Muhajireen Battalions in Syria (Part IV)

By Aymenn Jawad Al-Tamimi

I have previously documented part/predominantly foreign fighter battalions in Syria here, here and here. Below are a couple more groups as part of this series.

Jaysh Muhammad in Bilad al-Sham

JayshMo
Logo of Jaysh Muhammad in Bilad al-Sham, with motto reading: “We are victorious or we die.” The group’s other main slogan is: “The law of God rules us,” similar to the mentality of other foreign fighter battalions like the Imam Bukhari Battalion of Uzbek fighters.

almiad
Al-Mi’ad Media, the media wing of Jaysh Muhammad.

Jaysh Muhammad is a jihadi faction led by one Abu Obeida al-Muhajir (of Egyptian nationality). The group primarily operates in Aleppo province but has extended operations to other governorates: for example, the group participated in October 2013 with the Green Battalion and the Islamic State (IS), among other “Islamic battalions,” in an offensive on the Sakhna region in Homs province.

In Aleppo province, Jaysh Muhammad worked and co-existed with the Islamic State in some areas prior to and somewhat after the start of wider infighting between IS and other rebels. For instance, in July 2013, a joint operations room as part of “The Battle of True Dawn” was formed in an attempt to capture the two Shi’a localities of Nubl and Zahara’ in Aleppo province, including Jaysh Muhammad, IS, Ahrar al-Sham and a local north Aleppo battalion. As for the aftermath of the beginning of infighting in January 2014, the most notable instance of Jaysh Muhammad-IS cooperation came in the “And Don’t Separate” initiative- an alliance of jihadi factions including Jabhat al-Nusra and independent groups like the Green Battalion- to capture Kweiris military airbase to the east of Aleppo city. It quickly fell apart though as all battalions except IS withdrew.

The most interesting case of IS-Jaysh Muhammad relations was the locality of Azaz, which was seized by IS in autumn 2013 from the FSA-banner brigade Northern Storm. To recap briefly the story of what went on there, IS entered the town of Azaz in the summer of 2013- to the chagrin of some locals– and the group moved into what was a services office to engage in da’wah and social outreach, without initially having a military presence. It was only when IS decided to seize on a pretext to take over the town that fighters and tanks were called in from outside.

That said, in a recent interview with me, a spokesman for Northern Storm- which has since returned to become the sole ruling authority in Azaz following IS’ withdrawal earlier this year and has formally joined the Islamic Front- affirmed that while Northern Storm and IS had worked together in the fall of Mannagh airbase in summer 2013, IS had been stockpiling weapons seized from the base in what was then its da’wah office. In any event, when fighting initially broke out in Azaz in September 2013, a ceasefire agreement was mediated by Liwa al-Tawhid and required both Liwa al-Tawhid and Jaysh Muhammad to implement the agreement.

It turns out that while Liwa al-Tawhid was nowhere to be seen in the face of IS’ subsequent breaking of the ceasefire agreement to expel Northern Storm entirely from Azaz, Jaysh Muhammad had remained in Azaz, having a base there and essentially standing by as IS took over the town. Whereas Liwa al-Tawhid’s inaction at the time appears to have been the result of an informal condemnation of Northern Storm by Aleppo’s Shari’a Committee, Jaysh Muhammad more likely did nothing out of jihadi ideological sympathy for IS.

What happened in the run-up to IS’ strategic abandonment of Azaz at the end of February- considering that the area was cut off from the rest of IS’ contiguous territory in east Aleppo province- is also of interest. If we are to believe the testimony of foreign fighter and Twitter personality “Abu Hamza al-Erhabi”- who at the time claimed affiliation with Jaysh Muhammad- then Jaysh Muhammad planned in advance to abandon Azaz if IS left. According to Northern Storm’s spokesman in an interview with me, Northern Storm imposed an ultimatum on Jaysh Muhammad to leave Azaz, join the fight against IS, or face war.

Despite past events in Azaz and elsewhere suggesting affinity with IS, Jaysh Muhammad actually seems to have been closer to Jabhat al-Nusra all along, even as all three groups of course ultimately have the same goal of a global Caliphate. Indeed, Abu Hamza al-Erhabi had described his group as “sort of” Jabhat al-Nusra. However, in July this year, Jabhat al-Nusra in Aleppo put out a statement disavowing organizational relations with Jaysh Muhammad:

“Jabhat al-Nusra in Aleppo announces that the Jaysh Muhammad battalion under the leadership of the brother Sheikh Abu Obeida the Egyptian- may God protect him- has no organizational connection with Jabhat al-Nusra, for the behavior of the battalion is not considered appropriate in Jabhat al-Nusra’s eyes with the maintenance of a relation of brothers, affection and sincerity between us.”

Jaysh Muhammad then issued a response affirming that it never had allegiance to Jabhat al-Nusra in the first place and attempting a further clarification:

“In response to the prevailing view regarding the statement of the Jabhat al-Nusra brothers in Aleppo- may God give them strength- and the clarification of the relationship between Jaysh Muhammad in Bilad al-Sham and Jabhat al-Nusra, we clarify the confusion that has arisen: Jaysh Muhammad did not pledge allegiance to Jabhat al-Nusra from the beginning and Jabhat al-Nusra has no pledge of allegiance on the neck of Jaysh Muhammad for it to be understood that Jaysh Muhammad was expelled from Jabhat al-Nusra.

But the statement was published on account of what is prevalent among the people: that Jaysh Muhammad is under allegiance to Jabhat al-Nusra on the basis of coordination and cooperation between Jaysh Muhammad and Jabhat al-Nusra: but this is mistaken, for in reality there is joint cooperation and organization between Jaysh Muhammad and Jabhat al-Nusra; moreover, this has not ceased their continuing to be our brothers and beloved ones, and there continues to be a relationship of being brothers in God, affection and sincerity.”

The current status of the relationship between Jabhat al-Nusra and Jaysh Muhammad is unclear, but arguably as part of the wider trend of non-IS jihadi groups beginning to implement their own state/proto-state legislation projects as territory in Syria is increasingly gobbled up by the regime and IS,[i] Jaysh Muhammad announced in July its intentions of implementing Shari’a and hudud regulations in their entirety in all captured areas. At the moment nothing suggests that Jaysh Muhammad has joined some of the other jihadi groups operating in Aleppo province that formed the Jabhat Ansar al-Din coalition.

Update: It has now emerged that despite the Northern Storm ultimatum, Jaysh Muhammad has retained a base in the wider Azaz area (though not participating in any way in governance of the town of Azaz), as the Islamic Front has just released a statement giving Jaysh Muhammad three days to evacuate the Azaz area in light of the fighting against IS. 

Jund al-Aqsa

jundaqsa
Flag of Jund al-Aqsa

jundaqsamedia
Jund al-Aqsa media committee.

Jund al-Aqsa (“Soldiers of al-Aqsa”) is a foreign fighter battalion of a variety of nationalities (including some of South Asian origin)- as well as comprising a native Syrian contingent- primarily operating in Idlib and Hama governorates. The group was in January of this year confronted by rebels on the grounds of being an ally of IS, but with IS’ withdrawal from Idlib and Hama provinces, any tensions between Jund al-Aqsa and other rebels have since calmed down, and the group has notably taken part in joint offensives with Ahrar al-Sham of the Islamic Front (e.g. capturing the village of Ma’an in Hama province in February, which culminated in a massacre of local Alawites). More recently, Jund al-Aqsa has been participating with the Islamic Front in an operation to capture Hama military airport: Ghazwa Badr al-Sham al-Kubra, announced last month and ongoing. Indeed, it is notable that even as other jihadi groups have set about working on their own administrative initiatives, it is striking that Jund al-Aqsa still remains focused on advertising military operations.

jundaqsa2
Jund al-Aqsa claiming to fire heavy weaponry at regime aircraft as part of the offensive on Hama military airport.

jundaqsa3
Jund al-Aqsa claiming to target regime positions around Hama military airport as part of the same offensive.

jundaqsa4
Jabhat al-Nusra has also continued to work with Jund al-Aqsa, pointing to Jund al-Aqsa’s closer affinity at the present time to Jabhat al-Nusra than IS, whatever the prior relations were with the latter. In this photo released in June, Jabhat al-Nusra claims coordination with Jund al-Aqsa in targeting a hotel building in Idlib city that members of Hezbollah were supposedly using as a base.

jundaqsa5
Abu Abd al-Aziz al-Qatari, the amir of Jund al-Aqsa killed in fighting with rebels in January. Of Palestinian origin, he was apparently a veteran of the jihad in Iraq for some time before going to Qatar and continuing to support the insurgency against U.S. forces in Iraq.

jundaqsa6
Abu Abd al-Rahman al-Masri: an Egyptian fighter for Jund al-Aqsa whose death was announced on 26 July this year.

jundaqsa7
Muhannad al-Ansari, from Saraqeb (Idlib province), killed in the Ghazwa Badr al-Sham al-Kubra. Death announced on 30 July.

 

 

Notes

[i] Though Jabhat al-Nusra has tried to backtrack in its public rhetoric on the leaked ‘emirate’ announcement by leader Abu Muhammad al-Jowlani, its recent record on the ground of seizing territory from one-time allies of the Syrian Revolutionaries Front in Idlib in particular and the announcement of economic and societal regulations therein undermine its attempts at ‘clarification.’

Undoubtedly too the behavior by Jabhat al-Nusra is partly explained as the result of a perception that some rebels are receiving Western arms on the condition of not cooperating with Jabhat al-Nusra and therefore constitute a threat in the long-run as territory available for control- particularly crucial border areas- becomes increasingly scarce.

Comments (217)


SANDRO LOEWE said:

All these foreign criminals from IS should be impaled with Assad and all his alawite milicias on the Omayyad Square.

Syrian Revolution will remain in the hearts and minds of all syrians of good will while this group of psychopat bastards from Assad mafia, Iran teocracy, Saudis and IS fight each other until they all disappear from earth.

Assad is not a god nor the gate to any divine message. Assad is simply an empty headed son of a great criminal called Hafez Al Assad. Assad is even worse than the IS bastards. Assad is a coward while IS members at least are crazy and brave.

August 19th, 2014, 4:01 pm

 

omen said:

h/t bill

doesn’t this sound like ghufran?
and another loyalist i wont mention because he’ll have a stroke.

According to today’s younger analysts, the two sides have coalesced into an insolent, Brahman-like upper caste that sees itself beyond all accountability, with an assumed right to lord over the common people, whom they regard as no more than rabble—ignorant, backward, unprepared for democracy, and undeserving of liberty of any sort.

August 19th, 2014, 11:04 pm

 

SANDRO LOEWE said:

Assad was said to be behind Islamic State from april 2013.
Assad created IS to destroy FSA and Kurdish oposition.
Assad is now buying oil from Islamic State oil fields.
Assad offered US reporter Jim Foley, who was under syrian regimen control, to IS to be killed.

IS members always appear face covered because most of them are foreign agents serving Assad and Rusia.

August 20th, 2014, 12:51 am

 

ghufran said:

ISIS was able to stop Iraqi troops that were trying to recapture Tikrit, that adds another reason for the US not to fully support the shia-led government especially after Iraqi troops in Mosul ran away and left their US-made weapons for ISIS to take, and now US jets and drones have to be used to destroy American weapons that were sold to Baghdad !!
Obama stated that a “united Iraqi force” took control of Mosul Dam but multiple reports indicate that the attack was mostly carried out by Kurdish fighters supported by USAF and US Special Forces.
Do not forget who dissolved the Iraqi army in 2003 and who ordered the debathification of Iraq. Whether that was done intentionally to destroy Iraq’s unity (or what is left of it)or was another stupid foreign policy mistake, the results are the same, there is a river of mistrust between sunni and shia in Iraq, worse than that in Syria, and whoever removed Saddam managed only to bring another regime that was worse than the first one.
Iraq provides many lessons and gives a clear indication that Arabs are not ready for a western-style democracy and proves that the so-called “majority rule” could be worse than a minority-led dictatorship. Assad game from day one was to show the world and fellow Syrians that as bad as his regime was, what NATO and the GCC actions in Syria will bring is chaos , terrorism and a new form of fascism under the cover of Islam. If Western reports are factual, KSA and the West may be ready to make a U-turn policy change in Syria which will not include a condition of a regime change, I have no doubt that the regime in Syria will be ready to make peace (for the right price, including a possible easing of sanctions and certain guarantees for regime heads )with the regimes and the governments that are being cursed everyday in state media but do not wait for a similar enthusiasm when it comes to forming a unity government or making peace with Syrians who oppose the regime. Do not also expect to see an international tribunal for war crimes in Syria or any meaningful form of compensation for families from both sides who lost loved ones in the war, little guys in the Middle East are disposable foot soldiers who are born to be used and abused, they are the ones who die, hate and be hated but are not the ones who get rewarded when the war is over, this war should not have been waged in the first place !!
Baathists, Sadddmis and Assadis were guilty of torture, corruption and brutality but their suggested successors were all of that with the addition of a Nazi-style mentality against Christians and other Muslims (and non Muslims) who do not pass their litmus test. Thanks to ISIS actions, the name of Islam will be stained for generations to come.

August 20th, 2014, 1:06 am

 

ALAN said:

ISIS still has American Steven Sotloff next.
Islamic State militants behead missing American journalist James Wrigh
http://rt.com/usa/181484-islamic-state-beheads-american-journalism/

August 20th, 2014, 5:13 am

 

annie said:

No way I am siding with IS but the West is reaping what it sowed; the outrage that was Sykes Picot after Arabs had fought for their freedom, the broken promises. Let alone the Iraq wars, the interventions in Iran and the poison which zionism is seaping into the region.

Religion is what is left to the people and their accumulated hatred and humiliation find an outlet in this so called sharia.

Who is going to bring back the Islam of peace ?

August 20th, 2014, 6:48 am

 

SANDRO LOEWE said:

Assad sends american journalist (all informations indicate he was retained by Assad) as a gift to IS to be beheaded in the horrorized eyes of US public. This if beheading has not taken place by Assad milicias in Assad controlled lands in a typical covered action in the name of IS.

In both cases this is the typical terror advise from Assad-Russian-Iranian regime to the US to tell him “Do not intervene in the Middle East”.

August 20th, 2014, 7:22 am

 

Akbar Palace said:

Who is going to bring back the Islam of peace?

Annie,

Good question. Time for arab moderates to make some noise. Maybe even pick up a rifle and protect their countries on their own.

August 20th, 2014, 10:45 am

 

ALAN said:

If Russia wants to be a friend, why are US manufacturing an enemy? Because they objected to US bombing Syria as they did to Iraq? OK, why are US too driven to destroy a semi-civilized /tolerant / secular country, and change it into a Muslim terrorist headquarter? Well, US don’t tell it population that they want to replace a mild manner Assad with a cannibal barbarian? If US stated such a goal clearly like that, they will have no support. Thus controlling the narrative makes it possible to have an evil agenda.

ISIS, Israel and US duplicity

Mainstream media wants us to believe ISIS sprung up out of a hole in the ground and became powerful enough to take over large cities without any assistance from the big powers. The ineptitude of that narrative is an insult to everyone’s intelligence.

The US government claims it has launched several air strikes against ISIS (Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant) militants in Iraq. These are the same ISIS militants that the US and its client states are supporting in Syria; the same breed and stock of militants they let loose like wild dogs to lynch Gaddafi and wreak havoc in Libya.

It is traditional US diplomacy to play a double game — on the one hand training, arming and financing terrorists to overthrow or destabilize non-compliant governments, while at the same time condemning those same malcontents when it is convenient to do so.
http://mycatbirdseat.com/2014/08/isis-israel-and-us-duplicity/

August 20th, 2014, 11:00 am

 

SANDRO LOEWE said:

Jim Foley was in the hands of Assad thugs since 2012 in the time when IS did not exist. Assad forwarded him to IS as a gift against US intervention.

By now US CIA knows exactly the game Russia and Assad are playing and what makes US restrain are all the secrets Assad knows about US foreign and intelligence policy since Assad was a dog working for them :

* Execution of prominent personalities in Lebanon whenever prompted by Israel

* War on terrorism by Bush Jr. against Saddam with Assad support

* Tortures of Guantanamo prisoners inside Syria

* Terrorist attacks in cov up operations in arab countries

And a long etc.

August 20th, 2014, 11:02 am

 

ALAN said:

Obama you are a coward and stupid! you know that your games in the Syrian Saigon scrapping your hands! Ask John McCain how he felt when a Vietnamese broke his both hands. Learn if you’re not too late.

U.S. Preparing To Bomb Syria, FAA Declared Syrian Airspace No Fly Zone
Read more at http://investmentwatchblog.com/u-s-preparing-to-bomb-syria-faa-declared-syrian-airspace-no-fly-zone/#pPZzOLdxkSd27dvC.99

August 20th, 2014, 11:13 am

 
 

ALAN said:

The brilliant Dr Gilbert on BBC HARD talk
http://youtu.be/H9O3EcuuIuk?t=1s

August 20th, 2014, 12:14 pm

 

SANDRO LOEWE said:

Alan, Ohhhh Maaaaaaan

What’s up with your russian decaying tainted repulsive fascists links !!!

Are these your final arguments ?

LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOL

Regarding BBC, it is relly interesting but do not try to hide behind Palestinian Cause as all criminals from Assad to Saddam and from Gadafi to Jomeini did.

August 20th, 2014, 12:35 pm

 

ALAN said:

American journalist James Wright Foley was allegedly brutally murdered on video by terrorists of the Islamic State in Syria and Iraq (ISIS). The development would at first appear to portray a terrorist organization openly declaring itself an enemy of the West; but, in reality, it is the latest attempt by the West itself to cover up the true genesis of the current region-wide catastrophe of its own creation now unfolding in the Middle East…
Tony Cartalucci
http://www.activistpost.com/2014/08/isis-region-wide-genocide-portended-in.html

August 20th, 2014, 12:50 pm

 

SANDRO LOEWE said:

Ladies and Gentlemen now we leave you with ALANCOMMENT:

News and analysis from russian, iranian and assadist think tanks on the web.

Good night and good luck.

August 20th, 2014, 1:41 pm

 
 

SANDRO LOEWE said:

Assad regime will deal with 2.000.000 syrian political refugees (mostly sunna) as Israel dealt with palestinian refugees arounf the world. They will not have the right to return to Syria. They were syrians and refused Assad regime. Since Syria is not a nation but Assad’s Syria all those who refused Assad’S Syria will not come back to this country.

In the future many people will fight for the rights of the refugees to return to Syria and many NGO and human rights protector like US, UK, EU, etc will wonder how did we allow this to happen ?

Well you did not allow it to happen, you actively cuased it by considering Iran and Assad your best among bad partners.

August 21st, 2014, 12:51 pm

 

ALAN said:

Growing Mayhem – US Operating on Both Sides of Syrian-Iraqi Border

US may attempt to arm and provide air cover for terrorists in Syria after claiming success in fighting ISIS in Iraq using Kurds.

As predicted, the “sudden” appearance of the Islamic State in Syria and Iraq (ISIS) in northern Iraq weeks ago, has created the rhetorical framework within which the United States and its regional partners will attempt to militarily intervene in both Iraq and Syria.

Token US airstrikes have already been underway in Iraq, and it is now revealed that US special operation forces have been operating in Syria, under the guise of attempting to rescue abducted.

Tony Cartalucci

***
Dr. Rania Masri’s Powerful Speech at “Crisis in Gaza and West Bank: Context and Action”

http://youtu.be/hHAmAULY23U

August 21st, 2014, 1:30 pm

 

Ghufran said:

US tried to rescue american hostages in Syria:
“US forces flew into Syria in defiance of air defence batteries that senior military officials have described as highly threatening to pilots. Modified Black Hawk helicopters were involved, and “armed fixed-wing aircraft and drones” provided cover to forces on the ground, said an administration official. No hostages were found at the targeted location”

It is unlikely that the US government asked permission to fly over Syria, this leaves the more likely scenario that US intentionally overinflated Syrian SAMs capability in an effort to reduce pressure on Obama to bomb the Syrian army. Obama had two choices after the news about a chemical weapon attack in Syria came out: conduct a symbolic raid or do nothing if Russia can mediate a deal to destroy Syria’s chemical weapons, he gladly chose the second approach. Now, sec Hagel has hinted that the US reserves the ” right” to bomb Isis in Syria, a top retired general asked Obama to do just that, even the pope supports a military action against Isis but turkey and KSA are not sure yet 🙂

August 21st, 2014, 7:34 pm

 

Ghufran said:

US top general supports striking Isis in Syria:

WASHINGTON: America’s top general said Thursday that the militant group ISIS can be contained and eventually defeated, but only if it is engaged in Syria and not just in Iraq.
“This is an organization that has an apocalyptic, ‘end-of-days’ strategic vision that will eventually have to be defeated,” said Gen. Martin Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. “Can they be defeated without addressing that part of the organization that resides in Syria? The answer is no.”

August 21st, 2014, 9:50 pm

 

ALAN said:

Tony Cartalucci:
/American journalist James Wright Foley was allegedly brutally murdered on video by terrorists of the Islamic State in Syria and Iraq (ISIS). /

Foley was anti-Israel and some would say siding with terrorists in some of his reporting. ISIS is run by Israel, and has received artillery (and more?) support from inside Israel during important battles inside Syria. Sorry — I think he’s dead. And I think it’s Mossad trying to make you think it’s those Barbaric Muslims instead.

August 22nd, 2014, 2:39 am

 

ALAN said:

Ghaleb Kandil, Lebanese journalist with close ties to the Syrian government, said the West would be forced to deal with Assad sooner or later. In return for security cooperation, Assad would demand full political rehabilitation.
“The Syrian state is the only body with adequate intelligence about the terrorists,” he said.
With the U.S. providing targeting data to the Syrian air-force at least some informal detente has already been agreed upon. More opportunities for a public reversal of the “western” position will appear soon.
He anticipates, “a Syria extension” of U.S. air-force attacks is unlikely to happen as long as the Syrian air-force has and keeps its capabilities to act on anti-IS (signal-)intelligence the U.S. provides. Russia (and Iran) will take care that the Syrian air-force will have the material and personal capacities to achieve that.

August 22nd, 2014, 5:30 am

 

Matthias Biesemans said:

Thank you Ayman for your latest article on the Muhajirin Battallions. As always very well researched and very instructive.
I would like to add some elements to your analysis. According to my information Abu ‘Ubayda al-Muhajir (Egyptian origin), the commander of Jaysh Muhammad, was also, back in 2012, one of the vice-emirs of Abu ‘Umar ash-Shishânî’s Army of the Muhajirin and Ansar (Jaysh al-muhâjirîn wa l-ansar / AMA). Abu ‘Ubayda’s foreign fighter militia Jaysh Muhammad was at that time one of the main components of AMA. But, following the emergence of Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), Abu ‘Ubayda refused to recognize Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi’s imamate claim and subsequently rejected Abu ‘Umar ash-Shishânî’s ba’ya towards al-Baghdadi and his move in spring 2013 to fully integrate the AMA into ISIL. He left AMA and continued separately with his militia, again under the name “Jaysh Muhammad” (JM), consisting of both Syrians and foreigners and operating mainly in the Aleppo province. JM collaborated with both Jabhat an-Nusra and ISIL for its military activities. The past to years JM managed also to attract European foreign fighters. We know of French and Belgian jihadi’s who served within the ranks of JM. In the course of events, towards the end of 2013/early 2014, the European fighters started to leave JM – desillusioned with the lack of material means of the group and its inadequat ideological framework – to join their European brothers within ISIL / IS.
Kind regards,
Matthias

August 22nd, 2014, 5:32 am

 

Ghufran said:

The murder of dozens of Iraqis at a Sunni mosque in Diyala may have been committed by a pro maliki Shia militia , Iraqi officers tried to put the blame on Isis. The goal is to derail the new political process which will open the door for investigations on illegal actions taken by Maliki and his supporters including unauthorized attacks on Sunni towns this year.
Sunni members of the Iraqi parliament were quick to respond in a typical middle eastern fashion by ending their participation in the new government, a move that plays in the hands of the terrorists who want exactly that. Maliki was told by the US that he needs to step aside or else, he complied but his loyalists are not ready to accept this defeat.

August 22nd, 2014, 7:37 pm

 

Syrialover said:

Oh dear. While Bashar’s having wet dreams about the west choosing him over ISIS, the public stench of his links with ISIS is gathering like a mushroom cloud. Now entering mainstream awareness.

1. Sudden sharp recall by Americans that murdered journalist James Foley was originally captured by forces linked to Assad. So how did ISIS get hold of Foley? Did Assad pass him on to them?
– (http://www.slate.com/blogs/business_insider/2014/08/20/how_james_foley_fell_into_the_hands_of_isis_a_group_bashar_al_assad_helped.html?wpsrc=fol_tw)

2. “Assad Policies Aided Rise of Islamic State Militant Group” yells the headline on the front page of this weekend’s edition of the influential Wall Street Journal. (Former Iraqi envoy to Damascus says Assad told him that boosting ISIS was his strategy http://online.wsj.com/articles/assad-policies-aided-rise-of-islamic-state-militant-group-1408739733 …)

3. The British government has now made clear any alliance with Assad against ISIS would be poisonous and impossible, and they remain determined to see Assad gone. While the French have been busily ramping up arms and assistance to the FSA with the same aim in mind.

August 23rd, 2014, 8:59 am

 

ALAN said:

Vietnam war criminal John McCain, Conductor of the “Arab Spring” and the Caliph.
Are Barack Obama and John McCain political opponents as they claim, or are they working together on the imperialist strategy of their country?
http://www.voltairenet.org/article185085.html

Does anyone find it strange that the US government is ready to go to war against ISIS over the killing of one american journalist under the idea that America is only doing the right thing in going after isis?

Is this threat to go to war with ISIL is another straw man usage of Isis to funnel money to the military industrial cabal?
When congress resumes session how much you want to bet that the do nothing congress will do something by increasing pentagon budget. F***ing joke. Is the congress vote on expanding strikes in syria before the mid term elections? Congress don’t want to have to answer to the voters about why or why not the voted to start a war in syria with ISIL. Now after the elections all bets are off. But one thing is gonna happen for sure and that is the pentagon is gonna get their additional money for this alleged ISIL “threat”. They gotta replace all that Operation Iraqi Liberation military hardware they gave away to the local police departments across America. The game…..oh the game. it is smelling…it is easy to win with a stacked deck.

August 23rd, 2014, 9:17 am

 

ALAN said:

Heh.
The US end game in pushing for strikes in syria is to utilize that we are going after isis as a pre text to get assad. Assad is holding up just fine against all the west backed insurgents and terrorists . So what better way than to paint a picture that Assad is helping isis. The propaganda is all over the webs and it is just a matter of time before the msm begins to paint assad as an isis enabler. The idea floated by the US of teaming up with Assad to deafeat Isis is pure bs. 🙂

http://www.nytimes.com/roomfordebate/2014/08/22/should-the-us-work-with-assad-to-fight-isis/assad-has-never-fought-isis-before

http://fullcomment.nationalpost.com/2014/08/22/why-assad-is-secretly-helping-his-isis-enemies-become-most-powerful-rebel-force-in-syria/

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/08/23/world/middleeast/assad-supporters-weigh-benefits-of-us-strikes-in-syria.html

August 23rd, 2014, 9:37 am

 

Syrialover said:

Moslems in the west are being disgustingly undermined and betrayed by the failure of their religious and community leaders to reject and distance ISIS from mainstream Islam. Maybe those confused deadheads and whiners (“stop oppression and prejudice against Moslems”) will absorb a signal from the following:

1. “ISIS is enemy No 1 of Islam, and not in any way part of the faith” says Saudi Arabia’s Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdul-Aziz Al al-Sheikh, the highest religious authority in the country.

“Extremist and militant ideas and terrorism which spread decay on Earth, destroying human civilization, are not in any way part of Islam, but are enemy number one of Islam, and Muslims are their first victims,” he said in a statement carried by the official Saudi Press Agency.(http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Middle-East/2014/Aug-19/267697-saudi-top-preacher-blasts-isis-as-enemy-no1.ashx#ixzz3BDlkdcKb)

2. “ISIS an embarrassment and humiliating to Muslims” says the leader of the worlds most populous Muslim-majority country, Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.

He urged Islamic leaders to unite in tackling extremism.

Indonesia is home to the world’s biggest Muslim population of about 225 million.

(http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/indonesia/11047487/Indonesia-president-says-Islamic-State-embarrassing-Muslims.html)

August 23rd, 2014, 9:54 am

 

ALAN said:

The ISIS killer on the (Saudi) king’s highway

There’s danger on the edge of town
Ride the king’s highway, baby
Weird scenes inside the gold mine
Ride the highway west, baby
The Doors, The End

The killer awoke before dawn. He put his American desert boots on. He took a knife from the ancient gallery. And he walked on down the hall – bathed in desert sunlight.

The killer spoke with a British accent (London’s East End?) Father (Saud), I want to kill you. Mother (Langley?) I want to… yeeeaaahh, c’mon!

Then the sartorially composed Man in Black beheaded American photojournalist James Foley.

This is not the end, beautiful friend. It’s just a new beginning in the never-ending Global War on Terror. Now starring Papa Saud’s brand new bag – The Caliph and his goons. 🙂

Pepe Escobar

August 23rd, 2014, 10:04 am

 

Syrialover said:

ALAN (or whatever collective agency you are) please quit wasting space here with ignorant and lazy comments like in #27.

There has been substantial information and commentary on Assad’s complicity in ISIS being able to spread and fester in Syria, from many different sources for a long time. Including former regime insiders, ISIS defectors and former captives.

Are you telling us this is a new idea for you?

Enough of the childish splashing in the kids’ paddling pool. Grow up and do the work needed to swim properly on the subjects you keep posting on.

August 23rd, 2014, 10:42 am

 

ALAN said:

Dear grownup man:
Do you think that behavioral complicity usually allowed to the West and its allies only?
Can you stated the Chronic of American complicity facts , Saudi , Qatari, Turkish , Israeli and European , all organizations and institutions, which in its orbit and the financial and other systems facts during the period of the Arab Spring against Yemen, Libya, Sudan, Iraq, Syria and Egypt? Do I have to close the other eye? O man grownup!

August 23rd, 2014, 11:22 am

 

Ghufran said:

Nato officials have no choice but to stick to their old lines about not making any effort to work with the Syrian regime but what is happening now and what will happen in the future will be something else. The emergence and expansion of Isis is not only due to the sins and actions of the regimes in syria and Iraq but it is also the result of NATO, GCC and Turkey evil policies in supporting Islamists the same way they did in Afghanistan knowing very well that those Islamists are violent and exclusionary, those of you who still believe that NATO and their puppet regimes care about the little guy need psychiatric help.
NATO cares about: opposing Iran, supporting Israel and protecting the GCC
كل ثوره و انتم بخير
The “revolution” failed for a number of reasons, at the top is relying on NATO et al instead on building support among Syrians.

August 23rd, 2014, 12:25 pm

 

SANDRO LOEWE said:

There is no humans remaining in the streets of Damascus, there is just donkeys, dogs and hyenas left.

Once all those who shared in the demostrations and in the fight (and many more by mistake or by preemtion) have been detained, tortured, killed or vanished, now the regime has time and rats enough to investigagte Facebook and imprison of those who ever dared to comment againt the Great God Dog.

August 23rd, 2014, 2:47 pm

 

SANDRO LOEWE said:

How half shit Assad helped reinforce Islamic State gangs of criminals to his beneffit:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/syria/11051566/How-Assad-helped-the-rise-of-his-foe-Isil.html

August 23rd, 2014, 2:49 pm

 

SANDRO LOEWE said:

Half shit Assad would be just ashes if he was not a dirty dog working for and receiving protection from US, Israel, Rusia and Iran.

August 23rd, 2014, 2:53 pm

 

SANDRO LOEWE said:

Assas emptied Saidnaya prison from dangerous islamists as Malki did in Bagdad prison and sent thousands of islamists to Raqqa in convoys protected by Assad and Malki special forces one year ago.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/syria/11051566/How-Assad-helped-the-rise-of-his-foe-Isil.html

August 23rd, 2014, 3:03 pm

 

ALAN said:

It seems that the post No. 27 unreadable

August 23rd, 2014, 4:40 pm

 

Syrialover said:

“Team ALAN” #31

More noisy splash, splash, splash in the babies play pool, getting water in your own eyes.

Hey, come on, jump into the big pool and say something based on facts, experience or reasoned analysis. Let’s see you try to swim.

Scared your conspiracy junk and propaganda will dissolve in water?

August 23rd, 2014, 4:40 pm

 

Syrialover said:

Tweet:

Really ? some think joining with Asad vs IS effective ? how little they understand Asad regime intent, its weaknesses and jihadi recruiting

– former US ambassador Robert Ford – (https://twitter.com/fordrs58/status/503181321360130048)

August 23rd, 2014, 4:49 pm

 

Syrialover said:

(Yesterday was the anniversary of the Assad regime killing 1700 Syrians by chemical attack on Ghouta just outside Damascus)

Tweet:

Remember one year ago?
The Chemical Weapons?
Remember the massacres?
The murderer?

No you don’t.
He created ISIS so that you don’t.

– Sara Assaf (https://twitter.com/SaraAssaf/status/502482059726581760)

August 23rd, 2014, 5:04 pm

 

Akbar Palace said:

Syrialover, Sandra Loewe,

I’m enjoying your posts. As far as ISIS is concerned, everyone is blaming and pointing their fingers at the US, Assad, Israel, and/or KSA for “creating” ISIS. I don’t know who to believe. I suspect the KSA because ISIS is a sunni group and the KSA probably wants them to confront the pro-shia govts of Syria, Iraq and Iran. Do you agree? Who is funding them?

August 23rd, 2014, 5:28 pm

 

jo6pac said:

Alan read this when you have time and check comments 3&4.

http://www.moonofalabama.org/2014/08/the-fishy-james-foley-video.html#comments

28. Syrialover said: This the only time I’ve agreed with you.

August 23rd, 2014, 5:28 pm

 

jo6pac said:

42. Akbar Palace said:

They are armed and trained by cia and mossad the money comes from the house of saud and qatar. If you take the time to open the link on the page it has the lay out.

http://www.washingtonsblog.com/2014/08/best-way-stop-isis-syria-stop-arming-isis-syria.html

August 23rd, 2014, 5:41 pm

 

Douglas Martin said:

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is finally realizing the blow back coming their way, and decades of cooperation with the US preclude drastic measures to stop their financially independent fundamentalists being directly dealt an effective boycott.
The easiest and most effective non violent measure is to have a complete naval and economic blockade of Qatar’s Liquified Natural Gas exports and the shut down of Aljazeera’s network were ever possible.

August 24th, 2014, 12:37 am

 

Juergen said:

Meanwile in Syria, things go as usual, a new atm machine has been installed in Tartous.

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10204353765223909&set=a.4916927960698.2190306.1223199528&type=1&theater

August 24th, 2014, 1:58 am

 

ALAN said:

41. JO6PAC
Thank you for the Link!

August 24th, 2014, 4:51 am

 

Ghufran said:

Tabqa airport is in Isis hands after fierce fighting. As we said here before Assad is effectively withdrawing from aljazeera area after his military chiefs told him that they do not have enough soldiers to keep bases in the area. Isis suffered heavy losses after intense air bombardment but most people know that you need ground troops to keep control of any piece of land. Until there is enough men to confront Isis on the ground you can only expect air raids and STS missile attacks which can hurt Isis but not dislodge them from the area and those attacks will also cause vast destruction and further loss in civilian lives.
Regime supporters are furious and some are even mocking Assad when he promised to return Raqqa to Hidn Alwatan (حضن الوطن) , for Assad government, the homeland does not include aljazeera because it is not crucial for regime’s survival, his troops are busy around Damascus, in Aleppo and in Hama.
Serious questions remain about where the money will come to cover government when most of Syria’s oil and gas revenues are going to Isis, you know that money from Iran and regime top donors can not run indefinitely.
Regardless where you stand on this war, seeing aljazeera becoming another Afghanistan can not be good for Syria or the region, until there is enough fighters to face Isis this region will be under Isis mercy for years to come.

August 24th, 2014, 12:51 pm

 

ALAN said:

NATO Using Foley and ISIS As A Pretext For Bombing Syria – Ultimate Target Is Russia
http://12160.info/profiles/blogs/nato-using-foley-and-isis-as-a-pretext-for-bombing-syria-ultimate
It is time to change Putin’s calculations, and Syria is the place to do it.
After repeating the tired, disproven, and borderline idiotic propaganda of Assad’s alleged “chemical weapons attacks,” “killing his own people,” and “barrel bombs,” Slaughter attempts to cover up what is nothing more than a geopolitical strategy as a humanitarian issue.

Slaughter laments the fact that “It is impossible to strike Syria legally so long as Russia sits on the United Nations Security Council, given its ability to veto any resolution authorizing the use of force.” However, she continues her article by stating that the United States should act anyway, unilaterally or multilaterally, by striking Syria and, at the very least, destroying its “fixed wing aircraft.”

The US, together with as many countries as will cooperate, could use force to eliminate Syria’s fixed-wing aircraft as a first step toward enforcing Resolution 2139. “Aerial bombardment” would still likely continue via helicopter, but such a strike would announce immediately that the game has changed. After the strike, the US, France, and Britain should ask for the Security Council’s approval of the action taken, as they did after NATO’s intervention in Kosovo in 1999,” she states.

Slaughter continues by writing,
Equally important, shots fired by the US in Syria will echo loudly in Russia. The great irony is that Putin is now seeking to do in Ukraine exactly what Assad has done so successfully: portray a legitimate political opposition as a gang of thugs and terrorists, while relying on provocations and lies to turn non-violent protest into violent attacks that then justify an armed response.
Slaughter, of course, is angry that the incessant and nonsensical propaganda of her former office, the US State Department, and other Western governments across the world have largely failed to manufacture a string of lies that would serve to effectively motivate Americans to gear up for war yet again.

So far, on this particular issue, American apathy largely contributed to preventing a war.

Unfortunately, with slightly more clever propaganda narratives, that apathy will easily be converted over to the benefit of the world oligarchy. Indeed, with the broadcast of the killing of an American citizen in such a grotesque fashion, that apathy can quickly be converted to rage and nationalistic fervor. Such techniques of propaganda are well understood by elites the world over.

As Hermann Goring stated years ago,
Why of course the people don’t want war. Why should some poor slob on a farm want to risk his life in a war when the best he can get out of it is to come back to his farm in one piece? Naturally the common people don’t want war: neither in Russia, nor in England, nor for that matter in Germany. That is understood. But after all it is the leaders of a country who determine the policy and it is always a simple matter to drag the people along, whether it is a democracy or fascist dictatorship, or a parliament or a communist dictatorship. Voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is tell them they are being attacked, and denounce the peace makers for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same in any country.
The American people have tragically proven this statement true time and time again.

August 24th, 2014, 1:35 pm

 

Akbar Palace said:

They are armed and trained by cia and mossad…

Jo6pac,

Your blog link offers no proof of this, and this is just another example of what I was referring to: everyone pointing fingers at everyone else.

August 24th, 2014, 2:27 pm

 

Besta said:

Alan,
Please use the primary source of your post which is nothing but a repost of blog writer’s own intrepretation of Ms. Slaughters article published in April, along with some other guy named Tony Cartlucci and a site about New World Order.

Here is Ann Marie Slaughter’s article:
https://www.project-syndicate.org/commentary/anne-marie-slaughter-on-how-us-intervention-in-the-syrian-civil-war-would-alter-vladimir-putin-s-calculus-in-ukraine

Let posters here draw their own conclusions as to the current issues in Syria today.
I personally find her article interesting but old news.

August 24th, 2014, 3:06 pm

 

Observer said:

If you can read it it is worth getting today on how iPad retard helped in the creation and establishment of IS. Now he is hoping the sixth fleet will come to his rescue.
http://online.wsj.com/articles/assad-policies-aided-rise-of-islamic-state-militant-group-1408739733

In the meantime, they finished Tabga in a week when the FSA could not in three years and like Division 17 in a week when the FSA could not in three years.

Now they have more weapons and more ammunition and more control and more recruits.

The regime has less and less of all of this.

But wait this is going to be a great ruse of the most intelligent resistance coup to bring the two enemies the US and IS to fight each other for the iPad.

Wonderful indeed.

The image of Yazidis on Mount Sinjar haunts me daily of what is to become to all of us in Damascus on Kasyoun.

August 24th, 2014, 5:23 pm

 

Syrialover said:

AKBAR PALACE is not sure about who and what ISIS is and where it comes from.

Here are a few essential points to have in mind – in addition to those made by the top cleric in Saudi Arabia and the President of Indonesia about ISIS’s rubbish claims to be linked to Islam (See #28 above).

ISIS for beginners – PART 1

– ISIS is a killer cult that thrives on sadism, murder, theft, kidnapping, rape, extortion and invading and terrorizing communities where central government protection is weak

– The main purpose of ISIS is to make their d*cks feel bigger (to quote Racan Alhoch after encountering them first hand in Syria)

– They are fuelled by fantasies of becoming “somebody powerful and important” in their own minds through gang mob shortcuts which allow them to be unchecked sadists, vicious bullies, bizarrely irrational and cruel cowards (note the masks).

– They use pseudo-rules, made-up “laws” and sick rationalizations as a framework for operating as swaggering killers, thieves and rapists in unarmed communities.

– They are brutally ignorant and indifferent about local issues and conditions that led to revolution and destabilization in Syria and Iraq. They are predatory parasites rushing in to invade, kick, terrorize and control communities already weakened and disrupted

– Foreign fighters flocking to join ISIS are always people who have social, intellectual, economic and emotional/mental problems succeeding in the real world – check out their background stories.

– Significantly, the ISIS fantasy particular targets young males whose brains, according to the latest science, are still underdeveloped with regard to risk taking, emotional stability, judgement, decision making, empathy and so on until they are in their mid-20s. Like drug takers, their adult future will wear the damage.

August 24th, 2014, 6:44 pm

 

Syrialover said:

ISIS for beginners – PART 2

ISIS is largely funded by theft and extortion and armed by captured weapons. This is well documented – you won’t have to look far to find the details.

ISIS has formed alliances with local rebel and resistance groups which enable them to have some success. This will be transient, and once they start losing, most observers predict their fake “hero” status and magnetic powers of recruitment will dissolve.

For some useful and fresh insights into their local alliances and exploitation of various trends read articles by Hassan Hassan, a brilliant young Syrian writer and analyst from a tribal background in Deir Ezzor.

For example read his latest article, “Isis: a portrait of the menace that is sweeping my homeland”

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/aug/16/isis-salafi-menace-jihadist-homeland-syria

August 24th, 2014, 7:00 pm

 

Syrialover said:

Hassan Hassan (mentioned on ISIS above) is vital reading for anyone following events in Syria.

He cuts ahead of others on experience and background, information sources and strong credibility as a Syrian.

Here’s another fresh article by him:

“Assad Has Never Fought ISIS Before”

EXCERPT:

“The idea that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad can be a partner in the fight against the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, or ISIS, ignores a basic fact: Assad has been key to its rise in Syria and beyond.

“When Islamic radicals took over Raqqa, the first province to fall under rebels’ control in its entirety, it was remarkable that the regime did not follow the same policy it had consistently employed elsewhere, which is to shower liberated territories with bombs, day and night.

“Raqqa was saved the fate of Deir Ezzor, Aleppo, Homs and Deraa. ISIS soon controlled the province, painted government buildings in black and turned them into bases. The group’s bases were easy to spot, for about a year and a half. Elsewhere, too, Assad allowed ISIS to grow and fester. The regime has been buying oil from it and other extremist groups after it lost control of most of the country’s oilfields and gas…”

(Source:http://www.nytimes.com/roomfordebate/2014/08/22/should-the-us-work-with-assad-to-fight-isis/assad-has-never-fought-isis-before)

August 24th, 2014, 7:30 pm

 

Ghufran said:

Isis story deserves studying but it is hard to find a single source that captures the whole truth, I also think that some secrets about Isis may take years to discover. However, it is obvious that Isis received regional and international support and / or accommodations.
Of notice is the fact that Isis has not attacked Israel or the GCC and that prominent religious and community leaders in the GCC were caught pants down providing political and material support for Isis and nusra.
Assad left Isis attack other rebel groups for a simple reason, this war drained the Syrian army and the Syrian economy in a way that no other country has experienced in modern times, to fight Isis when the army is being attacked by numerous rebel groups would have been seen as a form of military idiocy, another issue is the Syrian government’s purchase of oil from Islamist groups, people who tackle this issue ignore the fact that everybody who can get oil at a deep discount has done so, the list of buyers include countries like Turkey and local merchants from syria’s neighboring countries.
Isis in its latest Gazwa in Raqqa slaughtered 150 soldiers and took 250 as prisoners and those numbers do not include soldiers who were murdered by Isis in previous battles.yet, you still see idiots who insist that Isis was made in the regime’s lab.
For Isis to be fought a regional and international alliance has to be formed and local Sunnis have to take up arms and end this pathological phenomenon. if rebels and the regime were really after creating a better Syria they would have implement a cease fire and point their guns at Isis and Israel, the fact that this has not occurred confirm my belief that this is an Ummah that want to remain in the middle ages.
Boneheads who talk about Isis without addressing the deep crisis in the religion of Islam and the identity confusion that dominates the people of the area are simply filling the net with worthless materials.

August 24th, 2014, 10:07 pm

 

Mick said:

In some people’s warped mind, here is Qatar secretly backing Bashar and Iran by putting pressure on the U.S. to not attack ISIS/ISIL/DA’ISH or as they prefer to now be called…da:

DOHA, Qatar — A former Qatari ambassador to the United States offered up a warning to the Obama administration Monday that any military intervention on behalf of the government of Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al Maliki would be seen as an act of “war” on the entire community of Sunni Arabs.

Sheikh Nasser bin Hamad al Khalifa also warned against the United States working with Iran to repulse the advance by the radical Sunni group the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, something that Secretary of State John Kerry said Monday the United States would be willing to consider.

Read more here: http://www.sacbee.com/2014/06/16/6487754/qatari-us-intervention-in-iraq.html#storylink=cpy

Why Qatar is also funding the Muslim Brotherhood is beyond me, other than this to is a Bashar plan to have the likes of Mursi as President of Egypt. He was such an idiot that even a military coup looked good.

My God that Bashar is smart. He has been running every Middle East country for years. Is there not one Sunni that has a brain and can think for themselves? Obviously not!

August 25th, 2014, 1:21 am

 

Juergen said:

Did something happen to the nuns in Maaloula? Usually they would never turn down the PR of the regime…

August 25th, 2014, 2:54 am

 

annie said:

AtThe Real News
Powers Behind The Islamic State
Dr. Nafeez Ahmed is a bestselling author, investigative journalist and international security scholar. A regular Guardian contributor on the geopolitics of interconnected environmental, energy and economic crises, he is the author of A User’s Guide to the Crisis of Civilization and How to Save It, which inspired his documentary feature film, The Crisis of Civilization. His debut science fiction novel inspired by true events is ZERO POINT.

http://youtu.be/7FdnMJyiiwg

August 25th, 2014, 3:43 am

 

annie said:

and this for our zio visitors here
http://youtu.be/Yy1pczAHNCc

August 25th, 2014, 4:46 am

 

habib said:

The mentally challenged who keep babbling about Assad creating ISIL need to take the following facts into consideration:

The funding for ISIl comes from the Gulf.

Turkey lets ISIl in and out of their border at their own will.

The leaders of ISIL were all in US custody until recently, not Syrian.

So what does this mean? Gulf, Turkey and the US are secretly allied with Assad?

August 25th, 2014, 5:14 am

 

Syrialover said:

GHUFRAN #54,

It’s hard to read what you write on this, with key bits of reality omitted, distorted or speeded up to a blur.

The killing and capture of Syrian soldiers by ISIS is a sideline compared with the massacres, terror, takeover atrocities, humiliation and losses they have inflicted on Syrians who are not involved in supporting or defending Assad. Assad for a long time kept his troops well out of ISIS range while aligning with them in attacks against ordinary Syrians. (Note #53 above)

Assad sectarianized the Syrian conflict, but the main victims of ISIS have been ordinary Sunnis.

ISIS has not attacked Israel or the GCC because ISIS only comes on in predatory waves in failed on conflict-torn states where the populations are not defended.

ISIS always morphs out of other conflicts, and is best compared to the other self-invented extremist groups that are causing hell and chaos in Africa.

Only a bigtime bonehead would suggest ISIS would be interested in giving up territorial ambitions, power and loot in a peace deal with anyone in Syria.

ISIS is a mad snake killer cult that doesn’t respect what others are fighting for – they are just looking for a chance to kick everyone out of the way.

To me the statement below deserves some sort of special award for vintage apology and “normalizing” of Assad:

GHUFRAN wrote: “For Isis to be fought a regional and international alliance has to be formed and local Sunnis have to take up arms and end this pathological phenomenon. if rebels and the regime were really after creating a better Syria they would have implement a cease fire and point their guns at Isis and Israel.”

– What a brilliant idea for Sunnis to take up arms against ISIS. Wow. Tell that to all the local Sunni tribes and other communities that have had their leaders and young men tortured, murdered or disappeared, their buildings commandeered, cars and property stolen and their women kidnapped when trying the defend their communities or resist invasion by ISIS. (Even when they offer little resistance). They have frequently been crippled in their attempts to push back against ISIS because the regime has routinely joined ISIS in attacking ordinary Syrians, keeping up the barrel bombs and other atrocities.

– And “..if the regime were really after creating a better Syria…”. Really? After Assad has brutally destroyed Syria and handed over control to Iran?

– “And (Syrians) instead point their guns at Israel”? You must have been taking bathroom breaks when even Bashar Assad’s supporters regularly lost their cool at him being such a limp pussy when confronted by insults and threats from Israel.

August 25th, 2014, 9:14 am

 

Syrialover said:

Ah thank goodness HABIB #59 is here to tell us what is really what.

Good to have his special facts, reasoning and deductions on what is going on in Syria, the Middle East, the USA, ISIS… and probably what is happening on Mars.

I don’t want to mentally challenge or contaminate his thinking, so I won’t suggest he read what is written by people like Hassan Hassan (ref. #52 and #53)

August 25th, 2014, 9:39 am

 

ALAN said:

SIMOHURTA:

just look at this: Nope, it’s not The Onion.

Israelis on Facebook wish death for Holocaust survivors against ‘Protective Edge’
http://972mag.com/nstt_feeditem/israelis-on-facebook-wish-death-for-holocaust-survivors-against-protective-edge/

August 25th, 2014, 11:20 am

 

Akbar Palace said:

SL – Thanks for the info.

Ahlan,

Glad Holocaust survivors are voicing their opinions in a country where there IS freedom of speech: Israel.

One day, arab countries will have freedom of speech too.

As far as their opinion is concerned, I disagree with them.

I don’t recall the joos stating that they don’t recognize Germany, that Germany belonged to the joos, or that all Germans hiding behind trees should be killed. I also don’t recall the Germans withdrawing from land and providing the joos an opportunity for self-determination, nor do I recall joos sending thousands of missiles into German population centers.

IMHO, Israel needs to neutralize the tunnels, the missile launchers and the Hamas “leadership”.

August 25th, 2014, 12:35 pm

 
 

ALAN said:

We need to rein the Permanent Israeli aggression on Arab neighbors. We need to neutralize the Israeli weapons of mass destruction, nuclear, chemical and various other species such as Bunker Buster. We need a state of Palestine, which is long overdue and a separate homeland for the Palestinians.

August 25th, 2014, 2:25 pm

 

habib said:

61. Syrialover

So which of the three points can you refute? Please do so, instead of useless blabbing. For your convenience:

The funding for ISIl comes from the Gulf.

Turkey lets ISIl in and out of their border at their own will.

The leaders of ISIL were all in US custody until recently, not Syrian.

August 25th, 2014, 5:37 pm

 

Austin Michael Bodetti said:

I wonder which of these paramilitaries will ally with IS if it advances in Aleppo, Hama, and Idlib Governorates.

August 25th, 2014, 6:12 pm

 

habib said:

67. Austin Michael Bodetti

They won’t “ally”, they will simply be assimilated by ISIL.

August 25th, 2014, 8:26 pm

 

Douglas Martin said:

The “brokered” release of the journalist Theo Curtis by Qatar was just a cover for financing ISIS to the tune of what they (ISIS) wanted for the beheaded Foley; being so proud they probably paid, no gave, under the cover of being humanitarian over $150 million. Qatar is the biggest state bad actor in the financing of ISIS.

August 26th, 2014, 12:31 am

 
 

ALAN said:

WASHINGTON — President Obama has authorized surveillance flights over Syria, a precursor to potential airstrikes there, but a mounting concern for the White House is how to target the Sunni extremists without helping President Bashar al-Assad.

Defense officials said Monday evening that the Pentagon was sending in manned and unmanned reconnaissance flights over Syria, using a combination of aircraft, including drones and possibly U2 spy planes. Mr. Obama approved the flights over the weekend, a senior administration official said.

The flights are a significant step toward direct American military action in Syria, an intervention that could alter the battlefield in the nation’s three-year civil war.

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/08/26/world/middleeast/obama-syria-ISIS.html?_r=1

What is there to Qatar? let’s to analyze in larger scale,
on the one hand create, train, arm, float, provide full support, spreading everywhere terror and catastrophe, then going to implement its military potential for additional disaster, not forgetting the smell and taste of oil and gas. USA really atrocious state.
Obama! you have to understand that Syria is a forbidden space for your military superiority! trick with the different colors of the rainbow will not help you.

August 26th, 2014, 5:43 am

 

Syrialover said:

Dear HABIB #66,

I don’t know what you haven’t been reading, but it’s good you’ve asked to know more. Those statements you give are inaccurate fragments, not matching up with bigger reality.

1. ISIS funding
There are claims that ISIS-associated groups have benefited from some donations from private individuals in the Gulf (including remnants of the late Saddam Hussein’s Baathist gang), but this is not from governments, which have been making it harder for those donors.

But ISIS’s major funding comes from their Mafia type activities. Hundreds of $millions have come from kidnap ransom payments, around a $billion from looting banks in Iraq, and they have a steady income from selling Syrian oil back to the Assad regime and windfalls from dealing in valuable antiquities looted from Syrian sites and museums. Plus they have “taxes” extorted from people in areas they have invaded, and the benefit of seized businesses, warehouses, vehicles and buildings wherever they take over by force and terror.

Because ISIS are the same breed as their fellow holy warriors and caliphate fantasists in places like Mali, Libya, Nigeria & Somalia (who are now flocking to the Middle East to join in the fun) we can expect to see drugs and gun running also join kidnapping as a key income source for them in Syria and Iraq.

2. TURKEY
There is whining from the Syrian regime about the openness of the Turkish border, but Turkey’s policy has been part of its commendable support for genuine anti-Assad forces, aid agencies, Syrian refugees and relocated Syrian businesses before the ISIS surge. It now looks like Turkey is about to throw serious resources into ISIS control to protect itself, which will probably include shutting its Syrian borders – causing further immense problems and suffering for innocent Syrians. Again, another gift to Assad thanks to ISIS.

3. ISIS leadership
One so-called ISIS “leader” is alleged to have been in US custody in Iraq, but the records show he was then a minor punk and released as far back as 2004. He and his buddies then roamed around doing as they pleased for years in jurisdictions run by Maliki and his fellow Iranian employee Assad.

It’s also well documented that Assad freed a lot of extremists early in the Syrian conflict and didn’t seem to care where they went.

Please say if you would like links for sources above – though the information is widely available. You already have Hassan Hassan’s articles.

August 26th, 2014, 7:46 am

 

Syrialover said:

HAMOUDEH, thanks for the link to that valuable report in #77.

It’s inspiring and reassuring to read the truth spelt out – and said by those who know it better than anyone.

What a powerful, clean antidote to all the ill-informed analysis and wild-eyed reporting about ISIS being “successful”.

August 26th, 2014, 8:11 am

 

SANDRO LOEWE said:

ALAN,

You must be very proud of Assad II.

Many will finally realize how Assad is not just serving Iran and Rusia but also US and Israel interests. Assad II of Syria has opened the dooor to the US army to bomb syrians on syrian soil.

Instead of defending the palestinians in Palestine, instead of “liberating” the Golan Heights, King Assad II of Syria is asking the US to bomb north of Syria.

Assad II will be a sad figure in history books to come.

August 26th, 2014, 8:55 am

 

ALAN said:

http://youtu.be/HB1JnTl3uPM?t=1s
no need to make jokes
Voronezh radar detects 500 objects size as a soccer ball from a distance up to 6000 kilometers
Missiles flying in the direction of Syria, experienced missile defense system and nerves in many countries
http://youtu.be/63cBSW3GX-M?t=1s

August 26th, 2014, 8:56 am

 

ALAN said:

Sandro
I’m not interested in hearing about obsolete old western demonisation of opponents. you’ve ever heard about demonisation of George W. Bush II? Tony Blair? or others?
maybe you should pay attention to the stupidity of the head of the United States? or hypocrisy and meanness of some European leaders? as well as the venality and treachery of some pro-Western Arab leaders?

August 26th, 2014, 9:25 am

 

Ghufran said:

We predicted this a year ago, now it is a fact;
Washington (CNN) – U.S. President Barack Obama has authorized reconnaissance flights over Syria as ISIS militants continue to gain ground in the war-ravaged nation, a U.S. official told CNN.

August 26th, 2014, 9:29 am

 

SANDRO LOEWE said:

ALAN,

Please no more cheap russian propaganda. Russia has burnt all the vessels they had built from the fall of the Berlin Wall to the date as masters of counter-propaganda against the “Empire”. Now after Syria and Ucrania Russia politics (if not called mafia) has been fully unveiled. The fall is a question of time. Some are getting nervous in Mockba.

August 26th, 2014, 12:36 pm

 

ALAN said:

Syria will not operate in secret and will not play under the table. Who wants to enter, he must enter through the door, and do not need to search for windows.

Thus Obama’s policy is at war with itself.

http://news.antiwar.com/2014/08/25/assad-no-us-airstrikes-without-syrian-coordination/
The problem in Syria is dramatically bigger, as the US expansion of the war into Syria is going to inevitably require a reckoning with the Assad government, and even though rapprochement would give the US everything it wants, including an Iraq-style pretext to intervene in aid of the existing government, the embarrassment that would come from changing their official tone on Syria means they’re going to need to find another excuse.

In the meantime, the US will continue to secretly send targeting intelligence to the Assad government to aid it in the ISIS war, and continue to do everything in making itself an Assad ally, short of publicly admitting it.

August 26th, 2014, 1:31 pm

 

Uzair8 said:

There is no way the west will do a massive u-turn and ally with Assad. They will have to buy into his narrative for which there is no proof, as Bowen states.

BBC’s Jeremy Bowen was interviewed by Shelagh Fogarty this afternoon on BBC Radio 5.

Listen from 1:20:45 minutes till 1:33:45

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b04f897h

August 26th, 2014, 2:22 pm

 

ALAN said:

the EU have a $110-billion trade surplus with Russia, Europeans would have to be out of their minds to disturb such a beneficial economic policy when they are five years into trying to salvage their recession economies. But enter stage left the Americans, who were quite insulated from Russian counter-sanctions, but didn’t seem to mind putting the European livelihoods on the line.
some think-tank thugs in Washington decided that peace, through trade and cooperation against terrorism,was now a “security risk”. This sounds hard to believe because it is so counter-intuitive, but stick with me.

Sandro! Get ready to spend the winter there.

August 26th, 2014, 3:03 pm

 

Syrialover said:

SANDRO LOEWE,

As an ALAN watcher, you must have noticed the variety of people posting under that one name.

Example – the fluent and natural English in #79, #80 and #81 etc. Compare it with the clumsy English in #31, and the flow of broken and indecipherable English “ALAN” frequently produces through an online translator in previous threads.

Why don’t they all post as separate contributors instead of from the one desk?

To try to fool us that it’s not an agency with a team of people working in shifts?

August 26th, 2014, 3:41 pm

 

Syrialover said:

GHUFRAN,#77, stop reinventing the plot.

Exactly who predicted a year ago and where that the Americans would be sending reconnaissance aircraft into Syria?

My clear recollection is that everyone then believed and declared the opposite. Some in frustration and disappointment at US inaction, others smug because they assumed Obama would keep ducking and dodging problems in Syria and remain no threat.

So please, tell us who is this “we” you refer to?

August 26th, 2014, 4:03 pm

 

Syrialover said:

ALAN #81 that story is what Putin’s supporters say to comfort themselves.

We know Russia’s economy is smaller than the UK’s. And Russian growth under Putin had been sliding backwards even before this latest economic and supply crisis he created for the people of Russia.

August 26th, 2014, 4:11 pm

 

ALAN said:

84. SYRIALOVER
Are you trying to take advantage of the information, or you want to increase bla bla?
your country became a pariah state and hated even by its allies.
***
The US has begun surveillance flights over Syria after President Barack Obama gave his approval, US officials said, in a move that could pave the way for air strikes against Islamic State militant targets there.
However, the United States said on Tuesday it does not intend to coordinate with the government of President Bashar al-Assad on targeting Islamic State militants on Syrian territory.
“There are no plans to coordinate with the Assad regime as we consider this terror threat,” White House spokesman Josh Earnest said, after Syrian officials demanded Washington ask permission for any action.
While the White House says Obama has not approved military action inside Syria, additional intelligence on the militants would likely be necessary before he could take that step. Pentagon officials have been drafting potential options for the president, including air strikes.
One official said the administration has a need for reliable intelligence from Syria and called the surveillance flights an important avenue for obtaining data…………….

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/syria/11056985/US-drones-begin-surveillance-flights-over-Syria.html

August 26th, 2014, 5:27 pm

 

Syrialover said:

ALAN, in #84 I was referring to your self-comforting statement that the Europeans will be reluctant to support the Americans in strikes against terrorism and standing up to Putin (#81).

On the subject you suddenly switched to in #85, the refusal of the west to team up with Assad against ISIS, let’s say the Assad regime’s hopes there showcases again its pathetic stupidity in assuming the west is as stupid as they themselves are.

Tweeters have been putting it well. For example:

– expecting Assad to help fight ISIS would be like inviting McDonald’s to help fight obesity

– joining with Assad against ISIS would be like having the arsonist join the firefighters

Mocking Bashar Assad is so easy, he provides new material every day.

August 26th, 2014, 6:14 pm

 

Juergen said:

Five important questions we can not answer about the IS and their caliphate, by Der Spiegel journalist Yassin Musharbash:

1 How important is the role of Al-Baghdadis really?
2 Is there a plan for the expansion of the caliphate?
3 Will the IS also attack the West?
4 What are the connections between IS and Al-Qaeda?
5 How stable are their constituencies?

He raises these questions and trys to answer them, a very good read and analysis.

http://abususu.blogspot.de/2014/08/5-things-we-dont-know-about-caliphate.html

August 26th, 2014, 6:27 pm

 

Juergen said:

Ding dong the witch is back… and she is hardly hidding the fact she loves being asked to come back out of the bunker…

http://edition.cnn.com/video/?/video/world/2014/08/18/wrn-isis-syria-bouthaina-shaaban-intv.cnn&video_referrer=

August 26th, 2014, 6:40 pm

 

Amir in Tel Aviv said:

Annie,

What in your educated opinion is the explanation for the unprecedented quite that Israel enjoys on the border with Lebanon. 8 years and one month exactly, from July of 2006.
Why is Hizbullah quite for 8 years?

August 26th, 2014, 7:14 pm

 

Ghufran said:

The Syrian soldier who inspired thousands when he refused to salute Isis and was executed in Raqqa is yahia Adnan shugri from Slaibeh, Latakia. He came from a large Sunni family in Latakia’s oldest quarter. Yahia instead of saluting the terrorists said:
With god’s help we will crush it ( Isis)
ًو الله لنمحيها
البطل شغري من الصليبه اختار الشهادة بدلا من الخيانه
ع راسي حارتك
صرمايتك اشرف من كل الكلاب المحليين و المستوردين الموالين و المعارضين

August 26th, 2014, 9:54 pm

 

ghufran said:

Washington post dared to ask the question:
“Was Putin right about Syria?”
The article, which is a must read for all, leaves no doubt about whether the West was wrong in its approach to Syria and why the rebels should not have been trusted.
Israel is also learning that Putin, who according to many Jews has been good for Israel, was right when he advised Israel not to launch a war on Gaza, Israel has now accepted a cease fire which is widely seen as a political defeat for BB and his bloody partners in the Israeli government (go back to what I said when Israel started its bombardment of Gaza).
Putin with all of his shortcomings showed a much better understanding of the Middle East, and his judgment on Iran, Syria and the region makes Western leaders look like angry kids who are too stubborn to admit their mistakes and too inexperienced to find a way out !!

August 27th, 2014, 12:01 am

 

ghufran said:

Peter Beinart in the Atlantic educates readers about the myth of “moderate rebels”, my favorite part is his last 2 lines:

The problem is that the Free Syrian Army isn’t much of an army and may not be all that moderate. “The FSA was always more fiction than reality,” wrote George Washington University’s Marc Lynch recently, “with a structure on paper masking the reality of highly localized and fragmented fighting groups on the ground.” Last year, Syria expert Aron Lund listed nine different rebel groups that the media sometimes identifies with the Free Syrian Army. “What do all of these groups have in common?” he asks. “None of them have any boots on the ground.”
The theory behind supporting Syria’s non-jihadist rebels has long been that an infusion of U.S. aid could strengthen and unify them. But it’s not even clear that the rebels the U.S. would empower are actually non-jihadist. Citing research by the University of Virginia’s Jonah Schulhofer-Wohl, Lynch argues that the moderate/jihadist dichotomy that governs much of the American discourse about opposition fighters in Syria doesn’t hold on the ground, where various armed groups have engaged in “rapidly shifting alliances.” As Abu Yusaf, an ISIS commander, recently told journalists with The Washington Post, “Many of the FSA people who the West has trained are actually joining us.”

Bombing ISIS fighters from the air and arming moderate rebels to attack them from the ground may sound attractive. But not if we can’t really tell them apart.

August 27th, 2014, 12:25 am

 

SANDRO LOEWE said:

ALAN,

In the long term Russian, Iran and Assad Mafia are finished. They can stand for a time, for 1, 5 or 10 years but at the end you will collapse like the Soviet Union did because you lack legitimacy and you lack your own people support.

August 27th, 2014, 2:50 am

 

ALAN said:

Sandro
Have you ever think what size of American corruption in the performance of the Iraqi contracts? Where are the billions of Iraq?
and what size of of UN corruption in the Iraqi humanitarian contracts? all your details are closely related to oil and gas western interests .
The Iraqi’s oil calls the instinct of the American monster.

August 27th, 2014, 7:19 am

 

ALAN said:

63. AKBAR PALACE
Gilad Atzmon:
Gazans are dancing in the street while Israelis are coming to realise the terminal situation they imposed upon themselves. Who won the war?
https://twitter.com/GiladAtzmon/status/504602613451882496
and:
Power of the deterrence, it really works. Israelis refuse to return to their settlements around Gaza?

August 27th, 2014, 9:01 am

 

Syrialover said:

JUERGEN #87 I disagree with that exercise. It is not realistic or worthwhile to waste time and energy analysing ISIS like that.

I repeat, the only purpose of ISIS is to make their dic*s feel bigger (to quote Racan Alhoch after experiencing them)

That Der Spiegel journalist urgently needs to get real and read what is posted in #70 by Hamoudeh, “Fatwa Against ISIS by the Syrian Islamic Council”
http://freehalab.wordpress.com/2014/08/23/fatwa-against-isis-by-the-syrian-islamic-council/

Those guys know the reality, not the social media games that Der Speigal guy is excited by.

He needs to realise that ISIS members are dumb thrill seekers, not holy warriors (see article linked below*). Just an irrational and unstable killer cult, with no ability to plan, create or provide anything of substance.

Every ISIS member inside Syria who comes from elsewhere – including Iraq – has no future but displacement, imprisonment or death. They have lost the right to participate in any society anywhere.

And yes, ISIS-admiring fools and fantasists will attack the west if governments there don’t start seriously challenging and kicking ass inside the communities in their countries that are producing them.

The frequently feeble response, defensiveness and sulking of those communities and their representatives is starting to wear thin. If the President of Indonesia and the religious head of Saudi Arabia can denounce ISIS as an embarrassment and enemy no 1 of all Muslims why can’t Muslims in the west stand up and loudly say the same? (see #28.)

*http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/technology/jamiebartlett/100014154/most-british-jihadis-are-dumb-thrill-seekers-not-holy-warriors-dont-glorify-them-with-prevent

August 27th, 2014, 9:55 am

 

Syrialover said:

JUERGEN #88

Ah Bouthaina Shaaban, the ugliest woman in the world, both inside and out. A member of the Assad freak show, made freakier by bad wigs and plastic surgery.

We wish she would copy ISIS members and wear a mask. But her witchlike croaking voice still badly offends our ears.

The talent pool of the Assad regime contains nothing but dying weeds and decaying sludge.

The buzz on twitter is that Bashar Assad is trying to woo so-called defector Manaf Tlass back.

How desperate is that!

August 27th, 2014, 10:12 am

 

Syrialover said:

SANDRO LOEWE #93

And above all, the “leaders” of those places have no ability to run a successful economy with effective institutions and a functional, stable political system.

They can only do waste, corruption, violence, backwardness and instability.

It’s a tragedy for all humans with the rotten luck to live in those countries.

August 27th, 2014, 10:26 am

 

Syrialover said:

GHUFRAN #92, I hate to say this, but the more I read of your posts I suspect the less you really follow and comprehend what’s going on in Syria.

Or maybe you choose to be like that, selectively quoting third-hand stuff by armchair westerners.

Instead maybe read and quote a few things by Syrians such as Hassan Hassan or Maysaloon just for a change.

August 27th, 2014, 10:44 am

 

Uzair8 said:

Saw this one earlier today. Channel 4’s Jon Snow takes Dr Buthaina to task.

http://www.intifada-palestine.com/2014/08/dr-bouthaina-shaaban-us-syria-now-side/

Also seems a friend of ours has left a comment at the bottom of the page.

August 27th, 2014, 4:53 pm

 

ALAN said:

Is it possible for Gen. Dempsey to explain this? Is resignation is honor in this case?

the USA supported and still support the FSA, and CIA trained the ISIS terrorists at secret bases in Jordan. but now that the tide is turning, we see that they had everything planned
http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=0c4_1408141883
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BwDjvTpIgAIaiZ2.jpg:large
http://youtu.be/piN_MNSis1E?t=1s

August 27th, 2014, 4:58 pm

 

Besta said:

As a armchair American observer of this web site and the comments section, I want to thank you,Syrialover, for the great article by Hassan Hassan.
I am trying to understand the current situation in Syria because our President is weighing options for a US response to ISIS in Syria.

Today the news is of a local, Mr. McCain, who was killed in a fight as member of one of the insurgent groups. He had $800. cash and a US passport on him according to news report. This guy was a high school drop out, moved around the US, no visible means of a job or livelihood, converted to Islam 10 years ago, and ended up dead in Syria.

This incident only feeds the fear, and ongoing outrage over Mr. Foley’s death. The neocons are calling for strong measures, the ordinary citizens are weary of funding more wars, and our Congress, facing elections in November ,are trying to duck any hard votes either way.

Now I will go back to more reading of these posts.

August 27th, 2014, 8:12 pm

 

Hopeful said:

#95 Alan

I really do not get it. 2200 people dead, 20,000 home destroyed, 500,000 people displaced, infrastructure destroyed, billions wasted, tunnels gone, and we are back to the same place we were at the end of the 8-days war in 2012. And you call this “victory”?

Saddam celebrated “victory” at the end of first gulf war. Hizbullah celebrated “victory” at the end of 2006 war. Assad is celebrating “victory” after three years of deaths and destruction. And now Hamas is celebrating “victory”….

When do we grow up and stop being fooled by our failed rhetoric, empty passion and incompetent leadership? The world is happy seeing us “celebrate” our continuous destruction and economic stagnation while they move ahead building better future for their citizens and children. When do we stop “sacrificing” our citizens’ lives, children’s future, money and properties so that our inept and corrupt leaders can celebrate the “victory” of their staying in power?

Grow up!

August 28th, 2014, 4:03 am

 

ALAN said:

102. HOPEFUL
Do you think that living in a big prison, was necessary to keep all endure? You had to live in the Gaza Strip last 6 years, with the common people, to feel humiliation and suffering in order to understand this is a victory or not. Israel completely destroyed not only 20,000 homes, but the credibility of the international community to itself. Did you know that the Israelies returned to their homes, located closely to the Gaza Strip , not under guarantee of its government ? but under guarantee promises Palestinian leaders?
Pay attention that the G. Atzmon appreciated this win! Please divert him your comments.https://twitter.com/GiladAtzmon/status/504602613451882496

August 28th, 2014, 5:32 am

 

ALAN said:

If the US can invade Syria thousands of miles from its own shores, surely Russia can intervene in Ukraine. As America refers to “international norms” determining what is and isn’t acceptable, the “norm” it has established with its creeping intervention in Syria justifies all that it has denounced Russia for allegedly doing in neighboring Ukrain
http://landdestroyer.blogspot.com/2014/08/isis-region-wide-genocide-portended-in.html

http://investmentwatchblog.com/bombs-away-over-syria-washington-has-gone-stark-raving-mad/

http://bollyn.com/#article_14849

August 28th, 2014, 6:16 am

 

Hopeful said:

#103 Alan

I see, so it is a victory because the Israeli civilians who were forced to leave their homes can now return to their homes because Hamas promises not to fire rockets at them anymore?

I long for the day when our intellectuals can freely criticize their governments and leaders, as Mr. Atzmon is doing.

Clearly Israel did not win. But neither did the Palestinian people. The winners are the right-wing radicals on both sides. The losers are the people.

August 28th, 2014, 7:30 am

 

sami said:

Assadists see victory in defeat. They see victory in carnage and claim resistance erst the while barrel bombimg civilians and heroism in torturing civilians.

August 28th, 2014, 10:26 am

 

ALAN said:

106- SAMI – The failure seen in your disappointment.

40 Holocaust survivors condemn ‘massacre’ of Palestinians, call for BDS against Israel
http://mondoweiss.net/2014/08/holocaust-survivors-palestinians.html

August 28th, 2014, 2:27 pm

 

sami said:

Good for them. More Jews should stand up against israeli terror.

That however does not nullify Assadiats hypocrisy, in fact it highlights it further.

August 28th, 2014, 3:23 pm

 

sami said:

I should add more Arabs shoukd stand up against terror as well. Not just Islamists terror but socalled secular terror as well.

August 28th, 2014, 3:30 pm

 
 

annie said:

Maysaloon :

I felt a sense of sorrow seeing the Syrian regime soldiers being herded into the desert by ISIS. They were stripped of their uniforms and weapons. In the video they looked naked and weak. It wasn’t without a sense of irony that I recalled similar videos of Syrian civilians being herded off a bus, naked, hands tied and blindfolded as they were rushed off to whatever horrors lay in store for them. But I can’t bring myself to mock. I can’t look at a human being getting degraded in that way and not feeling something. Isn’t that why this whole affair kicked off? Wasn’t our outrage and horror at the way protesters were being treated the reason why we all broke the fear barrier and spoke out?

full article here : http://www.maysaloon.org/2014/08/life-after-theory.html

August 29th, 2014, 12:12 am

 

ALAN said:

LIVE: Putin’s Q&A with Russian youth

August 29th, 2014, 6:40 am

 

ALAN said:

ISIS planning a biological/chemical attack !!! The longer ISIS exists, the longer they have to prepare !!!
http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2014/08/28/found_the_islamic_state_terror_laptop_of_doom_bubonic_plague_weapons_of_mass_destruction_exclusive

August 29th, 2014, 6:49 am

 

ALAN said:

For the children of Gaza, some wounds may never heal.

http://youtu.be/oSeygAw6XBY?t=1s

August 29th, 2014, 8:07 am

 

Syrialover said:

The 250 young Syrian soldiers marched into the desert and murdered by lunatic foreigners are victims to be mourned along with every other Syrian who has died at the hands of Assad.

They were conscripts, captives of the Assad regime, serving Iran.

Not properly led, equipped or protected, they were cannon fodder in the Assad killing machine.

My heart breaks for their families.

I hope their stories will be told and remembered and their names added to the war crimes indictments against the filthy Assad regime “leaders” who are in reality junior employees of Iran.

August 29th, 2014, 10:37 am

 

Syrialover said:

It’s been suggested that leaving those Syrian soldiers to ISIS serves the Assad regime’s propaganda strategy of ramping up ISIS atrocities to support the narrative that the regime is a victim of ISIS deserving support from the west.

Iranian advisers and commanders in Syria are known to view Syrian conscript units as weak and poor performers compared with Iranian forces and Shia militia on the ground there.

August 29th, 2014, 11:09 am

 

Syrialover said:

ANNIE thank you for the Maysaloon piece (#111).

Here’s something he wrote for everyone who knows and loves Damascus.

A gentle bittersweet reminder of the Syria that is home in the hearts of Syrians.

A place, people and society the Assad regime saw as dispensable its crazed orgy of destruction.

“I remember…”
http://www.maysaloon.org/2014/07/i-remember.html

August 29th, 2014, 11:36 am

 

Syrialover said:

Team ALAN #112

It seems you guys earn bonus points for posting propaganda on behalf of that little weasel-headed tyrant and troublemaker Putin.

It’s a boring waste of space and has no place here. Or anywhere.

August 29th, 2014, 11:51 am

 

ALAN said:

America has lost face and does not want to show the world they are sick. They have been lording over other countries for so long, and they will never let it go after they eat this loss.
http://linkis.com/mycatbirdseat.com/20/T90sq
http://youtu.be/ib8Vp9-_SSY?t=1s

August 29th, 2014, 12:21 pm

 
 

ALAN said:

Syrian army captured the commander Army of Islam Zahran Aloush
http://www.tasnimnews.com/arabic/Home/Single/477461

August 29th, 2014, 2:22 pm

 

ALAN said:

there are hundreds of US troops or CIA agents with the ISIL in Iraq and Syria to help the terrorist group.
Well, Mr. Tamimi. well if they will also be monitored.
300 Americans, CIA Agents Fighting Within ISIL Ranks in Syria and Iraq: US Political Commentator
http://www.globalresearch.ca/300-americans-cia-agents-fighting-within-isil-ranks-in-syria-and-iraq-us-political-commentator/5398239

August 29th, 2014, 3:43 pm

 

Uzair8 said:

Prof Lands on BBC Radio 5 last night (in the early hours).

Listen from 1:35:30 minutes

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b04f89d3

August 29th, 2014, 4:38 pm

 

Uzair8 said:

It seems Assad can’t do no wrong in the eyes of his supporters. He’s above questioning.

A while ago I asked why he didn’t evacuate isolated bases in the north and that he would be responible for their inevitable fate.

Now we have Tabqa. Why did he not evacuate sooner?

Surely he has to evacuate the remaining bases now in Isis’ sight in Deir el Zour and Kweiris?

August 29th, 2014, 4:45 pm

 

Uzair8 said:

Urban Dictionary:

Assadism

In the action of supporting the Syrian Al-Assad regime blindly and whit-out rationality, becoming a faithfull praiser of the Al-Assad regime to a point in wich it becomes a religion.

[…]

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Assadism

August 29th, 2014, 4:49 pm

 

Hopeful said:

#120 Hamoudeh

Excellent analysis and facts-reporting. Thanks for forwarding.

August 30th, 2014, 12:49 am

 

annie said:

http://electronicintifada.net/blogs/asa-winstanley/israel-tech-site-paying-interns-covertly-plant-stories-social-media

“Israel tech site paying “interns” to covertly plant stories in social media
The online publication Israel21c is hiring students as “digital ambassadors” to plant its stories in online discussion forums and social media without revealing that they work for the publication.

Israel21c is part of propaganda efforts aimed to improve Israel’s image and distract from Israel’s occupation, abuse and massacres of Palestinians.”

Israel focuses on its image without caring about its actions. Justice for Palestinians would fare far better than empty hasbara. You can’t fool all of the people all of the time

August 30th, 2014, 9:31 am

 

ALAN said:

Other words the Israeli presence in northern Iraq is not surprising.
Seymour Hersh, an American journalist (“The New Yorker”), which published the facts of abuse of Iraqi prisoners in the prison “Abu Ghraib”, next week will publish a new investigative journalism. From the point of view of Hersh, Israel uses its employees in the Kurdish areas in northern Iraq. In an interview with CNN, he said that hundreds of agents “Mossad” concentrated there now and their main purpose is to observe what is happening in Syria. This person is trustworthy, and I’m not in any way trying to refute his words, the more information that is quite plausible.
Is no longer a secret of the fact that Israel has always maintained close ties with the Kurds in northern Iraq. At one time there even sent army officers, whose task was to exercise and military training Kurdish fighters who fought with the army of Saddam Hussein. The late Mustafa Barzani, leader of the Kurds in Iraq, visited Israel together with the soldiers and officers of the Kurdish resistance.
I have no doubt that the Americans aware of the facts set forth herein. Moreover, it is possible, even, that all this is done in consultation with the administration of the United States. Area of Iraq where Kurds live, borders with Syria and is very convenient for observation. In addition, the Iraqi Kurds have close connection with their Syrian tribe, which, of course, can help agents “Mossad” establish contact with them.
But above all, Israel has every reason to seek to the presence there: the Kurdish areas of Iraq’s border with Syria, not only, but also with Iran. This country with rapidly growing nuclear industry poses a threat to the existence of Israel. The United States engaged in the problems in Iraq, and it is natural that they still have no time to attend to another and the nuclear threat from Iran, as might be desired to Israel. Does not pay enough attention to this, and Europe, as well as the International Commission on Nuclear Arms Control. Hence, the Israelis have no choice but to rely on themselves.
Israel for a moment can not stop watching over Iranian arms, every day the danger becomes more real. In June 1981, Israel bombed from the air the Iraqi nuclear reactor. The operation was carried out by the government’s decision Begin. Now we are talking about a nuclear reactor – or several – not in Iraq, and in Iran. The threat posed by this country, makes Israel to mobilize all its forces to act with maximum ingenuity. Therefore, we should not be surprised that the “Mossad” works in all directions and uses all kinds of workarounds.

What we are told, is no secret. Iranians are well aware that the external Israeli intelligence monitoring their activities. And therefore take all possible precautions. The main nuclear reactor in Iran is located in Bouchard, but the nuclear industry enterprises scattered across the country. So that the activities in northern Iraq may assist in collecting information. And this, of course, only one of the ways taken by the Israelis on board.
Above all, Israel at all interested in maintaining its presence in northern Iraq, as the situation there may change at any time. In the United States could come to power another president, John Kerry. If it withdraws its troops from Iraq, the State may become a center of Islamic fundamentalism and will allow the strong influence of the Iranian Shiites. All the hatred and terror might turn against Israel. Kurds in northern Iraq, in cooperation with Israel can fight back in a similar situation.
In other words, the Israeli presence in northern Iraq is not surprising.
Source:Central Jewish Resource
http://www.sem40.ru/index.php?newsid=201881
google translation

August 30th, 2014, 10:40 am

 

Besta said:

To Alan #124
Chasing the conspiracy theories of the “nutty Canadian professor” and the web site you linked adds nothing to the discussion.

Today , the Aussies have given the green light to send military supplies, use of transport and fighter planes to support the Kurdish fighters against ISIS in Northern Iraq.

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/abbott-govt-plans-to-fly-arms-to-iraq-for-fight-against-is-report/story-fn59niix-1227042617907

My question is does IS know how to use the tank that they show in their propaganda videos? Will they spread themselves too thin in the coming weeks in both Iraq and Syria to defend the territory they hold?

August 30th, 2014, 12:30 pm

 

ALAN said:

After lots of bluster about striking ISIS on Syria, President Obama threw cold water on the idea, disappointing those who wanted him to broaden the war.

After a week of talk of eliminating the “cancer” of ISIS, President Obama said Thursday that he was not planning to significantly expand the war against the Islamic extremist movement anytime soon.

His remarks came after days of heated debate inside the top levels of his own national security bureaucracy about how, where, and whether to strike ISIS in Syria. But those deliberations – which included a bleak intelligence assessment of America’s potential allies in Syria — failed to produce a consensus battle plan. And so Obama, who has long been reluctant to enter into the Syrian conflict,told reporters Thursday that “we don’t have a strategy yet” for confronting ISIS on a regional level.

US-NATO multi-warfare naval exercises are to be conducted off the Florida coastline under operation FLEETEX, with the participation of the US, Canada, Germany and Turkey.

The underlying premise of these war games is “global warfare”. All four NATO member states are adjacent to strategic sea corridors, which are contiguous to Russian maritime areas, respectively the Bering Sea and straits (US), the Arctic Ocean (Canada), the North Sea (Germany) and the Black Sea (Turkey).

August 30th, 2014, 5:34 pm

 

Syrialover said:

HAMOUDEH, those posts you linked above should be compulsory reading for everyone offering an opinion on ISIS. This goes for most journalists, analysts, academics, community figures, Muslim clerics – the lot.

So much of what is said is confused, ill-informed, invented, irrelevant and simply stupid.

Here are the links again – REAL information and insights from Syrians actually witnessing the character and composition of ISIS.

http://freehalab.wordpress.com/2014/08/23/fatwa-against-isis-by-the-syrian-islamic-council/

http://freehalab.wordpress.com/2014/08/29/the-rise-of-isis-in-aleppo/

August 31st, 2014, 4:49 pm

 

Alan said:

SL
Keep sleeping another day.

August 31st, 2014, 5:07 pm

 

Syrialover said:

Dear HOPEFUL and SAMI,

Your reasoned comments and questions are among the increasingly rare things that keep me coming back to SyriaComment.

In the anguished quest to figure out “why?” I don’t know whether you saw the excellent piece below.

It’s a clear-eyed look at what things in the Middle East made this crisis inevitable, and what has to change.

“The sickness that gave birth to ISIS” – http://www.al-bab.com/blog/2014/august/sickness-that-gave-birth-to-isis.htm#sthash.NDno7wre.ktqO46Yh.dpbs

August 31st, 2014, 5:18 pm

 

Syrialover said:

“Team ALAN”, I’m trying to guess how many of you are on duty today.

So many pre-processed, propagandist, meaning-free posts, despite the collective effort.

August 31st, 2014, 5:29 pm

 
 

Syrialover said:

Relief. Here’s another sane piece on ISIS by someone who isn’t entranced by its social media stunts, awed by its “success” and meekly playing along with ISIS’s nasty childish delusions.

The writer states the over-obvious fact: ISIS is a case of mass psychosis.

EXCERPTS

“We are not engaged in a religious war. This is not a confrontation between Islam and the West.. {and} the activities of these terrorist criminals hacking their way through northern Iraq have nothing to do with the Islamic faith.”

and

“There is nothing coherent or comprehensible at the heart of the homicidal Isil frenzy. It is just what it looks like: psychopathic nihilism … this is not about religion, it is also not about politics, which only comes into play if there is an agreement at the start that life itself is worth having.
There is not even anything particularly Middle Eastern in the Isil mode of operation”

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/iraq/11051890/Isil-the-world-must-tackle-this-mass-psychosis.html

August 31st, 2014, 7:38 pm

 

Ghufran said:

Afi arrested a pro regime blogger for asking about the whereabouts of hundreds of soldiers from Tabqa airbase:
اعتقل فرع المخابرات الجوية في دمشق، ” مسؤول ” واحدة من أبرز الصفحات المؤيدة على فيسبوك.
صفحة ” نسور مطار الطبقة العسكري رجال الأسد: ” الأدمن ” مضر حسان خضور اعتقل من قبل المخابرات الجوية مساء يوم الجمعة الماضية، ولايعرف مصيره حتى الان
وأطلق خضور عبر صفحته مبادرة ” وينن “، في محاولة للضغط على سلطات النظام، للإفصاح عن مصير القتلى.
وحمل المشرفون مسؤولية سلامة خضور للعميد سهيل داوود والعقيد قصي ميهوب.
The regime was instrumental in creating a vacuum that made it very hard for a secular and national opposition to emerge, that has been albaath and Assad strategy since the 1960s,
what allowed this vacuum to grow was the Islamists who were too happy to see their natural political enemies get arrested or tortured by the regime.
Kissinger summarized in his new book his option about why the Arab spring failed, he thinks that the core problem is the failure of middle class to come up with an acceptable alternative to existing Arab regimes. The vacuum made it easier for militant Islamic movements to grow and dominate. Kissinger chose not to address the support Wahhabis received from ksa and the GCC , he just said that ksa strategy until 2003 to befriend takfiri movements was a mistake.kissinger also did not mention how NATO and turkey allowed Islamists to topple or try to topple existing regimes. Kissinger ended his piece by stressing the need to preserve the structure of a state for any revolution in the Arab world to bring a positive change.
Kissinger is 3 years late, everything he said and more was discussed in length here when some of us recognized the danger behind ” starting from scratch” approach that many of you have supported. The new efforts by thawrajiyyehs to explain and apologize are not just too late but too insincere.
كل ثوره و أنتم بخير

August 31st, 2014, 10:05 pm

 

Badr said:

“he thinks that the core problem is the failure of middle class to come up with an acceptable alternative to existing Arab regimes”

It is really simple. Elect accountable politicians for a term in office, in a free and fair election!

September 1st, 2014, 3:30 am

 

Syrialover said:

Here’s the chilling story of personal weakness that betrayed Syrians and destroyed their country.

Hafez Assad kept his allies Iran and Hezbollah at a calculated distance. But this wasn’t the case with his son Bashar, a weak, inexperienced figure who was known to lack confidence in his own leadership abilities.

Bashar fell into the clutches of Hezbollah leader Nasrallah, which his father would never have allowed.

Then gradually, systematically, Iran moved in, expanding its presence in Damascus and building its influence and indispensability with incompetent Bashar. Molding him into a puppet and a pillar of its strategy to gain regional control.

Bashar’s domestic troubles and desperation in 2011 saw him hand Iran the full triumphant sweep of control.

Ironically, Iran’s incursion into Assad’s inner circle makes it capable of causing the collapse of his regime, and there are growing signs they will betray him.

Quote: “Hafez warned his son of this threat before he died, long before the revolution. Iran’s wartime alliance with Bashar was never about religious kinship or keeping him in power. It is about controlling Syria, with or without the Assads.”

Read the inside story from Bassam Barabandi, a diplomat for several decades in the Syrian Foreign Ministry

Article: “A friend of my father: Iran’s manipulation of Bashar Assad”

http://www.atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/menasource/a-friend-of-my-father-iran-s-manipulation-of-bashar-al-assad

September 1st, 2014, 8:06 am

 

syrialover said:

An interesting historical snippet from the article on the Assads and Iran, linked above:

“The Syrian constitution requires the president to be a Muslim. As an Alawite in the 1970s, Hafez al-Assad needed to put to rest any question of his religious legitimacy.

“He saw an opportunity in Musa al-Sadr, an influential Iranian Shia scholar in Lebanon. Assad supported Sadr’s rise, and in return, Sadr declared that all Alawites were brothers in the Shia Muslim faith.

“Sadr later suggested that Assad meet an influential Iranian Shia named Khomeini, then exiled in Iraq. Assad saw strategic benefit in supporting a future ally in the region, and supported Khomeini with intelligence, money, and assistance. Syria was the first Arab state to recognize the post-Shah government in Iran and backed it in conflicts throughout the 1980s, particularly that against Saddam Hussein in Iraq.”

September 1st, 2014, 8:56 am

 

ALAN said:

SL: BLA BLA . better keep sleeping
All of this unprecedented lineup:
United States of America, Israel, Europe (Britain, France and others), Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and some GCC countries, Egypt and Libya, the Arab League, the global financial system, the global western system of terrorism.
All this lineup against That weak president,As you described , could not to change him! Do you want to tell us a lie? Did not Mr. Kerry recognize that Obama’s policy has failed in Syria? Did not Mr. Obama recognize that he lacks a strategy on Syria? just imagine, what face all the aforementioned opponents to Assad would be something to ask? All this noise is not useful. Do not try to hide the truth. You can hide the head of your leadership in the sand.

September 1st, 2014, 9:13 am

 
 

Syrialover said:

Wow ALAN, it really agitates you guys when little Bashar’s Assad’s inadequacy and stupid choices are described by those who know the inside story (the article I linked above).

Your arguments and excuses for him are hilarious.

Weak Bashar Assad, with his undersized head, failed moustache and bad hair dye job was easily manipulated into the role of junior employee of Iran and handing Syria over to them.

The world will watch as he discovers that his foreign masters in Tehran have zero respect, use or loyalty for him personally. They wanted Syria and they got it. Bashar was an easy tool, but seen as an embarrassing liability, tainted failure and damaged goods that Iran will discard and discredit when the time comes.

I will re-post this comment when it happens – and it will.

September 1st, 2014, 4:00 pm

 

ALAN said:

SL
Are you trying to circumvent the truth: all the diverse and enormous efforts for a period of four years by half the globe and billions of dollars spent and all near and far countries worked to overthrow the regime in Syria, and did not succeed! I do not talk about the world of imagination I am talking about reality. You are within a group of losers! Stop banging. please go to sleep oh boy.
Stop talking about the team, I’m not a team, I’m one person

September 1st, 2014, 4:29 pm

 

Syrialover said:

HAMOUDEH #141, We should thank YOU for posting yet another brilliantly researched and thoughtful piece, this time exposing the desperation of the preposterous “McCain-ISIS” theory the Assad camp tried to sell.

September 1st, 2014, 4:46 pm

 

Juergen said:

Kurt Pelda on the kurdish fight against ISIS in the north of Syria

September 2nd, 2014, 2:29 am

 

ALAN said:

Dear Mr. Putin!
It is time to fight actively against terror in Syria with all the power! It’s harvest time and this lawlessness must stop. The Syrians are able to do this mission with the necessary support of Russia.
Mr. Putin! enough to wait please give a command!

September 2nd, 2014, 6:14 am

 

Juergen said:

once a good buddy to the eyedoc, now reincarnated into a women?

http://voxxi.com/2014/08/28/woman-looks-like-hugo-chavez/

September 3rd, 2014, 2:04 am

 

Juergen said:

Regime supporters beware… dont skip the prepared texts…

“Pro-government Syrian activist arrested after rare public dissent
Syrian authorities have arrested a pro-government activist who launched a social media campaign calling on officials to provide information about hundreds of missing soldiers, residents and activists said on Monday.”

http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/09/01/us-syria-crisis-dissent-idUSKBN0GW2GQ20140901

September 3rd, 2014, 2:05 am

 
 
 

Juergen said:

beautiful Lena Chamamyan has a new album, and lives now in France…

September 3rd, 2014, 2:43 am

 

ALAN said:

Washington, by virtue of internal political balance of forces, it would be easier to cooperate with Iraq and Iran, even to connect to such an axis of Damascus, rather than run today military and political cooperation with Moscow.

The problem of dealing with the IS is not in the choice of Russia or the United States politically motivated design of allies, BUT in the effectiveness of any structure that can solve the problem by eliminating a particular call.

However, it is obvious that the degree of the global dimension of the new challenge is that Washington and Moscow can take such a tactical alliance, but for domestic political reasons, for example, were forced to resort to indirect cooperation – through common with the specified «trio» multilateral format.

For any scenario, the course of events around the settlement of international crisis “dossier” US-Iran, US-Russian Federation (in Ukraine and Syria), United States-Syria may also stimulate globally significant for the world dramatic geopolitical changes

September 3rd, 2014, 6:24 am

 

ALAN said:

While for the past 35 years Saudi Arabia has supported all the jihadist movements to the most extremist, Riyadh seems suddenly to have changed policy. Threatened in its very existence by a possible attack from the Islamic Emirate, Saudi Arabia has given the signal for the destruction of the organization. But contrary to appearances, the EIS remains supported by Turkey and Israel who sell their looted oil.
http://www.intifada-palestine.com/2014/09/saudi50879/

September 3rd, 2014, 9:24 am

 

ALAN said:

Both Israel and Saudi Arabia, while seemingly enemies, have been longtime secret allies. They share a number of common enemies, including Iran, Shi’a Islam, pan-Arab nationalism, Hezbollah, and the Muslim Brotherhood. Their intelligence chiefs often meet and conspire in utmost secrecy. The Saudis and Israelis had the motive and the means to cooperate in launching a “false flag” terrorist attack on the United States in order to plunge America into endless conflicts to bolster the positions of Israel and Saudi Arabia.
Wayne Madsen

September 3rd, 2014, 12:08 pm

 

ALAN said:

يويورك: مجلس الأمن يدين بالإجماع خطف جبهة النصرة المراقبين في الجولان السوري المحتل

The whereabouts of 44 UNDOF troops from the Israeli occupied Syrian Golan Heights are unknown, reports a UNDOF spokesman. The UNDOF troops have allegedly been kidnapped by al-Qaeda-linked “rebels”. Israel is running a joint command, intelligence and operations room with the terrorists in the Israeli occupied Syrian Golan. A Palestinian intelligence experts suggests that Israel is directly involved in the kidnapping.

http://nsnbc.me/2014/08/30/whereabouts-44-kidnapped-undof-peacekeepers-golan-unknown-analyst-claims-possible-israeli-involvement/

A Palestinian intelligence expert who is frequently consulting for nsnbc international told nsnbc that the alleged capture of the 44 Fijian UNDOF troops most probably has been coordinated with Israeli military intelligence.

He added that the incident may be used as a pretext for justifying a more direct and intense Israeli involvement in the war on Syria via the Golan, targeting Syrian military positions while claiming to wage a war against “al-Qadea”. Another option, he said, would be that the UNDOF control over the buffer zone and especially over the border crossing has the function to facilitate major weapons shipments or troop transports while the remaining UNDOF troops in the area are pinned down in their base.

September 3rd, 2014, 2:23 pm

 

Juergen said:

Sotloff family spokesman speaks outside family’s Miami home

بجهد واضح تحدى باراك بارفي الصديق والمتحدث باسم عائلة الصحافي الأميركي ستيفن سوتلوف، الذي نحرهه “داعش” في الرقة، تحدى الاربعاء باللغة العربية أبو بكر البغدادي، ودعاه الى مناظرة عن الإسلام. ولم يقف عند هذا الحد بل تلا آية من القرآن بعدما تحدث عن صفات زميله الراحل وعن التضحيات التي قدمها في سبيل ايصال صوت الذين لا صوت لهم.

September 4th, 2014, 3:15 am

 
 

SANDRO LOEWE said:

British Prime Minister Cameron denies any posible agreement with King Assad II the Stupid because the dictator is the one who contributed to let grom the Islamic State.

September 4th, 2014, 12:38 pm

 

ALAN said:

British Prime Minister Cameron is a bedding material for Americans marriage nights.

September 4th, 2014, 2:59 pm

 

Ghufran said:

A cease fire was reached in Darayya despite feverish attempts by Islamists to spoil the deal, this will be a breakthrough if both parties stick to the agreement which includes the release of prisoners and the removal of all heavy weapons. I talked to a friend with close contacts in the area, he believes that the mood is changing across Damascus province and most of its reef ( country side), he added that what delayed the deal and stopped previous agreements was Nusra and Islamists working for Isis ( Isis does not have an official presence in Darayya), what was interesting is the silent approval of the MB, the NC and the FSA (or what is left of it). Locals will be allowed to man security posts and people with proven residence will be given the chance to return after explosives and mines are removed.
Jobar will fall but not until Islamists and foreigners are either defeated or shipped out.

September 4th, 2014, 10:50 pm

 

ALAN said:

مناع يكشف معلومات عن داعش
http://youtu.be/owPpAfhLWjU?t=1s

September 5th, 2014, 5:18 am

 

annie said:

89. AMIR IN TEL AVIV said:

Annie,

Why Hezbollah is quiet ? No idea

September 5th, 2014, 11:28 am

 

ALAN said:

Sotloff’s Israeli ID cards aired on television -He was propagating for invading Syria
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Bwx514EIAAEjPqc.png
Is he in israel at this very moment?

September 5th, 2014, 11:51 am

 

SANDRO LOEWE said:

Breaking News:

Hezb Zbaala has announced that they have begun the liberation of Occupied Palestine.

First step: killing all syrians who stand against Iran and Assad.
Second step: killing all lebanese who stand against the New Iranian Empire.
Last step: sign a peace deal with Israel and keep quiet and ignore how all palestinians are being exterminated.

September 5th, 2014, 2:49 pm

 
 

Uzair8 said:

All this anger amongst Assad’s supporters over the recent loss of northern bases and men..

Cue Assad instructing his advisers to call in that Turkish tv soap/drama director to film the First Lady in the Presidential Palace meeting the families of the recently lost soldiers.

September 6th, 2014, 11:42 am

 

Ghufran said:

محافظة الرقة – المرصد السوري لحقوق الإنسان::
ارتفع إلى 20 عدد المواطنين المدنيين الذين استشهدوا جراء قصف للطيران الحربي على فرن الأندلس بشارع تل أبيض في مدينة الرقة، بينهم 3 أطفال ومواطنة على الأقل و8 مواطنين من عائلة واحدة بينما لقي 9 عناصر من تنظيم ” الدولة الإسلامية” مصرعهم في القصف الذي استهدف الفرن، وعدد الشهداء مرشح للارتفاع بسبب وجود عشرات المصابين بينهم 10 مواطنين حالاتهم حرجة، جراء إصابتهم في القصف ذاته، في حين نفذ الطيران الحربي غارة على منطقة في جنوب مدينة الرقة.
Raqqa is being bombed almost daily.
As predicted here on SC, Raqqa will become another Aleppo , and people who cheered the takeover of the city by Islamists are now dealing with the wrath of both Isis and the SAF
This war should not have started in the first place and the opposition should not have trusted the GCC and Turkey and ally itself with Islamists .
You can not make chicken soup from chicken poop

September 6th, 2014, 12:44 pm

 

Uzair8 said:

Obama visits Stonehenge.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-wiltshire-29083959

If I’m permitted to speculate…

As he’s in the area Obama decides to visit the ancient site, thinking he may not get another chance as the shrine vandal dogs ISIS may get their hands on it when they take over the world. You never know.

He spends 20 minutes of quite contemplation inside the mysterious structure thinking about his next step on the ISIS and Syria situations. He finally comes to a decision. He will go after ISIS in Syria and also against Assad by supporting the Syrian rebels.

Fingers crossed…

September 6th, 2014, 2:13 pm

 

Juergen said:

This young Saudi sheikh brings it to the point: “The difference between us (any Arab government) and ISIS is a difference in the degree of punishment and not the kind of punishment.” But he also warns that anyone can become an extremist, regardless of his race or religion, and that ISIS in this respect stands for universal not Arab barbarism.

September 6th, 2014, 11:11 pm

 

ALAN said:

The Atlantic Alliance’s “Holy War” against the Islamic State (ISIS): NATO’s Role in the Recruitment of Islamic Terrorists
According to Israeli Intelligence News Source

Once again ISIS – As unconventional NATO forces
Must shoot down American planes flying over Syria!

http://www.globalresearch.ca/the-atlantic-alliances-holy-war-against-the-islamic-state-isis-natos-role-in-the-recruitment-of-islamic-terrorists/5399540

September 7th, 2014, 2:49 am

 

ALAN said:

One day ago, he had no strategy. Hmmm…
Obama strategy to beat Islamic State likely to draw U.S. into years of conflict
The U.S.-led international strategy to combat the Islamic State that President Barack Obama sketched out Friday is likely to require years of thorny diplomacy and deeper U.S. military involvement in conflicts that he’s struggled to avoid.
http://www.miamiherald.com/2014/09/05/4330596/obama-strategy-to-beat-islamic.html

September 7th, 2014, 3:31 am

 

SANDRO LOEWE said:

ALAN is nervous because the Assad strategy of letting grow IS and creating an Alliance Assad-Iran-West is not going to work.

The Alliance of free and democratic states will attack IS and will let Assad without a single reason to be usefull to humanity and to survive.

September 7th, 2014, 6:26 am

 

ALAN said:

The United States has been inching its way toward intervention in Syria since hostilities began in 2011. From the beginning the US State Department admitted that terrorist armies were waging war against Damascus, but both the US government, its allies in Europe, and prominent media organizations across the West repeatedly claimed that the conflict was not an invasion by multinational terrorist organizations, but rather a “pro-democracy uprising.” Now, years into the conflict, the US is finally at the threshold of direct military

intervention, announcing that it would begin flights over Syria to gather “intelligence.”

http://journal-neo.org/2014/09/07/as-in-libya-so-in-syria-the-folly-of-interventionism/
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article39603.htm

The United States are Syria’s brutal enemy and the Syrian defenses must bring down their aircraft!

September 7th, 2014, 10:47 am

 

ALAN said:

A few years ago it was regime change. now it is just another brilliant excuse to bomb syria and make it look like it isn’t about bombing syria.. same shit essentially..

Dear Mr Putin !
Syria ask for russian military support in its “war against I.S.” and I think russia should happily send material and advisors, of course strictly for (nonetheless publicly and loudly advertised) fighting against I.S. Please could just announce that you’ll help america by supporting Syria in its fight against the I.S.
the time is runing

September 7th, 2014, 11:47 am

 

SANDRO LOEWE said:

ALAN,

Putin already sent help for Mr. Assad by sending special forces hidding their faces under the IS umbrella, leading the bedouin fighters to massacre villages from other sects.

Syria bombing is not just about IS, it is about Putin too.

September 8th, 2014, 11:06 am

 
 

ALAN said:

SANDRO
/by sending special forces hidding their faces under the IS umbrella/
can you fabricate the evidence?
132. BESTA
The Kurds are not need you! All the masks fall down when it regard to Israel. To follow “the conspiracy theories” From worthwhile for America to force Israel to respect the large number of UN resolutions and enable the Palestinians to establish their state. Answer me please: How many wars that will require the United States during the next five years?
The same question: How many wars that Israel will need during the next five years?

September 8th, 2014, 1:24 pm

 

ALAN said:

Welcome to the Obama Administration. It is a logical Obama’s conclusion!!Is not it better to go playing with monkeys of Africa?

‘Property of US Govt’: Islamic State jihadists armed with US military weapons
http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2014/09/08/property-of-us-govt-islamic-state-jihadists-armed-with-us-military-weapons/

September 8th, 2014, 2:55 pm

 

ghufran said:

قال شيخ الأزهر أحمد الطيب في كلمة ألقاها أثناء استقباله وزير الخارجية السعودي الأمير سعود الفيصل اليوم أن أعضاء “تنظيم الدولة الإسلامية في العراق والشام” (داعش) هم “مجرمون يصدرون صورة شوهاء عن الإسلام”.
والهجوم هو الأعنف الذي يصدر عن شيخ الأزهر، المؤسسة التي تعد تقليدياً من احد المرجعيات العليا للإسلام في العالم، ضد تنظيم “الدولة الإسلامية”.
وأكد الطيب أنه “من المحزن غاية الحزن أن هؤلاء المجرمين استطاعوا أن يصدروا للعالم صورة شوهاء مفزعة عن الإسلام والمسلمين”، متهماً هذا التنظيم وكل المجموعات “الإرهابية” بأنهم “صنائع استعمارية تعمل في خدمة الصهيونية”.
وأضاف: “من المؤلم أن ترتكب هذه الجرائم غير الإنسانية تحت دعاوى الخلافة واستعادة الدولة الإسلامية وباسم الإسلام الذي هو دين الرحمة”.
وشدد على أن “هذه المناظر المرعبة التي تبث باسم الإسلام هدفها تشويه لصورة المسلمين في مرآة الغرب”.
واعتبر أن “هذه الجماعات الأصولية الإرهابية أياً كان مسماها أو اسمها ومن يقف وراءها كل هؤلاء صنائع استعمارية من اجل تنفيذ “خطتها لتدمير المنطقة العربية”.
وأضاف “شاهدنا على ذلك هو هذا التلكؤ الأميركي في التصدي” لهذه التنظيمات مقارنة بالسرعة الكبيرة التي تم بها الاجتياح الأميركي للعراق في العام 2003 وما تلاه من تفكيك للجيش العراقي.
One of the highest religious Sunni Muslim authorities, Imam Al-Azhar, Egypt, directs harsh criticism towards ISIS and the West, he accuses the West of being involved in the creation of ISIS wondering why the West was slow to respond to ISIS heinous crimes while it was too quick to invade Iraq and dissolve the Iraqi army.

September 8th, 2014, 6:41 pm

 
 

Juergen said:

a good read how is it like to live in ISIS controlled Raqqa…

http://eaworldview.com/2014/06/syria-special-life-opposition-islamic-state-iraq-raqqa/

September 9th, 2014, 2:29 am

 

ALAN said:

the basis of the U.N. Charter, Article 2 , paragraph 4, “ “All Members shall refrain in their international relations from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state, or in any other manner inconsistent with the Purposes of the United Nations.”

One wonders how British Prime Minister David Cameron would try to justify his patently criminal statements in front of a war crimes tribunal…
http://uprootedpalestinians.blogspot.com/2014/09/cameron-seems-to-have-as-little.html

September 9th, 2014, 11:34 am

 

ALAN said:

184. JUERGEN
/FSA is coming back, Fashism is coming back, or Khalif Abu Baker coming back/
I would like to suggest that one of the classic definitions of insanity is doing the same thing over and over, in precisely the same way, yet expecting a different outcome.
Your floral dreams are pathetic. Europeans betrayed the best Syria and turned it into a field of Armagidon

September 9th, 2014, 2:37 pm

 

ALAN said:

A campaign that President Obama seems physically very uncomfortable with, for some very fundamental reasons-they’re going to try to turn this anti-ISIS military campaign into a renewed war against the Syrian government. And he has already telegraphed that it will be a long war. Long wars mean very expensive wars. He says it will be a three-year campaign. In short, under the guise of taking the war against ISIS, this air war against ISIS, deep into Syria, the U.S. is going to attempt to become the air force for those so-called moderate Syrian rebels, forces that actually don’t exist, but become an air force for them as the United States and its NATO allies did for the jihadists in Libya three years ago.
http://youtu.be/gtLlSRAoUm0?t=1s

Syria Is Headed for Western Strike, Russia Says
The U.S. and its allies are on a “slippery slope” to military intervention in Syria that will have “extremely dangerous” consequences for the region, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said…
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-08-26/russia-warns-u-s-against-regional-fallout-of-syria-intervention.html

September 9th, 2014, 3:23 pm

 

mjabali said:

Kerry is putting up a coalition against the Islamic State that includes Turkey and Saudi Arabia…isn’t this ironic?

The sad thing is that they may include Qatar and Jordan… what a sad joke

September 9th, 2014, 11:56 pm

 
 

SANDRO LOEWE said:

MJABALI,

You should be very happy that even Saudi Arabia and Turkey are joining the coalition against the medieval carzy IS fighters. But Instead you cry because they are fighting crazy islamists. You feel Saudis and Turkish are on the right way while Assad pretending to be a key Stone in the Middle East architecture is falling to pieces.

Sorry for Assads, past and future, if they have any future.

Hafez Al Assad was indeed a great politician and strategist while his son was a great stupid and traitor to the syrian nation.

September 10th, 2014, 3:31 pm

 

ghufran said:

Ahrar Al-Sham is the largest component in Al-Jabha Al-Islamiyyah which prides itself for being the largest non ISIS anti regime rebel force in Syria. Well, the leadership of Ahrar al-sham, all of it indeed, was wiped out in a single mysterious explosion in Idleb when more than 50 militia chiefs were gathered at a “secret” meeting in a basement in the town of Ram Hamdan.
The operation is clearly an inside job, no one has claimed responsibility but the more I look at it the more I believe it has to be the work of somebody who works for the Syrian intelligence probably AFI. AAS appointed a new leader but I doubt that the militia will be able to recover any time soon.

Kerry now wants an alliance to fight ISIS that only includes the regimes he likes regardless of whether those regimes is the reason why we have an ISIS problem in the first place, he also wants to train “moderate rebels” and please KSA while poking Iran.
In summary, this coalition can only prolong the war in Syria and increase destruction, Russia is right in suspecting that NATO (and Israel) may use ISIS as an excuse to bomb the Syrian army.
If NATO boneheads were serious about ISIS they would have stopped Turkey and KSA in 2012 and expanded an anti ISIS targeted air campaign (has popular support among voters in the US), instead Kerry and his boss are busy bending backward to avoid political heat from the Israeli lobby and struggling to appease the capital of Wahhabi terrorism: KSA, what a shame.

September 10th, 2014, 7:03 pm

 

mjabali said:

Sandro Low

Saudi Arabia is probably the source of extremism in the Middle East. Their educational system is nothing short of that of the Islamic State… Their religious establishment is not that far behind Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi and al-Adnani and Co.

You claim that Saudi Arabia is going to fight the Islamists? How, and when…did they ever do anything substantial to fight the crazy Jihadis coming out of their country: No..

How many Saudi Suicide bomber had blown himself in Iraq for the last ten years?

As for Turkey: it is the state that let the Islamic State grow…they let all of these freaks come into Syria…they opened their borders like there is no tomorrow….now when the Islamic State became the monster it is now: Turkey wants to play clean….

PS: strange how you are trying to chat me up…

September 10th, 2014, 9:10 pm

 
 

ALAN said:

Russia’s behavior can be strongly changed to bombard any state allied to the United States in accordance with the new rules of the game, especially that Saudi Arabia and Israel represent metastasizes evil to the stability of the region!

September 11th, 2014, 1:34 am

 
 
 

ALAN said:

Oops: Republican Accidentally Tells the Truth About His Party’s Strategy to Undermine Obama
http://www.newrepublic.com/article/119370/jack-kingston-wants-attack-obama-isis-no-matter-what-happens

September 11th, 2014, 7:46 am

 

Jasmine said:

The circus is back finally to where it started from,SA is gutted with the failure of regime change in Syria and now after the establishment of an enemy which wasn’t expected in their bad calculation,they are trying to open another fighting front with Assad and fight ISIS at the same time,not a clever strategy at all and politics shouldn’t be ego driven.

The fact that Syria is not included in their consortium,will lead to a certain failure.

This pandemic is invading their land sooner than expected.

September 11th, 2014, 12:53 pm

 

ALAN said:

The American agressive and hysterical behavior against Russia and China once in Syria and the other in Ukraine And near the Chinese border will speed up the the fall of the dollar, and will do a great damage for its allies in Europe. There is no possibility of success for the United States to play in the dirt in the vital areas of Russia and China. The mistakes will be so expensive.

September 11th, 2014, 2:07 pm

 

Syrialover said:

ALAN in #199 keeps spinning irrational fantasies to comfort himself.

Meanwhile sinister new sparks could be gathering on punk Putin’s backside.

The word’s out that Chechnya could be the next targeted opportunity for hordes of disaffected and displaced “holy warriors” as the Middle East gets too hard.

Putin’s diplomatic and military wastage in Ukraine and the badly punctured Russian economy means a violent extremist infestation on his patch now could be devastating.

And what a satisfying playground Chechnya will be for those well-armed, battle hardened terrorists and extremists! Unlike little game-playing Bashar Assad, Putin has built up real enmity through years of attacks on Islamic extremists and their sympathisers.

But who would care? Who’d help him fight them? His Syrian rotting burden Bashar Assad?

September 11th, 2014, 5:32 pm

 

Syrialover said:

The failed dictator Bashar Assad “who looks like his head has been squeezed out of a tube” (to quote the Wall Street Journal) could be about to face the final push off his rotting throne.

The plans for an internationally-supported rally on Syrian soil against ISIS are coinciding with signs of protest, desperation and fatigue by the long-suffering Alawites Assad’s dragged into hell with him and chewed through as cannon fodder.

Bashar Assad’s filthy betrayal and destruction of Syria and suspicious inactivity against ISIS are foremost in the minds of all those he fantasises will now ally with him to fight the “terrariths” as he calls them.

And what could he bring to the table anyway? Shia militias and commanders provided by Iran? They’ve rushed off to fight fires in Iraq.

People are noting the prolonged silence from Hezbollah, which paid a high price in manpower fighting in Syria for their Iranian paymasters.

What’s left of Nasrullah’s boys are now scrambling back home in Lebanon, bracing for a fight against ISIS.

September 11th, 2014, 6:15 pm

 

Syrialover said:

Great tweets from Maysaloon:

# Look closely for those crying Sovereignty! Assad, Moscow and Tehran condemn Obama’s plan for air strikes against Isis http://gu.com/p/4xg2a/tw

# For forty years the Syrian regime treats Syrian sovereignty like a twenty dollar hooker and these people never complained once

https://twitter.com/Maysaloon

My comment: Not only never complained, they took sinister and ruthless advantage, getting what they wanted at a huge discount to the $20

September 11th, 2014, 7:03 pm

 

Ghufran said:

Obama wants to train and arm Syrian rebels using Saudi money. A letter is being sent to key congressmen and senators to ask them to block congress approval of the plan.
Consider adding the following talking points in the letter you send to your congressman:

According to CIA officers testimonies and numerous western accounts from the battle field and video testimonies from previous FSA leaders, there are no moderate rebels in Syria. Furthermore, allying with Saudi Arabia and trusting Turkey with a war against terrorism deify historical proof of both countries financing and helping militant groups which according to the UN have committed war crimes including the forceful expulsion of Christians from a number of towns in Syria. Just today, the so called moderate rebels in one of Damascus suburbs have reached an agreement with Isis declaring that their common enemy is the Nusiari Rafidi  regime, a derogatory term to describe Shia.

September 11th, 2014, 9:24 pm

 

ALAN said:

Obama is pushing the situation to the brink of a regional war! And the break of Syrian army is in fact break of the will of the Russian-Chinese and Iranians . The intensification of the American troops presence in Erbil is an aggressive provocation requires preparation of a regional relentless war.

September 12th, 2014, 5:21 am

 

ALAN said:

Syria is not a failed state as trying to mislead here at 13:08
https://t.co/qvQPcEiBIZ
Syria is now in an ongoing undeclared war and of improper described this description during the conduct of military operations.We cannot give assessment of States failed or not during the course of wars.
The US policy towards Syria was failed as announced by the US desperate officials
The defragmentation is typical for those who are trained and financed by the United States, and not for the Syrian Arab national army. on the other hand it is worth emphasizing the huge number of non Syrians are in battle. The thoughts floundering in the context of the interview.
Looking forward to hear the opinion of a more realistic

September 12th, 2014, 6:05 am

 

Syrialover said:

GHUFRAN we know you hate giving sources and especially never give links, but how about giving us even ONE to back up this lying, silly statement you want people to send to US congress members:

“According to CIA officers testimonies and numerous western accounts from the battle field and video testimonies from previous FSA leaders, there are no moderate rebels in Syria”(#204).

Your advice reads like you are desperate for the rest of the world to 1. despise and dismiss the people of Syria as much as you do and 2. forget and forgive the vicious destruction of Syrians’ lives and their country by a weak coward and criminal who looks like his head has been squeezed from a tube.

It won’t work. You have to do better than that.

September 12th, 2014, 9:49 am

 

Syrialover said:

Best informed and calmest analysis of what the global alliance against ISIS means for the Syrian opposition.

“Confronting the Islamic State” by Hassan Hassan:

http://carnegieendowment.org/sada/2014/09/11/confronting-islamic-state/hoiq

September 12th, 2014, 10:16 am

 

Syrialover said:

ALAN you are not thinking straight. The harder and longer the US and its allies whips the ass of ISIS the less powerful the threat to Punk Putin by jihadists in Chechnya.

As it stands, they say the “holy warriors” are sniffing Putin’s weakness and targeting Chechnya as the next big playing ground.

At which point the world will happily leave them to it.

September 12th, 2014, 10:30 am

 

ALAN said:

Washington’s insistence on repeating search for ” moderate armed militias ” in Syria and the effort of Saudi intelligence to conduct a series of assassinations of leaders of these various militias in order to be a subject for the Wahhabi-American agenda will necessarily provoke those militias to carry out operations to reach Riyadh and Washington. Is not that is the logical next stage of the strategy of hornet’s nest?
Stop doing more crimes. Will spread terrorism in the world like wildfire as a result of your criminal actions in armament, assassination and employment. The Terrorism will come back to you

209. SYRIALOVER : You are hopeless

September 12th, 2014, 1:07 pm

 

ALAN said:

Neocons Revive Syria ‘Regime Change’ Plan
Robert Parry
http://www.commondreams.org/views/2014/09/12/neocons-revive-syria-regime-change-plan
***
Why is Israel Missing from ISIS Fight?
http://henrymakow.com/

September 12th, 2014, 2:19 pm

 

ALAN said:

204. GHUFRAN
Obama’s dilemma with ISIS in Syria is as follows: there is no moderate armed opposition to Assad worth mentioning; the FSA does not exist; it has morphed into small criminal gangs, or was swallowed by one of the jihadist name brands, or was blown out of the Syrian landscape. So the only credible force that can take over the territory ISIS has been decimated by US bombers is SAA. But Obama can’t do that because that would be admitting Putin was right all along and the attempt to overthrow the “dictator” by force, deploying foreign jihadis was a big strategic mistake.

September 12th, 2014, 4:24 pm

 

Ghufran said:

Ted Cruz, Sen-R Texas, was humiliated at a conference in Washington DC when he was forced to leave the stage after suggesting that Christians have to support Israel to be true Christians. The conference was held by IDC a collection of eastern churches who came invited by the White House. Cruz and his fellow NeoCons and Zionist Christians want middle eastern Christians to be Israel’s pimps in the region, something most Christians refuse to do.
Nusra and rebels in Qnaitra on the other hand are openly cooperating with Israel and their spoke person called Israel’s second tv channel to assure Israel that rebels in the south have no intention to attack Israel. This came after Qatar paid $ 20 million to free UN peace keeping soldiers who were held by nusra terrorists. Nusra wants to be removed from the UN black list and become the new face of anti Assad rebel force.
You have to be a fool to deny the fact that the GCC, turkey and Syrian rebels are in bed with Israel because they believe that Israel is no longer the enemy.
يا أمة ضحكت من جهلها الامم

September 12th, 2014, 9:33 pm

 

ghufran said:

Newsweek on KSA army:

Western technicians at Dhahran Air Base like to joke that the only aircraft the Saudis can keep in the air by themselves is a model of a British Tornado on a pedestal at the gates.
Indeed, the entire Saudi military arsenal—including the world’s biggest fleet of American F-15s outside of the U.S. and Japan—couldn’t function without the several hundred mostly American and British technicians who keep the royal family’s tanks, ships, artillery and warplanes in working order. As with everything else in the Saudi economy, from servants to oil field workers, the Saudis just don’t “do” such hands-on work.
The same goes for Saudi ground troops: There are officers, and there are grunts (not all of them Saudis), and nothing in-between. The concept of a corps of sergeants actually running things, is, well, foreign, to the desert kingdom’s rulers, for a variety of tribal and cultural reasons. But as any Western general knows, an army wins (or doesn’t) on the strength of its sergeants, the blue-collar guys down below the colonels, majors and lieutenants who prod the grunts and make sure things get done. And it’s the sergeants who do the training.

September 13th, 2014, 9:08 am

 

omen said:

you don’t appreciate something until it stops working. thank you for maintaining the search feature.

https://www.joshualandis.com/blog/search-comments/

September 13th, 2014, 11:07 am

 

omen said:

213. Ghufran said: Nusra and rebels in Qnaitra on the other hand are openly cooperating with Israel and their spoke person called Israel’s second tv channel to assure Israel that rebels in the south have no intention to attack Israel.

perfect. this serves as a nice counter for critics who disingenuously claim there are no moderates in syria.

an infuriating meme meant to smear all syrians as terrorists.

September 13th, 2014, 11:28 am

 

omen said:

207. Syrialover said: GHUFRAN…silly statement…“According to CIA officers testimonies and numerous western accounts from the battle field and video testimonies from previous FSA leaders, there are no moderate rebels in Syria”(#204).

hahaha ghufran demolished his own propaganda by later complaining about rebels working with israel. ha

the “no moderates” charge is a crude way of discounting all syrians, also meant to dissuade against intervention and acts as a sort of psychic salve meant to give us comfort for ignoring assad wage mass murder (we’re not supposed to care if all the dead are terrorists.)

but this is also a sort of coded complaint against people who refuse to recognize the right of israel to exist. e.g. people against zionism are regarded as “extremist.”

seeing how rebels are cooperating with israel (especially when wounded & needing medical care) that renders them moderates!

by the way, ghufran himself should be offended by the slander. would he accept outsiders asserting he doesn’t exist?

September 13th, 2014, 12:17 pm