all your dreams, and then some, are coming true 🙂

September 8th, 2011, 4:58 pm

Abughassan said:

Opposing the regime is something but appeasing militant Islamists is something else. Demanding a regime change is something but using guns to do it is something else. It is becoming fashionable nowadays for opportunists to jump on the anti regime wagon since the regime is on the defensive,those incidental revolutionaries will try to jump out of that wagon if the wind starts blowing in the regime’s direction.the regime was bad from the start and so is political islamists.
Moderation is the only way forward,but some people just do not get it and do not learn from history.

September 8th, 2011, 5:00 pm

Khalid Tlass said:

Dr. Abu Ghassan, how many times have you repeated that line ? You are too old fashioned ofr the Syrian revolution, I’m afraid most of Syrian youth do not understand what you’re trying to say.

@ Aboud, True et al :

Why do you think Abu Ghassan and Dr. Landis get so sad and touchy whenever there’s news of Shabbiha getting killed ?

September 8th, 2011, 5:08 pm

Aboud said:

Thank you Atassi. Thank you so much.

“Demanding a regime change is something but using guns to do it is something else.”

I’ve asked you many times, what do you suggest then as an alternative? You don’t want sanctions, you don’t want people to defend themselves, you don’t want international pressure. What then is your solution to remove a pig who is willing to sacrifice 10,000 Alawite street thugs to stay in power?

Khalid, Abughassan is right here, maybe he will enlighten us. Landis has been saying for a long time that the only way the regime will go if it is removed by force. Deny people a legitimate and peaceful way to address their grievances, and it is inevitable that they will turn to more violent means.

September 8th, 2011, 5:09 pm

Haytham Khoury said:

Dear Khalid:

Indeed, I am not Maronite. I am Greek (Roman) Orthodox (just to let you get familiar with the different Christian sects).

There are very few Maronites in Syria, although their origin is from your hometown Al-Rastan.

Very marge majority in the M.E. lives in Lebanon (>95%). They established very special relationship with Europe (particularly France) almost 2 centuries ago. For this reason, they use French first names to name their kids.

I am happy to answer more questions. The more you know about the Christian sects, the better you can understand them and know how to deal with them.

September 8th, 2011, 5:16 pm

Khalid Tlass said:

168. Aboud said:

“Khalid, you asked me sometimes when will people start hitting back at the Shabiha. Not to go into details, but there is a nice little town near the Lebanese border where all your dreams, and then some, are coming true”

Good riddance. They should send the bodies to Hassan Nasrallah just across the mountains.

September 8th, 2011, 5:23 pm

homsi said:

Aboud

‘Sho habibi? Still claiming it’s an example of revolution violence?’

no i don’t still think its the same incident ,i was wrong
i saw the kitrmaya video and its obviously the same one posted by Addunia TV as happens in Syria, clearly Addunia TV made the mistake unintentionally as the exactly same video is outthere for a different incident

‘Actually, all you exposed was your pathetic and desperate need to post fake videos.’
not really desperate , you and your people have your own publiq hanging in Hama I could easly posted here if I was desrate to show your crimes? was the Hama victim Egyptian in Lebanon as well? I hope yes , and please prove me wrong if you could
here the vedio again if you forgot it

please tell me it is not in Syria , I have many more videos for you I wish you can tell me all of them are fake !! I really do

‘I think you’ve adequately demonstrated how gullible you are. Fake videos of so called revolution violence anger you, and yet authentic and numerous videos of regime atrocities don’t seem to move you at al’

how you know what is my reaction when I see ‘authentic’ videos of the revolution? why you have such a Need to think that I support the regime? I bet you think I am Batthi aswell and most likely 3alawi!!

‘What kind of a Homsi would defend the shabiha SHITs firing on the Khaled ibn Waleed mosque?’

a Homsi who supported the revolution till the revolution dumped all the value he wished it would bring in the rubbish by using violence fake videos and by calling consvercing against its motherland just remove Bashar
a Homsi who wanted to go out to the streets daring to ask for his basic rights to find out that most of the people with him are either criminals or radicals (first demo in Homs)

a Homsi who is sick and tired of the brutality of the regime but more scared of the criminality of the opposition

listen to yourself please , what reason you give to anyone to believe your peaceful way to reach your noble cause

‘When we catch the shabeehas who did it, THEY WILL WISH TO THEIR GOD BESHO THAT THEY WERE THAT EGYPTIAN! Compared to what I will do to them, it would have been a mercy.’

Aboud that’s what I heard and still hear from the revolution supporters all the time ,all my social groups are with the revolution, I saw very good people converting to sectarian monsters thanks to the revolution

the way you and True and others talk about Alawis scare me to death ,and NO I do not belong to any minority, but Alawi minority have all the right to be scared because what is being said and done on the ground is much much worse than what you and others write shamelessly in SC .

September 8th, 2011, 5:28 pm

Khalid Tlass said:

Thank you Dr. Khoury. I also had a feeling that Maronites aren’t present in large numbers in Syria, but I think many Muslims mistakenly believe the Maronites to be a representative sample of Arabic Christians.

Greek orthodox have an inclination towards the SSNP if I’m not mistaken ? Though nobody should generalize, and Christians are more individualistc than Muslims. Just look at the Maronite community in Lebanon, there are many who are close to the Syrian regime (Aoun, Sleiman, Lahoud etc) while there are many who suffered under the Assads (Geagea, Gemayel, etc)

Also, I know for a fact, that during 1982-83 and also in 1989-91, when Syrian Army was opnely involved in clashes with the Christian militias in Beirut and Zahleh, they also shelled Churches like they shelled Mosques in Syria last month.

September 8th, 2011, 5:29 pm

True said:

@ 172. Haytham Khoury

Why the current 77th patriarch of Lebanon’s Maronite church “Beshara al-Rai” is showing support to Betho?

The last Cardinal Mar Nasrallah Boutros Sfeir was in full opposition with Betho and Hizballuah while the current one is sucking for them.

September 8th, 2011, 5:32 pm

Khalid Tlass said:

176. True said:

@ 172. Haytham Khoury

“Why the current 77th patriarch of Lebanon’s Maronite church “Beshara al-Rai” is showing support to Betho?

The last Cardinal Mar Nasrallah Boutros Sfeir was in full opposition with Betho and Hizballuah while the current one is sucking for them”

The Maronites of Lebanon are extremely divided. There are both pro- and anti- Besho Maronites. At this moment I think about 53 % of Maronites are with Besho, but that is becoz of the “Aoun factor”. If tomorrow Aoun dfects from March 8, they will be opposed to Besho. Maronites basically follow what their clan leaders and militia commanders say.

( There are a few hardcore Menhebak Maronites, mainly senior Army officers like Lahoud, Sleiman, Jean Kahwaji, who benefited from Assad’s grip on Lebanon in the 1990s. Also the Maronites in the Jabal Amil are usually pro-Hizbullah )

September 8th, 2011, 5:44 pm

Questioner said:

Haytham Khoury, I would like to ask you some questions as a Syrian Christian:

Do different christian sects in Syria have different “loyalities” to the regime? I now only about the so called “Syriac orthodox” and they seem extremely pro-Assad (generalisation of course). They are also very religious and anti-muslim (again generalisation). Are other christian groups in Syria like this or is there any reason for the “behaviors” of this specific group?

September 8th, 2011, 5:46 pm

True said:

@ 174. homsi

It took you a while to come back but yeah first of all good on you for admitting being a horn and distributing FABRICATED videos, I hope the moderator will follow your track.

“Homsi who wanted to go out to the streets daring to ask for his basic rights”

How about you start by condemning the video I posted yesterday of 11 Alwis killing a wounded Sunni man. Why are you reluctant to point your finger at the real killers of the Alwai militias?

“a Homsi who supported the revolution till the revolution dumped all the value”

I reckon it’s more like the revolution dumped you mate not the other way around. There’s no way you would have Homsi blood and simply leaving your own folks getting bombard by Alwi thugs and their God Betho the criminal.

“but Alawi minority have all the right to be scared”

Hold on a second, let me get it right eh, what the heck!!! they have the right to be scared of something “unknown” in the “future” while the Sunnis MUST live the daily factual horror of Assadians for another 40 years!! THIS IS BLOODY ABSURD

You go and ask your Alwai mates why don’t they condemn the violence of the Alawi militias? When they play fair then surely they would feel safe with no fear

JUST CONDEMN

September 8th, 2011, 5:46 pm

Muhammad said:

Haytham

Just a little note you might be interested in. For all I know, the Christian community in Edleb did not record a single public action in support of the regime. Most support the revolution but prefer to keep quite. Totally understandable. I really think it is time the Syrian Christian community got behind the revolution especially that The West seem to have made up its mind.

For those who still think the army is fighting armed militants, I have some information. The army might be clashing with some militants, but it is in the towns to principally suppress demonstrations. Orders has been given to fire on protesters. Regular army units usually have one or more Alawaite officer from the Republican Guards or Special Forces posted with them. Their job is to be in overall control and be the only way to communicate with other army units. This is not random. Sunni officers cannot communicate with others outside their immediate unit so those who want to defect feel isolated. Orders to fire usually structured as: the officer (usually a lieutenant or 1st lieutenant) fires in the air first. They then fire on the demonstrators legs, then on their torsos and heads. After that the whole unit starts firing on demonstrators. Accounts of the officers having to fire first then followed by their soldiers has been confirmed to me by people on both sides of the action (officers and demonstrators alike). This is basically to get the officer implicated in the bloodshed early on. They will find it extremely difficult to defect afterwards having been witnessed by their soldiers killing demonstrators. The soldiers will find it difficult to defect too for understandable reasons.

Again this is not random. There is a devilish plan in action to get the sunnis to kill each other while the regime can still enforce it. The regime has gone to terrible lows in attempting to survive.

September 8th, 2011, 5:47 pm

Aboud said:

“clearly Addunia TV made the mistake unintentionally as the exactly same video is outthere for a different incident ”

Bullshit. They deliberately lied about a video, falsely claiming it was an example of revolution violence. If the revolution is so violent, why hasn’t Al-DUHnya posted all the authentic videos it has of revolution violence? Because it doesn’t have any

Tell me, now that even you have admitted the video was false, will we hear a retraction or apology on the part of your favorite satellite station? Of course not. Al Jazeera has a channel where people can send SMS messages, and I see quite a few supporting junior (sent no doubt by the muKHARAbarat). Will we ever see messages of condemnation on Al-DUHnya?

Seriously, what kind of a unprofessional, inept TV station posts a video that is so obviously false. It’s not like the video wasn’t widely seen when it first came out last year.

“please tell me it is not in Syria”

Oh it was most definitely in Syria. This was an informer, and he was hanged a day after over 80 Hamwis were massacred by his Alawite friends. One informer for 80 dead civilians? I’m amazed at the Hamwis forbearance. Of course, you only shed crocodile tears for the informer, and not for the families of the people he informed on.

“a Homsi who wanted to go out to the streets daring to ask for his basic rights to find out that most of the people with him are either criminals or radicals (first demo in Homs)”

Rubbish. Tell me, was this man a criminal or a radical when your Alawite friends shot him after he was already wounded?

Is Najati Tayara a criminal or a radical? Are the dozens of children killed by your Alawite thugs, radicals or criminals? Was Hamza Khateb a criminal? Your pathetic state media claimed he was killed after trying to rape an officer’s wife. Oh yeah, they made that mistake “unintentionally”.

“a Homsi who is sick and tired of the brutality of the regime but more scared of the criminality of the opposition ”

No, you are a person who has no proof whatsoever that this revolution is anywhere near as violent as the regime’s crackdown, not even a tenth. And yet any excuse will do to pander to your Baathist masters. Since you menhebaks cannot continue defending the indefensible, especially when your Alawite thugs themselves sell videos of their atrocities, you try to condone the regime’s murderous rampage by spreading false videos of a beating in Lebanon.

“the way you and True and others talk about Alawis scare me to death”

Tough. The Alawites earned our hatred a thousand times over. Since they stand by junior, they will sink with him. If they were going to turn against him, they would have done so by now. If they consider him to be God, and chant that they will sacrifice their blood for them, then I am all too happy to facilitate their sacrifice.

Supporting the regime like you do is the act of a spineless, unprincipled coward. The sectarian viciousness practiced by the regime by way of shelling mosques, imprisoning and murdering thousands, is much more than the hurt to your precious sensibilities at what you read on some Facebook page, and for you to use it as an excuse to support the regime, stinks of moral cowardice.

Guess what, no one wants that kind of moral cowardice on their side. The regime use the likes of you, and tosses you aside when they are done with you. The 2,500 Syrians who died, died for the chance at a free life. If you do not consider that worth dying for, then your life is a shallow, miserable one indeed.

Let me make it clear once again; I do not care what you and the likes of you think. I could not care less for your sensibilities, and your offended feelings if I insult mass murdering khanazeer. Anyone who is not moved to anger after everything the regime has done, is spineless, and a moral coward of the lowest kind, no matter what “minority” or other cover they try to hide behind.

September 8th, 2011, 5:50 pm

Khalid Tlass said:

Btw, there hasn’t been any video or photo from the Syrian authorities to confirm that Bakkour is in their “custody”. Any SANA video of Bakkour giving an interview abt his “ordeal” has not yet surfaced. We can safely assume it was a despicable hoax and wisful thinking. So isn’t it time for Professor Landis to edit the title ? Its misleading ( oh, and I thoughthistorians always check their sources)

September 8th, 2011, 6:00 pm

Aboud said:

Professor Landis, Muhamad at #178 had some very interesting and useful information. I believe it should be given prominent mention in the next post.

(Makes for a much better read than a menhebak’s “OHMYGAWD THE BALD-HEADED-SALAFIS ARE TAKING OVER HOMS!”)

September 8th, 2011, 6:22 pm

jna said:

An Interview: The Propaganda War against Syria

http://pool.abc.net.au/media/interview-propaganda-war-against-syria-1

http://pool.abc.net.au/media/interview-propaganda-war-against-syria-2

http://pool.abc.net.au/media/interview-propaganda-war-against-syria-3

September 8th, 2011, 6:33 pm

Haytham Khoury said:

Dear Khalid:

You can call me Haytham, Dude!

The Greek Orthodox are very attached to their Arabic origin. They originated mainly from the Arabic tribes and communities such as Taghlib (????) (the poet al-Akhtal ??????), Tay (??)(Hatem al Ta’y???? ??????) or al Ghassassina (????????). Remember Syria remained 40% Christians till 1864. That was because the Muslims never forced any Christian to become Muslim (Till the Ottmans did it in 1864, I will discuss that in another post). When King Faisal the First came to Damascus, the Greek orthodox patriarch was among the people receiving him. Also, one of our patriarchs (Elias IV) called the Arabic Patriarch.

Now from political point of view. The Christian Arabs always were present in all parties (The National Bloc ?????? ???????), (Al Ba’ath, the Communist Party and the SSNP. Indeed, they were pioneers in all these parties. Unfortunately, Hafez al-Assad alienated then from politics. This is one of the reasons that they feel scared.

September 8th, 2011, 6:34 pm

homsi said:

aboud @ 179
you still think and accuse me that i support the regime!! just because i don’t support the revolution any more ,where did i say i am a supporter? your hatred made you a blind bigoted person ,people like you don’t need any one to kill them ,your hatred will kill you that if it didn’t do already .

True , i used to think when you started to post in here that we share the same views and i was happy to read your posts as i couldn’t write them my self because it took me long time to wright in English .
but then you turned up to be more sectarian than abu umer and more dead than aboud .

September 8th, 2011, 6:39 pm

ss said:

172 by Haytham Khoury “I am happy to answer more questions. The more you know about the Christian sects, the better you can understand them and know how to deal with them”

Good job Khoury; I am sure those radical islamists will need a lot of education in that regard. You do not need to educate minorities as we shared with our brothers and sisters christians the mountains of Syria when we were both beaded during the Ottoman occupation. You may ask your Armenians friend about the generosity of the Alawi in the mountains of Lattakia who oppened their homes for the running Armenian from the brutal Islamists (Turkish Islamists back then). We shared the happy and sad days in the past. I am sure you have a lot of room to educate them about the different sects of christianity and I hope one day your education will pay off.

September 8th, 2011, 6:47 pm

Son of Damascus said:

Its very disheartening the language used against Christians, Shias, and Alawis.
Am not pro-besho in anyway, and am not disillusioned by the fact most shabiha are Alawi.
However to say that only one sect has suffered more than the other under this brutal regime would be wrong. All Syrians suffer from these thugs. I know of Alawis and Christians that are vehemently against this regime.

Syrians should not look at each other by sect, or religion. Syria is for ALL Syrians.
No matter what sect, background, or God they believe in.

Once the people topple these Dick(traitors), what do you fellow SC members think of a reconciliation program, like the one South Africa went through after Apartheid? (I know the program was not perfect, but was a positive step in the right direction)

Regards,
Son of Damascus

September 8th, 2011, 6:48 pm

Aboud said:

@186

Martin Luther King junior once said;

“He who passively accepts evil is as much involved in it as he who helps to perpetrate it. He who accepts evil without protesting against it is really cooperating with it. ”

He also said;

“In the End, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends. ”

Also, he had this to say about people like you

“The hottest place in Hell is reserved for those who remain neutral in times of great moral conflict. ”

I rest my case. I really don’t know what to say to someone who lies when he said he saw the original Lebanese video, and that the video posted by Al-Dunya is nothing like it, and then goes on to compound his lie by saying he will never believe anything broadcast by Al-Dunya ever again, and yet when shown proof beyond dispute that Al-Dunya lied, then goes on to defend al-Dunya and whines that “it was all a mistake”.

Yeah, a mistake, just like your X-Box president was a friggin mistake, eleven years in the making.

September 8th, 2011, 6:52 pm

Aboud said:

“I know of Alawis and Christians that are vehemently against this regime. ”

Then where are they? Why are they so silent?

“what do you fellow SC members think of a reconciliation program, like the one South Africa went through after Apartheid? ”

One doesn’t talk about reconciliation while one is being hunted and murdered in the streets. It would be a horrible signal to send to the murdering thugs that all will be forgiven no matter how many more they may murder in the future. In short, this is a lousy time to talk about such things.

Would the Baathists ever give an amnesty to people who opposed them? I mean a real amnesty, and not the fake “lets release all the drug users and car thieves and turn them into shabiha” amnesties Besho is so fond of.

September 8th, 2011, 6:56 pm

True said:

@ HOMSI,

Do you condemn the violence and killing conducted by the Alawis militias?

@ Menhebkes

Do you condemn the violence and killing conducted by the Alawis militias?

beat around the bush, simple question needs one word answer.

September 8th, 2011, 6:59 pm

Tara said:

Amir

Why?

September 8th, 2011, 7:05 pm

ss said:

True “Do you condemn the violence and killing conducted by the Alawis militias?”

All depends on what you mean by militias. The short answer is YES. However, Militia in my definition does not mean the army. I am with the army and officials restoring order and yes by force. I am against any militias and gangs if they were Alawi. See the security and army in Syria is extremely strong; there is no need for Iran, HA, or African people (like Lybia example) to come and help the regime. The regime (wether you ike it or not), was build carefully for 41 years, this is a fact wether you like it or not. The regime was build with the expectations that war could happen anytime. To say that militias are helping out the army is a frank lie. Syria has a goverment, army, security branches, Mokhabarat, you name it; it is there, it is a fact, it is strong, all these are facts. You may not like that. You may hate the security. You may call them brutal. I am not arguing that, I am just saying this is a fact that I and you know very well. You do not like that fact. I and other secular Syrians love it and we ask this force to nrestore order and bring Syria back

September 8th, 2011, 7:11 pm

Aboud said:

SS apparently, thinks that acts like this restore “order”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EBNjVArnvbo&feature=player_embedded&skipcontrinter=1&has_verified=1

How is eleven thugs shooting a wounded man on the street, “restoring order”?

And by the way, in his iftar speech, Besho told the secularists to go shove their secularism where the sun doesn’t shine LOL!

September 8th, 2011, 7:15 pm

Haytham Khoury said:

Dear Questioner:

The Syriac Christians are a different sect.

Let me detail for you all the Christian denominations in Syria:

1. Greek Orthodox Church
2. Melkite Greek Catholic Church
3.Protestants (there are a couple of them)
4. Syriac Orthodox Church
5. Syriac Catholics
6. Assyrian Church of the East
7. Chaldean Catholics
8. Armenian orthodox
9. Armenian catholic
10.Maronites

Regarding their racial origin the first 3 are from Arabic race.
The last 7 are not from Arabic origin. The racial origin affects attitude toward different things.

Regarding the current Syrian Revolution, the only Church that expressed clear attitude toward the revolution is the “Assyrian Church of the East”. This church expressed its support for the revolution.
Most of the others their attitude changed. In the beginning they were in favor of the change. However, later on the became afraid from the change. (I will discuss that shift and support it by documents in a later post).

The only church that expressed concern as regard to change is Melkite Greek Catholic Church. This attitude is related to the situation in Iraq.

However, I should mention that in the Christians mind, there is separation between religion and politics. Technically, the clergy has no political authority over the people.

September 8th, 2011, 7:17 pm

uzair8 said:

Syrian Cleric Uprising – Dr. Ismail Ray

http://www.sacredknowledge.co.uk/seekers-of-knowledge/articles/311

September 8th, 2011, 7:20 pm

True said:

@ 193. Ss

“All depends on what you mean by militias. The short answer is YES.”

Good!! now we can talk. Let’s try to have a little dialog

Since we both agree on condemning militias and gangs irrespectively Sunni or Alawi, can I assume that we should “unconditionally” mark and label them as “criminals”, do you agree?

September 8th, 2011, 7:21 pm

sf94123 said:

1- Life is normal in many parts of Syria. What we read online/offline is greatly exaggerated and in many cases illusory
2- Many cities and regions are autonomous
3- People still believe the government will get them out of this crisis
4- Foreign military interference is not possible particularly due to the BRICS firm stand against it. Russia in particular!
5- Sanction(s) will weaken the economy but will never accomplish its intended purpose
6- Bashar is not going to resign or leave under duress
7- The oppositions are deeply divided and unable to reconcile their differences.
8- Demonstrations can not continue indefinitely (did not gain traction)
9- Democracy can not be implemented from the outside. The Syrian people must decide how and when.

Good-faith Dialogue is the only way to move forward and who knows we could have an election before 2014.

September 8th, 2011, 7:23 pm

Haytham Khoury said:

Dear SS @187:

All people on this forum know that I am the biggest defender of Alawi in this forum. I never distinguished between the sects (Alawi, Sunni, Ja’afari, Druze, Imsai’ili and Christian).

I do not look at the current events from sectarian point of veiw. I look at them from political point of veiw. Believe no Alwi person is less important for me than a Druze, Imsai’ili, Sunni, Christian or Ja’afari).

I believe deep in my mind that Syria needs change and all of you are important for the new Syria. All of you will be source of richness for the new Syria.

September 8th, 2011, 7:32 pm

Son of Damascus said:

@Aboud
First I must commend you and every Homsi that are standing up to oppression.
3arassi Ahl Homs.
“Then where are they? Why are they so silent?”
I did not know people were checking ID’s at protests to see what sect they were from? May I remind of the good sir Haytham Khoury, is he not christian?

Aboud I respect your opinion very much, what you and many others do is truly great. However to label an entire sect under one brush is wrong, it’s no better than the regime labelling the brave souls as Salafi.

I am not Alawi (am a secular Sunni), am not defending the atrocities the Shabiha, and the regime has caused (and continue to do so). But to say that its only Alawis that are doing this is wrong. The Sunni business men that helped finance this thuggery, or even Sunni Soldiers that are explicitly involved in the crack down.

Confucius once said “Before you embark on a journey of revenge, dig two graves”

I just don’t believe that two wrong make a right, we should never stoop to the level of inhumanity and subjection that the regime is operating in.

I hate the Baath, I hate despise the Assad Clan, and I will be there standing by your side when we turn Havez’s grave into a urinal (along with Bashar, and company), however I don’t believe in purging 10% of the population.

Regards,
Son of Damascus

September 8th, 2011, 7:32 pm

Aleppo said:

Dear Haytham,
you are forgetting Armenian protestants. They have a nice temple in Aleppo.

September 8th, 2011, 7:43 pm

Haytham Khoury said:

Dear Muhhamad @180.

The problem of Christians in Adleb that they are very small group. You can understand their defensive attitude.

The Christian involvement in the revolution is the best in Homs and Hama.

In Hama, they have grudges against the Assad family, because Rifa’at destroyed their historic church (From the fifth century) and also killed many Christians in 1982.

In Homs, I think the attitude in Homs reflect the genuine attitude of the Christians (as people) toward the regime. The Christians in Homs were very affected by the deterioration of the economical situation of the middle class over years. I need Aboud opinion as regard to my assessment of the Christians in Homs.

September 8th, 2011, 7:43 pm

Haytham Khoury said:

Dear Aleppo:

You are right.

September 8th, 2011, 7:46 pm

uzair8 said:

Bloggingheads: Will Assad go peacefully? (Or at all?)
Sep 8th

Mr Monajed faces off against Prof. Landis on Syria.

http://mideast.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2011/09/08/bloggingheads_will_assad_go_peacefully_or_at_all

September 8th, 2011, 7:50 pm

Aboud said:

“I did not know people were checking ID’s at protests to see what sect they were from?”

You are correct. On this point I stand corrected. The fact is we see scant few prominent members of other sects take a clear and sustained stand against the regime.

You remind me of something I had forgotten, a doctor from another sect, who saw with his own eyes how an injured woman was being tortured and mistreated by pro-regime nurses at a hospital in Homs. He got word to her home town, and her family came and spirited her away (they thought she had been killed).

“The Sunni business men that helped finance this thuggery, or even Sunni Soldiers that are explicitly involved in the crack down.”

Again, you make a valid point. However, the regime’s political and military leadership are dominated by Alawites. Maybe they wouldn’t be so quick to resort to violence if the price were retribution against their own Alawite bases of power.

“I just don’t believe that two wrong make a right”

Remember what happened in Baiyda? When the baggy panted shabiha abused and beat up all the men in the village and shot up the mosque? Now tell me why such a thing could never happen in Homs anymore. If there were a few army defectors at Baiyda, no shabiha pig would have gone near that village.

This is a regime that will gladly sacrifice 10,000 Alawite street thug to stay in power. If you are not in favor of armed uprising, then what is the alternative?

Numerous cities came out in massive, massive numbers to call for the regime’s downfall. Any self respecting president would have resigned then and there, just like the more enlightened Husni Mubarak did, but junior will murder every Syrian if it will keep him in power.

International sanctions? The best the toothless and feeble international community can do is oil sanctions that don’t kick in until November.

Junior is the 21st century’s Hitler, and Hitler was never going to be defeated by protests and international sanctions.

September 8th, 2011, 8:00 pm

Haytham Khoury said:

Dear SS:

Believe me you and mjabali are no less dear for me than Aboud or Khali Tlass.

Although I differ with you politically, that does not make you a personal enemy of mine.

I respect very much people who have different opinion than me.

September 8th, 2011, 8:02 pm

True said:

Very predictable, again and again every time we put an effort and try to dialog with the losers (Menhebeks) they prefer to dodge the simple questions and evaporate.

You guys lack the logic to build an argument and the means to defend your stand, keep following your God betho while he’s digging in the biggest hole for all of you.

bloody low IQ and a waste of space.

September 8th, 2011, 8:04 pm

Tara said:

Khalid Tlass

You said “Maronites of Lebanon are extremely divided. There are both pro- and anti- Besho Maronites. At this moment I think about 53 % of Maronites are with Besho, but that is becoz of the “Aoun factor”. If tomorrow Aoun dfects from March 8, they will be opposed to Besho. Maronites basically follow what their clan leaders and militia commanders say.

Could yup elaborate on the Maronites who are pro-HA. Who are they? Also what about the Lebanese orthodox, are they also pro Bashar?

Finally, in regard to Maronites Aoun’ s followers, no independent thinking?

September 8th, 2011, 8:09 pm

Son of Damascus said:

@Aboud

I am fully in favour of an armed struggle against this regime, we must defend our selves when the state fails to do so, all I am saying is that we must draw a line in the sand, we must not fall into the trap of the regime and turn this revolution into a sectarian blood bath.

This is a political struggle, and not a religious war. Syrian’s of all backgrounds are being victimized by this brutal regime, and Syrians of all backgrounds must have the right to live free, and without fear once this revolution succeeds.

regards,
Son of Damscus

September 8th, 2011, 8:12 pm

Mina said:

Oh the noble Mubarak!! Aboud 205, you should turn to the Egyptian channels: Mubarak’s sons are paying thugs to come by full buses and attack people in front of the court, as it happened on 5th september. Plus they have enough power inside the court to be able to have a deal when it was broadcasted on TV that allowed them to stay in front of their dad and hide him from the cameras when they wanted, and to hold the mike for him instead of some policeman…
Mubarak’s thugs are still to this day opening prisons to release other thugs creating chaos in the country, adding to violence and to rumours, thus pushing people into more extremism since they think that the opposite of a thug is a pious MB.

September 8th, 2011, 8:14 pm

Aboud said:

Is there a part missing from the Blogging Head debate?

I like how Landis puts a bookcase behind him when he’s on webcam, and puts on a tie. Makes a better impression than a nondescript wall that looks like someone’s bedroom.

Honestly, Mr Monajed hasn’t thought this through. If junior isn’t made to fear for his life, if those around him know for a fact their physical well being will never be in danger, they will not make one reform or give up a shred of power. They will let all the low level Alawites do the dying and fighting for them.

@210 Junior makes Mubarak look good. You know what Mubarak’s supporters are saying? “Hey, our guy never used tanks against his own people”

September 8th, 2011, 8:15 pm

Mina said:

198
“life is normal in many parts of Syria”
Thanks, you confirm what I have heard today from a Syrian who just came back a week ago.

By the way, for the advocates of Turkish “democracy” (but you can’t say a word against Ataturk): could you tell me if the Armenians and the Kurds who live in Turkey feel they are in a democracy?

September 8th, 2011, 8:23 pm

Haytham Khoury said:

?????? ?? ???? ?????
by Rafik Helou on Thursday, July 7, 2011 at 6:48pm

?? ????? ???? ??????? ?? ???? ?????,. ???? ????? ??? ??? ??? ?????. ? ??????? “??????????” ?? ????? ???? ???? ??????? ? ????? ????? ?????? “?? ?? ??, ??? ?? ???? ??????”, ????? ?????? ??? ?????? ?? ?????? ??? ????? ?? ?????, ???? ?? ?????? ???? “?? ?? ??”. ? ??? ?? ???? ????? ????? ?? ????? ?????? ?????? ??????? ????????, ???? ?? ???? ??? ?? ???? ?????: ???? ???? ??? ?? ??? ??? ?? ????? ??????, ????? ?????????, ?? ????? ????? ? ???????,?? ?? ?????? ????? ?? ??? ?????, ??????? ????? ?????? ?? ?? ???? ????? ???? ??????, ? ????? ???? ?? ????? ??? ???. ?? ????????, ????? ????, ????? ????? ???????? ?????? ? ???? ????? ????? ???????? ???? ?? ???? ???. ?? ???? ???? ??????? ?? ???? ? ?????? ?????? ?? ????

?????? ??? ???? ??? ??? ????, ??? ?? ??? ????, ??? ????? ????? ???????? ??????? ? ????? ???? ??????? ????? ?????? ?? ?????? ? ??? ????? ??? ??? ??? ???, ????? ??? ????? ??? ??? ?????? ????. ?? ????? ??????? ?????, ? ???? ???? ?????? ? ??? ????? ?????? ??? ??????. ?? ????? ?????? ???? ??????, ???? ?? ????? ???? ? ????? ????? ??? ?????? ?????? ???????, ? ??? ?????, ?? ??????. ????? ????? ?????. ????? ???? ???? ?????? ????? ???????? ?? ???? ?????. ???? ????? ????? ? ???? ? ????? ?????? ?????. ????? ????? ??????? ? ??? ??????? ???? ?? ???? ????? ??????? ??? ????? ????? ?? ??????..

????? ????? ???????? ??? ???? ????, ? ?? ????? ??? ??? ??? ?? ?????, ????? ???????? ??? ??????. ??? ????? ???????, ?? ??? ??????? ??????? ???????? ?? ???? ? ???? ???? ??? ???? ??? ???, ??? ??????? ??? ??? ??????. ??? ??????? ?????, ?? ???? ??????? ???? ?????? ??? ?????? ???? ????? ?? ????? ?????? ?? ??????. ?????: ????? ?????? ??????? ????: ??, ?? ????? ????? ???? ??????, ???? ??? ???????. ???? ?????: ???? ????? ???????. ?????: ??, ??? ??????? ? ??????? ?????, ??? ?????????, ????? ?????????, ?????? ???????, ????? ?????????, ????? ??????

, ????? ??? ??? ??????? ??????? ??? ??????? ? ??? ??????, ? ????? ??????? ?? ????? ??????? ?? ????? ??????

??????? ???? ???? ?? ?? ???? ????? ?????. ??? ????????? ??????? ?? ???? ????? ????????. ??? ????? ??? ??????: ???? ???? ????? ???? ?? ???? ???? ?? ?????. ?? ??? ???? ????? ???? ?? ???? ??????? ???? ?????? ???? ??? ????? ????, ?? ??? ???? ??? ????? ????? ??????? ???? ???, ????? ? ????? ??? ???????? ???????? ????? ???

??? ?? ????? ?????? ????? ????? ???? ??????, ?? ??? ??? ?????? ?????? ??????, ? ????? ????? ??? ?????? ?? ???? ????. ????? ??? ?? ????? ???????, ????? ?? ?????? ???? ???? ???? ??????? ?????? ??????? ? ?? ????, ???? ???? ???? ??? ?????? ? ??? ?????? ?????: ???? ?????, ???? ???? ? ?????. ??? ?????, ? ??? ????????, ? ?? ????? ????? ??????

?? ??? ??????, ???? ???????. ?? ??? ????? ?????? ??????? ?????? ???? ???? ?? ????? ???? ???? ????? ???????. ??? ??????? ???? ?????, ?????? ??????. ???? ??? ??????? ?????? ??????? ?? ??? ??????? ??????? ????? ????? ?? ???? ??????, ????. ??? ????? ? ???? ?????, ???? ????? ????? ??????? ?? ????? ????? ????. ?? ???? ????, ?? ??? ????? ?????? ?????, ??????? ??? ???? ????? ?? ??????? ???? ????? ????? ?????..

???? ?????? ????, ??? ???????? ??????? ????? ????? ????? ?? ??? ????? ?????? ??????? ? ????? ?????? ????. ? ???????? ???? ?????? ????? ? ???? ???? ????????? ????? ????? ?? ???..

???????? ?? ?????? ? ???? ???. ???? ?? ???? ??????..???? ????? ??? ?????, ????? ??? ??????. ? ???? ???? ?? ???? ?? ????? ? ??????

?? ???? ?????? ???? ??? ?? ???????. ?? ???? ?????? ???? ??? ????? ???????? ?????? ????? ??? ?????? ? ??? ????? ?????? ?????? ??? ????? ???? ???? ?? ???? ?????? ???? ?? ????. ?? ??? ???? ??? ???? ? ??? ????? ? ???? ????? ???

?? ???? ??????? ???? ????? ???? ????? ?????? ?????? ???, ?? ???? ?? ???? ????????: ??? ???? ??? ???? ???? ??????, ? ???? ?????? ???? ?? ????: ?? ???????, ?????? ?? ????,??? ?????? ??????? ?? ??? ???? ???

?? ???? ???? ??????? ??? ????? ????? ???? ? ???? ????? ???????..?????? ??? ?????, ?? ????? ???????? ?????? ????..??? ?? ????? ????? ? ??? ??? ???? ???. ??? ??? ???? ???? ?? ?????? ?? ??????? ?????? ????? ????? ? ???? ???? ?????..? ????? ?????? ? ????? ???? ????? ?????? ..

?????? ??? ?????? ?????? ???? ????? ? ??????, ???? ??????? ?? ?????.. ? ?? ????, ???? ???? ?? ?? ???? ?????? ???? ?? ????..?????

September 8th, 2011, 8:24 pm

Haytham Khoury said:

This is a message from a young man that I received on Facebook. It shows why Christians in Hama do not like the Assad Family.

“Thank you, Look you may miss understood the situation here. here as you know Christians are just few, and the church has been owned by Bashar and the government, here as a free open minded Christians people we have been taken out of the church, because the church think that we are dangerous to our society .
I am Hamwi and I have been in Damascus since 1998 so I have seen lost of Syrians people, in Hama most of Christians people are with revolution, but here is Damascus it is not the same situation, take me as an example I have lost most of christens friends because the thing that I am bad person and I do not like our county just because I want freedom and I say the truth.

Whatever the situation is I will try and try and always say the truth , what I know my muslims friends are not salafeen and not mondaseen.. by the way the same story in 1982 my grandfather had been killed by the government because of we were living in Hama, yes the government killed my Christian grandfather under because they thought that he is Ekwan Muslemiin…. In 1982 the all Hama had been destroyed because of the story of AlAssd system “Ekwan Muslemiin” and now all Syria us being destroyed in the same way and lies ” Mondaswwn, Salafeen> and whatever.

And now right now my godfather. Gorger sabra is in jail somewhere in Syria… actuality Christian free people are lost and week we cannot so almost anything. Because this will be against the church and the system.
Thank you again and sorry for my bad English.

Adham”

September 8th, 2011, 8:32 pm

sheila said:

Dear Aboud,
“where are they?” Many examples around you. Look at Haytham. He is one bright example. I have quite a few Christian friends who are very anti regime and very vocal. Look at Nidal Maalouf (owner of Syria News) He is a Christian and on the run because of his views. My husband’s Alawii friend called him a few days ago to join him in an anti-regime conference. There are many. Please keep in mind that the minorities are being threatened by the regime more than the Sunni Muslims. They need our support not our condemnation. I think we should concentrate on our common enemy, the Syrian regime of criminals, and not bicker with one another.
By the way, I am glad you are safe. our hearts are with Homs.

September 8th, 2011, 8:52 pm

Aboud said:

“Please keep in mind that the minorities are being threatened by the regime more than the Sunni Muslims.”

Yeah, sometimes I forget that in Homs we have the luxury of going out at any street corner, and any restaurant, and swearing at Besho at the top of our voices. Unless we happen to do so next to a checkpoint, we get away with it. Aleppo and Damascus aren’t so lucky.

And you are right, I don’t know what pressures are being applied to other sects. But it can’t be worse than having your place of worship surrounded by thugs, your clerics beaten up, and your places of worship shelled by tanks, your funerals shot at by regime terrorists. And yet some of us wouldn’t think of giving up. Some haven’t even gotten started.

September 8th, 2011, 8:58 pm

sheila said:

To all, especially OTW, Majedkhaldoun and True,
I was listening to NPR when they had that #@$& Imad Mustafa on. I wish I was raised to swear, because this is the time when it really is needed. Sometimes I do blame my mother for her strict no swearing rule. I was ready to break the radio. The lies of this man. The way he talked and addressed Dr. Hallak, the brother of Sakher Hallak who was killed by the regime thugs in Aleppo. How he denied the undeniable truth about the death of the poor doctor. He really made my blood boil.
I also suspected that he is SNK. He used that phrase in his interview. I have never heard this phrase used before except on SC and in that interview. It made me think.
I do not know how this man can live with himself. He also lied about Malek Jandali’s parents. I know that the attack on his parents is real. I know for a fact that they broke his mother’s teeth. I know for a fact that she is now in the US and that the American ambassador Mr. Ford had to interfere for her to leave Syria. What a certified liar. I still wish I could swear. I am still very angry.

September 8th, 2011, 9:04 pm

Aboud said:

Sheila, people like No Klue get handed their yapping points by people like Imad Mustapha. Doubtless, Mustapha gave the same instructions to many other shabihas.

Also, Joshua and Mustapha are, I understand, good friends, so I doubt Joshua would ban Mustapha from SC, like how No Klue got banned a few days ago.

September 8th, 2011, 9:25 pm

sheila said:

To dear #200. Son of Damascus,

Very well said. Thank you. I would like to add that most of the so called Shabiha in Aleppo are Sunni. Can we please put this sectarian talk to rest?

September 8th, 2011, 9:29 pm

Norman said:

195. Haytham Khoury said:

Dear Questioner:

The Syriac Christians are a different sect.

Let me detail for you all the Christian denominations in Syria:

Regarding their racial origin the first 3 are from Arabic race.
The last 7 are not from Arabic origin. The racial origin affects attitude toward different things.

What do mean and what are they then, all Christians in Syria were there before Islam and are Semitic people.

September 8th, 2011, 9:40 pm

Aboud said:

“I would like to add that most of the so called Shabiha in Aleppo are Sunni”

You’re kidding? Seriously???????

September 8th, 2011, 9:44 pm

True said:

@ 217. Sheila

Imad Mustafa just a disposable bloody horn sucking up for his God betho and highly likely he’ll end up as asylum seeker in US. At that time when I see him driving his taxi or waiting at the city mission to get his dinner I would tell him “Syrians earned their Syria while you’re stuck in your Kandahar”

I know how many Mukabart from the Syrian embassy in US on this SC site and here I dare you Imad to come out and debate with me publicly in a radio of your choice anywhere at anytime.

Joshua, please pass this line to your best mate.

Yla3an ro7ak ya 7afiz

September 8th, 2011, 9:50 pm

daisie said:

I read that the Russians are getting involved in solving the crisis with a green light from France. I also read that the opposition is calling for international help as the situation is a quagmire.

Do you think the Russians will convince the opposition to dialog with the current government of Syria? It seems to me that the opposition and the government have no other choices, or do they?

September 8th, 2011, 9:54 pm

OFF THE WALL said:

Dear Sheila and ZIADSOURY
SNK writes like a teen or someone with the mentality of a teen, not only in language skills (both Arabic and English), but also in mannerism.

DAISIE
There is no government in Syria. The minister of finance today talked as a member of a regime not of a government. The cabinet is merely a front for the security apparatus. No self respecting minister would agree to having her/his ministry employees be used as thugs and as personal militia of the Assads.

Imad Mustafa is an accomplished liar (and a good writer), but he is not that accomplished to mimic both the writing style and mannerism of the immature personality of SNK.

However, I am sure that Imad Mustafa reads SC. Also, I have heard the phrase Syria Not Kandahar before such a fellow showed up on SC. It was from a relative, who still insists on peddling regime propaganda while claiming not be a Men7abbak.

I did not listen to the interview. I thought it would cause me great distress, so I opted for reading the script, which is a much more controlled environment of me. Even then, I was really angry when he talked the way he did to the Brother of Dr. Sakhr Hallaq, one of the earliest martyrs of this revolution. The man has no respect. How I longed for an Edward Murrow moment to shout back at him, Have you no decency, sir. (ZIAD, the Sir is part of the phrase)

SNK name was one of the names that came as a wave of seemingly patriotic names. You should see the names on the Men7ebbak face book sites. They are stars, flowers (for ladies), eagles, lions, commando, soldiers, and all types of predators. But so far, we are the only ones who have a Hamster. How could it be more peaceful than that? I guess, we need Syrian Hamster’s view on this one.

September 8th, 2011, 9:57 pm

True said:

@ 219. sheila

“Can we please put this sectarian talk to rest?”

Sure sounds great let’s have a common ground of condemning and denouncing the killing of innocent people first eh.

@ Menehbeks & Alawis

Why don’t you condemn the video of 11 Alawis killing a wounded Sunni man?

September 8th, 2011, 9:57 pm

sheila said:

No Aboud. I am not kidding. The majority of the acting Shabiha in Aleppo are members of two clans: the Barri and the Baggara. These are known thugs and smugglers that were armed by the government and paid money to do their dirty work. They are Sunni Muslim clans.

September 8th, 2011, 9:59 pm

Aboud said:

OK Sheila, you’ve managed to do what an army of menhebaks couldn’t. You’ve made me want to shoot myself.

September 8th, 2011, 10:06 pm

OFF THE WALL said:

Aboud
I can confirm Sheila’s assertion about Aleppo Shabbe7a. It is well known that they are the mafia families of the “distinguished Aleppans” who were received early on by Betho. Drug smugglers and a couple are human traffickers.

September 8th, 2011, 10:08 pm

Haytham Khoury said:

@ Norman # 220

I agree with you that all Christians in Syria are Semitic, except Armenians. However, Semites include three branches: Jews, Arabic and Aramaic. For example, the Syriac, Assyrian and Chaldean are Aramaic.

My point was that Syria is a mixture of cultures. That includes in addition to Arabs (Muslim Arabs and Christian Arabs), Muslims but not Arabs (Kurds, Circassians and Tukmen) and Christian non Arabs (Syriac, Armenians and Maronites). All these groups are important for the richness of Syria. Will we do like al Ba’ath did, denying their cultural rights.

The first question how to devise a constitution that respect all these diversities?
The second question is how to prepare that society to accept this diversity?

September 8th, 2011, 10:09 pm

sheila said:

To dear #225. True,
We are all very frustrated and angry, but really, what is this sectarian talk accomplishing? Think about it. Yes, our “common ground is condemning and denouncing the killing of innocent people”, but our common goal should be the toppling of the regime and not bickering with each other. How do you know that the 11 were Alawiis? And how do you know the wounded was Sunni?. This is pure speculation and profiling. We all know that many villages can sound like they are Alawiis when they are not. Case in point: Mhardeh: a Christian town. There is also Horan. There are many villages in Idleb and Halab that sound similar. And for all intents and purposes, that poor fellow wounded on the ground could have been a Christian. Have you ever considered this possibility? We all look alike.
Please True, let’s concentrate our anger on the regime and not at each other. The regime is not all Alawii and the Alawiis are not all with the Regime.

September 8th, 2011, 10:12 pm

sheila said:

Sorry Aboud. That was not my intention.
Thanks OTW for your support.

September 8th, 2011, 10:17 pm

abughassan said:

Older falks failed where the youth succeeded: breaking the wall of fear,but when the dust is settled,those youth may need to listen to older people who have virtues that can only be aquired through life experiences and education. Sooner or later this regime will be changed and bigger questions have to be answered:
unemployment,out of control population growth,and a culture of corruption and nepotism. you can not rely on democracy only to feed 23 million Syrians,and you should not expect Syria to become an oasis of freedom and prosperity just because the regime is changed. Having said that,a change in the regime from the top down is essential to lift Syria up and open a new page. Syrians deserve a better government and a better life.Sooner or later,we need to hear ideas from non baathists about those “big questions”,slogans are needed now to energize people but they can not fill an empty stomach..
BTW,Imad Mustafa’s English is more refined than SNK,these are two different people unless the ambassador was making writing mistakes on purpose.Also,does being a “half alawi” qualifies a person,like me, to become an ambassador or may be a half ambassador ? I should be glad that I have Sunni roots that can be used for future job applications :)..

September 8th, 2011, 10:18 pm

OFF THE WALL said:

ABUGHASSAN
I think that when the dust settles, the younger folks should consult the older folks, but the older folks should listen to the younger ones. Any generation which can withstand the criminality of the regime for six months, and maintain its movement largely peaceful is a generation that can successfully produce good governance.

September 8th, 2011, 10:24 pm

True said:

@ 230. Sheila

“The regime is not all Alawii and the Alawiis are not all with the Regime”

I fully respect your intention and totally understand where you’re coming from, but we can’t all play the good cop

Again see we’re always good in giving them the benefit of the doubt by giving them such a cover while in reality they can’t bother to come out clean and state the same exact statement.

When they clearly state their disengagement from Betho in addition to unconditional condemnation of killing then I’ll stop labelling them as Alwai, till that time I can safely assume (Alawis are the regime and the regime is Alawis)

September 8th, 2011, 10:24 pm

Norman said:

Haytham,

The Syriac orthodox that i am one of them consider themselves Arab Christians and the original inhabitant of Syria , Islam came to Syria in the seventh century, The people of Syria are all Aramaic at one time.

September 8th, 2011, 10:36 pm

True said:

Only 5 hours for the Rugby World Cup 2011

I hear the opening ceremony is expected to be spectacular

Hooooooooooray

September 8th, 2011, 10:42 pm

NK said:

This is just beautiful

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9M8AC12pcwE

September 8th, 2011, 11:08 pm

mjabali said:

SNK is one of a kind……….We miss you…let the man say what he wants…????? ?? ?????? ???????? ???????? ?????? ???? ??????? ???? ??????….

September 8th, 2011, 11:10 pm

majedkhaldoon said:

haytham
most of my friends who are christian say that religion and politics mix,but religion and state do not mix.

The interview of Recep Tayeb Erdogan is good one, he said,if you rule by blood, you will leave by blood,and that he quit talking to Bashar, and he is doing consultation with friends,then he will act

September 8th, 2011, 11:11 pm

Haytham Khoury said:

Dear Norman:
I have no doubt that the Syriac and Aramaic were on most Syria before the Greek and the Arabs came here. At the end this is the point that I am defending.

I understand that you are Syriac and you consider yourself an Arabic Syrian. I have no problem with that. This is your choice. I always respect personal choices.

However, I will put a practical problem. In the province of Al-Haska, there are mixture of Kurds and Assyrians (large majority of the population there). Before 1997, they were used to do their marriage services in their respective languages. According to the Ba’ath forced Arabization, the governor forced them to do the marriages in Arabic. What do you think about that? Do you think we should accept that Syria is a mixture and we should respect the diversity in this country?

September 8th, 2011, 11:13 pm

Haytham Khoury said:

@Majed Khaldoon @239:

I understand your point, may be I did mot express my idea rightly. Indeed, In Europe there is occasionally mix of religion and politics. For example, you can find some political parties with the name “Christian Democrats”. However, there is separation between state and religion.

Christians in Syria have occasionally that mixture (????? ??????? ???????????). However, most of the time they try to establish secular parties (communist, Ba’ath). Practically, I have no problem with the mixture as long as there is separation between religion and state.

September 8th, 2011, 11:35 pm

Pirouz said:

Looks like the Syrian Army may be missing a platoon in Rastan.

Still, the defections are nothing like what took place in Tehran in ’78, and which accelerated in ’79– not that I am necessarily dismissing the present Syrian example.

Does anyone know if the soldiers in the YouTube video are conscripts? Iranian conscripts are easy to identify. I’m also interested in their military composition.

September 8th, 2011, 11:36 pm

Haytham Khoury said:

Dear Norman @235:

My point was we have different cultures in Syria and we should respect them all whether they are Kurds (Have been here for longtime) or Armenian (came in 19th and 20th centuries).

September 8th, 2011, 11:43 pm

Revlon said:

Dears Sheila and Abboud,

The racial mix of Shabbeha is much like that of the security forces, the army, any public sector institution, and in fact the Syrian society at large.

However, the commanders, the movers, and the decision makers in all of those groups are 3alawis; the rest being benefactors for reasons of survival or greed.

So both of you 3abboud and Sheila were correct.
Abboud’s description of the commanders and leaders of Shabbeha as being all-3alawi was correct.

Sheila’a description of ranks and files of shabbeha as being predominantly Sunnis was as correct. I would expect that to be also true for other cities as well. Such merely reflects the fact that Sunnis far outnumber 3alawis in Syria, including the greedy and the needy.

To drive the idea home, take the current Syrian cabinet as a form of Shabbeha organisation.
They are predominently Sunni’s.
But you would not fail to see that the movers and decision makers are without a single exception 3alawi’s.

September 8th, 2011, 11:43 pm

Revlon said:

242. Dear Pirouz, the unit that defected in Bustan Addewan in Homs two days ago was special forces.
These are army regulars, not conscripts.

The regime is relying heavily on the special forces and republican guards since they are better trained and equipped.
Added, compared to conscripts who dread the military service, they are less inclined to defect since being in the army was their choice for a career and a way of life.

Cheers

September 8th, 2011, 11:53 pm

some guy in damascus said:

“Remember Syria remained 40% Christians till 1864.”
can you elaborate more on it?
and i was wondering if you could tell me about toshet al nasara?
thanks alot dr.khoury 🙂

“1- Life is normal in many parts of Syria. What we read online/offline is greatly exaggerated and in many cases illusory”

not really, damascenes usually spend their summers in bludan and zabadani…..they didnt leave damascus

“3- People still believe the government will get them out of this crisis”

a good sizable portion( minority or majority) of syrians beleive that regime is the crisis

“7- The oppositions are deeply divided and unable to reconcile their differences.”

which demonstrates authentic this revolution is not organized and free of foreign meddling. its right from the small man in the streets!

“8- Demonstrations can not continue indefinitely (did not gain traction)”

the great Syrian revolution against the french lasted 2 years. besho had to resort to armed assault to enter cities like hama. so its not really ” did not gain traction”.

“Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable.” john F Kennedy

September 8th, 2011, 11:57 pm

SYR.EXPAT said:

“In Hama, they have grudges against the Assad family, because Rifa’at destroyed their historic church (From the fifth century) and also killed many Christians in 1982.”

Dear Dr. Khoury,

Sorry to hear that. This and the many other crimes committed must speak volumes about the people who have been ruling Syria for close to 50 years.

September 9th, 2011, 12:09 am

Abughassan said:

Reading some posts make one feel like Syria is becoming another Iraq. Saddam,still loved and respected by some for strange reasons,was a Sunni ruling a country where Shia were the majority. He was brutal and rigid and managed to stay in power despite sanctions and two wars,it took a direct invasion from a super power to topple him,that was done with direct help from some Iraqis,especially expats,who lied and twisted facts to convince a willing crowd in the US and NATO that invading Iraq was a good thing. What follows was a disaster: hundred of thousands of Iraqis died,a sectarian and corrupt government was installed,and an endless mix of insurgency and terrorism took over the country.
Iraq is so bad today,most Iraqis actually regret allowing outsiders to come and “fix” their problems. One tragic result of forcing a western democracy on a country like Iraq was dividing the country and the government along sectarian lines. Iraq today is a failed state with a lot of oil,Syria,if it follows the same path,will be worse than Iraq without the oil.
Few will be quick to conclude that this post is an indirect invitation to keep things the same,but it is not,it is an attempt to avoid repeating the Iraqi mistake,a third option must be pursued vigorously in Syria,this means internal pressure to change the regime and not allowing foreigners to draw Syria’s future. This third option is scaring the gulf regimes and other dictatorship to death,they want their people to conclude that it is either them,those corrupt regimes,or another Iraq,this is one reason why Saudi Arabia was very uncomfortable seeing Mubarak leave. The Syrian regime is actively spreading scary stories about what can happen if a new regime is installed,the truth is this:
Syria will be fine as long as foreigners stay out of our mess…

September 9th, 2011, 12:28 am

Revlon said:

A plea for FIFA intervention: Syria’s Football Stadiums have become makeshift prisons!

http://www.facebook.com/Syrian.Revolution#!/photo.php?fbid=10150827359095727&set=a.10150397575815727.619133.420796315726&type=1&theater

The Syrian Revolution 2011 ?????? ??????? ?? ???? ?????
?? ?????? ????? ???? ???? “??????? ???????”:
???? ??????? ??? ??????.. ??????? ??????? ?????? ??? ????..
????? ???????? ??????
2 hours ago

September 9th, 2011, 1:07 am

NK said:

Interesting

http://bit.ly/nqgZvQ

“???? ????? ??????? ?????? ??? ?? ????????? ?? ?????? ?????? ?????? ????? ??? 25 ????? ?????? ????? ??? ??? ?????? ?????? ???? ????? 34 ????? ?????? ??? ??? ?????? ??? ??? ??????? ????? ??? ???? ????? ?? ??? ???????? ?? ???? ?????? ????????? ??????.

???? ????? ???????? ?? ????? ??????? ?????? ???????? ??? ????????? ??????????? ?? ????? ??? ??????? ??? ????? ??????? ?? ?????? ?? ?????????? ???????? ?? ????? 18 ????? ????? ???? ??? ????? ???? ???? ??? ???? ?? ??? ????????? ???? ??? ???? ???? ????? ??????? ???? ????? ??? ?? ??? 2 ????? ????? ?????? ?????? ??????? ??????? ?? 2 ????? ????? ????? ?????? ????? ???? ??????? ???? ??? ?????????? ??????? ?? 18 ????? ????? ??? ???? ??????? ??????.”

here’s a rough translation

Egypt’s central bank announced yesterday that its reserves of foreign currency decreased and reached $ 25 billion, noting that before the outbreak of the revolution it was around $ 34 billion, assuring the people that the revolution went without any major implications and this reduction will not have significant effect on the Egyptian economy.

Now let’s move the camera away from the Egyptian central bank and focus on the economic officials in Syria. Since the beginning of the events they declared that the foreign reserves in Syria $ 18 billion and since then, and despite the passage of six months on these statements, and despite the governor of the Central Bank of Syria Adib Mayaleh saying that $ 2 billion has been spent to stabilize the Syrian pound, and his statement that $ 2 billion left Syria, still the Minister of Finance states that the cash reserves are 18 billion dollars and haven’t decreased one cent.

=====
makes you wonder … !!

September 9th, 2011, 1:12 am

ann said:

Israel Better Think Twice – Sep-08-2011

Islam is unbeatable and indestructible. The Israelis should remember their latest military blunders.

http://www.salem-news.com/articles/september082011/israeli-thinking-ga.php

Islam is unbeatable and indestructible. The Israelis should remember their latest military blunders. In 2006 its army was humiliated by the Hezbula, a small Lebanese paramilitary organisation. In just a few weeks the heroic Hezbollah managed to bring Israel to its knees. In 2008-9 Israeli Army mounted a massive attack on Gaza, the initial objective was to dismantle the democratically elected Hamas. Israel murdered more than 1400 Palestinians but it achieved none of its military objectives. Hamas and Hezbollah won these battles without air force, navy or tanks. In fact resilience was enough to defeat the IDF.

But Israel is not alone, The English speaking Empire is also heavily beaten in Iraq and Afghanistan. Similarily, Iraqi insurgency and Taliban do not posses tanks, F 16s or submarines. In the age of Islamic resistance, tables of contents with numbers of tanks, vessels, and airplanes are obsolete. It is the spirit and the will rather than the tank that wins the battle. This spirit better be called The Islam Spring, and it is unbeatable indeed.

The message for Israelis is plainly clear. Israel and its supporting lobbies had better learn how to contain their inherent violent tendencies. Israel cannot win this battle. The sooner the Israelis encompass this obvious fact, the better it is for Israel and for world peace.

September 9th, 2011, 1:13 am

Muhammad said:

@ 202

Dear Haytham

As I said, I totally understand the position of Edleb Christians. They will be subject to double regime wrath were they to publicly denounce it. The regime is keen to portray this uprising as purely salafist, which is not true (some Islamist would wish that it was). In the beginning of the events a video of a burning church was circulated on the internet claiming that it was in Edleb, it turned out to be in Mexico !

For those who ask about the Islamist question, yes there are those who want an Islam based government among the demonstrators. Syria is a muslim majority country and it is only natural you find those in it. The Christian version of them exist in every Christian country in the world, USA & UK are not an exception. In many ways this attitude of wanting a government guided by -rather than based on- religion is the logical and natural conclusion of believing in God.

However, I don’t know a single person who wants to Taliban style government. Everyone wants government accountability, equality, elections and periodical exchange of power. Under such principles, whoever wins the elections would still be a much better alternative to Besho and his criminal gangs.

@ Aboud

From what I hear there is much anger in the army. Officers are not happy being bossed around by shabiha and used as human shield and firing tool for criminals. I really think the defection videos you see are the tip of the iceberg. If only they could communicate better and with security you will see a lot more defections. This will happen when things reaches a tipping point. The Assad situation now resembles that of Tripoli before it collapsed. The situation is ripe for an external hit.

September 9th, 2011, 1:35 am

annie said:

If you are on twitter and fb

Twitter Campaign – Syria Revolution ???? ????? ?????? ??????? WORLDWIDE
***Remember, the hashtag will be released just a couple of hours before the event, so please be on the look-out!

Friday 9 september · 07:00 – 09:00
Lieu
Worldwide
Créé par :
Twitter Users for Syria
En savoir plus
Friday, August 26, 2011
*** 7-9 am USA Central Time
*** 3-5 pm Syria Time

USA Central – 7:00 am – 9:00 am
USA Pacific – 5:00 am – 7:00 am
USA Eastern – 8:00 am – 10:00 am
Algiers, UK, Tunis – 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Amsterdam, Cairo, Madrid, Misrata, Paris – 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Amman, Athens, Baghdad, Damascus, Doha, Makkah, Riyadh – 3:00 pm – 5:00 pm
UAE, Tehran, Moscow – 4:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Jakarta – 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Beijing, Hong Kong – 8:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Sydney – 10:00 pm – 12:00 am

—————————————————————————————————

Please “like” our fanpage so that it’s easier to contact everyone in the future:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Twitter-Users-for-Syria/106742356094636

This is our 6th Twitter campaign. Our last 5 were all huge successes and we were able to get thousands of attendees from across the world to write posts with our tags within a short amount of time.

…

So now our 6th Campaign is scheduled for THIS Friday! This one will focus on showing our support for the people of Syria.

September 9th, 2011, 2:43 am

NK said:

Here’s the latest from Aleppo and the Barri family of thugs

http://bit.ly/quBuuQ

“??? ?????” ????? ?????? ??? ????? ?????? ??? ??? ????? ?? ??? ??????? ??? ???

????? ?????? ?? ???????? ??????? ???? ?????? ????? ???? ??? ??????? ??? ?????? ??? ??? ????? ?? ????? ????? ?????? ???? ??????? ?????? ????? ???? ????? ????????? ???.

??? ???????? ???? ???? ????? ????????? ?? ???? ???? ????? ???? “????? ??? ????? ?????? ??? ?????? ???? ????? ????? ?????? ????????? ?????? ????? ?? ??? ???????? ????? ???? ???? ??? 572290 ????? ????? ????? ??????? ????? ????? ?????? ???? ??? ?????? ??????? ??? ?????? ?????? ??? ?????? ???? ???????”.

????? “??? ????? ????? ?????? ????? 3 ????? ?? ???????? ?????? ????? ????? ??? ?????? ???????? ????? ??? ????? ??????? ?????? ???????? ??????? ?????? ???????? ??? ???????? ??? ????????? ?????? ?????? ???? ?????? ??? ?????? ???????”.

????? ?????? “???? ??? ??????? ?????? ?????? ??? ???? ?????? ???? ????? ?????? ??? ??? ???? ?? ?????? ??? ?? ??? ???????? ???? ????? ??? ???? ??? ???? ????? ?????”.

???? ???? ???? ?????? “?????? ??? ?????? ????? ??????? ????????? ???? ?? ?????? ???? ??? ???? ??????? ??? ?????? ????? ??????? ?? ??????? ??????? ????? ????? ?????? ???? ?? ???? ?? ??????? ?????? ????? ?? ??? ??? ????? ??? ?????? ???????? ????????”.

???? ????? ???????? ????? ????? ??? ???? ?????? ?????????? ??? “????????? ??? ????? ?? ?? ???? ??????? ???????? ?? ??? ?????? ??? ?? ????? “?” ???????? ????? ???? ?????? ?????? ?? ???? ?????? ??????? ???????? ?? ??? ????????? ????”.

??? ????? ???? ?????? ???? ?????? ???????? ??? ???????? ?? ??? ?? ??? ????????? ??? ????? ??????? ?? ???????.

?????????-???

September 9th, 2011, 2:47 am

Some guy in damascus said:

Im going to the demonstrations.
Wish me luck.

September 9th, 2011, 5:00 am

Tom said:

to: 233. AbuGhassan

Corruption and nepotism is a human culture, and therefore, an important part of the Syrian culture which you will never get rid of. Even if you succeed in kicking Bashar out of Syria, another round of corruption and nepotism by a new leader will begin. And the majority of the society will not feel the benefit of the regime change.
(end of message to AbuGhassan)

The weak point of the Syrian oppositions is that they are just attacking a person whom people see most frequently in the TV, and nothing more than that.

If you place yourself in politics, first you must stay in the capital, and secondly you are surrounded by a group of people who don’t like you. You must negotiate with them for the whole life time. If you submit 100 proposals, all of them will be rejected because people around you do not like you. It’s simply not fun. This is politics.

What Syrian oppositions are doing is that teenagers contact with each other via internet, and carry out summer festivals every night in remote towns and villages. With or without Bashar, they don’t have their representatives to send to the capital. This is not politics.

Furthermore, I don’t think that professors, philosophers or human rights activists in the opposition camps can conduct difficult negotiations with foreign countries in the field of diplomacy, commerce, banking and finance, etc. Not to mention to young guys in Homs, Hama, Daraa and Idlib.

al-Baath is a product of long political struggle. Like them or not, they are offering a political platform which include agriculture and fishery, manufacturing, commerce and services, as well as various religious sects and social forces. On the contrary, so-called oppositions are only representing themselves with no political programs. No one can tell how many are supporting them. 10 – 15% of support rate for al-Baath is big enough to win the election in developed countries.

I still doubt the accuracy of social discontent towards Bashar despite tons of news and pieces of personal informations. Security and stability is the most important factor for daily business and long-term economic development. Therefore I believe that a vast majority do not support a sudden regime change. I even think that al-shaab yureed izaalah al-mutazahireen. (many want demonstrators to be eliminated).

What the oppositions are causing in Syria is simply anti-business.

In sum, oppositions lack wisdom. They lack wisdom because they are the product of foreign government. They don’t think with their own brain.

September 9th, 2011, 5:40 am

Mina said:

Tom
I agree 100% with what you wrote.
I add to this that it is very convenient for al Jazeera to show only pictures of Syria since one month and almost nothing on Yemen (while writing on Yemen in the written band below the screen and mentioning it very quickly). It is pretty clear that it is forbidden to play with US and KSA interests.

By the way, any news from another regime change, Ivory Coast? Why aren’t medias outlets interested in following events, when it is not Lybia (al Jazeera is selling these days the same propaganda as with early Afghanistan: oh, how great and democratic are the meetings of tribesmen and fighters, oh how beautiful is the future…)

September 9th, 2011, 5:57 am

Mango said:

MOSCOW, September 9 (RIA Novosti)
Russia is ready to support various approaches to resolving the situation in Syria, but they should not be based on a unilateral condemnation of the Syrian authorities’ response to the popular uprising, President Dmitry Medvedev said in an interview with Euronews.
A “stern message” to end the bloodshed in Syria should be addressed to both sides in the conflict, “because the situation there isn’t sterile,” Medvedev said.
“Those who shout the anti-government slogans are not solely supporters of a refined European democracy. These are very diverse people,” the president said, adding: “Some of them are, frankly, extremists. Some of them may even be called terrorists.”
“The situation shouldn’t be idealized; instead, we must proceed based on the balance of forces and interests,” he said.
Medvedev also said Russia was “not completely satisfied” with how United Nations Resolution 1973 on Libya was implemented.
“Now it’s in the past, because, apparently, the situation in Libya has changed,” he said. “Even so, we believe that the mandate from the Libya Resolution 1973, was exceeded.”
Russia has repeatedly criticized the bombing of Libya by a NATO-led coalition, saying that it was overstepping a UN mandate to protect Libyan civilians.
“We definitely wouldn’t want the same thing happening regarding Syria,” Medvedev said.

September 9th, 2011, 7:19 am

Tara said:

This Friday is calling for international protection.

The Syrian people have spoken. Bashar al Assad is the enemy of the Syrian people.

September 9th, 2011, 7:27 am

Mango said:

http://en.rian.ru/world/20110909/166583596.html

MOSCOW, September 9 (RIA Novosti)
Russia’s envoy to Africa to meet with Syrian opposition leaders in Moscow
Russia calls for balanced approach to Syria – Medvedev
Lavrov warns against support for Syrian opposition
Paris says Russian draft on Syria possible basis for rapprochement
Multimedia
Rallies in support of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad
The worst is past, top Syrian official claims
Thousands of Syrians take to the streets in support of the president
Syria: too much, too late?

Syrian opposition leader Ammar Qurabi urged Moscow to play a more active part in resolving civil strife in the Middle East nation.
“Russia must play a more active and positive role in settling the domestic conflict in Syria,” Qurabi, a prominent human rights activist, said during a press conference in Moscow.
Qurabi is in Russia as part of a delegation of Syrian opposition activists invited by Russian non-governmental organizations. Delegation members in turn invited Federation Council members to visit Syria.
More than 2,200 people have been killed in the crackdown on anti-government protests in Syria since the uprising against President Bashar al-Assad broke out in March, according to UN estimates.
Qurabi said the opposition has always called for dialogue with the power, in contrast to the government, which relies entirely on force.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Wednesday, during a meeting with his French counterpart Alain Juppe in Moscow, that international support for the Syrian opposition could lead to “new bloodshed” in the country. He said the refusal of the Syrian opposition to hold talks with the government meant they were seeking international backing similar to that received by rebel forces in Libya.

September 9th, 2011, 7:31 am

sheila said:

To dear #234. True,
Look at us: you and I and many others on this blog do not dare post in our real names out of fear for our families’ safety back home. Very few people have the courage to speak out publicly against these thugs. Many Sunnis are supporting the regime and very vocally. Those horns that you hear on SANA and Alduniyah are not all Alawiis. They come from all religions and sects in Syria. Even the father of Hamza Alkhatib went on TV and thanked the President for his “kindness”. You have to put yourself in the shoes of a Alawii living in Syria or abroad. Many feel the pain of ordinary Syrians and do not agree with the regime, but they know very well what the result of speaking out would be. Still there are a few brave souls who did it. Aref Dalilah is one.
Please True. We have to get out of the sectarian mentality, give people the benefit of the doubt and put all our effort into the important task of getting rid of these thugs.

September 9th, 2011, 7:37 am

some guy in damascus said:

it is with intense disgust, i write this post. the demonstrators in midan all exit their mosques and try to merge under the bridge. where they can overwhelm the thugs. sadly today they thugs beat them to it and centralized under the bridge first. we surrounded the shabeeha and started taunting them. so did the other demonstrators from the other sides. then it was a “hit” and run tactic. we would shout out slogans and run, then the opposing side would shout out slogans and run. eventually they broke it up and we were left fleeing.
@ tom
“Corruption and nepotism is a human culture, and therefore, an important part of the Syrian culture which you will never get rid of. Even if you succeed in kicking Bashar out of Syria…..”
yes you can’t really eradicate this but you can minimize it, trying to tackle this issue with your mentality will assure corruptions survival.
“The weak point of the Syrian oppositions is that they are just attacking a person whom people see most frequently in the TV, and nothing more than that”
no were trying to target the guy that allegedly has the most power to change the nation.
“If you place yourself in politics, first you must stay in the capital, and secondly you are surrounded by a group of people who don’t like you….”
we had high hopes for bashar, but everyone had his/her own awakening. mine was the facebook ban. when riad saif opposed rami’s handling of the economy he was imprisoned, thats what happens when we tried dialogue.
“What Syrian oppositions are doing is that teenagers contact with each other via internet, and carry out summer festivals every night in remote towns and villages. With or without Bashar, they don’t have their representatives to send to the capital. This is not politics.”
we try to make them fun festivals but the shabeeha turn them into massacres. imagine if we got organized and held meetings,elected a representative and sent him to Damascus. oh wait, we can’t get organized since the regime will put a stop to it
“al-Baath is a product of long political struggle. Like them or not, they are offering a political platform”
no self respecting part would participate in a parliament which exclusively has 51% reserved for the baath.
“Security and stability is the most important factor for daily business and long-term economic development. ”
aside from that you should’ve said transparency and equal opportunity( why does rami makhlouf come into mind here??)
“They lack wisdom because they are the product of foreign government. They don’t think with their own brain.”
i found this the Cherry on top of your sundae. lets flip back to march 15 when deraa went up in flames. why did this occur? hmmm? 15 kids wrote anti-regime graffiti on the wall. the local head of “security” rounded them up and tortured these kids. when the parents and local elders requested to have the kids freed. the local “security” chief <B< cruelly denied these kids liberty, and kicked out the local elders in a humiliating matter what was sure to follow was a SPONTANEOUS demonstration for Freedom. the rest is the snowball effect.
————————————————————-
Politicians and diapers have one thing in common. They should both be changed regularly, and for the same reason.

September 9th, 2011, 7:58 am

Aboud said:

“al-Baath is a product of long political struggle. Like them or not, they are offering a political platform ”

Which has comprehensively failed over the span of 40 years.

“The weak point of the Syrian oppositions is that they are just attacking a person whom people see most frequently in the TV”

Yes, stupid Russian revolution, focusing so much on the Czar. Stupid French revolution, focusing on King Louise the XXXXXVVIIIVVV. Stupid world, focusing so much on Herr Schicklgruber (Hitler).

“You must negotiate with them for the whole life time”

Yeah, because the American Founding fathers stayed in London and negotiated with King George. Ever hear of William of Orange? He never stepped foot in Britain before he took it over. Norman the Conqueror?

“Furthermore, I don’t think that professors, philosophers or human rights activists in the opposition camps can conduct difficult negotiations with foreign countries ”

Wow, where do I begin with this gem. Yeah, the country needs the brilliant Waleed Mu’allem Doctrine; ignore Europe. They need Besho’s superb diplomatic skills, which ended up getting everyone from the Vatican to the Ayatollahs to condemn him. Tell me, did your superb Baathist negotiators manage to get an inch of the Golan back?

Stalin was originally a priest. The Founding Fathers were scientists, plantation owners, college professors. They were also generally younger than the Loyalists.

“Corruption and nepotism is a human culture, and therefore, an important part of the Syrian culture which you will never get rid of.”

*Yawn* The same old chauvinistic “Syrians can’t do better than junior they will always be a corrupt people who need a strongman with a big stick applied to their heads.” I think these past six months have buried for good any and all prejudices and chauvinistic notions the world had about Arabs in general, and Syrians in particular.

“Security and stability is the most important factor for daily business and long-term economic development.”

Yeah, invading major cities with tanks is a real bummer on economic growth indicators.

“No one can tell how many are supporting them”

Then let your precious Besho hold free and fair elections right now, so we can get a good idea. Or is that a plot by the Vatican?

“and carry out summer festivals every night in remote towns and villages”

Er, it isn’t Woodstock when going out to demonstrate runs you the risk of getting killed. The fact that so many hundreds of thousands have done so for six month, speaks volumes of the Syrian people’s desire for freedom.

And I hardly call Damascus, Aleppo, Hama, Homs, Latakia, Deir el Zour, Baniyas, Dar’a *remote towns and villages*

Now excuse me while I go sink my tired self into a hot bath. Damn it, someone took the poster I was holding to photo it, and never gave it back. Bo ho.

September 9th, 2011, 8:01 am

Amir in Tel Aviv said:

Guys,

What is the theme of this Friday ?
.

September 9th, 2011, 8:04 am

Aboud said:

SGID, ma3lesh, fo feha, el masa men kafiha 🙂

September 9th, 2011, 8:05 am

Aboud said:

“In fact resilience was enough to defeat the IDF.”

LOL! Oh dear sweet Lord, the funny thing is the menhebaks are totally oblivious to the implications this line might have on Besho. If resilience itself is enough to claim a victory, then the Syrian revolution is winning every single day.

And I mean really winning, not Besho’s definition of winning, which he seems to have taken from Charlie Sheen.

Amir, the Friday of “We are so gonna send Besho to the lunatic asylum just you wait”

Hehe, actually it was “The People Demand International Observers”

September 9th, 2011, 8:07 am

Akbar Palace said:

The great Gilad Atzmon has Sboken

Spann,

The article you cut and pasted in post 251 was written by an anti-semitic Jewish liberal who now lives in the UK. He’s a great reference for all those that hate Israel.

Spann,

If you’re so concerned about Israel perhaps we can make a wager:

1.) Syria and Turkey will kill more innocent civilians than Israel this year 2011.

2.) Turkey will not escort any vessels trying to break the legal Gaza naval blockade.

3.) Turkey will not order the Syrian ambassador to leave Turkey despite the Syrian government crackdown against protestors leaving over 2200 dead.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gilad_Atzmon

Let me know how many dinars you’d like to wager, and the expected exchange rate.

September 9th, 2011, 8:11 am

Haytham Khoury said:

@ 262 SGID:

You should confront al Shabiha better than this. You should prepare yourselves with Molotov cocktails, and other weapons (stones, sticks). You should defend yourselves well.

September 9th, 2011, 9:01 am

Revlon said:

To my knowledge, this is the first defection from a party member of the national progressive Front.
Mr D3aij has decided it is time to jump the stinking ship!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wYYefkr-cXk
Uploaded by syrianmediac on Sep 8, 2011

??? ????? ??????? ??????? ??? ???? ??????? ??????? ??? ??? ????? ?????????? ????????
Lawyer Khairallah D3aij,
Member of Baqqara Coordination Committee,
Affiliate member of Syrian Bar Association (SBA) in Deir Azzor,
Member of the National Conference of the SBA for round 2009-2013,
and Member of the Central Executive Committee of the Unionists Socialists Party (USP)

I hereby withdraw from SBA and USP in protest of:
– Savage regime crack down against unarmed demonstrators.
– The illegal arrest of tens of thousands of civilians and house searches.
– The illegal arrest of Sheikh nawaf AlBashee,
Chief Sheikh of Baqqara Tribe of Syria.
– Misusing armed forces for killing of citizens instead of defending them.

And in solidarity with the resigned attorney General of Hama, Mr Adnan bakkour.

September 9th, 2011, 9:04 am

Revlon said:

In a telephone conversation with Colonel Abdelrahman Sheikh Ali, Commander of Kahled Ibn AlWaleed Phalange of the FOM: The phalange will be holding a military parade to introduce its newly formed units that will carry the names of the martyrs of the revolution.

???? ????? #syria ? ????? ???? ???? ?? ?????? – ??? ???? ?????? ?????? ????? ????? : ?? ?????? ?????? ?? ???? ????? ???? ???? ?? ?????? ?????? ??? ?????? ????? ??? ???? ??????? ?? ?????? ??????? ??????? ?????? ???? ???? ?? ?????? ?? ??? ????? ?? ???? ??????? ??????? ??????? ??? ??? ??? ?????? – ???? ?????? ????? ???? ???? ??????? ????? ??????? ?????? ????? ??????? ?????? ?? ???????? ?????? ?? ????? ??????? ????? ??? ???? ????????

September 9th, 2011, 9:12 am

Haytham Khoury said:

Dear SGID @246:

When the Arab came to Syria at the time of Umar ibn al-Khattab. Umar gave his promise to do not convert Christians and Jews by force. Thar promise was well-respected till 1864. Thus, most Christians in the cities converted to Islam (by their own will), whereas the country side (especially, between Homs and Damascus)remained Christians till 1864. In 1864, a war erupted between the Maronite (a christian sect) in the Mountain of Lebanon and the Ottmans. As consequence, Ottmans forced many Christians to become Muslims.

Regarding “Toshet al-Nassara”, I have no idea what it is. Can you tell me more.

September 9th, 2011, 9:21 am

Aboud said:

Haytham, that’s only practical if you can draw the shabiha into narrow neighborhoods, where each door and apartment is a place you can hide in or harass the shabiha from. Hit and run doesn’t work in open areas like highways and bridges.

In Homs, demonstrations move about to different areas. Sometimes it makes it harder for different neighborhoods to meet up, but it also makes it impossible for the shabiha to pre-empt a demonstration unless they spread themselves out at every mosque. Even then, people would just exit the mosques and meet up somewhere else, or overwhelm the scattered shabiha.

Homsis had decided that numerous demonstrations are ,over the long run, more effective than one big massive Hama like demo, at least where Homs is concerned. In smaller towns, it is practical to gather everyone in one big demo.

September 9th, 2011, 9:26 am

Haytham Khoury said:

Dear SGID @246:

I did not say that to incite any sectarian hate. On the contrary, I said that to show that Islam was “tolerant” to “The people of the books” for many centuries. Of course, the events of 1864 have their historical perspective.

Second, from historic perspective the events of 1864 helps us explain the arise of the Arabic renaissance. I will talk about that in another post.

September 9th, 2011, 9:30 am

Mashnews.com.au » Interpol issues Gaddafi arrest notice said:

[…] expert Joshua Landis (him again) said the state new agency Sana had announced that he had been “freed from his captors by Syrian special… There is no mention of the claim on Sana’s English language […]

September 9th, 2011, 9:38 am

Revlon said:

A face book page titled the Assembly of Scholars for the Syrian revolution is inviting visitors to recommend candidates for its membership.
90 Coordiantes have thus far joined the Assebly!
The long list speaks for a the presence of a wide-based, organised network of support.

????? ??? ??????? ????? ????? ??????? ?????? ??????? ??????? ????? ???? ?????? ?????? ?????? ??????? ?????? ???????

???? ????????? ????? ??? ??? ??????? ?????? 12-9-2011

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??? ?????? ?? ?????? ( ??? – ?? ??? ) …………………

……………… ????? ????????? , ???? ??????? ??? ??????? [email protected]
__________________________________________________________________

The list of members has thus far included the following:
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September 9th, 2011, 9:40 am

majedkhaldoon said:

Toshet Al Nasara
It originated in Lebanon,between Druz and Catholic,between 1840-1862,it spread to Damascus in 1860,several churches burned,the part that happened in Syria,is called Toshet Al Nasara
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1860_Lebanon_conflict

September 9th, 2011, 9:40 am

Haytham Khoury said:

Dear Syr. Expat. #247

I was not trying to make a competition between Christians and Muslims and who suffered more in the Hama events 1982. It is well known that the Sunni suffered the most. However, I was trying to signal to something nobody knows: that there were Christians who died in these events. That is to show how Al-Assad regime killed people indiscriminately, and destroyed the city with no respect to any thing.

September 9th, 2011, 9:41 am

Tara said:

Daisie

“I read that the Russians are getting involved in solving the crisis with a green light from France.”

I don’t view this latest develpment as the Russians wanting to convince the opposition to dialogue with the regime. The Syrian people have already spoken: No dialogue with the regime. I view it as as a French attempt to convince the Russian to soften their opposition to a Security Council resolution to condemn Bashar by facilitating a meeting between the Russian and Ammar Qurabi. The opposition gas so far been faceless and therefore unknown to all the governments that opposed international condemnation therefore I understand some of their resistance in dealing with the unknown. I view the meeting to be a positive step into familiarizing the world with the opposition and hopefully will hear soon about more meetings in INDia, China, Brazil, etc

September 9th, 2011, 9:43 am

Revlon said:

Syrian Youth for Freedom website calls for providing material and other needed suppot to the FOM and FSA and to encourage more defections.
Shortly, there will be an announcement that calls for enlisting of cvilians in FSA and FOA.
We urge demonstrators to maintain their peaceful activism and leave the duty of protecting civilians to the FSA and FOA

???? ????? ???? ?? ??? ?????? ::
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5 hours ago

September 9th, 2011, 9:49 am

Haytham Khoury said:

Dear Majedkhaldoon:

Thank you very much. Always there are things that I do not know. However, my perspective with history is to understand always the complexity of the problem, since there are always many factors affecting it.

September 9th, 2011, 9:49 am

N.Z. said:

After all the bloodshed in Syria, we can still hear voices that are clamouring for more blood shed.

By doing so, no other than these regime apologists, who knowingly or not, are encouraging foreign intervention.

A population that have been slaughtered for almost 6 months with out cries from international communities to stop the genocide, is sickening.

1400 Lebanese were killed in 2006, 3000 Palestinians under siege, slaughtered in 2009. So far the Syrian mafia had killed in 6 months, more than what the declared enemy, Israel, killed in 2 months, in both, Lebanon and Gaza!

How can anyone justify what is happening to their countrymen, yet condemn the killings of their neighbours.

It is time to unite against the Syrian mafia, and the least we can do at this moment, is support the protesters unconditionally, no ifs, buts…..an illegitimate regime cannot be sustained, FOREVER..

No matter how big the fear they instill, an illegitimate power cannot deter a legitimate uprising.

September 9th, 2011, 9:51 am

MNA said:

Tara,

Would you please stop speaking for the Syrian people! There is more to Syrian people than those residing in Manhattan, calling for foreign intervention and cheering for civil war by inticing people to take up arms.

September 9th, 2011, 10:04 am

Tara said:

MNA

Nope. I represent the Syrian people and you represent a very small monority who still support the regime. That is why the regime is afraid of free election and free press and we are not. Haven’t you seen the demonstratrion today? massive! no ?

September 9th, 2011, 10:11 am

Haytham Khoury said:

Guys:

There is something that I noticed on this forum: Every time I talk about Christians, there are people that by default I am attacking Muslims. That reflects in our current mentality that we look at them as two contradicting entities, however they are not.

You should be proud from the history of our region (and particularly Syria). During the Roman empire, the first Christian emperor was Constantin (320 AD), by 365 AD the whole empire was almost forced to be Christian. Remember the Inquisition and how the Spaniards treated the Muslims and the Jews.

Please do not be very sensitive, when I mention historic events. Please look at the positive side of them.

September 9th, 2011, 10:15 am

Revlon said:

Lawyer Wa2l AlKhalaf to AlArabiya: Mr Bakkour has arrived safely in Cyprus.
Incriminating documents, signed by B Asad were handed to representatives the international court of Justice.

• ???? ????? ???? ?? ??? ?????? Youth Syria For Freedom
???? ????? #syria ? ??????? ???? ????? ????? ??????? ???? ??????? ????? ????? ???? ?????? ??? ???? ??? ????? ????? ????? ??? ???????? ??????? ???? ????? ???? ????? ???? ?????????? ????????

6 hours ago

September 9th, 2011, 10:17 am

MNA said:

NK @ 250

I believe that the $2 billion that was spent to stabilze the SYP came from a separate fund of $5 billion set particularly for the purpose of stabilizing the currency and not form the reserve.

September 9th, 2011, 10:20 am

mna said:

Tara @ 282

I have some bad news for you Tara. Your “revolution” will not succeed till it recognitizes that most Syrians (silent majority) that are opposing it are not pro regime. Untill then I am one of the silent majority who will continue to be silent and our silence should not be taken as unaction.

Todays demonstratons are massive indeed if your source is Al-jazeera and Al-Arabia etc.. Speaking to some friends who live in the area where your alleged massive demonstrations took place, and their story is completely different.

And jiust for the recordes, I m all for free elections monitored by observers.

September 9th, 2011, 10:33 am

uzair8 said:

Imad Mustapha says the protests start from mosques.
What he doesnt say is that the regime didnt allow people to gather in numbers and the mosque was one of the only places for people to gather in numbers regularly.

He was cleverly trying dismiss the protests and falsely portray them as ‘Islamically’ inspired.

Also a message to the Isreali users on here. Dont think your comments having a dig at Turkey have gone unnoticed and that these comments will find great support on here (even though some people on here may be justifiably unhappy at Turkey not following up initial tough stance against Assad).

I hope Turkey’s recent tough attitude against isreal is genuine. I also hope Turkey ignores Iranian threats and concerns about Kurdish problems (potentially stirred up by Iran and Syria) and acts against Assad.

September 9th, 2011, 10:41 am

N.Z. said:

287, MNA,

Can you explain further, the silent majority are not pro regime, are they anti protesters.

If I understand your comment, you will stay silent until, supporters of the uprising become silent?

You consider yourself not a regime supporter, from the silent majority? an activist with unaction, can you explain.

September 9th, 2011, 10:43 am

Aboud said:

Haytham, I haven’t found anything you’ve posted to be offensive.

September 9th, 2011, 10:47 am

OFF THE WALL said:

Dear Haytham
Me neither. I have not found anything offensive in your posts. Quite the contrary, informative and sincere.

September 9th, 2011, 11:03 am

Akbar Palace said:

Purple Fingers or Besho NewZ

Can you explain further, the silent majority are not pro regime, are they anti protesters.

N.Z.,

Everyone seems to know who likes who, but there’s really only 1 way to find out.

September 9th, 2011, 11:08 am

Aleppo said:

The message I have for supporters of the regime: don’t be afraid to be free from your shackles! There are no reasonable grounds whatsoever to defend the crimes of President Assad. None.

Many merchants that had been supporters of the regime, or at least tolerated it, are thinking twice now. Bashar and Makhlouf went too far: they wanted everything for themselves from mobile phones to hotels. This was a big mistake. Combine that with the interference of Mukhabarat and other regime figures in the private economy, it is just a matter of time, sanctions or not, that people realize that the starus quo, that they never really liked, can be changed.

September 9th, 2011, 11:22 am

Husam said:

@ Hytham: You are a true Syrian at heart. Nothing you have ever posted hurt anyone. Go on dear bro, spread the truth.

@ OTW: Where are old timers JAD and Alex?

@ Aboud: Thank you for not letting one B.S. post slip unnoticed. You and few others have the “cohones” to speak your minds. You give me hope.

It is not just 2500 killed, 10-15k hostages, it is the families and extended families of these people that will never let it go. I mean seriously if a brother, son, daughter was killed or tortured what would any family member feel?

September 9th, 2011, 11:22 am

Aboud said:

“And jiust for the recordes, I m all for free elections monitored by observers.”

And how, pray tell, do you expect to enjoy the wonders of a free election if you don’t go out and agitate for it? Do you believe that the Baathists will, out of the goodness of their heart with which we have become so familiar with these past 40 years, just grant you free and fair elections?

As to your “against the regime but silent” attitude, Martin Luther King had this to say about people like you

“He who passively accepts evil is as much involved in it as he who helps to perpetrate it. He who accepts evil without protesting against it is really cooperating with it. ”

Also

“History will have to record that the greatest tragedy of this period of social transition was not the strident clamor of the bad people, but the appalling silence of the good people. ”

And

“In the End, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends. ”

And also

“Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter. ”

And this

“The first question which the priest and the Levite asked was: “If I stop to help this man, what will happen to me?” But… the good Samaritan reversed the question: “If I do not stop to help this man, what will happen to him?” ”

Also

“The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy. ”

“Where are old timers JAD and Alex?”

Muwahahahahahahahahahah! Hamster has more than filled the void.

September 9th, 2011, 11:29 am

Revlon said:

More than 30 officers and soldiers defected today in Zamalka, Damascus.
Defection is snowballing.
Scores defect every day.

2011/09/09
http://www.sooryoon.net/?p=32578

???? ?? ?????? ????? ?????? ?????? ?? ????? ?????? ??????????? ???????? ?????? ?????? ?????? 15 ???????
2011/09/09
????? ? ?????? ?? :
???? ???? ?? ?????? ????? ?????? ???????? ?? ????? ?????? ?? ????? ????? ??? ???? ??? ????? ???? ????? ???? ???? ???? ?????? ?? ?? ???????? ??????? ??? ?????????? ??? ?????? ??????? ?????? ???????? ?????? ??? ???? ???? ?? ???? ??? ??????? ????? ?? ????? ??? ???????? ??????? ???? ???? ????? ??? ???????? ??????? ????? ????? ????? ?? ????? ??? ??????? ?? ??????? ????? ???????? ????? ??? ???? ??????? ??? ??????? ???? ????? ??? ????? ???? ?? ????? ????? ???????? ?? ??????? ???? ?? ???????? ? ??? ???? ????? ????? ?????? ?? ???????? ????? ????? ??? ???? ???????..
????? ???? ???? ?? ????? ??????? ?????? ??????? ??????? ??????? ??????? ???????? ???? ????? ?????

September 9th, 2011, 11:34 am

Haytham Khoury said:

@ 284, 290 and 291:

I did not mean anybody particular. Just, I was trying to signal that the the sectarian sensitivity is still high in the country. In order to reduce it, this forum is the start. I am trying to present to you some information about the Christians just to understand them. I mean by understand comprehending both the rational and the irrational aspects of their collective consciousness (like I will do shortly with other sects). I am doing that because I am Christian, but because I am a Syrian citizen. I look at myself as first a Syrian citizen and a citizen of the world.

Every time, I read about the history of the world, I feel proud of Syria (For this reason, my nickname is “Syrian Pride”). I say that not from Chauvinist point of view, but from real feeling. Syria is a mixture of civilizations and a history of tolerance.

September 9th, 2011, 11:36 am

N.Z. said:

Syrian Christians view themselves as Arab before the advent of Islam. When the Muslims arrived to the Damascus’ gates. The Syrian Christians under the rule of the Roman empire, reaction was, swift.

Without a fight, they helped the Muslim army to enter the city, willingly. Muslims took control and promised their brethren protection, and went onward to other areas. They were faced with difficulties. So they came back to Damascus, gave back the “jizya”, because they were not able to protect them.

This is how Arabs Christians acted then, now and tomorrow. This how the West acted towards the Christians then, Arab Christians were viewed as heretics, today and tomorrow. The Crusaders killed as much Arab Christians as non.

Mr. Khouri, you represent not only Christians, you represent the righteous, whether Christians or Muslims. Your humanity is what we value as Syrians, you happen to be a Christian. Thankyou.

I hope we will have Haitham, form the Khouri family, who will become another PM like his predecessor.

September 9th, 2011, 11:36 am

Akbar Palace said:

Something you’ll never hear from Professor “Deaf, Dumb and Blind”

uzair8,

I understand “Turkey’s recent tough attitude” is a prerequisite for many in the ME, since a large part of the Arab and Muslim world are brought up to hate Israel and Zionism.

I consider Turkey’s statements and actions to be quite genuine, including their decision to expel the Israeli ambassador. But, as we pro-Israelis continue to stress, Israel should be the least of your concerns. Arabs and muslims are dying by the thousands every year due to ARAB/MULSIM extremism and despotism, not by Israel.

Sure, if you provoke Israel enough, people die and get hurt, but many more people are getting hurt by Arab/Muslim internal squabbles. To add insult to injury, the Arab and Muslim world suffers from the lack of basic human rights which, suprisingly, is most available for Arab citizen of Israel.

If one is interested in improving the Middle East, it is time to address the real abusers of Arabs and Muslims.

September 9th, 2011, 11:37 am

Haytham Khoury said:

Dear N.Z.

Thank you

September 9th, 2011, 11:38 am

Haytham Khoury said:

Guys:

Just to change the subject. I knew Bashar personally in 1987. I spent a year of training in Damascus, Bashar was in my group of clinical training. Bashar was so simple (even naif) at that time. I told Burhan Ghalioun how Bashar transformed from from a naif boy to a ruthless leader. Dr. Ghalioun asked me if I can write an article about that. Indeed, I wrote it in French with the title “Immaturité comme origine du mal: étude clinique du cas de Bachar el-Asaad’. The English translation “Immaturity as origin of Evil: A clinical study of Bashar al-Assad’s case”.

http://haytham-khoury.blogspot.com/2011/09/immaturite-comme-origine-du-mal-etude.html

September 9th, 2011, 12:11 pm

N.Z. said:

Just read on Twitter, that Mr. Ghalioun has a surprise, it will be announced in the next 48 hours, any hints?

September 9th, 2011, 12:16 pm

Tara said:

SEPTEMBER 9, 2011, 9:57 A.M. ET
EU Closing In On New Round Of Syria Sanctions – Diplomats

http://online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-20110909-707401.html

BRUSSELS (Dow Jones)–The European Union is closing in on a fresh round of sanctions on Syria, whose centerpiece would be an investment ban preventing European energy companies signing new contracts with their Syrian counterparts, diplomats said on Friday.

The measures are the latest in the EU’s efforts to isolate the regime of President Bashar al-Assad over his violent crackdown on protestors. Last week, the EU imposed an embargo on Syrian oil exports and broadened the scope of its sanctions to permit new companies and individuals to be targeted.

The diplomats said the EU’s aim is to put the sanctions in place before the United Nations General Assembly meeting in New York on September 22-23.

The diplomats said an investment ban had been agreed in principle but that details still needed working out. The ban wouldn’t apply to existing investment contracts. One diplomat said the ban would impact “key sectors” of the Syrian energy sector.

Member states are currently looking at adding five entities to the list of companies whose assets are frozen but that number could yet change. One diplomat said those companies are tied in some way to the Syrian military.

There has also been discussion of adding a telecommunication company to the sanctions list and taking action to block Syria’s access to bank notes.

There are currently no plans to add other Syrian officials to the list of individuals targeted by an asset freeze and travel ban, the diplomats said.

Discussions on the new sanctions will continue next week in Brussels.

The EU has so far imposed sanctions on fifty four people and 12 entities. Last week, the regional bloc agreed to target not only people involved in the crackdown but others who supported or benefited from the Assad regime.

In August, the EU joined the U.S. in calling on Assad to step down.

-By Laurence Norman, Dow Jones Newswires; +32-(0)2 741 1481; [email protected]

September 9th, 2011, 12:37 pm

5 dancing shlomos said:

301. Haytham Khoury

(edited for insult)

responsible institute took a poll of leader preferences in ME, SW Asian countries.

citizens of almost every country(libyans were happy with gadhdhafi with 78%) would replace their current govt with the bashar al-assad govt with 70% – 82% saying yes.

92% of legitimate syrians support their current govt.

September 9th, 2011, 12:37 pm

Ales said:

http://english.al-akhbar.com/content/syria-what-kind-revolution

September 9th, 2011, 12:38 pm

uzair8 said:

299. Akbar Palace said:

Just to make clear I wasnt making any threats.
I had seen a few sneaky posts by a couple of worried Isreali supporters attacking Turkey and Erdogan. Perhaps they thought they may get some sympathy. I felt somebody had to respond.

September 9th, 2011, 12:54 pm

shabbi7 said:

Haytham Khoury you are such a joke. You remind me of the other (edited for insult) Ammar Qurabi who claimed he was good friends with Bashar and proceeded to write the stupidest articles, just like you’re doing. “Immaturity as Origin of Evil”? Based on a year of clinical training, supposedly with Bashar? Why don’t you talk about how he treated you instead of going off on pathetic tangents like referring to Bashar simply as “evil” based on “immaturity”? Do the “revolution” a favor and stay out of it. You’re making it look more pathetic than it already is.

September 9th, 2011, 1:02 pm

Son of Damascus said:

@ Dr. Haytham Khoury
Thank you for your posts! They are very enlightening. I as well am proud to be Syrian, I have many christian friends that I consider like family. We never saw each other by our religions, but rather as friends. I too believe in tolerance and education, because the more you know the better you understand. All the minorities in Syria have as much right to Syria, as the majority.

Am reminded by a song by a US folk singer Woodie Guthrie, “This land is your land” change the words, and thats how I feel about Syria.

September 9th, 2011, 1:04 pm

Interpol issues Gaddafi arrest notice | foodsecretrecipe said:

September 9th, 2011, 1:04 pm

Ghat Al Bird said:

This link shows non-arabs doing their favorite things.

http://theuglytruth.wordpress.com/2011/09/06/exposing-israel/

September 9th, 2011, 1:09 pm

shabbi7 said:

N.Z., 302

Here is the surprise: http://dai.ly/iBzQg8

September 9th, 2011, 1:12 pm

uzair8 said:

@294 Husam

“It is not just 2500 killed, 10-15k hostages, it is the families and extended families of these people that will never let it go. I mean seriously if a brother, son, daughter was killed or tortured what would any family member feel?”

The regime’s own crimes are coming back to haunt them. The crimes weren’t without consequences.

September 9th, 2011, 1:17 pm

Humanist said:

Re. Syria comment conspiracy theorist number one, 5 dancing shlomos:

“libyans were happy with gadhdhafi with 78%…”

EEEH?
Really?
No logic?
I guess that’s why they are so happy NOW WHEN HE IS GONE!
(don’t you watch the news recently?)
BTW: May I ask are you currently living in the Evil West or in Free Syria?
And “legitimate Syrians”, what does that mean? Who is an ilegitimate Syrian accoring to you?

September 9th, 2011, 1:20 pm

5 dancing shlomos said:

at #304 that was fact not an insult.

anyway

(deleted for insults. This is a warning)

September 9th, 2011, 1:24 pm

uzair8 said:

A very revealing and chilling article about the crackdown.

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-syria-defectors-20110909,0,7078041.story

By Ellen Knickmeyer, Los Angeles Times
September 9, 2011

Reporting from Tripoli, Lebanon—

Days before Syrian forces launched a deadly offensive against street protesters in the western city of Baniyas, the colonel leading the attack gathered up six of his officers. The colonel, one of the officers later recounted, put his cellphone on the loudspeaker setting, for all to hear.

The voice of Syria’s then-defense minister, Ali Habib, boomed out, providing chilling orders for a crackdown on Baniyas’ civilian protesters:

“Any kind of gathering, you disperse it with sheer force. You shoot,” the minister said that day in May, recalled a 21-year-old lieutenant in the quwat-al-khassat, or special forces, who said he was one of the six gathered around the colonel’s phone.

“And the officer who cannot handle that and disagrees, we will deal with them directly.”

The Los Angeles Times spoke to three Syrian military men, all members of the nation’s Sunni Muslim majority, who, reached independently, said they fled between May and August to avoid being forced to shoot unarmed civilians, or being shot themselves for refusing.

A fourth Syrian interviewed by The Times identified himself and was identified by one of the other defectors as a first lieutenant in the military intelligence service, or mukhabarat.

Together, their accounts offer insight about the planning and
organization behind the deadly offensive that activists, rights groups and Western governments allege Syrian President Bashar Assad’s regime has unleashed against predominantly peaceful street demonstrations by citizens demanding governmental change.

The four all said orders to shoot protesters came from top officials and were explicit. Officials of the United Nations and Human Rights Watch say actions of that sort may constitute crimes against humanity.

The men also said that Assad’s forces have been augmented in their attacks by Revolutionary Guard forces from Iran and by members of the shabiha, the Syrian civilian militia composed of otherwise unemployed and underemployed men whom the government is said to pay by the day for missions that include shooting at civilians.

Three of the interviews were conducted in person or on the phone in neighboring Lebanon. The fourth, with a man who said he was living in a Syrian town bordering Turkey, was conducted by Skype.

The three Syrian army men — a captain, a lieutenant and a sergeant — produced the same type of salmon-colored military ID cards. The cards displayed their names and photos in uniform, under the emblem “Syrian Arab Republic, General Leadership of the Armed Forces, Administration of Officer Affairs.” The sources asked that their names be withheld because they feared retribution.

The sergeant said his last hours of service in the Syrian armed forces came one day in early June, when he and others under the command of a high-ranking Defense Ministry official were sent to the northern town of Jisr Shughur to crush an uprising.

“The town was empty,” recounted the sergeant. “We heard the distant voice of a muezzin’s call to prayer, and then the chanting of a protest.”

“We were ordered to shoot in that direction, without knowing who, and where, we were shooting.” Fellow soldiers, he said, “started shooting.”

Unwilling to fire on unarmed people, he said he fell back with another soldier, who was from the town and knew the backstreets. Soon, he said, they dropped their guns and were fleeing down narrow lanes past the corpses of civilians, some of them children, in the streets and on doorsteps.

“Usually, there is a whole line of security forces behind our backs” to shoot soldiers who refuse to fire on protesters, the sergeant recounted.”I was lucky to be able to run away.”

“When you reach a point where you have to shoot at civilians, when a bullet has to come out of your gun and hit a civilian, then you’ll understand how easy a decision it was to run away,” he said.

Many other soldiers “share my opinions but are afraid of putting their families at risk,” he said. “We are a police state.”

All three military men described the planning with which Assad’s government allegedly cracked down on civilian protesters.

September 9th, 2011, 1:33 pm

Mango said:

London and UK riots day three aftermath – Tuesday 9 August 2011

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/blog/2011/aug/09/london-riots-violence-looting-live

September 9th, 2011, 1:35 pm

Haytham Khoury said:

Dear shabbi7

Believe, I have no hate for Bashar, but I have Sympathy. I explained in the article how Bashar in 1987 was very modest and nice.
However, seeing him smiling all the time during his first speech during the uprising while people dying in the streets shocked me. In order to be able to do that. He should be able to deny completely his conscious.

September 9th, 2011, 1:41 pm

Humanist said:

Re. AbuGhassan:
“most Iraqis actually regret allowing outsiders to come and “fix” their problems”

Are you sure? I’ve heard what you wrote many times but not so much from Iraqis themselves: many Iraqis instead seem to blame neighboring dictatorial arab countries like Syria and Saudi Arabia for their main problems(=terrorists), not the invasion itself.. It’s not that they loved war and “neo-cons” (nobody does…) it’s just that they HATED Saddam so much that many thought invasion was the only way to get rid of him (like the libyans did with Ghaddafi more recently)

BTW: this is not my personal opinion, I just try to find out what is more or less correct. Too many people tend to wiew “the reality” from what fits their own political/religious view-point. But the world is not black-and-white… Western policies are not always good, but neither are they always to be blamed….

September 9th, 2011, 1:49 pm

ann said:

*** To our humiliated israel MENHEBAK posters on this blog ***

Turkey threat of warships to Gaza ‘grave and serious’: Israel

10 September 2011

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/afp_world/view/1152124/1/.html

JERUSALEM : A top Israeli minister on Friday described as “grave and serious” a threat by Ankara to send warships to escort any aid vessels trying to reach the Gaza Strip in defiance of Israel’s naval blockade.

But Alon Liel, a former Israeli ambassador to Turkey and expert on the relationship between the two countries, said Erdogan’s warnings should not be taken lightly.

“This warning should be taken more seriously than a hypothetical expression of support for any Gaza-bound flotilla, taking into account Turkish interests in the region,” Liel told AFP.

“Such an action would involve additional complications with Cyprus and Greece,” he said.

September 9th, 2011, 2:42 pm

Aboud said:

@304 “libyans were happy with gadhdhafi with 78%”

HAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Well, where are the 78% who were happy with Mr Zinga Zinga now he’s been overthrown? Did it occur to you that the poll’s methodology was completely crap? Link it anyway, let’s take a look at it.

Know what, why don’t you take another poll of those same countries and see how he does.

Anyway, if they like him so much, they can have him. The important thing is that the overwhelming majority of Syrians want him on the first plane to anywhere else. Don’t believe me, I dare junior to hold an election. But he won’t. The wimp.

September 9th, 2011, 2:58 pm

ann said:

Islamic Shariah court in Nigeria orders 2 men be amputated

http://news.yahoo.com/shariah-court-nigeria-orders-2-men-amputated-175102076.html

KANO, Nigeria (AP) — A Shariah court in northern Nigeria has ordered that two men have their right hands amputated for stealing a farmer’s bull.

The decision by the Shariah court in Zamfara state came Friday. In the Judge Muhammadu Abubakar’s ruling, the court will carry out the sentence against 23-year-old Auwalu Abubakar Tsaure and 22-year-old Lawalli Musa Tsaure on Oct. 8 during a market day for the public to witness.

The court estimated the cost of the bull at more than $800. The 23-year-old said he would appeal the sentence, while the younger man said he wouldn’t.

September 9th, 2011, 3:17 pm

ann said:

EU tells Turkey not to threaten Cyprus – 9 September 2011

http://www.khaleejtimes.com/displayarticle.asp?xfile=data/international/2011/September/international_September394.xml&section=international&col=

He said Turkey, a NATO member, has taken steps to patrol the Mediterranean, and vowed to stop the Jewish state from exploiting natural resources in the area.

“You know that Israel has begun to declare that it has the right to act in exclusive economic areas in the Mediterranean,” Erdogan said, apparently in reference to Israeli plans to exploit offshore gas reserves found in areas that are also claimed by Lebanon.

“You will see that it will not be the owner of this right, because Turkey, as a guarantor of the Turkish republic of north Cyprus, has taken steps in the area, and it will be decisive and holding fast to the right to monitor international waters in the east Mediterranean,” he said.

Turkey argues the oil deals are illegal as the borders of Cyprus remain undetermined while Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots pursue reunification talks.

September 9th, 2011, 3:43 pm

SYRIAN HAMSTER said:

Polls

And 135% of North Koreans are elated with their eternal leader family.

Half a dozen minus one Dancers
Careful, somone will soon claim you are Lamia Shakkour, she has a good size shabbe7a gang.

Ambassador ~~Extra-~~ Sub-ordinary and Plenipotentiary

OTW, SHEILA, TRUE, MAJEDKHALDOUN, ABOUD, and ZIADSOURY

Imad is not SNK, or better yet, SNK is no Imad Mustapha. But the ambassador has long since abdandoned the Ambassadorship, and is hanging on to the plenipoteniary part of the job.

ssHaBi7
suites you, realy suites you.

Battle of the Bridge
SGID
You guys are awsome, true heros each and every one of you. Did you see any of the SC shabee7a under the bridge.

Artificial Neural Network (ANN)
What’s wrong, the mouse wheel isn’t working and it is harder to cut and paste very long confused articles. Common, you could do better.

September 9th, 2011, 3:45 pm

Haytham Khoury said:

Very interesting testimony

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lusmPA0hs1g

http://www.sooryoon.net/?p=32237

September 9th, 2011, 9:30 pm

Aleppo said:

Assad is suicidal. There is no way out of the situation he got himself in. Before there were pockets of resentment, not this feeling is being extended everywhere and across all social classes and even religion. These are not the 80s anymore, you can’t just cover up, distribute some favours and go back to “normal”. People are on the edge. Thugs and assorted low lives are also very much on the edge. All this on a background of very poor economic conditions in the country and a deteriorating global picture.

But the president doesn’t see it. He needs to go to an ophtalmologist.

September 12th, 2011, 9:33 am

Aleppo said:

Imad Mustapha(rt) on Newsweek after Israel bombed Deir el zor:

So Israel will pay a price.

“It will. And there will always be a price for everything.”

LOL

September 12th, 2011, 9:37 am

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