Syria Comment » Archives Noah Bonsey on the Syrian Islamic Liberation Front; Nick Heras on how Islamic Militias emulate Hamas and Hizbullah

Noah Bonsey on the Syrian Islamic Liberation Front; Nick Heras on how Islamic Militias emulate Hamas and Hizbullah

Wednesday, February 6th, 2013

[Landis comment] The Syrian Islamic Liberation Front or Jabhat Tahrir Suwriya al-Islamiya is the main fighting force of the Islamic militias that are not Salafist. The Supreme Military Command, which announced itself on December 7, 2013 at the time that the Syrian Opposition Coalition was established in Doha, is an empty vessel. If the West wants to explore “centrist” militias to support, these are they. I hope that Sam Heller or Pieter Van Ostaeyen will translate some other their literature for us so that we can get a better feel for their ambitions and ideological commitments.

Noah Bonsey, who co-authored the ICG report on Salafi militants with Peter Harling, sends this note on Liwa al-Tawhid and my post: Syria’s Islamic Front Militias and How They Think about Minorities. He writes:

You noted that Liwa al-Towhid leader Abdul Qader Saleh is included near the top of the Supreme Military Command (SMC) hierarchy. This is true of course, but I have seen little indication over the last six weeks that this body amounts to anything beyond ink on paper.

I think it’s worth noting that Liwa al-Towhid’s more meaningful affiliation would appear to be its membership in “Syria’s Islamic Liberation Front” (Jabhat Tahrir Souria al-Islamiya), which it joined a few weeks ago. In addition to an assortment of small factions, this alliance includes Tajammu’ Ansar al-Islam (a powerful coalition in the Damascus suburbs), Saqour al-Sham (Idlib), and Kata’ib al-Farouq (originally Homs, now with affiliates throughout the country)—each of which is among the most active players in its respective area of operations.

Unlike the SMC, Tahrir Souria has a coordinated media campaign (see this link and this link), and its components refer to it as a provider of funds and a coordinator of local revolutionary police forces.

Many of Tahrir Souria’s leading commanders were included within the official SMC hierarchy, but it seems notable that their groups publicly identify with Tahrir Souria and not with the Supreme Military Command. It is likely that once expected external support for the SMC failed to materialize, the SMC’s components had little incentive to merge their existing networks, much less cede authority to the nascent hierarchy.

It is also notable that Tahrir Souria remains distinct from the Islamic Front (though their component factions do occasionally conduct joint operations). If we are to generalize a bit, the sum of Tahrir Souria’s material indicates a more pragmatic, ambiguously Islamist bent than that of the strictly Salafi Islamic Front.

I agree that at this point, Tahrir Syria are about as “centrist” as things get within the current militant spectrum. But I don’t want to overstate their relative moderation. There are Salafi factions within Tahrir Souria–most notably Liwa’ al-Islam, which is a key component of the Tajammu’ Ansar al-Islam Damascus coalition.

Yet if we consider the coalition as a whole, its ideological center is indeed somewhere to the left of Salafi–though where, exactly, is of course hard to pinpoint. Al-Farouq, Liwa al-Towhid and Saqour al-Sham can all be relied upon to shift their ideological tone depending on the intended audience. Thus at the end of the day, we are left with the common denominators of “Islamist” and, I would argue, “pragmatic.”

Best, Noah Bonsey

Nick Heras writes: Islamic Militias in Syria Appeal to the People by Providing Services, security and doing Good Works

It is great to see how much high quality work is being done to understand the incipient state of the philosophy of Islamic rule in modern Syria, from Sa’id Hawwa to Jabhat Nusra and the Syrian Islamic Front. We’ve been reading reports about different groups (Tawhid and Nusra in Aleppo Province, al-Farouq in Homs, Nusra and the Mujahideen Shura Council in Mayadin and near Deir ez Zor) seeking to establish some semblance of an Islamic state, and doing so with varying degrees of commitment to providing social services, security, and rule of law in the areas they control directly.

As it pertains to the most (in)famous groups such as al-Nusra and the Syrian Islamic Front, the future direction of their ideological development and potential civil authority inside of Syria will not only be determined by their fighting spirit, or ideological commitment for establishing a Caliphate or Islamic state in Syria. It is more likely to be determined by how they are able to appeal to a broader constituency of Syrians (albeit this constituency is most likely to be Sunni Muslims) in a highly incipient, or competitive, environment of social upheaval caused by war, internal displacement, targeted foreign assistance by various international actors such as the Gulf Arabs, Turkey, or the West, and their relative position and how wide-ranging their geographical presence is inside of Syria vis-a-vis competing opposition groups.

At the moment, there is no widely contiguous rebel-controlled region of Syria with a defined capital and a system of civil governance; there are pockets of opposition control and the beginning of collaborative networks of support such as the SIF, al-Nusra,Kata’ib Tawheed, and the Military Councils and the Local Coordinating Committees.The Islamist networks such as the Syrian Islamic Front and al-Nusra are clearly working towards building constituencies and incipient authority, and doing so along a model of incipient authority during war time that more closely resembles Hezbollah, HAMAS, the Sadrists, and Asa’ib al-Haq than al-Qaeda in Iraq. SIF, for example, is “comprehensive” and is building an Islamic society through “organizational” work with a “gradual, controlled approach.” The al-Nusra Front is more ambiguous, but some of its own commanders are realizing that they need to make statements such as was stated to Martin Chulov of the Guardian (UK) on January 17: “There were mistakes made in Iraq. Killing people on camera, being so visibly connected to sectarian fighting. These things cannot be repeated. We need the community and they need us.”

Syrian movements such as the SIF and al-Nusra, are already following in the footsteps of a HAMAS or Hezbollah, and seem to realize that there is a lot of appeal for a social organization that attends to the needs of people in a time of war by providing security (fighting al-Assad and policing rebel-controlled neighborhoods), administering social services (baking and distributing bread, supplying medicine), providing a semblance of rule of law (sharia courts, consultative structures based on shura, actual members of the organization for civilians to petition to, fighting corruption and promoting transparency), and fostering civil society (Islamic schools, active call for da’wa). They may never support secularism or the political rights of sectarian minorities in post-Assad state (especially for Shi’a, Ismailis, and Alawites), but these organizations are learning that the only means to their end is to hope for a “Hezbollah scenario” in Syria: legitimacy on the ground as a political, security, social, and economic authority for a clearly defined and numerous constituency of Syrians.

The Syrian Islamic Front: A New Extremist Force, February 4, 2013
by Aaron Y. Zelin, WINEP

Another prominent Salafist militia has emerged in Syria, further complicating Washington’s efforts to find rebel factions that align with U.S. interests…. Read it all here

A Friend in Aleppo

The quarter where my house is in Aleppo has been without electricity for 20 days straight. The in-laws of my sister live nearby. They are still there. They decided to go to the electric utility office in person to complain. They were told that the electric post for their area was damaged and in need of repair. In order to get it fixed, residents needed to get together and raise SYP 15k or $150 per household. If they got the number up to SYP 4 million, then the post could get fixed. Needless to say, the coordination and ability to raise $150 from each household were beyond the abilities of the people of the quarter and they didn’t even try. Today they are close to their 30th day without electricity.

Khatib’s Offer of Hope

Khatib’s offer of talks with Assad’s government offered a ray of hope to many Syrians, not least of all the minorities. They believe, whether rightly or wrongly, that they are fighting for their lives. It is true that Assad has convinced the minorities that he stands between them and destruction. Khatib’s sensible offer helped undermine the terrible fear of many that this struggle is existential and will continue until one side has eliminated the other. To many Syrians who feel that they are mere pawns caught between two clashing giants, Khatib’s offer provided some hope of a kinder and saner future for Syria.

News Round Up follows

Damascus, the capital of Syria, has seen the worst violence in weeks as opposition fighters launched a major offensive. According to an activist, clashes erupted in the districts of Jobar, Zamalka, al-Zablatani, and parts of Qaboun, as well as the ring road. Damascus authorities have closed down the main Abbasid Square and the Fares al-Khoury thoroughfare. Fighting was also reported in the central province of Homs.

Lebanon

Najib Mikati discussed the impact on his state of the nearly 230,000 Syrian refugees. “The situation has reached dangerous levels that Lebanon cannot handle alone,” he said, “It is now necessary that Lebanon receives urgent aid so that it can handle the accumulating burden.”

Mikati has appealed to the UN and the international donor community for $180 million dollars per year — $370 million to date –to reimburse Beirut for its refugee-related budgetary outlays. Meanwhile, UNHCR reports that it is providing services to about one quarter of the refugees at a cost of $36 million. Last month, Washington announced it would provide $29 million in humanitarian support to Lebanon. Syrian refugees now constitute about seven percent of the population of the southern camp of Ein Hilwa.

Intervene in Syria -by Roger Cohen – New York Times

…..This sounds good but will not fly. I agree with Brahimi that there is no military solution. Syria, with its mosaic of faiths and ethnicities, requires political compromise to survive. That is the endgame. But this does not mean there is no military action that can advance the desired political result by bolstering the armed capacity of the Syrian opposition, leveling the military playing field, and hastening the departure of Assad essential for the birth of a new Syria. Assad the Alawite will not go until the balance of power is decisively against him.

The United States does not want to get dragged into another intractable Middle Eastern conflict. Americans are tired of war. My colleagues Michael Gordon and Mark Landler have revealed how Obama blocked an attempt last summer by Hillary Clinton to train and supply weapons to selected Syrian rebel groups…..

Syria’s Regime Change Challenge
Interviewee: Ed Husain, Senior Fellow for Middle Eastern Studies, Council on Foreign Relations
Interviewer: Bernard Gwertzman, Consulting Editor, February 5, 2013

…In the long term, it’s inevitable that President Bashar al-Assad will fall in one way or another. He can’t hold onto power while most governments and people in the region and most actors in the international community are piled against him. The power balance inside Syria, due to the the sectarianism, the presence of al-Qaeda fighters, the support Syria gets from Russia, Iran, Hezbollah, and, to some extent, even Iraq, will probably allow Assad to hold on to power in the short term. But in the long term, he cannot remain in power with an ongoing domestic military resistance, sectarian distrust, a hostile region, and global isolation pitted against him. The shocking development this past weekend of Moaz Al-Khatib, the new head of the opposition Syrian National Council, reaching out to talk to the Assad regime via the Russians and Iranians, Assad’s closest allies, is an indication that the opposition leader now realizes that Assad cannot be defeated on the battlefield at this juncture, as many originally thought possible…..

Syrian rebel raids expose secrets of once-feared military
Martin Chulov in Aleppo

Former regime strongholds are now being picked clean – and some are underwhelmed by what lies behind the perimeter walls….

Israel and Assad raise stakes on Syria
By Roula Khalaf — Risk of regional contagion grows

Der Spiegel: The Fight for Survival in Damascus
2013-02-04 By Susanne Koelbl

“We’re almost finished with them,” says the general. He has a broad jaw, and his gray hair encircles his head like a thick garland. From the roof of a military building behind Umayyad Square in Damascus, the general would be able to see columns of …

There are hardly any “terrorists” left in Daraya, claims the general, although there are still a few “pockets” here and there. The “terrorists,” he says, are hiding in basements “like rats,” building tunnels or in the canals. “That’s the pathetic condition they are in,” he says.

The general’s name is engraved in large letters on a shiny metal nameplate on the oak door, and yet he insists that his name not be printed. No one here — members of the military, the intelligence services or the Syrian security apparatus — says anything on the record.

The rebels have come dangerously close to the Damascus old town, and the general’s days could possibly soon be numbered. The Syrian civil war has been raging for 23 months and has claimed more than 60,000 lives. The rebels are fighting their way forward, but at a torturously slow pace and with many setbacks, repeatedly engaging the Syrian army in grueling battles. Assad’s military is holding its ground primarily in the cities, but the regime no longer controls vast rural areas in between, which are now often zones of lawlessness. The rebels have cut off many supply routes, and in some outposts the soldiers don’t have enough to eat and are forced to use their bullets sparingly….

There is a neighborhood in the western part of Damascus called Mezze 86, inhabited almost exclusively by Alawites. Mezze 86 is the home of modest regime profiteers, the home of hangers-on. Residents work for the economics ministry, the police or the army.

As civil servants, they earn between 10,000 and 30,000 Syrian pounds a month, or €100 to €300 ($135 to $400). Most built their small concrete houses 20 years ago, and posters of Bashar Assad hang on every corner. Assad, an ophthalmologist by profession who received only very superficial military training, apparently tried to look frightening when he was photographed for the posters, wearing dark sunglasses and a general’s uniform, and with a grim expression on his face.

The first car bomb exploded in Mezze 86 in early October. On Nov. 5, a large explosion ripped away an entire row of shops, killing at least 11 people and wounding dozens more.

Hassan Khudir’s little house isn’t far from the site of the bombing. A civil servant in the transportation ministry, he is wearing a corduroy jacket and tie, even at home in his small living room. But as an Alawite, he senses that his orderly old life is over. Khudir, his wife and their four children must fear the revenge of the rebels. “We will all die if there is no reconciliation,” he says.

But the rebels in Damascus are also in mortal danger, like the three young female students in the back room of a Damascus café. They are wearing white hijabs to cover their hair and neck, and they are unwilling to remove their long coats. They are traditional Muslim women, they say. They arrive with two young men.

‘Grapes of My Country’

All five work for Enab Baladi, an underground newspaper and website from the rebel stronghold Daraya, only 4 kilometers (2.5 miles) from Mezze 86. “Enab Baladi” means “grapes of my country,” a name that is meant to invoke the sweet grapes that once grew in the gardens of Daraya.

The authors of Enab Baladi have documented the destruction that has been visited on Daraya since the army identified the suburb as a terrorist stronghold in the summer. They write, photograph and shoot videos, documenting fighter jets as their drop their deadly loads over Daraya, tanks rumbling through the district and shooting indiscriminately into buildings, and how the army went from house to house on Aug. 25, 2012, dragging supporters of the rebellion and lining them up against walls. Hundreds were shot to death on that day, say the founders of Enab Baladi.

Almost 5,000 people were killed in Syria in January alone, according to new figures reported by the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. The dismal figures – which come amid a growing refugee crisis in the border camps which are overrun with people fleeing the conflict – underlined the urgent need to find some form of diplomatic breakthrough.

Syrian Opposition to Open NY, Washington Offices
2013-02-05 , By EDITH M. LEDERER

United Nations (AP) — U.N. diplomats say that Syrian opposition’s coalition is planning to open offices soon in New York and Washington. Najib Ghadbian, an associate professor of political science and Middle East studies at the University of Arkansas, will head both offices of the National Alliance and commute between the two cities, the diplomats said Tuesday, speaking on condition of anonymity because the decision hasn’t been announced publicly. The coalition’s presence in the U.S. capital and near the United Nations is expected to raise its profile in the United States and internationally, the diplomats said. Born in a Damascus suburb in 1962, Ghadbian holds a doctorate from the City University of New York, has written several books, and is a founding member of the Democratic Network in the Arab World.

Clinton: Syrian rebels getting ‘messages’ from Pakistan region known as Qaeda haven
by Max Fisher – Wash Post

About halfway down a New York Times’ story on Hillary Clinton’s tenure as secretary of state, the paper reports a disturbing new detail about the Syrian opposition. According to Clinton, rebels in Syria have been receiving “messages” from a part of Pakistan where al-Qaeda’s core leaders are believed to be hiding out:

She added: “Having said all that, [Syrian leader Bashar] Assad is still killing. The opposition is increasingly being represented by Al Qaeda extremist elements.” She also said that the opposition was getting messages from the ungoverned areas in Pakistan where some of the Qaeda leadership was believed to be hiding — a development she called “deeply distressing.”

It’s no secret that, during the course of the now two-year conflict in Syria, some very nasty rebel groups have emerged there. Some of those groups profess extreme and violent ideologies; one prominent rebel group, Jabhat al-Nusra, is reportedly linked to al-Qaeda’s Iraq-based branch.

But direct communication between Syrian rebels and the core al-Qaeda leadership holed up in Pakistan would be potentially far more significant for two reasons.

First, this would suggest that some rebels have already aligned themselves with al-Qaeda’s global jihad movement, which they could pursue in all sorts of awful ways if and when the civil war ends. That bodes very poorly for post-Assad Syria, with groups like al-Nusra a potential threat to more than just Syrians.

Second, it’s a bad sign because, after several bruising years for al-Qaeda, the group could renew its reach through a potential Syrian proxy. The Washington Post’s Greg Miller and Joby Warrick reported this weekend on why U.S. counterterrorism officials are so worried about Jabhat al-Nusra’s links to al-Qaeda:…..

In Munich, diplomats despair over Syria civil war

The 22-month-long civil war in Syria dominated the agenda at the Munich Security Conference. Top diplomats could agree on one point: There’s little chance that the conflict will end any time soon.…

At the moment, the international community has blocked itself in the Security Council. And by failing to act, the world is indirectly supporting the regime, according to Moaz al-Khatib, the head of the opposition Syrian National Coalition.

Indeed, Damascus’ scorched-earth campaign continues undisturbed: 60,000 Syrians have died in the conflict; 40 percent of the country’s infrastructure has been destroyed; more than three million houses are now uninhabitable. Thousands of Syrians are currently languishing in jails, and targeted attacks against civilians continue. Long lines of people waiting in front of bakeries have been cut down by mortars from regime troops. Even school children have been targeted by the regime.

Despite all of that, Khatib is seeking dialogue with the Assad regime, under the condition that all political prisoners are released. That could be a first step toward a political solution. But Khatib warned that if the regime does not take his offer, then the Syrian civil war would have an increasingly negative effect on the entire region.

“We Syrians love life,” Khatib said. “But we are not afraid of death.”…

Feeling of helplessness

A feeling of helplessness overshadowed the Munich Security Conference. Out of desperation, new proposals were made that are also highly problematic. Kenneth Roth, director of Human Rights Watch, said that if Russia uses its veto again in the Security Council, then the body could be bypassed.…

US Senator John McCain made an unconventional proposal. Disregarding all previous assurances that the NATO Patriot rocket batteries in Turkey were defensive in character, McCain proposed using these weapon systems to shoot down Syrian warplanes. The senator said that the batteries have a range that reaches to Aleppo. He suggested that the Patriot rockets be used to set up a safe zone and win back the trust of the Syrian people.

After Assad, Chaos?
By RAMZY MARDINI February 3, 2013
Op-Ed Contributor NYTimes

AS the Syrian revolution approaches another anniversary, Syria’s political opposition is showing signs of failure. Without a new approach, especially from America, the lack of a credible opposition will render a political settlement unreachable, making it harder to set Syria on the course toward a stable future.

Hoping for a more representative body than the Istanbul-based Syrian National Council, President Obama and other world leaders recognized, in December, a new opposition coalition formed in Doha, Qatar. But that 71-member coalition, which includes many S.N.C. members, isn’t willing to negotiate with the Syrian government, nor is it remotely prepared to assume power. It is facing the prospect of defections and, worse, disintegration. Narrow interests are taking precedence; Islamists are overpowering secularists; exiles are eclipsing insiders; and very few members seem to have credibility on the ground back home.

Some observers argue that if President Bashar al-Assad dies or leaves Syria, the opposition will be able to lead a somewhat smooth transition, as was initially the case in Libya after the fall of Col. Muammar el-Qaddafi. But given Syria’s demographics and divisions, violence is unlikely to subside during a transition, especially without a popularly backed interim government able to control armed groups.

Libya has six million people, who live mainly along the coastline of a country larger than Alaska. Syria has one-tenth the area of Libya with four times as many people, who are divided along sectarian lines and surrounded by regional powers vying for influence. Syria has also been mired in a far longer and bloodier civil war. Fear and revenge are more likely to play a major role in post-Assad Syria than post-Qaddafi Libya. Indeed, Syria is more likely to look like Iraq.

“The U.S. is empowering the Ahmad Chalabis of Syria,” argued one prominent dissident, referring to the Iraqi expatriate who presented himself, before the 2003 American invasion, as a leader with the political legitimacy to take over from Saddam Hussein. Many of Syria’s opposition leaders are acting like Chalabists: frustrating practical negotiations out of opportunism rather than principle, in the hopes of securing the spoils that will come when the Assad regime falls.

The coalition’s president, Sheik Ahmad Moaz al-Khatib, has emerged as a symbolic figurehead. A former imam of the Umayyad Mosque in Damascus, Mr. Khatib lacks the experience to play the jarring game of opposition politics. And Riad Seif, a key American ally and longstanding dissident in Syria, is being marginalized. Both leaders have been sidelined by the expatriate businessman Mustafa Sabbagh, whose moneyed Syrian Business Forum is suspected of being a Qatari front group. Mr. Sabbagh is virtually unknown to most Syrians because he has long been based outside Syria and lacks the respect of veteran dissidents.

Syria’s minorities are also underrepresented. Syria’s Kurdish parties have not joined the coalition, and only three Christians are members. Two represent the Assyrians, but have spent decades in Europe; the other, the S.N.C.’s president, George Sabra, is viewed first and foremost as a communist. The majority of Syria’s 2.5 million Christians, who are ethnic Syriacs, aren’t represented at all. Bassam Ishak, a prominent Syriac, was barred from joining it. Mr. Ishak’s résumé didn’t include loyalty to the S.N.C., which has practically become a prerequisite for membership.

Only three women are members of the coalition. In December, Rima Flihan, who fled Syria in 2011, was removed as the head of the media committee. Her replacement was an S.N.C. member who lived outside Syria his entire adult life.

To make matters worse, the coalition’s bylaws are littered with provisions that emanate from the S.N.C., including one that prohibits negotiations with the Assad regime’s upper echelons — leaving peace efforts devoid of a critical ingredient. The recent signal by Mr. Khatib that he was willing to negotiate was promptly declared his personal opinion, revealing the coalition’s refusal to pursue reconciliation.

Early mistakes in transitions tend to have enduring effects. But the solution is not to form more umbrella groups, adding layers of vested interests that favor competition over cooperation.

The United States must make recognition of the opposition strictly conditional on the coalition being genuinely representative of the Syrian people, with clear punishment for noncompliance. And contact between the American government and opposition leaders must not be limited to the ambassador and his staffers; Americans often seem oblivious to the power that personal relationships can have across the Arab world. Finally, America must empower secular, moderate and independent political forces that promote compromise and moderation.

The best hope for Syria’s future is a political settlement, not armed victory. But without a truly representative opposition, that hope will remain elusive.

Ramzy Mardini is a Middle East analyst at the Jamestown Foundation and a former State Department official.

Syrian troops have aimed ballistic missiles on Tel Aviv

Four ballistic missiles “Scud” is aimed at Tel Aviv Syrian armed forces. As informs “Interfax” referring to the Iranian media, this measure was taken in response to the air strikes inflicted by the Israeli Air Force research center near Damascus.

Israel launched a missile attack on Syrian territory on January 31. According to representatives of the United States, to attack a convoy, transports air defense missile systems designed for movement “Hezbollah.”

Syrian authorities have said that the blow was dealt to the research center in the suburbs of Damascus, and called it a “blatant violation of Syrian sovereignty in the airspace.” Syrian Ambassador to Lebanon Ali Abdel Karim said that Damascus considers the “answer that will surprise surprise.” He also said that he could not predict when it will be taken retaliatory measures, informing that the answer will be to prepare “appropriate authorities.”

Syria’s Secular Revolution Lives On
Islamist radicals may be gaining strength, but the spirit that sparked this uprising survives in the unlikeliest of places.
BY OMAR HOSSINO | FEBRUARY 4, 2013 – FP

…the worrying growth of jihadi and Salafi groups — but these forces are not the only players emerging in the new Syria. The secular and nationalist spirit that initially sparked the Syrian revolution is also still alive and well. Many grassroots activists and religious leaders are working to forge a country that is built on secular principles, against sectarian revenge, and supportive of equal rights for all its citizens. Even some of the sharia courts that have sprung up to administer justice in areas the Syrian government has abandoned contain surprising, nonsectarian trends.

Whether such a movement can survive as the uprising drags on is not yet clear. For the time being, however, these figures embody the sliver of hope that Syria may avoid an all-out sectarian war.

Grassroots movements

Among the best-known nonviolent protest movements on the ground is Tajammu’ Nabd, or the Pulse Gathering for Civil Youth, which defines its purpose as to “fight the regime and fight sectarianism.” It is led by Yamen Hussein, an Alawite originally from Homs, who joined the revolution in its earliest days. The relatively small, youth-led movement has served as a vehicle to empower minorities — especially Alawites, the bulk of whom have been hostile to the revolution.

With bases in secular strongholds like Yabrud, Salamiyah, Zabadani, and Homs, Nabd activists have taken on small but unique projects. On Christmas, its activists dressed up as Santa Clauses and gave gifts to the Christians of Homs. In protests throughout the country, Nabd sends minority and secular activists to hold up signs that read: “In Syria there are two sects: the sect of freedom and the sect of the oppressors,” and “Before you call for sectarian revenge, remember that you trembled when you witnessed the massacre.”

“A small proportion of the signs and chants in protests in parts of Syria are growing more radical and sectarian, so we want to be the counterforce and present our movement on the ground,” Hussein told me. “But the hardest work will come after we overthrow the regime, where we will try to keep our country from being torn apart.”…

The National Bloc attempts to bring together 100 of Syria’s most prominent, pro-revolution public leaders — including tribal chiefs, intellectuals, religious clerics, and scientists — to advance a message of national unity and reconciliation. The idea is that such elites can use their standing in Syrian society to push the country away from radicalism and revenge. The bloc advocates a return to Syria’s 1950 constitution as a starting point for the post-Assad period.

Husseini is looking over the horizon to the post-Assad transition to expand the bloc’s role. “There is too much fighting now, too much blood. It is hard to talk to battle-hardened fighters and tell them a message at this time,” he said.

Sharia courts

Impromptu courts established to dispense Islamic law might seem a prime vehicle for advancing radical ideas, but sometimes in Syria, they do just the opposite. In two sharia courts — one at the Bab al-Salameh border crossing and the other in the northern province of Idlib — these bodies are an antidote to the idea of collective sectarian revenge.

“There is no crime in Islam called being an Alawite,” Sheikh Abu Jamal, head of the sharia and law division of Idlib Council, told me. “As religious leaders we have the important role of being against vigilante justice, and we have spoken out against many of the youths taking matters into their own hands. Most people listen to us.”

Abu Jamal said that the purpose of sharia courts is to make sure that no one is punished without a trial. In his court, the accused is innocent until proven guilty; both a human rights activist and Islamic cleric are witnesses at the trial to advise and object to irregularities; and each accused is offered the right to a lawyer.

Still, the sharia courts are plagued with problems. Not all such courts are created equal, and the protections Abu Jamal offers may not be present elsewhere. There is no appeals process, and the system of choosing and electing judges is biased toward revolutionary justice. At the same time, however, the courts’ role in supporting due process and rule of law has acted as a counterweight to sectarian vigilantism in this transitional period.

Militant groups

Some militant groups are also hostile to the growing radicalization of their anti-Assad brethren. In the northern town of Azaz, I met Capt. Bewar Mustafa, head of the Kurdish Salah al-Din Brigade, which largely fights in Aleppo. “We believe in democracy, equal rights for all, and representation,” he told me. “This is automatically against sectarianism. We are the Free Syrian Army for all Syrians, not just for one group, and the Kurds in this are a moderating force.”…

What I found most surprising was how many secularists and activists from minority backgrounds defended the jihadists. Ali al-Meer, a Shiite doctor and spokesman for the Local Coordination Committee of Salamiyah, a city whose majority is Ismaili, summed it up. “Look, I am Shiite, but these Salafis are helping us. Ahrar al-Sham is fighting the regime and delivering aid even to Shiite areas, even if we don’t see eye to eye on many things.”

One Alawite woman who wished to remain anonymous cast a more defiant tone: “I don’t understand why the United States calls Jabhat al-Nusra terrorist, while Bashar al-Assad is the only terrorist in Syria.”

Syria’s revolution began peacefully, and hopeful anecdotes of national unity are still evident on the ground. As the conflict drags on, however, the anti-sectarian forces are slowing losing ground to the radicals — but still remain Syria’s last, best hope for avoiding a sectarian civil war….

Israeli Strike Into Syria Said to Damage Research Site
By DAVID E. SANGER, ERIC SCHMITT and JODI RUDOREN.

The weapons research center has been the target of sanctions because of intelligence suggesting that it was the training site for engineers who worked on chemical and biological weaponry.

Al-Nusra Front: Seeking a Lebanese Base in Ain al-Hilweh | Al Akhbar English

Mashable: How Skype Is Helping Topple a Dictator in Syria
2013-02-05

The toolbox of the average rebel fighting in Syria is full of things you have probably never touched: an AK-47, grenades, sniper rifle. But it also has something you might use every day: Microsoft Skype. Skype is the go-to social network for …

Kuwait, ‘the back office of logistical support’ for Syria’s rebels
Elizabeth Dickinson, Feb 5, 2013

…This country of 2.6 million people has emerged as a central fund-raising hub for direct financial support to insurgents fighting the Assad regime and for humanitarian aid to rebel-controlled areas, which are said to encompass slightly more than half of the country.

The exact amount of lethal and non-lethal aid channeled through Kuwait to Syria since mid-2011 is difficult to determine, but humanitarian assistance alone is believed to run into the tens of millions of dollars.

Syria’s Fate Hinges on Whom It Hates Most: Sadjadpour and Maksad
2013-02-05, By Karim Sadjadpour and Firas Maksad

Feb. 6 (Bloomberg) — As Syria’s President Bashar Al-Assad clings mercilessly to power, hopes that his regime will be replaced by a stable, tolerant democracy are being dwarfed by fears of prolonged sectarian strife and Islamist radicalism. The outcome will hinge in part on a simple question: Whom do Syria’s diverse rebels hate more, the U.S. or Iran?

Syria opposition ponders course as leader offers talks
By Khaled Yacoub Oweis,AMMAN | Tue Feb 5, 2013

(Reuters) – Members of the opposition Syrian National Coalition have called for an emergency meeting to discuss a controversial proposal by its head to negotiate with President Bashar al-Assad’s government, opposition sources said.

Bombing the Syrian Reactor: The Untold Story
February 06, 2013 Commentary

’60 Fighters of the Syrian Regime’ in Port Sudan Hospital
2013-02-06 05:31:55.618 GMT

Feb. 6, 2013 (All Africa Global Media) — Sources from the city of Port Sudan, capital of the Red Sea state, assert that 60 Syrian fighters supporting the Assad regime were admitted at a local military hospital on Tuesday. Some of them are “badly wounded”, they told Radio Dabanga. There are conflicting accounts concerning how the Syrian group arrived at the hospital. Some witnesses claim the troops flew from Damascus to Khartoum and from there to Port Sudan. Others are suggesting to Radio Dabanga they were transferred with a frigate to Port Sudan from a Russian offshore navy hospital based in Syria.

Syria Is Not Iraq
By Shadi Hamid – Atlantic

Why the legacy of the Iraq War keeps President Obama from doing the right thing in Syria.

Rebels train Syrian teens to become ‘killing machines’
6 February 2013 – al-Arabiyya

Bashar, aged 16, was signed up for training by his brothers. “I want to avenge the death of my father,” a rebel Free Syrian Army fighter, he said. With families willing to bring their boys forward for training, Abdel Razzaq’s academy does not need to go into forced recruitment.

UNICEF child protection coordinator Jean-Nicolas Beuze told AFP that, “unlike other conflicts, there is no active recruitment of children. The youth come spontaneously, encouraged by their families.”

Comments (360)

MarigoldRan said:

The regime’s actions and rhetoric have made negotiations impossible.

What better way of kicking off a new comments section then by saying:

The war continues.

February 6th, 2013, 9:51 pm

Ghufran said:

This new attempt to storm Damascus is not likely to succeed, initial reports indicate that rebels suffered heavy casualties and failed to penetrate alabasyeen square but managed to terrorize locals. In Aleppo, rebels had to invade a private building, took more than 20 hostages and are still talking to the red crescent to be given a safe exit. The end result will be a new collection of victims including many rebels who were sent to die for nothing. The garbage posted here by the belly dancer and the drummer(s) will be forgotten in few days when it becomes evident that the third attempt to invade Damascus has failed. Thugs in Barza albalad are now busy stealing cars and kidnapping people to finance their revolution.
طز فيكن و بهل الثوره تبعكن

February 6th, 2013, 9:59 pm

ann said:

Israel, Iran and Turkey use Syria as whipping boy – 06.02.2013

http://english.pravda.ru/hotspots/conflicts/06-02-2013/123700-israel_iran_turkey_syria-0/

Israel has not officially confirmed the fact of an air raid on a research center in Syria. Washington has not provided an official confirmation to this either. The UN Security Council has not condemned the attack. Syria has become a “whipping boy”, whom Iran and Israel use to flex their muscles to each other at the time when Turkey tries to establish itself in its pan-Turkism.

According to sources at the Pentagon that refer to The Times, the night raid on January 30 was sanctioned by the U.S. in order to prevent “the transfer of arms from the regime of Bashar al-Assad to his ally – Lebanon – and then to Shiite organization Hezbollah,” which controls the Gaza Strip.

It supposedly goes about the convoy of Russian anti-aircraft missiles SA-17. “We must do everything possible not to let such weapons as the SA-17, as well as chemical and biological weapons get into terrorists’ hands,” U.S. Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta told France Presse. Analysts believe that his words indirectly confirm that it was the Pentagon that gave a green light to the attack. However, the Americans have not confirmed that officially, of course.

Syria has denied the information about the convoy and called the attack a “terrorist act” and “revolting aggression”, the goal of which was to discredit the recent achievements of the Syrian army. Syrian Defense Minister General Jassem al-Fahd Freij explained that the recent victories of the army of Bashar Assad over the opposition forced Israel to rush to help them. Al Freij noted that the Syrian opposition had been trying to storm the research center in Jamraya for a long time, although to no avail. In the end, Israel was forced to act independently.

Indeed, it is strange to hear the allegations about the convoy, which did not exist. At least, there were no pictures provided to substantiate the claim.

In addition, Israel’s border with Syria has been quiet during the past 40 years – why provoking its government to strike back? One shall assume that the matter is not about Assad. Israel has always been able to negotiate everything with Assad’ secular regime. Moreover, the collapse of this regime may lead to much more serious consequences for Israel in the face of Salafi threat. The matter is about a stronger factor: Iran and Hezbollah, which Iran supports. Many analysts agree that through the attack in Syria, Israel wanted to make it clear to Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, that the next attack may target either Hezbollah camps in Lebanon or Iran.

Iran has reacted immediately. Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian said that the bombing may lead to “serious consequences” for Israel. Iranian parliament deputy and member of the Supreme National Security Council, Hassan Mohammed Asperi said: “Syria has a full right to reciprocal action against Israel, which committed an illegal operation against the security of this country.” The commander of Iran’s Guards Corps, General Mohammad Ali Jafari said that “resistance and revenge was the only way” to deal with Israel (quoting IRNA). Interestingly, the official Damascus said nothing about “revenge.” Quite on the contrary, Syrian officials said that they would not answer.

The West started to speculate about a possible terrorist attack, similar to the attack in the Bulgarian city of Burgas, where seven Israeli tourists were killed. This brings up a question of why Syria would need such charges, if they provoke the West to intervene?

It appears that on top of all the troubles, the country has become a hostage to a showdown between Israel and Iran. The latter set Syria up in their attempts to “warn” each other. Israel, convinced that all its troubles come from Hezbollah, which is funded by Iran, has vowed not to let Iran build a nuclear bomb. Tel Aviv constantly threatens with a pre-emptive strike, which, however, will not destroy Iran’s nuclear facilities hidden in the mountains. Iran threatens to respond both directly and indirectly: to arrange an attack by Hezbollah troops against Israel.

In Israel, there is little doubt about the fact that a direct confrontation between Israel and Iran will take place. It is only a question of time. Israeli voters chose this path as they re-elected Benjamin Netanyahu at the recent parliamentary elections. The Israelis hope that Netanyahu will not fight alone, and that Obama would help. However, it does not seem that there is a sign of this assistance. Nabil Mikhail, a professor at George Washington University, told Press TV that Obama had been informed about the operation in Syria. Nevertheless, neither the State Department, nor the White House have said anything on the subject yet. “I think that Obama has not attached special importance to the Israeli attack on Syria. He may have not even thought about it much,” the professor concluded. Indeed, Obama is much more concerned about the threat of default, unemployment and rampant violence in the United States.

Turkey suddenly used Israel’s raid on Syria for its own purposes. First of all, Turkey intended to humiliate the Syrian army. “Why didn’t Assad even try to take any action against Israel? Zionist planes fly over the presidential palace in Damascus every now and then. Wasn’t this army created to protect the freedom and independence of Syria?” Turkish newspaper Hjurriet quoted Foreign Minister Ahmet Ahmet Davutoglu as saying.

Afterwards, the Minister suggested that the attack could be plotted by Israel and the Assad regime to kill two birds with one stone. “Turkey will not tolerate Israel’s attack on any Muslim country,” said Davutoglu. In addition, Turkey, unlike Israel, is a member of NATO and feels much more confident being protected by Patriot missiles. From this point of view, no matter what turn the situation in Syria may take, the Arab world has prepared an image of an enemy for Israel.

The Syrian regime is the only secular regime in the Arab world. For various reasons, the regime annoying everyone, including its own allies. It annoys even the Russian administration because the regime continues to resist, making Russia’s communication with the West uncomfortable.

[…]

February 6th, 2013, 10:04 pm

revenire said:

The rats are losing every time they engage the army.

PS – Tara I didn’t know you were a belly dancer.

Revenire is retarding it up again.

February 6th, 2013, 10:20 pm

Visitor said:

Ghufran,

طز فيك وحدك
لا عفوا
طز فيك وبشي كم واحد متلك

February 6th, 2013, 10:30 pm

Satellite images reveal unscathed SSRC facility in Syria – Wed Feb 6, 2013

http://www.longwarjournal.org/threat-matrix/archives/2013/02/satellite_images_reveal_unscat.php

Today, Israel’s Channel 2 broadcast satellite images of the Scientific Studies and Research Center (Centre D’Etudes et de Recherches Scientifiques) in Jamraya. The images, which were reportedly taken by DigitalGlobe, showed that the complex was unscathed despite claims by the Syrian regime that it was the target of an Israeli raid last week. A TIME report had also suggested that the facility had been “flattened.”

If the images, taken four days after the alleged bombing, are genuine, they all but confirm the belief among US officials that Israel’s primary target in last week’s raid was a convoy of antiaircraft weapons and not the SSRC facility. The images would also likely confirm the belief among US officials that the purported damage seen to the SSRC facility in the video released by Syrian state television on Feb. 2 was most likely the result of “secondary explosions from munitions.”

On Feb. 2, Threat Matrix noted that the footage purporting to show the damage caused by Israel’s airstrikes showed “extremely limited” damage to the SSRC facility.

February 6th, 2013, 10:45 pm

Syrian said:

غفران
ومن عندي
طز فيك
وطز بكل واحد بحييك

February 6th, 2013, 10:48 pm

majedkhaldoun said:

Darryl
The verse does not say what you mentioned
“3. What ever is left is to be given to the people related to the Messenger”
No Darryl,it is not for the relatives of the prophet, and it is not mentioned” whatever left”
Please do not translate verses the way you want, clearly you do not understand , clearly what you say is pure nonsense,You should never translate the verses the way you want, you should understand Arabic.
God share is to the poor and needy, to the orphans,to emancipate slaves,to the travelers who ran out of money, to the relatives of fighters who need money.or to any relative or neighbour of any one who needs money ,whether mosslems,christians or jews.
When the prophet died he did not have money, do you know where he spent his money? he gave it away to help others, he was a very generous man, he was a good example to his companions.the best ever.
Islam is socialist system, socialism based on compassion, never to embarrass the one who takes,your left hand will not know what your right hand did.

February 6th, 2013, 11:03 pm

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=PN7GZPpqyFo
Those heroes are in very good spirit.

February 6th, 2013, 11:19 pm

Juergen said:

February 6th, 2013, 11:31 pm

russian “embedded” anchorman takes a fall

February 6th, 2013, 11:39 pm

Interesting, Ahmedinejahd, Morsi and Gül met in Cairo over Syria. No details were given, here is the article about the meeting.

http://translate.google.de/translate?sl=tr&tl=en&js=n&prev=_t&hl=de&ie=UTF-8&eotf=1&u=http%3A%2F%2Fyenisafak.com.tr%2Fpolitika-haber%2Fkahirede-suriye-icin-uclu-zirve-07.02.2013-480391%3Futm_source%3Dmanset-5%26utm_medium%3Ddf%26utm_campaign%3Dmanset-5

February 6th, 2013, 11:44 pm

omen said:

speaking of cars…

IT IS the grubbiest car showroom imaginable: a dusty car park in Sarmada, a drab little town in a war zone. Yet Bassam, the owner, who works from a nearby office with a magazine photograph of a jeep sellotaped to the door, is doing a lively trade. So much so that a host of competitors are following suit nearby, parking vehicles along pavements and encircling the roundabout, with warning triangles on car roofs signalling “for sale”.

Syria’s regime used to impose taxes of up to 100% on imported cars but since it lost control of the northern border, car selling has taken off; stolen vehicles sometimes bolster the stock. Demand is strong. “The fighters need transport,” says Bassam. “And now there is free trade. No tax, no paperwork, no bribes!”

the regime’s western supporters should pay a similar tax to demonstrate their solidarity.

February 7th, 2013, 12:13 am

disturbing video, a girl sings of freedom, when right next to her a shell explodes

February 7th, 2013, 12:28 am

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ss3TdWsKGRk&feature=youtu.be
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=endscreen&v=c0H7ha6Gs5o&NR=1
نداء أخير لكلاب الأسد والله إنكم لتعلمون أنكم على باطل وأنه ما إلتقى كلابكم بأبطال الجيش الحر إلا وفروا كالفئران لانكم لا تقاتلون عن عقيدة أما الحر فمهما إلصقتم بهم من أوصاف إرهابيين وهابيين فإنهم يقاتلونكم عن عقيدة الشهادة أو النصر فإحقنوا دماء أبنائكم فوالله إننا لنأسف لقتلكم أكثر مما يأسف الأسد ومجرميه عليكم والله إنكم لا تساوون عندهم أكثر من حطب لمعركتهم الخاسرة ضحكتم يوم أمس على دماء أطفالنا ونسائنا وتبكون اليوم وستبكون غدا على دمائكم و سيلعنكم التاريخ كأحقر مجموعة إجرامية على مر العصور

February 7th, 2013, 12:29 am

A film that foretold the downfall of the Baathist conceits

“Thirty-three years ago, I was a staunch advocate of modernising my homeland, Syria, to the degree that my first film was about building a dam: the Euphrates Dam, the source of pride and joy for the Baath Party.”

http://www.thenational.ae/thenationalconversation/comment/a-film-that-foretold-the-downfall-of-the-baathist-conceits

February 7th, 2013, 12:38 am

here you can find A flood in Baath Land by the late Omar Amirallay / with english subtitles:

February 7th, 2013, 12:42 am

Jurgen how convenient that they just happened to be filming a little girl singing when the shell hit. What a stroke of luck for the Propaganda Dept.

February 7th, 2013, 12:52 am

hand in hand to build Putinstan

Orthodox Church should have more control over Russian life: Putin

http://blogs.reuters.com/faithworld/2013/02/06/orthodox-church-should-have-more-control-over-russian-life-putin/

February 7th, 2013, 12:59 am

February 7th, 2013, 1:46 am

so much fun in the SAA:

February 7th, 2013, 1:49 am

Ahmadinejad answers a question on Nile TV about shoe attack: no one attacked me, I was shown nothing but love

February 7th, 2013, 2:22 am

Shexmus Amed said:

“Some militant groups are also hostile to the growing radicalization of their anti-Assad brethren. In the northern town of Azaz, I met Capt. Bewar Mustafa, head of the Kurdish Salah al-Din Brigade, which largely fights in Aleppo. “We believe in democracy, equal rights for all, and representation,” he told me. “This is automatically against sectarianism. We are the Free Syrian Army for all Syrians, not just for one group, and the Kurds in this are a moderating force.”…”

The Saladin Brigade are a bunch of traitors to Kurdish cause for equality with Arabs in Syria.

Having said that, I am delighted to learn that even the traitors to Kurdish cause are much better equipped ideologically and are more humane than even the best of Arab rebels in Syria.

As a Kurd, I dare say I am proud of even Kurdish traitors; for compared to their Arab comrades, Kurds are still far from the nihilistic savagery Arabs have been inflicting on each other.

Kurdish people are the one and only people in the Middle East who inherited the humanity and chivalry of the great Saladin.

The warring parties in Syria, the regime as well as the rebels, have much to learn from Kurds about how to conduct an honourable war.

Without an honourable war the warring parties will never have an honourable peace.

February 7th, 2013, 2:34 am

Syrian Defense minister thinks Israel targetted rebel forces in their attack, so much about twisted minds…

“The strangest statements were made by Syrian Defense Minister Fahed Jassem al-Freij. He was asked why Syria did not respond to the airstrike. He replied: “The Israeli enemy was [the one] who retaliated.” How? He explained that the research center in Jamraya in Rif Dimashq (north-west of Damascus) was attacked by “armed gangs” (he means opposing forces) tens of times in order to “destroy it and seize it” and when they failed “Israel itself [interfered] and targeted it with its warplanes.”

http://english.alarabiya.net/views/2013/02/07/264842.html

February 7th, 2013, 2:48 am

Sam said:

To Rev, the propaganda war is the only war they can win, there only fooling the ignorant. Everyday more, and more people are opening their eyes to this conspiracy against Syria. In the end, see how fast all will flip-flop. Syrian army is winning, the NDF, freed up our boys to kick some jihadi ass!! God bless the syrian army, and protect them.

February 7th, 2013, 3:38 am

Sami said:

A minhebaks definition of winning is eerily similar to that of Charlie Sheen… Wonder if they smoke from the same pipe.

Hey Sam when you claim the Assadist militia is winning, what do you base it on? SANA or Addunia? Khilsit wala lissah?

I really hope Sam is not your actual name but an alias, I would hate to actually share the same name with you, or anything else for that matter….

February 7th, 2013, 3:57 am

Omen,

The Saudi authorities have a rather odd relationship with the religious establishment especially the Wahabis. In many ways they claim their legitamicy of their Royal rule from the religious people (hence why the King is officially called Custodian of The Two Holy Mosques).

I would love to explain more of this (and there is a lot more) but I am currently half way across the world sitting in an Airport waiting to board a plane. If I remember I’ll try to explain it when I get back to Montreal.

February 7th, 2013, 4:22 am

One should make it clear, the Saudi Kings always had an love hate affair with the religious establishment.The founder of modern day Saudi Arabia Abdal Azis ibn Saud used an paramilitary group called ichuan to establish his rule especially in the Hejaz where the new King faced an bitterly opposition. After he had crushed this opposition he then crushed the ichuan movement, and many ichuan fled or were killed.

The Saudi state always tried to manipulate religion for their cause. No one can obtain an degree from any university without an religious diploma, religious teachings are an integral part of the curriculum, not to mention the biased one sided version of Islam they present and tolerate. A friend of mine who has spent some years studying in the Medinah university in the late 70s told me that back then they still had an international board of teachers, that shifted under King Fahd, he ordered that all of the foreign staff had to be replaced by Saudis. The comeback of so many fighters from Aghanistan showed soon that the educated youth was even more radical than the establishment. AQ ideology isnt just an ideology shared by some radicals, in the kingdom its an wide spread ideology, and it may soon backfire at the advocators of such an religious society. One can be reminded of Goethes Faust here.

February 7th, 2013, 5:02 am

Saudi Filthy ANIMALS!

Saudi preacher who raped, murdered daughter freed – 02.04.13

Fayhan al-Ghamdi spent only few months in jail despite admitting to using cane, cables to torture his five-year-old daughter whose virginity he questioned

Lama al-Ghamdi. Spent 10 months in hospital before succumbing to her wounds

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4340959,00.html

A Saudi preacher who tortured his five-year-old daughter to death has been released after agreeing to pay ‘blood money’, The Daily Mail reported.

Lama al-Ghamdi died in October having suffered multiple injuries including a crushed skull, broken ribs and left arm, extensive bruising and burns, according to the report.

She had also been repeatedly raped and then burned.

Her father Fayhan al-Ghamdi, a prominent Islamist preacher who regularly appears on television in Saudi Arabia, served only a few months in jail despite admitting to having used a cane and cables to inflict the injuries.

According to the report, the judge ruled the few months al-Ghamdi spent in prison since his arrest in November was sufficient punishment.

Activists say under Islamic laws a father cannot be executed for murdering his children. Husbands also cannot be executed for murdering their wives.

February 7th, 2013, 5:10 am

Any new anti-Syrian letters from Assma’s cousin?

Who is our MEDIOCRE resident `israeli PROPAGANDA SLACKER in charge of posting fabricated mossad letters from Assma’s cousin on this blog?!

February 7th, 2013, 5:29 am

Dear Prof. Landis,

Why are you moderating and deleting my posts?!

Is jabhat el-nusra back in charge of moderation on your blog?!

February 7th, 2013, 5:41 am

SANDRO LOEWE said:

Israel and US are supporting the Assad-Hezballah axis and letting the rebels fall in order to create chaos and destruction inside Syria and the Middle East.

They let Iran grow and Assad send missiles to HA while rebels fighting for freedom, dignity and democracy are being crushed.

This is the spirit of the United States of America, an innocent people in the hands of the banks and the jewish capital.

Fxxx the US actual concept and the whole fake it represents.

February 7th, 2013, 5:55 am

Akbar Palace said:

You must have been taught by the best: Baghdad Bob?

http://www.welovetheiraqiinformationminister.com/

February 7th, 2013, 7:11 am

Dolly Buster said:

28. Juergen said:
AQ ideology isnt just an ideology shared by some radicals, in the kingdom its an wide spread ideology, and it may soon backfire at the advocators of such an religious society.

There are 2 interpretations of Wahhabism, and they are at war with each other.
The official creed of Saudi Arabia is Salafi, and they advocate obedience to the rulers. Those who wish to declare war on the rulers, they dub them Khawarij.

And the second group are the Khawarij themselves, Al-Qaeda, but they do NOT identify themselves as Khawarij.

So, these 2 groups of wahhabis are at war.
For example: about eight years ago a guy from AQAP blew up a truck bomb against a checkpoint of Saudi government.

That is a proof that AQ and KSA are two different things.

Here is a short talk about the evils of rebellion: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0qdIfXQfXs4

February 7th, 2013, 7:27 am

Syrialover said:

#32. SANDRO LOEWE

I didn’t realise you were a conspiracy theorist. Multiple, overlapping conspiracies. I’m puzzled.

Are you serious in thinking that America wants to create chaos and destruction inside Syria and the Middle East? Realistically?

Your anger and frustration is misplaced. The current governments of Russia and Iran are the scorched-earthers for the Middle East.

In America’s case, failure to act, failure to focus, sure. But it’s a very big and complex democracy, which means it will turn inwards and put its own domestic priorities first.

If you live in the west, you should start daily counting the ways that their systems differ from totalitarian and dictatorship systems like Iran and Syria.

Western democracies’ values, systems and standards are imperfect, but as good as it gets.

Statements by the USA criticizing Assad and expressing anger and revulsion at what is happening in Syria have been very strong and consistent. As a government and society they mean it, but they have their own domestic pressures for not getting militarily involved.

The west’s attitudes to Syria in contrast to Russia and Iran’s will become very clear when the rebuilding of Syria gets under way.

February 7th, 2013, 7:56 am

Spammie ANN,

you ask for the newest gossip, and here you go. You may want to rush out and light a candle in church for Anisa. She is reported to be very sick, deadly sick by cancer. She has already handed over her funds to Bouchra, so no money will be under Bashars name when they come after the family.

Satisfied?

February 7th, 2013, 8:20 am

zoo said:

Iran rebuffs USA on nuclear negotiations

Iran’s conditions for negotiations: No “gun pointing”, no military threatening rhetoric “everything is on the table”, no deadline “time is running out”.
Then Iran can talk to the USA as equals. Well said.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-21365650

February 7th, 2013, 8:49 am

#36 Herr Juergen

It’s so humane of you to make the deadly illness of an old woman a matter of gossip.. I am not disappointed by you. It fits you well.

February 7th, 2013, 8:52 am

Chaos in the Moslem Brotherhood lead countries?

After Egypt, now Tunisia is facing unrest as the Moslem Brotherhood Annahda wants to keep and expand the ‘democratic’ power by silencing (and killing) the opposition.

Tunisia: Ennahda Reject Cabinet Dissolution

07/02/2013
http://www.asharq-e.com/news.asp?section=1&id=32826

London/Tunis, Asharq Al-Awsat—The political situation in Tunisia remains uncertain in the wake of Wednesday’s assassination of left-wing political leader Chokri Belaid. Belaid’s killing sparked huge nation-wide protests, with Tunisian Prime Minister Hamadi Jebali announcing the dissolution of his Islamist-led government coalition to be replaced by non-partisan technocrats until elections can be held as soon as possible.

However Jebali’s own party, the ruling Ennahda movement rejected the prime minister’s move to dismiss the government on Thursday. Ennahda Vice-President Abdelhamid Jelassi was quoted by Reuters affirming that Jebali “did not ask the opinion of his party.”

He added, “We in Ennahda believe Tunisia needs a political government now.”

February 7th, 2013, 8:57 am

32 Shexsmus (or is it schmuck?) Amed,

I hate to puncture your theory. But Salahdin is NOT Kurd.

He is an Arab from well known tribe (Bani 3Aouf بني عوف) who lived in the area near Tikrit. The tribe settled in the area during the early conquests.

February 7th, 2013, 9:02 am

Contrary to Tunisia, in Syria no political opposition leader has been murdered. Many were allowed to leave the country and many are still supposedly ‘in hiding’.
Isn’t strange for a regime accused to be criminal not to use all means to eliminate its opposition?
Many loyalists political persons were murdered, often with their family by the “freedom fighters’.
One wonders who is the entity who refuses the dialog and prefer to physically eliminate its political opponents?

February 7th, 2013, 9:06 am

@23 Shexmus Amed

Don’ pay attention to that midget. He has been rewriting the history of Islam, the Arabs and Persia for the last few months on this blog. Main conclusion: The Sunni Arabs are geniuses, the rest are garbage.

It will be published soon under the name:
“Islam, Arabs and Persia for dummies” by one of them

February 7th, 2013, 9:13 am

Rebels claims that is another attempt to seize Damascus are “highly exaggerated”

Published: February 7, 2013
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/08/world/middleeast/syria-conflict-updates.html

Some antigovernment activists described the resumption of fighting, which had lapsed for the past few weeks, as part of a renewed effort by rebels to seize control of central Damascus, the Syrian capital, although that depiction seemed highly exaggerated. Witness accounts said many people were going about their business, while others noted that previous rebel claims of territorial gains in Damascus had almost always turned out to be embellished or unfounded.

February 7th, 2013, 9:32 am

Lebanon declares war to the Islamists supporting the Syrian terrorists

Lebanon strikes Islamist suspects

http://weekly.ahram.org.eg/News/1318/19/Lebanon-strikes-Islamist-suspects.aspx

A deadly military operation in the town of Arsal may be the first of many in Lebanon, writes Andrew Bossone

Since the start of the Syrian uprising, Arsal has practically been a Syrian town. Loudspeakers fixed to trucks announce revolutionary slogans and songs and the Syrian accent can be heard just as much as the Lebanese.

Arsal, in the Bekaa Valley, has also been home for Syrians for a long time because of the familial ties of its residents. But recently it drew the attention of Lebanese security forces as a base for fighters moving between the two countries and for smuggling weapons. Occasionally Lebanese security has conducted operations in Arsal, but for the most part has left the town alone and residents in peace.

February 7th, 2013, 9:36 am

The opposition is struggling to survive and the preserve what is left of its credibility with the empty promises and hesitations of the international community

Failed or thwarted?

While the Syrian opposition has thus far failed to form a transitional government, some believe this may be because the US has not yet decided on what it wants in Syria, writes Bassel Oudat in Damascus

http://weekly.ahram.org.eg/News/1315/19/Failed-or-thwarted-.aspx

Coalition member Ahmed Ramadan said that while everyone agreed there was a need to form a transitional government, most preferred not to form one now in the absence of a safe zone in which that government could operate and sufficient international support and recognition.

“Without these things, it would be a stillborn government,” Ramadan said.
…
The coalition’s failure to form a government up till now has also raised doubts about the viability of forming a cabinet for the time being and the obstacles on the way to doing so.
…
The West, led by the US, helped to create the opposition coalition and granted it a political umbrella to operate, but it has not recognised it completely. Instead, it has drowned the coalition in promises, without in fact making good on any of them.

The coalition is under economic strain despite having been promised billions of dollars, and it has been promised humanitarian aid that has mostly been lost or undelivered. It has been unable to play any practical role in the Syrian revolution because of internal inconsistencies and disputes that were nurtured by the West at its formation.
…
A government without funds would also be of little use. Since the opposition has been unable to raise the tens of millions of dollars needed for refugees and the wounded, how will it be able to raise the $3 billion, which it says is the minimum amount needed for the government to succeed, many observers ask.

February 7th, 2013, 9:43 am

After Syrians and Lebanese, Iran opens its borders to Egyptians

Iran to allow Egyptians to enter visa-free

Iranian foreign affairs minister Ali Salehy announced on Wednesday that “Tehran will exempt tourists and traders coming to Iran from Egypt from visa requirements,” according to the Egyptian state-run MENA news agency.

February 7th, 2013, 9:47 am

Zoo 42,

The only midget who is also proven to be a liar and a treacherous asshole is YOU ZOO.

Everyone on this blog on this blog knows that now.

I am amazed you haven’t disappeared and reappeared under different moniker.

But shameless asshole like are what they are.

The have NO SHAME!

February 7th, 2013, 9:55 am

Besides using foul language, only jihadist midgets use uppercase to shout, it makes them feel stronger.

They are busy hysterically thumbing up themselves and thumbing down their foes.
Don’t disturb them in their noble task

February 7th, 2013, 10:04 am

Zoo @48,

You are a proven idiot, a proven liar, a dedicated treacherous con, a pathetic manipulative non-entity.

So why do you hide behind somebody else’s language, especially, if this language is the only one most suitable to describe you?

Here’s the true geneology of Salahdin. He is a full fledged Arab and NOT a Kurd,

ليس كرديا ابدا ..
و كفوا عن تحريف التاريخ والتنسيب الباطل ..
حلو والله
الأيوبيين ليسوا من الأكراد ما قاله ياقوت الحموي في كتابه معجم البلدان المجلد الثاني في صفحة 491
عندما ذكر بلدة دوين فقال دوين بلدة في نواحي ارَّان في آخر حدود أذربيجان بقرب من تفليس، منها ملوك الشام بنو أيوب« وكان ياقوت معاصرا للأيوبيين ومات سنة 626ه وأكد ابن شداد في سيرة صلاح الدين ان أهل الأيوبيين من بلدة دوين ومعلوم ان تلك البلاد لم تكن من بلاد الأكراد وان هذه البلاد فتحت في عهد الخليفة عثمان بن عفان

نقل المؤرخ جمال الدين محمد بن سالم ما نسبه للأيوبيين أنهم قالوا: “انما نحن عرب، نزلنا عند الأكراد وتزوجنا منهم”[2]، وعن الأيوبيون ملوك اليمن أنهم قالوا بنسبتهم إلى بني أمية[2]، أما الأيوبيون ملوك دمشق فأنهم أثبتوا نسبهم إلى بني مرة بن عوف من بطون غطفان وقد أحضر هذا النسب على المعظم عيسى بن أحمد صاحب دمشق[2].

So shut your big mouth and buzz off to the hell of Qom-hell-stan, you promoter of muta’a slavery.

February 7th, 2013, 10:19 am

Al Khatib is now the protector of Syrian women? Maybe he should lobby KSA to release the millions of women emprisoned in Saudi Arabia cages who can’t drive, can’t vote, can’t travel alone etc…

http://news.yahoo.com/clashes-hit-syrian-capital-second-day-135414183.html

Syria’s opposition chief, who recently offered a dialogue with the government, demanded that the regime release all female political prisoners or he would scrap his offer.

Mouaz al-Khatib of the Syrian National Alliance said in an interview with the BBC Arabic service aired late Wednesday that the women must be released by Sunday.

Al-Khatib said the release of the women should be the beginning of the release of all political prisoners. He claimed there are 160,000 people, but it is not clear how many of them are women.

February 7th, 2013, 10:37 am

syrian said:

41. zoo said:
“Contrary to Tunisia, in Syria no political opposition leader has been murdered. Many were allowed to leave the country and many are still supposedly ‘in hiding’.”

The regime kills their relative instead. like killing Barhan Galyon Brother, Haythem Mana’a brother , With the aim of terrorizing them and others who might think about joining the opposition.

Who are you trying to fool with this statement?!

February 7th, 2013, 10:39 am

erin said:

Some of the people who post here are beyond retards, many live in the west and they are still living in the dark ages of the middle evil centuries.
many of the radical muslims here need to go to hell faster than the spring approaching us, I recommend to all of them to leave posting here and go to Syria where they will die sooner or later in the hands of the Syrian army.
I have no problem with killing every radical, if Mr O can do it with his Drones I am all in.
to some of the poster here, it is not enought you cover your wife face with trash bags, go cover your face with pig’s poop, that’s how much you are humans.
I am not responding to anyone per se here, but this site with the help of JL is becoming a free helm for all the radical Muslims to destroy Syria.
Well done Sir.

February 7th, 2013, 10:40 am

The midget knows better…

A number of contemporary sources make note of this. The biographer Ibn Khallikan writes, “Historians agree in stating that [Saladin’s] father and family belonged to Duwin [Dvin]….They were Kurds and belonged to the Rawādiya (sic), which is a branch of the great tribe al-Hadāniya”: Minorsky (1953), p. 124. The medieval historian Ibn Athir relates a passage from another commander: “…both you and Saladin are Kurds and you will not let power pass into the hands of the Turks”: Minorsky (1953), p. 138.
h
^ Steed, Brian L., Piercing the Fog of War: Recognizing Change on the Battlefield, (Zenith Press, 2009), 176;”Saladin was a Kurd from Tikrit.”.

Syrian

“The regime kills their relative instead. like killing Barhan Galyon Brother, Haythem Mana’a brother”

Sources?

February 7th, 2013, 10:45 am

One would ask why Moaz Khatib suggested dialogue with the regime, and not call for everyone to lay down their arms (ceasefire)at the same time?
The answer is that Mr. Khatib has no control over the FSA,and has not been chosen by the FSA, and has no direct contact with the FSA, the National syrian council has much better relations with the FSA, Dialogue can be much more productive if there is balance of power,the regime is losing on the ground, but it has airforce that is bombing Syria and destroying the country,when the FSA neutralizes the airforce then the balance of power will force the regime to negotiate,or to surrender.
The best dialogue is a military attack on the regime,achieving victories,humiliating Assad army.

February 7th, 2013, 10:52 am

When are we going to see that in Syria?

http://www.asharq-e.com/news.asp?section=1&id=32831

..
Bahraini Information Minister, Dr. Samira Rajab emphasized that no one party can impose the national dialogue’s agenda or mechanism on the other participating parties. As for the possibility of the opposition boycotting the dialogue, the Bahraini Information Minister said, “The dialogue, as all parties have expressed, is the solution to end this state of social and national division, and anybody who does not attend will be revealing their intransigent position opposing dialogue and national consensus.”
…
According to Khalil, the six Bahraini opposition groups—Wefaq National Islamic Society, National Democratic Action Society (Waad), National Democratic Gathering Society (Al-Qawmi), Unitary National Democracy Assemblage (Wahdway), and Ekhaa National Society—will meet on Saturday to make a final decision on whether to attend the proposed national dialogue on Sunday.

National Dialogue spokesman, Isa Abdul Rahman, told Asharq Al-Awsat that preparations are underway to begin the national dialogue on schedule on Sunday, adding that he has received instructions that the sessions will not be postponed.

February 7th, 2013, 10:53 am

The treacherous pathetic con-man (Zoo the liar) continues to argue against all evidence that prove without any doubt that Salahdin is a full fledged Arab and never was a Kurd, and didn’t even include Kurd-populated areas under his rule when he ruled over Egypt, Arabia, Yemen and Bilad al-Cham.

But Zoo is a proven liar, a fabricator, an impostor, a promoter of slavery through muta’a.

صلاح الدين الأيوبي الأصل وعربي النسب غطفاني القبيلة

الكاتب : الأستاذ نايف بن غبن الوسمي

ولد صلاح الدين في تكريت بالعراق عام 532 هـ/1138م في ليلة مغادرة والده نجم الدين أيوب قلعة تكريت حينما كان والياً عليها ، ويرجع نسب الأيوبيين إلى أيوب بن شاذي بن مروان من أهل مدينة دوين في أرمينيا.

ويقول أحمد بن خلكان: قال لي رجل فقيه عارف بما يقول، وهو من أهل دوين، إن على باب دوين قرية يُقال لها أجدانقان وجميع أهلها أكراد روادية، وكان شاذي قد أخذ ولديه أسد الدين شيركوه ونجم الدين أيوب وخرج بهما إلى بغداد ومن هناك نزلوا تكريت، ومات شاذي بها وعلى قبره قبة داخل البلد.

ولا خلاف في أن الملك الأفضل نجم الدين أيوب رحمة الله والد الملوك ، وأخاه الملك المنصور أسد الدين شيركوه وهما أبناء شاذي بن مروان ، ثم قيل مروان هو ابن محمد بن يعقوب ، وقيل هو ابن يعقوب نفسه ، وأختلف في أصلهم : فذكر عز الدين بن الأثير أن نسب الأيوبيين يرجع إلى أيوب بن شاذي بن مروان إلى الأكراد الروادية وهم فخذ من الهذبانية.

وأنكر جماعة من ملوك بني أيوب النسبة إلى الأكراد ، وقال : إنما نحن عرب، نزلنا عند الأكراد وتزوجنا منهم (1).

وهنا أقوال عدة في أن نسب الأيوبيين وهذه الأقوال تنقسم إلى ثلاثة أقسام هي على النحو التالي : –
1.أنهم أكراد .
1.أنهم عرب وهذا القول ينقسم إلى شقين :-

– أحدهما أنهم من بني أمية .

– وثانيهما أنهما من غطفان .

عليه سنفرد كل قول على حده

القول الأول :- أنهم أكراد وهو قول شاع لدى العامة وفي بعض المصادر التي كانت بين أيدينا منذ زمن ، ولكن بعد الاطلاع على المصادر الأخرى أتضح أن هذا القول ضعيف وقد نفته المصادر الأخرى التي تفيد قول الأيوبيين أنفسهم بأنهم تزوجوا من الأكراد وليس نسباً بالأكراد إلا من جهة المصاهرة ، وأول من أورد هذا القول هو عز الدين بن الأثير الذي قال نسب الأيوبيين يرجع إلى أيوب بن شاذي بن مروان إلى الأكراد الروادية وهم فخذ من الهذبانية ، وهم من أهل مدينة دوين في أرمينيا(1).

ومن الدلائل التي تؤكد نسب الأيوبيين أنهم ليسوا أكراد :
1.الأيوبيين وملوكهم لم ينسبوا أنفسهم إلى الأكراد .
1.قال ياقوت دوين: بفتح أوله وكسر ثانيه وياءٍ مثناة من تحت ساكنة وآخره نون. بلدة من نواحي أران في آخر حدود أذربيجان بقرب من تفليس. منها ملوك الشام بنو أيوب.(2) و ياقوت نفسه كان معاصراً للأيوبيين ومات سنة 626هـ.
1.وَالْحق أَنه من الأكراد الروادية أحدى بطُون الهذبانية، من بلد دوين فِي آخر أذربيجان من جِهَة أران وبلاد الكرج(3).
1.وأكد ابن شداد في سيرة صلاح الدين أن أهل الأيوبيين من بلدة دوين(4).
1.أن صلاح الدين الأيوبي عندما حكم مصر وضم إليها بلاد النوبة ومعظم ليبيا وبلاد الشام ، إضافة إلي بلاد الموصل ، واليمن وبلاد الحجاز إلي دولته ، ولم يظم المناطق الكردية المجاورة لدولته حتى يقوي بها ، كما أن الأكراد كانوا دائما يسببون الاضطراب في دولة الخلافة العباسية ، ( وقد قاتلهم الأتابك عماد الدين زنكي واستولي علي مناطقهم سنة 528هـ ، وقلاع الأكراد الحميدية منها قلعة العقر وقلعة شوش وغيرهما واستولى على قلاع الهكارية وآشب والجديدة وتوشي) (5).

1.أن بلادهم وديارهم الأصلية دوين :- وهي بليدة بطرف أذربيجان مما يلي جهة أران والكرج بضم أوله وكسر ثانية ويقال في النسبة إليها : ديوني بفتح ثانيه ، أهلها أكراد هذبانية ، وقيل عنها أنها بلدة صغيرة فى العجم ، (بضم الدال المهملة وكسر الواو وسكون الياء المثناة من تحتها وبعدها نون)، وكان شاذي بن مَرْوَان من أَبنَاء أعيانها المعتبرين وأبناءه هم شيركوه وأيوب. وقال مؤلف كتاب النجوم الزاهرة :- عن صلاح الدين، شهرته أكبر من أن يحتاج إلى التنبيه عليه.وقد اتّفق أهل التاريخ على أنّ أباه وأهله من دوين، وقال أيضاُ :- قال لى رجل عارف بما يقول، وهو من أهل دوين: إنّ على باب دوين قرية يقال لها: أجدانقان (بفتح الهمزة وسكون الجيم وفتح الدال المهملة وبعد الألف نون مفتوحة ثم قاف وبعد الألف الثانية نون أخرى) (1).
1.قال ابن الأثير: وأصلهما من الأكراد الروادية. وكانت بداية أمر بنى أيوب أنّ نجم الدين أيوب والد صلاح الدين هذا، وأخاه أسد الدين شيركوه- ونجم الدين هو الأكبر- كان أصلهم من دوين: بلدة صغيرة فى العجم، وقيل: هو من الأكراد الرّواديّة، وهو الأصحّ(2).
1.كما قال صاحب كتاب الوافي:-أيُوب بن شاذي بن مروان بن يعقوب الأمير نجم الدّين أبو الشكر الدويني ، كذلك قال عن السلطان الملك النَّاصِر أَبُو المظفر ابن الملك الأفضل نجم الدّين الدويني دوين بِطرف بِلاد آذربيجان ، وعن العادل قال : العادل الكبير محمد بن أيوب بن شادى بن مرون السلطان الملك العادل سيف الدّين أَبُو بكر) ابْن أبي الشُّكْر الدويني ثمَّ التكريتي ثمَّ الدِّمَشْقِي (3).
1.عن صلاح الدين ، قال صاحب النجوم الزاهرة :- وشهرته أكبر من أن يحتاج إلى التنبيه عليه.

وقد اتّفق أهل التاريخ على أنّ أباه وأهله من دوين (بضم الدال المهملة وكسر الواو وسكون الياء المثناة من تحتها وبعدها نون) ، وهى بلدة فى آخر عمل أذربيجان من جهة أرّان وبلاد الكرج، وأنّهم أكراد رواديّة (بفتح الراء والواو وبعد الألف دال مهملة مكسورة ثم ياء مثنّاة من تحتها مشدّدة ثم هاء) . والرّواديّة: بطن من الهذانيّة (بفتح الهاء والذال المعجمة وبعد الألف نون مكسورة ثم ياء مثنّاة مشدّدة من تحتها وبعدها هاء) وهى قبيلة كبيرة من الأكراد. وقال لى رجل عارف بما يقول، وهو من أهل دوين: إنّ على باب دوين قرية يقال لها:

أجدانقان (بفتح الهمزة وسكون الجيم وفتح الدال المهملة وبعد الألف نون مفتوحة ثم قاف وبعد الألف الثانية نون أخرى) وجميع أهلها أكراد رواديّة؛ ومولد أيّوب والد صلاح الدين بها، وشادي أخذ ولديه، منها: أسد الدين شيركوه

( وخلاصة القول الأول أنهم من بلدة دوين في أذربيجان وليست بديار الأكراد وأنهم روادية من الهدبانية ).

أما القول الثاني :-

هو أن بعض ملوك الأيوبيين يرفض هذا النسب ويقول: ” إنما نحن عرب، نزلنا عند الأكراد وتزوجنا منهم”.

وفي سير النبلاء قال أصلهم من الكرد الروادية فخذ من الهذبانية ، وشاذي بالعربي : فرحان ، وأنكر طائفة من أولاده أن يكونوا أكراداً ، وقالوا : بل نحن عرب نزلنا فيهم وتزوجنا منهم(1).

حيث أنهم يعدون نسبهم كما يلي :-

السلطان صلاح الدين يوسف بن أيوب بن شادي بن مروان بن أبي علي بن عنترة الحسن بن علي بن أحمد بن أبي علي بن عبدالعزيز بن هدبة بن الحصين بن الحارث بن سنان بن عمرو بن مرة بن عوف .

ومن هنا أختلف النسابون فقيل بن عوف بن نبهش بن الحارثة صاحب الحمالة بن عوف بن أبي حارثة بن مرة بن نشبة بن غيظ بن مرة بن عوف بن سعد بن ذبيان بن بغيض بن ريث بن غطفان بن سعد بن قيس بن عيلان بن إليَاس بن مضر بن نزار بن معد بن عدنان.

وقد ذكر أبا الحسن علي بن أحمد بن أبي علي بن عبد العزيز المري الخراساني الذي مدحة المتنبي، ، وفيه قال قصيدته الطويلة و منها:

أقراراً ألذ فوق شرارٍ!
دون أن يشرق الحجاز ونجدٌ
شرق الجو بالغبار إذا سار
الأديب المهذب الأصيد الضرب

مدركٍ أو محاربٍ لا ينام
والعراقان بالقنا والشام
علي بن أحمد القمقام
الذكي الجعد السري الهمام

إلى أن قال :

كتبت في صحائف المجد: بسمٌ
إنما مرة بن عوف بن سعدٍ
ليلها صبحها من النار والإصباح
هممٌ بلغتكم رتباتٍ
ونفوسٌ إذا انبرت لقتالٍ

ثم قيسٌ وبعد قيس السلام
جمراتٌ لا تشتهيها النعام
ليلٌ من الدخان تمام
قصرت عن بلوغها الأوهام.
نفدت قبل ينفد الإقدام(1)

وهنا يثبت المتنبي أن أحمد بن علي المري الملقب بالخرساني أنه من مرة بن عوف بن سعد.

وهذا القول يمكن تقسيمى إلى شقين هما:-

الشق الأول :

قيل إن مروان من أولاد بني أمية ، زعم ذلك إسماعيل بن طغتكين بن أيوب ، وأنكر ، ذلك عمه العادل أبو بكر(2) .

وقد شرح الحسن بن داود الأيوبي في كتابه الفوائد الجلية في الفرائد الناصرية ما قيل عن نسب أجداده وقطع أنهم ليسوا أكرادًا، بل نزلوا عندهم فنسبوا إليهم. وقال: ولم أرَ أحداً ممن أدركتُه من مشايخ بيتنا يعترف بهذا النسب.

كما أن الحسن بن داود قد رجَّح في كتابه صحة شجرة النسب التي وضعها الحسن بن غريب، والتي فيها نسبة العائلة إلى أيوب بن شاذي بن مروان بن أبي علي (محمد) بن عنترة بن الحسن بن علي بن أحمد بن أبي علي بن عبدالعزيز بن هُدْبة بن الحُصَين بن الحارث بن سنان بن عمرو بن مُرَّة بن عُوف بن أسامة بن بَيْهس بن الحارث بن عوف بن أبي حارثة بن مُرّة بن نَشبَة بن غَيظ بن مرة بن عوف بن لؤي بن غالب بن فِهر (وهو جد قريش).

وذكر صاحب كتاب مفرج الكروب :- وادعى بعضهم النسب إلى بني أمية . وكان أولهم الملك المعز إسماعيل بن سيف الإسلام ظهير الدين طغتكين بن أيوب – صاحب اليمن بعد أبية سيف الإسلام ظهير الدين يدعي ذلك نفسة المعز لدين الله وخطب لنفسة بالخلافة في اليمن ، وذلك أيام عمه الملك العادل سيف الدين بن بكر بن أيوب ، فأنكر ذلك الملك العادل رحمة الله وقال لقد كذب إسماعيل ، ما نحن من بني أمية أصلاً.

وفي النجوم الزاهرة ورد عن السلطان الملك الناصر أبو المظفّر صلاح الدين يوسف ابن الأمير نجم الدين أيّوب بن شادى بن مروان، ويقال: إنّ مروان من أولاد خلفاء بنى أميّة.

والذين أدعوا هذا النسب قالوا :- أيوب بن شاذي بن مروان بن الحكم بن عبدالرحمن بن محمد بن عبدالله بن محمد بن محمد بن عبدالرحمن بن الحكم بن هشام بن عبدالرحمن الداخل بن معاوية بن هشام بن عبدالملك بن مروان بن الحكم بن أبي العاص بن أمية بن عبد شمس بن عبد مناف ، وفي عبد مناف يجتمع نسب رسول الله ونسب بني أمية فهذا قول من جعل نسبهم في بني أمية(1) .

وبعضهم قالوا :

بن عوف بن لؤي بن غالب بن فهر بن مالك بن النضر وهو الذي ينتمي إلى قريش كلهم ابن كنانة بن خزيمة بن مدركة بن إلياس بن مضر بن نزار بن معد ابن عدنان. والنسابون مختلفون فيما وراء ذلك أي عدنان(2) .

أما الشق الثاني :

وهم من أدعى نسبهم إلى غطفان حيث الأيوبيون ملوك دمشق فقد أثبتوا نسبهم إلى بني مرة بن عوف من بطون غطفان ، وقد أحضر هذا النسب على المعظم عيسى بن أحمد صاحب دمشق وأسمعه ابنه الملك الناصر صلاح الدين داود.

ويقول ابن خلكان شاذي – بالشين المعجمة وبعد الألف ذال معجمة مكسورة وبعدها باء مثناة من تحتها – وهذا الاسم عجمي، ومعناه بالعربي فرحان.

وجماعة آخرون أثبتوا نسبهم في بني مرة بن عوف ؛ وممن أثبت ذلك الحسن بن غريب بن عمران الحرسي وقيل ( الحرشي) فإنه أوصل نسبهم إلى علي بن أحمد المري الذي مدحة المتنبي في القصيدة أنفة الذكر .

وأحضر هذا النسب إلى الملك المعظم شرف الدين عيسى بن الملك العادل صاحب دمشق ، فسمع النسب عليه ، واسمعه ولده الملك الناصر صلاح الدين داود ، في سنة تسع عشر وستمائة .

والنسب هو أيوب بن شادي بن مروان بن أبي علي بن عنترة(1) الحسن بن علي بن أحمد بن أبي علي بن عبدالعزيز بن هدبة بن الحصين بن الحارث بن سنان بن عمرو بن مرة بن عوف .

ومن هنا أختلف النسابون فالأكثرون قالوا :-

عوف بن سعد بن ذبيان بن بغيض بن ريث بن غطفان بن سعد بن قيس بن عيلاة بن الياس بن مضر بن نزار بن معد ابن عدنان(2) .

وعن صلاح الدين ، قال صاحب النجوم الزاهرة :- وشهرته أكبر من أن يحتاج إلى التنبيه عليه.

وقد اتّفق أهل التاريخ على أنّ أباه وأهله من دوين (بضم الدال المهملة وكسر الواو وسكون الياء المثناة من تحتها وبعدها نون) ، وهى بلدة في آخر عمل أذربيجان من جهة أرّان وبلاد الكرج، وأنّهم أكراد رواديّة (بفتح الراء والواو وبعد الألف دال مهملة مكسورة ثم ياء مثنّاة من تحتها مشدّدة ثم هاء) . والرّواديّة: بطن من الهذانيّة ، إلى أن قال: ورأيت مدرجا رتّبه الحسن بن غريب بن عمران الحرسى يتضمّن أن أيّوب ابن شادي بن مروان بن أبى على بن عنترة بن الحسن بن علىّ بن أحمد ابن علىّ بن عبدالعزيز بن هدبة بن الحصين بن الحارث بن سنان بن عمرو بن مرة بن عوف بن أسامة بن بيهس بن الحارث صاحب الحمالة ابن عوف بن أبى حارثة بن مرّة بن نشبة بن غيظ بن مرّة بن عوف بن سعد بن ذبيان بن بغيض ابن ريث بن غطفان بن سعد بن قيس بن عيلان بن الياس بن مضر بن نزار ابن معدّ بن عدنان، ثم رفع هذا النسب إلى أن انتهى إلى آدم u. وأمّا الحارث بن عوف بن أبى حارثة صاحب الحمالة فهو الذي حمل الدماء بين عبس وذبيان، وشاركه في الحمالة خارجة بن سنان أخو هرم بن سنان.

هذا آخر ما ذكره في المدرّج وكان قد قدّمه إلى الملك المعظّم شرف الدين عيسى بن الملك العادل صاحب دمشق، وسمعه عليه هو وولده الملك الناصر صلاح الدين أبو المفاخر داود بن الملك المعظّم، وكتب لهما بسماعهما عليه في آخر رجب سنة تسع عشرة وستمائة. والله أعلم. انتهى ما ذكرته من المدرّج.(1)

وفي سير النبلاء قال عن الملك المنصور فاتح الديار المصرية أسد الدين شيركوه بن شاذي بن مروان بن يعقوب الدويني الكردي أخو الأمير نجم الدين أيوب.

أنهم من دوين بليدة بطرف أذربيجان مما يلي بلاد الكرج بضم أوله وكسر ثانية ويقال في النسبة إليها : ديوني بفتح ثانيه . أصلهم من الكرد الروادية فخذ من الهذبانية ، وشاذي بالعربي : فرحان ، وأنكر طائفة من أولاده أن يكونوا أكراداً ، وقالوا : بلد نحن عرب نزلنا فيهم وتزوجنا منهم.

وقال الأصفهاني : خلف السلطان صلاح الدين الأيوبي رحمة الله سبعة عشر ولداً ذكراً وأبنة صغيرة وأبقى له مآثر أثيرة ومحاسن كثيرة ، ولم يخلف في خزانته سوى ديناراً

واحداً وستة وثلاثين درهماً(1).

ومما يؤيد نسبهم في غطفان الآتي :-
•اختلاف العد النسبي الذي يوصلهم إلى بني أمية فمره يكون العد إلى بني أمية مباشرة ومرة إلى قريش بوجه عام.
•اختلاف أصحاب الشأن في النسب إلى بني أمية ولكن الأكثرية أثبتوا نسبهم في غطفان .
•أن المتنبي عندما مدح علي بن أحمد بن أبي علي بن عبد العزيز المري ، والذي يعرف بالخراساني ، ذكر نسبة أنه في مرة بن عوف بن سعد من خلال القصيدة المنشور جزء منها أعلاه :

كتبت في صحائف المجد: بسمٌ
إنما مرة بن عوف بن سعدٍ

ثم قيسٌ وبعد قيس السلام
جمراتٌ لا تشتهيها النعام

•أن صلاح الدين الأيوبي وسع لبني ثعلبة وهم من قبائل غطفان في بلاد جذام(1).

ج – هدبة صحابي غطفاني(2) ، وهذا يعزز من انتسابهم في غطفان.

——————————————————————————–

(1) مفرج الكروب – ص 3.

(1) الكامل في التاريخ، لأبن الأثير، حوادث عام 564 هجري – ج5 ص213 ، وقد سار البعض على هذا القول وابن الأثير لم يوضح في قوله إلا أنه ذكر الأكراد الروادية وهم فخذ من الهذبانية ، وهم من أهل مدينة دوين في أرمينيا وهنا يمكن الحذر من رواية ابن الأثير، وعليه أقول أنه قد يكون للأعلام الصهيوني دور كبير في أخفاء نسب الأيوبيين وعدم تطرق الكتاب العرب المسلمين بالذات عن نسب الأيوبيين للعرب ، لكي يثبتوا أن العرب المسلمين لم يعد لهم دور قيادي بعد الخلافة العباسية والله أعلم.

(2) معجم البلدان – ياقوت الحموي – ج2 – ص256.

(3) السلوك لمعرفة دول الملوك – ج1 ص 148-149، فكيف يكونوا أكراداً في بلاد أذربيجان ، الله أعلم .

(4) النوادر السلطانية، والمحاسن اليوسفية ج1 ص 149.

(5) مفرج الكروب في أخبار بني أيوب ج1 55-57 .

(1) سير أعلام النبلاء ج40 ص111، ج41 ص262- النجوم الزاهرة – ج6 ص 3-4 و 12-13، والنوادر السلطانية – ج1 ص 119والوافي بالوفيات ج10 ص30 ،ووفيات الأعيان- ج 1ص 255.

(2) النوادر السلطانية – ج1 ص 119، والوافي بالوفيات ج7 ص147وج10ص30 و126و ج 29 ص 48 ، النجوم الزاهرة – ج6 ص 3-4.

(3) الوافي بالوفيات : ج2 ص 168، ج10 ،ص 30 ، ج29 ص48 ، الدويني نسبة لقريتهم دوين بطرف أذربيجان.

(1) سير أعلام النبلاء – ج 40 ص 111.

(1) شرح ديوان المتنبي – أبو الحسن علي بن أحمد بن محمد بن علي الواحدي ، الشافعي (المتوفى: 468هـ) – ص 303-307.

(2) السلوك لمعرفة دول الملوك – المقريزي(أحمد بن علي بن عبد القادر، أبو العباس الحسيني العبيدي، تقي الدين المقريزي766 – 845 هـ / 1365 – 1441م) ج1- ص 148- 149، ووفيات الأعيان لأبن خلكان ج1 ص 256-259و ج7 ص 139-140 ومفرج الكروب في أخبار بني أيوب ج1 ص 3-6 .

(1) مفرج الكروب – ص 3

(2) مفرج الكروب ص 6.

(1) قيل عثيرة في الأصل وقيل عتيرة في شفاء القلوب كما أوضح صاحب كتاب مفرج الكروب ، وقيل عنترة عند ابن خلكان والنجوم الزاهرة .

(2) مفرج الكروب ص 4-5.

(1) النجوم الزاهرة ج 6 ص 3-4و ص 12-13 قلت والأصح الهدبانية حسب ما هو موضحاً في العد أعلاه إلى أن وصل إلى عبدالعزيز بن هدبة بن الحصين ، سير أعلام النبلاء ج40 ص111 ، ج41 ص262، وفيات الأعيان ج7 ص 139-142.

(1) حروب صلاح الدين و فتح بيت المقدس – المسمى بالفتح القسي في الفتح القدسي – تأليف الوزير أبي عبدالله محمد بن محمد بن حامد الشهير بعماد الدين الكاتب الأصفهاني المتوفى سنة 597هـ – دار المنار – طبعة الأولى – عام 2004 م – ص .327

(1) البيان والإعراب عما بالأرض من الخطط والآثار – المقريزي – ج1 ص 16.

(2) القاموس المحيط – ج3– ص 317.

So again shut your big mouth you liar, and get the hell over to Qom-hell-stan where you truly belong.

February 7th, 2013, 11:02 am

Sandro @32,

Chomsky is telling us what we all already know. America is out to the dumb,

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/cifamerica/2012/feb/14/losing-the-world-american-decline-noam-chomsky

The funny thing is that some presumably Syrian ‘Revolutionaries ‘are entertaining high hopes on a losing horse, even after two full years of American Admin. treason of the Syrian people!!!

I would say gullibility knows no limit once it takes hold.

February 7th, 2013, 11:08 am

Zoo
While I’m sure it’s a waste of time with you, but here is one of the many proofs from Manna’a mouth himself for other readers who might buy your words
http://youtu.be/pinym1EQtSo

February 7th, 2013, 11:12 am

“24. JUERGEN said:

“Syrian Defense minister thinks Israel targetted rebel forces in their attack, so much about twisted minds…

“‘The strangest statements were made by Syrian Defense Minister Fahed Jassem al-Freij. He was asked why Syria did not respond to the airstrike. He replied: “The Israeli enemy was [the one] who retaliated.” How? He explained that the research center in Jamraya in Rif Dimashq (north-west of Damascus) was attacked by “armed gangs” (he means opposing forces) tens of times in order to ‘destroy it and seize it’ and when they failed ‘Israel itself [interfered] and targeted it with its warplanes.’
http://english.alarabiya.net/views/2013/02/07/264842.html”

You didn’t read the story. The article, from Saudi Arabia (automatically treated as a fairy tale by me), doesn’t say that does it? Reread it.

One has to wonder what a German is doing here 24/7 posting pro-terrorist propaganda. I am not suggesting you work for the BND but it is odd isn’t it?

At any rate what he said happened was the terrorists (FSA, Jabhat al-Nusra, NATO mercenaries, etc) attacked the research center many times (like they do air defense bases) and failed so Israel attacked it herself. Pretty easy to understand even for Saudi apes.

Israeli fighter jets have been very active over Lebanon recently. Some are saying the tension is the same as the month before the 2006 war Israel lost. I can tell you that Hezbollah is ready for them. Nasrallah promised the Israelis surprises and we know that he keeps his promises.

If you think about it the attack on Jamraya was an attack on Iran and Hezbollah (with the US green-lighting the attack). Couple that with the Israeli activity over Lebanon, the Iron Dome deployments, the Patriots in Turkey and the Israeli move to designate Hezbollah as a terrorist organization (based on lies about Bulgaria for one) we are inching closer and closer to a new war in the region involving many nations. Some say it could even involve the United States and Russia.

February 7th, 2013, 11:15 am

Long and empty list of assumptions and supposition that proves absolutely nothing.
The Arab history according to the midget will repeat that Sunni Arabs are geniuses and the rest garbage.

Soon to be printed by Al Arabiyya, his rich and favorite news reference

February 7th, 2013, 11:19 am

#59 Syrian

You guessed it well. It is waste of time as there is no comparison possible of the hazy circumstances of Manna’s brother death during a funeral in Daraa known to be a hub for rebels opposed to any negotiation, with the premeditated and vicious killing of government officials, often with their whole families.

Keep trying to find relatives that died…

February 7th, 2013, 11:29 am

Majie

“The answer is that Mr. Khatib has no control over the FSA,and has not been chosen by the FSA, and has no direct contact with the FSA, the National syrian council has much better relations with the FSA,”

I thought that Al Khatib is the elected ‘president’ of the National Syrian coalition? He has no contact with the FSA while his group has? Do you mean that Al Khatib is a failed ‘president’?

February 7th, 2013, 11:36 am

Syria regime overruns town as Damascus clashes rage
AFP February 8, 2013,

After a 16-day onslaught, troops retook Karnaz, a town on the strategic highway linking Damascus and Aleppo in the north, said Rami Abdel Rahman of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

“(Rebel) fighters withdrew from Karnaz, which they seized in December last year, after heavy fighting and regular forces

February 7th, 2013, 11:42 am

Revenir

“If you think about it the attack on Jamraya was an attack on Iran and Hezbollah (with the US green-lighting the attack).”

This is why pathetic Barak said “it’s to prove that we mean what we say”
He is trying to make us forget the repeated Israel threats on Iran that Israel is too coward to execute without US support.
Instead Israel bombs a country weaken by sanctions and with an army busy fighting a war against terrorists.

That show how coward Israel is.

February 7th, 2013, 11:51 am

SimoHurtta said:

Jûrgen what is the sense that a non Syrian German writes about 15 – 20 percent of the comments here? And calls others spammers. Comments where we outsider foreigners are expressing our thoughtful view of the situation are certainly a good thing for the quality of discussion. But is it for a foreign outsider wise to be one of the most active quarrellers and propagandists?

When I participated in this blog’s discussions I limited my contribution mostly to bring some counterbalance to the efforts of then active Israeli propagandists. A couple comments daily once or twice a week, not 20 or more every day. I found it hypocritical that aggressive right wing Israelis lectured to Syrians about democracy. Let Jûrgen Syrians take care also of the war of the words in their internal struggle. They do not need German and Israeli “democracy” force-feeders and crusader propagandists.

February 7th, 2013, 11:59 am

apple_mini said:

The regime’s strategy seems clear: they want Aleppo back asap.

The regime usually does not go for ”re-liberating” a town or city unless it is so important for them. For instance, Darraya, Douma, Da’raa, Homs, Hama etc. Those kind of fighting always risks high casualty on SAA and expensive operations. Possible large number of civilians will get affected or facing tragedy, even though in most cases, those civilians are supporting rebels. That is not what the regime would like to do at least for public relation reason.

Now they took back Karnaz and that means they are really having Aleppo in mind now.

February 7th, 2013, 12:13 pm

I have to laugh at Turkey trying to goad Assad into attacking Israel. What did Turkey do when Israel attacked her aid convoy? The Gaza flotilla? Turkey recalled her ambassador. That’s it. Nothing else. Not one bullet was fired by Turkey against Israel. Gul said the attack on the flotilla was an attack on Turkey but did NOTHING.

The war is clear. It isn’t about Assad (except that he is the president and resolved in his stance) or freedom (the US doesn’t care about freedom). The US doesn’t care if 500,000 Syrians die or they’d stop arming the terrorists through their cut-outs. After a few phone calls from Obama to Turkey, the UK, France, Saudi Arabia and Qatar and the weapons flow would dry up and the army would mop the Salafi apes up in two weeks.

The war is about the US and her allies/proxies against Russia and hers. It is about international law. No nation has the legal right to intervene in Syria to change the government to one better suited to the West’s geopolitical goals. Russia will stand by that principle and never change its stance. It isn’t that Russia is for Assad – that’s too simple of an analysis. Russia supports the rule of law. Too bad if the West and Israel doesn’t like the Resistance. Let Israel bring war to the entire region. If that is the price for freedom let it come.

Israel fears Hezbollah. Every Israeli report on the 2006 war documented that. The Israelis were humiliated and defeated. Read the Israeli studies of the war.

Of course Israel supports the FSA and al-Nusra against Assad. If they came to power what would a gaggle of Wahabi apes – created by the West – do to Israel? The jihadis in Syria aren’t attacking Israel. They’re attacking an Arab nation.

Any legitimate opposition to the current Syrian government has joined Assad’s efforts to end the war.

Moaz is a joke. He’s nothing. Moaz is in Obama’s pocket and Obama takes him out once in a while to look at him and back in he goes.

February 7th, 2013, 12:15 pm

AIG said:

What is the problem? Israel attacked Syria without Assad the coward and his murderous regime doing anything. Why aren’t Iran and Hezbollah attacking Israel in retaliation? Aren’t they Assad’s allies? If Israel is so afraid of Hezbollah why for 6 years Hezbollah has done NOTHING on Israel’s northern border, not ONE rocket. Exactly as Israel wants it.

So when was the last time Hezbollah or Syria attacked Israel? Over 6 years ago. Resistance? No, pussycats. Now is your chance, attack Israel, what are you waiting for cowards and 1/10 men? After all, Hezbollah will help you, and if they are so strong, what are you afraid of?

All you have to look forward to is a slow death by a war of attrition with zero chance of rebuilding. You will live under sanctions cut from the Western world. Have fun with Russia and Iran. Funny, even Assad preferred studying in London, not Tehran or Moscow. The jihadis are not going away. They will only grow more determined and stronger while while you rot away slowly into oblivion. You are dead men walking as long as you stay in Syria.

February 7th, 2013, 12:36 pm

Why are Assadist clowns talking about international law? What part of international law allos funding Islamists to fight in Iraq and kill Iraqis and Americans?

I love this gem:
“Of course Israel supports the FSA and al-Nusra against Assad. If they came to power what would a gaggle of Wahabi apes – created by the West – do to Israel? The jihadis in Syria aren’t attacking Israel. They’re attacking an Arab nation.”

Wasn’t the line of the cowards who support Assad that Assad is better for Israel than the jihadis and that the West is making a mistake by allowing them to take over Syria? These retarded cowards cannot remember what they said a day ago. Or more probably, they are just liars that will say anything.

Why don’t you cowards decide: Is it better for the West that Assad stay in power, yes or no?

February 7th, 2013, 12:47 pm

Now that the FSA find itself seriously crushed in Damascus suburbs, it was only ‘tactical’…

FSA Denies Launching Battle to Liberate Damascus

07/02/2013

Asharq Al-Awsat
Beirut, London, Asharq Al-Awsat—A high ranking source in the Free Syrian Army [FSA] has denied that opposition fighters yesterday launched a battle to liberate Damascus, despite the clashes in several districts of the capital .

The source told Asharq Al-Awsat that the operation launched by the FSA was “aimed at testing the regime’s strength and checking the extent of its deployment and ability to repel the revolutionaries’ attack.” It added that this operation “falls within the framework of the preparatory measures for storming and controlling the capital.”

February 7th, 2013, 12:53 pm

The heretic rafidis are the worst criminals who use the foulest language aginst the Prophet (PBUH) and His house. This criminal must be hanged in public and not given just two year jail sentence. I am upset with Bahraini authorities for not being firm enough against these heretics,

http://www.alarabiya.net/articles/2013/02/07/264957.html

February 7th, 2013, 12:57 pm

The War between Jihadists and the Free Syrian Army

07/02/2013
By Abdul Rahman Al-Rashed
http://www.asharq-e.com/news.asp?section=2&id=32827

A Salafi jihadist leader in Jordan was quoted as saying, “A war will break out between jihadists and secular fighters (the Free Syrian Army) if President Bashar Al-Assad falls.”

This threat can be interpreted in tow possible ways. It is either part of the Syrian regime’s campaign of intimidation or an honest statement expressing the agenda of jihadist groups in the region. Both possibilities are catastrophic.

The statement, hinting at a possible war between jihadist and secular fighters in Syria, was attributed to the Al-Qaeda supporter known as Abu Sayyaf. Since he was speaking from Jordan, the statement is akin to an observer making judgments from the outside, but its timing only serves Bashar Assad. The Syrian president is facing an uprising led by the majority of the Syrians, whom he claims are terrorists with links to Al-Qaeda.

Abu Sayyaf’s statement corroborates the Syrian regime’s allegations. When one hears such statements, they instantly think: Is it better for Syria is ruled by an evil man with smart clothes like Bashar Assad, or an evil man dressed in shabby clothes and carrying a sword?
…
The FSA’s agenda is to build a new country while Al-Qaeda’s agenda is destruction and bloodshed. This is why the latter failed and why religion will always overcome it. The US did not succeed in its war against Al-Qaeda in Iraq but Sunni tribes managed to eliminate it. The Syrian people are civilized, moderately religious, and will not allow the evil of Al-Qaeda to replace the evil of the Assad regime. They will do what the Saudis, Egyptians, Algerians, and Jordanians did, and what the Yemenis are doing no, by fully rejecting the terrorist organization’s ideology. Therefore, we do not need to fear that jihadists will thwart the Syrian revolution.

February 7th, 2013, 1:02 pm

http://world.time.com/2013/02/07/ground-war-syrias-rebels-prepare-to-take-a-province-from-assad/

Gaining ground by the rebels is not tactical retreat, killing shabbiha and Assad troops is not tactical retreat

February 7th, 2013, 1:26 pm

68. revenire said:

It isn’t that Russia is for Assad – that’s too simple of an analysis. Russia supports the rule of law.

Aha… Russia which ranks next to Nigeria in corruption, is concerned about the rule of law? Er, no.

February 7th, 2013, 1:49 pm

Courtesy of Ziad:

THE FALL OF MU’ADH AL-KHATIB; THE COLLAPSE OF THE FSA; SAUDI ARABIA PARANOID ABOUT DISSENT

The FSA was the baby of the NATO alliance. It had everything: an oddball but charismatic hayseed commander, Col. Hussein Harmoush; another charismatic yokel by the name of Col. Riad Al-As’ad as his heir apparent; it had Qatar’s money; Turkey’s indulgences; the NYT, the BBC, WP, AP, Reuters, CNN and every single western media source at its service. It also had Robert Ford, the mastermind of its rise to fame so covertly handling its public relations – doggedly pursuing its interest as though it were a long-awaited male child. It had everything but one crucial element: troops.

That’s right, readers, the FSA was a bag of gas. That is until Robert Ford and his Qatari allies decided to fatten the FSA with fighters of a different drum. The FSA was partly deserters and mostly Sunni civilians whose only motivation was either overthrowing the self-perceived minority government of Dr. Bashar Al-Assad or, in rare instances, promoting a Western-style democratic agenda. But, there was not enough people to defeat an army as large and as well-trained as Syria’s. The fattening element had certain unstable characteristics – like nitroglycerin. In the hands of a sober, rational adult, the medicine had great palliative qualities. In the hands of fanatic Islamists, well, that was a different matter.

Robert Ford, disgraced and inept former U.S. ambassador to Damascus was on a mission. You see, he arranged for every kind of support for his FSA, and then, when it was obvious it was a bit understaffed to say the least, he opted for the Islamist Jihadist solution. The Brits could have easily told him that without the Jabhat Al-Nusra, the FSA would amount to nothing more than acne for the Syrian government.

Well, as time went on, it became very clear that the FSA could never garner enough support or deserters to make it a formidable army. SyrPer has learned from Aslan and Wael, both of whom are in a position to know these things, that most FSA deserters refuse to fight if Islamists take the lead. In fact, the overwhelming number of officers remain cloistered in Apaydin while the brunt of the terrorism is credited to the Islamists. While the FSA appears to be mostly secular in nature, the Jabhat Al-Nusra is openly Islamist and radically so. It is, after all, a franchise of Al-Qaeda.

With the FSA, as feckless as it is, being unable to unite under one command and, therefore, incapable of presenting itself to the world with a single-minded loyalty to the new Ford-created NACOSROF, the foreign-based opposition could not even tout their military arm as something in their own bag of tricks. Just the opposite. The FSA has yet to declare any fealty to NACOSROF or its cleric-leader, Ahmad Mu’adh Al-Khatib. And now, one unit of the Jabhat Al-Nusra has threatened to “sever the head of Al-Khatib” for suggesting negotiations with the Assad admininstration. What a mess!

What preceded this paragraph has much to do with why Al-Khatib is now seeking to communicate directly with Dr. Assad. Al-Khatib has probably absorbed enough information to figure out that any country he liberates will be a waste land if these terrorist criminals are allowed to persist in horrifying the people he most desires to help. Al-Khatib has also seen the writing on the wall: Robert Ford is not long for his post as chief terrorist enabler. Saudi Arabia is back-tracking. Russia and Iran are not breaking with Dr. Assad. The Syrian Army is growing stronger. The terrorists are losing every battle. How long can Al-Khatib maintain the pretense that his organization should be accorded any credibility?

Al-Khatib’s organization erupted in much vitriol after he announced his willingness to meet with Farouq Al-Shara’, the aging and ailing Syrian V.P. Syria has rejected the offer to meet with Al-Shara’. Syria has also rejected Al-Khatib’s demand for release of all prisoners but held out the possibility that travel documents for the opposition criminals could be renewed. Yet, it appears Al-Khatib has missed the point in all this.

When Al-Khatib went to Russia, Sergei Lavrov told him through his assistant, Mr. Gatilov, that he is looking at the following:

1. An increase in Russian and Iranian support for President Assad;
2. A gradual decrease in American commitment to the ouster of Pres. Assad;
3. A qualitative improvement in Syrian Army capabilities;
4. A solidification of Jordanian, Iraqi, Lebanese and Iranian tactics to fight the opposition militarily.
5. A retrenchment in Saudi Arabia fearing an economic upheaval.
6. A continued rise in President Assad’s popularity.

With this kind of information, Al-Khatib knew that the effort was hopeless. He could only risk the inevitable vituperations of his opposition colleagues by suggesting negotiations with the Syrian government, once considered an absolute taboo and treason to the movement to unseat the government of Syria. Here is what Al-Khatib knows about his own movement:

1. Like Hamas and Fatah, the internal ideological differences are too wide to be breached;
2. NACOSROF has no ability to control the military situation;
3. NACOSROF will become a target of Jabhat Al-Nusra as it becomes more flexible;
4. The organization does not have enough money to establish a government in exile nor does it have any territory on Syrian soil where it can establish such a government.

With no chance that his organization could impose its will on the military situation, and with a membership more akin to feuding tribes, Al-Khatib now finds himself absolutely tied to Dr. Assad who will probably cut him loose anyway. Without Dr. Assad’s support, Al-Khatib will most likely find himself floating in bankruptcy as he wends his way from one European capital to another gradually sloughing off his most sacred conditions for peace. This is the end of Al-Khatib.

In the meantime, despite ridiculous reports in the Western media. the SAA is trouncing the FSA and its Islamist allies. We have written ad nauseam about the failure of Operation Zero Hour – how it was supposed to bolt the terrorist army into the center of Damascus. That was a disaster. So far, since the start of this ill-fated operation, over 9,320 terrorists have been killed. The number wounded is in the tens of thousands. FSA deserters are not proving themselves numerous enough or brave enough to change the course of the battle; all this while the Syrian Army has graduated over 30,000 new anti-insurgency troops and militia – all committed to the defeat of the terrorists.

In the meantime, Lebanon has finally started to get serious about its “detachment” policy with Syria. More and more terrorists are being forced to enter at the Tal-Kalakh entryway only to be massacred by alert and prepared Syrian border guards and troops. Jordan has sealed its borders and arrested each and every terrorist trying to cross into Syria. Iraq has also sealed its borders to the best of its ability and has recorded several victories in capturing aspiring terrorist rats.

Mu’az Al-Khatib should consider applying for landed immigrant status in Canada. Or maybe even Australia where true Syrian patriots can find a way to put him to out of his misery.

Let us declare that we at SyrPer are opposed to any accommodation, concession or gesture with regard to the terrorist enemies and their foreign supporters. No negotiations. Period. Long live Dr. Bashar Al-Assad; our great Syrian Army; our wonderful security services and most of all: The People of Syria. Ziad Amin Abu Fadel, Esq.

February 7th, 2013, 2:13 pm

Zoo

If she would be just an old lady I would not spread this rumor, but given the accounts of some in the innercircle she has an political role within the regime.

February 7th, 2013, 2:19 pm

Akba Palace,

This is for you.

Mullah-ape in chief slaps Obama and Biden in the face,

http://www.naharnet.com/stories/en/70985-iran-supreme-leader-rejects-u-s-offer-of-talks

February 7th, 2013, 2:28 pm

This is the source that revinire quotes:
http://syrianperspective.blogspot.com/2012/08/second-post-august-16-2012-syrper-has.html

My how desperate they are. From this article a prediction in August:
“Our nephew writes that Aleppo will be terrorist free in a few days although everybody thinks that some remnants will stay hidden among poorer Sunni Aleppans who have been promised some emolument for their indulgence.”

As usual, to0 ashamed to provide the link by himself since he quotes a site that invents news. What can you do with people only used to Al-Watan and Tishreen? Hopeless.

This is exactly what the Assad regime stands for, lies and fabrications as well as murder. They are dead men walking stinking this blog with their desperation.

February 7th, 2013, 2:47 pm

Juergen
Rumors that Anisa is not mentally clear, she is getting Alzheimer, she forgot that her two sons died, along with forgetting she is getting very paranoid, she is getting to be embarrassment she is taking her clothes out in public.
Now you brought rumors that she is terminally ill with cancer.
Bashar father died at age of 70, with cancer, Bashar has bad genes,Bashar would be lucky to die by a bullet.

February 7th, 2013, 3:24 pm

Tara said:

Anisa with a degrading form if Alzehimer? Paranoid and taking her cloth in public.

A divine justice!

February 7th, 2013, 3:51 pm

basel said:

Mother Anisa is all good
she is living in Damascus with our God
She never ran away and won’t do it whatsoever
She’s as important as Marry for us

So stop spreading nonsense rumors

February 7th, 2013, 4:04 pm

The regime weakens. The war continues. Honestly, what else is there to say?

February 7th, 2013, 4:05 pm

@36 Juergen you’re telling us 1.) she has cancer 2.) she has Alzheimer’s and that she 3.) is in charge of some government functions?

How absurd and hateful you are.

Why are you picking on this old woman?

@79 AIG I always give Ziad credit. This is no mystery. He has the facts on the war. You might not like the facts but can’t change them. If you wish to join your terrorist rat brothers in Hell I suggest you go to them.

The latest rat attack on Damascus was defeated easily and the terrorists took many casualties.

February 7th, 2013, 4:16 pm

Heroes of Tartous

http://www.tartous2day.com/Martyrs/index.php

We will not forget and we will not forgive

Ah, Revenire the retard. Being a loser again, aren’t you?

February 7th, 2013, 4:19 pm

http://news.yahoo.com/syrian-rebels-battle-army-control-damascus-districts-095458773.html
http://syria-news.com/

February 7th, 2013, 4:20 pm

The boys of our Syrian army are really in a good mood

The spirit is high and the victory in inevitable

(معنويات الجيش العربي السوري)

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=164013100414496

February 7th, 2013, 4:23 pm

That’s nice, because the other side is in a good mood too.

Kernaz in Hama is liberated and cleansed from the terrorist apes

http://www.aksalser.com/?page=view_news&id=24e04b069f325022cd40922f76e7be17&ar=440232730

February 7th, 2013, 4:28 pm

Oh. So the regime is celebrating because it’s re-taking some of the territory it lost earlier?

February 7th, 2013, 4:30 pm

So did you guys succeed in your “passports renewal” revolution?

This Khatieb opposition leader is a pathetic terrorist who does not know sh1t about politics. Sunday is coming and surely no women revolutionists (sharameet) will be released, so what next?

Talking about revolutionists, could anybody tell me why the traitor defector Abdol-Razaq Tlass is seeking asylum in Netherlands? he lives like an abandoned dog in the Ter Apel refugee center, waiting in a queue to be given some breadcrumbs.

February 7th, 2013, 4:36 pm

(So the regime is celebrating because it’s re-taking some of the territory it lost earlier)

Yes indeed, now it’s all about offense the defense days are gone.

February 7th, 2013, 4:38 pm

Last time I checked, oh Basel the buffoon, rebels control most of the country.

(What offensive? After a month of your “offensive,” you’ve re-taken a total of 3-4 villages. While losing 3-4 villages. Over the last year, the regime has lost much ground).

…

February 7th, 2013, 4:44 pm

To the Docs on the Blog:

Does Alzheimer cause the victim in any way to feel compelled to remove his/her clothes in public?

I know it is a form of dementia. It is normal for demented people to behave odd. But why taking off the clothes in public?

Is their some medical cause for the behaviour other than losing one’s brain?

February 7th, 2013, 4:45 pm

ghufran said:

أشار المبعوث الاممي الى سوريا الاخضر الإبراهيمي إلى “الأحكام الرئيسية لتقريره أمام مجلس الأمن الدولي، مبرزا ثلاثة عوامل رئيسية للأزمة السورية، وهي خلافات يصعب حلها بين المعارضة والحكومة داخل سوريا، والخلافات بين الدول الإقليمية الرائدة وغموض موقف المجتمع الدولي”.
ولفت لصحيفة “لا كروا” الفرنسية الى انه “يصعب قبول أن مجلس الأمن يبقى مشلولا لهذه الفترة الطويلة على خلفية أزمة دولية بالغة الخطورة”، مؤكدا انه “يمكن لأميركا وروسيا تجاوز الخلافات بينهما، إذ أن الوضع ليس بدرجة صعوبة أزمة الكاريبي في عام 1962. على مجلس الأمن أن يأخذ المسؤولية على عاتقه”، معتبرا ان “مصير الرئيس السوري بشار الأسد يبقى حجر العثرة في النقاشات حول التسوية السلمية للنزاع السوري”.
واوضح أن “بيان جنيف الذي تم التوقيع عليه في حزيران 2012 لم يتطرق إلى دور الأسد”، مشيرا الى انه “إذا كان المقصود الانتقال من نظام رئاسي إلى نظام برلماني، فسيتم رفع مسألة ترشيح بشار الأسد”.
hurdles preventing a settlement:
Assad
Qatar and Turkey
Islamist terrorists
Qatar and Turkey may change their position when the US does, there are indications that the US will,or already has. Terrorists will be defeated when the flow of arms stop and their Syrian supporters have better things to do, a Syrian style Sahwa is fairly possible if we reach a settlement that gives Syrian rebels ,who are not part of Alqaeda franchise , a way out.
Assad’s situation is the most challenging, many thought he would resign or be removed, that did not happen, for Syria to move forward, he and his family need to go.

February 7th, 2013, 4:47 pm

اعلن المكتب السياسي للجبهة الإسلامية السورية رفضه التام للمبادرة التي تقدم بها الشيخ الخطيب، وجاء في البيان: “أنه وبعد أن قطع أبطال سورية شوطاً كبيراً في حربهم مع عصابات الأسد ومع تتالي انتصارات المجاهدين على الأرض يطلّ علينا معاذ الخطيب بمبادرة تسعى الى التفريط في حقوق شعبنا وتبدِّد الكثير من المكاسب والمنجزات التي حقَّقتها الثورة الأيام الماضية وبناء على ما تقدَّم فإننا نعلن ما يلي:
1- إن الجبهة الإسلامية السورية تجدِّد موقفها الرافض لأي حوار مع النظام المجرم ومع مَن أعانه على قتل الشعب بدم بارد.
2- تعتقد الجبهة الإسلامية السورية أن الطريقة الوحيدة التي تجدي في الحوار مع هذه العصابة هي اللغة التي تستخدمها الكتائب في ساحات القتال.
3- إن الشارع الثائر في سورية سيُسقط أي مبادرة لا تعبِّر عن مبادئ وأهداف الثوار وخياراتهم الاستراتيجية كما أسقط كلَّ من حاول العبث بدماء شهدائنا منذ بداية الثورة.
4- حرصنا على تحرير الأسرى يحتِّم علينا وضع خطط عسكرية واستراتيجية لتحريرهم كما فعلت الجبهة في سجن إدلب وكما فعل إخواننا في لواء البراء في دمشق.
there is no need for the regime to reject Moaz’s initiative, the opposition did that on behalf of the regime, what a travesty.

February 7th, 2013, 4:51 pm

4. revenire said:

The rats are losing every time they engage the army.

Don’t you remember Libya, this term rats was also used for rebels.
In the end they killed Q with their bare hands

February 7th, 2013, 4:59 pm

#76 Revenire

Thanks for this excellent and thorough analysis. The best I have read for months. I fully agree with all of it.
I am also glad to see that there are Syrians who know how to write other than gossips, insults, vulgarity and calls for violence.

This ‘revolution’ is a tragic fiasco.

February 7th, 2013, 5:02 pm

@99 Zoo I like Ziad and his blog. He’s very much on the mark I feel.

@98 Dolly Libya was a NATO regime change operation from start to finish. It had nothing to do with ‘Arab Spring’ or freedom or any other fantasies. I suggest you take a look at Tunisia or Egypt today for the results of the West’s meddling. Syria has weathered the storm, is crushing the enemy and will come out stronger than she went in. A few thousand rats can’t take on our army. No way. No how.

February 7th, 2013, 5:05 pm

Just run onto another Iranian friend of mine in an elevator. he tells me the Iranian community is wondering why the Mullahs did not send couple of the suicide bombers into space instead of the monkey.

February 7th, 2013, 5:07 pm

#92 Basel

“the traitor defector Abdol-Razaq Tlass is seeking asylum in Netherlands?”

Is that true? The bearded baby face sex tape hero?

We haven’t been hearing about his sex and military successes for a long time.

February 7th, 2013, 5:32 pm

“Talking about revolutionists, could anybody tell me why the traitor defector Abdol-Razaq Tlass is seeking asylum in Netherlands? he lives like an abandoned dog in the Ter Apel refugee center, waiting in a queue to be given some breadcrumbs.”

Ha ha not much online porn for him in Ter Apel is there?

February 7th, 2013, 5:40 pm

Not arming the terrorists : Blame it on Obama…

White House opposed plan backed by Pentagon, State, CIA to arm Syrian rebels

http://security.blogs.cnn.com/2013/02/07/pentagon-state-and-cia-backed-plan-to-arm-syrian-rebels/

The White House knocked down a proposal last summer from top national security leaders, including then-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and CIA Director David Petraeus, to arm Syrian rebels, according to U.S. officials, one of whom said the issue appears dead for now.

Defense Secretary Leon Panetta and Joint Chiefs Chairman Martin Dempsey said in testimony to a Senate committee on Thursday that they also backed the plan to provide weapons to opposition fighters.

But officials, who requested anonymity to speak freely about a sensitive subject, said the White House rejected the idea.

“The reason we have not armed them is because the White House has no appetite for it,” a U.S. official familiar with the deliberations told CNN.

February 7th, 2013, 5:45 pm

I am hearing that Syria has formally rejected any negotiations today. I am waiting for an official statement from the government.

I hope it is true. No negotiations with the rats. Kill them all Dr. Assad. Kill every last one of them. Destroy their homes. Burns their fields. Raise their homes. Destroy destroy destroy until nothing is left. Then give your victory speech.

God bless Syria. God bless Bashar.

February 7th, 2013, 5:46 pm

Obama’s Post-Election
Pivot on Syria

By: Geoffrey Aronson for Al-Monitor. Posted on February 6.

….
The bloom has come off the Arab Spring, which has proved to be far more complex and ambiguous than expected. In Syria, the army has not faltered. The regime remains intact. Civil society has splintered along sectarian lines. War has endangered not just the regime but the state itself.

Little of this was understood or even imagined in Washington when Obama declared on Aug. 18, 2011, that Bashar Al-Assad had to go in order to redeem the Syrian promise of the Arab Spring.
….
This ill-conceived strategy sadly underestimated the staying power of the regime and placed too much faith in the self-executing narrative of the Arab Spring. It was hostage to the Russian refusal to be shamed and bullied into doing the right thing. As the strategy turned into a frenzy of death and misery that echoed throughout the region, the administration has been forced to clarify its objectives, including a national U.S. interest in the maintenance of the integrity of the Syrian state and its basic institutions including the security forces.
…
Obama has evidently tired of waiting for others to do the self-evident “right thing.” Washington remains as committed as ever to a democratic transition that results in Assad’s departure, but it has now opened the door in support of negotiations with all parties to achieve it. In the past, the suggestion that Assad was prepared to lose an election in 2014 could not be made in polite company. No longer. This change does not insure success, but at the very least it helps to establish a formidable and broad-based diplomatic counterweight to the killing.

Washington’s pragmatic reassessment is not occurring in a vacuum. Leading members of the Syrian opposition and the government itself have made conciliatory statements in support of a diplomatic engagement. Moscow and Teheran have also added their voices to the chorus.

February 7th, 2013, 5:52 pm

Reve,

So Zoo finds in your writings an antidote to the Syrian “vulgarity and insults”? Your writings are like a balm to his heart. He found Shushu beautiful and talented. I bet he also finds Ann angelic and Mina brilliant. I congratulate Zoo for his exquisite taste.

February 7th, 2013, 5:56 pm

I really hope that no women will be freed before the 10 feb. They will be freed when the Syrian government decides to, not under the infantile blackmail of a powerless ex-preacher.

Will we see the melodramatic UN-AL envoy Ibrahimi reappearing and backtracking on what he said about Bashar al Assad?
Will he ask Bashar al Assad to enter into a dialog with the conditions Bashar al Assad has clearly spelled out in his speech that the same Ibrahimi thought was “detached from reality”?

Good luck, Mr Ibrahimi…

February 7th, 2013, 6:10 pm

#108 Tara

As you are enjoying Visitor and Majedalkhaldoon “writings”, we are certainly far apart in taste.

February 7th, 2013, 6:13 pm

Low morale Syrian Army soldiers?

Syrian soldiers dance to Usher in online video

A video posted online purportedly shows Syrian soldiers taking a break from the country’s civil war by bopping around to American R&B star Usher’s hit song “Yeah!
AP , Thursday 7 Feb 2013

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XK2HKXi5nlY&feature=youtu.be

http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/2/8/64299/World/Region/Syrian-soldiers-dance-to-Usher-in-online-video.aspx

February 7th, 2013, 6:19 pm

Zoo,

I find you inability to have an empathy towards the Syrian women in Assad’s jail unacceptable to say the least. Do you realize what you are saying?

Therefore, I am simply going to say, I really hope that Anisa the matriarch dwells into her delusions and paranoia and continues to embarrass al Assad family in the worst possible way in revenge to all the Syrian women in Assad’s dungeons

February 7th, 2013, 6:23 pm

Majed97 said:

فتوى قتل المعارضين.. تثير مخاوف مصر من السيناريو التونسي

http://www.alarabiya.net/articles/2013/02/07/264970.html

The Arab’s age of enlightenment and tolerance is still 100 years away…

February 7th, 2013, 6:25 pm

The Stinky Moose
The liar
The manipulative con-man
The treacherous poster
The diminutive lilliputian
The farceur mummer
The dullard

Blurped as follows @108:

“As you are enjoying Visitor and Majedalkhaldoon “writings”, we are certainly far apart in taste”

That, I have to agree with wholeheartedly. See the first 7 lines of this comment for the 7 major deficiencies.

February 7th, 2013, 6:26 pm

Tara the only people in Syria’s jail are criminals and terrorists. Where else should they have been put? In five star hotels in Paris? Jail is where they belong and I hope the government doesn’t release a single one of them. Do the crime do the time is the saying isn’t it?

Born from the latest OIC, a triumvirat: Iran, Turkey, Egypt to propose a new initiative for Syria calling for “negotiations” with the priority on stopping the violence.

Didn’t we hear that from Morsi a year ago, a Iran-Turkey-Egypt-KSA initiative.?
This time they dumped Saudi Arabia who objected to sit at the same table as Iran.

February 7th, 2013, 6:27 pm

Tara

Now you see for yourself what I mean.

February 7th, 2013, 6:29 pm

The White House knocked down a proposal last summer from top national security leaders, including then-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and CIA Director David Petraeus, to arm Syrian rebels,

i find this hard to believe. in the run up to libya, clinton resisted and offered arguments against intervention all the way up until the europeans forced obama’s hand to support the mission. tony badran reported it was hillary who killed the turkish proposal to put up a no-fly zone.

when was the last time clinton offered sympathy for syrians killed or even bemoaned the plight of refugees? the woman has ice running through her veins.

February 7th, 2013, 6:34 pm

I believe in equality between women and men and I believe both must take the responsibility of their acts.
Obviously Al Khatib thinks differently. I am not surprised because I know his ideology and his views on women that he considers as weak and unpredictable creatures in constant need of the protection of a male.

I am interested to know if you agree with his views or mine?

February 7th, 2013, 6:39 pm

The Stinky Moose @117 blurped again thus:

“Now you see for yourself what I mean.”

What exactly do you mean liar, stinky moose, dimnutive lilliputuin, dullard, farceur?

Do you want us to show you respect?

You must be a jesting fool to expect that?

Someone with your qualities should not expect less than contempt, scorn, ridicule, mockery and utter disrepect.

You are a liar.

Liars do not get respect.

February 7th, 2013, 6:42 pm

Omen

Hillary Clinton is a cold-blooded hypocritical witch, to say the least.
I hope that her ‘concussion’ will eliminate her from the political life for good. Her career was a total failure and he deserves a long rest. Good riddance.

February 7th, 2013, 6:44 pm

It is so much a turn off for a man (or a woman) to use insults and vulgarity in their discourse. The allure of “naughty boys” is a myth in my opinion. Some people think that using insults is a “manly” behavior. It is very unattractive and at time repulsive. The ability to hold a civil polite discussion and expressing a dissenting point of view while maintaing certain level of sophistication and politeness is very appealing..says Tara.

February 7th, 2013, 6:45 pm

habib said:

Bravo, Landis. The time for rapprochement is near, yet he wants the west to suddenly support a “less fanatical” fanatical group?

How about not supporting ANY fanatics? Earth shattering thought, isn’t it?

His wife’s cousin was killed by such fanatics, what the hell is in it for this guy?

February 7th, 2013, 6:50 pm

Visitor says to TARA @122 he disagrees with everything he/she said.

Because Visitor mocks based on principle which includes NO RESPECT to liars.

Visitor does not like to argue for the sake of argument and definitely NOT with liars.

February 7th, 2013, 6:53 pm

Zoo@120

Interesting subject.

My views may shock any one who really knows me and my field that is dominated by men where women only constitute 4% percent worldwide

Yes, I absolutely do agree with al Khateeb’s views. Sorry. We are not equal. men and women are different and women most definitely in constant need for exchanging affection and feeling protected. In my opinion, any women who denies this is lying…

February 7th, 2013, 7:08 pm

We are not talking about emotions and psychological needs here. Of course they are different. We are talking about equality in front of the law and equality in accepting the responsibility of one’s act.
If Al Khatib asks that women get liberated from jail, he is considering that women are not equal to men in front of the law.

I totally disagree with that. Men and women are equal in front of the law and should be punished the same way if they committed a crime.
Don’t you see your own contradiction when you condemn Bashar’s mother?

February 7th, 2013, 7:25 pm

Johannes de Silentio said:

http://www.dailystar.com.lb/dailystar/Pictures/2013/02/05/142420_mainimg.jpg

February 7th, 2013, 7:29 pm

Let’s be clear here. You’re fooling yourself. The men and women arrested by the regime should not be arrested in the first place had Bashar been a legitimate president who abides by a legitimate constitution and by the rule of law. They are arrested because they are against the regime for most of the time peaceful activities such us wearing a bride dress and holding a dissenting poster or participating in a dissenting demonstration. So it is very naturally that Al Khatib asking for women release first.

Yes I agree, both men and women should be held equally responsible with equal rights in front of the law, yet in a context of a man-woman relationship, they are not equal.

February 7th, 2013, 7:44 pm

101. revenire said:

Syria has weathered the storm

So, what does the future hold? More of this fantastic -30% economic growth?

In Iran the average wage is like 300 euros a month. That doesn’t even cover food & utility bills.

February 7th, 2013, 7:54 pm

Visitor,

Sorry. You get no credit having a polite conversation with those who agree and compliment you. You only get the credit when you manage to remain polite and even kind with those who disagree with you. Says he/she.

And also Visitor, when one brings into question simple facts about people such as their gender or how many children they have like what Jad used to do, it makes one very un-sophisticated…in he/she opinion.

February 7th, 2013, 8:01 pm

another contradiction that makes one doubt this fictitious storyline that tries to set up clinton as hero:

The coalition is getting money from France and a couple of other governments, but the State Department’s lawyers have ruled that the United States cannot directly fund rebel organizations.

if this is what clinton thought, why did the state department set up roadblocks to arming rebels while disregarding the intelligence finding obama signed, authorizing support for rebels ?

February 7th, 2013, 8:05 pm

Omen go soak your head in some water. You are incoherent. The war is almost over. Your rats are done for. Our army is sending them all to Rat Hell.

But, then again you’re not even Syrian but a US clown.

February 7th, 2013, 8:11 pm

Talking about equal rights and responsibilities of men and women, I really truly hope that you and your wife do not enjoy equal responsibility alternating taking the garbage out every other night or alternating carrying the groceries home.
—–
Sorry, but I couldn’t resist. 😉

February 7th, 2013, 8:12 pm

121. zoo said: Hillary Clinton is a cold-blooded hypocritical witch, to say the least. I hope that her ‘concussion’ will eliminate her from the political life for good. Her career was a total failure and he deserves a long rest. Good riddance.

nice to find something in common to agree with.

yet when you consider clinton acted to block the u.s and turkey from being more proactive, worked against intervention, in effect, acted to protect the regime, that should, in actuality, make her a goddess by your lights.

please explain this contradiction.

February 7th, 2013, 8:14 pm

bernard, stop being such a prick. i never claimed to be syrian. you’re not syrian either. you are a nazi though. for a regimist, guess that’s close enough.

February 7th, 2013, 8:24 pm

zoo, stop disappointing tara. it’s making us sad.

February 7th, 2013, 8:31 pm

Tara @130,

Do not play on words with me. You will get no where.

I said I do not respect liars. I did not say I do not respect those who disagree with me.

You want to respect liars that’s completely up to you. And I wouldn’t care less.

Trying to claim that you are so-called ‘sophisticated’ by playing on words does not make you really sophisticated, and definitely not with me. I have witnessed much more sophisticated beings (both genders) than you can pull in your wildest dreams. I am not here to prove or disprove sophistication. Only, those who aspire to such thing would bring up this subject. The obvious conclusion then would be they are fond of sophistry and by no means are sophisticated.

That’s how you exactly look like to me – sophist and not sophisticated.

Next, never try to lecture or to condescend especially when you want to talk to me.

You have an issue to discuss by all means. But to lecture you know where to go from here…

I do not know who this Jad is and wouldn’t care to know either.

February 7th, 2013, 8:36 pm

Ziad said:

Raping women in Tahrir NOT ‘red line’: Egyptian preacher Abu Islam

http://english.alarabiya.net/articles/2013/02/07/264982.html

February 7th, 2013, 8:52 pm

TARA

The physical and psychological health and strength of a society is linked to how respected, valued and protected their women are.

They are the core of civilization.

al-Khatib is showing his wisdom.

February 7th, 2013, 8:54 pm

Observer said:

So the people in prison are all criminals and terrorists? Who says so? A court of law?
I thought the emergency decree was abolished so no one can be in prison for more than 48 hours without a proper indictment and without appearing before a judge.

Equal rights for men and women and therefore equal rape and torture and murder and arbitrary imprisonment.

Despicable depraved and sick hatred from enslavers of the Syrian and Lebanese and Palestinian people

You know TARA Jesus said before you point out the shard in my eye, why don’t you take out the beam in yours.

In the meantime, there has been an offensive in Karnaz and it was so called retaken by the regime after 16 days of fighting. Well if 16 days for Karnaz and so far 90 days for Daraya and it is still not taken and months for Homs and it is still a thorn and two years for Rastan; I wonder how many decades it will be for Aleppo and Idlib province. This is actually great news; for the only places the regime is fighting for are purely sectarian areas and in centers of power. This is not a government it is a mafia.

We also have psychology experts on this blog who can diagnose the thinking behind the oppositions’ leader asking for the release of women.

This is actually an invaluable window into the mind set of the mafia.

February 7th, 2013, 8:58 pm

VISITOR,

JAD was a prolific pro-Assad debater here a year or so ago.

I didn’t like him, but he was unbelievably high class, sophisticated and astute compared with the poor players trying to fill his shoes here now.

Unlike them, he also revealed familiarity and awareness of Syria and its people.

Go back in the archives and have a look.

February 7th, 2013, 9:02 pm

Ziad I remember in Aleppo when a woman had to take a knife to one of the FSA rats to protect her son from being raped.

SANDRO LOEWE AND OMEN please take note.

The realities of a modern western deomcracy. Not what you have been imagining.

Story: Pentagon leaders favored arming Syrian rebels

The Pentagon’s top leaders said Thursday that they favored supplying weapons to rebels locked in a grinding civil war with the Syrian government, a position that put them directly at odds with the White House.

Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta and Gen. Martin Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, made only a brief mention of their views on Syria while testifying at a Senate hearing on the attacks against the U.S. diplomatic outpost in Benghazi, Libya, last year.

But their surprise remarks underscored sharp divisions within the Obama administration over its policy toward Syria, where an estimated 60,000 people have died since an uprising against President Bashar al-Assad began about two years ago. The statements also marked a rare instance in which the Pentagon’s leaders publicly voiced disagreement with the White House.

At the tail end of a line of questioning about Benghazi, Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) asked Panetta and Dempsey whether they had supported a plan “that we provide weapons to the resistance in Syria.” The plan, he said, was floated in the summer by then-CIA Director David H. Petraeus and endorsed by another heavyweight in the administration at the time, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton.

“We do,” Panetta replied.

“You did support that?” McCain asked again.

“We did,” added Dempsey, who was sitting next to Panetta.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/pentagon-leaders-said-they-favored-arming-syrian-rebels/2013/02/07/aff3e10c-715a-11e2-b5f8-9a5465abcc30_story.html?hpid=z2

February 7th, 2013, 9:13 pm

127. johannes, what are you saying with that photo?

February 7th, 2013, 9:15 pm

Maybe JAD defected. “ANN” (Assadist Non News) is limp and drooping and REVENIRE shows they are drawing on the dregs.

February 7th, 2013, 9:19 pm

syrialover, did you note my post where i laid out the state department lawyers claimed it illegal to arm the rebels? my issue isn’t with panetta or dempsey but with clinton.

although i am of the belief that the buck stops with obama. he’s ultimately to blame.

February 7th, 2013, 9:20 pm

#133 Tara

How did you guess?

February 7th, 2013, 9:36 pm

OMEN #146

The buck stops where US internal domestic political realities allow it to.

Read above and you’ll see Hilary Clinton personally SUPPORTED arming the rebels.

And imagine Clinton dismissing the State Dept lawyers and being able to continue in her job.

It’s not like in Syria where the dictator holds all the wires and pulls all the levers without consultation (except maybe with Iranian advisers).

Those people in the US you are blaming for not taking action are powerful individuals but they do not hold individual power. Their job description is to act in the best interests of Americans.

I was in fact amazed at how the Syrian issue survived on the US agenda through the US election. And note Vice-President Biden was on his way to talk to al-Khatib even before Obama was re-sworn in.

Your anger is misplaced.

February 7th, 2013, 9:38 pm

At the OIC, despite the criticism, a reality check from past meetings as there is no more calls for Bashar to step down.
Al Khatib is trying to save his face by the gimmick of asking to free women as a gesture of agreement. The question is agreement to which version of his offer?

http://news.yahoo.com/islamic-summit-backs-syria-dialogue-202831503.html

Many of al-Khatib’s colleagues in the Syrian National Coalition say President Assad must step down before there can be any negotiations.

Participants at the Cairo summit did not call on Assad to step down, but the meeting exposed conflicting views among Muslim and Arab nations about the Syrian civil war. At past summits, many nations, including Egypt, demanded that Assad go.

Egypt’s Islamist President Mohammed Morsi, elected after an uprising ousted his authoritarian predecessor Hosni Mubarak, sharply criticized Assad’s embattled regime in his address to the summit. But he did not directly call for him to go as he had in the past.

February 7th, 2013, 9:54 pm

#146 Omen

Of course, it’s all Obama’s fault that he did not want to help the the war in Syria to escalate and destabilize the whole region as the Libyan foreign intervention destabilized North Africa

February 7th, 2013, 9:59 pm

It’s now clear that America’s top defense officials and woman Secretary of State personally cared more about resolving the hell for Syrians than Syria’s regime and its supporters do.

And they had the guts to say so loudly and proudly the first public opportunity they got. (#143)

Fascinating!

That’s democracy.

As usual, reality doesn’t fit the conspiracy theories.

February 7th, 2013, 10:27 pm

#150 ZOO

No. You’re reading it upside-down.

US intervention in Syria was trumped by domestic issues, not by the leading defense and state department officials deciding it was not a good idea for the region.

Quite the opposite. They wanted to give weapons to those fighting Assad to help finish him off quickly.

You learn the behind-the-scenes truth at US Senate Hearings. That’s why democracies hold such things. (#143)

February 7th, 2013, 10:38 pm

فرقة تهليلة وجوقة الفرح تحتفيان معاً بعيد المولد النبوي الشريف في دار الأسد للثقافة والفنون بدمشق

http://www.discover-syria.com/news/14377

February 7th, 2013, 10:56 pm

Turkey and the US increasingly at odds.
Davutoglu’s irony on Bashar al Assad not responding to Israel’s attack backfired on him!

http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/turkey-us-at-a-kurdish-impasse.aspx?pageID=449&nID=40713&NewsCatID=409

…
But there are other problems between the U.S. and Turkey nowadays too; Syria, for example. The second Barack Obama administration is not in favor of intervention to topple Bashar al-Assad, but is rather in cooperation with Russia’s Vladimir Putin for a transition of power. Ankara is not happy with this, instead urging a combined push against al-Assad.

There is the Israeli problem, too. Turkey has downgraded its diplomatic relations with Israel, under U.S. protection, over the failure to apologize for the killing of nine Turks by Israeli commandos in the Mavi Marmara tragedy in 2010.
When Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu recently combined these two subjects by saying that al-Assad had never thrown even a pebble against Israel – let alone confront it – the U.S. reacted. State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said on Feb. 5 that Davutoğlu’s words were “inflammatory” and harmed Turkish-U.S. relations.

But the real problem between the U.S. and Turkey nowadays is over relations with the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) in Iraq.

The U.S. and Turkey have swapped positions on the Iraqi stage radically over the last four years; the change is on the axis of the Kurdish and energy issues. Up until 2009, Turkey was against even establishing relations with the KRG, on the basis that this may lead to an independent Kurdish state and disintegrate Iraq. Now, holding its own dialogue with the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) for a political solution to Kurdish problem, Ankara is taking the risk of being at odds with its major ally, the U.S., and is embracing the KRG.
…

February 7th, 2013, 11:17 pm

#152 SL

Upside down or not the stupid Miss Piggy is gone for good.

God gave her the right rewards for her “good” job in Syria: A concussion, glasses and zero chance to become the next USA president.
Well deserved.

February 7th, 2013, 11:28 pm

The Sunni clerics let loose in Egypt calls for violence against women and murder on the opposition.
Egypt is turning into a wild fatwacracy!

http://news.yahoo.com/fatwas-security-hiked-egypt-opposition-190958014.htmlV

One hardline Muslim cleric on an Egyptian TV station justified sexual assaults on women protesters. Others issued religious edicts saying opposition leaders must be killed. Television screeds by ultraconservative sheiks are raising fears of assassinations here a day after a top anti-Islamist politician was gunned down in Tunisia.

Egyptian security officials on Thursday beefed up security around the homes of Egypt’s main opposition politicians, citing the possibility of a Tunisia-type killing after the edicts, or fatwas. The office of Islamist President Mohammed Morsi and his prime minister denounced the edicts and the top prosecutor began an investigation into one of the clerics.

Two well-known ultraconservative clerics sparked an uproar with their edicts several days ago saying Shariah, or Islamic law, required the killing of opposition figures. A third fanned the flames by justifying a string of mob sexual assaults on women protesters in Cairo’s Tahrir Square.

“They are going there to get raped,” cleric Ahmed Mohammed Abdullah said, depicting them as loose women. He spoke of their curly hair, saying “these are devils named women … They speak with no femininity, no morals, no fear … Learn from Muslim women, be Muslims.”

February 7th, 2013, 11:35 pm

Even Egypt’s PM becomes the object of derision…

Egyptians abuzz over prime minister’s breast talk
By MAGGIE MICHAEL | Associated Press – 7 hrs ago

http://news.yahoo.com/egyptians-abuzz-over-prime-ministers-breast-talk-211459066.html

CAIRO (AP) — Egypt’s prime minister faced uproar, derision and even lawsuits Thursday after he blamed health problems of babies in impoverished villages on nursing mothers who “out of ignorance” don’t clean their breasts and talked of village women getting raped in the fields.

February 7th, 2013, 11:39 pm

Tara
I am interested to know what you think
Do you believe Adam was created first then Eve was made from Adam,
Or do you believe Eve was created first then Adam came from Eve?

February 7th, 2013, 11:46 pm

ZOO #155

What ARE you talking about?

Nobody who cares about Syria could find fault with Hilary Clinton.

She clearly and consistently condemned Bashar Assad, said he should not continue in his role and even wanted the US to send arms to help the rebels.

Anyone unaware of this has not been following the situation outside their own head.

The fact she didn’t get her way should put her in your good books.

But you clearly see her as a threat. Too good for you?

February 7th, 2013, 11:50 pm

I certainly miss Jad, I think he got disgusted by the actions of the regime, which he somewhat supported, and the failure of the opposition to deliver, I had my disagreements with him but he was able to maintain a level of common sense and dignity that many posters here are unable to reach.
Moving to the dysfunctional OIC, the final statement asked for a dialogue in Syria, supported intervention in Mali and did not mention Assad.
What difference does it make if Eve was created from Adam’s ribs or if Adam was made out of Eve’s middle finger?

February 7th, 2013, 11:58 pm

Dancing to Usher then shouting for Bashar:

February 8th, 2013, 12:07 am

Another Tactical Withdrawal 😀

Syria regime retakes town as clashes rage – February 8, 2013

Troops have overrun a rebel town and are locked in a second day of fierce clashes around Damascus

http://news.ninemsn.com.au/world/2013/02/08/16/01/syria-regime-retakes-town-as-clashes-rage

After a 16-day onslaught, troops retook Karnaz on the strategic Damascus-Aleppo highway, said Rami Abdel Rahman of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

The outgunned rebel “fighters withdrew from Karnaz, which they seized in December last year, after heavy fighting and regular forces regained control”, he told AFP.

Clashes and heavy shelling rocked rebel strongholds around Damascus on the second day of an army offensive the Observatory said had killed at least 64 people on Wednesday.

The army is determined to crush terrorism around the capital and big cities, and over the past several days it has launched a qualitative operation and killed dozens of terrorists who dreamt of attacking and entering Damascus,” newspaper Al-Watan wrote.

The Observatory, which relies on a network of sources for its information, also reported regime shelling and clashes along a southern highway of the capital.

On the outskirts of the city, the Observatory said troops pounded rebel positions across the east and in the south, and that clashes erupted to the northeast.

These areas are among the strongest bastions of the rebellion against President Bashar al-Assad’s regime.

February 8th, 2013, 12:24 am

(Reuters) – Turkey’s parliament has approved a long-awaited anti-terrorism financing law two weeks ahead of a deadline which could have seen it expelled from an international watchdog, parliamentary officials said on Thursday.
Turkey is on a “grey list” of countries drawn up by the 36-member Financial Action Task Force (FATF), a money-laundering watchdog, for failing to implement the legislation required by its members despite being pressed for years.
The law, which will allow alleged “terrorist” accounts to be frozen without a court order, provides for a variety of penalties including imprisonment for those found to be abetting terrorism, the parliamentary officials told Reuters.
Had Turkey failed to pass the law by the February 22 deadline, it would have risked expulsion from the FATF, moving it onto a blacklist alongside Iran and North Korea.
( what about countries and individuals who provide support for Jabhat alnusrah?)

February 8th, 2013, 12:27 am

162. Ghufran said:

“”” what about countries and individuals who provide support for Jabhat alnusrah? “””

Those countries are above the law GHUFRAN 😉

February 8th, 2013, 12:37 am

This is the Syrian who headed the shoe throwing ceremony for Ahmedinejad. He is from Aleppo and told the reporter that he was treated well after he was arrested, and was soon released.

and so much about the wave of love he was receiving in Cairo, one must say the Shah in exile was more appreciated…

Ahmadinejad escapes second failed attack in Cairo

http://english.alarabiya.net/articles/2013/02/07/265030.html

February 8th, 2013, 12:39 am

Riad Saif wants a political solution after destruction of Syrian army. This is from his statement to ” Syrian people”:
2-إن فتح الباب أمام إمكانية الحل السياسي يكون ابتداءً عبر تمكين ثوارنا من تغيير موازين القوى وإحراز تقدم حقيقي على الأرض، الأمر الذي يقتضي مد هيئة الأركان بكل ما يلزم من سلاح وعتاد والوسائل الضرورية لإنجاز هذا التقدم.
This is like saying I will have peace with my neighbor after I kill him

February 8th, 2013, 12:47 am

A short documentary about Kafranbel’s revolutionary, objective newspaper

February 8th, 2013, 12:51 am

Hillary Clinton was the one responsible for the treason that the US administration committed against the Syrian people and the revolution. It was her repeated statements at the beginning of the revolution and afterwards which gave to the criminal thug the green light to begin with and continue with his murderous campaign.

When the revolution began, she came out with her first announcement declaring the criminal to be a reformist. Sure enough that is all he needed. Next week, he made his famous speech full of mockeries of so-called reforms, and unmitakenly she applauded him, when every one knew full well the speech was nothing but crap, with the only objective to buy time with the hope of re-erecting the collapsing fear barier without which the thug cannot function.

The pattern continued for several months since then. Every time she makes a statement calling for illusive reforms from a known nonreformable thug, the crimes would increase in magnitude and in ferocity. It was Hillary Clinton who prevented the Turks and the Saudis from supplying weapons to the FSA during meetings in Tunisia and in Morocco. She categorically rejected Saud’s plan to do so in both meetings. And that can be easily traced.

The US cannot be blamed for not directly supplying arns to the FSA, and in fact it is preferable that it doesn’t. But it can be bamed for preventing others from doing so. Worse, the US, after negatively impacting the revolution by its policies for a year and a half it comes out with the misguided announcement labellingn the most effective fighting force as so-called terrorist.

Considering how the US behaved vis-a-vis the Syrian revolution since it began, it will be foolish for any Syrian who aspires to the success of the revolution to look up for the US for help, or even allow the US to set the agenda of the revolution by the misguided policies, especially the most recent which only plays into the hands of the criminal regime. In fact, every thing the US did since the revolution began plays right into the hands of the regime and stabs the revolution in the back, and there were multiple stabs for that matter.

Sandro is right in his observations.

February 8th, 2013, 12:54 am

Shihabi is close to Rami Makhlouf who is now ,according to press reports, looking at moving his wealth to Belarus. Makhlouf denied that he is leaving Syria
جدد رئــيس غرفة صناعة حلب فارس الشهابي، دعوته “المعارضين المسلحين” لتسوية أوضاعهم ووعدهم بالتوظيف كحراس وعمال في المنشآت الصناعية بحلب.
وجاء في دعوة الشهابي-الذي يرأس أيضاً اتحاد غرف الصناعة السورية -”نجدد الدعوة للأخوة المعارضين ممن حمل السلاح و لم تتلطخ أيديهم بالدماء ولا بالإرهاب أو اللصوصية لأن يتصلوا بنا في غرفة الصناعة…ونحن سنتولى المسؤولية الكاملة لتسوية أوضاعهم و توظيفهم في حماية المنشآت أو كعمال فيها”.
وتابع “… وفور انتهاء الأزمة نعدكم أننا سنُحدٍث صندوقاً تبرعياً لإعادة الإعمار و تأهيل كل ما خُرّب خلال أحداث العنف من بيوت و مدارس و مشافٍ و دور عبادة و مرافق عامة”.وفقا لمانشرته عدة مواقع إعلامية إلكترونية محلية.

February 8th, 2013, 12:55 am

148. syrialover said: Your anger is misplaced.

if amb hof had any hope that there would be a chance for a proactive policy on syria, he would not have resigned the state department. his resignation was read as a protest over the administration’s apathy.

this narrative being peddled through media is an exercise in ass covering after the fact. what’s the point of clinton (secretly) supporting arming the rebels if she wasn’t vocal about it before resigning?

167. hear hear, visitor. finally, agreement. not to mention clinton in 2010 gave the green light for the regime to override sanctions and gave them IT technology that allowed it to better spy on dissidents. she did this even after she was warned by expats that the regime would use this technology to crack down on activists.

February 8th, 2013, 12:57 am

Finally, one influential UAE bank will close bank accounts of Syrians within 30 days

So Bouchra, its time to shift the funds, lets say to Minsk, Luka will be happy to invest the money in his gaspayments to Putin

http://aliqtisadi.com/index.php?mode=article&id=29782

February 8th, 2013, 1:14 am

Juergen if you had bothered to check that out (I notice you don’t even read your own propaganda) that “newspaper” has a total circulation of 250 people.

I didn’t make that up. 250

2-5-0

You’re a sad little man Juergen.

February 8th, 2013, 1:15 am

Reve

I posted this report because it sheds light on this remarkable small town Kafranbel which showed the world the wisdom and the humor of Syrians. And I stress it again for you, its an small town, probably even Assad never heard of it before the revolution. You should know the saying well: Size doesnt matter dude!

February 8th, 2013, 1:23 am

Report? Ha ha. Oh cut it out – it is PROPAGANDA and we both know it. The two guys who do the little rag had to hide their guns right?

A newspaper that prints 250-300 copies? I can start one of those tomorrow. Give me a break. Highlight a remarkable town my left one.

February 8th, 2013, 1:29 am

See regimes always have a bad reputation when it comes to tolerating criticism against their leading elite. Watch the film I posted yesterday. ( A Flood in Baath Country ) This regime is like the portrayed school, old overcome slogans are taught which hold no answers for the future. Stiff reglementation, the selflimitation and the usual kullu bi khair in Assadsyria.See, a country where the battaboy hangs in every corner and no one dares to say a word about him, thats an insane country and society, but you guys try to sell that as an developing country with an extraordinary President who only fights against terror. I know its easier to swimm with the crowd, but as a friend of mine always says, the head isnt just made for haircuts.

February 8th, 2013, 1:40 am

Juergen you’d carry more weight with me were you not German and were you in Syria trying to help her reform. If you hold a gun, or support those that do, I have nothing for you.

I am not “selling” anything. I support the government, as I have said 1000 times. For me Assad is a folk hero. He is standing against the West and winning. Few have done that recently.

The propaganda doesn’t do much for me. People complain about SANA but come on. There isn’t much to a paper of 250 readers. If the Syrian government started a paper with 250 readers what would you say? I have an idea.

In a real debate those who ridicule SANA or denigrate Assad would lose. In a war of YouTube videos maybe not.

February 8th, 2013, 2:10 am

Lest we forget

Reem bint Emad Abbsi, Randa bint Ali Nasser, Sidra Muhammad Ahmad

February 8th, 2013, 2:12 am

We hear dogs barking sometimes. Usually they stop but just in case…

What has Syria hit Israel with? Just this:

February 8th, 2013, 2:18 am

it makes no difference to me whether you are Lebanese, American, Syrian or German when it comes to comment on Syria. We are all feeling human beings, at least that is what I expect. If you care for nationalities and such boundries, I have enough tolerance to let you abide in this bliss. Each of us have our motivation, I laid down mine in earlier posts, and as long as I find praises for this bloodthirsty regime here you can be assured that I will comment.

February 8th, 2013, 2:22 am

In summary:

Revenire’s being a retard again.

Revenire, stop being retarded and get a job.

February 8th, 2013, 2:37 am

Hopeful said:

I long for the day when Syrians can have discussions like this freely in their universities. But first, we need to lift the nightmare of dictatorship and oppression. Could you imagine the Syrian regime allowing any kind of discussions criticizing it like this while it is in power?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-X7ZomZqmQ8

Bravo Egypt! You are making progress.

February 8th, 2013, 3:39 am

Badr said:

A place where Syrians all get along

Hind Aboud Kabawat
National Post | Feb 8, 2013

But during my own recent trip to one of Syria’s “liberated” villages, I saw little evidence that post-Assad Syria will be a failed state, nor even an Islamist one.
. . .
There is a sense that a page has been turned, and that Syrians will no longer tolerate political repression and violent intimidation.

February 8th, 2013, 3:52 am

#181 Badr

Thank you for sharing. The few good news like this one keep the hope alive.

February 8th, 2013, 4:06 am

Reading the news on the American president’s decision to veto the unanimous recommendation from the US State Department and Pentagon to arm the rebels.

My take?

This was a mistake by Obama. It will haunt America in the future. Regardless, no big deal. In 4 years, Obama won’t be there anymore. But most of the State Department and Pentagon people will.

February 8th, 2013, 4:29 am

Syria as a state is collapsing; Syria as a nation is turning into a killing field; Syrians as people are stripping off dignity and dying; Syrian as a culture is swirling down into sectarian abyss; Syria as a society is shedding her fabric.

Yet, many of those opposition are still believing lack of democracy and suffering political dictatorship are biggest problems facing Syrians. And those are enough to keep the civil war alive.

February 8th, 2013, 5:23 am

The reason for the mess is because the dictatorship decided to SHOOT the protesters instead of talking to them. This war is the natural result of 40 years of tyranny and dictatorship. The regime had gotten arrogant, and had forgotten what it was like to fight a REAL enemy.

What comes around, goes around. The regime chose to wage war. So war it will be.

February 8th, 2013, 5:34 am

What else than the lack of freedom in this dictatorship started this revolution? It surely wasnt an natural disaster, or an plaque. Through the handling of the unrest the regime has shown its ugly face not only to the world but also to ordinary Syrians . Someone said it well these days, many backers of this regime in the West just want to have the country back which ensured them nice summer vacations .

February 8th, 2013, 5:41 am

annie said:

Juergen, you are one of the beacons in this sea of stupidity that has become SC under the invasion of incredible menhebaks who should never have been recruited by the electronic army. Gosh, they should have kept them cleaning toilets. Of course I mean the REVErend.

This is food for thought although we knew this already : http://wewritewhatwelike.com/2013/02/07/syria-israel-business-as-usual/

“The difficult position the Syrian regime is put in these hours is further laid bare by the finding – reported not only by expert analysts but by the simplest of men in the street in Syria – that no Syrian military aircraft rose in the air to protect the country from an Israeli raid.”

February 8th, 2013, 6:37 am

Bashar Assad’s proud achievement:

Syria has suffered an economic loss of $48.4 billion in the past 22 months

[AP] Syria has suffered an economic loss of $48.4 billion in the past 22 months, accounting for 81.7 percent of its GDP in 2012, according to data from the Syria Policy Studies Center.

Syria’s GDP declined by 29.1 percent year on year in 2012 caused by destruction of production facilities, deterioration of the security situation as well as economic sanctions, according to a recent United Nations report.

Syria posted a 35-percent unemployment rate in 2012, and the figure could exceed 60 percent by the end of 2015 if the turbulence continues, the report said.

The ongoing crisis is likely to cost Syria 60 percent of its GDP by 2015, said Abdullah Dardari, former Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs of Syria, who is also an economist with the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia.

Official data showed that the Syrian turmoil has damaged public and private facilities worth nearly 25.3 billion US dollars across the country, with 624,000 families and 3.3 million people suffering from the destruction.

A total of 2,326 schools have been damaged ever since the conflicts broke out in Syria, official data show. Although 300 of the damaged facilities have been repaired, schools in some provinces have not been able to resume teaching due to security concerns. The northern Aleppo Province only has 11 percent of its schools resuming classes, a rate well below the national average of 75 percent, reports said.

The conflicts also destroyed 25 public hospitals and 111 medical centers and forced 25 out of its 72 pharmaceutical factories to suspend production.

Syria had 170 of its 700 telephone switchboards and 1,700 of its 6,000 cellphone signal towers destroyed in the unrest.

Meanwhile, the country is facing flour and bread shortages.

Since some flour mills have been forced to suspend production, the flour output across the whole country has dropped to 5,500 tons per day, falling far short of the nationwide demand of 7,000 tons.

As a response, the Syrian government has resorted to its flour reserve while planning to import 100,000 tons of flour to ease the shortages.

http://blogs.aljazeera.com/topic/syria/syria-has-suffered-economic-loss-484-billion-past-22-months

February 8th, 2013, 6:39 am

Here’s Bashar Assad’s proud achievement:

February 8th, 2013, 6:40 am

181. BADR thank you. VEry comforting

February 8th, 2013, 6:59 am

We have a glimpse to the thinking of the those that worship the boy prethident.

Hillary is gone and Athad is still there; or so they say.

The very basic nature of the changing of the guards or of the changing of power from one group to another is so alien that they think it is a defeat if the stupid stays and Hillary moves on.

What brought a toz to compare to a marhaba. This toz boy prethident is now using the Putin Grohzni tactic each time he loses a neighborhood and his propaganda machine is telling us that he is killing terrorists and mercenaries in their lairs and that there is no truth from the blood thirsty satellite TV stations to any events on the ground.

Well his supporters have chosen a zero sum game and they will get one.

I am sorry but there will be a blood bath and it is going to be very ugly and it is going to be massive and I am sorry that chemical weapons may very well be used to defend the “heartland” of the regime which will insure eternal enmity and trigger a regional sectarian war.

Justice for Hamza

February 8th, 2013, 7:31 am

Latest news show that 54 countries participated in the rendition program and Syria was one of the “main” destinations where the detainees were sent to the Grave ; a cell that is like a coffin and were subjected to the ” German chair” that stretches the spine to the breaking point.

In this there was complete equality between men and women as ZOO claims.

Equality of the law my foot. What law, what due process, what indictment process, what court of law, and this is after the suspension of the state of emergency.

TARA, I suspect that some pro regime on this blog are members of the regime and I know that this site is visited by regime people and of course trolling is a way to shut others up.

Also it is clear that the “logic” flows directly from the same “logic” of the regime: ” we are legitimate and the other is illegitimate” therefore all actions are justified and any collateral damage is their responsibility.

This is the mentality of the enslaver regime the regime that calls the country Thouria Alathad.

Equality before the law indeed; the law of the most barbarian regime on earth.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/worldviews/wp/2013/02/05/a-staggering-map-of-the-54-countries-that-reportedly-participated-in-the-cias-rendition-program/

February 8th, 2013, 7:40 am

Here is an excerpt

The section on Syria is disturbing. That government’s record of horrific abuses has spilled out into the open since the uprising of 2011 became a civil war, with more Syrians subjected to – and speaking out about – a torture regime that sounds as if it were from another century. According to a 2005 article by the New Yorker’s Jane Mayer, quoted in the report, Syria was one of the “most common destinations for rendered suspects.” Government forces, according to the report, held some U.S.-provided detainees in a prison known as “The Grave” for its coffin-sized cells and subjected them to “torture involving a chair frame used to stretch the spine (the ‘German chair’) and beatings.”

February 8th, 2013, 7:42 am

#169 OMEN

When you and others here go on indignantly about American civil servants (eg Clinton, Obama or Ambassador Ford) or administration not doing this or that about Syria, it sounds naive or as if you think the place is run like a Middle Eastern dictatorship or something.

You skip over the reality – that it’s a mighty big and complex democracy, where things are processed and decided through a mass of competing demands, agendas, requirements, issues and opinions.

We are seeing this in full daylight with the curtains pulled back when America’s top defense officials and Secretary of State now reveal they held the view that America should have armed Syrian rebels. But their case didn’t win through because other competing – and equally entitled and empowered – views won the debate.

I am disappointed that this fact and other points in #148 were not of interest to you.

Personally I wish America would send drones to destroy Assad’s airforce, I wish it would create a no-fly zone, I wish it would rush military hospitals and demountable homes to the refugee camps, I wish it would distance itself from Israel, I wish a lot of things.

But pronouncing that America SHOULD do or not do something is no different than looking at some family household down the road, whose inner workings you cannot see, and obsessively pronouncing on how they shold spend their income, what careers they should follow, who their friends should be, what charities they shold donate to, how they should vote and so on.

That’s their business and they have their reasons. And being realistic, I am grateful and relieved for the interest and support strong elements in America have shown Syrians, that Syria is on their radar screen, and for the things America has done and will do in post-Assad Syria.

Otherwise you and I seem to be on the same page about what is happening inside Syria.

February 8th, 2013, 7:56 am

BADR #181 when I read the account you posted of Syrians running their own society, like HOPEFUL #182 and ANNIE #190 I find it inspiring and cause for optimism.

It’s a glimpse of how Syria could be in the absence of sinister security services, Baathist officials, mandatory dictator worship, fear, insitutionlized injustice and corruption and all those things that have been choking the life out of it for 43 yeas.

I have seen similar accounts of this in liberated Syria elsewhere, where people are pulling together, everyone showing tolerance and mutual respect, to create order from the chaos.

For example, it’s shown in that video Annie recently posted of an account by young Syrian-Americans of what they saw inside Syria. See the section at the end: http://pulsemedia.org/2013/02/06/activist-trip-to-liberated-syria/

February 8th, 2013, 8:26 am

Rebels newest proud achievement: A massacre in Hama, 54 workers killed by a booby trap mini-bus bomb

http://www.timesofisrael.com/bus-stop-bombing-kills-54-in-syria/

Rami Abdul-Rahman of the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the explosion took place on Wednesday in the village of al-Buraq, near the central city of Hama.

The area is government-controlled, which is why reports on the blast were slow to emerge, he said.

A mini-bus packed with explosives blew up near a bus stop where factory workers were waiting to go home after work, said Abdul-Rahman. The dead included 11 women. He said the factory makes military supplies, but not weapons.

“These people work for the Ministry of Defense, but they are all civilians,” he said “There was no one from the military” killed in the blast.

Syria’s state news agency reported the explosion on Wednesday evening, saying “terrorists” detonated a car bomb near a factory. It did not say what the factory produced or specify the number of dead and wounded. The regime refers to rebels fighting to topple President Bashar Assad’s government as terrorists.

February 8th, 2013, 8:49 am

Who will be toppled first:
Egypt’s Morsi and his Moslem Brotherhood clique or Tunisia’s Marzouki and his Ennhada MB clique?

(VIDEO) Marches in Cairo and provinces against Brotherhood rule

http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/1/64/64326/Egypt/Politics-/VIDEO-Marches-in-Cairo-and-provinces-against-Broth.aspx

‘Friday of human dignity’ marches move from various spots in Cairo to Tahrir Square; hundreds of Copts start in Shubra to protest Maspero sentences; provincial cities on board
Ahram Online , Friday 8 Feb 2013

February 8th, 2013, 9:20 am

177. revenire said:

What has Syria hit Israel with? Just this:

OK Bashar supported some anti-Israel terrorists, but he also recognized the right of Israel to exist. So he was mild in his anti-Israeli views.

Al-Qaeda on the other hand doesn’t recognize the right of Israel to exist. So, if Al-Qaeda replaces Assad, then Syria would become more anti-Israeli than previously.

February 8th, 2013, 9:22 am

قام داعيه مصري في وصف اغتصاب أو التحرش بالنساء المتظاهرات بميدان التحرير حيث ان النساء المغتصبات هم صليبيات وارامل على حد قوله وهو الداعيه أحمد محمود عبدالله الملقب والمشهور ابو الاسلام

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xiez_S1KnHw

Comedians are now in charge of the Middle East. Try not to cry from laughing so hard.

February 8th, 2013, 9:28 am

Majed97

Morsi and the MB have opened the cages for the apes encaged by Mobarak to invade Egyptian’s society and TV screens.
Anyone who dares stop them or criticize them is accused of being anti-moslem.
Welcome to the new ‘freedom of speech’ Moslem brotherhood style: Preaching, raping, beating and killing.
A new social program: the fatwacracy.

February 8th, 2013, 9:38 am

Observer I read the report from Open Society. 15 people were detained by Iran and handed over to the Afghan government who handed 10 of them over to the US government. I believe Syria was involved in less than 9 cases total.

They were all Al-Qaeda. These were not people who had jaywalking tickets.

Did you bother to read it before jumping up and down with glee? The FSA has more than 15 people in its makeshift jail in Azaz alone.

I note you didn’t mention Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Egypt, Ethiopia, Finland, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Iceland, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Jordan, Kenya, Libya, Lithuania, Macedonia, Malawi, Malaysia, Mauritania, Morocco, Pakistan, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Thailand, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, Uzbekistan, Yemen, Zimbabwe but SINGLED OUT Syria and, by implication, Iran.

Sickening lies from desperate terrorists (like George Soros and his Open Society).

February 8th, 2013, 9:51 am

Friday Of Dignity in Egypt 🙂

February 8th, 2013, 10:20 am

Another MIG bites the dust in 3adra near Damascus.

What is the latest tally of destroyed aircraft?

By the way demostrators now go out in SUPPORT of FSA. People now realize that to get their freedom they must FIRST have a strong national army like the FSA to protect them.

Glad to know this has become a common awarness, and Syrians are no longer fooled by naive ‘silmiyya’ advocates.

February 8th, 2013, 10:30 am

Dolly Buster,

Not only “mild”, but also cowardly. Like most of these ME despots, they try to get other people to do their dirty work. In the case of Assad, he uses Lebanon. If I were Lebanese, I’d be pissed. So basically, while he gets Lebanon to do his dirty work against Israel (because he’s too afraid), he certainly isn’t afraid of killing his own people.

When democracy comes to Syria, EVERYONE will be better off, including Syrians and Lebanese.

Assad has never accepted the State of Israel. Al-Queda only acts where Arab/Muslim states are broken (Iraq, Sudan, Afghanistan, Syria, Lebanon, etc). When Syria gets a working government, al-Queda goes somewhere else.

February 8th, 2013, 10:31 am

Akbar Palace @203,

Excellent observations as usual.

We may also say even the presence of so-called Qaida in Syria is doubtful, hearsay, speculative and in most cases propagandish.

February 8th, 2013, 10:37 am

A place where Syrians all get along 😀

But during my own recent trip to one of Syria’s “liberated” villages, I saw little evidence that post-Assad Syria will be a failed state, nor even an ISLAMIST one.

[Welcome To Liberated Syria Where Ignorance Is Bliss] 😀 😀 😀

Meet BOZO the clown 😀

February 8th, 2013, 10:38 am

Is Mayadin on Hind Aboud Kabawat tour of happy post-Assad towns? ?

Al Nusrah Front imposes sharia in eastern Syrian town

By Bill RoggioJanuary 30, 2013

The Al Nusrah Front for the People of the Levant, al Qaeda in Iraq’s affiliate in Syria, has imposed sharia, or Islamic Law, in a town in eastern Syria that is close to the Iraqi border. The area has served as a jihadist haven in the past.

“Islamist militants” from the Al Nusrah Front “have taken unclothed mannequins they see as sexually enticing out of the shops,” in the town of Mayadin, Reuters reported. The al Qaeda affiliate has “also prevented women from wearing trousers, preferring that they adopt the shapeless head-to-toe black veil.” Alcohol has also been banned in the town.

Al Nusrah Front fighters are providing “daily religious teaching” to children, and are recruiting teenaged boys to fight President Bashir al Assad’s regime. Additionally, the group is making a profit by selling oil, even to members of the Assad regime.

The imposition of sharia in Mayadin by the Al Nusrah Front is eerily similar to al Qaeda in Iraq’s activities in Anbar province and other areas in Iraq from 2004 to 2007.

February 8th, 2013, 10:52 am

The Syrian Islamic Front: A New Extremist Force

02/04/13 By Aaron Y. Zelin
http://www.syrianassistance.com/6/post/2013/02/the-syrian-islamic-front-a-new-extremist-force.html

The second half of 2012 saw increased radicalization of the Syrian armed opposition, particularly in the north and east. What began as a mainly secular force with the creation of the umbrella Free Syrian Army has slowly fragmented into Islamist splinter factions, including Suqur al-Sham, Kataib Ahrar al-Sham (KAS), and Jabhat al-Nusra (JN).
Designated a terrorist organization by Washington in early December, JN has received the most attention, but little has been said about KAS, another popular Salafi-jihadist group whose strength and support continue to grow in Aleppo, Idlib, and elsewhere. On December 21, KAS announced the creation of a new umbrella fighting force called the Syrian Islamic Front (SIF). Given this group’s increasing prowess on the battlefield and ideological similarity to JN, Washington must develop a better understanding of its capabilities and reach.

What do they want

First, after overthrowing the Assad regime, the SIF hopes to empower Islam in society by preparing individuals to take leadership roles in various fields during the transition period. It also hopes to rebuild Syria on a foundation of integrity and transparency, which means fighting corruption and exploitation in line with the Quranic and Salafist doctrines. Decisionmaking would proceed in accordance with the principles of consultation, avoiding discord, and remaining in line with sharia.
…
the group demands that Sunni Islam be the state religion and only source of legislation post-Assad. Its views on minority rights are based on its interpretation of sharia, suggesting that non-Sunnis would be second-class citizens

February 8th, 2013, 10:55 am

when has al qaeda ever attacked israel? in fact, bin laden assassinated one aq leader who proposed a mission doing so as an alternative to attacking the west.

February 8th, 2013, 11:46 am

Erdogan will be the winner,he most likely will be the hero,Ahmadinejad is wasting his time in Egypt trying to cozy up Iran relations with Egypt, Egypt depends on KSA and USA,both are enemies of Iran,who is trying to develope nuclear power, Iran is threat to the ME Arabic countries, Turkey on the other side was historically controling the Arab world, and defeated Safawi regime,Egypt would have been better with Turkey.
All what Erdogan can do is to arm the rebels,help them achieve balance of power against Bashar airforce,So the northern front will be no fly zone to Assad jets,it will be followed by new goverment there,based on free election.
A new state in the north will extend east to Reqqa , Deir azzor,Albukamal,it will have excellent relations with Turkey,Iraq and Syria will be seperated, the rest of Syria will keep on fighting Bashar
Bashar will be more isolated in Damacus,by time he will lose more jets and become financially bankrupt,gradually the northern state will extend south, and Assad state will shrink.

February 8th, 2013, 11:57 am

152. Syrialover said: You learn the behind-the-scenes truth at US Senate Hearings. That’s why democracies hold such things.

forgive me, sl, but this is a sore point for me.

there is nothing magical about US senate hearings that compels the truth. lies are routinely pronounced in them. (during the bush years, administration figures arranged to skip over even the swearing in process.) one famous case was a line of tobacco executives pronouncing that nicotine was NOT addictive despite having been sworn under oath to tell the truth. another case was one of a sports figure who insisted he didn’t dope during his career. even when found out to be lies afterward, rarely is a consequence handed down for people lying through their teeth.

February 8th, 2013, 12:00 pm

Another humiliation and unwelcome message from Egypt to Ahmedinejjad,

http://www.alarabiya.net/articles/2013/02/08/265122.html

Ahmedinejjad gets attacked one more time by our good Egyptian brothers.

“The devil will find no refuge in Egypt”, as our beloved Prophet (PBUH) told us.

February 8th, 2013, 12:07 pm

MohaNNad Rachid مهند @TheMoeDee

The chants in the Friday peaceful protests are louder than the tanks and war planes. #syria

February 8th, 2013, 12:09 pm

New York Times Misinformation on Syria
http://sjlendman.blogspot.com/2013/02/new-york-times-misinformation-on-syria.html
by Stephen Lendman

Managed news misinformation reflects official Times policy. It’s standard practice. It’s longstanding.

Truth is verboten. It’s systematically avoided. Readers are betrayed. They’re lied to daily.

On January 31, the Gloria Center Global Research in International Affairs asked if Times editors published “obviously faked photos.” PJ Media’s Middle East editor Barry Rubin’s report was featured.

Suspect photos should have raised red flags. They should have been rejected. Times editors gave them front page coverage. Others were featured in a gallery online.

The front page caption read:

“Top, two insurgents in Damascus took positions before being hit by army snipers; the fighter on the right died soon after being dragged from the line of fire.”

“On the political front, Syria’s top opposition leader expressed a willingness for the first time to talk with the government.”

Somehow a photographer “managed to be in position to capture two men supposedly in peril.”

One was shot and killed. The photographer “just happened to have the presence of mind – and luck – to set up a second camera.”

Did he happen to be in the right place at the right time capturing events accurately? What he shot doesn’t square with what happened?

“No smoking gun,” said Rubin, “but I believe there is enough accumulated evidence present to be objectively suspicious.”

Reuters Goran Tomasevic was the alleged photographer. Checking with the new agency for verification and learning why “the key photo” is “missing from the gallery” was omitted from Times coverage.

“I believe the photos were falsified,” said Rubin. It wouldn’t be the first time fake images were used. It’s common scoundrel media practice. Western media, Al Jazeera, and other unreliable sources prioritize it. Willful deception is policy.

Rubin added:

“I am not an expert on photography, but I believe these are false (photos), indeed ridiculously so.”

“I believe an intelligent editor should have had serious questions about this, especially after there has been so much controversy about falsified photos.”

Featuring them is official scoundrel media policy. Lies substitute for truth.

On January 20, a Times editorial headlined “The Syrian Refugee Crisis.” Opening comments distorted truth enough to make a sailor blush, saying:

“More than 60,000 innocent civilians have been slaughtered in President Bashar al-Assad’s desperate bid to retain power in Syria.”

“In the two-year reign of terror, he has also forced staggering numbers of Syrians to relocate within the country or flee across the border, creating a disaster that is threatening to destabilize the region.”

“The international community has an obligation to do more to ease the suffering.”

Fact check

Syria is Washington’s war. It was planned years ago. America wants Assad ousted. It pro-Western puppet leadership replacing him.

There’s nothing civil about Syria’s war. Western-recruited death squads invaded. They’re Washington proxies. They’re heavily armed, funded, and directed.

Current US proxy wars use earlier tactics. Syria’s been ruthlessly ravaged. An entire population is terrorized. A sovereign nation is being destroyed.

Terrorists commit targeted assassinations and atrocities. They continue daily. Assad is wrongly blamed for death squad crimes. Media scoundrels turn truth on its head. They regurgitate official lies.

No one knows how many died. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay says 60,000. She provides no proof. She’s a reliable imperial tool. Her mandate is distorting and suppressing truth.

In mid-January, she addressed a closed Security Council session. She urged Member States to act. She claims 60,000 is “a conservative figure.”

Numbers “speak for themselves,” she added. She stopped short of pointing fingers the right way.

She blames Assad for “massive scale” killing. In early January, she urged Western intervention.

“Where is the international community,” she asked? “Why aren’t (world leaders) acting to stop this slaughter?” She blames Assad for Obama administration crimes. Doing so turns truth on its head.

The Times repeated her lies. Washington bears full responsibility for Syria’s crisis conditions. Assad defends Syrians responsibly.

It’s his job. He’s obligated to protect his people. Failure would be grossly irresponsible. Times editors didn’t say. They point fingers the wrong way. They blame victims for imperial crimes. It’s longstanding Times policy.

Its editors claim “(m)any Syrians have fled because of bombings by army troops, still others because of sexual violence.”

Implied is that government forces bear full responsibility. They’re protectors and defenders. They’re not aggressors or rapists.

Syrians welcome them when they arrive for good reason. Without them, things would be far worse.

“Russia and China….enabled Mr. Assad in his brutal war, but (did) little to help his victims.”

Both countries drew red lines. They’re united against NATO intervention. They’re committed against full-scale intervention.

They prioritize resolving Syria’s conflict diplomatically. They want Syrians alone to decide who’ll govern them.

According to international law, there’s no other way. No nation may interfere in the internal affairs of others. None may attack accept in self-defense. They may do so until the Security Council acts. It has final say. Times editors didn’t explain.

Washington, Israel, key NATO partners, and regional allies want Syria ravaged and destroyed. They want it balkanized and controlled. They want Iran isolated.

They want all independent governments replaced by subservient pro-Western ones. They want regional countries colonized, exploited and controlled.

They spurn democracy and self-determination. They deplore liberating freedoms. They’re contemptuous of human rights. They want unchallenged dominance.

Times editors support them. They’re dismissive of Syrian suffering. They’re reliable imperial allies. They support wealth, power, and privilege. Popular interests don’t matter. Nor does truth and full disclosure.

On February 4, Times contributor Roger Cohen disgraced himself. It wasn’t the first time. He gets feature op-ed space. He takes full advantage. He headlined “Intervene in Syria.”

Forget about right or wrong. Ignore rule of law principles. Disregard truth and full disclosure. Toe the imperial line. Time editors pay him to lie.

He’s beholden to power politics. He’s a pro-Israeli ideologue. His columns show where he stands. They’re one-sided. They wreak with deception. They support what they should condemn.

“The ousting of its despotic ruler, Bashar al-Assad, would remove Iran’s sole Arab ally and cut the Iranian conduit to its Lebanese proxy, Hezbollah. That is in Israel’s strategic interest,” he said.

Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak urges “Assad’s departure. (He) hope(s) to see it happen ‘imminently.’ ”

“But the worst course is the one President Obama and Western leaders have fallen into: Feeble paralysis most foul.”

Cohen favors “bolstering the armed capacity of the Syrian opposition, leveling the military playing field, and hastening the departure of Assad essential for the birth of a new Syria.”

In other words, ignore rule of law principles. Support wrong over right. Syrian interests don’t count. Imperial priorities alone matter.

Cohen quoted John McCain saying “(w)e should be ashamed of our collective failure to come to the aid of the Syrian people.”

America spurns them entirely. It deplores their interests. It wants them exploited, not aided. It wants unchallenged control. Cohen didn’t explain.

Washington’s been arming, funding and directing proxy death squads since conflict first erupted. Cohen claims an opportunity to weaken Iran is being “squander(ed).”

It’s “time to alter the Syrian balance of power enough,” he says. “Assad (has) no option but departure. That means” aggressively increasing US aid.

It also means “us(ing) US cruise missiles to destroy Assad’s aircraft….”

He barely stopped short of urging full-scale intervention. Maybe a follow-up column plans to.

Whenever America wages direct or proxy wars, media scoundrels march in lockstep. They shill for power and privilege. One-sided reports follow. Truth is systematically avoided.

Doing so ignores professional standards. Fundamental journalistic ethics are violated. Honesty gives way to bias. Misinformation, lying, distortion and deceit are prioritized. It’s standard scoundrel media practice.

Credibility is lost. So is public trust. Readers and viewers deserve better. Alternative sources best serve them. Follow them daily. Avoid irresponsible paid liars.

Stay current on vital news and information. Understand what’s vitally important to know. It touches everyone’s life directly. Protecting it matters most.

Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago and can be reached at lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net.

His new book is titled “Banker Occupation: Waging Financial War on Humanity.”

http://www.claritypress.com/LendmanII.html

Visit his blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com and listen to cutting-edge discussions with distinguished guests on the Progressive Radio News Hour on the Progressive Radio Network Thursdays at 10AM US Central time and Saturdays and Sundays at noon. All programs are archived for easy listening.

http://www.progressiveradionetwork.com/the-progressive-news-hour

http://www.dailycensored.com/new-york-times-misinformation-on-syria/

February 8th, 2013, 12:10 pm

Ha ha ANN that guy with the sword threatening to chop heads off is the new Al-Qaeda Tourism Official for “free” Syria.

February 8th, 2013, 12:12 pm

mjabali said:

Visitor the thumbs up clow..

I see that you and the Allahu Akbar Palace are friends now, the question here can you please enlighten us about what are the intentions of al-Nusra for the state of Israel?

Also, your near conviction that Salah al-Din is an Arab is amateurish at best.

We both know that even many in history tried to pretend that Arabs, especially those who always pretend to be from Prophet Mohamamd’s family.

So to say that Salah al-Din is an Arab falls into that.

Salah al-Din is no Arab because his actions show where his racial policies are coming from.

The people Salah al-Din brought to where he controlled shows you what race he was from.

Salah al-Din planted thousands upon thousands of his race where he went. The Turks did the same. The Arabs did the same.

February 8th, 2013, 12:26 pm

February 8th, 2013, 12:28 pm

Observer:

I just read a comment you wrote about history and Syria few days back.

It is good and worthy a longer response, so I hope to discourse with you over the weekend about some of those points… I hope some of the spammers patrolling this blog would take a holiday by then so we can discuss important matters…..

February 8th, 2013, 12:35 pm

The creation of northern state will pose no danger to US interest,so USA will have no excuse for not arming them,,Hamah and Homs should be in that northern state

February 8th, 2013, 12:37 pm

Former German Parliamentarian Exposes West’s Alliance with al-Qaeda – Feb. 7, 2013

In an article for the Feb. 5 Kölner Stadtanzeigernews daily, former Bundestag member for the Christian Democrats Jürgen Todenhöfer denounced the unholy pact among the West, the Saudis, and the Islamic terrorist groups. His analysis is flawed to the extent that the British aspect does not appear, but the piece otherwise, is a very useful exposé.

“The Syrian rebels receive money and weapons predominantly from Saudi Arabia and Qatar. Saudi Arabia is mainly supplying Al Qaeda, with the U.S.A. knowing about it. The West is providing political cover for the entire rebellion, including al-Qaeda. It is de facto an ally of al-Qaeda. In Mali against, in Syria for al-Qaeda—it can’t be more cynical.”

“Assad is a dictator. So is the King of Saudi Arabia and the Emir of Qatar. The U.S. and the despots of Saudi Arabia and Qatar don’t want to see democracy in Syria. Their objective is to knock out an important ally of Iran, which has become too powerful because of the Iraq War for them. That this goes along with one of the most amiable multi-ethnic peoples of the Arab world, does not interest our ‘world strategists.’ Nor does the fact that if the extremists win, 2 million Christians will lose their home.”

Todenhöfer writes that Assad will be able to hold out for some time, therefore it would be better to negotiate with him than to continue this tragic civil war. When Ronald Reagan once negotiated with the Soviet leaders, he never called on them to step down. What would be required is for the U.S. to force Saudi Arabia and Qatar to stop supplying the weapons. A ceasefire should be used for talks between Assad and the opposition, with the aim of forming a transitional government, of working out a democratic constitution that also protects minorities, and of preparing free elections under international monitoring. Assad is not that much interested in being a Presidential candidate in 2014, if there is a fair peace agreement, Todenhöfer writes. “It is time for a correction of the West’s course. It must end its cynical pact with al-Qaeda.”

February 8th, 2013, 12:38 pm

The intensifying fight in Syria came after Moaz challenged frozen minds to seek a political solution, the only result so far is making the list of destroyed lives longer. It is funny to see a clowning aljazeera ,Hasan Azzayat, explaining to equally clownish viewers how the rebels plan on ” liberating” Damascus,what he really meant is destroying Damascus.
Like Aleppo, when the feared outcome, destruction of Damascus, becomes a reality you will see boneheads on this forum complain about how the regime destroyed Damascus.
I yet have to see one evidence that rebels have any chance of taking parts of Damascus over without transforming the city into another Aleppo.
Thawrajiyyeh internet fools: Call me when you have a clue.
طز فيكن و بهالثوره تبعكن

February 8th, 2013, 12:45 pm

Once in a while, I’ll write a good post;) Thanks.

Well, from my reading of the news (based mainly on western, english sources like the BBC, it seems the opposition was mostly home-grown for the first year, and now it seems mixed with jihadist groups. To me, it doesn’t matter, it all boils down to the fault of the Assad government, whose sole responsibility is the security of the State. He failed the people, the State and moreover, he is at war with them.

In any case, I am pleased SC has so many “voices of reason” like you Visitor, people who are not filled with hate and who have been waiting over 40 years for a normal country. I say it’s about time.

mjabali said,

I’m honored. People of all walks of life should be able to communicate without hate or reservation. You can disagree and still respect your fellow human being.

According to Wiki, al-Nusra is an Islamist party working with the Syrian opposition. You can take it from me, etched in stone, and fully guaranteed legal tender, that the GOI does not work with any Islamist organizations, parties, groups, etc.

Israel has “good” relations with Israeli-Arabs, and that tends to be forgotten. The Israeli Islamists are still yelling about “resistance” even in Israel (freedom of speech), but as long as it’s just hot-air, I guess that’s OK; The last time I was in Israel, we met with Druse in a small village in the mountains near Haifa. The food was great!

BTW, as I understand Salah al-Din was Kurdish. Whether that’s considered arab or not shouldn’t matter. One of the MAIN roads outside the Old City in Jerusalem is called none other than “Salah al-Din Street”.

February 8th, 2013, 1:05 pm

“so I hope to discourse with you over the weekend about some of those points…”

Ya Zbele @ 215 & 217,

We already determined that you’re mentally sick.

What makes you think that anyone would be interested in reading further the state of your psychological depravity over a weekened, or any other time for that matter?

February 8th, 2013, 1:09 pm

Ghufran @ 220 once again made a f**t,

“طز فيكن و بهالثوره تبعكن”

Are you having trouble again with your BMS, senile funnyman?

You smell awefull. What did you have for breakfast?

Go see a doc.

Why are you so inconsiderate?

Here طز فيك

February 8th, 2013, 1:16 pm

OK Majbali I am on call, cannot promise too much discussion and I must confess that for historical facts I am not very well versed.

On a different note,
The rendered people were not Al Qaeda, that was the purpose of the rendition to find out who they are where they stand and what roles they had.

The Aljazeera correspondent was rendered and Maher Arrar was rendered from Canada to Syria and is now suing Rumsfeld in a court of law for those medieval retarded adoring fans of the regime of depravity and barbarity called Thouria Alathad.

It does not matter about the other countries, they are all guilty of doing extra judicial rendition and the use of torture.

All are guilty but in here we are discussing Thouria Alathad.

I want Joshua Landis to have a new blog post in which he describes for us the various personalities of the regime security house of cards i.e. Mamlouk Ghazale Kheirbek Makhlouf the various Athads and so on and so forth and the various so called internal opposition that have refused to talk to the regime after the latest initiative of the boy.

Where is Khayer for example. Is he in jail. Who on the Lebanese side are pro regime, I know of Franjieh but did not know Karameh in Tripoli was pro regime.

I know a few that comment here and there so it is time for us to have Joshua explain to us who controls what in Thouria Alathad and who does what.

Maher Arar received millions from the Canadian government and a formal apology for his rendition to Thouria Alathad.

Justice for Hamza.

February 8th, 2013, 1:20 pm

Observer
Try not to follow the lebanese people, they are so confusing, Khayrbeck was arrested as soon as he returned from Russia and China, it is not known if he is dead or alive,

February 8th, 2013, 1:48 pm

“explain to us who controls what in Thouria Alathad and who does what”

Perhaps this recent account sheds some light. It sounds plausible to me.

Assad inner circle takes hard line in Syria conflict
26 December 2012
AFP

February 8th, 2013, 2:13 pm

“Bashar al-Assad, it sometimes seems, is lucky in his enemies.” Or he is just more solidly supported and smarter?

Divided Syrian opposition ponders leader’s offer of talks with Assad

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/feb/08/syrian-opposition-rows-talks-assad

Outrage within coalition over Moaz al-Khatib’s initiative underlines dilemma for rebels still lacking practical support from US and western backers
….
Now, after a flurry of tense consultations, Khatib and colleagues will meet in Cairo this weekend – with the UN envoy Lakhdar Brahimi – for an emergency session to clarify the position.
….
Kamal Labwani, an independent, warned of “betrayal” and a “fifth column” inside the opposition. “The regime understands only the language of force,” he protested. But George Sabra of the SNC – the largest component of the SOC – was more nuanced: he first rejected the initiative but then softened his position,
…
Khatib, described as charismatic but a bad listener, is said to dislike foreign-based activists and intellectuals he considers out of touch – disparagingly known as “hotel warriors”. Based in Cairo with his own loyal team, he has the support of powerful businessmen from Damascus who are alarmed by the rise of Islamist and jihadi groups in the armed opposition.

“People have criticised Khatib for naivety but there are forces telling him that this is the way to go,” said commentator Malik al-Abdeh.

Others warn that Khatib’s leadership, and that of the SOC, remains far more dependent on external recognition than any internal legitimacy.

February 8th, 2013, 2:37 pm

“powerful businessmen from Damascus who are alarmed by the rise of Islamist and jihadi groups in the armed opposition.”

The irony is that Bashar al Assad regime may be ultimately saved …by the Sunni businessmen who may have promised Qatar that it will have a share in the reconstruction of Syria…

February 8th, 2013, 2:45 pm

# 222. AKBAR PALACE said:

“I am pleased SC has so many “voices of reason” like you Visitor, people who are not filled with hate”

That is hilarious, very very funny.

VISITOR explodes with hatred and fury against fellow posters here all the time. Then his voice becomes one of hissing insults, growling threats, crude obscenities and so on.

VISITOR’S “voice of reason” is particularly strident in denouncing any of us who are pro-FSA but against the Islamist militants and extremists who are fueled by delusions and swollen-headed contempt for their fellow human beings and want to control and “punish” them using bizarre invented codes.

You also say that VISITOR has “been waiting over 40 years for a normal country”.

Well, he might have been at one stage, but he’s excitedly scrapped that vision and superseded it with one of Syria being run like northern Mali was under Islamist extremists before they were recently chased back to their home countries.

He has voiced his outrage at those guys being displaced, echoing the views of his heroes in al-Nusra.

He also constantly expresses anger and abuse against Moaz al-Khatib who is not “holy” and militant enough for VISITOR’S tastes.

I sadly suspect a normalized Syria would fail the excitement and interest test for VISITOR, sitting on his sofa.

February 8th, 2013, 2:47 pm

AKBAR PALACE said in #222:

February 8th, 2013, 2:49 pm

SL #230

I don’t agree often with you, but this time, My God, you’re right, it is pathetically hilarious!

February 8th, 2013, 2:55 pm

Syrialover,

I don’t know what to tell you. The divisions in the US and Israel are stark, yet, we aren’t killing each other.

In Israel, you have Jews from all over the world with their various customs and political leanings. Not to mention the suspicions between the arab and jewish people. In the US there are deep divisions between rural/urban, immigrant, minority, rich and poor.

But the governments are strong. The police forces are strong. And the government does it’s best to address these divisions in the media and in school.

My understanding is that the despots who run the ME do just the opposite. They sow division and disunity.

Israeli and Americans share a stable government and we aren’t killing each other. If I were Visitor, I would do the same thing: choose a side, and fight for it. The situation has devolved into a bloody war, and it is OBVIOUS to me and most other people, that Assad is not the answer, he’s the problem. I think anyone who supports Assad must have his head examined.

February 8th, 2013, 3:01 pm

If the present uprisings escalate , are we going to soon witness in Egypt and Tunisia the fall of short-lived Islamist controlled governments?

If this happens, what message will it send to the region about the viability and reliability of Islamist governments?

February 8th, 2013, 3:09 pm

220 Guffran said
“Thawrajiyyeh internet fools: Call me when you have a clue.”
What is a dinasores like you doing on the Internet to bigen with??should not you be writing a letter to your Atwan…….
طز فيك وبتحليلاتك

February 8th, 2013, 3:10 pm

Just read the conclusion, it’s the stupidest and most confused article I ever read on FP and with a scoopy heading…

Arm the Syrian Rebels. Now.

Obama’s cabinet had a plan to take down Bashar al-Assad. What went wrong?
BY MICHAEL DORAN, SALMAN SHAIKH | FEBRUARY 8, 2013

http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2013/02/08/arm_the_syrian_rebels_now_assad_obama?page=0,1
..
For this to succeed, Obama must first persuade Russia to abandon its demand that Assad play a role in the transition. If Moscow remains defiant, however, the president must be willing to pursue an independent policy — while still keeping the door open for Russian President Vladimir Putin to eventually join the international consensus.

The Syria challenge is difficult. Its intractability is what initially made nonintervention attractive. But developments on the ground have since made it an increasingly dangerous option for American interests. It’s time Obama listened to his foreign policy and national security advisors.

February 8th, 2013, 3:16 pm

The EU is fueling again the conflict with more irresponsible and illegal declarations.

EU Calls For Syria Political Transition Without Assad

http://en.rian.ru/world/20130208/179307187.html

BRUSSELS, February 8 (RIA Novosti) – EU leaders called for a political transition in the crisis-hit Syria on Friday but said they see no role of President Bashar al-Assad in the process.

“[European Council] expresses its support for the Syrian population’s aspirations and for the Syrian National Coalition as legitimate representatives of the Syrian people, and stresses the need for a political transition towards a future without Assad and his illegitimate regime,” the Council said in a statement outlining its conclusions of the two-day summit in Brussels.

The bloc’s 27 leaders called for “an immediate end to violence” in Syria and expressed “concern over the widespread and systematic violations of human rights and international humanitarian law, for which the Assad regime carries the primary responsibility.”

February 8th, 2013, 3:23 pm

AKBAR PALACE #233

Enough already with Israel please.

Sure, no argument that Assad is evil and illegitimate and has destroyed Syria. Nobody sane could approve of him.

And agreed that sound institutions are a key part of what keeps countries stable and functioning.

You said: “If I were Visitor, I would do the same thing: choose a side, and fight for it.”

Yes VISITOR has – he’s chosen the extremists fantasists over the moderates in the fight against Assad.

February 8th, 2013, 3:49 pm

Akbar Palace @232,

Thanks for an excellent and reasoned reply.

Personally, I wouldn’t give much attention to that poster who seems to have gone into the effort of creating a whole comments of rants attacking me for no reasons. But I do know what ails him. He once went haywire when I unknowingly overlooked one of his comments addressed to me and didn’t respind to him. So obviously, he is an attention seeker and his way of doing by ranting personal attacks. And now he is seething with anger because I punctured the naive analysis he brought about Mrs. Clinton.

So there is nothing to worry once the causes of such blurps become understood. We have quite few of these misguided naive individuals who think they are serving the revolution, but in fact are causing it the greatest harm.

I was wrong when I responded to his grievances about his comment which I overlooked. Because at the time I thought he’s mature. But clearly he is not. I should have continued to ignore him despite his compaint. But I had no idea at the time he’s so immature.

So now I just ignore him. But the problem is that ignoring him will make him even angrier because it will hurt his attention seeking desires, and I am sure he will come with newer outbursts of frustrations.

You can easily tell how frantic and frustrated he is by the fact that he posted the same rant twice @229 and 230. It shows clearly that he lost his cool and just can’t wait to relieve the frustration.

February 8th, 2013, 3:59 pm

“..and posters of Bashar Assad hang on every corner. Assad, an ophthalmologist by profession who received only very superficial military training, apparently tried to look frightening when he was photographed for the posters, wearing dark sunglasses and a general’s uniform, and with a grim expression on his face.” (from Der Spiegel article posted by Joshua Landis above)

There was a lot of information about Bashar Assad’s psyche signalled in those and other posters that were everywhere in the years leading up to him unleashing open violence against Syrians in 2011.

In the poster described above we see a silly attempt to ape the look of his vicious brother Maher and channel his father Hafez and uncle Rifaat who were so “strong”.

But when you have a pin head, childish voice, and can’t even grow a mustache it’s a battle to uphold the Assad image.

But now he proudly feels he’s in the groove, doing what they would want him to do.

PS The same “look” with dark glasses and grim face can be found in Gaddafi and Saddam Hussein posters too. Probably Hitler as well if we look. Stupid, sinister posturing.

February 8th, 2013, 4:13 pm

Allahu Akbar! 😀

http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=4f6_1360327391

February 8th, 2013, 4:16 pm

OK. Good. Then where’s the problem? You and Visitor seem to be on the same page as far as what the problem is. It is times like this where you both should be working together. I don’t know what your differences are, so you should work them out.

Funny an American Jew would mediate here, so I’ll stop here with the hope that like-minded Syrian keep their eye on the ball: Freedom, and a real say in government through fair elections.

February 8th, 2013, 4:18 pm

Come on VISITOR #229, do better than that.

There’s nothing grown up about getting ecstatic about the escapist adventures of violent self-styled “holy warriors”.

No mature person would boast support for people who have no legitimate business or interest in the future of Syria other than as a fantasist playground and a chance to lord it over others in the absence of the state.

APOLOGY (no not to VISITOR)

Incidentally, I apologize to the forum for inadvertently posting the same comment twice. I realized straight away and made repeated attempts to delete one of them but apparently it didn’t work.

February 8th, 2013, 4:36 pm

Lover most of the FSA al-Nusra types are high on drugs. When our boys raid their rat nests they always find narcotics.

February 8th, 2013, 4:43 pm

syrialover said:

AKBAR PALACE #243

At one stage I assumed that about VISITOR, but then he ran off to extremist fantasy land, driven by some personal agenda.

He shows a bewildering lack of interest and concern about the people suffering in Syria or respect for their needs and wishes, and their vision of the post-Assad Syria they are fighting for.

It’s all mock and knock, insults and outrage if opposition to the regime does not comply with his narrow enthusiasms.

VISITOR’S definition of the problem extends way beyond the Assad regime. He takes equal, even in some cases more aggressive exception to anyone voicing reservations about his holy warrior rambo heroes and their plans to run Syria “their way”.

Interestingly, he also hurls obsessive insults at Moaz al-Khatib, who has lived most of his life as a strongly respected and well known Islamic cleric inside Syria, and who at one stage refused to join the USA in damning al-Nusrah.

Sigh. There’s no pleasing VISITOR. I fear his idea of “mediation” would be the same as the al-Nusrah types who get a self-important thrill from playing judge and jury and executing prisoners while yelling slogans from some invented version of Islam.

February 8th, 2013, 5:09 pm

Enough of VISITOR’S issues. (Though this story might be an issue for him if he visits Malaysia and is caught enthusing about fighting infidels in Syria):

“Malaysian duo face Syria terror charges”

MALAYSIAN prosecutors have charged a former army captain and a woman with inciting terrorist acts that could have involved violence in Syria.

Prosecution documents offered scant details except that their actions could have threatened public safety in Syria.

Malaysia’s national news agency, Bernama, late on Thursday quoted unidentified sources as saying the suspects tried to recruit young people to be trained for missions that included suicide bombings.

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/breaking-news/malaysian-duo-face-syria-terror-charges/story-fn3dxix6-1226573911304

COMMENT: Stories elsewhere on this case point out those guys could be up for 30 years behind bars.

I remember reading that Australia also had laws that could result in up to 20-year prison sentences for anyone going from Australia on an anti-infidel mission to Syria.

There’s been several Australian jihadists killed in Syria, and I suspect their mothers would have much preferred they’d been rounded up back home before they could go.

February 8th, 2013, 5:25 pm

I most definitely would not want to live in a Syria envisioned by Visitor. Visitor has provided an example of what it is like if you do not completely submit to his way of seeing things and on behalf of ALL Syrians I have ever known, his Syria is a nightmare I wish it doesn’t materialize.

February 8th, 2013, 6:00 pm

Tara @246,

Glad to know.

I definitely would avoid sophists who imagine themselves sophisticated.

It would be a nightmare for Syria to have to deal with sophistry on top of thuggocracy.

February 8th, 2013, 6:09 pm

http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/536214_311710878931830_983081050_n.jpg
🙂

أسود قواتنا الخاصة و أسود الفوج 555 فرقة رابعة مدعومين بأرتال دبابات T72 و تغطية جوية و مدفعية و بمشاركة سرب طيران حربي كامل , تبدأ هجوم كبير و شرس على قرية النيرب و اشتباكات عنيفة في محيط معسكر الشبيبة وسط تقدم ملحوظ لحماة الديار ..

و أصوات الانفجارات تسمع بوضوح في سرمين وقميناس و بنش و سراقب و تفتناز و مناطق متفرقة في الريف الإدلبي نتيجة القصف الجوي و المدفعي و الصاروخي المكثّف لأسود تشكيلاتنا المسلحة المختلفة ..

أيامكم باتت معدودة يا كلاب جبهة النصرة , أيامكم باتت معدودة يا كلاب جيش إسرائيل الحر , أيامكم باتت معدودة يا جرذان الناتو من كل أنحاء العالم , انظروا إلى رفاقكم في السفيرة , انظروا إلى رفاقكم في بني زيد , هذا قليل مما ينتظركم في ريف إدلب , إنه زمن حماة الديار , و جهزوا قبوركم من الآن , فلا وقت لكم إلا للبكاء , و الموت ..

هنا .. جبروت جيش الحق

February 8th, 2013, 6:20 pm

GEORGES said:

My palestinian neighbour supports the regime and is against the revolution. He says the reasons for his stance is simple, whoever America is against, he is with him. He says that since America and friends is against the regime, he supports it, and if tomorrow they start supporting Assad, he will support the revolution.

I was amazed by such a simple, straight-forward analysis though I can see his logic. I don’t think arguing and convincing with people with this kind of analysis is possible. I didn’t even try.

February 8th, 2013, 6:24 pm

249. GEORGES said:

“”” since America and “FRIENDS” against the regime “””

Could you be referring to `israel mohamed georges?

February 8th, 2013, 6:41 pm

Can you please release my comment 250 from moderation!

Can I also please get an explanation why my comment went to moderation?!

February 8th, 2013, 6:45 pm

Read my lips. 😉
“There are no blood thirsty foreign mercenary terrorist killers in Syria!”

http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=937_1360345311

Where’s Victoria Nuland when you need her?!

February 8th, 2013, 6:46 pm

Ann,

I volunteered a very simple explanation in the past that you may have missed.

Your comments end in the spam section because that is where they belong.

February 8th, 2013, 6:47 pm

Tara please, we’ve all had enough. It’s a very emotional day as we are one step closer to victory over the terrorists.

PS – To the moderators: let’s not have censorship in favor of the al-Nusra Front please. The pro-government side must be represented with the proper elan. Thank you.

February 8th, 2013, 6:53 pm

I wonder why the Shiites support Assad, Shiites believe Ali is not God Assad sect believes Ali is God,is it because Shiites hate Sunnis,so they support the devil if he is against Sunnis?.
The palastinians hate US so they support Assad, this is stupid, who welcomed them in Syria?,the Syrian people, who treated them good? Syrian people?,Hamas is not supportive of Assad,Fateh is not supportive of Assad, those who support Assad are stupid,they are against human dignity, those palastinians who support Assad stand at the same side with Israel,Israel would rather keep Assad in power, to me it is treason.

February 8th, 2013, 7:09 pm

Majed@ 158,

I think Eve was made from Adam.

February 8th, 2013, 7:11 pm

Majed,

Do we know for sure that Syrian Shiaa supports Assad? Last time Mundas told us it is not true.

February 8th, 2013, 7:13 pm

this is why the war needs to stop:

By NICK CUMMING-BRUCE and RICK GLADSTONE
GENEVA — Syria’s conflict is now driving 5,000 people out of the country each day in an increasingly desperate scramble for safety, the United Nations refugee agency said Friday as it reported a surge in their numbers to nearly 800,000.
“This is a full-on crisis,” Adrian Edwards, a spokesman for the agency, told journalists in Geneva. He said the number of registered Syrian refugees in neighboring countries had risen about 25 percent last month alone.
Another United Nations agency, Unicef, said in a new assessment that Syrian civilians in conflict zones had only one-third the water supplies of pre-crisis levels, with Aleppo, rural Damascus, Deir al-Zour, Homs, Idlib and Raqqa the most severely afflicted.
This week, Unicef began trucking water purification chemicals into Syria, enough for 10 million people, nearly half the population, as the World Health Organization reported outbreaks of hepatitis A and other diseases spread by poor hygiene and limited access to clean water. The French medical aid group Doctors Without Borders, which operates three field hospitals in northern Syria, said this week that leishmaniasis, a parasitic disease, was endemic but going untreated in areas around Aleppo.
“We still need to do much more to reach all those who need help in order to avoid the risk of waterborne diseases spreading,” Youssouf Abdel-Jelil, a Unicef representative in Damascus, said in a statement.
Mr. Edwards, in Geneva, said that as of this week, 787,000 Syrians had registered or were waiting to register as refugees in neighboring countries. The total includes 260,943 in Lebanon, the first country to exceed a quarter-million Syrian refugees; 242,649 in Jordan; 177,180 in Turkey; and 84,852 in Iraq. At least 15,000 have sought refuge in Egypt.

February 8th, 2013, 7:21 pm

258. ghufran said:

this is why the war needs to stop

WOW! You instantly got 7 thumbs down!!

Could it be someone with moderation privileges?

February 8th, 2013, 7:26 pm

Tara
You said you believe Eve came from Adam, go back and read souret A3raf,verse 189, read it carefully and tell me if you still beliave Eve came from Adam.
Further the new study of DNA , as Ehsani said it, proved that we all came from a woman in africa, Islam and science are consistant.
thank you

February 8th, 2013, 7:27 pm

Ann who has moderation privileges here?

February 8th, 2013, 7:28 pm

Majed

Here it is: http://quran.com/7/189

I read it again. Not sure I agree.

The word النفس in Arabic is a female word therefore the verse says جعل منها زوجها. It does not necessarily means that Eve came first.

The Quraan has referred to النفس in ياايتها النفس المطمئنة ارجعي as a female too and therefore I don’t think any conclusion can be inferred.

February 8th, 2013, 7:51 pm

حرق مواطنون سورين على ايدي القاعدة الوهابية في سورية

https://www.facebook.com/camille.otrakji/posts/186510071472721#!/photo.php?v=205815246217487&set=vb.153982384673650&type=2&theater

February 8th, 2013, 7:58 pm

TARA #246

We should all worry bigtime that Syria is not sleepwalking into an aftershock nightmare after the current one.

Post-Assad Syria is under threat of disastrous, wasteful and arrogant power grabs by nothing-to-offer Islamists.

I shudder when I read of the MB aggressively elbowing their way into the Syrian Opposition and al-Nusrah on the ground announcing their vision for running Syria.

Today’s headlines are shouting a warning to Syrians:

“Cradle of Arab Spring goes up in flames: Tunisia and Egypt both rocked by riots amid claims Islamists have hijacked revolutions.

“Two years after autocratic rulers have been swept from power, many in Egypt and Tunisia are angry over what they see as an attempt by Islamists to hijack their revolutions without improving their prospects for a better life.”

February 8th, 2013, 7:59 pm

Tara what do you know about admin access here? You once were so catty trying to guess where I lived. Only someone handing you an IP address could make you so boorish.

Who is it and are they handing out private IPs like Bill Scherk used to?

February 8th, 2013, 8:00 pm

God said: and God made of HER ,her husband, who HE slept with HER.then She carried a baby.
Further we know Mary (a female) begot Jesus (Male), where in Quraan , it says, Eve came from Adam?

February 8th, 2013, 8:02 pm

Revenire is a retard.

See? I guess the moderators are fine with that. After all, it’s the truth.

February 8th, 2013, 8:08 pm

No where I guess. But the verse used Her husband or Her mate because it was referring to the Soul which is her.

You may be right. I just think that the sura does not give any conclusive evidence because it is referring to the soul.
—-

It always amazes me that it is the regime supporters who are always paranoid and always in fear that their identity get discovered even though it is the regime that torture and mayhem. All of the anti crowed reveal so much about themselves that it is easy for any mukhabarat to identify them yet regimists are so discrete. Is this an admittance of guilt?

February 8th, 2013, 8:11 pm

Regime supporters, on average, are losers. This is why they post CONTINUOUSLY on this blog for 12-16 hours straight.

Makes sense. It’s some sort of weird loser solidarity cult. The regime is losing, so losers flock to it. Losers support the loser regime.

February 8th, 2013, 8:13 pm

261. revenire said:

Jabhat al-nusra supporters with one exception (Alex)

Private IP address collectors

etc.

Prof. Landis, needs to revoke all past moderator privileges

Does Josh Landis know IPs are being handed out?

Ann thanks. I figured as much. Tara was one who bragged she “knew” where I was. The only way she could guess is by someone giving her an IP address.

February 8th, 2013, 8:14 pm

271. revenire said:

Not sure if he’s aware of it. We lost some great contributors because of that (i.e. JAD)

February 8th, 2013, 8:15 pm

Hahahahahha.

What. Are you worried that there might be real-life consequences for your retarded behavior?

What a loser.

272. revenire said:

It’s called spying and abuse of trust if you ask me

February 8th, 2013, 8:17 pm

Oh, a regime supporter is talking about spying and a lack of trust.

That’s interesting. And ironic. And amusing.

What comes around, goes around. And you idiots think this is just a game.

EDIT: I really enjoy trolling retards like you. The reason is because I say and do anything I want to you, and YOU CAN’T COMPLAIN ABOUT IT. It’s because you’re such big retards that no one has any sympathy for you.

February 8th, 2013, 8:18 pm

That is why you should always use a proxy around terrorists but I saw people complain of Bill Scherk handing them out.

Tara’s quiet because she’s busted.

February 8th, 2013, 8:21 pm

Madrigoldran what’s that about real life consequences?

February 8th, 2013, 8:22 pm

#264 ZIAD

That shocking video shows debased sick animals doing thrill killing, setting fire to trussed up victims. Deeply insulting and mocking Islam by chanting Allahu Akbar while they do it.

What strikes me is what disgusting COWARDS these loser BS self-appointed “holy warriors” are.

Why do they cover their faces?

Scared their mothers might find out what they’ve been up to?

Ooops, I apologize. I forgot, Revenire, YOU DON’T HAVE A LIFE.

So I guess there are no real life consequences for you. This IS your life.

February 8th, 2013, 8:23 pm

Madrigoldran I don’t make complaints on Internet forums nor do I care what you say. You’re a terrorist.

So says the retard.

I can troll you however I want, and yet you still won’t get any sympathy because everyone knows you’re a big retard.

It’s great. You’re the perfect target.

February 8th, 2013, 8:24 pm

That ID tends to blow it’s cover every now and then in favor of bragging 😉

I call it “NOVO RICH” vanity 😀

Then I guessed right. Ha ha ha. You are in the Midwest. Chicago? Are you afraid you are going to be picked up by the FBI for inciting genocide and hate crimes? I think you should. After all, it is all documented. You dehumanized Syrians by calling them rats and you celebrated every time a Syrian is killed. You should be investigated and you should be prosecuted for hate crime. It is against the US law. Additionally, you made several threats against US citizen. Is there a jail time for this?

February 8th, 2013, 8:25 pm

Madrigoldran you keep following me around here. Who is the one with no life? I will tell you. It is you. Trolling is for kids. Your words are as impotent as you are.

So says the retard. Ha ha ha ha.

By the way, I don’t post here continuously for 12 hours a day. Unlike you. Mr. Retard. I actually have a job and a life to live.

February 8th, 2013, 8:26 pm

Tara I used a proxy on this forum and don’t care but I do note that Bill Scherk handed out IP addresses and was busted doing so.

I don’t care about your games etc. Your bark is like that of all dogs.

I stand by my words.

The al-Nusra Front is composed of rats, as is the FSA. They should all be killed slowly and painfully.

You support them and should be arrested and prosecuted for that and if the US didn’t back the terrorists you would be arrested for it. It happens in other countries – in the UK and in Australia.

You’re out of your league as far as legalities.

February 8th, 2013, 8:29 pm

Ann 219

Gee how could you leave out this important fact Todenhöfer gave to the world stating that out of 50.000 fighters in Syria 40.000 are foreign fighters? I am sure your masters wont like that you slack here. Todenhöfer has most likely visited Syria again and counted himself the different passports the fighter have or has just been givenan other revealing audience with the butcher.

Oh? A regime supporter is talking about legalities? What? You using your mom’s computer because you’re a loser?

How ironic. Retard.

You’re such a retardedly bad troll that the only people who’ll talk to you are the ones who want to troll you.

February 8th, 2013, 8:30 pm

Tara let’s let Landis handle it. He will get to the bottom of it.

February 8th, 2013, 8:31 pm

#265 SL

You seem so surprised. It was very predictable.
Obviously you have been naive all these years to think that the Islamists were just nice guys helping the poor and who were oppressed and jailed by bad dictators. The islamists have been working on what you see now insidiously for years in the region.
They have access to huge private funds and were waiting for their hour.
There has been many warnings in the last decades. Algeria suffered of that plague for more than 10 years. Lebanon Ain al Helweh is one of the latest attempt by the Islamists to destabilize Lebanon by playing on the religious feeling.
Sadly a much earlier one was the islamist terrorists attacks in Syria that triggered the violent Hama repression on the Moslem Brotherhood.

I just hope that their experience in Egypt and Tunisia will discredit them for long time as people will see their ugly face under their mask of ‘purity’ and ‘faith’

February 8th, 2013, 8:33 pm

Something jumped out at me with Ghufran getting six or eight thumbs down within a few moments of his post. Not that many read this place or have the inclination do play thumbs up/thumbs down games. Only someone with moderation rights would do that.

February 8th, 2013, 8:37 pm

All what it takes I think is filing a complaint to our friendly FBI office of receiving multiple threats from someone who may be an undeclared agent of a foreign entity. You could be using any proxy you are using. It doesn’t really matter. They can find you.

Inciting hate crime is not for the weak of heart. You should know that.

In any case, I am going to stop here. I really do not want to see you breaking down and your mental illness unravel in front of our own eyes.

Ha ha ha. You wish terrorist supporter.

I said bomb them to pieces. All of them. Every single FSA rat in Syria and all their supporters.

Then we have peace.

February 8th, 2013, 8:42 pm

And Tara don’t worry about me. Worry about yourself. I will find out the deal with the games and the IPs. Don’t worry your terrorist-loving little head about it honey. 🙂

February 8th, 2013, 8:44 pm

Kafranbel

https://twitter.com/NMSyria/status/299959298283409408/photo/1

Nejads triumph visit in Cairo

https://twitter.com/BSyria/status/299968384144130048/photo/1

http://yallasouriya.files.wordpress.com/2013/02/kafranbelfeb8-0_13.jpg

Here is a pic of the first Ape of Iran in Space:

https://twitter.com/MahirZeynalov/status/295904881171120128/photo/1

February 8th, 2013, 8:54 pm

A great share by BigAl, photos of Homs back then and now.

http://bigalbrand.blogspot.de/2013/02/lets-time-travel.html

February 8th, 2013, 9:00 pm

Arming the rebel is the only way to stop the killing and to prevent radicalizing Syria. I hope someone installs some sense in Obama.

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/breaking-news/us-evaluating-next-steps-in-syria-conflict/story-fn3dxix6-1226574398510

US evaluating next steps in Syria conflict
BY:JO BIDDLE From: AAP February 09, 2013 11:37AM

THE United States is weighing its next steps to try to end the conflict in Syria, new Secretary of State John Kerry says, adding there has been “too much killing” in the 22-month war.

His comments on Friday came amid hints of deep divisions in President Barack Obama’s cabinet over US policy in Syria, where some 60,000 people have died as opposition rebels battle to oust President Bashar al-Assad.

It was revealed this week that the White House had rejected secret plans drawn up last summer by Kerry’s predecessor, Hillary Clinton, and former CIA chief, General David Petraeus, to arm the Syrian opposition.

“It is a very complicated and very dangerous situation,” warned Kerry, who only took over as America’s top diplomat late last Friday.

“There’s too much killing and there’s too much violence and we obviously want to try to find a way forward,” he said, adding that everybody in the administration was “deeply distressed” by the continued violence in Syria.

“We are evaluating now, we are taking a look at what steps, if any, diplomatic particularly, might be able to be taken in an effort to reduce that violence and deal with that situation.”

But he stopped short of saying whether the administration would review its long-held position of not providing arms to the Syrian opposition.
….
News that other senior cabinet members, including Pentagon chief Leon Panetta and chairman of the Joints Chiefs of Staff General Martin Dempsey, had supported the Clinton-Petraeus plan, further fuelled the notion of major differences over what to do about Syria.

February 8th, 2013, 9:10 pm

have you heard, Ali Deek the courtsinger of the assadzoo is performing tomorrow in Chicago? How on earth does this creepy guy get an visa? Probably he bought an 5 year visa when they still had dinnerparties with the US ambassador. I think the Homeland security agency should be aware of his upcoming visit. Someone just said that his music raped his ears, i find that describes it very well.

February 8th, 2013, 9:23 pm

Tara,

Can you be more specific about the “Syria envisioned by Visitor”?

When I read through these posts, I basically identify who is pro-regime and who is anti-regime. Obviously, I am missing something.

All what it takes I think is filing a complaint to our friendly FBI office of receiving multiple threats from someone who may be an undeclared agent of a foreign entity.

Rest assured, if you feel threatened in any way, our FBI would JUMP on anything you are concerned about. Our taxes are going up, thanks, in large part, due to our increased security measures. Department of Homeland Security and the airport TSA were created directly because of terrorism (9-11). Fortunately, we have plenty of people to act when we feel threatened.

FYI, The hebrew bible/Christian “Old Testament” explains Eve’s creation as follows:

21 And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and he slept; and He took one of his ribs, and closed up the place with flesh instead thereof. 22 And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from the man, made He a woman, and brought her unto the man. 23 And the man said: ‘This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.’ 24 Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife, and they shall be one flesh. 25 And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed.

http://etext.virginia.edu/etcbin/toccer-new2?id=KjvGene.sgm&images=images/modeng&data=/texts/english/modeng/parsed&tag=public&part=2&division=div1

February 8th, 2013, 9:25 pm

استبعد حسن عبد العظيم ان يتجاوب النظام مع المواقف الاخيرة التي طرحها رئيس الائتلاف الوطني المعارض احمد معاذ الخطيب, فيما اشار الى ان الاسباب التي دفعت الاخير الى اطلاق تلك المواقف تعود الى ادراكه ان ثمة تغيرا حقيقيا حصل في الموقف الامريكي.
وقال عبد العظيم, في حديث لصحيفة الرأي الكويتية نشر في عددها الصادر الجمعة ان “الخطيب طرح موقفاً جديداً ومهماً جداً يصدر للمرة الأولى عن المعارضة الخارجية”, لافتا الى ان “هذا الموقف يتفق مع مبادرة أطلقتها هيئة التنسيق قبل أيام من عيد الفطر في العام الماضي
واضاف عبد العظيم أننا “طرحنا مبادرة كاملة تطالب بوقف العنف من جانب النظام والمعارضة المسلحة وإطلاق سراح المعتقلين لدى الطرفين، تمهيداً للتفاوض بين ممثلين عن المعارضة وكل قوى الثورة وممثلين للنظام لم يشاركوا في القتل”, لافتا الى أن “موقف الخطيب يتقاطع تماماً مع المبادرة التي أطلقتها الهيئة ويشكل اضافة لها”.
واستبعد المنسق العام لهيئة التنسيق “تجاوب النظام مع المواقف الاخيرة لرئيس الائتلاف”، ومضيفاً انه “لو عادت الأمور له (النظام) فهو يريد الاستمرار على نهج الاستبداد ولا يريد التغيير مطلقاً”.
وفيما يتعلق بالأسباب التي دفعت برئيس الائتلاف الى إطلاق هذا الطرح، قال عبد العظيم إن “الخطيب أدرك أن ثمة تغيراً حقيقياً حصل في الموقف الأميركي الذي بدأ يتقارب من التوجه الروسي والصيني على قاعدة ان الأزمة لن تحل عبر الصراع المسلح سواء من قبل قوات النظام أو قوات المعارضة”، لافتاً الى أن “موقف الخطيب يرتبط بالتحولات في السياسة الخارجية الأميركية التي أرساها الرئيس باراك أوباما في خطابه الرئاس
واوضح عبد العظيم ان “التوجه الأميركي نحو إنهاء الحروب الاستباقية والتدخل العسكري الخارجي وتحقيق الخروج من أفغانستان وعدم خوض حروب جديدة وتعيين وزير خارجية جديد يؤمن بالحوار والحلول السياسية كل هذه عوامل دفعت الخطيب الى إعلان موقفه ما سيمهد الى تنفيذ اتفاق جني
وعن النقد الذي وجه للخطيب بسبب مواقفه الاخيرة من “المجلس الوطني”, قال عبد العظيم ان “هذا النقد يرتبط باطراف في المجلس كانت تراهن في الأساس على التدخل العسكري الخارجي، ولكن هذا لم يحصل لأن الوضع السوري يختلف عن الوضع في ليبيا”، مشدداً على أن “الانتقادات التي وجهت الى رئيس الائتلاف لها علاقة بمطالبة بعض أعضاء المجلس باستمرار الصراع المسلح”.
ودعا المنسق العام الى “التجاوب مع مبادرتي هيئة التنسيق والخطيب وبعدها يمكن أن يحدث اجتماع بين قوى المعارضة في الداخل والخارج وممثلين عن المعارضة المسلحة من أجل تحديد آلية التفاوض وأهدافه وكيفية الانتقال السلمي للسلطة”, ومؤكداً أن “السعودية طرف أساسي في حل الأزمة السورية الى جانب الأطراف العربية والاقليمية الأخرى”.
وتابع عبد العظيم أن “الهيئة لا تريد استبعاد أي طرف له علاقة بالأزمة سواء أكانت السعودية أو قطر أم تركيا وإيران”, مؤكدا أنه “ليس هناك رغبة لدى المعارضة في الداخل والخارج للتفاوض من دون ضمانات عربية واقليمية ودولية لأن أي تفاوض أو حوار لن يؤدي الى أي نتيجة بغياب الضمانات”.
وطالب المنسق العام لهيئة التنسيق الوطنية بـ “دعم عملية التفاوض إذا حصلت من خلال مشاركة الدول الخمس الكبرى دائمة العضوية وتركيا وإيران والسعودية ومصر والكويت والعراق”.
the regime will only respond to pressure from Russia but not violence,which is working in the regime’s favor, also car bombs, assassinations and human rights abuses have helped the regime avoid the moment of truth.

February 8th, 2013, 9:26 pm

February 8th, 2013, 9:33 pm

Juergen again you fail to mention that Big Al is a terrorist supporter if not a terrorist himself. The destruction he shows was caused by his rat brothers (who are now mostly dead).

February 8th, 2013, 9:37 pm

Muaz Khatib response
‘ إنكم توجهون اصبع الاتهام دائما الى المجتمع الدولي. فما الذي كنتم تتوقعون ان يفعله حقا؟
‘ يجيب الخطيب بصيغة تشبه ما قاله قبل ذلك في كلامه وهذا برهان على ان الكلام قد أُعد في حرص مسبقا: ‘أتوقع من المجتمع الدولي ان يبدأ عملية حثيثة للتشويش على جميع وسائل الاتصال والالكترونيات للجيش السوري على نحو لا يُمكّن طائراتهم من الاقلاع ولا يُمكّن قيادات الجيش من الحديث بعضها الى بعض. واذا لم يساعد هذا فأتوقع منهم ان يبدأوا عملية عسكرية فعالة تفضي الى اسقاط كل طائرة عسكرية تقلع في سوريا. واذا لم يساعد هذا فأتوقع منهم ان يدمروا جميع الاسلحة والطائرات والمنشآت للنظام مهما كانت’.
‘ في اسرائيل وفي العالم كثيرون قلقون جدا من مخزون السلاح الكيميائي للاسد. قلت للخطيب.
‘ وكان مستعدا ايضا لهذا السؤال: ‘يوجد هنا شيء عجيب. فالمجتمع الدولي يقول انه لن يقبل ألبتة ان يستعمل النظام السلاح الكيميائي وانه سيتدخل آنذاك. هل يعني هذا ان السلاح الكيميائي محظور لكن كل ما سواه مُباح؟ أي نوع سياسة هذه؟
‘وأقول في الشأن نفسه: لا يوجد ما يقلقكم في موضوع السلاح الكيميائي. فنحن في قوى ائتلاف المعارضة سنضع أيدينا على كل مخزون سلاح النظام ومنه السلاح الكيميائي ولن

February 8th, 2013, 9:47 pm

298. TARA

“Arming the rebel is the only way to stop the killing and to prevent radicalizing Syria. I hope someone installs some sense in Obama”

This is what I hate about you and those of your ilk: when all your plans and hopes and dreams and , yes, sandcastles, blow up in your goofy face, you come running to Uncle Sam asking him to jump in and sort it all out. This only happens when things are totally fucked up, beyond your control. The rest of the time, you call America an imperialist war monger and you tell Americans to go to hell.

Fact is, Obama’s doing exactly what most Americans want him to do: stay the fuck out of Syria and let those stupid semi-morons kill each other until it’s all resolved.

And a message to the last Syrian standing: turn off the fucking lights and say to the camera, “I’m going to Disney World.” Because Disney World is where you belong, asshole. With the cartoons and the make-believe. Kind of like Assad’s world without the torture chambers…

A New Bashar Cartoon

http://grafikdesign.files.wordpress.com/2013/02/112.jpg?w=1000&h=

February 8th, 2013, 9:52 pm

Johannes,

Talk about yourself. Who gave you the right of talking on behalf of all the Americans?

I am an American and I want Obama to arm the rebels and so is half of his cabinet.

Or at least to let the Arab brethren of Syria arm them.

And has it occur to you that you are judging the Syrian people based on what their dictatorial regime has said or done? Or were you absent during that class?

AP,

I am not ignoring your post, I’ll respond later.

February 8th, 2013, 10:02 pm

#304. MAJEDKHALDOUN

Wouldn’t it be fantastic if Khatib is talking about something we are about to find out is in the works – which is why he is inviting it.

His strategies so far have been more sophisticated than many people watching from their sofas seem to comprehend.

February 8th, 2013, 10:07 pm

Ha ha. Trouble with the terrorists here just like in the SNC. 🙂

February 8th, 2013, 10:08 pm

MajedK @266,

Your interpretation of the verse is incorrect.

In other parts of the Holy Qur’an Allah speaks specifically about Adam creation by name without the ambiguity that you created by your wrong reading into the word nafs the physical form of a human being. This is wrong.

And by the way nafs in Arabic does not mean soul in English.

I do not know who this Ehsani is or whether he is a believer or not.

———-

Again Akbar Palace @ 300,

Excellent comment.

February 8th, 2013, 10:18 pm

A very large group of ABC News reporters are on stand by in Lebanon waiting for approval to head to Damascus.

[something is brewing on the front burner] 😉

The list of losers is very long: `isreal, ottomans, saudi arabia, qatar etal, arab league, EU, france, UK, etc.

February 8th, 2013, 10:21 pm

Visitor
Please feel free to correct me , I hope you have time, please tell me where do I find different explanation or reference in QURAAN.
I agree Nafs can be for man or woman, but the words that came after ,they show that this Nafs is female
like Yaskuna elayha, the Y is for male
Falamma taghashshaha, ha is female.
Hamalat, only women get pregnant.

Ehsani had blood test ,Ehsani is intelligent man ,and yes he is christian, but my own family had the same blood test too, and the report showed that we all came from a woman,lived in Africa. I bring this to prove that Quraan is proven again and again that it so correct and wonderful, what is written in it ,scientists now prove it is true, another example, God talks about the pounding star,Al Najm Al Tareq, now scientists prove the existance of such star,and recorded its pounding sounds.
God said that Quraan is manifest book,Bayyen, whoever speak arabic will understans it clearly,and there is no contradictions in Quraan.
Thank you.

February 8th, 2013, 10:40 pm

Ehsani had blood test ,Ehsani is intelligent man ,and yes he is christian, but my own family had the same blood test too, and the report showed that we all came from a woman,lived in Africa. I bring this to prove that Quraan is proven again and again that it is so correct and wonderful, what is written in it ,scientists now prove it is true, another example, God talks about the pounding star,Al Najm Al Tareq, now scientists prove the existance of such star,and recorded its pounding sounds.
God said that Quraan is manifest book,Bayyen, whoever speaks arabic will understans it clearly,and there is no contradictions in Quraan.
Thank you.

February 8th, 2013, 10:41 pm

Husam said:

Syrialover:

Re: Video posted by Ziad @ 264 (originally from Regime bougie man Camile Otrakji)

Anyone (including terrorist or the Shabiha, etc…) can shant allahu akhbar and burn people alive. We just don’t know who they are. And, allahu akhbar doesn’t mean a thing except fool the average Joe in thinking that those men are Muslims instilling false hatred in the heart of Syrians and others. The same can be said about dressing up as Army Personnel and killing innocent people. We don’t know who’s who.

February 8th, 2013, 10:52 pm

Akbar Palace @300,

I am the one most qualified to answer your question. And I believe I have all the means to express the answer clearly without any ambiguity.

I want for Syria to have its fate determined by the Syrians in free elections, and the current regime to be destroyed from the roots. I do not subscibe to these so-called coalitions or their so-called officials, and frankly they do not represent the Syrian people. Moaz, with sll due resoect to his person, is not the man to lead Syria and the people of Syria. He, and the coalition he came from, have no legitimacy, which can only be gained from the Syrian people and NOT from so-called recognition of foreign governments. These guys only represent THEMSELVES, and honestly they are failures. Moaz’ latest fiasco of negotiating with a criminal so-called passports renewal and release of prisoners is a betrayal to the revolution and to the sacrifices of the Syrian people, not to mention that it contravenes the platform upon which he was made so-called coalition representative. I maintained this position of the illegitimacy of the coalition pretenses to represent the Syrians since they first met in Qatar and came up with this structure. And I made my position clear here on this forum since day one and never changed it since. I have the firm belief that change in Syria can only come through military means by defeating the regime in the field. There is no other way. Some naive sheeple novices over here, who understand zilch, didn’t like that I do not subscribe to the legitimacy of the so-called coalition, and ever since they have been acting like hounding dogs trying to silence me. And worse, they claim they’re for freedom of choice and all the rest of hypocritic naivete they can blabber with open jaws.

I am not a sheeple novice to prostrate in front of the dictates of the US admin or naive enough to believe that the US has the means or the will to help the Syrian people. I call upon the Syrians to support the FSA in ALL its battalions regardless of what the US or other governents views of certain groups. I do not believe that Nusa Front or any other group is ‘terrorist’ as the US would like us to believe. Because this is exactly what the criminal regime would like us to believe and think and it was its plan since it made the first shots against the people, and the US simly played right into its hand intentionally or otheraise. Knowing how the US behaved since Match 2011, i am inclined to say the US behaviour os intended to help the criminal regime. As you said we need to keep our eyes on the ball and not get distracted by side shows that would only prolong the agony and help the thug in Damascus. In addition the Nusra fighters have proven to be the most disciplined, the best organized, peoe trust them where they operate and they are themost effective force among the various militias. In fact, They were responsible for most of the major victories against the criminal regime.

Is that clear enough?

February 8th, 2013, 11:00 pm

نشرت صحيفة يديعوت أحرونوت تقريرا موسعا عن مشاركة رئيس الائتلاف السوري المعارض معاذ الخطيب في مؤتمر ميونيخ الأمني، إضافة إلى مقابلة أجراها معه مراسلها رونين برغمان، لكنها أكدت أن الخطيب سرعان ما أنهى الحديث عندما علم بهوية الصحفي.
واستطردت الصحيفة في الحديث عن السيرة الذاتية للخطيب ومشاركته في المؤتمر، حيث وصفته “برئيس سوريا القادم” و”الوارث المرشح لجارتنا في الشمال الشرقي”، مشيرة إلى إجرائها مقابلة مقتضبة على هامش المؤتمر انتهت بعد أن عرف الخطيب بهوية الصحفي عن طريق بطاقته.
ويضيف الصحفي الإسرائيلي أنه تحدث إلى الخطيب دون أن يعرّفه في البداية بنفسه، ونقل عنه قوله “اعتقدنا بأنه يجب تنحية النظام بالوسائل السلمية، لكنه في صلفه رد بأعمال قتل ضد المظاهرات، فلم يبق لنا مفر سوى أن نبدأ ثورة.. نحن نحب الحياة لكننا لا نخاف الموت، وإذا اضطررنا فسنموت كي نزيل هذا النظام”.
وأضاف ردا على سؤال حول التخوف من نظام إسلامي متطرف بدل نظام بشار الأسد، “لا أفهم المجتمع الدولي.. يُقتل في سوريا مواطنون أبرياء، لكنكم في وسائل الإعلام تقيسون طول لحى المعارضين، وكأن هذا هو المهم الآن.. يجب إنقاذ سوريا من دمار شامل وبناء نظام يقوم على الديمقراطية واحترام حقوق الإنسان واحترام قيم الإسلام، بدلا من نظام المجرمين هذا”.
وحول تصريحاته التي اعتبرت مهادنة لنظام الأسد، قال الخطيب “هذا صحيح، فقد أعلنت أنني مستعد لمحادثة مباشرة مع النظام، لكن لا ليبقى بل لتنحيته بوسائل سلمية”.
وقال الخطيب إنه يتوقع من المجتمع الدولي أن يبدأ عملية حثيثة للتشويش على جميع وسائل الاتصال والإلكترونيات للجيش السوري “على نحو لا يُمكّن طائراتهم من الإقلاع ولا يُمكّن قيادات الجيش من الحديث بعضها إلى بعض”.
وأضاف “إذا لم يساعد هذا فأتوقع منهم (المجتمع الدولي) أن يبدؤوا عملية عسكرية فعالة تفضي إلى إسقاط كل طائرة عسكرية تقلع في سوريا، وإذا لم يساعد هذا فأتوقع منهم أن يدمروا جميع الأسلحة والطائرات والمنشآت للنظام مهما كانت”.
وعن القلق من مخزون السلاح الكيميائي للأسد، رد الخطيب “يوجد هنا شيء عجيب، فالمجتمع الدولي يقول إنه لن يقبل البتة أن يستعمل النظام السلاح الكيميائي وإنه سيتدخل آنذاك.. هل يعني هذا أن السلاح الكيميائي محظور، لكن كل ما سواه مُباح؟ أي نوع سياسة هذا؟”.
وأضاف “لا يوجد ما يقلقكم في موضوع السلاح الكيميائي، فنحن في قوى ائتلاف المعارضة سنضع أيدينا على كل مخزون سلاح النظام ومنه السلاح الكيميائي، ولن ندعها تقع في أيدي جهات غير مخولة”.

February 8th, 2013, 11:08 pm

Syrialover
Yes it would be wonderful, but I doubt Obama will send arms to the rebels, however I was told that Qatar and KSA have resumed arms delivery to our magnificent FSA.
I call for the creation of northern state,it will pose no danger to US interest.

February 8th, 2013, 11:10 pm

Jeurgen:

It is very obvious that a German with average education and lots of sectarian hatred like you, has no clue about the importance of a person like Ali al-Deek for Syrians. All you see in Ali al-Deek is him being an Alawi.

You insulting Ali al-Deek is a joke that reflects bad taste.

Bashar al-Assad does not listen to Ali al-Deek for sure. I know that he listen to Western music. A German, with Allahu Akbar mentality like you, would never guess this.

When Ali al-Deek burst into the scene people from all sects in Syria liked him. This is no secret. Many also saw him as a peasant singer, but, the man collected fans fast.

Ali al-Deek presented and represented a very important and neglected form of SYRIAN traditional music that was always seen backward by the idiots living in cities.

Ali al-Deek is a pioneer. His style and music is beyond awesome, and a donkey like you need a light year to understand the beauty and power of his music.

The power of the beat in most of Ali al-Deek songs can not be understood or grasped by a simple man like you.

This is his song al-Hasudi which made him famous.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y_0BqFO0btE

سمرة وآنا الحاصودي – علي الديك
جاية تسنبل ورايي
سمرة وآنا الحاصودي
مابو بالزرع شميل
عودي ع ديارك عودي
جايي ترمي بحبالها
جايي تصيد الغزلاني
مافي بالزرع غزيل
عصرب لسه العنقودي
سمرة وآنا الحاصودي
سمرة أوعى تحبيني
آنا عصفور طياري
لا تقولي مر و ميل
أخاف عيونك بارودي
خلينا مثل حزازين
تنتقل بين الوديان
موالك غني وليل
د ينفجر البركان
سمرة وآنا الحاصودي
خلينا مثل حزازين
تنتقل بالودياني
موالك غني وليل
د يختير المولودي
سميرة وآنا الحاصودي

February 8th, 2013, 11:11 pm

JOHANNES DE SILENTIO #306

CC: TARA

You obviously have no idea what a nasty bratty little piece of work you come across as.

YOU would be the one with a “goofy face”, a “stupid semi-moron” and “asshole who belongs in Disneyland”.

Why do you come on this site?

To feel “clever” saying ignorant, immature, insensitive, foul-mouthed and deeply insulting things about people who live in Syria?

I recall you boasting that your grandfather was originally from Syria but he had the great sense to leave that (filthy expletive) place which was full of (more filthy expletives).

Well, Syria had a great escape that you weren’t bred there, and America was the loser ending up with you.

You don’t understand much about Syria, but also seem to have a limited understanding of America. And minus zero understanding and awareness about yourself.

Is your grandfather endorsing your comments here about Syrians? If he does, I’m surprised your family allows you to visit this site, it is about such a worthless place in their view.

It must be way past your bed time.

February 8th, 2013, 11:15 pm

It is obvious who is playing with the thumbs ups and down.

If you are a reader of this blog you could tell who is this person.

As for the moderators and the dirty deeds they did in terms of giving out information, I wish Prof. Landis investigate if Tara, who was a moderator at two different stints, gave away any personal information to the Allahu Akbar crowd about those who did not agree with her.

I was around when Jad was spooked by someone sharing his IP information. This is no game and should be treated as such.

319. mjabali said:

I remember when that happened very clearly. They played the same game on me but I chose not to report it to Prof. Landis. I might still have their e-mails to prove it.

A bunch of miserable lonely down syndrome people!

February 8th, 2013, 11:24 pm

Interesting. Tara is a rat in more ways that one I see – a big fat rat looking for some cheese to give her al-Nusra boys. This explains her smug attitude.

February 8th, 2013, 11:28 pm

So Khayer and Mouhamad Nasif Kheirbek are in prison? Who else is in prison? Does anyone know of the names of the inner circle of the regime that are in prison? I thought Kheirbek was responsible for the Iranian dossier. He was unretired after 2003 invasion of Iraq.

So the information minister is ready to talk without pre conditions. I would suggest that the opposition accept his offer and see what is there to talk about.

New constitution, free elections, release of prisoner, the rule of law, end of corruption, rebuilding with the bill sent to Iran and Russia and let us see if the regime would talk.

Cup of tea anyone?

Cigar and a nice barbecue at Abou Ahmad near Zabadani?

Or how about a singing dialogue at the Opera house?

February 8th, 2013, 11:47 pm

AKBAR PALACE #301 said:

“When I read through these posts, I basically identify who is pro-regime and who is anti-regime. Obviously, I am missing something.”

Yes, missing about 40% of the issue if you are not aware why TARA and I are uncomfortable with VISITOR’S attitudes.

I note VISITOR in #315 has just posted some sort of manifesto which skips around and over, backtracks and even contradicts his aggressive stance in support of extremist militant Islamists and scorn for moderates and people who want a Syria governed by a secular system.

His talk of free elections and so on without any transitional body in place is just nonesense. And I am not convinced of his sincerity when he claims to care about what all Syrians want and letting them decide. The way he deals with discussion on this site indicates otherwise.

My guess is he is lucky in not having a direct stake in the place and is in no danger of personal loss or tragedy. Otherwise he would value what al-Khatib is attempting while at the same time strongly supporting the moderate FSA and Local Coordinating Committees.

February 8th, 2013, 11:49 pm

On a serious note. This video exposes MENHEBAK SHABIHAS caught in the act in Arabia:

http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=f9c_1358803264

WARNING: extremely nauseating!

February 8th, 2013, 11:50 pm

MajedK @311/312,

There are many resources on the internet where you can find sound interpretations. I am sure you know many of them such as Ibn Kathir, Qortobi and others. Some sites have tools that allow you to switch between interpretations and compare. Often the interpretation is accompanied by narrations from the Prophet (PBUH).

But, I will offer my own reading, which I do not like to do, and hope you do not take it more than that.

You agree, I am sure that نفس is not the physical form of a human being. Unlike English, Arabic and few other languages (French for example) have words that are gender specific. English has some words that are also gender specific but these words do not require specific grammatical constructions when it comes to referring to the object which in the end reveals its gender. In French we say La Soleil to indicate the sun is a feminine object, exactly as in Arabic الشمس is a feminine object. But in English the sun is understood without any grammatical construction to be masculine. In English there is only one pronoun for other than human objects and it is gender blind. This is not the case in Arabic or in French.

The verse speaks of creating Mankind FROM ONE nafs which happens to be a feminine object in Arabic. The keyword here is FROM. So the product of that creation came into existence as a human being, which the scholars refer to as Adam. Out of that SAME ONE nafs the verse continues, Allah, created zawjaha, i.e. Adam’s wife. And then it continues liyaskuna illayha. Here the pronoun ha refers to the zawaja i.e. Adam’s mate. The beautiful thing about the verse is that it describes the creation in terms of the unity of one nafs which only Allah is capable of.

As for the question of the african woman from which we may or may not descend, I do not see how it proves that the Qura’n is for all ages, which we already know. I am not a medical Doctor but I do understand how sience is conducted. To say that we can be 100% certain that our genes go back all the way to that one woman without qualifications about probabilities and errors is un-scientific. The Qura’n does not deal with probabilities.

But there is something even more interesting and more beutiful when it comes to the subject of gender and creation, We can say based on the Qur’an that Allah is capable of bringing into existence human being without father and without mother as in the case of Adam. Allah can also bring into existence human being from father without mother as in the case of Eve. Allah can also bring into existence human being from mother without father as in the case of Jesus.

February 8th, 2013, 11:51 pm

for good or bad,on purpose or by chance, the regime,aided indirectly by islamist thugs,have succeeded to change this conflict into a sectarian one for most Syrians and into secular versus islamist for some, the result is obvious: a fractured opposition, a hesitant international community and a divided sunni community,not to mention a solid pro regime support by minorities. Mannaa was right from day one, I believe that those who chose violence and allied themsleves with alqaida have shot this uprising in the foot.

February 9th, 2013, 12:03 am

326. ghufran

Let us not forget Mali, Algeria, today’s Egypt and Tunisia!

Today was Friday of Dignity in Egypt Ghufran 😉

February 9th, 2013, 12:09 am

MJABALI #318

I am not at ease with what you have said to and about JUERGEN.

He is a better friend to Syria and more respectful and interested in Syrian culture than some Syrians posting here. Poorly educated and a “hatred-filled sectarian” are two things he definitely is NOT.

Your view of the singer Ali al-Deek may be well-infomed and fair, and what you have to say of interest. It is certainly passionate and sincere.

But from what I have come to know of JUERGEN over time is that he is someone who is decent, open-minded and rational enough to read and take on board what you have told us and weigh it up against what he already knows and thinks about Ali al-Deek.

Bashar Assad’s taste in music is far more shallow and plastic, we know that. But creative and performng artists in Syrian have unfortunately often become identified with the regime while they may not be “political” themselves.

February 9th, 2013, 12:15 am

Kurdish forces of men and women in Afrin.

February 9th, 2013, 12:18 am

In brief, Juergen insults my heritage a lot. He also shows sectarian hatred towards the people from whom I come from. So, what do you think?

February 9th, 2013, 12:21 am

329. mjabali said:

You gotta respect those proud and brave Syrian Kurds

Tour de force!

God bless’em!

February 9th, 2013, 12:28 am

Ali al-Deek doing Ataba:

February 9th, 2013, 12:33 am

I am sure that more sophisticated and official bodies than SyriaComment moderators have information on where “ANN” and that team are posting from.

From his strategies, I recognized JAD was a professional operator, not an individual sitting at home having a go at defending Assad. I was not convinced at the time that he felt vulnerable on SC. He moved on for other reasons, no doubt to do with his job (of which posting on SC was a part).

February 9th, 2013, 12:34 am

Ali al-Deek Ataba

309. VAT

“nafs in Arabic does not mean soul in English”

Exactly, Vattie. Nafs refers to that indefinable sound somewhere between a belch and a hiccup.

A New Bashar Cartoon:

http://grafikdesign.files.wordpress.com/2013/02/92.jpg?w=1000&h=

February 9th, 2013, 12:35 am

MJABALI #331. Honestly? I think you may in some cases be a bit hypersensitive and defensive. But understandably so – you’ve been roughed up here a lot at times. And this is a very, very stressful time for many of us with close connections in Syria.

However, I usually read whatever JUERGEN posts and have not noticed the traits you mentioned. As you know, I get fed up with sectarian insults here and have called people out on it regardless of whether they are contributors I otherwise respect and agree with.

If I spot that in JUERGEN’S posts I will comment on it.

PS I am enjoying the music you posted.

February 9th, 2013, 12:49 am

An Egyptian preacher raising hell about the infidel Alawi and the Shia.. He belongs in the Zoo as you could tell….

Another Egyptian Salafi lunatic, Wajdi Ghuneim, declaring that the Syrian regime are a bunch of infidels….

February 9th, 2013, 12:55 am

I wonder what pressure the US will exert on the opposition. John Kerry just made US policy towards Syria very clearly: No more weapons to supply. More diplomatic measures.

Like everyone with common sense sees the opposition: they are so fractured that it hinders any effort to help them or work with them. They need to have a solid structure with executive power.

As a matter of fact, the regime has expressed their frustration for that as well. It seems to counter-intuitive that the regime would want to see a coherent opposition.

But it makes sense if you have to choose from either a bunch of disorganized militias or a force under a single political body.

February 9th, 2013, 12:59 am

Mjabali

I can live with the fact that we have different music tastes obviously. You may want to point out to me where on earth did I write that I dislike Ali Deek because he is Alawite? That is nonsense. I dislike him because his presence in the innercircles of the regime, he sings for many of the shabihas in their parties, for their weddings. He is the courtsinger for the Assads, and as the syrian author Rafik Schami once said, an true artist can not work freely, can not be creative in such an regime. Songs like Ya Bashar show to me that he joined the choir of dictatorsingers, and I am sure Syrians will remember very well who among the artists worked for the regime.

I know its tempting, but I shall refrain from personal attacks.

February 9th, 2013, 3:13 am

First images after a missile fired by Syrian Forces hit a residential building in the Ansari area of Aleppo leaving at least 29 dead and dozens of wounded, including children and women.

February 9th, 2013, 3:29 am

interesting read, Nuri al Maliki extensive Interview.

http://www.aawsat.com/details.asp?section=4&article=716568&issueno=12492#.URYUDPKoDc-

February 9th, 2013, 4:21 am

Observer said
So the information minister is ready to talk without pre conditions. I would suggest that the opposition accept his offer and see what is there to talk about.

The minster said no condition, but he put condition,he said “We will have dialogue and negotiation on condition that the FSA put down their weapons”
So no condition but with condition.
figure that out!

Visitor
Thank you,we agree that Jesus was fatherless, and that Mariam gave birth to him, I think he was a product of creation, not evolution. I am sure you agree that Quraan is a manifest book,Haza kitabun Mubein,my problem with the interpretations is that they don’t take that statement into account.
There is criticism that interpretations of Quraan is male oriented,and there are interpretations that favor the male,when it comes to Quraan we have to be careful to interpret it correctly,without bias.

February 9th, 2013, 5:06 am

Syria’s Assad says ready for unconditioned dialogue with opposition

http://english.alarabiya.net/articles/2013/02/09/265246.html

Problem I don’t think he gives a hoot about his(?) people

February 9th, 2013, 6:01 am

Juergen

“I think the Homeland security agency should be aware of his upcoming visit”

It’s the right time to use your network of ‘friends’

February 9th, 2013, 7:25 am

#323 SL

I agree again. Hypocrisy and double face is commonly found with Islamists who claim ‘freedom’ and “high ideals” and ‘tolerance’ while plotting against and stabbing the opponents in the back.

I hope their sinister game will been unveiled in their governing fiasco in Egypt and Tunisia, despite billions of dollars Qatar (and Turkey) are pouring in to help them stay in power and the confused and tacit support of the USA and EU.

February 9th, 2013, 7:40 am

#340 Juergen

Rafik Schami is German. He writes in German. He is ethnically an arab christian born in Syria but left Syria in 1971, just as Hafez al Assad became president.
His books describing the corruption in Damascus are situated in a period before Hafez al Assad.
So please don’t give us the common narrative that as an artist, he left because of the Assad, he left because Syria was corrupted much before the Assad…
The Assad governments have encouraged arts much more than any other Arab countries.
Many Syrian writers stayed in Syria and wrote in Arabic a rich literature and poetry, in comparison to the other Arab countries.
Sorry to say but what Schami is saying is b.s.

February 9th, 2013, 7:55 am

Was the sex scandal of Petraeus arranged by the Syrian Mokhabarat and was Hillary’s concussion the result of poisoned food prepared by a Syrian Mokhabarat cook so as to fail the Pentagon plan?

White House defends decision not to arm Syrian rebels

Washington, Feb 8:
http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/news/international/article4397184.ece

The White House on Friday said it had been motivated by considerations of shielding Syrian civilians, Israelis and its own security, when President Barack Obama nixed an administration plan to arm Syrian rebels.

Defence Secretary Leon Panetta said during a congressional hearing yesterday that he backed plans to arm and train vetted rebel groups fighting President Bashar al-Assad’s forces, in an initiative also supported by former secretary of state Hillary
..
The New York Times today reported that the Petraeus scheme failed to come to fruition partly because its author resigned over a sex scandal and Clinton missed many of her final weeks on the job with a concussion that kept her for a while in hospital.
But White House spokesman Jay Carney argued today that the problem in Syria was not a lack of weapons, hinting that rebels were getting sufficient supplies from other regional powers and Assad was getting help from outsiders like Iran.

Carney said that the US priority was to ensure that weapons provided by Americans did not end up in the wrong hands to create more danger for “the US, the Syrian people or for Israel“.

February 9th, 2013, 8:07 am

The Iraqi Economy’s Huge Potential

09/02/2013

Takema Sakamoto, Chief Representative of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Iraq Office.

Based on its rich natural resources and huge market potential, Iraq’s economic prospects seem promising.
…
Iraq remains an important player in the global economy. Both in terms of its contribution to world energy markets and its role in the Middle East, the international community has a vested interest in seeing Iraq succeed. While the country faces significant challenges, these obstacles must be tackled collectively, with support from the international community, to build a brighter future for Iraq and the world.

February 9th, 2013, 8:12 am

A book to read selected by the Jury of the Cairo Book fair

“The fair closed with what some people saw as a symbolic slap to the Muslim Brotherhood, when the judging panel of the Cairo International Book fair awards gave the best political book award to Brotherhood insider, Tharwat El-Kherebawy for his book “Secret of the Temple”, where he reveals many secrets the Brotherhood had long sought to hide.”

http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContentP/18/64359/Books/Battered-by-deadly-protests,-Cairo-Intl-Book-Fair-.aspx

February 9th, 2013, 8:25 am

name me an painter, and sculpturer, an writer who stayed all his life in Syria who received world wide fame. All the acclaimed artists who have stayed and which are used by the regime made their deals, and many had to write silly poems about the legacy of Baath and its supreme leaders, others had to paint the President more than any other subject. Those with great talent and who are famous have left Syria.

Schami spoke in general that such regimes like Syria wont bring up big artists, because artists need freedom. The visits of the holy couple to a few opera house performances and sculpture symposiums doesnt make them art aficinados, nor does Syria have an vibrant artist scene, there was if ever an commercial art scene to provide some members of the ruling business mafia some art they can hang over their sofas in their houses. See in an open society any artist could become famous, in Assad Syria only the one who made compromises, who gave art as an gift to the state, one who has enough wasta. If you call that an vibrant and open art scene,then you may have reached grounds of which you may not be so familiar with.

Btw Schami is still Syrian,Syria is one of the few countries from which one can not leave its nationality.

Here is an great radio report by BBC, with Joshua comments.

“The government of President Assad of Syria is under threat. So too is the secretive Shia sect known as the Alawis – or Alawites – to which he and many of the governing party and security officials belong. Hostility towards the minority Alawi population is such that one leading commentator predicts they are likely to be the victims of the world’s next genocide.”
http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b01qdtql/Analysis_The_Alawis/

February 9th, 2013, 8:30 am

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b01qdtql/Analysis_The_Alawis/

February 9th, 2013, 8:41 am

Rupert Neudeck, founder of the charity organization Cap Anamur and Green Helmets talks about his visit to Aleppo

“The Syrian people are probably the most abandoned people on earth”

“There is a withdrawal movement of the regime, which is probably up to 90 and 95 percent. We have witnessed a deserter here, who had deserted from the nearby military airport, who reported the fact that virtually all soldiers fed up and just full of fear, that they Assad as deserters after so long in the regime, the army of that they do not dare to go out.”

http://translate.google.de/translate?sl=de&tl=en&js=n&prev=_t&hl=de&ie=UTF-8&eotf=1&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dradio.de%2Fdlf%2Fsendungen%2Finterview_dlf%2F2004002%2F

February 9th, 2013, 9:30 am

“name me an painter, and sculpturer, an writer who stayed all his life in “any arab country’ who received world wide fame.

The world of Art is totally neglected in the Arab world. It has nothing to do with the Assad’s regime. It has to do with the priorities of these countries.

There are amazing artists in Syria, actors, script writers, in cinema and painting that are only known in Syria or in the Arab world by Arabs.
They have excelled mostly on TV series that are not easily exportable items.
Serials made by Syrians like “King Faruk”, “Asmahan”, “Queen Nazli” “Bad Al Hara” were huge artisic and popular successes.

Just to name a few director working in Syria: Hatem Ali, Abdellatif Abdelhamid, Omar Amiralay ( who died at 66 in his home in Damascus)

As far as his false generalization than ‘big artists’ can only come from ‘open’ society, I guess Schami considers Iran an ‘open’ society in view of the renowned ‘big’ artists it produces ?
Iran has a strong international presence due to the perpetuation by the Islamic government of the international structures established by the Shah as well as the rich iranians ’emigres’, attached to their culture. Unfortunately this is not the case in any Arab country. Therefore Syria artists remain unknown in the West.

By the way how many urdu or vietnamese speaking artists are known worldwide?

February 9th, 2013, 9:42 am

Homeland Security should be called because a Syrian singer is performing in America Juergen? Was that a joke?

Mohamed Rafeh was a Syrian artist. He was murdered by the terrorists.

February 9th, 2013, 9:49 am

Divided Syrian opposition ponders leader’s offer of talks with Assad said:

[…] that this struggle is existential and will continue until one side has eliminated the other,” wrote Joshua Landis on the Syria Comment blog. “To many Syrians who feel that they are mere pawns caught between […]

February 9th, 2013, 12:31 pm

JUERGEN #355

I want to respond to your comment on internal Syrian writers and artists.

I agree with your point about the regime’s domination of Syrian popular culture and censorship and restrictions on artists, writers and film makers.

But you have been a bit unfair in dismissing those who spent their lives in Syria, suggesting any one who is any good has left Syria.

Not true. I see that some excellent writers from inside Syria, Nihad Sirees, Khaled Khalifa and Yassin al-haj Saleh, for example – who are all courageous critics of the regime – are now suddenly starting to get international recognition. Do a search and you’ll see.

It’s true that to earn a living or get exposure many creative and talented Syrians compromised or accepted work from the authorities. The government for decades has been the biggest customer, patron and decider in Syrian public culture.

It’s also true that a lot of mediocre material and 4th-rate artists and their work got promoted.

But Syria still has many very good local writers, artists, performers and makers of TV dramas and films. And a number owe the development and showcasing of their talent to the government’s support of the TV drama industry.

Other barriers to wider fame include the small size of the local commercial and culturally-aware market for art and literature in the Middle East, restricted travel, income opportunities and outlets available to most Syrian creative artists, and also language (translations of Arab literature or subtitles on TV dramas are sadly scarce).

I think the world will learn about more about the good Syrian artists and writers in the future as the barriers come down.

Another fact of life is that most performing artists long for an audience, it’s what drives the blood through their veins. And if they have to choose between starvation in obscurity or performing for an audience of bastards and thugs, most will choose the second option.

And here’s another thing. In America, a lot of brilliant TV drams started coming suddenly from the HBO channel. It stunned and delighted audiences who’d only seen the garbage churned out by the big TV networks and Hollywood.

So where had all these brilliant American screenwriters, actors, directors etc been hiding all these years? They had actually been out there earning a living doing the horrible trash on mainstream commercial TV and Hollywood – the only work on offer. Then suddenly, HBO offered them chance to show what they were actually capable of.

February 9th, 2013, 7:39 pm

Noah Bonsey on the Syrian Islamic Liberation Front; Nick Heras on how Islamic Militias emulate Hamas and Hizbullah

Wednesday, February 6th, 2013

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