Opposition Meets in Tunisia as Arab Observers Enter Syria and Deathrate Rises

Posted by Joshua on Tuesday, December 20th, 2011

As the economic situation in Syria deteriorates steadily and the death-rate rises with an increasingly militant opposition, there seems no resolution in sight to the fighting in Syria. The Arab League is sending observers to report on the violence, but it is unclear whether they will act as a balm or catalyst to the conflict. Both regime supporters and opposition may well try to demonstrate wherever the observers turn up.

The SNC has met in Tunisia in order to announce a unified opposition statement, which is carried in full below. The opposition has shown increasing unity, although many important differences over strategy and objectives continue to divide its ranks.

Law and order are slowly collapsing in Syria, along with reliable supplies of basic goods and services. The opposition is becoming more capable, more numerous, and better armed; more Syrians are despairing of the Assad regime and believe the president lives in a cocoon. The international community has isolated Syria and continues to tighten sanctions and force western companies to withdraw from the country, which is causing the economy to contract rapidly. Syria’s GDP has shrunk by almost 30% in dollar terms since the start of the year — from $55 billion to $37 billion dollars, as the Syrian pound has collapsed from 47 to 62 to a dollar. Heating oil has all but disappeared from the market place; people are cold. Cooking oil is scarce and electricity in many cities is cut for hours on end during peek usage periods. Municipal elections, by all accounts, were a bust. It is hard to see how they can change much so long as article 8 of the constitution – the article guaranteeing the supremacy of the Baath in society and politics – remains in force. Syrian opposition forces asked their followers to boycott them. The notion of reform is dead. The opposition is determined to bring down the regime, not reform it. Anyway, Assad has shown no inclination to cut the authority of the patronage network and security forces that sustain his regime in power. One must assume he will fight to the end, that was the thrust of his recent ABC interview with Barbara Walters.

What we are witnessing in Syria, is not the clash of two titanic and centralized bodies: the state and the opposition. Instead, we are seeing the steady erosion of state authority and national institutions, as the opposition, which remains largely organized on a local basis undermines central authority at many points. Neighborhood committees and armed groups are forming in ever greater number. Most use the word “coordinating” in their title, but few relinquish local authority. They prefer to keep decision-making local and in their own hands. Some of this is for practical reasons. Spies are everywhere. I am told by good sources that one of the leading reasons why Aleppo has been so quite is that the local coordinating committees recently discovered that their efforts to put together surprise demonstrations were being foiled by informants. One recent opposition statement admitted that their ranks have been riddled with informers.

The opposition remains divided over central issues of strategy – especially over how to deal with the armed opposition to the regime. The Syrian National Council claims to have gained control over the Free Syrian Army, which claims, in turn, to have control over some 15,000 defectors and armed elements in Syria. This alleged hierarchy is by most accounts fictional. The opposition groups and cells in Syria – whether peaceful or armed – are working on their own. According to the New York Times “factionalism has been hindering the drive to topple Assad.”

Current Events in Syria
Illinois Public Radio, Host: David Inge
Radio Show – Go to six minutes to start interview about current situation in Syria

Pro-Assad demonstrators on Monday after announcement of Arab League Deal. Notice that they are fewer than in the past, when the square and side roads were packed

Qatari Foreign Minister Hamad bin Jassim (C) is now a key figure at the League

Members of the Free Syrian Army at a safe-house on northern Lebanon’s border with Syria.

Syria To Cut Public Spending To Head Off Crisis
2011-12-20

DAMASCUS (AFP)–Syria has decided to slash public sector spending in a bid to head off a crisis for an economy that has taken a beating due to months of unrest and sanctions, media said Tuesday.

Prime Minister Adel Safar has issued an order for the public sector to reduce spending by 25% in a move designed at “limiting waste,” Al-Baath newspaper reported.

The cuts would be included in the 2012 budget and concern “fuel, maintenance, bonuses and transport expenses” that are usually allocated to civil servants, the report said.  Western powers have imposed sweeping economic sanctions on Syria, where the United Nations estimates more than 5,000 people have been killed since March asthe regime cracks down on a popular revolt.

Syrian Unemployment at Twice Previously Estimated Level – Syria Report

The Syrian Minister of Labour and Social Affair said last week that unemployment in the country stood at between 22 and 30 percent, a rate more than twice previously estimated levels….

Radwan Habib made this statement at the end of a Government meeting last week saying the new findings were the result of a field survey conducted by his administration. Until now, the Government put unemployment rate at 9 percent, well below the estimates of most independent analysts.

Gathering data on unemployment in Syria is difficult because few workers are registered with Social Security and Job houses but also because of cultural differences. In rural areas for instance, women working on cultivating land are rarely counted as workers, rather they consider themselves house wives.

Mr Habib did not give more details on the finding of the survey and did not say for instance whether the figure had been impacted by the current crisis engulfing the country. He did not say either why for so long the Government admitted to much lower figures. The fact that the margin is so high – between 22 and 30 percent – also casts serious doubts about the quality of the survey.

Syria Imposes Death Penalty For Arming “Terrorists”, 2011-12-20

DAMASCUS (AFP)–Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has signed into effect a law imposing the death penalty on anyone arming “terrorists,” state media said Tuesday, amid mounting clashes with rebel troops.

“The law provides for the death penalty for anyone providing weapons or helping to provide weapons intended for the carrying out of terrorist acts,” the official SANA news agency said. The Syrian authorities contend that nine-month-old protests are the work of “armed terrorists” not civilian demonstrators as maintained by Western governments and human rights groups.

SYRIAN NATIONAL COUNCIL NEWS

The Syrian National Council (SNC) held its first plenary meeting and conference in Tunis in December 17-18, 2011. The participants paid tribute to the Syrian people’s patience and the heroes who continue to demonstrate peacefully for dignity and freedom. The regime’s tactics, including the darkest of scenarios, to drag the nation into a civil war, have failed.
The council also called upon members of the Army and concerned citizens, who have yet to join the Revolution, to get involved in this cause.The SNC discussed key issues, including its own responsibilities, and concluded with the following outcomes:

At the Organizational Level:

  • The conference discussed and approved the Political Program of the SNC and the bylaws and regulations governing the ongoing relationships among its various institutions. The conference also restructured the SNC offices to promote the active participation of all political entities, including the driving forces of the Revolution and the independent national figures that have joined the SNC. The role of women in the SNC was also emphasized.
  • The SNC vowed to continue all efforts to promote national unity, and to expand national efforts to guarantee the success of the Revolution and provide a means to achieve its humanitarian objectives, including freedom and dignity.

At the Domestic Level: 
The SNC renewed its commitment to the Syrian people and to the achievement of their goals. This includes the primary objectives of the Revolution:

  • First, the ouster of the regime and its figures, along with all of its symbols and pillars.
  • Second, the establishment of a new Syria as a democratic, pluralistic, civil state, where all citizens – men and women – are treated equally under the rule of law.
  • The SNC reaffirmed its commitment to recognize the Kurdish national identity under the constitution. The Kurdish cause is an important part of a national issue of concern to the country as a whole.  Within the framework of unity in Syria, the SNC will resolve the injustices toward the Kurdish people by recognizing their national rights and compensating those affected.
  • The SNC stressed its commitment to recognizing the national identity of the Assyrian Syrians under the constitution, and called for a solution to this issue within the framework of national unity.
  • The SNC emphasized its rejection of any discrimination against any components of Syrian society, regardless of religious sect or ethnicity (including Arabs, Kurds, Turkmen, Assyrian, Syriacs, and others), in the context of national citizenship.
  • The SNC pledged to make every effort to meet the demands of the Syrian people, including relief requirements in disaster areas, as they continue their peaceful Revolution and successful civil disobedience such as the Strike for Dignity.
  • The SNC and its institutions call on the Arab League, the United Nations, and the international community to take urgent action with regard to the protection of Syrian civilians and activists by creating safe havens and protected zones.
  • The SNC pledged to support the Free Syrian Army, recognizing its honorable role in protecting the peaceful Revolution of our people.
  • The SNC emphasized its commitment at all levels – media, economic, political, and diplomatic – to stifling the regime until its ouster.
  • The SNC reaffirmed its vision of the transitional period and the general principles for the new Syria, which seek to realize a general consensus. The SNC called on all Syrians to unite in confronting injustice and tyranny and to join the Revolution in crafting the future of Syria.

At the International Level:

  • The SNC emphasized its concerns with regard to cooperation with the members of the Arab League, the international community, and other international organizations to achieve the objectives and wishes of the Syrian Revolution. The SNC warned that the regime continues to disregard and circumvent the initiatives and sanctions imposed upon it. The SNC also stressed that the regime must not be granted any additional deadlines or chances.
  • Moreover, the SNC urged that all countries and citizens bear a moral and humanitarian responsibility toward the Syrian people, who are facing the worst of crimes against humanity. The SNC emphasized that it is in the best interest of foreign countries to stand with the Syrian people and not with a faltering regime.
  • The SNC stressed that the new Syria will restore national sovereignty to the occupied Golan Heights and support the complete and legitimate rights of the Palestinian people. This will lead to true stability in the region, as opposed to the repressive regime that threatens the stability and unity of the state, and prompts international intervention in Syria’s internal issues. The regime alone bears responsibility for the events in the country.

Burhan Ghalioun, leader of the SNC, recently ran into harsh criticism from supporters for stating that the future government of Syria would cut ties with Iran and Hizbullah and would “bank on our special relationship with the Europeans and western powers in helping us in reclaiming the Golan as fast as possible.” None of those statements appear in the latest policy statement. When the SNC was formed three months ago, it was stated that the executive – Ghalioun would serve a three month term. It is unclear whether the SNC has cleared up this sitution. A recent Wall Street Journal interview with Ghalioun carried this on the topic:

WSJ: The council’s leadership is assigned for three months terms. When does the current term end and who will lead a transitional government?

Mr. Ghalioun: To respect democratic principles, the president has a three months term, and it can be extended. My term began in October for three months. Extension is something that will be discussed—it’s a possibility.

Syria’s Opposition: What If We Offered Assad Immunity…?
By Rania Abouzeid / Time, Tunis Sunday, Dec. 18, 2011

…..The FSA was not represented at the Tunisian conference. “What for?” said one conference organizer, when asked about the rebels’ absence. “Riad al-As’ad is in charge of maybe five guys.” (See why Syria’s dissidents fear for their safety.)

“The FSA is an empty cardboard box,” said another participant. “It means nothing. And besides, if we want to try and win over the army, why would we bring the FSA here?”

Still, the FSA, unlike the SNC, has tremendous support inside Syria. There are increasing calls by protesters and defectors alike for weapons to take on Assad’s ruthless forces. Unless the SNC presents a viable alternative, the Syrian uprising may slip out of the political realm and into an all-out civil conflict, with dangerous sectarian undertones. “What difference can the SNC make if it gets international recognition and loses its legitimacy among the protesters? And what difference can the FSA make, if it fails to get all the emerging paramilitary groups to accept the authority of its Military Council and its leader?” Ammar Abdulhamid, a U.S.-based Syrian dissident who has been critical of the SNC said recently. Abdulhamid has criticized the SNC’s “lack of transparency” and claimed that several independent Syrians who wanted to attend the conference in Tunisia “as monitors” were not allowed in. “So long as SNC leaders remain more preoccupied with winning international recognition than they are with internal cohesion or outreach to their own people, they are destined to become as irrelevant and cut-off from realities as Assad is today,” he said.

Interview with Louay Hussein on FSA, civil war, sanctions, Turkey and an opposition upcoming conference: Louay is a long time opposition activist. He was first arrested in 1984 while finishing his fourth year of philosophy studies at Damascus University. He was released from jail in 1991. Earlier this year he successfully organized the first opposition conference to be held in Damascus (Samiramis conference) and launched “Building the Syrian State” political current (???? ???? ?????? ???????)

REPORTING ON SYRIA

Stratfor Challenges Narratives on Syria, December 20, 2011,
By Sharmine Narwani, Senior Associate, St. Antony’s College, Oxford University

… Inherent Bias in Syrian Data?

The problem with information that originates from opposition groups is that there is a clear interest in disseminating “beneficial” data and underplaying “damaging” statistics. And that dynamic applies to the government too – which is why we take Syrian regime pronouncements with a grain of salt.

You don’t see the Syrian opposition taking an active role in publicizing the slaughter of rank-and-file soldiers, for instance – except to claim these forces are being shot for deserting the army. Twitter is abuzz right now with news that more than 70 of today’s 100+ dead are “deserters.”

Nor do you hear about the numbers of pro-regime civilians killed by the armed opposition – some of them allegedly while “demonstrating” in support of the Syrian regime.

Now, this does not mean that the Syrian opposition lies outright to gain sympathy and foreign support – mostly because the “opposition” is not homogenous and comes in different shapes, sizes and flavors.

But Strafor clearly questions the intent of some of these groups based on very recent evidence of disinformation campaigns:

The Stratfor article focuses primarily on opposition efforts to create the impression in the past few weeks that there is a significant split within President Assad’s own clan and within his Alawite minority sect, members of which man the top jobs in the country’s armed forces and key government positions.

Among these high-profile gaffs are a December 10 report alleging that “Syrian Deputy Defense Minister and former chief of military intelligence Asef Shawkat had been killed by his aide and former General Security Directorate chief, Gen. Ali Mamlouk.”

Stratfor posits that the unfounded “image of two senior-ranking Sunni members of the regime drawing guns on each other” helps to create ” a compelling narrative” for groups that wish “to undermine the perception that al Assad’s inner circle is united in the effort to suppress the opposition and save the regime.”

In yet another example, a December 9 statement published in the Saudi-owned Asharq al Awsat by the previously-unknown “Alawite League of Coordinating Committees” which claims to represent the Alawite community in Syria, “rejected any attempt to hold the Alawite sect responsible for the ‘barbarism’ of the al Assad regime.” Stratfor says the planted story gives “the impression that the Alawite community is fracturing and that the al Assad regime is facing a serious loss of support within its own minority sect.”……….

Three videos that have been circulating

Syria Observatory of  Human Rights accused of false reporting by Nizar Nayouf. Its leader was long a major source for Western reporters on Syria.

FREE SYRIA ARMY NEWS

Inside Syria: the rebel call for arms and ammunition
Exclusive: With Syrian rebels desperate for arms, Ghaith Abdul-Ahad finds smugglers doing a roaring trade selling guns and bullets

Hussam is a soldier in the Syrian army. His brother and two cousins are fighting for the rebels.

“I would defect tomorrow if you could protect my family,” Hussam said. “But if I defected they would arrest my father and my brothers and the whole family wuld have no income. The regime is still in control.

“I am as low as I can be, my morale is below zero. I don’t know what to do, my family and people are getting killed – yet still there are no defections in the army.

“When they say the Syrian army is an ideological army they are right. The political officers and the Ba’ath party and the Assad family control the army. Even if a general did defect, he wouldn’t defect with his tanks and soldiers, he would defect on his own. So arming of the revolution is a mistake, it will not be strong enough to stand against the army and resist properly.

“With my artillery unit I could sweep through Benish in one hour. When the officers and the regime tell the soldiers that the villagers are armed, they will come in scared and shoot at everything.

“But when soldiers know that they are facing unarmed civilians, they are human beings after all. How many bullets were fired when they toppled Mubarak? Zero. Now everyone is armed, fine. But what’s next?

“If you want officers to defect give them a no-fly zone, give them a safe haven, where they can take their families.”….

Hameed: He later joined the Free Syrian Army under the command of Colonel Reyadh Assad.

“We did nothing there [in Turkey], just sat in our tents and watched TV and sometimes gave press interviews. I told them I hadn’t defected to sit in a tent, I wanted to fight. They kept telling me to wait, that they had a plan, but nothing happened.”

After three months in Turkey Hameed ran away again; this time he arranged for the rebels to smuggle him back into Syria.

“There is no such thing as a Free Syria Army,” he said. “It’s a joke. The real revolutionaries are here in Syria in the mountains.”

On Zawiya mountain, I met another defected officer. He had taken leave from the army to see his family, and when he reached his village he joined the fighters in the mountains.

“The regime can’t reach my family,” he said. “That’s why I could run away.” Most soldiers couldn’t defect because they feared for their families if they did. “The army is under the strict control of the political officers, who ensure we live in cocoon where we can’t see what’s happening outside.” Soldiers were not allowed to watch the Arabic news channels, just the propaganda served up by state TV, he said. “The political officers tell us every day that we are fighting armed gangs paid by the Americans and the Saudis.

“If only they would impose a no fly zone,” he said, “then the whole army would split.”

“The Free Syrian Army: Syria’s Future Army of Liberation?”,
By Nicholas A. Heras in Siyese

Syria is in a state of civil war. Whether a de jure or a de facto civil war, an escalation of the civil conflict that has already cost the lives of over 4,000 Syrians is imminent. Thus far, the Syrian armed forces, and their appendage Alawite militia the Shabiha, have maintained a violent superiority over the protesters and rebellious population of Syria. Unfazed by this balance of violence, one opposition movement, the Free Syrian Army, is ready, willing, and able to take up arms to defeat the Al-Assad government.

The Free Syrian Army is composed of mainly Arab Sunni Muslim former soldiers from the Syrian army. Led by Col. Riad Al-Asaad, the Free Syrian Army claims to number between 10,000-20,000 members, and growing. Most of its rank-and-file defected from the Syrian army because of crises of conscience towards using lethal force against Syrian civilians protesting the Al-Assad government. It is organized into 22 “battalions” that operate throughout Syria, although recently the Free Syrian Army has been mobilizing with particular intensity in and around the front-line central-western cities of Homs and Hama, and in the northwestern region of Idlib….

The Free Syrian Army, acting upon the insistent advice of the Syrian National Council, has reduced its operations to defensive actions, in order to lessen the risk of an all-out civil war and put the burden of offensive actions and the bloodshed that would result from them on the Syrian military. This willing defensive tactical stance adopted by the Free Syrian Army indicates that it is ready to march to the same beat as the Syrian National Council,….

The rise of the Free Syrian Army,
By Chris Zambelis in Asia Times

Syrian Army Defectors Reportedly Kill 27 Soldiers.
By NADA BAKRI, December 15, 2011

BEIRUT, Lebanon — The armed insurgency against the government of President Bashar al-Assad of Syria has become more organized in recent weeks, with defectors launching attacks that have become bolder and in some cases more sophisticated, according to activists and residents inside the country and in exile.

The latest attack took place on Thursday at dawn, when military defectors killed at least 27 soldiers,…

One opposition leader in exile, whose assertions could not be immediately confirmed, said that weapons were also being smuggled to Syria from Lebanon, Turkey and Iraq, and that defectors were now better armed and financed.

The attacks in recent weeks have escalated around Dara’a, in the south, and in Hama, a tense city in central Syria where vast protests gathered earlier this year before security forces retook the city in August.

Discontent is greater in these areas, observers say, where a majority of the people are poor Sunni Muslims who have suffered under government neglect, a longstanding drought and a sense of disenfranchisement by a government dominated by Alawites, a heterodox Muslim sect to which Mr. Assad belongs.

This week alone, the observatory reported four deadly attacks against government troops in Hama and Dara’a Provinces, including an ambush on Wednesday that killed at least eight members of the security forces.

“Where else are we going to find government forces vulnerable?” said Ammar al-Wawi, a former soldier reached by phone in an area near the Syrian-Turkish border. “Confrontations will happen in hot spots and where there are protests, discontent and serious opposition to the regime.”

Mr. Wawi said he left the army in March, after the uprising started. He and some other fighters said their initial goal was to ambush and kill soldiers who were headed to crush protests. For months, the government has intermittently cracked down on restive cities, sending in tanks, killing civilians and making arrests, according to activists.

Though the Free Syrian Army — a group of mainly army defectors whose commanders are based in Turkey — claimed to have staged most of the recent attacks, some activists and American officials disagree over the degree of coordination. Many of the attacks themselves often seem haphazard.

Estimates of the numbers of defectors vary wildly. An Obama administration official, speaking on condition of anonymity, estimated their total at 1,000 to 3,500. The official said that armed civilians had apparently joined some of the defectors.

Some activists have suggested that parts of Dara’a and Hama Provinces have become so hostile that security forces are finding it difficult to enter them.

A town near Dara’a called Hirak has witnessed daily antigovernment protests in recent weeks, and residents there say that it has become off limits for security forces.

An opposition activist who did not want to be identified said that about 800 fighters, mainly army defectors, were based there.

“The regime hasn’t attacked once in recent weeks,” said Anwar Fares, a human rights activist from Dara’a. “They have been attacked on the outskirts of the town several times, so they are now scared and stay away.”

Mr. Fares said an increasing number of Syrian civilians were joining the defectors, especially people who had lost family members in the government’s crackdown.

27 Dead After Syrian Government Forces, Defectors Clash

… Analyst Harling said, however, that growing ranks of defectors are now often inflicting casualties on government forces that “exceed the number of victims among protesters.” He added that the “dynamics on the ground appear to be shifting in favor of the insurgency.”

Harling insists that he sees “ominous trends” pointing to “regionalization of the Syrian conflict.” Despite those trends, though, he argues there is “no strong, tangible evidence that a regional proxy war has started yet.” Syrian forces, meanwhile, continue to target defectors whom they see as a growing threat.

Free Syria Army Will Retaliate if 21 Members are Executed

The Free Syrian Army, which has waged a rebellion against the government of President Bashar al-Assad since June, said it had received information that 21 of their number are to face a firing squad within the next 24 hours.

The rebels said they would retaliate against government forces and militiamen loyal to the regime in the city of Homs, an opposition stronghold, if the executions take place.

“I have a personal message for the army: If the army executes these men, there will be a very harsh retaliation against them here in Homs,” Abdul-Razaq Tlas, the commander of one of two rebel battalions in the city, told the Daily Telegraph.

OTHER NEWS

Top story: U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay told the U.N. Security Council that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s crackdown against domestic protesters “constituted crimes against humanity,” and that Syria should be referred to the International Criminal Court. Pillay also revised the U.N. estimate for the death toll during the nine-month-old uprising, saying that more than 5,000 people had been killed, including 300 children. Another 14,000 people are believed to have been arrested, while 12,400 people had fled to other countries, she said.

Syrian workers hold general strike; voter turnout is low in local elections – From Foreign Policy

Syrian opposition activists said most of Syria’s capital of Damascus has been shutdown, and shops throughout the country were closed in the largest general strike since the protest movement began in March…. At the same time, the county is holding local elections for 17,588 seats in Syria’s 1,337 administrative units. Overall, voter turnout is expected to be very low as opposition activists have called for a boycott and many residents fear leaving their homes to go to the polls. The voting comes amid one of the fiercest clashes since the start of the uprisings between government forces and defectors loosely aligned into the Free Syria Army (FSA). Syria’s 12th Armored Brigade, based in Isra, a town 25 miles from Jordan in the south, stormed the town of Busra al-Harir, where the FSA was allegedly hiding and waging attacks. Inan escalation of international tensions, French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe made a statement accusing Syrians of being behind the attack that wounded five UNIFIL peacekeepers in southern Lebanon last week, though he offered no evidence. Meanwhile, the Arab League will meet on Saturday to discuss Syria’s conditional acceptance of a peace plan involving international monitors.

Economic Impact of Strike Difficult to Assess – from Jihad Yazigi’s Syria Report

Business activity remained apparently normal in central parts of Damascus and Aleppo on Sunday, although other parts of the country appeared to be complying with calls for a general strike by the Syrian opposition.

The Struggle for Syria in 2011, Middle East Security Report 2, December 12, 2011
By Joseph Holliday
Executive Summary

This paper provides context for understanding the cycles of violence in Syria. The first section provides a brief historical overview of sectarianism in Syria in order to understand its role in the current conflict. The second section provides a framework for understanding the operations and strategy of the Assad regime. The paper then analyzes regime security operations in seven regions: Dera’a province; Damascus; Homs and Hama in central Syria; the coastal region; Idlib province; the Arab east; and the Kurdish northeast. The paper concludes with an examination of regional and international responses to the conflict…..

Syria Holds Local Polls as Violence Continues, By: Al Jazeera and Agencies | Al Jazeera

Syrian opposition officials in London reported that Deputy Minister of Defense of Syria Assef Shawkat, husband of Bushra Assad, was killed during an argument with his aide General Ali Mamlouk. Stratfor is reporting this, which seems like unreliable gossip or misinformation to me.

Blogger, Rami al-Jarrah, describes his escape from Syria, 12 Dec 2011

Rami al-Jarrah, who was blogging and tweeting from Syria under the pseudonym “Alexander Page,” just fled the country after his real identity became known to the intelligence services. Upon his arrival in Qatar he almost got sent back to Syria but thanks to a swift outpouring of support on Twitter, he was allowed in….

Syrian minister of petroleum claims smuggling and hording is main cause of scarcity.

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Factional splits in Syrian opposition hinder drive to topple Assad New York Times
Posted: 10 Dec 2011 05:00 AM PST

The New York Times: Even as the government of President Bashar al-Assad intensifies its crackdown inside Syria, differences over tactics and strategy are generating serious divisions between political and armed opposition factions that are weakening the fight against him, senior activists say. Soldiers and activists close to the rebel Free Syrian Army, which is orchestrating […]

New Parties Announced

More and more opposition parties and groups are announcing themselves each week. For example, Murhaf Jouejati, a Washington DC based academic and member of the SNC, announced the formation of a new political party – The National Consensus Movement.  A new Islamic Front announced itself in Cairo a few days ago. The Kurdish parties are sitting on the sidelines. They don’t trust Turkey, which has been sponsoring opposition groups, and they don’t trust Arabs, who are suspicious that Kurdish demands for “national” recognition and autonomy are but a prelude to calls for independence. The minorities remain fearful of the possible tyranny of Islam. They insist that their liberties will be steamrolled by the growing strength of Islamic parties. Many see the Arab Spring to be a thinly disguised “revenge of the Sunnis.”

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Jerusalem Post: ‘No substitute for US leadership on Syria’

2011-12-12

WASHINGTON – Syria is too important a country for its crisis to be handled by any actor other than the United States, experts on Mideast geopolitics and national security said late last week at an annual policy conference in Washington. The US and …

Tony Badran – a fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, the Washington think tank that organized the event – said neither the Arab League nor Turkey wield the necessary military or diplomatic clout to end a nearly nine-month government crackdown said to have killed at least 4,000 people.

“Syria is a pillar of the Iranian axis. Only the US can do this – it can’t be outsourced,” Badran said. “The US acting like a human-rights NGO just won’t cut it.”

Turkey, which shares a 900-km. border with Syria, has raised the possibility of creating a buffer zone along their the frontier, but has also shrunk from the prospect of large-scale military action.

Andrew Tabler, a Syria expert at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, said military operations in the country would present difficulties not encountered in this year’s NATO intervention in Libya.

“Unlike Libya, Syria has a massive air defense system. The US could handle it, but not the Turks,” he said.

Current and former US officials from both sides of the aisle called for Washington to show greater leadership against Syrian President Bashar Assad.

Rep. Eliot Engel (D-New York) said America must honor its responsibility as the champion of freedom-seeking peoples worldwide.

“People care what the US says and look to it as a beacon of democracy. Shame on us if we shirk that duty,” said Engel, who in 2003 sponsored the Syria Accountability Act….

Bashar al-Assad Isn’t Going Anywhere (Voluntarily)

Max Fisher – Atlantic

Though some media critics were disappointed by Walters’ interview, it did lead Assad to reveal his intentions. His message to the world, delivered through one shrugging denial or smiling falsehood after another: I’m not going anywhere.

Friend Writes: Electric cuts in Aleppo now 6 hrs a day – three in morning and three in evening.

The weather in Aleppo is very cold. Since Mazzout is in short supply, many are trying to economize on use of heaters. They are buying electric ones for single rooms. Unused parts of the house are left without heat. So many people are doing the same that the electric grid cannot keep up with demand. Just now, Aleppo has been over three hours without electricity. My sister’s daughter is doing her school work under candle light. When i called they were so fed up staying home without light that they decided to park the car in the middle of the city and sit inside it to pass time till the electricity is back.

??? ???? ???????? ???? ????:”??? ????? ????? ??? ?????? ??????? ????? ??????? ???? 2010 (24) ????? ?? ????? ??? ????? ???????? ??? ?? ??? ????? ??????? (70) ????? ?? ????? ??? ?? ??? 2030 ?????? ?????? ????? ??? ??? ?????? ????? ??????? ?? ??????? ????????? ?????????? ??????? ????? ?? ?????? ???????? (28) ????? ?? ????? ??? ?? ??? ????????? ????????? ???????? ??? ????? ?????”.

 ????? ?????? ?? ????? ????? ?????? ?????? ?????????? ?? ?????? ????? ????? ?????? ????? 1.7 ??????? ?.? ?????? ??????? ?????? ????? ??? ?????? ?? ??? ????? ???????? ???? ?????? ????? ?????? ??? ?????? ??? ????? ????? ???????? ??? ???? ?????? ?????? ??????

Many argue that Syria is fine since it has low debt, but simply to upgrade the electric grid will cost the country $28 billion. This is more than 50% of GDP. Its like saying that the American economy needs $7 trillion to upgrade its electricity. Syria has low debt but that is largely because it has resisted making improvements to its antiquated infrastructure. Syria needs a massive modernization campaign.

Until the Tunisia conference Hytham Mannaa was against SNC. He’s with the NCC. Walid Bunni left the SNC. Those division seem to be on the mend.

Read Juan Cole’s Hizbullah Leader Condemns Syrian Opposition

Republicans Decry Obama Israel Policy in Bid for Jewish Vote

Gingrich called for the overthrow of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, saying the U.S. should push for regime change in Iran and Syria. He vowed to move the U.S. embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, a sensitive topic in peace talks between Israelis and Palestinians. And, if elected, he promised to appoint John Bolton, former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, as secretary of state, prompting wild applause from the standing-room-only audience.

National Coordination Body for Democratic Change has produced a draft document of proposals for the creation of the Syrian General Congress. The NCB delegation is currently in Cairo working with the Arab League to unify the ranks of the Syrian opposition.

The draft proposals present a critical opportunity to put an end to the multiple and various voices of the democratic opposition, to build a core foundation for the struggle to overthrow the regime with all the supporting infrastructure, and a program for transition and the building of the pluralist democracy based on citizenship, law and respect for the rights of persons and groups, and to ensure the preservation of fundamental freedoms, social justice and territorial integrity within the homeland of Syria, which is part of the Arab world.

The National Coordination Body for Democratic Change refuses the call for external military intervention, and will not accept the participation of any person involved in economic or political crimes. Participants in this conference should agree to reject and resist any form of sectarianism or the mobilization of sectarian violence, militarism and exclusion. The conference is presented as the basis upon which to unite the efforts of the opposition forces and figures across a broad base upon the principles of consensus and democracy.

The National Coordination Body for Democratic Change proposes that the Preparatory Committee will include members of the SNC, NBC, Kurdish representatives, trades unions and public figures.

AL-ASSAD IN COMPLETE DENIAL, By Andrew J. Tabler

How Turkish perceive women and religion: a revealing survey of modern Turkey.

“The findings of a 2011 survey by a team of academics from Istanbul’s Bahçesehir University revealed hints about the related Turkish mental paradigm: 33 percent of Turks think women deserve to be beaten; 60 percent (both male and female) think women should obey men and surprise, surprise, 81 percent identify themselves as religiously devout. A separate study in 2010 had found that 25 percent of Turks think it would amount to sinning if women and men worked in the same office.”

In Syria, Expelling the Peacemakers
By STEPHANIE SALDAÑA, Op-Ed Contributor, Published: December 8, 2011, New York Times

SEVEN years ago, I stood in the chapel of a monastery in the Syrian desert and stared up at a wall of frescoes from the 13th century.

Nearby, a burly man in a gray habit was explaining the paintings to a family visiting from a neighboring village. “That’s Mariam, may peace be upon her,” he said, pointing up. He moved his hand toward the bearded portrait of a man. “And that’s Ibrahim al-Khalil, may peace be upon him.”

Though it may seem like a mundane story, it was anything but ordinary. The visitors, who had climbed a flight of some 350 stairs to arrive there, were Muslims. The man describing the frescoes to them was Father Paolo Dall’Oglio, an Italian Jesuit priest who was speaking to them in the local Arabic dialect.

The frescoes he was pointing to were Christian, but he was identifying the figures using their Arabic names from the Koran. It was a remarkable moment, and the message it contained was simple: Despite their differences, Muslims and Christians believe in the same God.

Last week, the Syrian government issued an order that after 30 years in the country, Father Dall’Oglio would be expelled.

Father Dall’Oglio founded the community of Deir Mar Musa in 1982, at the height of the Lebanese Civil War. He had hiked out into the desert in search of a ruined Byzantine monastery. After spending 10 days praying in the rubble, he was inspired to rebuild the monastery and to found a community of monks and nuns dedicated to prayer, silence and hospitality. The Syrian monastery, situated between Iraq, Lebanon, Israel and the West Bank, would symbolize peace. The community would welcome each Muslim visitor as a sacred guest, just as Abraham, in both the Bible and the Koran, had welcomed the angels of God. ….The devastating fate of the Christians in Iraq has already served as a warning. Father Dall’Oglio’s expulsion, if it is carried out as planned, will send a clear message to all of them — that the regime’s support of Christians is not unconditional. Those who dare mention the oppression of the Assad regime or who advocate for a dialogue to change the country will be deemed members of the opposition.

This puts local Christians in a bind. To seek change may put their community at risk. Yet to remain silent in the face of injustice will surely reduce Christianity to an identity, a sect, and not a living faith seeking to follow the message of the gospels. It will also strain a relationship between Muslims and Christians in Syria that has existed for over a thousand years. ….

Syria Added to Higher-Risk Shipping Zones By Marine Insurers

Raising the stakes: Russian military support for Syria, By James M. Dorsey

Russia is stepping up military support for Syria; reinforcing its opposition to international efforts to force President Bashar al-Assad to halt his eight-month-old crackdown on anti-government protesters. In so doing, Russia is turning the Syrian crisis into an international test of wills….

CFR.org: Assad’s Revelations, 2011-12-08

Jerusalem Post: Analysis: Word of caution on Assad’s fall, 2011-12-13

Defense Minister Ehud Barak was reported this week as predicting that the regime of Bashar Assad would fall within weeks. Certainly things are not going well for the Assad family dictatorship. The bloodletting continues as the Free Syrian Army and …

Pro-regime Aleppo Industrialist has Factory Burned Down an Aleppine writes:

“AL OULABI SAW THE FIRE UPON ARRIVAL, HE HAD A HEART ATTACK AND DIED ON THE SPOT. HE WAS ONE OF THE BEST KNOWN BUSINESS PEOPLE IN HALAB. HE WAS A MEMBER OF MAJLIS AL SHAAB AND “MAHSOUB AL NIZAM”

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

???? ???? ?? ????? ( ???? ???)..??????? ????? ? 500 ????? ????..????? ???? ??????, 13/12/2011 – syriasteps

 ???- ???– ??????????:

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

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

 

INTERVENTION IN SYRIA: ASSESSING THE OPTIONS
By Steven Beasley, Michael Eisenstadt, and Jeffrey White

Without external intercession, the violence in Syria is likely to escalate, with destabilizing consequences for its neighbors, particularly Lebanon and Iraq…..

Syria Added to Higher-Risk Shipping Zones By Marine Insurers, 2011-12-13

By Michelle Wiese Bockmann

Dec. 13 (Bloomberg) — Marine insurers added Syria to a list of countries deemed higher-risk for shipping, and removed Qatar, the Ivory Coast, and parts of Mindanao, the Philippines.

The Joint War Committee, which represents Lloyd’s of London underwriters and other insurers, listed Syria as a higher risk on a notice to members published Dec. 8. The declaration lets underwriters charge an additional premium based on the value of ships calling in the area.

(CNN) — Pressure is growing for world leaders to respond to Syria’s brutal crackdown on anti-regime protests.

Alawite political figure speaks out against sectarian violence

Amman: A Syrian Alawite centrist political figure said on Tuesday that four of his relatives were shot or kidnapped in sectarian violence threatening to undermine a nine-month pro-democracy uprising.

In a rare named testimony about sectarian killings that have racked the central city of Homs in the last few weeks, Mohammad Saleh told Reuters the four were targeted because they were Alawites, the same sect as President Bashar Al Assad.

“The violence by the regime has provoked counter violence. But a crime is a crime and it has to be condemned,” said Saleh, a former political prisoner, by phone from Homs, a city of one million, 140km north of Damascus.

“I went to jail for a civilised Syria, not to replicate the values of the regime,” said Saleh, who spent 12 years in jail for his opposition to Al Assad’s father, the late president Hafez Al Assad, from whom Bashar inherited power in 2000.

A FORMER senior diplomat yesterday became one of the most senior Syrian regime insiders to openly denounce the government of President Bashar al-Assad, calling on the international community to protect civilians.

Mohammad Bassam Imadi, previously Syria’s ambassador to Sweden, fled to Turkey with his family 10 days ago. He told The Times that many inside the Syrian government secretly wanted Mr Assad to fall.

“People even high up aren’t loyal to the government, but they can’t do anything,” he said. “They are scared for their lives and families. I have so many friends who have said this to me.”

He said their resentment had been driven by the regime’s failure to grant reforms in the early stages of the uprising.

Obama, Arab allies eye no-fly zone that could ‘paralyze’ Syrian military

US says Assad regime in Syria is doomed, urges opposition to prevent sectarian strife,
By MATTHEW LEE, 14 December 2011, Associated Press Newswires

WASHINGTON (AP) – The Obama administration is predicting the downfall of Syrian President Bashar Assad with a senior official likening his authoritarian regime to a “dead man walking” over its brutal crackdown on pro-reform demonstrators and increasing international isolation.

The State Department official, Frederic Hof, told Congress on Wednesday that Assad’s repression may allow him to hang on to power but only for a short time. And, he urged the Syrian opposition to prepare for the day when it takes control of the state in order to prevent chaos and sectarian conflict.

“Our view is that this regime is the equivalent of dead man walking,” said Hof, the State Department’s pointman on Syria, which he said was turning into “Pyongyang in the Levant,” a reference to the North Korean capital. He said it was difficult to determine how much time Assad has left in power but stressed “I do not see this regime surviving.”

The Syria Crisis: Assessing Foreign Intervention
December 15, 2011 | By Scott Stewart, Stratfor

The ongoing unrest, violence and security crackdowns in Syria have been the subject of major international attention since February. Our current assessment is that the government and opposition forces have reached a stalemate in which the government cannot quell the unrest and the opposition cannot bring down the regime without outside intervention…..

US interference in Syria could bring about another Iraq
By Charles Glass, The Evening Standard 15/12/11

The withdrawal of most United States forces from Iraq this week is anything but the end of American military involvement in the Middle East. The latest focus of Washington’s attention is Syria, where the United Nations says 5,000 people have been killed since the uprising erupted in March. Before American (and probably British) soldiers are asked to give their lives in another Arab country, they are entitled to ask important questions. Is Washington attempting to install a democratic government in Damascus? Or is it seizing the opportunity to bring down Iran’s main Arab ally in advance of an American or Israeli attack on Iran?

History has not been kind to Syria’s desire for change
The National 16/12/11, Charles Glass

A dog in Lebanon, an old joke goes, was so hungry, mangy and tired of civil war that he escaped to Syria. To the surprise of the other dogs, he returned a few months later. Seeing him better groomed and fatter than before, they asked whether the Syrians had been good to him. “Very good.” “Did they feed and wash you?” “Yes.” “Then why did you come back?” “I want to bark.” It is impossible not to sympathise with Syrians’ desire to be treated like adults. The Syrian regime is not alone, of course, among Middle East dictatorships in regarding their people as subjects rather than citizens. Under the portrait of the great dictator, little dictators grant some supplicants permits, demand bribes from others and abuse the rest. Syrians can identify with what Italians under Mussolini used to say: “The problem is no

t the big dictator. It is all the little dictators.” Little dictators, though, thrive under the big dictator. But all dictators are at risk from changed international circumstances, a spark (like a self-immolation in Tunisia) or the sudden realisation that the regime is vulnerable. People in Syria have reasons to demand change, as they have in the past. I hope, for their sake, that things turn out better this time.

Syrie : l’islam dans la révolution
Par Thomas Pierret

Syrian blogger Razan Ghazzawi’s release came after an international campaign

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Comments (507)


N.Z. said:

He was right, “only a crazy leader kills his people” and only a foolish non competent leader, will resolve to such brutality and only lackeys will applaud such decisions.

Damascus, the last to explode!

The Syrian Revolution is in full swing.

December 20th, 2011, 6:15 am

 

Syrian Commando said:

All we need to do is read the title, the professor sifts through the news from Al Jazeera and puts them into a junxta-position against the Syrian people and government.

The “observers” have NOT entered Syria. “Defectors” haven’t killed 27 (there were no funerals or even names).

This observer stunt, whereby they will enter Syria and claim we’re not complying, is a dead card. Russia already started the UNSC procedure.

Sweet dreams terrorists and their supporters. The executions start soon.

December 20th, 2011, 9:32 am

 

Akbar Palace said:

Syrian Commando,

Why do you think freedom of speech isn’t important for Syrians? If Syrians had freedom of speech, how would that hurt Syria as a nation?

December 20th, 2011, 9:53 am

 

Habib said:

That Stratfor (headed by George Friedman) article might be an indication that the Israelis are getting cold feet when it comes to Syrian regime-change.

December 20th, 2011, 10:00 am

 

jad said:

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

???? ??????: ??? ???? ??? ????? ????? ?????? ????? ?? ????? ?? ???????

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

December 20th, 2011, 10:17 am

 

Bronco said:

Did Moallem signed a “Peace Plan” or just the protocol for the observers visit? The issue is confusing, any clarification?

“Syria must embrace all of the Arab league plan it has signed, which calls for pulling troops from population centers, releasing prisoners and dialogue with opposition forces.

http://news.yahoo.com/gulf-arabs-back-unity-hinting-iran-threat-141434408.html

December 20th, 2011, 10:35 am

 

jad said:

???? ????? ?????: ?? ??????? ??????? ?? ??? ????? 21 ????? ??? ?? ????? ????? ??? ????? ?? ???? ????? ????? ??????? ???????
????-????

??? ???? ????? ????? ?? ??? ??????? ???????? ??????? ?????? ???? ????? ?? ??????? ??????? ????? ?????? 21 ????? /??? ???????/ ???? ?? ???????? ?? ??? ????.

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

http://www.sana.sy/ara/336/2011/12/20/389533.htm

December 20th, 2011, 10:35 am

 

Revlon said:

The protocol for the Arab League Commission (ALC) has been modified enough to undermine the independance of the commission.
The modifications shall also enable the regime to represent their story of “Armed Terrorists”,corrupt the whole AL agreement beyond repait, and buy more time!

The SNC has been caught with their pants down.
They were too busy assuring Assyrians, Kurds, and other minorities of their future and neglected to proactively engage in AL negotiations with the regime, in order to preserve the lives of the majority by insisting on full independance of the ALC.

SNC and its president should take the blame for the hundreds of lost lives and the deteriorations of the living of millions of people due to their procrastination and passive stand over a month old deliberation between the AL and regime!

They stand to be blamed for the loss of more lives should they stand by and watch the farce of the proceedings of the ALC agreement and more carnage to unfold.

Here is my own take on some of the serious deficiencies of the AL agreement as published on the SNC website:

?? ??????????.. ??? ??????? ?????
?? ?????? ??? ????? ???? ????? ????? ?????????
?? ????? ?? ?????????? ?? ????? ??????? ???? ??? ??????? ??? ??? ??????? ??????? ?????? ??? ???????????? ???????? ????? ???? «????? (?????????)» ??? «????? (????????)». ??? ??????? ??? ?? ???:

????: ????? ???? ?????? ?? ??????? ???????? ?????????? ????? ?? ????? ?????
??????? ??? ????? ?????? ???? ??????? ?????? ??????? ????????? ???????? ???
??????? ??????? ?????? ?????? ???? ??? ?????? ????? ???? ???? ?????? ????? ????? ???????? ????? ?? ??????? ??? ????? ??????? ?? ????? ???? ????? ??????? ??? ?????? ??????? ?????? ??????? ????????? ????????.

FIRST:
this item includs two modifications requested by the regime that negate the independence of the committee:
– the commission members are selected by their respective governments
– It is headed by Ambassador Saif AlYazal!

?????: ???? ?????? ????? ??? ????? ??????? ??????? ??? ??? ?????????? ?????? ????? ???? ????? ?? ???? ?????? ???? ?? ????????? ??? ??? 30 ????.

SECOND
There is no statement on who those thirty pilot group are. They might be handpicked by the regime from favourable countries in order to orient them on how best to serve the regime’s interests.

?????: ????? ?????? ??????? ??? ????? ??????? ???????? ??????? ?? ????:

THIRD:
1- ???????? ?????? ???? ???? ????? ????? ??? ?? ???? ??? ?? ????? ???????? ??????? ???????.

2- ?????? ?? ??? ???? ????? ????? ??????? ??? ???? ???????? ????????? ???????.
2. How on earth is the commission supposed to distinguish between security forces in plain cloths and Shabbeeha on the one hand, and the phantom “terrorists gangs” that the regime claims to exist?
I have no clue! I hope the commission members do!
The regime could very well stage attacks on civilians, or even on their own army for that matter by Shabbeeha volunteers pretending to be “armed terrorists” timed so as to be conveniently witnessed by AL observers.
The valiant Asad army forces would then arrest those elements and avail them for questioning commission members. Once done, the Shabbeeha culprits get hefty financial rewards for duping the Al commission and killing anti-Assad civilians in the process.

3- ?????? ?? ??????? ?? ????????? ???? ??????? ???????.
3. Hopless item; those charged with violent acts, the proportion of whom could be as high as 99% of the prisoners, need to await court proceedings which could take eternity.

4- ?????? ?? ??? ?????? ???? ??????? ??????? ?? ????? ???????? ??????? ???? ???? ?? ???? ????????? ?????? ????????.
4. This is going to be a hide n seek game between the AL Commission (ALC) members and Assad forces who are constantly updated by the ALC security minders.

5- ?????? ?? ??? ??????? ??????? ??? ???????? ?????? ??????? ??????? ????????
??????? ?? ??? ?????? ?????? ?????? ????? ?? ???? ????? ????? ???? ?????? ???.
5. What if Shabbeeha aka “armed terrorists” attack such media teams?
They could and the regime would arrest such groups and present them to the ALC as “armed terrorists’ only to release them shortly with pockets generously stuffed with cash!

6- ?????? ???? ??????? ???????? ?? ???????? ??? ???????? ??? ????????? ????????? ??? ?? ???? ?? ??????? ????????? ??????? ????????? ?? ??????? ???????.
ALC shall either have minders or be closely tracked to scare off any free exchange of information with anti-Assad civilians.
The government shall avail the phone numbers of the ALC to their newly formed Security neighbourhood Committees which are facads of security forces. They will perpetuate the regime’s story about attacks by armed terrorists.

7 – ?????? ???? ?????? ??????? ????? ????? ?? ???? ?????? ?? ?????? ???????? ??? ????? ???????? ???????? ??????? ????? ??????? ????? ???????? ?????? ??????? ?????????.

8 – ???? ?????? ?????? ?????? ???????? ?? ????? ???????? ??????? ??? ???????.

?????: ????? ??????? ??????? ?? ??? ?????? ?????? ??? ???? ?????? ??? ???:

FOURTH
This item makes the regime in control of, and able to preempt all of ALC activities.

1- ????? ???? ????????? ??????? ????? ??????? ?????? ??????? ?????? ???? ?????? ?????? ????? ??? ?? ??????? ??????? ???????? ?????? ???? ?????? ??????.
1.The regime provides the lodging!How convenient!

2- ????? ??? ?????? ????? ?????? ????? ????? ????? ?????? ?? ???? ????? ????? ????? ?? ????? ???? ????? ??????.
2.The regime would know when the ALC is to check any area of the land!

3- ????? ??? ????? ?????? ??????? ?????? ?????? ?????? ?????????? ?????? ?????? ??????????? ?? ????? ???? ????? ??????.
3.The regime would know when the ALC is to check any prison and hospital so as to make the necessary camouflage!

4- ???? ???? ????? ???????? ??????????? ??????? ?????? ????? ??????.

5- ???? ??? ?????? ?? ?????? ?? ????? ?? ??? ??? ??? ?? ??????? ?????? ????? ??????? ?? ?????? ?? ????? ?????? ?? ??????? ???.
5. This a hilarious clause. Aunty communicated orders and gurantees by Jr for not attacking civilians. Guess what? The figure of civilian death by Junior’s forces now stands above 5000!
Oops, sorry, I meant 5000 mistakes!
So what would guarantee that such civilians interviewed by ALC would not become later another statistic of Junior’s boys mistakes?!

6- ??? ?????? ???????? ???? ???????? ???????? ??????? ??? ?? ????? ???????? ???? ????? ??? ????? ????? ??????? ?????? ????? ?? ?????? ??????? ?? ??????? ???????? ??????? ????? ??????? ???? 1946.
?????: ???? ?????? ?????? ?? ????? ??????? ??? ?????? ????? ?????? ?????? ??? ?????? ??????? ????? ???? ?????? ?? ???? ?? ??? ?????.
???? ??? ??????? ?????? ??????? ???? ??????? ??????? ?? ??? 12 ?????? ?? ?????? ???????. ????? ????? ?????? ????? ??????? ??????? ??????? ???? ?????? ???? ??? ?????? ???? ?? ???. ?????? ?????? ???? ???????? ?????? ???? ??????? ???? ??? ????? ?????? ???? ???????. (????? ??????)

December 20th, 2011, 10:40 am

 

jad said:

Bronco,
Here is the protocol text:

??? ??????? ??? ?? ???:

????: ????? ???? ?????? ?? ??????? ???????? ?????????? ????? ?? ????? ????? ??????? ??? ????? ?????? ???? ??????? ?????? ??????? ????????? ???????? ??? ??????? ??????? ?????? ?????? ???? ??? ?????? ????? ???? ???? ?????? ????? ????? ???????? ????? ?? ??????? ??? ????? ??????? ?? ????? ???? ????? ??????? ??? ?????? ??????? ?????? ??????? ????????? ????????.

?????: ???? ?????? ????? ??? ????? ??????? ??????? ??? ??? ?????????? ?????? ????? ???? ????? ?? ???? ?????? ???? ?? ????????? ??? ??? 30 ????.

?????: ????? ?????? ??????? ??? ????? ??????? ???????? ??????? ?? ????:

1- ???????? ?????? ???? ???? ????? ????? ??? ?? ???? ??? ?? ????? ???????? ??????? ???????.

2- ?????? ?? ??? ???? ????? ????? ??????? ??? ???? ???????? ????????? ???????.

3- ?????? ?? ??????? ?? ????????? ???? ??????? ???????.

4- ?????? ?? ??? ?????? ???? ??????? ??????? ?? ????? ???????? ??????? ???? ???? ?? ???? ????????? ?????? ????????.

5- ?????? ?? ??? ??????? ??????? ??? ???????? ?????? ??????? ??????? ???????? ??????? ?? ??? ?????? ?????? ?????? ????? ?? ???? ????? ????? ???? ?????? ???.

6- ?????? ???? ??????? ???????? ?? ???????? ??? ???????? ??? ????????? ????????? ??? ?? ???? ?? ??????? ????????? ??????? ????????? ?? ??????? ???????.

7- ?????? ???? ?????? ??????? ????? ????? ?? ???? ?????? ?? ?????? ???????? ??? ????? ???????? ???????? ??????? ????? ??????? ????? ???????? ?????? ??????? ?????????.

8 – ???? ?????? ?????? ?????? ???????? ?? ????? ???????? ??????? ??? ???????.

?????: ????? ??????? ??????? ?? ??? ?????? ?????? ??? ???? ?????? ??? ???:

1- ????? ???? ????????? ??????? ????? ??????? ?????? ??????? ?????? ???? ?????? ?????? ????? ??? ?? ??????? ??????? ???????? ?????? ???? ?????? ??????.

2- ????? ??? ?????? ????? ?????? ????? ????? ????? ?????? ?? ???? ????? ????? ????? ?? ????? ???? ????? ??????.

3- ????? ??? ????? ?????? ??????? ?????? ?????? ?????? ?????????? ?????? ?????? ??????????? ?? ????? ???? ????? ??????.

4- ???? ???? ????? ???????? ??????????? ??????? ?????? ????? ??????.

5- ???? ??? ?????? ?? ?????? ?? ????? ?? ??? ??? ??? ?? ??????? ?????? ????? ??????? ?? ?????? ?? ????? ?????? ?? ??????? ???.

6- ??? ?????? ???????? ???? ???????? ???????? ??????? ??? ?? ????? ???????? ???? ????? ??? ????? ????? ??????? ?????? ????? ?? ?????? ??????? ?? ??????? ???????? ??????? ????? ??????? ???? 1946.

?????: ???? ?????? ?????? ?? ????? ??????? ??? ?????? ????? ?????? ?????? ??? ?????? ??????? ????? ???? ?????? ?? ???? ?? ??? ?????.

???? ??? ??????? ?????? ??????? ???? ??????? ??????? ?? ??? 12 ??????/????? ????? ?? ?????? ???????. ????? ????? ?????? ????? ??????? ??????? ??????? ???? ?????? ???? ??? ?????? ???? ?? ???. ?????? ?????? ???? ???????? ?????? ???? ??????? ???? ??? ????? ?????? ???? ???????.

December 20th, 2011, 10:42 am

 

zoo said:

“The Light in Her Eyes” shows Conservative Islam in Secular Syria
(Dp-News – Reuters)
http://www.dp-news.com/en/detail.aspx?articleid=106536

DUBAI- In “The Light In Her Eyes,” Houda al-Habash opens up the mosque and school she runs where hundreds of teenage girls, sent there by their parents, spend the summer learning to memorize the Koran and take religious study classes that conclude with most of them taking to the hijab, or Muslim headscarf.

Houda al-Habash film “The Light In Her Eyes,” is about one of thousands of Quranic schools for girls in Syria has shocked some Syrians but impressed others with the implication that one of the bastions of Arab secularism has become a deeply religious society.
{..}

December 20th, 2011, 10:47 am

 

Bronco said:

#8 Jad
Thanks,
I see that it does not mention anything about “the dialog with the opposition”

December 20th, 2011, 10:55 am

 

Ghufran said:

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

?????? ?????? ????? ??? ????? ??????? ??? ???? ??? ?????? ?????? ???? ???? ??????? ?????? ??? ???? ??????? ????? ??????? ???? ??????? ???????? ????????.
Thousands of Iranians were given Khaliji citizenship,many received it as a gift from corrupt sheikhs who typically grant it to Iranians from Sunni origins but there are a lot of Iranian Shias who managed to bribe officials and were rewarded with citizenship.
In a perfect world,people who live in a country and play by the rules should be given citizenship but the gulf countries are unique since most residents,except in Saudi Arabia,are not native born. Bahrain in particular is on a campaign to change to demographic composition of that country to increase the number of Sunni Arabs from other gulf countries while preventing Bahraini Shias from reaching leadership positions and joining the army. The gulf countries are in a very uncomfortable position and they are still trying to resist political reform while they lecture others about freedom and democracy.people who think that Iran does not have an agenda in the gulf are in denial,but others who ignore the fragile political systems in those countries will be up for a wave of surprises in the near future.

December 20th, 2011, 10:57 am

 

jad said:

???? ?????? ???????? ???? ???? ?????? ????? ????? ????? ????? ?????? ??????? ?? ????? ??? ?????
?????-????

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

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

http://www.sana.sy/ara/3/2011/12/20/389555.htm

December 20th, 2011, 10:58 am

 

Revlon said:

??????? ?? ????? ????? ” ?????? ??????? ?? ??? ??????????? “

2011/12/20??? ??: ??? ????
http://all4syria.info/web/archives/42640

?????? ??????? ?? ??? ???????????
????? ??? ?????? ?? ???? ?????
2300 M Street NW, Suite 800, Washington, DC 20037
????: +1 202 416 1669
????: http://www.syrian-christian.org
????????????: [email protected]

???????: ????? ????? ??????? ?????? ?? ??? ???????????
_________________________________________________________________
??????? 19/12/2011 – ????? ????? ?????? ??????? ?? ??? ??????????? ?? ???????? ??????. ?????? ??????? ?? ??? ??????????? ?? ?????? ???? ??????? ?????? ??????? ? ????? ???????? ????????? ???? ? ?? ??? ??????. ????? ??????? ??: ???? ??? ????? ?????? ????????? ???? ????? ?????? ??????? ???? ????? ?????? ????? ???????? ???? ????? ??????? ?? ???????? ???????? ???? ?????? ?????? ??????? ???? ????? ? ?. ????? ?????? ? ???? ???? ? ????? ?????? ? ????? ????? ? ????? ???????? ?????? ??????. ?????? ?? ????????? ?????? ??????? ???????:+1 202 416 1669 ?? ??????? ????????: +1 514 317 2744?? ????????: [email protected] ?? ????? ?????? ?????????? http://www.syrian-christian.org

?? ????? ???? 2011 ????? ????? ?????? ??? ???? ?? ?????? ????? ?? ????? ?????????? ????? ??? ????? ?? ?????? ??????? ???????? ???? ????? ? ?? ???????? ?????? ??? ?????? ??????? ??????????? ?????? ???????? ???? ????? ????? ???? “????? ???? ????? ??????”. ???? ???? ???????. ???? ????? ??????? ???? ?????? ? ?????? ????? ?????? ??????? ?????? ???????????? ?????? ????? ? ???????? ??? ???? ?????????.

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

????????? ?? ??? ?????? ???????? ???? ???? ??? ???????? ???????? ?? ?????? ?? ????? ? ????? ?????? ????? ?????? “???? ??? ????? ? ???? ?? ??? ????? ?????? ????????…”(??? 5:13) ? ??????? ??? ???? ????? ???????? ??????? ??????? ?? ???? ??????? ? ???? ???? ??? ????? ????? ?? ?????? ??? ?????? ? ?? ????? ??? ?????? ??? ???? ?????????

????? ????? ??? ????????? ?? ????? ??????? ??? ????? ????? “?????? ??????? ?? ??? ????????????” ??? ?????? ??? ??????? ???????? ???????:

1 – ????? ??? ????? ????? ????????? ?? ????? ? ??? ??????? ??????? ???? ????? ?????? ??? ??????? ??????? ??? ??? ?????? ?????? ? ???????? ?? ??????? ??????? ????? ??? ??? ?? ???? ????? ???????? ????????.

2 – ?????? ???????? ? ????????? ?????? ? ????? ????????? ??? ????? ????? ????? ? ????? ??? ??????? ?????? ?????? ????? ???????? ??? ????? ?????? ? ??? ????? ????? ???????? ??????? ?? ??????? ?? ?????? ????????.

3 – ????? ??? ????? ????? ???? ?????? ???? ???????? ??? ??? ??????? ????? ????? ?? ?????? ????? ???? ???? ????????? ???????? ? ??????? ??????? ? ?????? ????? ???? ??????? ? ?????? ??????? ??????? ??????? ???????? ??????? ???????? ???????? ????????? ??????? ?????? ????? ??????? ??????.

4 – ??????? ?? ???? ????? ????????? ??????? ???? ???? ????? ?????? ??????????? ??????? ????????? ???????? ?????????? ??????? ???????? ??? ?????? ??????? ?????? ???? ??? ???? ??????? ???????????.

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

December 20th, 2011, 11:11 am

 

zoo said:

An Arab spring fall out: A competition to the famous Syrian lingerie

Canada lingerie firm gets lift from Arab Spring

(AFP) –20 december 2011

MONTREAL — Canadian retailer La Vie en Rose has discovered an unexpectedly strong demand for its frilly, sexy lingerie among Muslims and is planning a major expansion in Arab countries.

Beneath their abayas and veils, women in Arab countries are apparently wearing the same risque lingerie as women in Canada.

Saudi women are “very fashion conscious,” said vice-president Luc Poirier. “The only notable difference in styles is in nightgowns, which are longer for our Arab clients, below the knees.”

The Montreal-based company already earns 10 percent of its Can$150 million in annual revenues from 55 stores in Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Lebanon, Jordan, Algeria, Egypt, Morocco and Kazakhstan.

But it will increase its store count in the Middle East as part of a major international expansion over the coming years, spurred on by recent political changes in the region and with the help of its partner Al Hokair Group.

At a glance, Saudi Arabia may seem like a difficult market for sexy feminine undergarments. Adherence to a strict conservative dress code defined by Islam and tribal customs prohibit women from showing any skin in public, making advertising problematic.

In stores, only men are currently allowed to work as sales clerks and there are no changing rooms for women to try on lingerie.

This is starting to change, noted Poirier. Women in Saudi Arabia will soon be allowed to vote in local elections, as well as work in a broader range of jobs, including retailing. This will mean La Vie en Rose can finally recruit female sales clerks to serve a mostly female clientele in the country.

The company’s next store openings are set for South Korea and Tunisia, where a revolutionary wave began with the self-immolation of a fruit vendor in protest of police corruption and ill treatment, and spread throughout the Arab world this year.

December 20th, 2011, 11:31 am

 

Afram said:

“Father Paolo Dall’Oglio

The frescoes he was pointing to were Christian, but he was identifying the figures using their Arabic names from the Koran. It was a remarkable moment, and the message it contained was simple: Despite their differences, [[[Muslims and Christians believe in the same God.]]]”SAME GOD!?HAHAHAHAHA

MUSLIMS ALLAH HATES THE CHRISTIANS GOD

*They misbelieve who say, ‘Verily, God is the Messiah the son of Mary;’ say, ‘Who has any hold on God, if he wished to destroy the Messiah the son of Mary, and his mother, and those who are on earth altogether?’ God’s is the kingdom of the heavens and the
Infidels ????

*O ye who believe! take not the Jews and Christians for your patrons : they are patrons of each other; but whoso amongst you takes them for patrons, verily, he is of them, and, verily, God guides not an unjust people.
?? ??????? ?????? Don’t take them as friends

*They misbelieve who say, ‘Verily, God is the Messiah the son of Mary;’ but the Messiah said, ‘O children of Israel! worship God, my Lord and your Lord;’ verily, he who associates aught with God, God hath forbidden him Paradise, and his resort is the Fire,
???? Infidels

*They misbelieve who say, ‘Verily, God is the third of three;’ for there is no God but one, and if they do not desist from what they say, there shall touch those who misbelieve amongst them grievous woe.
????? ???? Three gods ???? Infidels

O ye who believe! it is only the idolaters who are unclean; they shall not then approach the Sacred Mosque after this year. But if ye fear want then God will enrich you from His grace if He will; verily, God is knowing, wise!
??? ?????? Pay Jizyah…ALLAH OF ISLAM IS A THIEF FORCING CHRISTIAN TO GIVE HIM MONEY

*The Jews say Ezra is the son of God; and the Christians say that the Messiah is the son of God; that is what they say with their mouths, imitating the sayings of those who misbelieved before.- God fight them! how they lie!
???? ???? ??????? Allah fights the Christians

EVIL Muslim Scholar: “Saying Merry Christmas is worse than fornication or killing someone”

http://youtu.be/FFW3ZNC8sjw

^*Michael Coren Exposes Islamophobia

http://youtu.be/JOtpn2aqY30

December 20th, 2011, 12:12 pm

 

Amir in Tel Aviv said:

I’m ready to risk my reputation: there will be no AL monitoring. Why:

1) This Syrian junta is too vain. They simply cannot accept the idea that those “half men” will dictate the terms for Syria. It is very painful for dictators to switch positions and become the subjects of dictating.

2) The Syrian junta knows that the monitors exposing the lies will start a snowball that will bring them down.
.

December 20th, 2011, 12:19 pm

 

Bill said:

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

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

December 20th, 2011, 1:36 pm

 

N.Z. said:

1532. jad said:

Irritated,
6anesh!
Check out the new post, it’s somehow funny because most of the articles linked goe back to the beginning of December..akhbar bayteh ya3ni
——————————————————————

You’ve never ceased to discredit Syrians who died for a Syria free of tyranny. Throughout, you claim you want regime change. Perhaps you believe in miracles in ousting a mafia style regime. Sorry to inform you that miracles are from a bygone era.

Is it Professor Landis’ turn now? or, is it the picture with the title “Pro-Assad demonstrators on Monday after announcement of Arab League Deal. Notice that they are fewer than in the past, when the square and side roads were packed”. That ticked another nerve in you?

December 20th, 2011, 1:37 pm

 

N.Z. said:

STEPHANIE SALDAÑA, article,”In Syria, Expelling the Peacemakers”, is a must read to all those whom love to dissect the Syrian social fabric.

Israel is infamous for expelling peace activists, and on many occasions killing them, Rachel Corrie the 23 years old, is one of many. Syria’s regime is no different.

“Last week, the Syrian government issued an order that after 30 years in the country, Father Dall’Oglio would be expelled.

Father Dall’Oglio founded the community of Deir Mar Musa… The community would welcome each Muslim visitor as a sacred guest, just as Abraham, in both the Bible and the Koran, had welcomed the angels of God. ….The devastating fate of the Christians in Iraq has already served as a warning. Father Dall’Oglio’s expulsion, if it is carried out as planned, will send a clear message to all of them — that the regime’s support of Christians is not unconditional. Those who dare mention the oppression of the Assad regime or who advocate for a dialogue to change the country will be deemed members of the opposition.

This puts local Christians in a bind. To seek change may put their community at risk. Yet to remain silent in the face of injustice will surely reduce Christianity to an identity, a sect, and not a living faith seeking to follow the message of the gospels. ”

I will like to assure Ms. Saldana, that the opposition knows very well the difficult situation the Syrian Christians and the Syrian Alawites are in. The relationship will not be strained. Syrians have always lived together in harmony, warship places are sacred to all Syrians. I only hope that that Father Dall’Oglio will be allowed to stay, he belongs to Syria and his legacy will outlive the 40 years of Assad. Their destruction on everything Syrian is legendary.

Thanks Professor Landis for sharing.

December 20th, 2011, 1:40 pm

 

Bill said:

17. AMIR IN TEL AVIV ???? ???? ????????? ?? ??? ???????? ???????? ?? ????????? ??????????

We also need UN and AL monitors to monitor Israeli war crimes against the Palestinians. We need monitors in the West Bank (which you called in you previous post by its Zionist/fundamentalist name “Judea and Samaria”) to protect Muslim mosques from being burned by Zionist colonialists (which you guys call “settlers”).
?????? ??????? ???????? ?????? ???????? ??????

See Haaretz on mosque-burning Zionist colonialists: http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/west-bank-mosque-set-alight-in-suspected-price-tag-attack-1.400129

December 20th, 2011, 1:43 pm

 

jad said:

NZ
Mas6oul shi? What are you bitching about!
Irritated was referring to your BFF the ‘makeup dude’ comments so I told him ‘6anish’ ‘Ignore them’!
Then I wanted him to realize that there is a new post so people can move to comment on. I wasn’t attacking Joshua, I was pointing out that more than half the articles in the new post are either old or we already read them in the comment section.
Have your coffee!

December 20th, 2011, 1:49 pm

 

Dale Andersen said:

From the platform of the SNC: “The regime alone bears responsibility for the events in the country.”

Oh my, Ann’s not going to like that…

http://www.scribd.com/doc/76114252/STUCK-INSIDE-DAMASCUS-with-the-memphis-blues-again

December 20th, 2011, 1:51 pm

 

N.Z. said:

Bill,

Palestine is embedded in our genes. Only a free people can help another in need.

And, only tyrants, slaves, racists and colonialists will blast the Arab Spring, and only a subhumans will accuse the Arab world of “moving not forward, but backward.”

December 20th, 2011, 1:57 pm

 

Tara said:

Dear N.Z.

We’ve heard it before.

From Pro-regime organized spontaneous demonstration at the Umayad square to Sabaa-Bahrat square…to a school square…that is the dwindling size of Bashar pseudo- support.

I guess they can’t organize a massive spontaneous demonstration anymore.

December 20th, 2011, 1:57 pm

 

Bill said:

N.Z.

Thanks for you sentiments regarding the just cause of Palestine; which is not only important for the long occupied/besieged/dispossessed/colonized Palestinians, but also crucial to all Arabs and Muslims.

This was my reply to you regarding Father Dall’Oglio:

The expulsion of Father Dall’Oglio is reminiscent of Israel, which was built on the debris of Palestinians’ lost lands and hopes, and its repeated expulsion of human rights activits who criticize its inhumane occupation and colonial policies.
P.S., Father Dall’Oglio should be lucky that the murderous Syrian regime did not torture him and cut his genitals, which was the fate of the courageous teenager, Hamza al-Khateeb. Also, he should be thankful that they did not break his face and fingers like what they did with the world-renowned cartoonist, Ali Farzat!

Being against BOTH Israeli occupation/war crimes and Bashar’s war crimes makes me very UNPOPULAR on this blog. However, I am not interested in pleasing anybody as long as I believe in my convictions: Bias on the side of victims/occupied/dispossessed/tortured is a great virtue

December 20th, 2011, 2:05 pm

 

SANDRO LOEWE said:

Ya Assad, ya hayawan, ya jahsh, ya wahsh, irhal, irhal, irhal.
Ayuha al-haramieh, ayuha an-nassabin, ruhu, ruhu, ruhu.
Ya nizam al mujrim, ya nizam al ´isabi, intahir min shan Suria.

December 20th, 2011, 2:07 pm

 

jad said:

‘?????? ??????? ?? ??? ???????????’
Welcome to new Syria:
????? ??????????? ??????,????? ????????????? ?????????? ????? ?????????? ????? ???????? ????? ??????? ????? ???????????? ????? ??????? ????? ??????? ????? ??????????? ????? ????????? ????? ??????? ??? ??? ?????…??? ??? ???

Isn’t there any ‘body’ here seeing this news of creating Syrian parties and organizations according to sects and religions alarming and bad sign for the future of Syria? any ‘body’? NZzzzz?
I guess not, ‘anybody’ is busy preaching ‘Ms. Saldana’ about the Syrian society, forgetting to preach his own BFF to stop spreading the usual priceless comments about celebrating violence and the joyful news of separate Syrians into sects and tribes.

December 20th, 2011, 2:12 pm

 

Bill said:

???? ?????? ???? ???? ?????? ??? ??????? ?? ?????? ??????? ?????? ?? ??????? “??????? ???????

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

December 20th, 2011, 2:17 pm

 

SANDRO LOEWE said:

28 JAD,

There is ´anybody´ whose name is Bashar al Assad who bears the main responsabilty in the state and who is unable to SEE this danger. He is so foul and ill-minded that is breaking the country into sectarian parties by killing any peacefull demonstration from the very first day. History will judge him. Yes, history is written by winners not by losers and this is the reason why history will find him guilty.

December 20th, 2011, 2:19 pm

 

Tara said:

Zoo

Nice article in 15. The company should consider opening a store in Iran. What is poor Mr. And Mrs. Assad to do? They are, just like the Saudi, “very fashion conscious”. I think getting exiled in Kazakhstan might be a more attractive option for them. Don’t you a agree?

December 20th, 2011, 2:28 pm

 

N.Z. said:

#27,

We are not suicidal.

Damascus the oldest city that life never seized in, neither did she seized from giving to the world is a living example-except for the past 40+ years.

December 20th, 2011, 2:29 pm

 

Khalid Tlass said:

“shocked some Syrians but impressed others with the implication that one of the bastions of Arab secularism has become a deeply religious society.”

Syria was never a bastion of secularism, it was never confined to more than 30 % of the population even at its zenith in the 1960s.

December 20th, 2011, 2:32 pm

 

jad said:

SL
“Yes, history is written by winners not by losers and this is the reason why history will find him guilty.”
!?? ??? ???? ?????.
However, that doesn’t take away the responsibility of every Syrian to reject any and every ill he/she sees in his society? Does it?

If you have a killer in your house it doesn’t mean that you are allowed to burn your house, kill your kids and through your money in the toilet because the police are at the door waiting to arrest the killer to be prosecuted.
That is irresponsible and any crime you do you will pay for either if they hanged the killer or if they send him to life in prison. Your job is to keep your properties and your beloved ones and your saving safe, otherwise, you are as criminal as the killer himself.
Stop blaming everything wrong we do on someone else, it doesn’t help, it’s already way overdue that we don’t take responsibility of our own actions.

December 20th, 2011, 2:33 pm

 

Mina said:

What the AL has been discussing for 3 weeks is how and when shall the observers have breakfast and lunch, because people who are connected enough to get there don’t do that for pocket money, and are not used to seat on the ground.
But obviously the “public opinion” having seen so much benefit from the UN activity around Palestine (not to forget the unforgettable “quartet”), has a lot of hope in the AL!

December 20th, 2011, 2:47 pm

 

Bill said:

See Haaretz on mosque-burning Zionist colonialists:

http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/west-bank-mosque-set-alight-in-suspected-price-tag-attack-1.400129

PLEASE SEND MONITORS TO OCCUPIED PALESTINE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

December 20th, 2011, 2:58 pm

 

SANDRO LOEWE said:

#34

¨However, that doesn’t take away the responsibility of every Syrian to reject any and every ill he/she sees in his society? Does it?¨

Do you mean that syrians should have rejected all crimes, abuses, tortures, briberies, etc comitted by the state for 40 years? If anybody dared to reject it and denounce it he was imprisoned and probably tortured without trial. Syrians learnt to survive but without dignity. Knowing that being responsible could cost them a ruinous life.

Do you mean that syrian citizens who have been denied rights, the most basic rights, are to be dealed by history eye as responsibles? Sorry, but without rights there is no responsability to be asked. Syrians should not be treated as legally responsible in front od the state until they have the rights any citizen deserves. Responsability is born from a social contract where rights and duties are appliable to all citizens. This revolution consists on demanding rights that did not exist and that made population of Syria irresponsible of their future.
Revoultion means chaos and change. Means disorder, killings and terrible injustices. But the result is that rights will be guaranteed and duties asked from all. Then, only then, you can ask the syrian population responsabilities. In the meanwhile revolution, wild revolution goes on.

If you are talking about moral responsabilty then I believe revolution is a duty to get our rights.

December 20th, 2011, 3:03 pm

 

Mina said:

Japan takes it the AL way: vote unanimity when asked for and by tomorrow just decide what you’ll apply and what you won’t.
http://www.thenews.com.pk/NewsDetail.aspx?ID=28968&title=Japan-refuses-to-stop-Iranian-oil-import

Remember december 2010, when al Jazeera was all day long covering the future new state of South Sudan?
Did they cover this one live?
http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/2/8/29806/World/Region/South-Sudan-leader-makes-first-visit-to-Israel-.aspx

Next AL meeting, they’ll go “Who has never sinned…”
http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/1/64/29828/Egypt/Politics-/Eyewitnesses-recount-horror-stories-to-refute-SCAF.aspx

December 20th, 2011, 3:07 pm

 

Akbar Palace said:

Those Criminal Zionists back at it Again

Bill,

The article you linked to stated:

there had been attempt to burn the local mosque as well, succeeding only in burning its entrance

Of course, the thugs who did this should be sent to jail.

BTW – Were you planning to comment on the mosques the Syrian government damaged and destroyed beyond recognition or were you thinking of keeping that a secret?

Also, perhaps you may know how many mosques were destroyed by Assad in Hama back in the ’80s.

http://features.kodoom.com/en/videos/destruction-of-a-mosque-in-deir-ezzor-syria/v/3348/

http://www.alarabiya.net/articles/2011/08/27/164328.html

http://www.alarabiya.net/articles/2011/08/06/161106.html

December 20th, 2011, 3:15 pm

 

defender said:

JUERGEN:
You surprise me! Israel being above any world order, places for today the nuclear arsenal on German submarines and you tell us about German rigid laws!

December 20th, 2011, 3:24 pm

 

newfolder said:

hahaah, you guys come see this quick.

OMG I laughed my ass off at this pro-regime idiot trying to explain why the iPhone was banned on Addouniya tv. Would have probably been more convincing if he’d just said Santa clause did it….

Seriously, anyone who watches this channel is clinically retarded!!!

December 20th, 2011, 3:35 pm

 

jad said:

????????? ??????? ???? ?????”????? ?????” ??”????? ????” ??? ????? “??? ?????? ???”

????? ??????? ????? ?????? ??? ????? ?????? ??????? ?? ????? ?? ???? “??????????” ???? ???? ??? ????? ?? ??? “?????? ???????” ??? ???? ??? ???? ???? “????” ?? ??? ????? ?????? ??? ????!?

???????? ? ??????? ( ??? ?? : ????? ??? + ???? ???????): ???? ????? ????? ????? ?? “??? ??????? ????????” ?????? ?? ????????? ??????? ???? ????? “????? ?????” ??? ???? “????? ?????? ????” ???? ??????? ????????? ???????? ???????? ?? ???????? ???????? ????????? ?? ????? ? ??????? ??????? ??????? ????????? ?????? ????? Patrice Moyeuvre. ????? ?? ????? ??? ??????? ??”???????” ??? ????? ??????? “???? ??? ????? ????? ???? ? ????? ?????? ? ??????? ????? ????? ??????? ???? ????? ??? ????? ??? ??????? ??????? ?? ????? ????? ? ??????? ?????? ???? ??? ????? ??????? ???? ????? ??? ???? ??? ????? ?? ???????? ??? ?????? ?????? ???????? ??? ??? ??????? ??? ??????? ??? ??? ????? ?????? ??? ???? ??? ????? ??????”.

???? ??? ??? ?? ???? ?????? ??????? / ???????? ?????? ??? ??? “?????? ??????”(???? ? ???? ? ????) ???? “?????? ???????” ( ????? ??? ????) ? ???? ?? ????? ?? ???? ?? ??? ??????? ( ???? ??? ???). ??? ??? “????? ?????? ????” ??? ???? ????? ???? ( ?? ??? ????? ???? ???? ???? ?????? ??? ?????? ?? ????? ??????) ? ? 3 ????? ???? ( ?? ??? ????? 15 ??? ?????? ??? ?????? ?? ????? ??????) ? ???? ????? ???? ( ?? ??? ????? 17 ??? ?????? ??? ?????? ?? ????? ??????)! ??? ???? ???????? / ??????? ? ????? ????? ???? ??? ?????? / ????? ????? ??????? ?? ?????? ???????? ????? ????? ?????? ???? ?? ??? ???? ????? ? ????????? ??????? ?? ?????? ????? ????? ???? ????? ? ???? ????? ?? ?? ?????? . ???? ??? ?? ????? ?? ????? ?? ????? ????? ?? ??????? ?? ????? ?? ?????? ????? ???? ( ???) ???? ???????. ???? ????? ????? ???? ????? ??? ??? ?? ??? ??????? ?????. ?????? ???????? ???? ??? ?????? ? ???? ?? ???? ” ?????? ?????? ????? ???????” ? ?? ????? ????? “???????” ??????? ??????????? ????? ????? ?????? ??? ????? ????????? ???????? ” ???? ???? ??????? ? ??? ?????? ????? ???”! ???? ??? ????? ????? ?? ????? ? ???????? ?? ?????? ???? ? ????? ????? ????? ???? ??? ??????? ?? ??? ???? ?????? ? ?????? ?????? ??? ?????? ??? ????? ?????? ???????? ???? ?? ????? ???? ????? ” ?????” ( ???? ????). ???? ?? ???? ??????? ???? ??? ????? ????? ??? ??? ???? ? ??????? ????? ????? ” ????????” ??????? ??? ????? ????? ?????? ? ??????? ?????? ??????? ????? ???? ???? ????? ?????? ???? ?????? ??? ?? “????? ????” ??? ?? ?????? ??? ????? ????????? ???????? ?????????? ??????”???????” ???? ?????? ??? ????? ?????. ???? ?? ???? ????????? ??????? ???? ????? ?? ??????? ( ????? ????? ????????? ???????? ???) ? ??? ??????? ????? “????? ?????” ?????? ???????? ????????? ??? ??? ???? ???????? ? ? ???? ?? ????? “???????” ??? ?? ?????? ?? ??????. ??? ????? ???????? ??????? ?? ????????? ???? ???????? ??? ” ????? ?????” ( ????? ?????? ? ????? ???????? ????? ???? ?? ?????? .. ???). ????? ??????? ???????? ?? ????? ?????? ” ????????” ??? ??????? ???????? ???????? ?????? ????? ??? ??? “????? ?????? ????” ???? ????? ?????? ?????? ???? ????? ??????? ? ?????? ?????? ??? ??? ????? ????? ???????? ???????? ?????? ??????? ???? ???? ?????????? ???????????? ???????.

???????? ??? ??? ????? ” ????? ???????” ? ???? ??????? ??????? ?? ????????? ??????? ?????? ?? ??? ?????? ?? ??????? ??????????? ?? ????? “??? ????? ???????” ( ????? ?????? ???) ? ??? ???? ??????? ??????? ???? ??? ????? ????? ????? ??????? ?? “????? ?????? ????” ????? ????? ???? ???? ?????? ??????? ??”??? ?????? ???”? ??? ?? ??? ??????? ???? ???? ???? ??? ???? ?????? “???? ???????? ????????? “( ????? ??????? ?????? ????? ??????? ??????? ??????) ?????? ??? ???? ? ????? ?????? ?? ?????? ?????? ?? ????? 2000 ? ????? ???? ???? ???? ?? ????? ???? ???? ??? ?????? ??? ???????.

?? ???? “????? ???????” ??? ? ??????? ????????? ????????? ? ??? ???? ????? ????? ???????? ? ???? ?????? ?????? ? ???????? ???? ?????? ??? ????? ” ??? ?????” ???? ?????? ???? ???????? ???????? ??? (???? ??? ?????? ???? ? ???? ????? ????? ? ????? ???? ?????? ? ???? ???? ??? ??????) ??? ???? ???? ???? ?????! ??? ????? ????? ????? ???????? ??????? ? ??? ????? ????? ???? ?????? ?? ???? ? ??? ???? ????! ??? ?????? ?????? ???? ???? ??? ?????? ?? ???? ???? ?????? ??? ???? ???? ? ??? ???? ???? ????? ??? ( ????? 15 ) ??? ???? ???? ? ??? ???? ???? ????? ??? ???? ????! ??? ?????? ?? ??? ??? ? ??? ?????? ?? ?????? ( ????? ???? ???) ??? ???? ????? ! ??? ??? ?? ???? ?? ????? ?? ???? ?? ?? ??????? ?? ?????? ??? ?? ???? ????? ?? ???? ??????? ????????! ????? ??? ?????? ?????? ???? ????? ???? ?????? ??? ??? ????? ? ?????? ???? ????? ?? ??????? ?????? ? ? ?????? ???????? ??? ??? ???????? ????? ?????? ????? 90 ?????? ??? ?????? ????????? ?? ????? ???????. ??? ??????? ?? ???? ?????? ? ?? ?? ??? ? ??? ??? ????? ??????? ???? ?? ??? 5 ??? 8 ?????? ?? ?? ???? ???? ????????? ????? ???? ????? ?? ??????? ???????? ??????. ??????? ?? ???? ?????? ??? ????? ??????? ?? ??? ??? ??? ??? ?? 3 ?????? ? ?? ??? ?? ???? ?????? ?? ??????? ???????? ?????? 2 ??? 4 ?????? . ???? ??? ???? ?????? ?? ????? ?????? ? ?????? ??????? ?????????? ???????? ? ?????? ????? ????? ???? ?????? 9 ?????? ????? ???????? ???????? . ??? ?? ???? ??? ?????? ?????? ?????? ? ??? ??????? ??????????? ???? ?????? ???????? ???????? ?? ??????? ??????? ?? ????? ???? ????? ???? ?????.

December 20th, 2011, 4:04 pm

 

majedkhaldoun said:

If you have bad bugs in your yard,you may spray it ,cut the grass, you will never get rid of the bug till you till the ground completely and start all over again.
Those who defend this criminal Bashar the booha,they either benifit from the regime, or connected with it,like the one whose father is pro Assad Alawite.

Bill
I agree with you, the best thing happening to the palastinians is this Arab spring, those dictators are the reason that we did not unite they were the best help for Israel,it cost us a lot of money buying weapons it turn out they buy weapons to kill their own people, who will revolt against them,not to fight Israel.

December 20th, 2011, 4:15 pm

 

jad said:

It can’t become more twisted than this:

Joe Biden: ‘The Taliban … Is Not Our Enemy’

?????: ?????? ?? ????? ???? ?????? ?????

???? ????? ?????? ???? ?????? ???????? ?? ????? ????? “???????” ? ?? ???? “??????” ? ???? ???? ???????? ??????? ?????????.
???? ????? ?? ???????? ?? “??????” ??? ?????? ???? ?????? ??? ?????? (????????) ?? ??? ???? ?? “??????” ????? ????? ?? ??? ?????? ???? ???????”.
???? ????? ?? ?????? ???? ?? ????????? “?????? ??????” ?????? ?????? ??? ???? ?? ???? ???? ??? ???????? ??????? ???????? ?? ?????”. ???? ???? ?????? ?? “??? ???? ???? ?? ????? ??? ????? ???”.
????? ????? ??? ?? ???????? ??????? ???? ?? ????????? “?????????? ??????” ???? ?????? “???????”? ?????? ????? ????? ????? ??? ?? ????.
????? ??? “??? ?? ???? ??????? ????????? ???? ???? ???? ?????? ??????? ?? “??????”? ???????? ?? ???? “???????” ?????? ?? ???????? ???? ???????. ?????? ?? ???? ?? ??? ????? ????? ??????? “??????”? ?? ???? ?????? ????????? ??? ??????”.
????? ????? ????? ???? ???? “??????”? ???? ???? ??????? ?????? ????? ??? ?????? ?????????? ??? ???????? ??? ?? ????? ??????? ?????????? ????? ?? ???? ????? ????? ????????.
????? ?? ?????? ???????? ?????? ?????? ???????? ????? ?????? ?? ?????? ?????? ?? ???????? ?? ????? ?????? ? ?????? ????? ???? ?????? ?????? ?? “???? ?????? ??? ??? ?? ????? ???? ????? ??? “??????”? ??? ?????? ???? ??? ??????? ?? ?????????. ?????? ??????? ???????? ??? “???????”? ??????? ????? ??? ?????????. ???? ?? ???? ??”.
???? ?? ???? ??????? ???? ?? ????? ??????? ???? ?? ??????? ???? ???????? ?? ????? “??????”? ????? ?????? ?? ?????? ??????? ??????? ?? “???????”? ???????? ???????? ??????? ????????? ??????? ??? ????? ???? ???? ???? ??????.

December 20th, 2011, 4:19 pm

 

defender said:

JUERGEN:
According to a report by the Defense News Website, Israel and Germany have been cooperating together in secret to develop a nuclear missile detection system Code-named Project Bluebird. The system is based on the prototype of an aerial infrared sensor designed to identify a nuclear-tipped missile speeding toward a target amid a cluster of decoy missiles. Military planners are working under the assumption that in a nuclear strike, decoy missiles could be launched along with those carrying nuclear warheads to confuse and overwhelm missile defense shields – Project Bluebird is designed to avert such a scenario.

December 20th, 2011, 4:21 pm

 

irritated said:

This leitmotiv that Bashar has only signed the peace plan so he gets ‘more time to kill” puzzles me.
How many does he want to kill?

If the opposition claims that it represent more than 50% of the 26 millions, so Bashar’s target is to kill 13 millions?
At the rate of 5,000 in nine months as claimed by the opposition, we are talking about decades of killing.
They also claim he is a “killing machine”, in my view we have seen much better recent killing machines: NATO+ Qaddafi= >30,000 in 3 months.
Now that some Libyans mercenaries have recently joined the Fierce Syriana Angels the score is going higher: more soldiers killed in the last few days.
Is the aim of Fierce Syriana Angels to kill the whole Syrian army?

December 20th, 2011, 4:58 pm

 

Tara said:

The AL is kidding itself.  Any comment in regard to the killing of 150 in 2days?

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2017052675_apmlsyria.html?syndication=rss    
2 days of Syria violence leave 150 dead
Security forces pursuing anti-government activists and army defectors shot dead at least 47 people in Syria on Tuesday, pushing the toll for two days of violence to nearly 150 even as the regime prepared to allow in foreign monitors under an Arab League plan aimed at stopping the bloodshed.

December 20th, 2011, 5:00 pm

 

Bill said:

We Need protection for the Palestinians in Occupied Palestine.
We need United Nations’ monitors. Below is another article from Aljazeera English. it shows Palestinian women inside a vandalized mosque in shock. The colonialist ZionistS who vandalized this mosque need to go to The Hague.

Israeli settlers ‘desecrate’ West Bank mosque
http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2011/06/201167205858764146.html?asid=111b4c78

Palestinian mosque in West Bank set on fire
http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2011/12/20111215193933828805.html

On Israeli white phosphorous and crime during the Gaza massacre,
see “Israel admits white phosphorus use” Aljazeera English
http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2009/07/200973020830886898.html

PALESTINIANS NEED PROTECTION. ALL OF YOU DECENT PEOPLE HERE WHO CARE ABOUT ISRAELI OCCUPATION AND WAR CRIME: UN PROTECTION AND MONITORS IN OCCUPIED PALESTINE!

December 20th, 2011, 5:39 pm

 

Darryl said:

367. SHAMI said:

“Darryl ,the famous aleppine qanunist you are speaking about is Shukri al Antakly.I have records of him if hou like,he used to work mostly with Sheikh Bakri al Kurdi(one of the most important figure of the aleppine music of the last century ,originally from jisr al shughur) AbdelKader al Hajar and Mohamad al Nassar some decades ago.”

Dear Shami, on 8th Dec you posted this message which I missed. Please post the Music Of Ustaz Shukri Al Antakly in MP3 if you have it as soon as possible. Your effort will be appreciated!

December 20th, 2011, 5:52 pm

 

jad said:

???????? ???????: ?????? 8 ??????? ????? ?? ?????? ?????? ?????? ?? ???? ????? ???? ???? ???
(?? ???)
????? ????? ???????? ??????? ?? ???? ???? ???????? 21/12/2011 ??? ????? ??? ?????? ??????? ????? ?????? ?????? ?????? ??? ?????? ???? ????? ???????? ????????? ?? ??????? ?? ???? ????? ?????? ???? ??????? ??? ??????? ???????? ?? ????? ???? ??? ??????? ??? ????? ?? ?????? ???????? ???????? ????? ???????? ????? ?????? ????? ??????? ?? ??????? ?????? ????? ???????? ?????.

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

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

??????: http://www.dp-news.com/pages/detail.aspx?articleid=106570#ixzz1h7Pelo6z

December 20th, 2011, 5:59 pm

 

Bill said:

I am posting here about Israeli war crimes and occupation to expose the hypocrisy of the two Zionists commenting on this blog by criticizing the Arab Spring’s ups and downs while defending the only colonial enterprise in the Middle East, which is built on the debris of Palestinians’ lost lands and hops! This article is a must read and I would help you defend against the ongoing charges in the U.S. presidential elections that Palestinians, who according to Newt Gingrich are “invented people,” teach racism and violence.
Please see this article:
http://www.wrmea.com/backissues/0999/9909019.html
Israeli Textbooks and Children’s Literature Promote Racism and Hatred Toward Palestinians and Arabs

By Maureen Meehan

December 20th, 2011, 6:19 pm

 

aldendeshe said:

“….Isn’t there any ‘body’ here seeing this news of creating Syrian parties and organizations according to sects and religions alarming and bad sign for the future of Syria? any ‘body’? NZzzzz?…

It is just a scam, a hoax to get cash, most likley virtually formed on CIA advise on modeled after all those Jewish Orgs that pop-up every week during election time.

All dressed up and no place to go, that is why no one care about them. But I get your feel Jad, just today Syrian rats, which outnumber Christians in Syria 10,000:1 are also forming own party in the hope they will get yellow cheese.

December 20th, 2011, 6:26 pm

 

majedkhaldoun said:

Al Maliki threatened to resign in two days if Mutlaq stays as his vice who can attend all ministerials meeting.
http://alquds.co.uk/index.asp?fname=latest\data\2011-12-20-08-09-04.htm
Iraqi parliament is composed of 265,82 belong to Allawi,and 38 to the kurds,15 for different parties,around 130 support Maliki, he needs 65% to accomplish his goal, he needs 170
I say let him resign,he is traitor and a liar,plus he support the booha,if we get rid of him Bashar will be more isolated.

December 20th, 2011, 6:31 pm

 

Bill said:

53. majedkhaldoun

Al-Maliki is a sectarian leader and Iranian puppet. If he resigns, which I don’t think he would do, good riddance! As an American, I feel sad that George W. Bush sacrificed America’s lives and treasures, along with possible one million Iraq lives, to GIVE THE COUNTRY TO IRAN!!!!!!!!!!

Iran and Israel, which I am surprised that they are not yet allies, are the biggest threat to peace and stability in the Middle East.

December 20th, 2011, 6:36 pm

 

Tara said:

Bronco

I read the Turks criticism of their government all the time.  I never read the Iranin criticizing their government at all..Are the Iranians mnhebaks too in regard to their government?  below os part II of “the Turks in Arabland”.  

http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/cigars-of-the-pharaoh-ii.aspx?pageID=238&nID=9645&NewsCatID=398
Cigars of the Pharaoh (II)

Arabia has always been difficult terrain for the Turks. The 21st century can hardly be an exception, although the “New Turks” have pinned too much hope on once again ruling Arab lands, this time through soft power. 

The New Turks wholeheartedly believe they possess the necessary ingredients for their presumed soft power: their record economic growth rates and newfound wealth; a “bon pour l’Orient” democracy; political Islam along strictly Sunni lines and its inevitable ingredients; the usual combination of deep hostility toward Israel and championing the holy cause that is Palestine. In addition, of course, to the popular Turkish soap operas aired on Arab screens. 

Nowadays, with their smiling faces and glittering promises, the Turks are knocking on the doors of the land of the Pharaoh, hoping to create – in the words of President Abdullah Gül – “an axis of democracy of the two biggest nations in our region, from the north to the south, from the Black Sea down to the Nile Valley in Sudan.” Once again, they misunderstand the Arabs. I am personally curious if Ankara will be on the side of the oppressed and condemn state violence against Egyptian protestors, like in Syria. On an optimistic note, we can assume the Turkish model is already working in Egypt: Systematic violence against protestors.
….. 
In a boring cliché, Western leaders often commend Turkey as a precious bridge between the West and the East. I would say the Crescent and Star is probably condemned to eternal habitation in purgatory. And it must be a heavenly joke that Foreign Minister Ahmet Davuto?lu still insists that his “zero problems with neighbor’s policy” works!
December/21/2011

December 20th, 2011, 6:58 pm

 

jna said:

17. Amir in Tel Avivsaid:
I’m ready to risk my reputation: there will be no AL monitoring. Why:
1) This Syrian junta is too vain. They simply cannot accept the idea that those “half men” will dictate the terms for Syria. It is very painful for dictators to switch positions and become the subjects of dictating.

Amir, think for a minute. Is there any country/government that can accept the idea of foreign monitors overriding their sovereignty (“dictating the terms”) and their monopoly on use of force in country? Well, there’s some occupied countries who have been defeated. Who else? 1930’s Czechoslovakia succumbed to Nazi Germany to get carved up and taken over. Has nothing to do with dictators.

December 20th, 2011, 7:04 pm

 

Amir in Tel Aviv said:

JNA #56,

How can 500 unarmed observers override the sovereignty and challenge the monopoly on use of force in Syria? Their mandate would be to observe, to monitor and to report. Not to use any force.

Look
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Temporary_International_Presence_in_Hebron

We have an international monitoring body in Hebron – Al 7alil. In what way is this overriding the sovereignty of Israel ?
.

December 20th, 2011, 7:23 pm

 

Bronco said:

#55 Tara

Thanks for the link, it is funny. This is a new trait of Turkish journalism and I am glad it is happening. They used to be as stern as Ataturk
It would be interesting to discover country by country in the region, how many tolerate satires, cartoons or movies without sending the author to jail.
I believe Syria rank number one in the long running production of satirical cartoons, TV series and movies critical of the regime that are seeing by the whole Arab region. I do not know about the other Arab countries and Iran, as whatever they produce, if they produce, remain local and low key. While I have the impression that in these countries it is not well accepted, I don’t really know.

December 20th, 2011, 7:26 pm

 

Tara said:

It is indeed the Islamic Spring (but don’t panic)

http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/it-is-indeed-the-islamic-spring-but-dont-panic-.aspx?pageID=238&nID=9639&NewsCatID=411
Some commentators argue these days that the much-celebrated Arab Spring is turning out to be an “Islamic Spring.” For as they point out, Islamist parties have won the ballots in Morocco, Tunisia and Egypt. It is very safe to expect similar results in Libya, and, once the tyranny of Bashar al-Assad and his fellow thugs hopefully falls, in Syria. A more democratic Arab world, it seems, will also be a more Islamic one.

Of course, for some people, this is bad news, if not a nightmare. I beg to differ, though, and rather suggest a cautious optimism. 

Here is my first reason: Those who fear that incumbent Islamists will be “radical” – in the sense of waging terrorist campaigns under the banner of “jihad” – are missing the whole point: In the recent past, some of the Islamist parties in question indeed had some violent offshoots, but this was simply because that they were suppressed by the secular dictatorships that are falling in the Arab Spring. (Even then, the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt and Ennahda in Tunisia never endorsed terrorism.) Incumbency is most likely to be a reason for the further moderation of these parties, not their radicalization.

As a good omen, just look at the latest news from Hamas, which is basically the Palestinian branch of the Muslim Brotherhood. A spokesman for the party’s Gaza-based prime minister, Ismail Haniya, said last weekend that they would be “shifting their emphasis from armed struggle to non-violent resistance.” He added that all Palestinian factions operating in the Gaza Strip have agreed to halt the firing of rockets and mortars into Israel.

Let’s move on to the second concern, which is more valid than the one relating to radicalism: The fear that incumbent Islamists will impose “Islamic law,” which can be bad news for Christians, women or secular Arabs. 

I grant that there is a risk here, and that’s why I have been pointing out to the trouble with illiberal democracy. But we should see that the approach to Islamic law is not the same with all Islamist parties. If the ultra-literalist and ultra-conservative Al-Nour Party realizes its vision for Egypt, for example, you can indeed expect some “medieval” rules and standards. But the Muslim Brotherhood is more pragmatic, and is speaking about “the intentions of Islamic law,” which creates room for great flexibility.

Here again, the effect of incumbency is something that should be seen as a moderating factor. When parties such as Ennahda or the Freedom and Justice Party (the political arm of the Muslim Brotherhood) form a government, the number-one public expectation they will face will be boosting the economy and creating new jobs. They will not be able to do that by banning alcohol (and thus killing tourism) or imposing “Islamic banking” (and thus irritating foreign capital). Unlike Iran and Saudi Arabia, they don’t have rich oil resources to finance their political zeal or religious puritanism. So they will have to be pragmatic.

I am speaking out of experience, for the moderation and pragmatization of the Turkish Islamist movement, which ultimately culminated in the Justice and Development Party of Recep Tayyip Erdo?an, has been no different. In the early 1990s, the vision of Erdo?an and his comrades were not too different than today’s Muslim Brotherhood. But the experience they had in the municipalities they won and ran in the 1990s taught them a lot. 

And even if the incumbent Arab Islamists take some ultra-conservative steps, such as some restrictions on social life, they should be allowed to do that and see its consequences. Let’s do not forget that alcohol was prohibited in nowhere other than the all-liberal United States less than a century ago. Muslim societies need to make their own mistakes and infer their own lessons, too. 
December/21/2011

December 20th, 2011, 7:33 pm

 

Bill said:

# 57 AMIR IN TEL AVIV ???? ???? ????????? ?? ??? ???????? ???????? ?? ????????? ??????????

Amir in Tel Aviv Says Regarding Hebron:
“In what way is this overriding the sovereignty of Israel ?”

Hebron is in Occupied Palestine and not Israel, and that’s why Israeli “sovereignty” is not affected.
You must have gone to schools and studied these Israeli textbooks that teach racism against Arabs and Palestinians:
http://www.wrmea.com/backissues/0999/9909019.html
Israeli Textbooks and Children’s Literature Promote Racism and Hatred Toward Palestinians and Arabs

We need monitors in Jerusalem, Ramallah, etc.

By Maureen Meehan

December 20th, 2011, 7:35 pm

 

zoo said:

A french journalist who entered and visited Syria as a journalist without being chaperoned by the regime ( in french)
19 december 2011

http://www.lesinrocks.com/actualite/actu-article/t/74230/date/2011-12-19/article/carnet-de-route-en-syrie/

December 20th, 2011, 7:40 pm

 

Ghufran said:

Bassam Alqadi on sham fm
I know that some of you do not like him
The regime is already spreading messages that the AL mission is a spying mission that prepares the ground politically for foreign intervention.

December 20th, 2011, 7:43 pm

 

jad said:

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

???? ???? : ??? ??????? ?????? ????????? ??? ?????? ??????? ???? ???? ?? ??????? ?????? ?????? ?????????? ??????? ??? ???????

???????? ? ??????? ( ??? ?? : ????? ??? + ???? ???????): ???? ????? ????? ??? ?? ???? ??? ????????? ??????? ???????? ????? ??? ????? ” ??????” ?????? ??? ???? ???? ??????” ?????” ?????? ????? ???? ????? ?????? ?? ???? ???? ????? ??????? ??????. ??? ?????? ??? ????????? ??????” ?? ???????? ???? ???? ??? ??????? ??????? ????? ?????” ? ????? ??? ???? ????? ?? ????? “???????” ???????? ? ??????? ???? ???? ????? ???? ? ????? ???? ?? ????? ????? ????? 130 ??. ???? ??? ???? ????? ? ???? ???? ??? ?????? ???????? ??? ??????? ??????? ( ??????? ??????? ?? ?????) ? ???? ??? ?? 30 ?? ?? ?????? ??????? ? ??????? ?? ????? ???????? ? ???? ??? ??????? ?? ???? ????????? ?? ????? ???????.

???? ?????? ????? ? ?????? ?????? ????? ????? ???? ??? ????? ??? ????? ???? ????? ?? ??? ??? ??? ???????? ?? ?????? ??? ?? ??????? ?????? ????? ??? ??? ??? ??????? ???? ??????? ???????? ?? ?????? ??????? ????? ?????? ?????? ?? ?? ??????”?????” ?????? ???? ????? ?? ???? ??????? ?????? 14 ?? ????? ??????. ???? ????? ?? ??????? ” ????? ?????? ?????” . ????? ???????? ??????? ???? ???? ??? ??? ??????? ? ????? ?? ??? GRAW DFM-06 ??????? ?????. ? ????? ????? ??? ? ?????? GPS ???? ?????? ?????????? ????????? ? ?????? ?????? ??? ????????? ??????? ????????? ??????? ” ???????” ??? ???? ???? ??? ??? ?????? 40 ?? ? ???? ????????? ???? ?? ???? ??? ???????? ?????? ???????? ?? ???????? . ????? ??? ?? ???? 90 ???? ? ???? ????????? ????? ??????? ??? ??????? ?????? ??????.

???? ?????? ?????? “?? ????? ??????? ??? ??? ???? ??????? ??????? ???? ?????? ??????? ?? ?????? ?? ????? ?????? ??? ?????? ?????? ??????? ????????? ??????? ?????? ?????( ???? ????????? ??????) . ??? ???? ??? ?????? ??? ????????? ???? ?????? ?????? ??????? ???? ????? ? ???? ????? ????? ??????? ???? ? ???? ??? ??????? ???? ???? ??????? ?????? ????????? ? ??????? ??????? ? ????? ??? ????? ?????? ????. ??? ???? ?? ?????? ??? ?????? ?????? ???? ?????? ?????????? ?? ???????”.

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

December 20th, 2011, 7:50 pm

 

Amir in Tel Aviv said:

Bill,

Please don’t waste your valuable time on addressing me. I have no desire nor wish in discussing with you, the colonization of Palestine by the Zionist entity. I’m sure you find many who’ll be thrilled to discuses those issues with you.
.

December 20th, 2011, 7:54 pm

 

majedkhaldoun said:

Tara
I would not vote to Islamic party,I do not know anyone in my family who would vote for MB,and believe me I have a very big family, I dont know of any neighbour who would vote for MB,
Syria is not Egypt or Libya,MB represent less than 20% of syrian.

Bill
I am very glad you are commenting here ,I have to say I agree with you 100% so far.

I too Do not trust Assad will allow the monitors to work freely, and I doubt the Al Arabiyeh and Al jazeera will be allowed to work freely,the whole observers issue will be short lived

December 20th, 2011, 7:55 pm

 

Ghufran said:

Bassam was harsh in his criticism of the regime security forces and the lack of accountability against those who committed crimes against the people,he may have made his host uncomfortable by his attack on the regime and his indirect mocking of Bashar’s claims that investigations against security forces who broke the law are ” underway”.

December 20th, 2011, 7:57 pm

 

jad said:

Reality from Idleb:

????: ?????? ???? ?? ??? ????? ???????

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

???? ???????
???? | ?????? ??????? ?????? ?????? ???? ???????? ??? ?? ?????? ????? ?????? ????? ??????? ?????? ????? ?? ??????? ??? ??? ???? ??????? ??? ?????? ????????? ???? ??? 170 ???? ????????? ?????? ????? ???? 48 ???? ?? ????? ???? ?????? ?????? ???????? ??? ????? ??????. ????? ???? ???? ???? ??«???????» ?? ?????? ??????? ?? ????? ???? ???? ??? ?????? ??? ?? 50 ??? ????? ?? ????? ????? ??«???? ????? ???????» ???????? «?? ???????? ????? ?? ?? ??????? ????????»? ???? ???? ????? ?? ??????? ????????? ?? ?????????? ????????? ?????? ?? ????? ?? ??????? ?????? ?? ?? ???? ??? ????? ????????? ??? ???????? ?????? ????? ??? ?????????.
?? ????? ?????? ??? ????? ???????? ?????? ?????? ??? ????? ????? ??? ?? ???????? ???? ?????? ?? ???????. ??????? ?????? ??? ???????? ???????? ????? ?????? ???? ?????? ??????. ???? ?????? ???? ?? ????????? ???????. ???? ???? ??? ???????? ??? «???? ???? ?? ?????? ???? ??? ?????? ???? ???? ?????? ?? ???? ?? ????????? ????? ?????? ??? ????? ???. ???? ???? ??????? ??????? ??????? ??????? ?? ???? ???? ?? ???? ??????».
????? ????????? ????? ??????? ?????? «???? ???? ????? ?? ??? ?????? ??? ????? ???????? ????? ??? ???? ????? ?????? ???? ?? ??? ??? ??? ???. ??? ???? ????? ?????? ??????? ?? ?????????? ????? ???? ?????? ??? ??? ???? ???».
?? ?????? ???? ????? ???? «??????? ??? ??? ??? ?????? ??????? ?????? ??? ?????? ?? ??? ?? ????? ??????? ??? ???? ???? ????? ??????? ??? ????? ??????? ?????? ???? ?????? ???? ???????? ?? ??? ????? ??????? ??? ??????? ?????? ??????».
???? ???? ??? ??? ?? ???? ????? ????? «??? ??????? ????? ????? ??????? ?????????? ??? ??? ????????? ?????? ???? ????? ??????? ?? ????? ??? ??? ?????». ??? ?? ????? ???? ??? ???? ????? ?????? ???? ????? ??? ?? ???? «??? ????? ??? ????? ????? ???????? ??? ?????? ??????? ??????? ?? ??????? ?????? ???????? ?????? ??????? ????? ?????????? ?????? ?????? ?????? ??????? ?????».
????? ?????? ?????????? ?? ??????? ?????? ??????? ??? ???? ?????? ??????? ???? ????? ???? ?? ????? ???? ??? ??? ???? ??? ?? ??? ????? ?????? ??? ?? ?????? ??? ?????? ???? ????? ???? ???? ?????????? ???????? ?? ????? ??? ???? ?? ?????.
?????? ?? ???? ????? ?????? ???? ????? ???????? ??????? ??? ?????? ?? ???? ???????? ????? ????? ??? ????? «???????» ??? ??????? ???? «???? ?????» ??? ??? ??????? ?????? ?????? ?? ????? ?????? ???????? ??????. ????? ?? ???????? ?? ?? ??? ???????? ???????? ??? ??? ????? ??? ???????? ??? ????? ???????. ??? ??? ??????? ????? ?????? «??? ?????? ???????? ????? ??????? ??????? ???????? ?????????». ????? «???? ?????? ?? ????? ????? ???? ??? ??? ?????? ???? ???????? ???????? ????????? ??? ????? ??? ???? ????? ????? ????? ????? ?? ??? ????? ??? ????????? ?????? ????? ?? ?????? ????? ????? ????? ???? ??????? ???? ?????? ???????? ??? ?? ?????? ???? ?????».
?????? ?????? ?? ???? ?????????? ??? ?????? ?????? ????????? ?????? ??? ?????? «?????? ??? ?? ?? ??? ???? ?? ??? ???????».

???? ??????

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

???????

????? ????? ??????? ????? ????? ?? ????? ????? ????? ?? ???????? ?????? ????? ?? ???????? ????? ???? ?????. ???? ????? ????? ??? ??? ?????? «?? ????? ?????? ???????? ??? ??????? ????? ??? ????? ????? ??????? ????? ???? ???? ?????? ???? ??? ????? ?????? ???? ????». ????? ????? ?? ?????? ?? «???? ?? ????? ??????? ?????????»? ??? «????? ??? ?????? ??????? ???? ??? ????? ??? ??? ??????? ?? ???????».
?????? ???? ????? ????? ?????? ?? ??? ???????? ?? «??????? ?????? ?? ???????? ???? ???? ???????? ???? ?????? ???????? ??? ??? ??? ???????? ??? ???? ???? ????? ??? ????? ?? ??????? ?? ???? ????? ????? ??????? ????????».
?? ???? ?????? ???? ???? ???? ?????? ????? ?????? ?????? ????????? ??? ?? ?????? ????? ??? ??? ??? ??????? ?? ????? ????? ????????? ????? «?? ???? ??? ???? ???? ??? ?? ?????? ???? ??????? ?????? ???».
??????? ??? ???? ?? ???? ???? ?????? ?????? ???? ????? ??????? ?????? ??? ?????? ??? ???? ?? ??? ?? ????????. ???? ????? ??? ??????? ????? ????? ???????. ??? ????? ???? ???? ??? ?????? ????? ?? ??? ???????? ????? ????? ????? ???? ????.
????? ?? ??? ???? ???? ??? ??????? ??? «???? ?????? ?????? ???? ??? ????? ?????????? ??? ?? ?????? ??? ?? ???? ??? ?????? ????????? ????? ????? ?? ???????? ??? ??????? ???? ???? ????? ??? ???? ???? ???».
?????????? ??????? ????? ?? ???? ??? ????? ????? ??????? ?? ?????? ????? ?????? ???? ????? ??? ???? ???? ?????? ?? ???????? ??? ?????? ??????? ?? ????? ?? ?????? ??????? ????????? ?????? ????? ??????? ???? ??? ?????? ???? ??????? ?????? ???? ????? ???????? ?? ?????? ??????? ??????? ???????.
??? ????? ?????? ?? ????? ???? ?? ????? ??? ?? ???????? ?????? ???? ?????? ??? ????????? ????????. ???? ??????? ??????? ??? ?????? ??????? ??? ????????? ??? ????? «???? ?????? ?? ????? ??????? ????? ???? ?? ???? ??? ???? ???????? ?????? ????? ??????? ?????? ???? ????? ?????? ?????? ??? ?????? ??? ?? ??????? ??? ?? ?????? ??????? ???? ?????». ????? «????? ?????? ?????? ???????? ??? ?? ??????? ??????? ??? ????? ????? ??????? ????????? ??????? ?? ?? ???? ????????? ????? ????? ??? ????? ??????».
????? ????? ??????? ????? «??? ?????? ???? ??? ???? ??? ?? ????? ?? ????? ???? ????? ?????? ????? ????? ??????? ????? ?????? ????????? ??????? ?? ????? ???????? ?????????? ?????? ????? ?? ??????».
??? ?? ????? ?????? ??? ???? ?????? ???????? ??? ?? ?????????? ???? ???????? ???????? ?????? ??????? ????? ????? ???????? ??? ?????? ?? ????? ???? 1100 ?? ????? ?????? ??????? ??? ??????? ??? ????? ?????.
????? ??? ?? ??????? ????? ?????? ???? ?? «????» ???? ??????? ??? ????? ???? ??? ????? ?????? ?????????. ????? ??? ??? ?? ????? ?????? ????? ????? ???????? ???????? ???????? ??????? ?? ????? ??? ????? ???? ??????? ?????? ?????? ?????? ???? ???? ??? ?????? ?? ????? ????? ??? ??????? ??? ????? ?????. ???? ???? «???? ??? ???? ?? ???????? ????? ?? ?? ??????? ??? ?????? ?? ?????? ??????? ??????? ????? ?????? ??? ????? ??? ??????».
??? ????? ????? ??? ????? ?????? ??? ??? «???? ???? ?? 25 ????? ?? ?????? ?? ?????? ????? ?????? ??????? ??? ??????? ?????? ?? ??????? ????????? ???? ?? ????? ?????? ????????? ?????? ??? ?? ???? ????? ??? ?? ?????? ??? ????????». ????? «?????? ??? ?????? ??? ????? ??????? ???? ?????? ???????? ???? ?????? ?? ?????».
???? ???? ????? ???????? ?? «??????? ?? ????? ??? ??? ?? ????? ??». ????? «??? ???? ?? ??????? ???? ???????? ????? ????? ??? ???? ????? ?????? ?? ????? ??????? ?? ??? ???? ??? ???? ?????? ????? ???? ????? ??? ??????? ??? ?????? ???? ???? ???????? ????? ????».
??? ??????? ????? ???????? ??? ??? ????? ???? ???? ?? ????? ???? ???? ???? ????? ?? ?????? ??? ??? ???????? ????? ????? ????? ?????? ??????? ??????. ????? ??? ?? ????? ?????? ?? ??????? ????? ?? ???? ?????? ???? ?? ??????? ????? ?? «???? ?? ???? ??????? ??? ????? ?????? ???? ??? ????? ?? ?? ??? ?????? ???? ???? ?? ??????? ??????? ????? ?????».
????? ??? ?????? ?? «???? ??????? ?????????? ?? ?????? ?? ????? ????? ????? ??? ??????? ??? ?? ?????? ???????? ??????? ???? ?????? ????? ????? ????????? ???? ?? ???? ???? ?????? ?? ??????? ????? ?????? ??????? ??????? ??????? ???????? ?????? ??????? ??? ?????? ????? ???? ?? ??? ????? ????? ?????????».
?? ????? ???? ???? ?? ????? ?????? ?????? ????????? ??? ?? ???? ?? ??? ?? ????? ?????? ?????? ??? ?? «????? ????? ????? ???????? ?? ?????? ????? ??? ?????? ????? ?? ??? ????». ????? «?? ???????? ??? ????? ??? ???? ?????? ??????? ???? ?????? ?? ???????? ?????? ???? ???? ?? ?????? ?????? ???? ?????? ?????? ???? ??????? ????? ?????? ???? ?????? ??????? ????? ?????». ???? ?????? «??? ?????? ?????? ??????? ????? ????? ??? ???? ?????? ???????? ?????? ??? ????? ??????? ???????? ?????? ?????? ?? ???? ?????????».


«???? ???»

???? ??? «??????»? ??? ???? ??? ?????? ?? ????? ????? ????????? ??????? ??????? ?????? ?????? ??? ????? ???? ?????????? ?? ??????. ??? ????? ???? ???????? ????? ??????? «????» ?? ?? ????? ????? ???????? ??? ??????. ??? ??????? ??? ?? ????? ??? «?????? ??????? ???? ????? ?????? ????? ??? ????? ??? ?????? ???????? ???????? ???? 16 ???? ?????? ???? ??? ?? ???? ??????? ??????? ?? ?????? ??????? ??? ????? ?? ??????? ?????? ??? ??? ???????? ????? ?? ???????? ????? ?? ???15 ????? ?? ??? ?? ???? ????????? ???? ???? ?????? ??? ?????».
?????? «????» ??? «????? ?? ????? ?????? ?? ??????? ????? ??? ?????? ??? ?????? ??????? ??????? ?? ????? ??????? ?????? ?????? ??????? ??? ?? ??? ????? ????? ??? ????? ?? ???? ??? ??? ???? ??? ????? ?????? ???? ??????? ??? ????? ??????».
????? «???? ??? ?????? ??? ???????? ??? ????? ?????? ?? ????? ??????? ??? ???? ???? ???????? ???».

http://www.al-akhbar.com/node/28123

December 20th, 2011, 7:59 pm

 

jna said:

Amir

The threat of force; think UN resolutions, USA, Iraq, Libya. And what is the chance that the Syrian monitors will be as constrained and timid as the toothless international monitors in Hebron? There’s really no pro-Assad lobby in Washington.

December 20th, 2011, 7:59 pm

 

jad said:

Bronco,
Turkey is still the same 🙂

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

???? ????? ????? ?????? ?????? ?????? ?? ??? ?? ????? ??????? ??? ?? ?????? ??? ?????? ??? ? ???????? ?????? ??????? ??????? ??? ????? ??«????? ???????? ???????».
??? ??? ????????? ?????? ????? ???? ???? ???? ????? ????? «????? ????? ???»? ??? ????? ?? ????? ?? ???????? ??? ?? ????? ??????? ????? ???? ?????.
?????? ????? ????? ????????, ?? 38 ????? ??? ????? ????? ??? ??? ???? ?? ???????? ??????? ???? ??? ????????, ?????? ???????? ??????? ?? ????? ???? ????? ?? ???? ?????? ?????? ???? ?????? ?????????? ?? ??????? ??????? ??? ??????? ??????? ?? ????? ????? ????? ??? 1984 ?????? ????? ??????? ?????? ??????? ???? ????? ?? ????? ???? ?? ??? ????? ??? ??????? ????????.
???? ??? 2009 ???? 700 ??? ???? ??????? ?3500 ????? ???? ???????? ?????? ??? ??????? ???????? ?????? ????? ??????? ?? ????? ???????? ???????, ?????? ??? 70 ?????? ??????? ?? ?????? ?????? ?? ??? ????? ???? ?????? ??????? ???????? ?? ?????? ???????? ??????? ?? ?????? ?????? ??? ??????? ????????.

??????

December 20th, 2011, 8:06 pm

 

Ghufran said:

???? ??????
??? ?????? ?????? ???? ?????? ????? ??????? ????? ???? ?????? ???? ??? ??????? ??????? ????? ??? ???????? ?? ?????? ???? ??”???????” ?? ???????? ????????? ?????? ??????? ?????? ??? ??????? ???? ???? ????? ???? ????? ????? ?? ??? ????? ?????.

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

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

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

December 20th, 2011, 8:08 pm

 

jad said:

?????? 14 ?????? ??????? ???????? ??? ???? «?????» ??? ?????? ????? ??????? ?? ??? ???????

??? ??? ????? ???? ??? ???? ??????? ????????? ??????? “??????? ????” ???? ????? ???? ??? 13 ????? ???? ?? ????? ??? ????? ?????????? ??? ???? ?????? ??? ???? “?????”.
???? ?? ???????? ?????? ?????? ??? ?????? ???? ????? ???? “?? ??????? ??????? ???? ????? ????? ???? ?? ??? ????? ?? ???? ???? ?????? ??????? ?? ???? ???? ??? ???? ?????? ?????” ? ??????? ?? “????? ?????? ???? ?????? ???? ????? ??? ????????? ???????? ???? ?????? ????? ?? ??? ????”.
??????? ??? ????? ?? ??? ?? ??? ??????? ???????? ????? ????? ? ????? ????? ?? ????????? ?? ????? ??? ????? ????? ?? ?????? ?? ???????? ?? ????? ???? ????? ??? ???? ????? ?????? ????? ?????? ?? ???? ??? ?????? ?? ???????? ?? ??? ?????? ??? ?? ????? ??????? ??????? ??????? ?? ???? ????????? .
???? ????? ???? ???? ?????? ??? ????????? ??? ???? ?? ????? ??????? ????? ???? ?????? ?????? ???? ?????? ?????? ???? ?????? : “??? ??? ?? ????? ??? ???? ?????? ????? ??? ????? ???? ?? ???? ?????? ??? ??? ?????? ?? ??????? ???? ???? ??? ???? ???????? ????? ?????? ??? ???????? ??? ???? ?? ??? ?????? ??? ???? ????? ???? ????????? ??????? ?????? ??? ??? ??? ????????”.
????? “??????? ???? ???????? ???? ???? ??????? ???? ????? ???? ???????? ??? ??????? ????? ????? ??????? ????? ???? ?????????? ??? ????? ????? ????? ??? ???? ?? ????? ??????? ?????”.

???? ??? ???? ????????? ????? ??? ????? 22 ????? ???? ?? ???? ?????? ?????? ??? ???? ?? ???? ?? ???? ????? ???? ??? ???????? ??????? ??? ??? ??? ?? ???? ??? ??? ???? ??????? ??????? ?????.
??? ??? : “???? ??? ??? ???????? ??????? ????? ?????? ????? ???? ??????? ????? ????? ??? ????? ???? ??? ????? ???? ????? ????? ????? 30 ????? ?? ??????? ????? ??? ???? ???? ????? ???? ??? ??? 1?? ??????? ?? ??????? ???? ??????? ??? ?????? ?? ?? 13 ?? ?????”.
??? ??????? ?? ??? ??????? ???? ???? ????? ?????? ??? ??? ???????? ??? ?????? ?? ??????? ?????? ?????? ???????? ?? ??????? ?????? ??? ?????? ????? ?? ???? ??? ?????? ??????? ?????? ????????? ???? ??????? ?????? ??????? ?? ?????? ??? 14 ????????? ???? ?????? .
??? ??? ?? ?????? ???? ???? ????? ??????? ??????? ??? ?????? ??? ??? ?????? ??? ????? ??? ??? ??? ???? ????? ????????? ???????? ????? ???? ??????? ???? ?????? ????????? ????? ??? ?????? ???????? ?? ????? ????? ????? ??? ?????? ??? ????????? ??? 14? ??? ??? ?? 28 ?? ???? ???? ?????? ?? ?????? ??????? ???? ???? ?? ?????? ??? ????? ??????? ?????? .
???? ???? ????????? “?? ???? ??? ?????? ?? ?? ???? ????? ????? ??? ????? ???? ?? ???? ????? ??? ???? ?????? ????? ???? ???? ?? ???? ?????? ?????? ??????? ???????” ? ????? ????? ?? “?????? ??? ????? ?????? ???????? ???? ?????? ?????? ????? ??? ????? ?? ???? ???? ??????? ??????? ???? ??? ???? ???? ????? ????? ????? ?? ????? ?? ???????? ?????? ????????? ?? ??????? ???????? ?? ?????? ????? ???? ????? ?????? ????? ??????? ????? ????? ???? ???? ??????? ??? ????? ??? ???????”.
??? ???? ??? ?????? ????????? ?? ???? ??? ????????? “???? ??????? ??????? ?? ??? ????? ????? ??? ??? ???? ?????? ?? ???? ????? ?? ???? ?????? ?? ??? ????”.
???? ???? ????? ????? ?? ??? ?????? ??? ???? ????? ?????? ?????? ????????? ??? ???? ??????? ??????? ???????? ?????? ???? ????? ??? ???? .

http://www.shukumaku.com/Content.php?id=38436

December 20th, 2011, 8:13 pm

 

Bill said:

# 64 AMIR IN TEL AVIV ???? ???? ????????? ?? ??? ???????? ???????? ?? ????????? ??????????

Actually, I have NO interest in you. As far as I am concerned, you are a member of an Israeli occupation army that kills, injures, arrests, humiliates, and intimidates Palestinians in Occupied Palestine. I only reply to you so OTHERS, NOT YOU, on this Blog (Syria Comment) realize two things:
1) Israeli occupiers and Zionists are hypocrites if they comment on Arabs inspiring Arab Spring.
2) It is very likely that you are doing this as part of your job with the military (I know that you would not admit it) because I read that Israel has recruited English/Arabic speakers to infiltrate social media and blogs like this one in order to propagate anti-Arab and pro-Israeli views.
Come on! NO WAY I BELIEVE THAT A ZIONIST OCCUPIER LIKE YOU CARES ABOUT FREEDOM IN SYRIA, EGYPT, OR ANYWHERE IN THE ARAB/MUSLIM WORLD. YOU OCCUPIERS LIKE PUPPET DICTATORS LIKE MUBARAK!

P.S.: I don’t care if you or your fellow Zionist, Akbar Palace ????? ???????? ?????? ever reply on my comments. I ONLY REPLY TO YOU SO OTHERS ON THIS BLOG BECOME AWARE OF ISRAELI HYPOCRISY AND WAR CRIMES!

December 20th, 2011, 8:15 pm

 

Tara said:

Majed

I wouldn’t vote for them either. I agree they do not have a chance in Syria in fair and free election.

The article is interesting though and I agree with the premise. The inclusion of the Islamic parties in political life is a step towards their further moderation not radicalization. Moreover, their priority will have to be improving the economy and creating job so they must evolve into pragmatic entities will be forced to interpret the shariaa law based on it’s intention rather than literally. The argument is, if going through Islamic spring is a “must have” phase before enlightenment so be it.

December 20th, 2011, 8:16 pm

 

Bronco said:

Jad #69

After a period of ‘serenity’ and ‘low key’, Turkey has decided to distance itself from Europe and Israel to engage in the Arab huge and lucrative business and to promote a ‘moderate’ Sunni Islam in the restive Arab countries looking for a model.
Since then, troubles have been piling up on Erdogan: The Kurds, Syria, Israel, Cyprus, France and he is even getting problems from mother nature!

December 20th, 2011, 8:17 pm

 

jad said:

???? ????? ????????? ????: ????? ???????? ?? ????? ????????

“??? ??? ???? ????????? ????? ????? ?????? ??? ?? ???? ??? ????????? ??? ??????? ???? ???? ???????? ??????? ???????? ??? ??????? ????? ?????? ???? ????????? ?? ????? ???? ??? ???? ???? ?????? ??? ???? ??????? ???? ????????? ?????? ???? ???? ????? ??? ????? ????? ????? ??????? ???? ?????? ????? ??????? ??????? ???? ??????.
???? ?????? «?????? ????? ???? ?? ???????? ???? ??? ??? ??? ????? ???? (?????????) ??????? ???? ?????? ??????? ??????»? ??????? ??? ??? ?? ??? ???? ?? ????? ??? ????? ??????? ??????? ??? 1945. ????? ??? ?? ?????? «?? ???? ???? ????? ?? ??? ??????? ??? ???? ????? ????? ??? ???? ?? ??? ???? ????? ????? ?????? ???????? ??????? ?? ??»? ????? ??? ??? ????????? ????? ???? 150 ?????? ???? ????? ????? ????? ?????? ?????? ??????? ????? ???????? ??? ????????? ??????? ???? ????? ?????. ?? ??????? ??? ?????? ???? «?? ???? ???? ??????»? ?????? ?????? «??????» ??????? ?? ????????? ????? ??????? ??? ????? «?? ???? ????? ?? ??? ??????? ?? ????? ?????? ??????? ????? ?????? ?? ???? ?????? ??? ????? ?? ??? ????? ????? ?????? ????? ?????? ??? ??????? ?? ???????? ?????? ?????? ????? ?? ?????». ??? ??? ???? ?????? ????? ??????? ??????? ??? ??? ????? ??????? ?? ???? ?????? ?? ????? «????? ??? ????????? ??????? ???????»? ??? ??? ??? ?? ???? ???????? ??????? «???? ????? ???»? ?????? «??? ????? ??? ???? ?? ????????? ??? ?????? ?? ????? ?? ??????? ??? ????? ???? ?????? ?? ??????? ???????. ??? ???????? ?? ??????? ????? ??? ????? ?????? ?????? ??????? ??? ????? ??? ???? ?? ???? ????? ?????? ???????? ????? ??? ?????? ?? ???? ?? ?? ??????? ???????? ?????? ????? ???? ??????? ??? ???? ?????».
??? ??????? ??? ??? ???? ??????? ???????? ?? ???? ????? ???????? ??? «??? ??????» ?? ?????? ?«??? ????? ?????? ?? ?????».”

“????????? ?????? ?????? ??? ???????? ?????? ????? ???????? ???????? ?????? ??«?????? ?????? ????? ???????»? ??? «??? ???? ???? ??? ????? ????? ??? ???? ????? ?? ??????? ?? ????? ??????? ??? ???? ??? ???? ???????? ?? ????? ??? ??????? ??????? ????» ???? ???? ?????? ?????? ??? ?? ??? ?????? ?? ???? «??? ???? 72 ???????»? ???? «??????» ?«?????? ?????? ?????? ???????». ??? ???? ???? ????? ????? ??????? ??????? ?? «?????? ???? ???? ??????? ?? ????? ????? ?? ???????? ?? ??? ????? ?????».”

http://www.al-akhbar.com/node/28121

December 20th, 2011, 8:19 pm

 

Tara said:

Vicki is stealing the show from Ambassador Ford.

US calls Arab League Syria plan ‘best opportunity’
http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/world/article/us-calls-arab-league-syria-plan-best-opportunity/
December 21, 2011
WASHINGTON, Dec 21 — The United States said yesterday an Arab League peace plan for Syria might bring results, but that would depend on Damascus upholding its side of the bargain and eventually ditching President Bashar al-Assad.

Syria agreed Monday to allow Arab states to monitor its compliance with the Arab League proposal, which is aimed at halting a government crackdown on protests that U.N. officials say has killed more than 5,000 civilians.

The State Department said the Arab plan — which calls on Syria to end violence, withdraw security forces and release political prisoners while allowing international monitors to measure compliance – could be one way out of the impasse.

“This Arab League proposal, we believe, offers the best opportunity to end the violence immediately so that Syria can move on,” State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said.

But she said Washington believed Syria would still need to hold “real dialogue about a democratic future, which we don’t think Assad is capable of being part of.”

“Our view has not changed: that Assad needs to step down, that he is not the man to lead his country into the future.”

Syrian authorities blame armed gangs for the violence and say 1,100 soldiers and police have been killed.

The measured US tone on the Arab League proposal marked a slight shift from earlier statements from Washington, which had cast doubt on the utility of discussions with the Assad government.

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton spoke yesterday with Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov of Russia — which has resisted efforts to get tough on Assad, a longtime ally — to discuss both the Arab peace plan and efforts to craft a UN Security Council resolution on the next steps to take on Syria’s crisis, Nuland said.

Broken promises

Nuland said the Arab League had told Washington it hoped to start deploying monitors by the end of this week, with as many as 300-400 in place by the middle of January.

She said the United States would support this, but only if the plan achieved the desired results.

“The Syrians have been breaking a lot of promises recently, so we want to see these monitors get in and be able to start their business,” she said.

“They have to be able to go freely where they want to go without being hindered, without any false pretexts of security concerns etc, without being intimidated by Syrian security forces. They have to be able to talk to whomever they want. They have to be able to get their reports out,” she said.

Russia last week presented the UN Security Council with its own draft resolution stepping up its criticism of the bloodshed in Syria, although western governments have said the draft remains too weak to win their support.

Nuland said that Clinton and Lavrov agreed to keep working on the Russian draft, saying the United States believed it needed to be further strengthened.

“So we’re on two tracks now: continuing to work on the resolution in New York and then testing to see whether the Syrians are serious about implementing their commitments to the Arab League,” Nuland said.

“We will see what the UN Security Council resolution needs to do as this moves forward.” — Reuters

 

December 20th, 2011, 8:29 pm

 

jad said:

Hi Bronco,
I think because of his unhelpful strategy, the situation is getting from bad to worse, for both Syria and Turkey, by harboring, supporting and arming some kind of terrorist militia to do military strikes against Syrian army. He is using the FSA as his political card and it has nothing to do with democracy.
Is he still in the hospital? I didn’t read about him since he went in…

December 20th, 2011, 8:31 pm

 

Ghufran said:

Islamists who do not advocate violence and do not restrict their membership to a certain sect or a group of Syrians should be allowed to compete in free elections like everybody else. It is a guess when it comes to how much support they have among Syrians,I think they can easily capture 30-40% of the votes especially that a lot of people are sick of other parties especially albaath,however,the expected surge in Islamic parties will probably be short-lived after people get over their emotions and start looking after their pocket book and daily affairs. The biggest losers of a 48 years of Baathist rule will be Baathists themselves and secular candidates who do not have a chance in many rural and impoverished areas.the big question is where the army will fit in any future political process,look at Egypt now and Turkey until the 1990s.

December 20th, 2011, 8:31 pm

 

Tara said:

Majed

Are you from Damascus?

December 20th, 2011, 8:31 pm

 

jad said:

The defection trend is reaching ‘7ara2r’ Alqubaysiyat!?
?????? ????? ?? ???? ?? ????? ?????????17\12\2011
http://youtu.be/SH7N_BawlT8

And Homs’ painters too
?????? ???? ?????? ??? ???? ?? ???? ??? ????
http://youtu.be/hCeC8lFobQQ

December 20th, 2011, 8:43 pm

 

Ghufran said:

????? ????? ????? ? ??????
???? ????? ???? ???? ?????? ?? ???????? ???? ???? ???? ???? ?? ??????? ?????? ??’????? ??????’ ???? ???????? ????? ????????? ???? ??? ?????? ????? ??? ????? ?????? ??????? ??????? ????? ?? ??? ??????? ?????? ??????? ????????? ?? ??? ??????? ???? ?? ??????? ?? ????????? ?????????? ?????? ??? ???? ???????? ???????? ?????? ?????.
???? ???? ?? ?????? ??? ???????? ????????? ?? ??? ?????? ????? ?? ???? ?????? ???????? ??? ??? ?????? ??? ?? ??? ??????? ????????? ?? ??????? ???????? ?? ???? ???? ?? ??????? ???? ?????? ???? ??? ?????? ?? ?????? ?? ?????? ???????? ??? ?????? ??? ?????? ??? ?? ???? ???? ?????? ??? ??????? ???????? ?? ???? ???????.
????? ???? ‘?? ???? ???? ??? ???? ?????? ?? ??????? ??????? ????? ???? ????? ????????? ?? ?????? ??? ???? ???? ????? ???????? ???????? ??? ???? ???? ?? ???? ?????? ???????? ????’.
????? ?? ??????? ???????? ???? ???? ????? ???????? ??? ????? ????? ?????? ?????? ??????? ???? ?????? ??????? ???????? ??? ??? ?????? ??????? ?? ????? ??? ?????? ????? ???????? ????? ???? ???? ????? ???? ???????.

December 20th, 2011, 9:23 pm

 

Ghufran said:

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

???? ????? ?? ?????? ??? ?????? ????????? ???? ???? ??? ???? ??? ????? ?? ?????? ?? ?????? ??? ???? ????? ???? ???? ??????? ?????? ?? ????? ?????? ??????? ????? ????? ???? ?? ???? ????? ?????? ?? ??????? ???? ????? ???? ???? ???? ?? 2003.

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

December 20th, 2011, 9:33 pm

 

Bill said:

81. GHUFRAN

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

December 20th, 2011, 9:33 pm

 

irritated said:

#78 Ghofran

Don’t underestimate the power of money that will pour from the GCC to fund any sunni islamic party.

December 20th, 2011, 9:35 pm

 

zoo said:

Arab League calls on Syria: Opposition isn’t listening

Published: 20 December, 2011, 22:06
http://rt.com/news/syria-arab-league-intervention-275/print/

A primary team of Arab League peace monitors are expected to arrive in Syria on Thursday as the violent revolt against President Bashar al-Assad rages on. However, despite the move, the Syrian opposition is still clamoring for foreign intervention.

­Arab League Secretary General Nabil Elaraby told Reuters Tuesday that a remaining 150 monitors would arrive by the end of the month.

\”In a week\’s time, from the start of the operation, we will know (if Syria is complying),\” Elaraby said, the agency reports.

Damascus signed a protocol on Monday seeking to put an end to the cycle of violence that has left the country on the verge of all-out civil war.

While Russia and China welcomed Syria’s decision to allow observers into the country, the US State Department was more cynical, stating it was “less interested in a signed piece of paper” than in concrete actions.

Perhaps following Washington\’s lead, the Syrian opposition has also dismissed the plan as a stalling tactic on the part of the Assad regime. However, Beirut-based political analyst and journalist Dr. Omar Nashabe told RT that those parts of the opposition which continue to call for foreign military intervention have shown their true colors.

“I think the move by the Syrian government to accept the coming of Arab observers to Syria is a very positive move, and … if there is good faith, one actually welcomes a positive move. When the Syrian opposition – or at least part of the Syrian opposition – answered that positive move with more insistence on foreign intervention in Syrian affairs, that actually shows, once again, that the intentions of [at least part of] the opposition … are not the well-being of the Syrian people.”

Meanwhile, the London-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights says more than 60 soldiers were gunned down in the northwestern Idlib province on Monday as they left a military base, and that 40 others have been shot dead throughout the country.

However, Nashabe argues, Syrian security forces are stuck between a rock and a hard place when it comes to dealing with the revolt.

“It is very difficult for the army and for the police and security forces in Syria to refrain from arresting people who are shooting at government institutions or deserters from the army. Any country in the world where you would have part of the army deserting and occupying certain buildings and shooting at civilians, that would actually compel the security forces to interfere forcefully and stop these people, so that is what is happening in Syria.”

While Nashabe says it is necessary to stop the flow of money that is helping to further militarize the opposition, for some, a Libya-style intervention is what could be thwarted if the observer mission is successful.

“[The opposition] has reached a point after nine months of attempting to destabilize the situation in Syria that they’re really ready for a full-fledged war … That is why the Syrian government is trying as hard as possible to act positively,\” Nashabe said. \”In order to calm the situation down so that such destruction and full-fledged war can be prevented; so that real concrete solutions based on reforms can be implemented. That is what President Bashar Assad announced earlier and that is what he intends to do.\”

December 20th, 2011, 9:47 pm

 

zoo said:

Islamists hijack Arab Spring, says scholar

ISTANBUL- Hürriyet Daily News
http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/islamists-hijack-arab-spring-says-scholar-.aspx?pageID=238&nID=9613&NewsCatID=352

The rise of Islamist parties in the Arab Spring countries has frightened Arab women who fear losing their rights as the movements “hijack” the revolutions that overthrew long-time dictators.

“Women in Tunisia are living in fear that their previously gained rights might be lost during the rule of the Islamist Ennahda Party, because even though they say that they are moderate Islamists … they excuse all the violence that the Salafis are committing,” Dr. Khadija Arfaoui, a member of the Tunisian Association of Democratic Women and a prominent intellectual, told the Hürriyet Daily News in yesterday.

In short, the revolution in Tunisia has been “hijacked by the Islamists,” she said on the sidelines of an Istanbul conference titled “Women’s Empowerment in Economic, Social and Political Transformation of the Middle East,” which was organized by the Women Entrepreneurs Association of Turkey (KAG?DER).
Arfaoui, who is also a professor at the Women’s Studies and Human Rights at the Higher Institute of Languages in Tunis, blamed the ruling Ennahda Party for turning a blind eye to the actions of the radical Islamist Salafis in Tunisia.

Tunisians overthrew their ruler in January. In an Oct. 25 election, the Islamist Ennahda party took the most votes and formed a new government with two left-wing parties. Arfaoui said she personally relayed her concerns to the leader of the Ennahda Party, Rached Ghannouchi, a couple of months ago.
“When Salafis see women without headscarves on the streets, they attack them with cudgels. They use violence toward female artists and intellectuals, and the Ennahda Party does nothing about them,” Arfaoui said.

Arfaoui also said many Tunisians were afraid to agree with Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdo?an when the Turkish leader visit staged a visit to the country and expressed his support for secularism.
“[This is] because secularism is [viewed] as atheism in Tunisia,” she added.

Arfaoui was sentenced to eight months in jail because of a Facebook message she forwarded in 2009during the rule of toppled President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali. Tunisia’s newly elected president, Moncef Marzouki, sent a letter of support to her during her time in jail; at the time, Marzouki was a leading human rights activist.

‘Jordanian women also fear Islamists’

Arab women in Jordan, meanwhile, have had little presence at protests in the Hashemite kingdom out of fear of eventually helping the country’s Islamists come to power, according to Dr. Lina Shabeeb, a human rights activist and deputy dean at the Faculty of Law at the University of Jordan. “The protests in Jordan are different from the protests in other Arab countries. People want the corruption and the system to be changed rather than the change of the ruler. And female Jordanians don’t see this as a necessary war. They think we already have many equal rights with men, we are already in the social arena, in business life, universities [and more],” Shabeeb told the Daily News yesterday while attending the KAG?DER summit.

“Female Jordanians fear that Islamists would come to power and that they will be deprived of their rights,” she said.

December/21/2011

December 20th, 2011, 10:00 pm

 

Dale Andersen said:

Amir vs Bill – the battle of the titans

December 20th, 2011, 10:58 pm

 

Dale Andersen said:

Memo To: N. Z.

RE: “…only tyrants, slaves, racists and colonialists will blast the Arab Spring…”

Thank you for including “colonialists” in the list, Dude. That refers to you people, you Syrians. You treated poor Lebanon like a conquered colony to the extent that you had your lapdog collaborators, Hizbollah, murder Prime Minister Hariri.

When you get rid of Besho, you should (1) apologize and (2) pay reparations.

http://playwrighter.blogspot.com/2011/06/stuck-in-damascus-with-memphis-blues.html

December 20th, 2011, 11:09 pm

 

majedkhaldoun said:

Tara
Yes I am from Damascus,I lived in area close to Rawda square,

Ghufran
My problem with Iran is their support for your Bashar,your Idole,I am not against Hassan Nasrallah,as I understand his position,I wish he call for support of the syrian,if he love Hussain Ibn Ali Ibn Abu taleb,then he should be against inheritance of Rule, Hussain was against kingdom and inheritance from father to son, he sacrified his life and his sons and brothers to fight Yazid,why he likes Bashar is enigma to me.
I know your friend Abughassan,he will remember me once he sees me.

December 20th, 2011, 11:17 pm

 

jad said:

Ghufran
You can’t blame the Syrians for being suspicious about appointing a very close ally to Qatar as the head of the observers’ team.
Even Sudanese don’t trust this guy, just Google his name
???? ???? ????? ??????

December 20th, 2011, 11:21 pm

 

Syrian Commando said:

>Why do you think freedom of speech isn’t important for Syrians? If Syrians had freedom of speech, how would that hurt Syria as a nation?

It’s quite hilarious that you israelis still think we are as thick as your anglo-American or European subjects. Where did I say anything pretaining to “freedom of speech”? Loaded questions are baby’s work. In any case, let me turn it on you:

Why do you think “freedom of speech” includes firing your weapons into civilian areas and sliting peoples throat while chanting “allahu akbar”?

December 20th, 2011, 11:51 pm

 

Ghufran said:

Majed,
This is a forum and you have the right to post your opinion like everybody else regardless of how shallow that opinion might be.
Let us leave dr abughassan out of this,I hate to put his name and yours in the same sentence.

December 21st, 2011, 1:36 am

 

Bill said:

92. ANN

Thanks for replying. My inquiry was not a criticism. Although I don’t agree with all your posts, I enjoy reading them. Please keep posting.

December 21st, 2011, 1:54 am

 

ann said:

1534. Bill said:
“””ANN
You post too many excellent links and articles. Do you have your own blog that includes more articles and posts?”””

No Bill I don’t own a blog. I just post what I read off the Internet.

December 21st, 2011, 3:02 am

 

ann said:

France and Turkey set for diplomatic crisis – 21/12/2011

http://www.france24.com/en/20111221-syria-turkey-armeniangenocide-breastimplants-psg-beckham-press-review-fran

La Croix carries an exclusive report from inside Syria – on one young photographer’s week with the dissidents.

Le Figaro headlines French MPs rather undiplomatic decision to vote on a law confirming the 1915 Armenian massacre was genocide – something sure to infuriate Turkey at a strategically key moment.

December 21st, 2011, 3:06 am

 

Mina said:

Majedkhaldoun
You say you know you wouldn’t vote MB but haven’t seen any political campaign yet.
Do you know that Wael Ghoneim and Nawwara Najm are pro-MB? Still, they are charismatic and articulate. During TV shows, if only the MB candidates are professional and if the funding of their campaign is 100 more than their opponents, they will get shares that they wouldn’t actually deserve. This is why I consider democracy in most places has been replaced with populism.

(by the way, the other Tahrir youth don’t get interviewed anymore because apart from the MB, you can find “socialists” (evil evil evil) and copts (too risky for their own security to talk, it will be instantly considered as “foreign funded” and sometimes it’s true… the US Copts are often extreme-rightists). TV is the problem! A real democracy-killer!

December 21st, 2011, 4:19 am

 

Mina said:

Thanks Zoo
This is indeed a non partisan journal, about pop music. The journalist who traveled through Syria says there were less checkpoints there than in Lebanon.

De Damas à Homs, notre reporter a pris le pouls d’un pays écartelé où la population tente de survivre au milieu des combats entre militaires et rebelles.

http://www.lesinrocks.com/actualite/actu-article/t/74230/date/2011-12-19/article/carnet-de-route-en-syrie/

Beyrouth. Je décide de passer d’abord par la capitale libanaise où il est plus facile d’obtenir un visa d’entrée qu’à Paris. A l’ambassade de France, on m’a fortement déconseillé de me rendre en Syrie. Le Quai d’Orsay ne veut pas de journalistes sur place : trop dangereux. L’ambassadeur de France a quitté Damas, il n’y a plus aucun journaliste occidental en Syrie.

A Beyrouth, je cherche des ressortissants syriens, des artistes. Zeid1, Libanais de 28 ans, est une figure de la scène alternative locale, peut-être le seul qui roule à vélo à Beyrouth. Il me donne rendez-vous dans un café Starbucks du centre-ville. Dès son arrivée, le rappeur demande à changer de lieu :

“Les recettes de Starbucks financent l’armée israélienne. Je ne veux pas cautionner cela, ce n’est pas bon pour mon pays.”

Zeid est un artiste engagé. L’une de ses activités : la découverte et la promotion de nouveaux talents issus des printemps arabes qu’il veut faire évoluer sur la scène hip-hop. Sa dernière trouvaille, Youssef, un jeune rappeur qui a fui la Syrie. “J’ai quitté mon pays car j’en avais marre de l’arbitraire et de l’humiliation. La karama (la dignité – ndlr), c’est sacré, on ne peut pas vivre sans. Je ne pouvais pas non plus vivre sans dire ce que je pense et ressens.”

Finalement, j’obtiens rapidement mon visa. Le gouvernement syrien commence à ouvrir ses portes aux journalistes. Le voyage entre Beyrouth et Damas se passe sans embûche. Les barrages de l’armée sont plus nombreux au Liban qu’en Syrie.

Damas est la plus ancienne capitale au monde. Depuis six mille ans, les peuples s’y mêlent. Contrairement à d’autres capitales, on n’y sent pas de stress. Dans le vieux quartier, les bâtisses sont resplendissantes, l’architecture arabe saisissante. On a l’impression qu’il ne se passe rien ici. Les terrasses des cafés sont bondées. Sur l’une d’elles, je m’installe à côté d’un groupe d’une dizaine de garçons qui jouent aux cartes et fument le narguilé en s’amusant. L’affection qu’ils portent les uns aux autres m’impressionne. Ils m’invitent à boire un thé et à partager leur narguilé. Ingénieurs, comptables ou chômeurs, ils ont entre 20 et 25 ans, un look branché. Ils me parlent de leur pays. Rien à voir avec le sentiment d’humiliation de Youssef, le rappeur réfugié à Beyrouth.

“Il ne faut pas croire tout ce que l’on dit à la télé. Nous vivons très bien ici, le monde entier est contre notre pays, le monde entier veut notre pays.”

Tous se mettent à crier “Syrie forever”. A côté du somptueux souk de la vieille ville, au pied de la grande mosquée des Omeyyades, une centaine de personnes, des chrétiens pour la plupart, manifestent leur soutien au régime. Ils crient : “Nous ne voulons pas la déstabilisation de la Syrie.” Ou : “Tous derrière notre Président pour se protéger de l’ingérence étrangère, contre les groupes terroristes qui sèment la terreur.” Une femme, croix en main, m’interpelle : “Depuis des siècles, des dizaines de communautés vivent ici en toute harmonie. La Syrie, c’est un miracle. Pourquoi veut-on nous déstabiliser ?”

Ce n’est pas à Damas que se concentre la contestation. Il faut se rendre dans les bastions de l’opposition, à l’ouest du pays. Qousseir est une ville fantomatique, en état de siège. A l’entrée, un check-point de l’armée. Des chars barrent la route. Des militaires filtrent soigneusement chaque passage. Ils arrêtent devant moi un homme avec un sac à dos plein à craquer, ouvrent son bagage, y trouvent on ne sait quoi et l’embarquent illico. Les militaires me déconseillent de franchir la zone tampon :

“Quand les rebelles vont voir que vous avez passé notre barrage, ils ne vont pas vous ménager.”

Derrière le barrage, c’est une ville morte. Il est 11 h 30, tous les magasins sont fermés. Sur les statues des ronds-points, des inscriptions : “Mort au régime”, “Nous ne voulons plus de Bachar el Assad.” Me voilà sur la place habituelle des manifestations contre le régime. Un groupe de femmes squatte l’entrée d’une maison, le regard inquiet. “On nous a tué toutes nos vaches et brûlé nos fermes. On n’a plus de quoi vivre.” Ce sont des mères de famille. “Au début, les manifestants réclamaient davantage de liberté. Aujourd’hui, la violence fabrique la violence, la haine crée la haine, on ne s’en sort plus…” Une dizaine de jeunes m’entourent. Il me faut m’expliquer, certifier que je suis journaliste. Visiblement, ils contrôlent le quartier. L’ambiance est tendue. Soudain, deux balèzes, le visage couvert par un foulard rouge et blanc, arrivent en moto : “Venez, on va vous emmener voir l’Armée libre de Syrie.”

Nous sortons de la ville. Nous traversons des campements, des hommes en armes viennent renforcer le cortège. Nous coupons une route nationale où trois voitures accidentées demeurent abandonnées au milieu de la voie. Nous parcourons plusieurs kilomètres sur des chemins de terre. Des tirs retentissent au loin. Nous arrivons dans une ferme en pleine nature où se sont réfugiés des hommes de l’Armée libre de Syrie. Méfiants, ils hésitent avant de me donner une interview. Dans la pièce principale, plusieurs entrent et sortent en me fixant dans les yeux. Ils redemandent si je suis vraiment journaliste. Un homme plus âgé qui se présente comme le chef accepte de me parler.

“Bachar el Assad se prend pour Dieu, on n’en veut plus. C’est un régime fasciste qui assassine. Ils ont tué des médecins, des avocats… Même un pauvre jeune qui filmait les manifs avec son portable.”

Plusieurs hommes se joignent à la conversation. “Dans les manifs, ils ont utilisé des batteries anti-aériennes contre la foule, les militaires tirent et s’ils ne le font pas, ce sont les policiers qui leur tirent dessus…” L’homme enturbanné hausse la voix : ” Le régime provoque la guerre civile entre communautés…” Soudain, la conversation s’interrompt. On me demande de partir : l’armée régulière arrive. Je quitte Qousseir pour Homs, la deuxième ville rebelle de Syrie. Là aussi, la route est semée de barrages de l’armée. J’arrive en début d’après-midi. Il règne une drôle d’ambiance. Dans les rues, des gens courent : les rebelles viennent de tuer deux policiers au milieu de la voie. Une heure plus tôt, un bus de voyageurs a été mitraillé. Les habitants quittent le centre-ville à vive allure.

J’ai rendez-vous avec une famille chrétienne dans le quartier le plus dangereux de la ville qu’on appelait le quartier des touristes. Aujourd’hui, c’est le quartier de la mort. Sur tout le parcours, j’entends des tirs : panique dans une circulation anarchique, tout le monde veut rentrer chez lui le plus vite possible.

Rachid, mon hôte, m’attend avec inquiétude sur le pas de sa porte. Il me fait entrer à toute vitesse dans l’appartement. Il est à peine 15 heures, l’heure du couvre-feu. “J’ai eu très peur pour vous. Depuis hier, les fusillades s’intensifient. Nous sommes cloîtrés ici depuis midi, on n’a pas pu sortir pour acheter à manger.” Réfugiées dans un quatre pièces, trois familles vivent dans la peur. Salima ne cesse de faire craquer ses phalanges : “La semaine dernière, nous avons dû fuir ‘la rue de la mort’ où nous habitons. Un soir, des terroristes ont défoncé la porte et nous ont fait partir pour s’installer et combattre l’armée.”

Pendant la conversation, on entend toujours des tirs. Salima rassure la petite Nora qui sursaute au moins bruit. “Cette année, il n’y aura pas de Noël pour les enfants, on a reçu des messages d’avertissement dans les boîtes aux lettres, qui nous interdisent entre autres de décorer les façades de nos maisons.” Rachid fume cigarette sur cigarette. “On ne vit plus. Dès la nuit tombée, ils coupent l’électricité pour pouvoir patrouiller dans les ruelles. Ils ne sont même pas d’ici. J’en ai vu un en combinaison noire, cagoulé, il avait un fort accent libanais. Il donnait des ordres aux autres en disant que c’était lui, l’armée. Il y a deux jours, ils ont tué d’une balle dans la tête l’un de mes amis : il ne voulait pas leur donner sa voiture. A l’intérieur de sa VW, ils ont trouvé un drapeau syrien, ils l’ont enroulé dedans et l’ont laissé sur le trottoir.”

La femme de Rachid renchérit : “Ces gangs tirent sur l’armée et les gens pour semer la terreur. On vit l’enfer depuis début novembre, cloîtrés dans nos maisons avec la crainte perpétuelle de recevoir une balle à travers les fenêtres.”

Il est 19 heures, Rachid est gêné de devoir me demander de partir : “S’ils apprennent que nous parlons à un journaliste, c’est fini pour nous !”

Il m’accompagne dans une maison vide dont il a les clés. Dehors, les tirs d’armes automatiques accompagnent le bruit des bombes. Pas un chat dans les rues noires. Nous rasons les murs sans faire de bruit. Homs, la nuit, c’est le théâtre de la guerre. Je dors dans l’angoisse des tirs qui se rapprochent toujours plus près. Le jour se lève à 6 heures. Toujours personne dans les rues. A partir de 9 heures, quelques véhicules commencent à circuler, des bus scolaires à peu près vides. Dans l’école proche de la maison, une classe sur deux semble abandonnée. Dans la salle de cantine, réunis autour du chauffage à bois avec des parents fatigués, des professeurs sont au chômage technique faute d’élèves. Une maman tremble encore : à 2 heures du matin, Fatima a vu la mort de près. Un tir de lance-roquettes a détruit la façade de son appartement.

“L’Apocalypse ! On entendait des rafales de tirs, puis cette bombe a frappé notre maison. On ne sait pas qui a tiré. Nous sommes tous terrorisés. Ce matin, quand j’ai amené mon fils à l’école, il y avait des morts partout dans les rues, des voitures brûlées. J’ai failli rentrer mais je ne vais pas empêcher mon fils d’aller à l’école.”

La dame m’emmène constater les dégâts. Il est 11 heures, tous les commerces sont fermés excepté une boulangerie où plusieurs personnes font la queue. Nous sommes dans l’ancienne rue des Touristes rebaptisée rue des Morts. Partout au sol des flaques de sang. Nous arrivons au domicile de Fatima. Solidaires, des voisins tentent de réparer les dégâts. L’appartement de Fatima est à quelques mètres d’un camp retranché de l’armée, un centre commercial transformé en caserne. De loin, les militaires ont détecté la présence d’un étranger. Ils viennent vers nous, kalachnikov au poing. Tout le monde a peur. Ils m’emmènent au poste pour une vérification d’identité.

Les militaires ont les traits tirés, n’ont pas dormi de la nuit. Dans le bureau du chef, des tasses de café entassées et des cendriers pleins. J’en profite pour poser des questions sur la nuit de combats. Le chef accepte de parler avec moi : “Hier, nous avons reçu seize tirs de lance-roquettes. Comme les tireurs ne savent pas viser, les obus atterrissent chez des habitants.” Je lui rétorque que selon les opposants, c’est l’armée qui tue la population.

“Nous, nous tuons les terroristes. Hier, des dizaines de combattants venus du Liban ont investi le quartier pour en découdre avec nous, ils s’habillent en militaires et sèment la terreur. Nous avons passé une nuit infernale.”

Il me montre des fragments de bombes et s’exclame : “Quel intérêt aurions-nous à tirer sur la population ? Nous serions tellement mieux dans nos casernes, nous ne voulons pas la guerre civile.” Je sors de la caserne improvisée et reprends mon périple dans la rue des Morts. Un commerçant que j’avais croisé souhaite me parler. Il m’emmène dans son local et ferme le rideau de fer : “Regardez, il y a eu des tirs dans mon magasin. On n’en peut plus de cette situation. La population est prise en otage. On ne veut plus vivre tous les soirs une guerre sans pitié.”

Je quitte Homs sur une vision atroce : un corps, sur le trottoir, découpé en morceaux. Des passants vont et viennent sans y prêter attention.

Karim Baïla

1. tous les prénoms ont été changés

December 21st, 2011, 4:28 am

 

Mina said:

Is that “news”? Of course one could understand conscripts do not want to join in such a dangerous situation. But are they counted in the imaginary “10,000”? How do 10,000 people tell human rights group they desert? A collective phonecall?

http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/news/assad-losing-control-as-10-000-soldiers-desert-syrian-military-1.402625

December 21st, 2011, 4:35 am

 

Juergen said:

Defender

I pointed out that the spirit of our laws are different and to my knowledge quite unique in the way that Germany considers the state of human rights in the country, the defensive character of the armed forces and if there is a danger that these technologies are sold again to other countries. On the paper its all very well, in practice even the socialdemocratic government of 1998-2005 issued export papers for weaponsales to Libya, with the result that NATO was fighting against their own weapon technologies.

About this armsdeal with Israel, it seems to be ultrasecret on nonexistant, I have not heard from it.

December 21st, 2011, 4:55 am

 

Mina said:

Oh, these evil evil communists! They blame Qatar now! How could they? Such a peaceful ocean… 250,000 citizens holding half-rights and one and a half million foreign workers with no rights at all.

http://www.tunisia-live.net/2011/12/20/tunisian-communist-leader-accuses-qatari-regime-of-being-an-enemy-to-tunisia-and-arab-world/

Hamma Hammami on Qatar’s role in Tunisia
““Qatar is playing a dangerous role under the umbrella of USA; it is a government that serves America’s agenda, and also has direct relations with Israel. Qatar’s intentions are not patriotic,” Hamami said.
Hamami also asserted that Qatar is attempting to guide moderate Islamic parties, which are popular in Qatar, toward the political choices of the USA.
“Qatar is conditioning popular Islamic parties to serve American and Western interests, and they are managing to achieve that end through the messages that Ennahda is sending to America and Western society. Ennahda is basically assuring the west that the relationship between Tunisia and the West will not change. I do not have concrete proof but this is my political analysis.”
Hamami also referred specifically to Al Jazeera, claiming that during the electoral campaign the network was 90% pro-Ennahda.
When asked about Qatar’s support for Tunisia economically, he said that Tunisia does not need financial aid as much as it needs a, “political economy.””

(from http://www.angryarab.com)

December 21st, 2011, 6:04 am

 

majedkhaldoun said:

Mina
Do you believe all people are stupid,and you are smart and genius?

December 21st, 2011, 6:23 am

 

Tara said:

Syria opposition urges UN action over ‘massacres’
(AFP) – 4 hours ago  

http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5gCasUxTqj_SDRX6NW64Ub0axD82g?docId=CNG.18b8767c9bd9d773f445dbc3a82c8332.3f1

DAMASCUS — The opposition Syrian National Council on Wednesday urged the UN Security Council and Arab League to hold emergency meetings after “massacres” carried out by regime forces.
Reacting to reports this week of the killing of hundreds of civilians, the opposition bloc called for an “emergency UN Security Council session to discuss the regime?s massacres in Zawiyah mountain, Idlib, and Homs, in particular.”
It also called for an “emergency meeting for the Arab League to condemn the bloody massacres… and cooperate with the United Nations in taking the necessary measures to protect Syrian civilians.”
The strongly-worded statement came after a rights group reported that forces loyal to embattled President Bashar al-Assad carried out a “massacre” by killing 111 civilians in the northwestern town of Kafruwed on Tuesday.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights had warned earlier that “dozens of civilians” were surrounded by the army in the town in the region of Jabal al-Zawiyah, more than 300 kilometres (185 miles) north of Damascus.
The revised toll brings to 123 the number of civilian deaths across Syria for that day, the majority of them in Idlib province and 12 in the flashpoint central city of Homs.

more…

December 21st, 2011, 7:08 am

 

Bill said:

89. MAJEDKHALDOUN

You should be proud to be the son of Damascus in the same way I am proud to be the son of parents born in Jerusalem, which is now colonized and occupied by belligerent Zionists, whose self-fulfilling prophecy is too arrogant arrogant. They are so arrogant that they thing they should advise Arabs’ on their ongoing revolts. They do so while colonizing and building their colonial enterprise on Palestinians’ lost lands. I would not say Palestinians’ lost hopes this time because Palestinians are hopeful and they are determined to re-claim their land no matter how long it takes: “NEVER FORGET! NEVER FORGIVE!”
Majed: you should be proud of what Shawki, the prince of poets, said about Damascus:
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December 21st, 2011, 7:12 am

 

New from Libya » Syria, Egypt and Middle East unrest – live updates said:

[…] 10.48am: Syria watcher, Joshua Landis, accused by some of being too supportive of the Assad regime, claims the authority of the Syrian state is slowly crumbling. […]

December 21st, 2011, 7:21 am

 

majedkhaldoun said:

Thank you Bill, thank you very much.
And yes we will not forget, will not forget,we will liberate Jerusalem,not under Bashar, but under free Syria,free Arab world.

December 21st, 2011, 7:54 am

 

Norman said:

The GCC, started when Syria and Iraq were trying to unite in the early seventies, now the KSA is call for united front against Iran and Syria and Iraq, the Iraqi civil war started to show it’s head withe arrest warrant of the Iraqi VP, who happens to be Sunni, in the next few months the whole area is going to be engulfed in civil war, thanks to the Saudis and the Arab springs or Chaos,

December 21st, 2011, 7:57 am

 

Akbar Palace said:

A New Day for combating Arrogance

You should be proud to be the son of Damascus in the same way I am proud to be the son of parents born in Jerusalem, which is now colonized and occupied by belligerent Zionists, whose self-fulfilling prophecy is too arrogant arrogant.

Bill,

Zionist are only arrogant because they have desired self-determination and won it. Jews were a majority in Jerusalem prior to the war the Arabs brought onto the State of Israel which sent Jerusalem’s Jews packing just like in Hebron in 1929.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demographic_history_of_Jerusalem

They are so arrogant that they thing they should advise Arabs’ on their ongoing revolts.

Arrogance is typified by Arabs who whine about Palestinian rights while supporting Arab governments who keep their population in chains.

Bill –

You still haven’t posted the links you use to wail about the perpetrators of 9-11, the marine barracks bombing and the downing of FLT 103. Why?

December 21st, 2011, 8:01 am

 

Mina said:

Majedkhaldun
If you believe in the good intentions of KSA, Qatar, al Aroor or al Qardawi, you are indeed stupid. How can people who have no parties and no democracy help anyone deliver parties and democracy?
Is Guantanamo and Abu Ghraib part of what a democracy should be doing? Was “freedom” delivered in Iraq and Palestine?

December 21st, 2011, 8:05 am

 

Bill said:

87. DALE ANDERSEN said:

“Amir vs Bill – the battle of the titans”

Thanks Dale, but I strongly disagree with you putting me and the IDF guy, a member of an occupation/war crimes army, in the same category. I am an intellectual titan, and it’s very easy for me to refute his comments because he is an occupying hypocrite with no legitimacy to comment on Arabs’ freedom. As to why I reply to him in the first place? It is actually not about him, and I have NO interest in him and his colonial/criminal army “IDF.” Let me state below again the reasons I reply to him:

# 64 AMIR IN TEL AVIV ???? ???? ????????? ?? ??? ???????? ???????? ?? ????????? ??????????

Actually, I have NO interest in you. As far as I am concerned, you are a member of an Israeli occupation army that kills, injures, arrests, humiliates, and intimidates Palestinians in Occupied Palestine. I only reply to you so OTHERS, NOT YOU, on this Blog (Syria Comment) realize two things:
1) Israeli occupiers and Zionists are hypocrites if they comment on Arabs inspiring Arab Spring.
2) It is very likely that you are doing this as part of your job with the military (I know that you would not admit it) because I read that Israel has recruited English/Arabic speakers to infiltrate social media and blogs like this one in order to propagate anti-Arab and pro-Israeli views.
Come on! NO WAY I BELIEVE THAT A ZIONIST OCCUPIER LIKE YOU CARES ABOUT FREEDOM IN SYRIA, EGYPT, OR ANYWHERE IN THE ARAB/MUSLIM WORLD. YOU OCCUPIERS love PUPPET DICTATORS LIKE MUBARAK!

P.S.: I don’t care if you or your fellow Zionist, Akbar Palace ????? ???????? ?????? ever reply on my comments. I ONLY REPLY TO YOU SO OTHERS ON THIS BLOG BECOME AWARE OF ISRAELI HYPOCRISY AND WAR CRIMES!

December 21st, 2011, 8:08 am

 

Akbar Palace said:

The War Crimes Police is IN

I ONLY REPLY TO YOU SO OTHERS ON THIS BLOG BECOME AWARE OF ISRAELI HYPOCRISY AND WAR CRIMES!

Bill,

Which websites do you use to discuss Arab Hypocrisy and Arab war crimes?

December 21st, 2011, 8:27 am

 

Bill said:

110. AKBAR PALACE ????? ???????? ??????

Although you are Zionist apologist for a colonial enterprise built on the debris of Palestinians’ lost lands, I still thank you for giving me the opportunity to repeat my above argument; which is not about you (nor about your fellow Zionist Amir), so Others on this blog know the hypocrisy of Zionists.Palestinians are determined people. Their motto now is “NEVER FORGET! NEVER FORGIVE!” They will endure and struggle until they liberate their stolen lands and return to Palestine (al-Quds, Yaffa, Haifa, Bisan, Akka, Safad, Ramallah, etc.) I love to post my earlier comment AGAIN, and AGAIN, and AGAIN:
# 64 AMIR IN TEL AVIV ???? ???? ????????? ?? ??? ???????? ???????? ?? ????????? ??????????

Actually, I have NO interest in you. As far as I am concerned, you are a member of an Israeli occupation army that kills, injures, arrests, humiliates, and intimidates Palestinians in Occupied Palestine. I only reply to you so OTHERS, NOT YOU, on this Blog (Syria Comment) realize two things:
1) Israeli occupiers and Zionists are hypocrites if they comment on Arabs’ inspiring Arab Spring.
2) It is very likely that you are doing this as part of your job with the military (I know that you would not admit it) because I read that Israel has recruited English/Arabic speakers to infiltrate social media and blogs like this one in order to propagate anti-Arab and pro-Israeli views.
Come on! NO WAY I BELIEVE THAT A ZIONIST OCCUPIER LIKE YOU CARES ABOUT FREEDOM IN SYRIA, EGYPT, OR ANYWHERE IN THE ARAB/MUSLIM WORLD. YOU OCCUPIERS love PUPPET DICTATORS LIKE MUBARAK!

P.S.: I don’t care if you or your fellow Zionist, Akbar Palace ????? ???????? ?????? ever reply on my comments. I ONLY REPLY TO YOU SO OTHERS ON THIS BLOG BECOME AWARE OF ISRAELI HYPOCRISY AND WAR CRIMES!
Amir (and possibly AKBAR PALACE ????? ???????? ??????): PLEASE CHANGE YOUR HOUSE KEYS BECAUSE A PALESTINIAN REFUGEE IN LEBANON OR ELSEWHERE STILL HAS THE ORIGINAL KEY COPY, WHICH HE/SHE WILL USE WHEN THEY RETURN TO THEIR STOLEN LANDS!!!!!!!!!!!

December 21st, 2011, 8:38 am

 

Akbar Palace said:

I still thank you for giving me the opportunity to repeat my above argument…</i

Bill,

You have no argument. You are just a Palestinian cheerleader who points fingers at Israel while you sweep Arab crimes under the rug.

Granted, I am pro-Israel, but unlike you, I recognize all states in the region and that all people arre guaranteed basic human rights.

December 21st, 2011, 8:56 am

 

majedkhaldoun said:

Mina
iF You believe that Bashar provide freedom, then you are stupid,
Mina let us test your intelligence
what is 1+1,if you ANSWER 2 WOW ,,pravo
iF YOU HAVE AN ATOM OF BRAIN YOU WILL UNDERSTAND BY NOW THAT I AM NOT MB, but what a waste you are a waste . as we say in Syria ,go kill yourself if you find more stupid than you.

December 21st, 2011, 9:01 am

 

Akbar Palace said:

Majedkhaldoun – 1

Mina – 0

And yes we will not forget, will not forget,we will liberate Jerusalem,not under Bashar, but under free Syria,free Arab world.

Majedkhaldoun,

What if the Syrian people decide that a land-for-peace deal for the Golan is worth signing and that freeing Jerusalem is something the Palestinians and Israelis need to figure out by themselves?

December 21st, 2011, 9:14 am

 

Revlon said:

FSA unit targets supply lines of Asad army; two container trucks were destroyed in this attack.

Saraqeb, Idlib
???? ????? ????? ????? ???? 19 12 2011

December 21st, 2011, 9:16 am

 

Revlon said:

This video demonstrates the camaradery that still bind Syrian army soldiers on both sides of the divide.

Here is a defected soldier, now in the FSA inviting and encouraging a fellow soldier across the street in an Assad army checkpoint to leave his post and join the FSA.

20 12 2011 Homs
??????? ??? ?? ???? ???? , ?????? ????? ???? ????? ???? ??????? ??????? ????????? ?????? ??????? ?2

December 21st, 2011, 9:28 am

 

Revlon said:

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

???? ???? ?? ????? ?????? ????
An FSA unit confronted The Wole sale marker Asad forces checkoint in Jisr AlShughour that repeatedly tormented civilians killing 12 of its armed members.

21/12/2011
http://www.freesyrianarmy1.com/ar/node/139
???? ?????? ?? ????? ?????? ???? ??????? ????? ??? ????? ?? ????? ??? ?????? ???? ??? ????? ??????? ??? ??? 12 ???? ?? ????? ??????
?????? ???????? ?????? ?????? ?????

December 21st, 2011, 9:35 am

 

Bill said:

#112 AKBAR PALACE ????? ???????? ??????

I am going to be easy on you this time, and reward you by making you listen to two beautiful songs for fabulous Fairuz ?????!~!! I know that you don’t know Arabic, but jut enjoy the beautiful sound/music. As to you, Arabic speakers, please enjoy all: music, words, and meanning.
First song is about the Palestinian town Bisan ????? that was ethnically-cleansed by the Zionist colonialists in 1948:
1) “Bissan” by Fairuz
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VlHeawIccio

The second song is about occupied Jerusalem,????? ???”Jerusalem is Ours”
2) ?????. ???? ??????? ( ????? ????????????????????? )
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_cVRDNcQkKA

“Never forget, never forgive!” Free Palestine!
?? ????, ??? ????
?????? ???????

December 21st, 2011, 9:51 am

 

Mina said:

Majedkhaldun
I don’t say Bashar provides freedom. I say that he never had control of the governors (inherited from his father, old local mafias) and on their multiple militias. Neither has he any control on the 17 security apparatuses which have all been paralyzing the country and prevented any ouverture to be implemented even when Bashar wanted it, some years ago. I also think that Bashar finally approves the AL sanctions and is working with the west.
But I don’t think that to let the Syrians destinity in the hands of the lebanese lobby (guess what, it is Wissam Tarif the source of the 10,000 pretended defection: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-16274529… the unique unverifiable source since last february) and of the qatari lobby will lead them anywhere. This has been a militarized uprising since day one, and we haven’t seen any concrete proposals except at the hands of the local opposition, which was systematically outsided by the expat, ambitious, opposition, who knew from the beginning it was easy to provoke a civil war in Syria, thus leading to an Iraqi type situation.
Why not understanding that war should be avoided at all cost?

December 21st, 2011, 10:22 am

 

Amir in Tel Aviv said:

Can Arab handling of politics get more bizarre and crazy than this?

The Iraqi president (Kurdish) shelters, hosts and protects the Iraqi vise president (Sunni), after the Iraqi PM (Shi’i) issued an arrest warrant against the vise president for planing terrorist attacks.
Isn’t this the most ridiculous thing you’ve ever heard ?
.

December 21st, 2011, 10:33 am

 

majedkhaldoun said:

Mina
At least ,now you understand that I am not MB, or I hope so.
2- you said
This has been a militarized uprising since day one
Do you really believe what you say, are those kids who wrote on the wall in Deraa down with the regime were militarized?
3-you said
Why not understanding that war should be avoided at all cost?
who is waging war the regime ,Bashar is the one who is leading and waging war against his people, do’nt you think that self defence is a right?

Akpar Palace
Palastinians are my friends my neighbours and my school mate, they are part of Syria.

December 21st, 2011, 10:36 am

 

ann said:

105. majedkhaldoun said:

“””Thank you Bill, thank you very much.
And yes we will not forget, will not forget,we will liberate Jerusalem,not under Bashar, but under free Syria,free Arab world.”””

Liberate Jerusalem with what?!

With your “free Syria army” or your bare knuckles?

Maybe by praying to allah?

December 21st, 2011, 10:49 am

 

jad said:

Mina,
“Why not understanding that war should be avoided at all cost?”
They already understand, the issue is that they want this war, they are calling for it day in day out, they fund it, they support its elements as ‘angles’, they go to the UN when the Syria army kill 73 of the militias but still deny the killing of more than 1100 Syrian soldiers by those ‘angles’, weapons? where? they don’t even see any weapons, they market all this killing as a ‘bright’ solution for a ‘better’ future of the country they don’t even consider it exist…’Syria’ for them never existed while KSA and the freak show Qatar are the centre of the free world…go figure!

“?????? ??????? ??????…
?? ?? ???? ??? ?????? ?? ????? ??….
?? ????? ?????????? ???????? ??? ??????? ??? ?????? ?????…
?? ??? ?? ???? ?????? ???????? ????? ??? ?????? ??????? ????? ??? ????? ??????…
?? ????? ????? ???????? ??? ????? ?? ?????? ???? ?????? ??? ?????? ????? ??????…
?? ??? ????? ?????????? ?????? ??? ???? ?????? ????? ?????? ?????? ??? ?????? ??????? ????? ?????!
??? ??????? ?????? ?? ???? ?????? ????? ?????????? ?? ???? ?????… ????? ??? ?????
( ???? ????? )”

December 21st, 2011, 10:50 am

 

Revlon said:

????? ???? ??? ???? ?? ??????? ?? ????? ??? ??????
Iran news agency confirms the kidnapping of five Iranian nationals who work as “Technicians” in Homs, Syria on Wednesday 6:30 am.
2011-12-21

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

?????- (??????): ???? ????? ??? ????????? ??????? ?? ????? ????? ?? ????? ????? ?? ???? ????? ???????? ????? ?????? ??? ??????? ????? ???????? ??? ???? ?????? ??????.
????? ??????? ?? ???? ???? ?? ??????? “??? ?????? ????? ???????? ?????? ??????? ?????? ????? ????? ?????? ????? ?????… ???? ????? ???????? ???? ????”.

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

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

????? ??????? ??????? ??????? ??????? (????) ?? ?????? ??????? ?? ?????? ?????? ?????? ??? ?? ?????? ?????? ??? ????? ?? ???? ?????? ?? ???

December 21st, 2011, 10:54 am

 

Amir in Tel Aviv said:

Majed,

“…Palestinians are my friends my neighbours and my school mate, they are part of Syria”.

Indeed.
The last two generation were born in Syria. They are Shamies born in Syria. They are Syrians.
.

December 21st, 2011, 11:01 am

 

Revlon said:

?????? ????? ????? ?????? ????????? ?? ?????
Assafir news paper correspondant was arrested while covering the demonstration of Midan yesterday.

2011-12-21
http://www.alquds.co.uk/index.asp?fname=latest\data\2011-12-21-12-52-27.htm&storytitle=?????? ????? ????? ?????? ????????? ?? ?????

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

?????- (? ? ?): ?????? ???? ????? ??????? ?????? ?????? ?????? ????????? ?? ????? ???? ?????? ?????? ?????? ?????? ?? ????? ???? ?? ???? ????? ?? ??? ??????? ?? ??????? ????? ????? ??? ????????.
???? ??????? ????? ??????? ?? ???? “????? ??????? ?? ??????? ???? ????? ??? (????????) ???? ?????? ?????? ?? ???? ??????? ?? ????”.

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

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

?????? ????? ?????? ?????? ????? ??????? ??????? ??”???? ???????? ?????????” ???? ????? ???? ???? ???? ?? ??????? ?? ???????. ??? ???? ???? ??? ?????????? ?? ????? ?? ????? ????/ ????? ???? ?????? ???????? ??? ????? ???????? ?????? ??????.

???? ??? ??? ???????? ???????? ????? ??????? ???? ????? ???? ?? 12 ????? ?????/ ?????? ???? ???? ??? ????? ?????? ?????? ???? ????? ??? ??????.

???? ??? ?? ?????????? “??? ???? ???? ?? ???????? ?????? ??? ?????? ???? ?? ???????? (…) ?? ??? ???? ???????? ??????? ???????? ?? (???????? ???????) ?????? ?? ???? ?? ????? ????”.

?????? ????? ?? “???????? ???????” ??? ???? ?? ????? “?? ?????? ??? ??? ???? ?? ????”. ???? ?????? ?????? ??? “?? ????? ????? ????? ?????? (…) ??? ???? ?????? ????? ????? ??????? ???????? ?? ?????”.

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

?????? ?? ??? ????? ????? “?? ?????? ???? ??? ?????? ??? ????? ?????? ?? ??????/ ????? 1967 ????? ?????? ??? ???????”? ?? ????? ??? ????? ??? ?????? ????? ?? ?????? ?? ??? ?????.

December 21st, 2011, 11:04 am

 

Bill said:

ANN, majedkhaldoun, JAD, IRRITATED, etc.

Please let’s unite just for one day against Israeli colonization and occupation and the comments of the two Zionist occupiers: AKBAR PALACE ????? ???????? ?????? and AMIR IN TEL AVIV ???? ???? ????????? ?? ??? ???????? ???????? ?? ????????? ??????????

I will reward all of you by adding an important Website that commemorates al-Nakbah and documents every occupied Palestinian town with documented history, including the testimony of ethnically-cleansed Palestinians. It is both in English and Arabic. No excuse for not visiting this Website: “Palestine Remembered,” online at: http://www.palestineremembered.com/

Please let me broker peace just for TODAY among all of us who disagree on Syria. Today’s peace, which probably would not be accepted by the two Zionists I mention above, is TO HONOR OCCUPIED PALESTINE.

I will reward you more with this song for fabulous Fairuz ????? (It includes English translation) :
Fairouz – Sanarjou Yawman – ????? – ????? ????

December 21st, 2011, 11:05 am

 

Amir in Tel Aviv said:

Bill,

Jad likes me very much. You will never be able to drive a wedge between us.
.

December 21st, 2011, 11:12 am

 

Bill said:

128. AMIR IN TEL AVIV ???? ???? ????????? ?? ??? ???????? ???????? ?? ????????? ??????????

I repeat my above message to ALL anti-occupation/colonization:
Please let’s unite just for one day against Israeli colonization and occupation and the comments of the two Zionist occupiers: AKBAR PALACE ????? ???????? ?????? and AMIR IN TEL AVIV ???? ???? ????????? ?? ??? ???????? ???????? ?? ????????? ??????????

I will reward all of you by adding an important Website that commemorates al-Nakbah and documents every occupied Palestinian town with documented history, including the testimony of ethnically-cleansed Palestinians. It is both in English and Arabic. No excuse for not visiting this Website: “Palestine Remembered,” online at: http://www.palestineremembered.com/

Please let me broker peace just for TODAY among all of us who disagree on Syria. Today’s peace, which probably would not be accepted by the two Zionists I mention above, is TO HONOR OCCUPIED PALESTINE.

I will reward you more with this song for fabulous Fairuz ????? (It includes English translation) :
Fairouz – Sanarjou Yawman – ????? – ????? ????

December 21st, 2011, 11:15 am

 

Syria no kandahar said:

Majedikwan
(now you know I am not MB)
MB,Salafi…is not a party,it is a disease,you do have it,so stop denying.you have all the symptoms.
(Syria is not Egypt)
True,it is a worse situation.Islamists play this game to fool people:
Egypt is no Tunisia,lybia is not Egypt,,Syria is not Tunisia…eventually all will get plaques by MB and Salafi governments,so stop being stupid and asking for others to believe your stupidity.
You and the other pro terrorists here should go back and defend your cause,you can have a use now in Syria,you can be used to kill soldiers,you can be a revolutionist shabeeh,you can import weapons to your torn country,you can get rich and help your Terrorists in their hijacking activities….what are you and Tara and Devlon doing in the US…why don’t you go
And practice your Wahabism in the field …Wahabism in Wisconson ,Texas,Stokholm..
Will not even get you a bathroom or an attic in heaven….go an shoot soldiers and build your new Islamic Syriastan on the Skulls of your brothers…let the Holy Wahabi Israeli light
Shine our dark night.

December 21st, 2011, 11:15 am

 

jad said:

Bill,
As you know, those two characters are here for one reason, to take the conversation to where they want and spread their ideas that Syria is evil and Israel is good, I’ve been on SC long enough to know their game, I’m not interested in exchange any conversation with those two, they are the least of my priorities at the moment, therefore I apologize for not joining your call.
I do support and appreciate your effort but for me, they are not worth the time nor to be acknowledged as a worthy commentators on SC regarding Syrian matters.
Regards.

December 21st, 2011, 11:20 am

 

Bill said:

131. JAD

Thanks JAD for your reply and for denouncing these two Zionist propagandists. As for me desiring to have peace for TODAY to honor Palestine, it’s because ALL OF US (EXCEPT THESE TWO ZIONISTS) LOVE SYRIA AND WANT it TO BE UNITED AND STRONG, regardless of whether we think that the loyalists or the opposition are correct. IN CONTRAST, these two Zionists and Israel want Syria broken, weakened, and destroyed. Let me again past my earlier comment below:

ANN, majedkhaldoun, JAD, IRRITATED, etc.

Please let’s unite just for one day against Israeli colonization and occupation and the comments of the two Zionist occupiers: AKBAR PALACE ????? ???????? ?????? and AMIR IN TEL AVIV ???? ???? ????????? ?? ??? ???????? ???????? ?? ????????? ??????????

I will reward all of you by adding an important Website that commemorates al-Nakbah and documents every occupied Palestinian town with documented history, including the testimony of ethnically-cleansed Palestinians. It is both in English and Arabic. No excuse for not visiting this Website: “Palestine Remembered,” online at: http://www.palestineremembered.com/

Please let me broker peace just for TODAY among all of us who disagree on Syria. Today’s peace, which probably would not be accepted by the two Zionists I mention above, is TO HONOR OCCUPIED PALESTINE.

I will reward you more with this song for fabulous Fairuz ????? (It includes English translation) :
Fairouz – Sanarjou Yawman – ????? – ????? ????

December 21st, 2011, 11:25 am

 

jad said:

?????: ???? ?????? ??? ???? ???????? ??????? ?????? ?? ?????? ????????
????? ??? : ????????? ?????????

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

December 21st, 2011, 11:35 am

 

SYRIAN HAMSTER said:

SNK @ 130

Message received, incoherent, repeat….. repeat, incoherent, message forwarded to SNP for translation, ….message discarded.

December 21st, 2011, 11:43 am

 

jad said:

?????? ????? ?????? ???????: ????? ??????? ????????? ??????? ?????? ????????? ??????

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

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

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

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

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

??????

December 21st, 2011, 11:44 am

 

Syria no kandahar said:

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

December 21st, 2011, 11:59 am

 

Mina said:

Majekhaldun
Before Deraa, there had been a protest in the Hamidiyye, and people in Homs had been planning the uprising since the autumn before (check in the comments, there was a link about that).
As soon after the Hamidiyye merchants protested (poor guys, 2000 shops selling the same stuff next to each other and they cry because they can’t find enough tourists in a year of economic turmoil: I have friends who participated the demo), there was the FB call for a demo “to imitate Egypt revolution”; less than 50 people turned out (or maybe that was the week before the Hamidiyye, I don’t remember), all knowing each other (the rich kids who spend their days on FB, not exactly the average Syrian). All the time, things were reported as much bigger than they had been. Check for the CNN “breaking news” of “a woman has attacked president al Asad” (you just see a woman coming next to his car, which he is driving hmiself, obviously to try ask him something, probably help, no doubt, but it doesn’t look like an attack).
Then you had the fake “Damascus lesbian blogger”. And the rest is history. Syria’s ennemies knew very well what they were doing. People who just believe everything they read on Twitter are helpless, then and now.

December 21st, 2011, 12:12 pm

 

son of Damascus said:

Bill,

Most SC commentators are well aware that AP and Amir are Israeli. They have been forthright with their intentions towards why they are on SC, although I might not agree with them on many issues, I don’t shun them away (or anyone else for that matter). They have critique and comments that bring a different perspective to SC; yes they are obviously unapologetically pro Israel, but I’m unapologetically pro Syria (as are most commentators on this blog are, whichever side of the aisle they may stand on).

The Palestinian cause is an important cause, however most commentators here would like to deal with the issue that hits home for us, which is Syria.

December 21st, 2011, 12:39 pm

 

zoo said:

Assessing Assad
The Syrian leader isn’t crazy. He’s just doing whatever it takes to survive.

BY BRUCE BUENO DE MESQUITA, ALASTAIR SMITH | DECEMBER 20, 2011

The assessments of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad following his interview with Barbara Walters in early December all strike a common theme. A U.S. State Department spokesman, for instance, declared that Assad appears to be “utterly disconnected with the reality that’s going on in his country.” One analyst opined, “It’s now clear that Assad meets his own definition of crazy.”

What prompted these conclusions was Assad’s answer when Walters asked, “Do you think that your forces cracked down too hard?” He replied, “They are not my forces; they are military forces belong [sic] to the government.… I don’t own them. I am president. I don’t own the country, so they are not my forces.” In a Western democracy, it’s hard to imagine how a leader could so blatantly deny responsibility for the actions taken by his own government. But is it Assad who is out of touch with reality? Or is it us?

Following the logic we set out in The Dictator’s Handbook, we believe Assad has been misunderstood and maybe, just maybe, even misjudged. In the book, we argue that no leader — not even a Louis XIV, an Adolf Hitler, or a Joseph Stalin — can rule alone. Each must rely on a coalition of essential supporters without whom power will be lost. That coalition, in turn, counts on a mutually beneficial relationship with the leader. They keep the ruler in office, and the ruler keeps them in the money. If either fails to deliver what the other wants, the government falls.

Assad is no exception. Just as he said, it is not his government. He cannot do whatever he wants. He might even be a true reformer, as many in the Western media believed prior to the Arab Spring, or he may be the brute he now appears to be. The truth is, he is doing what he must to maintain the loyalty of those who keep him in power.

Assad depends on the backing of key members of the Alawite clan, a quasi-Shiite group consisting of between 12 and 15 percent of Syria’s mostly Sunni population. The Alawites make up 70 percent of Syria’s career military, 80 percent of the officers, and nearly 100 percent of the elite Republican Guard and the 4th Armored Division, led by the president’s brother Maher. In a survey of country experts we conducted in 2007, we found that Assad’s key backers — those without whose support he would have to leave power — consisted of only about 3,600 members out of a population of about 23 million. That is less than 0.02 percent. Assad is not alone in his dependence on a small coalition. Iran’s Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s coalition is even smaller. His essential supporters include the Revolutionary Guard’s leadership, the economically essential bonyad conglomerates, key clerics, and a smattering of business interests, totaling, according to our survey of Iran experts, about 2,000 in a population of well over 70 million.
(…)
http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2011/12/20/is_assad_crazy_or_just_ruthless?print=yes&hidecomments=yes&page=full

December 21st, 2011, 12:44 pm

 

Mina said:

Asad Abukhalil’ sharp eye:
http://www.angryarab.com
refering to this new “Syrian opposition” protest sign (they send it by SMS and people copy?)
http://www.weeklystandard.com/blogs/missing-bush_613588.html

Relying on such people, Majedkhaldoun, you won’t need ennemies…

December 21st, 2011, 12:45 pm

 

zoo said:

Is the Arab Spring Bad for Women?

Overthrowing male dominance could be harder than overthrowing a dictator.
BY ISOBEL COLEMAN | DECEMBER 20, 2011

…..
Let’s hope that Ghannouchi can get that message through to his Islamist brothers across the region. Otherwise, Arab women might soon be channeling their Iranian sisters, who have complained that Iran’s Islamic Revolution has brought them little but poverty and polygamy.

http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2011/12/20/arab_spring_women?print=yes&hidecomments=yes&page=full

December 21st, 2011, 12:46 pm

 

Tara said:

To my creative friend:

In Protests, Syrians Find the Spark of Creativity
By NEIL MacFARQUHAR
Published: December 19, 2011
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/20/world/middleeast/in-uprising-syrians-find-spark-of-creativity.html

Among protesters across the Arab world, Syrians —particularly the restive residents of Homs — have embraced an unusually musical approach to their uprising. They have expressed their demand for change through catchy tunes and collective choreography, to the extent that mourners packing a street one day this month began to dance during a protester’s funeral, a conspicuous break from the traditionally somber ritual.

“It was a combination of both a physical and a psychological reaction,” said a young actor, describing how he had cut loose at his very first demonstration in Damascus, the capital.

“Nobody told me to dance — it just started,” he added, speaking anonymously, like many Syrians, out of fear of reprisals. “It was weird, but I liked it. Something is changing in the minds of the Syrians.”

On the simplest level, the dancing signals that despite months of bloody repression, the euphoria people feel in seeking freedom cannot be suppressed, participants said.

Singing and dancing are manifestations of what many Syrians describe as a much broader cultural flowering. Some of it gets expressed through the relative safety of the Web, and much of it involves humor and satire. In a country where people often considered themselves dour and habitually too cowed by an oppressive government to mock it, this is a major cultural shift.

“As a society, we were united by fear. We were never unified by mutual sentiment,” said Orwa Nyrabia, a film producer. “But there is a new patriotic sentiment that is much more grass roots. It is not something bestowed by the regime.”

Syrians marvel at the vivid, dynamic and creative aspects of this awakening. A Facebook page called the Chinese Revolution derides the Syrian government on many levels, not least the official position that the uprising is imported, the result of a foreign plot. The Facebook page describes every antigovernment action in Syria as if it had taken place in China. Damascus is Beijing, and President Bashar al-Assad of Syria is President Hu Jintao of China.

Another Facebook page, called the Homs International Tank Wash and Lubrication Center, also follows events with an ironic twist, calling on the government not to withdraw its tanks from civilian areas lest that bankrupt business.

A few pranksters apparently took their furtive protests onto the streets — creating stunts, especially in Damascus, that bedeviled the government. For example, an amplifier hidden atop a building on a main square broadcast the recording of a Homs antigovernment demonstration. Security forces are said to have run around central Damascus madly trying to find the marchers.

Once, the capital’s main fountains were dyed a bloody red. Another time, protesters painted scores of Ping-Pong balls with words like “Leave” and “Freedom” in red and blue ink, and then released them on a hill above Mr. Assad’s house. A video shows them clattering down the cobblestones, and activists insist that frenzied security agents scoured the streets to collect them all.

The Syrian government turned down a request to interview Najah al-Attar, the vice president for cultural affairs, about the artistic outpouring.

Many of these events are difficult to verify, because the government has admitted only a few foreign journalists into the country, and then only for a limited time. But a constant stream of creative videos has appeared on YouTube.

Among the latest is a 15-part series called “Top Goon: Diaries of a Little Dictator,” with English subtitles. It presents the crisis through four finger puppets, including “Beeshu,” a belittling nickname for Mr. Assad. With a beaky nose, protruding ears and a long, narrow face, the two-inch puppet captures the president’s elongated visage.

more…

December 21st, 2011, 12:49 pm

 

AKbar Palace said:

The Palestinian cause is an important cause, however most commentators here would like to deal with the issue that hits home for us, which is Syria.

Son of Damascus,

An arab such as yourself would be expected to be pro-Palestinian, and a Jew such as myself would be expected to be pro-Israel. There are always exceptions.

I don’t begrudge anyone for being pro-Palestinian. It is normal.

What I object to are two set of standards: one standard for Israel, and other standard for arab regimes.

Majedkhaldoun said:

Palastinians are my friends my neighbours and my school mate, they are part of Syria.

I do not doubt you. I have met plenty of Arab-Americans here in the US, and they all have been very nice and respectful, including one who is Palestinian-American.

However, you did not answer my question. I’ll re-post it here, and hopefully you’ll give it some thought:

What if the Syrian people decide (after they are allowed to vote and voice their opinions) that a land-for-peace deal for the Golan is worth signing and that freeing Jerusalem is something the Palestinians and Israelis need to figure out by themselves?

December 21st, 2011, 12:57 pm

 

Bill said:

138. son of Damascus

Thanks for your reply. I don’t have a problem with them commenting here. It’s their right. However, it’s my right to expose their hypocrisy. You cannot separate Syria’s ongoing situation, whether you are a loyalist or opposition, from the Palestinian issue. Ultimately, Syria and its future would be judged by the West and the Zionist occupiers with a great emphasis on its geopolitical position on the question of Palestine. The question of Palestine and the larger Arab-Israeli picture may make both sides on the Syrian revolt realize that what unite them is more than what divides them. Tomorrow, I will post on Syira. Today, I will expose the ugly history of Zionists and their evil intentions regarding Palestine and all Arabs. It’s my right to do so, and I am not forcing my opinion on anybody.
Today, I will not post anything that angers either the loyalists or the opposition.
Zionists want Syria divided, broken, and humiliated. I want Syria United, Strong, and Proud!!

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

http://www.palestineremembered.com/

December 21st, 2011, 1:00 pm

 

N.Z. said:

Mina,

What will you advice the regime to do? Pretend you are their political adviser what will you do differently?

December 21st, 2011, 1:04 pm

 

SYRIAN HAMSTER said:

Repetition ?????
To SNP @ 136

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

***

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

***

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

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

***

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

December 21st, 2011, 1:07 pm

 

SYRIAN HAMSTER said:

Sorry SNP, Comment 146 addressed to SNK not to you.

December 21st, 2011, 1:10 pm

 

bronco said:

The Opposition (the SNC) calls for an emergency meeting of the UN security council.

Why?

Are they trying to prevent the arrival of the observers and stop the AL peace plan that they have rejected while it was given a chance by the international community?
Why is the SNC so worried about the AL plan and prefer internationalizing the crisis by invoking ‘massacres’?
Are they worried that they are now increasingly isolated and maybe soon made irrelevant as no Arab country have recognized them?.
Are they worried that they will be soon squeezed by the AL in accepting to dialog with their Nemesis?
Are they worried the observers may uncover the propaganda they have been feeding the international media?
Are they worried that the regional changes are probably changing the position of the international community about Syria?

December 21st, 2011, 1:13 pm

 

Dale Andersen said:

Memo To: BILL

RE: “…I am an intellectual titan…”

Only in your dreams, billy…

http://www.scribd.com/doc/76114252/STUCK-INSIDE-DAMASCUS-with-the-memphis-blues-again

December 21st, 2011, 1:17 pm

 

Tara said:

Bronco

They are calling for an emergency UN meeting because a massacre has been committed in Idlib yesterday. Tuesday was the bloodiest day since the beginning of the revolution. More than 250 were killed over the last 2days. The UNSC should hold an emergency meeting and refer Bashar to the ICC. Bashar does not understand any other language. Syrians don’t want foreign intervention. Syrians can get Syria back on their own.

December 21st, 2011, 1:26 pm

 

Bill said:

149. Dale Andersen

Thanks Mr. Dale Andersen for your kind words. I am still dreaming and hoping!1 As we say in Arabic: ???? ????? ?????? ??????
http://www.palestineremembered.com/

December 21st, 2011, 1:26 pm

 

Tara said:

  White House: Assad does not deserve to rule Syria
Associated Press,
WASHINGTON (AP) — The White House is renewing its call for Syrian President Bashar Assad to step down, saying his regime does not deserve to rule.

The White House said Wednesday in a statement that Assad’s regime has no credibility and has “flagrantly violated” its commitment to end violence.

The statement said the Obama administration is deeply disturbed by continued reports of government-backed violence against the Syrian people. Witnesses said more than 200 people have been in killed in two days of violence this week.

The violence came after Assad agreed to allow foreign monitors under an Arab League plan aimed at stopping the bloodshed.

The White House warned Damascus that additional steps will be taken to pressure Assad’s regime if the Arab League initiative is not fully implemented.

December 21st, 2011, 1:33 pm

 

zoo said:

Analysis of the new data in the regional strategic balance : Syria, Iraq, Iran, a growing alliance?

By Scarlett HADDAD | 21/12/2011 L’Orient Le jour ( translated)

Asked yesterday about the fate of Syria after the signing of the protocol with the Arab League, General Aoun said he was not optimistic about the ability of members of the League to come out “of the American line which wants the skin of the Syrian regime “. Aoun has broadly reflected the general climate that considers that the whole of the Arab League initiative is essentially a way to save time waiting to see the evolution of the overall regional and international situation.

According to information from Syria, the regime would ultimately agreed to sign the protocol observers because of Russian pressure. Russia, which supports without limits the Syrian regime for strategic reasons, would have been in a difficult position if the Arab League had decided to resort to the Security Council because it would have been difficult to overbid the Arab position. Russian Minister of Foreign therefore asked his Syrian counterpart to sign the protocol to remove the threat of the Arab League to internationalize the issue of Syria. The Syrian regime has done so, not without first having obtained a number of amendments regarding the duration of the mission of observers and their close coordination with the authorities. A first batch of Arab observers should normally arrive on ahead in Syria tomorrow, but the regime seems much calmer than before, notably based on recent regional changes.

The U.S. withdrawal from Iraq in this regard is a strategic upheaval of the utmost importance. Especially with the government of Nouri al-Maliki, the junction appears to be made between Iran and Lebanon, via Syria and Iraq. So this is a continuum that does not need to form alliances or find agreements to circulate its men and weapons. In addition, the last visit of Iraqi Prime Minister in Washington was critical about the political and strategic alignment of Iraq along the “resistance” axis. Maliki has expressed its rejection of any foreign intervention in Iraq and proposed to his American interlocutor a mediation in the case of Syria, as Barack Obama, in front of the speaker, hasn’t called for the stepping down of the Syrian president. According to information from Syria, the regime intends to replace the free trade agreement with Turkey, suspended by the latter, by a similar agreement with Iraq and the relationship between the two countries would be more solid. Maliki’s Iraq and the Syrian regime proposes the formation of a new government to be chaired by an opposition figure, however, that would be opposed to any foreign intervention in the country.

The second strategic upheaval in the region lies in the fact that the latest model of U.S. drones, which the administration is so proud because it is supposed to be undetectable by radar, which has been the strong point in the war in Iraq and Afghanistan, has fallen into the hands of the Iranians. These have not brought down through a missile, but they apparently managed to enter the electronic system as the plane went down intact. If this case has been more or less hidden in the media, it is nevertheless of utmost importance. It is a blow to the Americans who also tried unsuccessfully to raise their voice to recover the aircraft. It also shows that the Iranians, whose nuclear system had been hacked by the Americans, took their electronic revenge. According to diplomatic sources of the Brics countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa), the talks between Iranian security minister with Saudi Crown Prince has focused largely on U.S. drone aircraft, the Saudis asking the Iranians on information on its construction. With their usual subtlety, the Iranians would have remained vague. Attitude they have also adopted with the Iraqis and Russians who have made the same requests. In time they will choose who and what information to give. But this development is certainly crucial in the balance of power in the region and the Americans have repeatedly said they wanted to open a dialogue with Iran folder by folder, but Iran prefers a global solution .

Meanwhile, rumors about a possible Israeli attack against Iran are circulating again. But Iranian sources say they are ready for all eventualities and evoke not only a possible blockage of the Strait of Hormuz, but the Suez Canal. The Iranians also brandish the threat of an unexpected response against all possible targets and if the Americans withdrew from Iraq, they still have major bases in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, UAE, Bahrain and Kuwait. Similarly, the Iranians suggested that they could bomb the NATO troops in Afghanistan, where there is no missile shield. In short, it would not matter for the Iranians to let themselves done, at the risk of provoking a confrontation widespread regional and international levels. And, by allowing the Israelis, the Americans could find themselves drawn into a war they do not want.

The regional situation remains explosive, threats and counter-threats appear regularly in the media. But the Syrian regime believes that the balance of power in changing in its favor and with strong support, both Russian, Iraqi and Iranians, it considers to be safe from a possible military intervention against him, which, if it were occur, could lead to a widespread confrontation. Moreover, it is no coincidence that the top countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council held in Riyadh decided to become a union, to strengthen ties between its members against the Iranian threat .. . The Syrian regime is convinced that the tide is turning, but in Lebanon, each side continues to stick to its guns.

December 21st, 2011, 1:34 pm

 

Bronco said:

#150 Tara

The place where ‘the massacre’ took place happens to be the stronghold of the defected soldiers. There is no independent confirmation of who are the 200 killed, defectors or civilians. The youtube posted by the opposition shows two kids with some blood on their face, that’s all.
It would be the first task of the observers to determine if it is a “massacre” of civilians or a justified attack on outlawed soldiers.

It looks to me more like a last minute attempt from the SNC to stop the process of the AL peace plan that goes completely against their own plan.
I am sure there will be more similar attempt by using the ‘human rights’ propaganda as this is the only weapon left to the SNC.

December 21st, 2011, 1:46 pm

 

Akbar Palace said:

Responding to the “Intellectual Titan” NewZ;)

I don’t have a problem with them commenting here. It’s their right.

Bill,

Do you have a problem with Syrians expressing their opinions in public like you do from the comfort of a free United States?

However, it’s my right to expose their hypocrisy.

Why do you have rights to free speech and Syrian don’t? Who’s the hypocrit?

You cannot separate Syria’s ongoing situation, whether you are a loyalist or opposition, from the Palestinian issue.

Bill,

Really? What does President Assad’s maltreatment of his people have to do with the Palestinians?

Ultimately, Syria and its future would be judged by the West and the Zionist occupiers with a great emphasis on its geopolitical position on the question of Palestine.

Syria has been judged not only by the West, but also by the Arab League (as if that meant anything). The Arab League judged Syria by expelling Syria from this very organization.

Today, I will expose the ugly history of Zionists and their evil intentions regarding Palestine and all Arabs.

Bill,

Will you expose anything like the Assad family legacy of killing tens of thousands of Syrian from 1982 to today? Will you expose the mass graves of Saddam Hussein? How about exposing Gaddafi’s rape of his country by stealing billions, killing thousands of his own people and his responsibility in international terrorism?

It’s my right to do so, and I am not forcing my opinion on anybody.

Why do you have “rights” and most of the Arab world does not?

Today, I will not post anything that angers either the loyalists or the opposition.

OK.

Zionists want Syria divided, broken, and humiliated. I want Syria United, Strong, and Proud!!

I know of no Zionist who wants Syria “divided, broken and humiliated”, although Assad is guilty of all three!! The State of Israel has always recognized Syria. Most Zionists believe democracy is best for both Israel and the Arabs in terms of peace and security.

December 21st, 2011, 1:48 pm

 

majedkhaldoun said:

AP
What if
there are many things you could say what if, what if the Israeli did not accept peace for land? what if Palastinian could not get back jerusalem, what if Israel population become more Arab than jews, what if water become scarce?,what if Arab,now that they get rid of their dictators,get togather,what if the price of oil reached 300 dollar a barrel,what if Turkey turned agains Israel?

Amir
Go back to your Torah and read about Moses deliniation of the land that jews are promised, jerusalem is not part of it, and if you remember God forbade David to build palace in jerusalem, Jerusalem is not part of the land promised to the jews.
How about the armageddonthe jews are to face.

December 21st, 2011, 1:51 pm

 

jna said:

Interesting article about the regional national and religious conflicts centering around Iraq and Syria.

As U.S. departs Iraq, it leaves two allies that aren’t speaking

By Roy Gutman | McClatchy Newspapers

More than five years have passed since Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah last received Iraq’s prime minister, Nouri al Maliki. The Saudi monarch views Maliki as untrustworthy and, even worse, “an Iranian agent.”

Saudi Arabia doesn’t allow direct flights between its capital, Riyadh, and Baghdad, and it doesn’t permit direct trade between the two countries. The kingdom is building a fence along the closed 500-mile border.

This, too, is a legacy of the U.S. invasion of Iraq as U.S. troops complete their withdrawal: a bitter enmity between two close U.S. allies, with an underlay of sectarian animosity, that the United States cannot seem to ameliorate.

Read more here: http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2011/12/18/133219/as-us-departs-iraq-it-leaves-behind.html

December 21st, 2011, 1:53 pm

 

Bill said:

155. Akbar Palace ????? ???????? ??????

Thanks for utilizing your right for freedom of expression; regardless of whether your comments here are intended to support Zionists’ colonial objectives and denigrate Arabs. Please see the useful links below because they are both informative and entertaining. I hope that you enjoy them. GOOD NIGHT, AND GOOD LUCK!

http://www.palestineremembered.com/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M3dfRtwbJRM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VlHeawIccio

December 21st, 2011, 1:58 pm

 

Son of Damascus said:

AP,

I dont begrudge you for being pro-Israel, for that is your right as an Israeli.

Bill,

Syria’s future is not intertwined with Palestine, the so called muqawameh (resistance) has brought nothing but ill fortune to the whole region. Every leader of the so called resistance has been a thug disguised in army garbs; lining their pockets and pillaging their people while pretending that they are resisting the zionist. Don’t misunderstand me, I believe Palestinians have a right for their own country; its just for 60 years the resistance has brought us nothing but despair, perhaps its time for BOTH sides to put their differences and arrogance aside and try to find a common ground were both can build upon.
You rightfully pointed out Israeli injustices, but failed to point out Palestinian injustices not just towards Israel but towards each other (which is more important, for it shows who your leaders are). If you want the rest of the Arab world to back you up, shouldn’t you have a unified voice first? or are we supposed to pick sides within a side?

December 21st, 2011, 2:00 pm

 

Syria, Egypt and Middle East unrest | War & Peace in the Middle East said:

[…] 10.48am: Syria watcher, Joshua Landis, accused by some of being too supportive of the Assad regime, claims the authority of the Syrian state is slowly crumbling. […]

December 21st, 2011, 2:05 pm

 

jad said:

Bronco,
You are right, almost all those killed in Jabl Alazawyeh and Idleb areas are armed militia not according to the regime but to the western media favorite sources, this is why the media are not fully backing the ‘civilian’ massacre lie.
Regarding the AL observers, my take is that their sole mission is not to do anything but to claim in their report that the Syrian regime didn’t comply thus take the issue to the UN, how many times are we going to watch the same movie?!
“????? ?????? ???? ?? ?? ????? ???? ??? ????? ?? ???? ??? ????????? ?????? ???? ????? ???? ???? ?????? ?????? ??? ???????”

December 21st, 2011, 2:07 pm

 

Bill said:

158. Son of Damascus

Thanks for your reply. I haven’t had a chance to express ALL my opinions here. So if I have not yet criticized Palestinians’ infighting and Arabs’ negative utilization of “mokawamah” for personal gains, please don’t assume that I am not critical of all these negative things. I just would like to mention here that there is more to the unfortunate Palestinian infighting that Zionists would like us to see. For example, please see David Rose, “The Gaza Bombshell,” online at: http://www.vanityfair.com/politics/features/2008/04/gaza200804.
However, today I will not talk about anything that cause Arabs and Syrians to fight. It’s my personal choice.
P.S. you should be proud to be the son of Damascus. ?? ????? ???? ????, ????? ?? ??? ?? ???? ????
http://www.palestineremembered.com/

December 21st, 2011, 2:10 pm

 

Akbar Palace said:

What if, there are many things you could say what if…

majedkhaldoun,

Yes, but I’m asking you specifically what YOU think. Let me pose the question differently. If Syria were to hold a vote on a land-for-peace deal: total peace for total return of the Golan, would you be for it or against it?

Go back to your Torah and read about Moses deliniation of the land that jews are promised, jerusalem is not part of it, and if you remember God forbade David to build palace in jerusalem, Jerusalem is not part of the land promised to the jews.

majedkhaldoun,

G-d not only commanded a Temple be built in Jerusalem, but he even described its function, the articles to be used and even the exact dimensions.

http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Judaism/The_Temple.html

This is contained described in the book of the prophets just after the Five Books of Moses. As you recall, King David’s son, Solomon, is credited for building the first temple.

I dont begrudge you for being pro-Israel, for that is your right as an Israeli.

SOn of Damascus. Good. We’re on the same page. BTW – I am not Israeli.

December 21st, 2011, 2:16 pm

 

jad said:

Mina, don’t laugh!

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

????? ????? ?????? ??? ???????? ????? ?? ???? ???? ?????? ????? ??????? ?????? ?????? ‘??????’ ?’??????? ?? ??? ?????’? ?????? ??? ????? ???????.?????? ??????? ???????? ???????? ?? ?????? ??? ???????? ???? ????? ????? ?? ?????? ???????? ?? ?????? ????? ??? ???? ??????? ???? ???? ??????? ?????? ?? ???????? ???? ??? ??????? ???? ??????? ??? ??? ?????

????? ??????? ?? ??????? ???? ????? ????? ??????? ???????? ??????? ‘???’? ??? ???????? ?? ???????? ??????? ???? ????? ‘????? ?????? ???????? ??????? ??????? ?????? ?? ???? ?????? ????????? ??????? ???????? ?????? ?? ?? ???? ?????? ??????? ????? ??????? ????? ??? ???? ???????? ?? ??? ??? ????? ??????’.??? ?????? ???? ‘??????? ?????? ?????? ??? ????? ????? ??????? ???????? ??????? ??? ?????? ???? ??? ??????? ?????? ??? ??????? ??????? ???????? ?????? ???????? ???????? ???????’.???? ???? ???? ???????? ?? ??? ?????? ?????? ????? ??? ??? ?????? ????? ???????? ?? ???? ??????? ??? ????? ???? ??? ??? ???????? ?????? ?? ??????? ????? ?????? ?????? ?????? ??????? ????? ?????? ???? ???? ?? ??????? ????? ?? ????? ??????? ???????

December 21st, 2011, 2:19 pm

 

Son of Damascus said:

Bill,

I truly am proud to be not only Damascene but more importantly Syrian, more today than ever.

December 21st, 2011, 2:20 pm

 

Bill said:

163. Son of Damascus

I gave you a thumbs up. The person who gave you a thumbs down is clearly anti-Arab/Syria.

December 21st, 2011, 2:23 pm

 

Akbar Palace said:

Bill,

I know you are an “intellectual titan”, but you could learn a lot from Son of Damascus’s post 158.

December 21st, 2011, 2:28 pm

 

jad said:

Bronco,
Here are more details about who are in the 250+ victims in the last two days according to Mina’s ‘best’ friend 😉

No wonder the ‘civilian’ massacre lie is not flying that high, there are only 6 civilians there and more than 93 Syrian Army included in the number they are circulating, I guess those Syrian Army soldiers are just a number for them to be used in their call for war.

“The BBC spoke to Wissam Tarif, a well-known activist based in Beirut, who said accounts from hospitals and witnesses suggested 269 people had been killed in Idlib province on Tuesday alone – mostly defecting soldiers but also 93 loyalist soldiers and six civilians.”

“The opposition umbrella group the Syrian National Council (SNC), meanwhile, said 250 had died over Monday and Tuesday. It urged the international community to act against the “horrific massacres”.”

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-16274529

December 21st, 2011, 2:34 pm

 

Bronco said:

Jad

I just found this that confirm what we thought and the continuous lies of some media and the attempted manipulation by the SNC of the ‘human rights’.

“At least 100 Syrian army deserters were killed or wounded in new clashes yesterday as Damascus faced demands to halt its bloody nine-month crackdown on dissent a day after signing an Arab peace plan.

“After clashes that broke out this morning with the regular army, 100 deserters were besieged then killed or wounded between the villages of Kafruwed and Al-Fatira” in the Idlib district of Jabal al-Zawia, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights group said.

The group also said three civilians were killed yesterday in addition to the military casualties in the northwestern Idlib province. ”

http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/observer-team-set-for-damascus-mission.aspx?pageID=238&nID=9655&NewsCatID=352

December 21st, 2011, 2:35 pm

 

ghufran said:

??? ?????? ?????? ????
?????
???? ???? ??? ??? ????????, ???? ?? ???? ????? ???????? ??? ?????? ??? ???? ???? ????? ?????????? ?? ???? ?????? ?? ????????. ?? ???? ??? ?? ?????? ?????? (????) ?? ???????? ??????? ??? ???????!!??? ???? ?????? ?????? ?????? ?????? ???? ????? ?????!! ?????? ????????? ??????? ????????!???? ?????? ??? ?????? ??? ??????? ?????? ??? ????????? ???????!???? ?? ?????? ?? ????? ??????? ?? ???? ???? ???????? ??????? ?? ???? ??? ??? ?????? ????! ???? ??? ???? ?????? ?? ???????? ??????? ?? ?? ??? ?????!
(taken from Aljazeera Arabic comment section)
there is a war in jabal alzawiyah,most of those who are getting killed there are soldiers,regime or defecting soldiers.
in Homs,there is a mini civil war, not every body who died is a victim of the regime and not everybody who died is a hero,Syria is a mess today and there is so much guilt to spread around,and at the top is the regime security forces and armed thugs wearing the opposition flag.

December 21st, 2011, 2:37 pm

 

ann said:

125. amir from aparthd tel aviv said:
“””Indeed.
The last two generation were born in Syria. They are Shamies born in Syria. They are Syrians.”””

Americans born in Syria are Americans
French born in Syria are French
Palestinians born in Syria are Palestinians

AWIPSSE

December 21st, 2011, 2:37 pm

 

majedkhaldoun said:

A.P.
You got me a book full of lies and then you want me to argue with you,
Fact: did God forbade David from building the palace in jerusalem or not, yes he did.
Was Soloman a son of David and he was aware of God order.yes he was,
Moses deliniation of jews land does not include jerusalem.it is a fact.
Jerusalem was not a city till 600 years BC, it is a fact
so far is there any evidence on the ground that such palace exist, the answer is NO.
Your reason for God prohibiting Davad from buikding the palace is that David was a man of battle and he shed Blood,this is the weirdest statement any one can say, Soloman,too, was a man of battle and yes he shed blood,Israeli now they are shedding blood.
Excuse me AP but you are running out of good wisdom and begin to talk irrational.

December 21st, 2011, 2:40 pm

 

Bill said:

169. ANN

Thanks ANN for your statement. I was born in America, and I am BOTH American and Palestinians. All of my 4 grandparents are buried in a crowded cemetery in E. Jerusalem, not far away from spacious well-lighted Israeli colonies, some of which are built on land stolen from my grandparents.
http://www.vanityfair.com/politics/features/2008/04/gaza200804
http://www.palestineremembered.com/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M3dfRtwbJRM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VlHeawIccio

December 21st, 2011, 2:44 pm

 

Bill said:

165. Akbar Palace ????? ???????? ??????

Thanks for calling me “intellectual titan,” although I will always remain modest and humble. When Hakim Olajuwon won one of his championships with the Houston Rockets he said about himself and his team: “We have the heart of champions, and we remain humble!”
http://www.vanityfair.com/politics/features/2008/04/gaza200804
http://www.palestineremembered.com/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M3dfRtwbJRM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VlHeawIccio

December 21st, 2011, 2:51 pm

 

majedkhaldoun said:

Ann,and Bill
Jews born in Russia and immigrated to palastine are Russian, Jews born in USA or europe and migrated to Palastine are US or european citizen.

AP I suggest we keep our discussion to later.We are busy now.

December 21st, 2011, 2:52 pm

 
 
 

Tara said:

Bronco

100 civilians And 100 army deserters were killed on Tuesday per the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.  See below.

It remains a massacre even if all were army deserters.  Remember, army deserters are the sons of average Syrians who refuse to shoot their own people.  Killing them only confirm the regime’s policy of “shoot to kill or you are going to be shot”.  We still can not forget all the army men who were shot in the back for refusing to carry orders at the beginning of the revolution then claimed by the regime to have been killed by the elusive “armed gangs”
 
http://en-maktoob.news.yahoo.com/syria-sign-arab-peace-initiative-agency-085623791.html

BEIRUT (Reuters) – Syrian forces killed 111 people ahead of the start of a mission to monitor President Bashar al-Assad’s implementation of an Arab League peace plan, activists said on Wednesday, and France branded the killings an “unprecedented massacre.”
Rami Abdulrahman of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said 111 civilians and activists were killed on Tuesday when Assad’s forces surrounded them in the foothills of the northern Jabal al-Zawiyah region in Idlib province and unleashed two hours of bombardment and heavy gunfire.
Another 100 army deserters were either wounded or killed, making it the “bloodiest day of the Syrian revolution,” he said.

December 21st, 2011, 3:18 pm

 

son of Damascus said:

Bill,

It is not what I write that they dislike, it is the fact I don’t fall in the “terrorist” category that they dislike me. I love my country, I know Syrians deserve better than what we have had, and I don’t believe in false promises.

December 21st, 2011, 3:30 pm

 

Syria no kandahar said:

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

December 21st, 2011, 3:33 pm

 

Son of Damascus said:

Ann,

Syrians born in America are Americans.
Syrians born in Canada are Canadians.
Syrians born in Australia are Australian.

Are they all of a sudden not Syrians anymore. I was born in Syria, does that make me more “Syrian” than my cousin born in Germany?

December 21st, 2011, 3:36 pm

 

defender said:

The CIA’s Global Demise
Based on its recent string of failures, most notably those that have occurred under America’s top general-turned-spymaster David Petraeus, the CIA has become a third-tier intelligence agency that is trying to prop around the world up a failing, financially bankrupt, and over-extended super-power the United States.

The CIA, started in 1947 with veterans of the war-time Office of Strategic Services (OSS) and military personnel, who were soon supplemented by economists and international relations graduates of America’s top Ivy League universities, is now attempting to promote itself as a “made-for-television” futuristic high-tech spy and covert warfare agency, operating intelligence-gathering and armed drones from over 60 bases around the world. All that is missing from the CIA’s over-inflated view of itself are the X-Men and Jason Bourne.

The record of the CIA speaks otherwise. The agency has become a bloated and ineffectual spy agency that is heavy on inflating intelligence reports while being responsible for major intelligence failures.

Recent major failures of the CIA in its drone operations in the Middle East and Africa have some congressional sources wondering what is afoot with the CIA. Under Petraeus’s watch the CIA has experienced its worst foul ups since those that occurred when it failed to foresee the Iranian embassy hostage situation and the collapse of the Soviet Union.

Petraeus’s first major failure, Lebanon, involved Hezbollah’s exposure of the CIA’s agent network in the country. The CIA station chief, Daniel Patrick McFeely, has been outed as the CIA station chief at the U.S. embassy in the Awkar neighborhood of Beirut. Not only was Hezbollah able to out McFeely, who operates as “official cover” as part of the embassy staff, but they identified his predecessor, Louis Kahi.

By conducting surveillance of meetings at Pizza Huts and Starbucks in Lebanon between CIA case officers and agents, Hezbollah — and their Iranian allies — were able to construct the CIA’s network that included over 1000 top Lebanese politicians, academics, medical doctors, journalists, military personnel, and celebrities. Essentially, the CIA’s network in Lebanon has been largely rolled up. According to Al Manar television, the code names of the agents, names like Nick, Jim, Youssef, Liza and Jonah, were also exposed.

The U.S. corporate media has refrained from publishing the names of the CIA station chiefs or the cover names of their Lebanese agents. In more and more cases, the U.S. media has run from its duty to report all the facts about intelligence-related matters, succumbing to either appeals or threats from spy agencies that they should not write about intelligence-related matters because of some nebulous and non-provable “threat” to national security.

Almost simultaneous to the Lebanon roll up, Iran announced it discovered a network composed of at least 42 CIA agents operating within its territory, operatives that worked in nuclear and other scientific centers, the military, biotechnology, and various universities. Iran’s chief prosecutor has already indicted fifteen of the 42 for espionage on behalf of the CIA.

On November 26, a U.S. air strike killed 24 Pakistani military personnel on the Pakistani border with Afghanistan. The incident, which frayed already poor relations between the United States and Pakistan, resulted in the U.S. being expelled from the Shamsi airbase in Pakistan, one from which CIA drones were launched, with few successes and many failures, against “terror” targets in Pakistan’s volatile mountainous frontier region bordering Afghanistan.

The debacle that resulted in the loss of the Shamsi drone base was followed by the biggest intelligence failure to date, the downing by accident or hostile action, including through possible electronic warfare “spoofing,” of an RQ-170 Sentinel stealth-enabled drone over Iran. President Barack Obama was under pressure to launch a commando raid on Iran to retrieve the state-of-the art technology drone or bomb it and its security detail once it was discovered to be in Iranian hands. Obama chose to ask the Iranian to return the drone to the United States, something Tehran has refused to do, without, at the very least, an official apology.

Obama had on his hands a “Jimmy Carter moment” and his Republican opponents eagerly jumped on him for not sending in a commando team to retrieve the drone or order air strikes to destroy it. Obama left himself open to charges that he is a weak and ineffectual president because he allowed the RQ-170 to fall into the hands of not only the Iranians, but, as the rhetoric from his political enemies has alleged, the Russians and Chinese, as well. The right-wing claims that Russia or China, or both, will attempt to re-engineer the CIA’s expensive toy, what is known as the mysterious “Beast of Kandahar,” in order to leap frog the United States in stealth drone technology by years.

And just when Obama did not need any more bad news from his problematic CIA director, news came that an Air Force-operated MQ-9 Reaper drone on counter-terrorist and counter-piracy duty in the Indian Ocean crashed and burst into flames on landing at the international airport on Mahe island in the Seychelles. Most Air Force Reapers are remotely-piloted from Nellis Air Force Base in Las Vegas, Nevada.

The CIA’s drone wars, which are supplemented by the U.S. Air Force’s own Global Hawk, Predator, and Reaper operations, are increasingly being seen around the world as America’s use of technology to commit the “joy stick and button” mass murder of people accused of being terrorists. In fact, the CIA and the Air Force have no idea who they are killing when its drones launch their deadly payloads. The building anger against the United States will continue to place the CIA’s professional and increasingly amateurish personnel in danger in conflict zones like Afghanistan, Pakistan, Yemen, Iran, Iraq, Syria, and Libya and in rear echelon support countries like Djibouti, Seychelles, Ethiopia, Oman, United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Qatar, Kenya, Uganda, Burundi, and Saudi Arabia.

The CIA’s political influence operations around the world are also being exposed every day. Run in tandem with international financier George Soros and his network of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and not-for-profit foundations, the CIA’s attempts to foment rebellions through “themed revolutions” and election engineering are becoming better understood, ironically through the media that Soros and the CIA champion the most – social networking. From the streets of Egypt and Syria, where the CIA’s and Soros’s involvement in artificially-created uprisings is no longer a secret, to Russia, Venezuela, Belarus, and China, where political intervention by the CIA and its team of Soros “do-gooders” is now being met with strong opposition, the cat is out of the bag.

While the CIA has for decades enjoyed the luxury of hiding behind NGOs, missionaries, aid workers, and journalists, the Internet has allowed CIA influence networks to be exposed and its agents, shills, and dupes to be identified. Time magazine has named as its “Person on the Year” for 2011 the generic “protester.” However, as the CIA’s worldwide operations become further exposed, the “protester” lauded by Time will no longer be a paid provocateur working for the CIA or Soros – taking orders and money from Human Rights Watch and Global Witness — but one who is genuinely protesting the interference and aggression of the United States. And that protester will be found not only in Cairo, Moscow, Caracas, and Beirut but in New York, Washington, DC, Chicago, Miami, and Los Angeles.

December 21st, 2011, 3:51 pm

 

SANDRO LOEWE said:

Today I was watching on TV north koreans crying the death of their leader. People who feel afraid of the outside world and needs the figure of a patriarc leader in the country for protection. People who has been educated in a state of fear, intelectual misery and lack of critical thinking, material poverty and ideollogical uniformity, has no choice but crying for their leaders. Killing for their leaders if they are requested too.

The image of old people crying histerically for the loss of their Big Brother is something that reminds me the day Hafez Al Assad died (notice that Assad created his propaganda politics in North Korea and Ceaucescu´s Rumania) and in a way, the stupidity of those human beings, reminds me too of the day Bashar gave a speech at the Parliament, where histerical behaviours were stated.

This state of social illness has a limited time of duration. It can last years and years but as illness it is letal. Time is running off and the stupid propaganda of the syrian regime is out of time. Let´s wait and see.

December 21st, 2011, 3:52 pm

 

defender said:

attention Mr Bill !!
Jonathan COOK 18.08.2010
The secrets in Israel’s archives: Evidence of ethnic cleansing kept under lock and key
History may be written by the victors, as Winston Churchill is said to have observed, but the opening up of archives can threaten a nation every bit as much as the unearthing of mass graves.

That danger explains a decision quietly taken last month by Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, to extend by an additional 20 years the country’s 50-year rule for the release of sensitive documents.

The new 70-year disclosure rule is the government’s response to Israeli journalists who have been seeking through Israel’s courts to gain access to documents that should already be declassified, especially those concerning the 1948 war, which established Israel, and the 1956 Suez crisis.

The state’s chief archivist says many of the documents “are not fit for public viewing” and raise doubts about Israel’s “adherence to international law”, while the government warns that greater transparency will “damage foreign relations”.

Quite what such phrases mean was illustrated by the findings of a recent investigation by an Israeli newspaper. Haaretz revisited the Six Day War of 1967, in which Israel seized not only the Palestinian territories of the West Bank and Gaza, but also a significant corner of Syria known as the Golan Heights, which Israel still refuses to relinquish.

The consensus in Israel is that the country’s right to hold on to the Golan is even stronger than its right to the West Bank. According to polls, an overwhelming majority of Israelis refuse to concede their little bit of annexed Syria, even if doing so would secure peace with Damascus.

This intransigence is not surprising. For decades, Israelis have been taught a grand narrative in which, having repelled an attack by Syrian forces, Israel then magnanimously allowed the civilian population of the Golan to live under its rule. That, say Israelis, is why the inhabitants of four Druze villages are still present there. The rest chose to leave on the instructions of Damascus.

One influential journalist writing at the time even insinuated anti-Semitism on the part of the civilians who departed: “Everyone fled, to the last man, before the IDF [Israel Defence Forces] arrived, out of fear of the ‘savage conqueror’ … Fools, why did they have to flee?”

However, a very different picture emerges from Haaretz’s interviews with the participants. These insiders say that all but 6,000 of the Golan’s 130,000 civilians were either terrorised or physically forced out, some of them long after the fighting finished. An army document reveals a plan to clear the area of the Syrian population, with only the exception of the Golan Druze, so as not to upset relations with the loyal Druze community inside Israel.

The army’s post-war tasks included flushing out thousands of farmers hiding in caves and woods to send them over the new border. Homes were looted before the army set about destroying all traces of 200 villages so that there would be nowhere left for the former inhabitants to return to. The first Jewish settlers sent to till the fields recalled seeing the dispossessed owners watching from afar.

The Haaretz investigation offers an account of methodical and wholesale ethnic cleansing that sits uncomfortably not only with the traditional Israeli story of 1967 but with the Israeli public’s idea that their army is the “most moral in the world”. That may explain why several prominent, though unnamed, Israeli historians admitted to Haaretz that they had learnt of this “alternative narrative” but did nothing to investigate or publicise it.

What is so intriguing about the newspaper’s version of the Golan’s capture is the degree to which it echoes the revised accounts of the 1948 war that have been written by later generations of Israeli historians. Three decades ago — in a more complacent era — Israel made available less sensitive documents from that period.

The new material was explosive enough. It undermined Israel’s traditional narrative of 1948, in which the Palestinians were said to have left voluntarily on the orders of the Arab leaders and in the expectation that the combined Arab armies would snuff out the fledging Jewish state in a bloodbath.

Instead, the documents suggested that heavily armed Jewish forces had expelled and dispossessed hundreds of thousands of Palestinians before the Jewish state had even been declared and a single Arab soldier had entered Palestine.

One document in particular, Plan Dalet, demonstrated the army’s intention to expel the Palestinians from their homeland. Its existence explains the ethnic cleansing of more than 80 per cent of Palestinians in the war, followed by a military campaign to destroy hundreds of villages to ensure the refugees never returned.

Ethnic cleansing is the common theme of both these Israeli conquests. A deeper probe of the archives will almost certainly reveal in greater detail how and why these “cleansing” campaigns were carried out — which is precisely why Mr Netanyahu and others want the archives to remain locked.

But full disclosure of these myth-shattering documents may be the precondition for peace. Certainly, more of these revelations offer the best hope of shocking Israeli public opinion out of its self-righteous opposition to meaningful concessions, either to Syria or the Palestinians.

It is also a necessary first step in challenging Israel’s continuing attempts to ethnically cleanse Palestinians, as has occurred in the last few weeks against the Bedouin in both the Jordan Valley and the Negev, where villages are being razed and families forced to leave again.

Genuine peacemakers should be demanding that the doors to the archives be thrown open immediately. The motives of those who wish to keep them locked should be clear to all.

December 21st, 2011, 3:56 pm

 

ann said:

Al-Qaida members among Syrian refugees in Lebanon: media – 2011-12-22

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/world/2011-12/22/c_122463255.htm

BEIRUT, Dec. 21 (Xinhua) — The Lebanese army raised concerns at a security meeting that some “Syrian refugees” fleeing to Lebanon are actually al-Qaida members, the English-language The Daily Star reported on Wednesday.

At the meeting chaired by Prime Minister Najib Mikati, Lebanese Army Commander Jean Kahwagi said that illegal smuggling of weapons and fighters is taking place in the Lebanese border town of Arsal, The Daily Star said.

Kahwagi echoed comments made earlier by Defense Minister Fayez Ghosn that members of terrorist groups are entering Arsal under the guise of Syrian opposition to establish a base.

Syrian refugees have been fleeing to northern Lebanon’s Wadi Khaled since the anti-government protests broke out in March. But in the past few months, attention has been focused on Arsal in the northeast, where weapon smuggling is suspected through the mountains that mark the Syria-Lebanon border.

At the meeting, Kahwagi confirmed to sources close to the prime minister that some weapon smugglers who claim to be Syrian opposition are in fact al-Qaida members, The Daily Star said.

Kahwagi added that when the army attempted to confront these people, groups in Lebanon opposed such a move in defense of freedom.

According to The Daily Star, Kahwagi told those present at the meeting that the military needs the political support to carry out operations against the terrorists and cannot act in this alone.

December 21st, 2011, 4:04 pm

 

ann said:

Anti-government violence continues in Syria ahead of AL observers’ arrival – 2011-12-22

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/world/2011-12/22/c_122463370.htm

DAMASCUS, Dec. 21 (Xinhua) — Anti-government violence dragged on in Syria on Wednesday, a day before the scheduled arrival of an advance team of the Arab League (AL) observers, who will take up the field assessment of the situation in the unrest-hit Arab nation.

In the flashpoint town of Homs in central Syria, an explosive device planted inside a military officer’s car went off on Wednesday and severely wounded the car owner, who was identified as a colonel, the official SANA news agency reported, adding that the victim lost both of his legs.

Moreover, one passenger aboard a bus was killed and six others were injured after attacks by alleged “terrorists” near Homs, which has seen over the past months rampant anti-government violence.

Meanwhile, the Syrian forces have arrested tens of wanted ” terrorists” after clashing with them in the southwestern town of Daraa and the northern city of Idlib, as the authorities “stormed the dens of armed terrorist groups,” SANA reported on Wednesday.

It said that some “terrorists” were killed in the clashes, but did not give the specific number.

The captured have committed murders and attacked private and public properties, and “big quantities” of weapons and communication equipment were seized, according to SANA.

December 21st, 2011, 4:09 pm

 

Bill said:

183. defender

I like Jonathan’s Cook’s articles and reporting. His work is often published in “The National,” which is an English newspaper in the UAE, and in Alexander Cockburn’s online “Counterpunch.” As I said before, we Palestinians will never give up the right of return for ethnically-cleansed Palestinians and their descendants. I said above that my grandparents lost land stolen from them to build Israeli colonies. I want my grandparents’ land back! I teach my American-born and raised children (I am American-born) about our stolen land. Our cause will never die because it passes from one Palestinian generation to another. “Never Forget, Never Forgive!”
http://www.vanityfair.com/politics/features/2008/04/gaza200804
http://www.palestineremembered.com/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M3dfRtwbJRM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VlHeawIccio

December 21st, 2011, 4:23 pm

 

SANDRO LOEWE said:

185, ANN,

Xinhuanet is the top of the free media in the world. Their analysis and opinions are the more independent from imperalist states, except from the Chinese Empire. The same Empire that is promoting the sad status quo in North Korea. And trying to keep the status quo in Syria.

Ann, maybe you are a frustrated communist asking for a totalitarian state and totalitarian solutions. In that case I think you should ask political asylum in Syria, North Korea or China. You will find happiness there. Do not be afraid of leaving your original country, your family and your possessions. You will be given everything for free in totalitarian countries. You will feel a member of a great family who lives in armony and security.

Now seriously, please do not laugh at syrian people.

December 21st, 2011, 4:24 pm

 

ann said:

Security Council to conduct more Syria consultations – 2011-12-22

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/world/2011-12/22/c_122463376.htm

UNITED NATIONS, Dec. 21 (Xinhua) — The UN Security Council will meet in a new round of consultations on Thursday in order to discuss the situation in Syria, said Vitaly Churkin, permanent representative of Russia to the UN and the council president for December.

“We informed colleagues that we are calling a new round of consultations for tomorrow and we are working very hard but the fact of the matter is that the first round of consultations produced quite a few amendments or proposals from our colleagues,” Churkin told reporters outside the council chambers.

Syria has been in turmoil since mid-March when anti-government protests broke out, along with clashes between protesters and security forces that have resulted in more than 5,000 deaths.

The council has not yet been successful at passing a full resolution on violence in Syria, but Russia has submitted a draft that is under negotiation by members. In August, the council did manage to pass a less legally powerful presidential statement which called for “an immediate end to all violence” in the Middle Eastern nation.

“So we are trying to see how we can build common ground in the spirit of the presidential statement of August 3, because this is the essence of our effort in the first place, to try to reignite the common voice of the members of the Security Council on the situation in Syria given positive developments in terms of the agreement which was signed between Syria and the Arab League on the monitoring mission but also given troubling reports about continued violence in the country,” Churkin said.

On Dec. 19, Syria agreed to let the Arab League send an observer mission into the country. The signing of the observer protocol came after the pan-Arab group threatened to submit the issue to the Security Council.

December 21st, 2011, 4:38 pm

 

ann said:

187. SANDRO LOEWE

LONELY?

December 21st, 2011, 4:40 pm

 

ann said:

With UN Quiet On SCAF Crackdown in Tahrir, Protest at Egypt NY Consulate – Dec. 21, 2011

http://www.innercitypress.com/egypt1unows122111.html

UNITED NATIONS, December 21 — Amid the continued army crackdown in Tahrir Square in Cairo, a protest was held on a rainy Wednesday in Manhattan, ten blocks north of the United Nations.

In front of the Egyptian consulate on Second Avenue, a chant went up, “Hey Obama, can’t you hear, people are dying in Tahrir.” A young woman told the story of a 20 year old engineering student with three sister, who was shot by the SCAF and after 30 hours in intensive care, died. Click here to view short video on Inner City Press channel, & below.

At the UN, surprisingly little is being said about this round of violence in Egypt. Visible senior UN officialdom contains a number of former Mubarak cronies; the Permanent members of the Security Council seem to have little interest in raising the issue of Egypt as some are, for example, Syria.

The Permanent Representative of a non-permanent Security Council member approached Inner City Press and said he’d raised Egypt in the Council, and at the members’ lunch with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon.

But Ban Ki-moon has employed, and as reported yesterday defended, Shaaban Shaaban who worked for Mubarak, click here for that story. The UN just moves on to the next issue. Watch this site.

December 21st, 2011, 4:48 pm

 

SANDRO LOEWE said:

189#

Thanks I do not need company tonight. It´s very kind of you. I like to sleep alone sweetly dreaming of Assad mukhabaraats all around me giving me all I need.

Anyway you do not give clues about your real nationality. Maybe Russian?

December 21st, 2011, 4:49 pm

 

Bill said:

191. SANDRO LOEWE

I am not a big fan of inserting disturbing images into YouTube music videos, particularly if they involve Fairuz’s beautiful songs and voice. However, because you have mentioned Syria’s mukhabarat that I myself despise, please click below on Fairuz YouTube video. At the end of this video you will see the inhumane and disgraceful brutality of Israeli occupation forces and their war crimes. There million other videos and pictures like this. Please see them.

December 21st, 2011, 4:56 pm

 

Akbar Palace said:

Moses deliniation of jews land does not include jerusalem.it is a fact.

majedkhaldoun,

I am not familiar with the Koran, so I will try to approach my question to you through the Koran. By the way, I see you did not want to answer my question about “land-for-peace” of the Golan; so be it.

Just FYI, out of respect, I do not consider texts sacred to other people as “lies”. Everybody has texts that they believe in and others they do not believe in.

From your reponse above, you admit that there was a “Moses” and that there were “Jews”.

1.) Where did these people live according to the Koran?

2.) If “Moses deliniation of jews land does not include jerusalem”, whose land does Jerusalem belong to according to the Koran?

3.) Does the Koran mention Abraham? Which towns and cities did Abraham live during his life according to the Koran?

4.) Likewise, where did King David and King Solomon live according to the Koran?

5.) Who is the Koran talking about when it talks about the “Children of Israel”? Where did they live in ancient times?

http://quod.lib.umich.edu/cgi/k/koran/koran-idx?type=DIV0&byte=429259

Thanks.

Jerusalem was not a city till 600 years BC, it is a fact
so far is there any evidence on the ground that such palace exist, the answer is NO.

Archeological evidence shows Jerusalem was inhabited thousands of years BC…

http://news.discovery.com/history/jerusalem-city-wall-possibly-build-by-solomon-discovered.html

Son of Damascus,

Is Yassir Arafat Palestinian or Egyptian, since he was born in Cairo?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yasser_Arafat

December 21st, 2011, 4:59 pm

 

ann said:

191. SANDRO LOEWE said:
“”” I like to sleep alone sweetly dreaming of Assad mukhabaraats all around me giving me all I need. “””

Seek professional mental help

December 21st, 2011, 4:59 pm

 

SANDRO LOEWE said:

194
I did not find mental help while seeking for it all around Syria. Most psychiatrics told me having these paranoias is good for a prosperous life in Syria. Other told me not having them would be a cause of life prison.

December 21st, 2011, 5:08 pm

 

aldendeshe ???? ??????? said:

Most Pros calls the CIA activities “Stupid Dog Tricks”. The worst part about’em, they are thought and deployed in manner that even a dog is intelligent enough to know how stupid they are, and rarely wag his tale. The agency is in fact behind in modern operational means and strategy, not only its deployment of these very low tech, and poorly designed gadgets that pistachio farmers all over the world collect or bring it down with ease is a serious shortcoming, the strategies, means and end goals are way too naive, 50ish. In this day of age, you need to grow up from dogs tricks and you need to think and act like a reptilian snake or a wildcat. Here is something the CIA kids will enjoy, remove the Pappion and relax watching, just pretend you are not fighting in Syria and are enjoying some of your harvest that you could not sell in Russia:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rXgzNwh3d-I&feature=related

December 21st, 2011, 5:08 pm

 

Tara said:

Women’s rights in Belarus

Over the last few month we saw violence against women in Egypt, Syria, Turkey, and Belarus.

http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/feminist-protesters-kidnapped-stripped-by-belarus-kgb.aspx?pageID=238&nID=9677&NewsCatID=351

December 21st, 2011, 5:12 pm

 

SANDRO LOEWE said:

192. Bill

Are we at SYRIACOMMENT or at ISRAELCOMMENT?

Do you believe you have to show us what israelis are capable of doing? We know it very well since the day we were born.

By showing what israelis did, do and will probably keep on doing you try to justify the syrian regime? I think if you denounce Israel, for the same crimes against humanity you should denounce the syrian regime.

You fall or try to let people fall on the childish ideollogical trap of black and white.

The fact that Syria and Israel may be hipotetical enemies does not probe that if one (israel) is bad the other (Syria) is good.

Both maybe bad and no one be good. So please first of all, since we are talking about Syria, try to explain if you consider what is doing the syrian regime in Homs, Hama, and other places is good or not? Then we can compare with israel if you want to.

But I am afraid both are barbaric political entities with no future at all, one on the long term, the other one on the short term.

December 21st, 2011, 5:19 pm

 

ghufran said:

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

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

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

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

December 21st, 2011, 5:19 pm

 

Bronco said:

#177 Tara

There are no proof they deserted because “they refused orders to kill”. This is the activists version.

Until this is proven, they are traitors to the country as they are killing soldiers of the country only legitimate army. Until the FSA is recognized as a legitimate army by the UN, they are armed outlaws and will be treated as such.
In any case deserters usually don’t take arms against their army, they just withdraw. These armed deserters are not protecting the civilian protesters, but in fact they are exposing them to danger by hiding among them.

By the way I have noticed that most of recent SC comments have nothing to do with Syria and deal with the Israeli-Palestinian issue. I’ll take a break from SC until it becomes again about Syria

December 21st, 2011, 5:24 pm

 

Bill said:

198. SANDRO LOEWE

I know it’s Syria Comment. I just like to expose the hypocrisy of Zionists who like to say all kind of bad things about Syria, but they ignore Israeli war crimes and apologize for them. In any case, Syria and Palestine are SISTERS. PALESTINE NEEDS SYRIA, AND SYRIA NEEDS PALESTINE. Syrians are trying to make their country better at a huge cost. In contrast, Israelis are building colonies and committing war crimes. The current colonial Israeli government, which includes the racist Avigdor (Russian or Moldovan colonialist)Lieberman, was elected in a democratic election by Israelis. Nobody voted for the Arab dictators that you and other Zionists criticize. Please, Zionists, look in the mirror before criticizing Syrians and Arabs!
Please see these videos that I have found others, not me, put on the Internet:
http://www.vanityfair.com/politics/features/2008/04/gaza200804
http://www.palestineremembered.com/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M3dfRtwbJRM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VlHeawIccio

December 21st, 2011, 5:35 pm

 

zoo said:

A “plot” in Egypt to justify a crackdown on liberals and democracy seekers?

CAIRO (AP) — Egypt’s ruling military escalated its tone against pro-democracy activists Wednesday, warning of an attempt to “topple the state,” as government media said a plot had been uncovered to use upcoming protests to throw the country into a civil war.

The statements stepped up a campaign by the military that has seemed intended to demonize protesters in the eyes of the Egyptian public. The warnings could signal a heavier crackdown on activists who demand that the generals who took power after the fall of Hosni Mubarak in February step down to let civilians rule.
{…}
http://news.yahoo.com/egypts-army-rulers-hike-tone-against-protesters-202715430.html

December 21st, 2011, 5:35 pm

 

zoo said:

The Egyptian Salafists love Israel

Egypt’s ultraconservatives support Israel treaty
By AYA BATRAWY | AP – 1 hr 24 mins ago
http://news.yahoo.com/egypts-ultraconservatives-support-israel-treaty-163639525.html
CAIRO (AP) — The spokesman of Egypt’s ultraconservative Islamist party told Israeli Army Radio in unprecedented remarks broadcast Wednesday that the group is not opposed to the country’s historic peace treaty with Israel.

Yousseri Hamad’s interview with the Israeli broadcaster is unusual for followers of the Salafi Islamic trend, who typically shun Israel for its policies toward Palestinians and its annexation of east Jerusalem, home to Islam’s third-holiest site.

The interview countered Israeli fears that Islamist parties would seek to cut ties with Israel.

In his remarks to the Israeli station, Hamad said the Salafi Nour Party is committed to agreements signed by previous Egyptian governments, including the 1979 peace treaty with Israel.
{..}

December 21st, 2011, 5:38 pm

 

Son of Damascus said:

AP,

Arafat is Palestinian. My point was your place of birth or the passport you hold does not necessarily define you. My cousin born in Germany is as much Syrian as I am, the fact he holds German citizenship does not negate the fact he is Syrian.

By the way my apologies that I assumed you were an israeli Citizen, I should not base my opinions on assumptions but facts. Thanks for the clarification.

December 21st, 2011, 5:40 pm

 

Dale Andersen said:

Memo To: BRONCO BILLY

RE: “…deserters usually don’t take arms against their army, they just withdraw….”

Suddenly you’re a military expert, adding that to all the other things you pretend to be an expert on. How do you find the time to fuck around on the Internet with losers like us? You should be busy doing important stuff like splitting atoms, inventing hydrogen-powered dildos, winning Nobel prizes…

December 21st, 2011, 5:45 pm

 

Tara said:

Bronco

I agree with you.  It is very annoying.

Bill, Amir, and Akbar Palace

We are not interested in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict at this time.  I understand your sentiments but you also need to understand our sentiment too.  Most of us, regime’s supporters and non-supporters are here on SC to discuss Syria.  We are all in deep emotional pain and SC is our only way to talk to each other.  And despite the apparent fights and bickering, we all want to stay Syrians, diverse but united as we were before.  We are stealing time from work, home, and life to discuss all the insane events to keep us sane.  This has been very important to all of us especially being very much away from Syria.  I understand this is a public forum but you are being very selfish so please stop.   

December 21st, 2011, 5:50 pm

 

jad said:

???? ????? ????? ?????? ???? ??”???????” ?? ??? ?? ?? ????? ?? ????? ???? ??? ??????? ??????

?????? ???? ?? ????? ??? ????? ????? ???? ?? ??? ??????”????? ?????” ???????? ?? ?????? ?????”?????? ??????” ?? ????? ??? ?? ???? ????? ?? ???! ??? ???? ???!?

???????? ? ??????? ( ??? ?? : ????? ??? + ???? ???????): ??? ??????? ?????? ? ??? ???? “????? ?????????” ????? ?? ???? ??????? ?????? ??? ???? ? ??? ????? ?????? ???? ????? ??? ???? “????? ?????? ????” ?? ?????? ???? ? ??????? ?? ???? ???? ” ??????” ??????? ??? ?????? ?????? ???? ?????? 30 ?? ? ?????? 20 ?? ?? ??? ?????”?????” ??????? ?? ???? ?????????. ????? ???????? ??????? ?? ?????? ??????? ? ” ?????????? ???????” ? ??????? ????????” ?????? ??”?????? ?????? ??????” ? ??? ?? ?? ??? ?? 80 ????? ?? ????? ???? ?????? ????? ???? ????? ?? ??????? ? ??? ?? ????? ? ??? ???? ??? ???? ???? ????? ?? ?????? ?? ????? “?????” ( ???? ????????? ??????) ??? ???????? ? ???? ?? ??? ????? ? ?????? ??? ??? 150 ????? . ??? ???? ??? ?????? ? ???? ?????? ???? ????? ??? ?? ???? ???? ?????? ????? ?????? ?? ????? ????? ?? ???? ?????? ??? ???? ????? ?????? ?????? ?? ? ???? ???? ????? ?????? ?? ????? ?? ?????? ??!?

??? ??????? ??????? ??? ???? ????? ???? ????? ??? ???????? ??? ? ???? ?? ??????? ????? ?????? ??? ???? ???? ? ?????? ???? ??? ??? ??? ??? ?? 13 ????? ?????? / ?????? ?????? ?? ??????? ???? ??????? ??????? ? ???????? ?? ????? ?????? ???????? ?????? ??? ? ??????? . ???? ?????? ?????? ???????? ???????? ?????? ” ???????” ? ??? ????? ????? ???? ???? ???? ????? ?????? ?????? ? ????? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ?????? ?????? ?? ????????? ??????? ???????? ?? “???? ????” ?????? ?????? ? ????? ???? ????????.

?????? ??? ??”???????” ?? ?????? ??????? ??????? ???????? ?? ????? ????????? ??? ????????? Dean Katsiyiannis ? ????? ?? ????????? ??????? ???? ?? ?????? ???? ????? ????? ??? ??????? ?? ??????? ????? ????? ?????? ???? ???? ?????????? ??? ????? ???? ? ?? ??? ?????? ( ???? 10 ?? ?? ???? ???????) ??? ??? ????????? ??? ???? ? ???????? ” ????? ?????”? ??? ?? ??? ??????? ?? ????? ?????? ?? ????? ” ??????? ?????? ??????” ?? ???? ? ??? ????? ????? ????? ????? ??????? ???? ???? ??????? ????? ?? ????? ???? ????? ????? ????? ??????? ???? ????? ????? ?? ???? ?????? ???? ???? ?? ?????? ?????? ” ?? ????? ???? ( ?? ??? ??????) ???? ??????? ????? ?????? ?????? ??????”! ????? ?? ???? ?????? ? ??? ?????? ???? ??? ??? ??? ?????? ?? ????? ????? ? ???? ??????? ????? ?????? ???????? ???????? ???? ????? ” ?????? ??????” ? ???? ?? ?????? ????????” ????? ????” ??????? ??????? “????? ??????” ?? ???? ? ?????? ???? ?????? ????? ????? ” ?????? ?????? ??????” ?? ?????? ???? ” ????? ?????” ???? ??? ??? ?????? “????” ???? ???? ???????.

???? ??????? ?????? ???? ???? ????? ????? ??????? ??? ???????? ??? ??????? ?? ?? ??? ??????? ???? ?????? ( ??? ?? ?????? ?? ???? ?????? 11 ????? ?????? ???? ? 13 ??? ????? ?????? ????). ????? ????? ??????? ??????? ????????? ?? ????? ??????? ????? ?? ??? ??????? ?? ?? “????? ?????? ?????? ????? ??????? ??????? ?????? ????? ???????? ?????? ???? ?????? ? ?????? ?????? ????? ?? ???? ?????? ?? ??? ?? ???? ??? ????? ??????”!

????? ???? ????? ?????? ????? ??????? ? ??? ?? ??? ” ?? ???? ?? ?? ?????” ? ??? ???? ?????? ? ????? ???????? ??? ?? ?????? ? ???? ????? ???? ???????? ???? ??????? ??? ???? ????? ( ??????) ? ” ???? ?????? ?????? ??? ?? ???? ???? ??????? ?????? ?????? ????? ?? ??? ????”!?

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

???? ?????? ” ??? ????? ????? ?? ??? ?? ?????? ??? ????????? ??? ???? ( ?? ??? ??????) ????? ???? ????? ????? ????? ????? ???? ?? ??? ??????? ??? ????? ?????”. ????? ?????? ” ??? ??????? ???? ???? ??? ????? ?? ???? ???? ????? ???? ??? ???. ?????? ?????? ?? ???? ?? ??? ???? ?? ?????? ??? ?????? ???????. ??? ???? ????? ????? ??? ??? ???? ????? ?? ???? ?????? ???? ?????? ??????”. ???? ?????? ” ?? ????? ????? ?? ?????? ??? ????? ??????? ???? ?????? ??? ??? ???? ????? ?????? ??? ???? ?????? ? ??? ????? ???? ??? ?? ???? ???? ?? ??? ?? ????????? ?????????? ???? ? ???? ??? ????????? ???? ?????? ????? ???? ??? ???? ?? 150 ????? ? ??? ???? ?? ??? ?????. ???? ?? ???? ???? ??????? ???????? ?????????? ??? ????”. ( ???????? ?? ?????? ????? ??? ????? ???????? 21 /12 . ????? ??????? ?? ??????? ??? ??????? ?? ??? ??????? ???? ????? ? ???? ???????).

??? ????? ???? ???? ?????? ? ???? ?????? ” ??? ????????? ??????? ???? ?????? ? ??? ?? ??????? ?? ?????? ???????? ??? ???? ???????? ???? ????? ???????? ??????? ???????? ?????? ?????? ?? ??????? ? ??? ???? ??????? ???? ?????? ???? ?? ??? ?????? . ???????? ???? ??? ??????? ????? ? ???? ????? ?????? . ??? ??? ????? ????? ??? ???? ??? ?????? ? ??? ????????? ????? ???? ??? ????? ????????? ?????????? ???? ????? ????? ? ??? ????? 200 ????? ?????? 300 ?? ???????? ???????? ???????? ?? ????? ????? ??????? ???????? . ??? ??? ??? ??????? ?? ????? ???? ?? ???????? ??? ??? ????? ????? ????? ??????? ????? ????? ??? ???????. ????? ????? ???? ??? ???? ??????? ????? ????? ?? ????? ??????? ???? ????? ????? ??? ????? ?????? ????? ????? ??? . ??? ???? ???? ???????? ??????”.

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

?? ??? ?????? ???? ?????? ??????”??? ???? ?? ????. ???? ?????? ??? ?? ??????? ????? ?? ??? ?? ??? ??????? ? ??? ???? ?? ??? ??????? ????? ?? ?????????. ????? ???? ?? ???? ????????? ??????? ?????? ???? ????????? ????? ??????? ?????”!

“???????” ???? ??????? ???? ????? ?????? ??? ???? ???? ???? ?????? ????? ?????? ?????? ?? ???? “????? ?????? ????”? ????? ?????? ???? ????” ?? ?????? ??? ??? ??? ??? ???? ? ??? ??? ???? ?? ???? ??????? ??????? ?? ??? ????? ???? ?????? ?????? ??? ??? ??????? (“????? ?????”) ???? ??? ????? ???? / ???? ??????. ??? ?????? ??? ??? ???? ?? ?????? . ???? ????? ?????? ?????? ?????? ???? ???? ???? ??? ?? ??? ???? ????? ?????? ???????? ? ?????? ??? ????????? ???????? ??? ??????? ?????? ???? ?? ????? ???? ?????. ???? ???? ???????? ??????? ?? ??? ???? ??? ????? ???? ???? ? ?????? ?? ????? ???? ????????? ??????? ???????? ????????? . ???????? ?? ????? ?? ??? ????? ????? ???? ??????? ???? ?? ??? ???? ????? ?????? ??????? ?? ????? ??????? ?? ??? ????? ??????? ????? ???? ??????? ??? ??????? ???? . ???? ???????? ? ?? ??? ?? ??? ?????? ????? ???? ? ??? ????? ????? ?????? ?? ?????? ?????? ???? ?????? ?? ?????? ??????? ???? ????? ????? ?????? ????? ?? ??????? ???? ????? ? ???? ?? ????? ?????? ????? ? ???? ???? ????? ??????? ????????? ???????????? ?????? ????? ????? ??? ??????? . ???? ????? ??? ?????? ????? ??? ??? ??? . ??? ???? ????? ??? ?????? ???????? ?? ??? ????? ???? ?? ???? ??? ????? ?????? ??????? ???? ? ?????? ?? ??????? ??? ?? ??? ????? ??? ????? ?? ??? ?????? ?????? ????? ???? ?? ???? ??? ????? ???? ??????? ?? ????? ??? ????? ??????. ????? ? ?? ???? ??? ???????? ?? ???? ????? ?? ??? ???? ?????? ??????? ??? ??? ???? ???? ??????? . ??? ?????? ? ??? ??? ??????? ? ?? ??????? ???????? ???????? ?? ?? ??? ?????? ????? ? ??? ????? ????? ???? ??? ????? ??? ????? ??????? ??? ??????”. ???? ?????? ” ?? ??? ? ??? ?? ??? ????? ?????? ??? ????? ?? ??????? ??????? ? ???????????. ??? ?? ??? ?? ??? ???????? ???? ??????? ? ????? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ????? ?????? ??? ?? ???????? ???? ?????. ???? ??? ?? ???? ????????? ??????? ??????? ???? ?????? ????? ????? ??? ????? ??????. ?????? ??? ???? ????? ???? ?????”.

December 21st, 2011, 5:52 pm

 

Dale Andersen said:

Memo To: JADDIE

RE: “…Bronco, you are right…”

You and Bronco Billy love to echo each other. It’s almost like you’re joined at the hip. Do you two have a joint checking account? Are you planning to marry anytime soon? May we come to the wedding?

December 21st, 2011, 5:53 pm

 

Tara said:

Dale Andersen

Please stop attacking Bronco. He is very smart and you know it.

December 21st, 2011, 5:53 pm

 

jad said:

Oh Tara, you defend Bronco Billy and not Jaddie, I’m hurt!

December 21st, 2011, 5:58 pm

 

Bill said:

206. TARA

Don’t read my comments if you are not interested in them. You are Free and nobody is forcing to read anything I write. You only like us to say bad things about Arabs, not Zionists!!!!!!!!!! No, Today is the day I would like to expose the hypocrisy of Zionists who only like to criticize Arabs.
http://www.vanityfair.com/politics/features/2008/04/gaza200804
http://www.palestineremembered.com/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M3dfRtwbJRM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VlHeawIccio

December 21st, 2011, 6:03 pm

 

Tara said:

Bill

I am pro-Palestinian so please do not use the Mumanaa cause like it is used for the last 40 years by our dictators. You have heard many comments from posters here that they have no interest in the discussion as it is distracting us from focusing on Syria’s topics. We know your point of view in regard to Palestine very well. We are not interested in Amir’s and Akbar’s counter point of view at his time. I am sorry that you can’t appreciate this.

December 21st, 2011, 6:19 pm

 

jad said:

????????: ????? ????? ???? ???????? ??????? ????? ???? ??????? ???????

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

December 21st, 2011, 6:22 pm

 

majedkhaldoun said:

A.P.
Sorry ,since I was busy ,I did not answer your question
If there was a deal where land for peace wAS THE OFFER, fIRST iSRAEL HAS TO ACCEPT it, WHICH iSRAEL DOES NOT,EVEN IF iSRAEL ACCEPTED I WOULD BE AGAINST IT, MY OPTION IS FOR iSRAEL TO BE PART OF SYRIA,WHERE JEWS CAN STAY THERE AND PRACTICE THEIR RELIGIOUN FREELY IN THE AREA THAT MOSES TALKED ABOUT.

Also you asked about where the jews lived, Nothing in Quraan says that they lived in specific area, except those who lived in Medina and some towns around it, the history told us that the jews are children of Jacob , who changed his name to Israel, this is not in Quraan, the children of Israel are the jews, Abraham is our grand father as well as he was your grand father, the children of Jacob lived in part of palastine till their brother Joseph got an official job in Egypt and then his brothers moved to Egypt, so Egypt is my answer, however I am sure you know that their decendents continue to live in Egypt and became Slaves there ,till Moses emancipated them.
there is no mention in Quraan where Abraham lived but history told us that he came from UR, which I believe it is in southern Turkey, his wife was white with blue eyes ,so I doubt she was from southern Iraq, Abraham moved south, till he get to Egypt and later he lived the rest of his life in palastine, In Quraan he visited Mecca and left his son Ismael there.
Moses never entered northern Palastine,after he took the jews there, Joshua who entered Palastine, it was the northern part of palastine, the area that moses said God gave it to the jews,David was a king 3-4 hundred year later, Solomon inherited his father kingdom, in northern palastine, Jerusalem was a small town 1000 year age but as a city it was not till 300 year later, after Solomon death he had two children who wanted to be kings, Reho and Gero,Gero tried during the life of Solomon to take over he lost and has to flee to Egypt and married the pharoa daughter, and later came back and took the area south of Israel where his brother reho was king after his father death, Gero took jerusalem as his city
God forbade David and certainly his son Solomon to build a palace in Jerusalem because jerusalem was not the capital of Israel nor it belong to the jews,non jewish people lived there,Solomon capital was in northern part and there where he built the palace, jerusalem to God would be for christians and Moslems

December 21st, 2011, 6:31 pm

 

Tara said:

@210 Jaddie

“Oh Tara, you defend Bronco Billy and not Jaddie. I am hurt”

Because I like Bronco Billy.

I am sorry if I sound bluntly honest “liar MB”. Can’t help it. I am honest with my emotions. So next time you ask, know I either refrain or answer a bluntly honest “MB lie”.

December 21st, 2011, 6:43 pm

 

Dale Andersen said:

Memo To: MAJEDKHALDOUN

RE: “…Abraham came from UR, which I believe it is in southern Turkey…”

No, you moron, Ur is in southern Iraq. It flourished during the ancient Sumerian civilization. Jesus! It just goes to show that a little education is worse than none at all…

December 21st, 2011, 6:44 pm

 

ann said:

Yemen and its Saleh Deal Under Saudi Eyes, US Drones, Qatar Funding

http://www.innercitypress.com/yemen2saudi122111.html

http://www.unmultimedia.org/tv/webcast/2011/12/press-conference-jamal-benomar-special-adviser-to-the-secretary-general-for-yemen.html

UNITED NATIONS, December 21 — When Nobel Peace Prize winner Tawakkul Karman came to the UN earlier this year, she denounced the Gulf Cooperation Council’s “immunity deal” for President Ali Saleh, and her supporters chanted, “Saudi Arabia out of Yemen!”

Now in the run up to an ostensibly post-Saleh Yemeni government to be elected on February 21, Inner City Press on December 21 asked UN envoy Jamal Benomar about the impact on Yemen and his mediation work of Saudi Arabia, the United States, and Qatar. Video here, from Minute 28:25.

Saudi Arabia in 2009 took military action against the Houthis in Yemen, just as it has more recently in Bahrain. The US is described as engaged in a stealth or drone war in Yemen, and Qatar is known to fund some parties in Yemen, just as it has in Libya.

Benomar, ever the diplomat (actually for his views he has been imprisoned and committed, too far among current UN high officials) told Inner City Press that “Yemen has neighbors, there are important members of the international community.”

He said that the situation in Yemen “effects maritime routes in the areas, and also Yemen is next door to some of the biggest oil fields in the world… The concern of the international community is there… We work very closely with Saudi Arabia, with the GCC countries.” Video here, from Minute 29:35.

In a process that, for example, Russian Permanent Representative Vitaly Churkin has praised, Benomar described “in Sana’a a group of Ambassadors of the GCC and P[ermanent] Five [members of the Security Council] collectively… speak with one voice.”

Some have said wistfully they wished this type of major power collaboration was possible on, for example, Syria. That seems unlikely, not only with reference to Benomar’s work, but because in Yemen all the major powers oppose Al Qaeda, and all but perhaps Iran are willing to sacrifice the Houthis to Saudi Arabia. And so it goes.

December 21st, 2011, 6:54 pm

 

Bill said:

212. TARA

I am going to be easy on you only because I respect the fact that you are pro-Palestinian. No, I never use the Momanah argument because, had you read my earlier comments, I am whole-heartedly supportive of the ongoing Syrian revolt. I believe that Free Syrians, who deserve freedom for their own good, will also be supportive of Palestine.
However, NO I cannot stop mentioning Zionists’ hypocrisy when pro-Israel Zionists are opportunistically demagoguing the Syrian Revolt to show that ONLY Syrians and Arabs are bad and colonial Israel is righteous.
How come you don’t complain when the Zionists and non-Zionists on this blog post on Egypt, etc.?
In any case, Syria is part of the Arab World. It has occupied land, the Golan. It has Palestinian refugee camps. It has always been, and will always be (as long as occupation/colonization continues)officially in a state of war with colonial Israel. I am sorry, I cannot stop talking about Israeli occupation when I start commenting on Syrians’ and Arabs’ inspiring “Arab Spring!”
http://www.vanityfair.com/politics/features/2008/04/gaza200804
http://www.palestineremembered.com/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M3dfRtwbJRM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VlHeawIccio

December 21st, 2011, 6:56 pm

 
 

Amir in Tel Aviv said:

Tara,

“… We are all in deep emotional pain and SC is our only way to talk to each other. And despite the apparent fights and bickering, we all want to stay Syrians, diverse but united as we were before. We are stealing time from work, home, and life to discuss all the insane events to keep us sane. This has been very important to all of us especially being very much away from Syria”.

Accepted and internalized! Sorry if I did upset you.
.

December 21st, 2011, 7:02 pm

 

jad said:

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

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

???? ?? ???????
??????? ??? ???? ????????? ??? ????? ???? ?? ?????? ??????? ???? ???????? ???? ?????? ???? ??? ?????? ???????? ??????? ?? ???? ??? ?????. ??? ??????? ?? ?????? ??? ????? ???? ??? ??????? ?? ????????? ????????? ?? ??? ??????? ???????.
??????? ????? ??? ??? ??????? ??????? ????? ??????? ???? ???? ?? ?????? ?????? ?????? ????????? ????? ?? ?????? ?????? ?????? ?????? ???? ?? ???? ????? ????? ??????? ??????. ???? ????? ??? ???? ???? ?????? ??????? ????? ??????? ??????? ????? ??? ???? ???.
????? ???? ?? ????? ????? ?????? ?????? ???? ?? «??????? ???? ??? ????? ??????? ????? ????? ?? ???? «???» ????? ????? ????? ?????? ???????? ??????? ????????? ????????? ???????? ???????? ??????? ????? ?????? ?????? ????? ????? ??????? ??? ?? ?????? ???????». ??? ???????? ???? ??????? ?????? ??????? ?? ????? ???? ?? ??? ?? ??? ??. ?? ????? ??????? ???????? ????? ???????? «????? ?????? ?? ?????? ???? ????? ???????? ????? ??????? ???? ??? ??????. ?????? ????? ??? ?? ?????? ?????? ??? ?????? ?????? ????? ?????? ??? ???? ????? ???? ????? ?????? ??? ?????. ?????? ?????? ????? ??????? ??? ?????? ??? ????? ??????? ????????? ??? ????? ????????? ??? ?????? ?? ??????? ?????? ?? ??????? ?? ?????? ????? ?? ????? ?????? ??????? ?? ????? ?????? ?? ???? ??????».
???? ???????? ???? ?????? ?? ??? ???? ?? ????? ???????? ?? ??????? ??? ?? ??? ?????? «???? ????? ???? ?? ????? ??? ????? ?? ????? ???????? ???? ?? ???? ?????? ????????». ?????? ??? «????? ???? ??????? ?? ??????? ???? ???? ??? ??? ?????? ?? ????? ?????? ???????? ???? ??? ????? ??? ????????? ?????? ???? ?? ???? ??? ??? ??????. ????? ????????? ?? ????? ??? ??? ?????? ???? ???? ??????? ???? ????? ????????. ??? ????? ?????? ????? ???? ???. ?? ??? ??????? ??? ???????? ?????? ???????. ?? ??? ?????? ???? ?????????? ????? ?? ????? ???? ?????? ???? ?????? ??? ???? ?????? ??????? ???? ????? ??????? ??? ??????? ?????????? ??? ??? ?????? ??????? ???? ???? ??????? ?????? ?????? ??? ????? ??????».
????? ??????? ???? ?? «????? ?????? ?????? ?? ?????? ???? ??? ????? ????? ??? ????? ?????? ??? ?? ???? ????? ??? ???? ?? ??? ???? ??????????. ????? ??? ????? ???? ????? ?????? ??? ?? ????? ????? ?? ??????????? ????? ?? ????? ????? ?????? ????? ?? ????? ???? ????? ?? ????. ???? ???? ????? ??? ??????? ????? ????? ?????? ?????? ???? ?????? ?????? ????? ??????».
????? ??????? ??? ?? «??? ?? 20 ????? ????? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??????? ?????? ?? «??????» ???????? ?????? ??????»? ??? ?? ???? ??? ?????? ???? ??????? ?? ????? ??????? ???? ????? ?????? ????????? ??? ??????? ??????? ????? ????? ?????? ?? ?????.
????? ???? ??????? ?? ?????? ???? ????? ?????? ?? ????? ??? ?? ??? ???? ?????? ????? ??? «????? ?????? ???? ????? ????? ?? ???????»? ?????? ?? ???? ???? ??????? ?????? ??????? ?????? ??????????? ????? ???? ??? ???? 4 ???? ?? ???? ????? ?????? ?????? ??????? ???????? ?? ?????????? ?? ??????? ??? ????????.
??? ?? ???? ???????? ????? ??????. ???? ?????? ??? ???????? ?? ????????? ?? «????? ???? ???????? ?????? ??? ????????? ??? ?? ????? ????? ?? ??????? ???? ???? ???? ???? ??????. ????? ??? ???? ????? ???????? ???? ???? ???? ?????????? ?? ???? ????? ???? ??? ?????? ????. ???????? ??? ?????? ???????? ???? ?????? ??? ?????? ??????? ?? ???? ??? ????? ???? ??????? ?? ????? ??? ?? ????? ??? ??????? ??? ??? ???????? ??? ???? ?? ??????? ???? ????? ????? ?????? ????? ??? ???????? ??????? ?? ?? ??????? ??? ??? ??? ????? ?? ????? ????? ????????? ??????? ??? ??? ?? ?????? ?? ???? ???».
?????? ????? «??????? ?????? ??????? ?????? ??? ????? ????»? ?????? ??? ?? ????? ???? ?????? ?? ????? ??? ????????? ??? «???? ????? ???? ??? ??? ????? ??????? ???? ??????? ??? ????????? ????? ???? ????? ??? ???? ??????. ???? ??? ???? ?? ?????????? ?????? ?? ????? ??? ?? ?????».
????? ????? ???????? ??? ???????? ?????? ?????? ???????? ??????? ????? ?????? ??? ???? ?????? ??? ??? ???? ??? ?? ??????? ????? ??? ?? ?????? ??? ?? ????? ????????.
???? ?????? ??????? ??? ??? ????? ???????? ?? ????? ??????? ??? ????? ?????? ??? ????? ??????? ???? ??? ????? ?? ??? ???????? «???? ???? ????? ??????? ????? ??????? ????????? ????? ??? ???????? ???? ?????? ??????? ??? ?????? ???????? ???? ???? ??? ?????? ????? ??? ??????? ?? ??????? ??????? ?? ??? ????? ??? ????? ??????? ??? ????? ??????».
????? ??????? ???? ????? ??? ?? ????? ??????? ?????? ??????? ??????? ???????? ?????? ????? ?? ???? ?????? ????? ??? ???? ??????. ??? ???? ?????? ??????? ?????? ?? ????? ????? ??? ?? «????? ??? ??? ??? ???? ???????? ?? ??? ????? ??? ???? ???? ????? ??????? ???? ????? «?????????»? ?????? ??????? ??????? ??????? ?? ?????? ??? ??? ??????». ?????: «?????? ???? ??? ???? ?? ?????? ???????? ???? ??? ?? ??????? ??????? ??? ??????? ????? ??????? ??? ?????? ??? ?? ????? ???????? ?? ??? ???? ????? ?? ??????? ???? ??????».
?? ????? ????? ???? ????? ??????? ?? «??????? ???????? ?? ??????? ????? ?????? ???? ???????? ??????? ?????? ????? ???? ??????? ??????? ?????? ?????? ??? ?????? ?? ???????? ??? ??? ?? ??????? ?????? ?? ?????».
????? ????? ???????? ?? ????? ???????? ??????? ???????? ?? ???? ???????? ??????????? ??????? ?? ???? ???? ????????? ????? ??? ???????.

http://www.al-akhbar.com/node/28225

December 21st, 2011, 7:03 pm

 

Bill said:

217. DALE ANDERSEN

With all due respect, and I really really don’t want to be personal and insulting, you have some serious arrogant mental issues. Your replies to all are personal and arrogant with name-calling. I don’t like to go down to your low arrogant level, but please (for your own good) seek professional mental help. You have nothing (no information or knowledge) to contribute on this blog. You only comment to engage in McCarthyism and personal attack. GET HELP!

December 21st, 2011, 7:05 pm

 

Akbar Palace said:

We are not interested in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict at this time. I understand your sentiments but you also need to understand our sentiment too.

Tara,

I understand completely. As you know, I can get carried away.

I wish only for the Syrian people to gain their independence from this long and brutal dictatorship, quickly and peacefully, so they can heal and build a country that is free and prosperous. I really hope this will enable Syria to make peace with all her neighbors.

December 21st, 2011, 7:12 pm

 

jad said:

Tara
Good to know that you finally admit it 🙂

December 21st, 2011, 7:13 pm

 

Bill said:

224. AKBAR PALACE
221. AMIR IN TEL AVIV

Dear TARA:

You see how these two Zionists love us to stop talking about Israeli colonialism/War crimes. They only love to talk about the bad things in Syria, Egypt, etc.
No Way!
http://www.vanityfair.com/politics/features/2008/04/gaza200804
http://www.palestineremembered.com/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M3dfRtwbJRM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VlHeawIccio

December 21st, 2011, 7:16 pm

 

Tara said:

Amir and Akbar,

Thank you.

Jaddie

Yup. I needed to come clean.

Bill,

An argument begets a counter-argument. It is not the time now, unless you the intention is to distract the topic away from Syria.

December 21st, 2011, 7:27 pm

 

Dale Andersen said:

Memo To: BILL

RE: “…You have nothing to contribute on this blog…”

Neither do you, petunia. In fact, posters on here have told you to shut up. And you refuse. Sounds like you’re the one needing professional help.

What is McCarthyism by the way? I’ve never heard of it. Is it a disease like Alzeimerism? Just wondering…

December 21st, 2011, 7:29 pm

 

Amir in Tel Aviv said:

An Israeli commentator which I like to read, Guy Be7or, wrote something that has alot of truth in it.

He wrote that, whenever an Arab party/side wants everything, it ends up with nothing. Think about it. The Arab tyrants wanted everything, and ended up with nothing. The Palestinians want every thing, and… you know what they ended up with.
Now the Islamists are doing the same mistake. And if I may, the Iraqi-Shi’i too are on this slippery slope.

He argues that the Arabs not yet learned the exercise of compromise and sharing. To me it makes sense.
.

December 21st, 2011, 7:32 pm

 

Dale Andersen said:

Memo To: AMIRIO IN IL PALAZZO di SOLOMON

RE: “…Arabs want everything and end up with nothing…”

I have a theory. It has to do with toilet training. And swaddling. When researchers look into a culture and identify some aspect where they’re particularly fucked up, dollars to doughnuts the problem originates in how mothers swaddle and toilet train their infants.

I wonder how Bill was toilet trained. Perhaps he can enlighten us…

December 21st, 2011, 7:44 pm

 

jad said:

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

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?? ??? ?????????? ????? ?? ??????? ?????? ???????? «???????» ???? ????? ??? ???????? ??? ??? ???? ?? ???? ??? ????? ???? ????? ???? ??????? ???????? ????????? ????? ???? ??????? ????????? ???? ???? ???? ???? ??????? ?????? ?????. ??? ???????? ?? ?? ??????? ???? ?????? ?? ???? ???? ????? ??? ??????? ?????? ???? «??????? ????? ????? ??? ??? ???????!».
??? ?? ?? ?????? ???? ???? ???????? ???????. ????? ????? ?? ??????? ?? ???? ??? ????? ???? ??? ?????? ????
??? ?? ????? ?? ?????? ?? ???? ??????? ???? ????? ????? ??????? ???????? ????????? ?? ?????? ????? ??? ?????? ??????? ???? ?? ??????? ??? ??? ??? ???????. ????????? ?????? ??? ?? ?????? ??? ?? ???? «???????» ?? ?????? ?? ???? ????? ???? ????? ??? ???? «??????»? ?????? ?? ?????? ???? ??? ?? ???? ?????? ??? ?? ????? ?????? ??????? ???? ???? ?????? ?? ??? ???? ???? ???????. ??? ?????? ????? ???????? ?????? ?? ?????? ?? ??? ?????? «???????» ?? ?????? ?????? ?? ????? ?????? ?????? ?????. ???? «???????» ??????? ???? ?? ???????? ?? ??????? ?????? ?????? ?????? ????? ??? ???? ??????? ??? ??????? ??«??????» ??? ???? ??????? ???? ?????????.
??????? ?? ?? ??? ?? ???? ?? ???? ????? ????? ??????? ?????????? ??? ?? ?????? ?? ??????? ????? ???? ???? ??????? ????? ??? ??????? ??????? ??????? ?? ?????? ??? ?? ???? ???. ??? ???????? ????? ??????? ???? ????? ?????? ????? ????? ?? ????? ?? ??????? ?? ??? ????? ????? ????? ??? ?????.
??? ???? ?????? ????? ??? ?????? ??? ???????? ?? ?? ?? ?????? ??? ??? «?????» ???? ?????? ??? ?? ????? ?????? ???? ????.
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December 21st, 2011, 7:46 pm

 

Amir in Tel Aviv said:

Dale,

Freud had the same theory. What a coincidence. But tell me, how did Tel Aviv become PALAZZO di SOLOMON? Or we have to put you on a Freudian sofa for free associations session ?
.

December 21st, 2011, 7:59 pm

 

Tara said:

Pertinent to the previous discussion in #201

The Syrian regime is going to execute soldiers that had defected from Assad’s armies. Dubbed “traitors”, this news comes shortly after the regime signed an agreement with the Arab League agreeing to let in a number of observers and after 100 to 110 people were reported killed by the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which, as we all know, is being bashed by so-called “leftist” sceptics who find the deaths of twenty, let alone one hundred, Syrians per day less outrageous than the “standards” of impartiality and fairness that they expect; fair play and all that. It begs the question why they think they are anti-imperialists in the first place when their outrage is only provoked by some injustices and not others.

http://andrewsullivan.thedailybeast.com/2011/12/today-in-syria-massacre.html

December 21st, 2011, 8:44 pm

 

irritated said:

#279 Amir

“He argues that the Arabs not yet learned the exercise of compromise and sharing. To me it makes sense.”

This sounds more like more applicable to Israelis the to Arabs.

Is Israel ready to compromise and share the land with the millions of Palestinians they have kicked out of their land?

December 21st, 2011, 8:58 pm

 

ann said:

*** THE WOLF SHEDS IT’S SHEEPSKIN ***

israel criticize UN over Syria response – Wednesday, 21 December 2011

Israel has criticised the EU members of UN Security Council for condemning the settlements and not acting to stop killings in Syria.

http://www.rte.ie/news/2011/1221/israel.html

Israel has lashed out at European members of the UN Security Council claiming that rather than condemning the Israeli settlements that they should be acting to stop the killing of civilians in Syria.

Britain, France, Germany and Portugal led condemnation by Security Council members on Tuesday of Israel’s increased settlements in the occupied territories and growing attacks by extremist settlers on Palestinians.

The four European countries said Israel’s announcements of accelerated settlement building send a “devastating” message, and urged the Jewish state to reverse the plans.

Israeli opposition leader Tzipi Livni said that the government was taking a dangerously confrontational attitude and eroding diplomatic support for the Jewish state.

The Europeans welcomed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s vow to clamp down on settler violence and called “on the Israeli government to fulfill its commitment to bring the perpetrators to justice

Ultra-nationalist Jews fighting government plans to dismantle wildcat settlement outposts have undertaken a campaign of vandalism in recent weeks, most of which has targeted Palestinian property, although they have also struck at the army and Israeli peace activists.

Israel blames Palestinians for impasse

Karean Peretz, spokeswoman for Israeli’s UN mission, reacted by saying “the main obstacle to peace has been, and remains, the Palestinians’ claim to the so-called right of return and its refusal to recognize Israel as a Jewish state.”

Neither US Ambassador Susan Rice nor any of her deputies appeared at the Security Council microphone to speak to reporters after the meeting.

Mr Churkin said the series of addresses to the media yesterday on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict was a “completely new development.”

Palestinian observer Riyad Mansour told reporters that “one powerful member of the Security Council” – the US – was preventing it from dealing with the settlements issue and other problems related to the Middle East peace process.

In September, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas submitted an application for full membership in the United Nations, which the Security Council would have to approve in order for it to go to the General Assembly for a vote.

Mr Churkin said the council was prepared to act on the Palestinian application as soon as a draft resolution is submitted that could be voted on.

December 21st, 2011, 9:06 pm

 

Ghufran said:

Jad
The AL signed agreement does not provide protection for armed militia including the FSA, and what happened in Idleb is a terrible loss of lives after those group of armed men and defecting soldiers were told that they can occupy part of Idleb and declare it a liberated zone,they forgot that there are probably spies for the regime inside every opposition group including the FSA. Those guys are being used in a campaign that is harming the opposition and increasing blood shed with no realistic chance of success.
Look at the deafening silence at the loss of more than 150 armed Syrians,nobody will defend those defecting soldiers as long as they continue to launch a violent war that goes well beyond their stated goal: defending civilians.

December 21st, 2011, 9:08 pm

 

ann said:

Not all is right in Middle East – 2011-12-22

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/cndy/2011-12/22/content_14304445.htm

The political upheavals in the Middle East and North Africa this year during which four Arab regimes collapsed were difficult to imagine at the beginning of 2011. No wonder, the geopolitical implications of the radical changes have drawn global attention.

The “Arab Spring” was sparked by the protests in Tunisia, which started on Dec 17, 2010, and forced the then Tunisian president, Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, to flee to Saudi Arabia in mid-January. In Egypt, Hosni Mubarak resigned on Feb 11 after 18 days of massive protests, ending his 30-year presidency. Later, with strong intervention of NATO forces, the opposition overthrew the Muammar Gadhafi government in Libya – Gadhafi was killed on Oct 20. And Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh eventually signed the Gulf Cooperation Council-brokered plan on Nov 23, setting the stage for transfer of power in the country.

Encouraged and excited by their success in Libya, Western powers turned to Syria, tightened sanctions against the country and demanded that President Bashar al-Assad step down. Assad could be the fifth Middle East leader to fall.

The uprisings reflect the sharp domestic strife and increasing foreign pressure the Arab states face. And years of social contradictions have resulted in mass outbreak of violence.

The greatest casualty of the “Arab Spring” has been the marginalization of peace talks between Palestine and Israel, by far the most important question in the Middle East. Though recognized as a state by the United Nations and 130-plus countries, Palestine is still in transition from a legal state to a real one. Now, it seems, Syria and Iran will be the factors that decide the future of the Middle East.

The Syrian crisis will be in the headlines next year, too. The United States, Russia and European countries, especially France, are competing to gain the upper hand in Syria as the crisis there deepens. The Arab League has been exerting pressure on the country and has imposed unprecedented trade sanctions against Damascus.

Though Assad still has some trump cards up his sleeve, his government does not seem to have a promising future if the Arab League, especially if the US and the European Union continue their pressure on him. Besides, the international support for the Syrian opposition is increasing. Given the situation, Assad’s days in power are not expected to be long.

The real fallout of the Syrian crisis, however, is the possibility that such protests could spread to neighboring countries. Once Hezbollah, Hamas, Iran or Israel get involved, the whole Middle East will descend into chaos.

To avoid the Syrian crisis from spreading to neighboring countries, the US and Russia are trying to use the “Yemeni model” – in which Ali Abdullah Saleh ceded power in exchange for immunity – in Syria. In fact, the Russian Foreign Ministry is possibly trying to persuade Assad to hand over power in exchange for refuge in Moscow.

The tension over Iran is intensifying, too. Iran is busy preparing to deal with a possible US military strike. Despite the US, the United Kingdom and Israel indicating that they could attack Iran anytime, but a war is not likely to break out in the near future.

Moreover, apart from Syria and Iran, Iraq too is likely to play an important role in the future of the region. With US troops pulling out of Iraq, the political, social and economic chaos in the country is likely to continue, though the US could manage to find other ways to control the situation in the war-torn country.

But one thing is clear: The social transformation in the region, given the intense political turmoil, will be a long and painful process, during which the Arab states have to pay a huge price. Facing unprecedented political upheavals, the political landscape in the Arab world is undergoing a change, with some previously hard-line Arab authorities falling one after another, and some states in the Persian Gulf, including Saudi Arabia, gaining strength.

The Arab states facing political upheavals will enter a long period of political instability leading to political integration, while countries not facing serious unrest are adopting measures to carry out political reforms to offset the impact of the “Arab Spring”.

After the collapse of the governments in Tunisia, Egypt, Libya and Yemen, a variety of domestic political forces with different political aspirations will compete against each other. Domestic political instability and conflicts among Middle East states are likely to make the turbulent period last longer. Islamic political forces are a powerful influence in Arab society, and the fall of some ruling parties in some Middle East countries has created a new opening for them to gain more strength, even through the ballot box.

In fact, Islamic political parties in Tunisia, Morocco and Egypt have assumed power through elections. Islamic political parties, the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt for example, are rising in the political arena of Arab states. That will be a message of caution for the countries, especially in the West, which expected democracy to reign supreme in the Middle East after the so called “Arab Spring”.

December 21st, 2011, 9:12 pm

 

ann said:

May you live in interesting times By William Bowles – 21 December 2011

http://williambowles.info/2011/12/21/may-you-live-in-interesting-times-by-william-bowles/

Currently the media represents the interests of the 1% of the ‘public’ that imposes its reality on the proceedings as if it’s ours. A reality in which certain fundamentals are a ‘given’, for example, the rule of private capital, the primacy of the state to act with impunity in all things in order to ‘protect our national interest’. In a phrase, the preservation of the existing order and way of doing things.

Even the tools that we now have including blogs, social networking and instantaneous video have proved to be very powerful tools of propaganda for the Empire. Tools that have been turned against us as is the case with Libya and now Syria.

The BBC’s use of video from cellphones–mostly unattributed and revealing nothing about what is actually going on in Syria–have become the staple diet of the BBC’s alleged news coverage of Syria, claiming that they’re not allowed into the country.

And ‘bloggers’ are now a regular feature of MSM coverage, which is fine except that only a couple of years ago, the MSM was ranting on about how ‘blogging’ was going to be the death of ‘professional’ journalism. If only…

But no more, the MSM realized that ‘reality’ video was the perfect tool of propaganda, as it appears that it’s ‘the people’ speaking. The BBC is merely relaying ‘reality’ to its public and in the process it accrues the authenticity needed to make it believable. To make it credible.

And in doing so, the MSM has jettisoned the last remnants of what it chooses to call ‘impartial and objective’ journalism.

The drama and (hidden) tragedy of the destruction of Libya was played out for us as if it were cinéma verité, all grainy footage and hand-held cameras swinging about wildly all over the place, inter-cut with BBC propagandists masquerading as news men standing in front of a weapon of death boasting to the viewer of its awesome fire power.

As the Empire acts with increasing impunity, so too does the media. The Media and the Empire in total lockstep.

December 21st, 2011, 9:30 pm

 

ann said:

Five Iranians abducted in Syria – December 22, 2011

TEHRAN (AFP) – Five Iranian technicians working on a power plant project in Syria were abducted on Wednesday by an unidentified group of people, the Iranian embassy in Damascus said in a statement, according to the Mehr news agency. The embassy “has called on the kidnappers to immediately release” the technicians, Mehr said. The five were taken early on Wednesday as they were on their way to work on the project in Homs, a western city that is a minor flashpoint for the unrest that has gripped Syria, according to the report. “In a statement, Iran’s embassy confirmed the abduction of five Iranian engineers in Syria and has called on the kidnappers to release them ,” Mehr said.

December 21st, 2011, 9:37 pm

 

N.Z. said:

Dear Tara,

I was asked, why did they deserted the army, are they stupid, what were they thinking, that they will not be hunted by his henchmen?

By refusing orders, they were saving Syrian lives, their nobility is beyond my friend’s comprehension.

These fellow are the unsung heroes of the Syrian Revolution. By deserting, not only they risked theirs, but endangered the lives of their families and loved ones.

They are not dissident, they are soldiers with conscience.

December 21st, 2011, 9:42 pm

 

Tara said:

The massacre story:  The security forces surrounded about 150local residents and shoo them with bullets and tank shells for more than five hours.

Latest Syria killings draw international ire

http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/45748624/ns/today-today_news/t/activists-say-more-killed-syrian-town/
updated 2 hours 51 minutes ago

Syrian troops have killed 111 people in one of the deadliest incidents since the uprising against President Bashar Assad’s regime began in March, activists said Wednesday.

The British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the killings occurred in the town of Kfar Owaid in the northwestern province of Idlib Tuesday.
“It was an organized massacre. The troops surrounded people, then killed them,” said Rami Abdul-Rahman, head of the organization.
The killings were reported a day before Arab League observers were due to visit Syria to monitor pledges by Assad’s government to withdraw troops from besieged areas.
The White House said it was “deeply disturbed” by Tuesday’s attack, the State Department stepped up its travel warning, France called the deaths a “murderous spiral,” and the Arab League reminded the Assad regime of its responsibilities to protect its civilians.

In a statement, the rights organization said government forces surrounded about 150 local residents and shot them with bullets and tank shells for more than five hours.
“Some women tried to break the siege but in vain,” it said. “The security forces arrested a number of young people from their homes, shackled them [and] executed them,” it added.

It said 111 bodies were counted in the local mosque, of which 56 had been identified by its local activists.
Dr. Mousab Azzawi, a coordinator in London for the organization, told msnbc.com that the total number of victims its local activists had verified since Monday was 228.
“The situation is absolutely getting worse by the day,” he said. “This area has been crippled by protest strikes and there is no electrical power, freezing cold weather and very little communication.”
The accounts could not be independently confirmed because Syria has banned entry to most foreign journalists and places heavy restrictions on the work of local reporters.
Azzawi claimed Syria’s decision on Monday to allow Arab League monitors to enter the country had simply prolonged the bloodshed.
“Every time they talk it means another day without change for the people in Syria,” he said.

Warnings from US 
The Obama administration reacted to the latest reports by renewing its call for Assad to step down, saying he “does not deserve to rule Syria.”
“The United States is deeply disturbed by credible reports that the Assad regime continues to indiscriminately kill scores of civilians and army defectors, while destroying homes and shops and arresting protesters without due process,” the White House said in a statement read by spokesman Jay Carney, warning that the international community could take more steps against Syria.
State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland added that the stepped-up violence signaled that Syria’s acceptance of the Arab League plan is merely a “stalling tactic.”
“This is not the behavior of a government that is getting ready to implement the Arab League proposals,” she told reporters, adding later that: “We’ve got lots of promises as the government continues to mow down its own people.”
The department, renewing its travel warning for Syria, repeated earlier alerts that urged Americans to leave while there is still commercial air service and limit their travel inside the country due to the violence. The warning also said that already limited services at the embassy in Damascus likely would be curtailed “as staff levels … are being further reduced.”

French Foreign Ministry spokesman Bernard Valero said “everything must be done to stop this murderous spiral into which Bashar Assad is leading his people more every day.” He added that the U.N. Security Council must “pass a firm resolution demanding the end to this repression.”

The German government’s human rights commissioner, Markus Loening, called for an immediate end to violence against deserters and demonstrators.
Turkey’s Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said “it is unacceptable” that so many people were killed after Syria agreed to an Arab League plan to halt the bloodshed.
In Cairo, Arab League chief Nabil Elaraby expressed deep concern about reports of an escalation in violence and appealed to Damascus to shoulder its responsibilities to protect civilians in compliance with its pledges to abide by the league’s plan.
….
Despite the new violence, the Arab League appeared to be going ahead with its plans to send in its first delegation of monitors on Thursday. An Arab League official said the second team of observers — 30 experts in military affairs and human rights — will head for Syria on Sunday, led by Lt. Gen. Mohammed Ahmed Mustafa of Sudan.
Another team of 100 observers will leave for Syria within two weeks, he said.
…..
The Associated Press contributed to this report.

December 21st, 2011, 9:43 pm

 

Ghufran said:

Ghalioun-Clinton
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???????: ????? ????? ?????? ????? ?????? ????? ?? ???? ?? ????? ?? ?????? ???????? ??? ???? ?? ???? ????? ???????? ?????????? ??????? ??????? ?? ????? ?? ??? ?????? ?????. ?????? ???????? ??????????? ???? ???? ?? ???? ????? ???? ????? ???? ???? ????? ????? ??? ??? ???? ??????? ?????? ?????? ??????? ??? ????????? ??? ????? ?? ??????? ?? ????? ?? ????? ???? ????? ???? ?????? ?? ???? ?? ?????? ????? ?? ???? ??????? ????? ??? ???????? ?? ??? ?????? ??????? ?????? ??????? ?????? ??? ???????? ??????? ?? ??????? ?? ??????.
?????: ???? ????? ?? ??? ???? ????? ?? ???? ??? ??? ????? ??????? ??????? ????? ?????? ??? ????? ?????.
???????: ???????? ??(????? ??????? ????? ????? ??????) ????? (???????) ????? ?????? ????? ???? ??? ???????? ?????????? ???? ?? ?????? ?? ???????? ??????? ???? ????? ?????? ??? ????? ???? ???? ????? ???? ?? ???? ?? ????????? ???? ???? ???? ?? ?????? ??????? ?? ????? ?? ???? ?????? ?? ????? ????? ?????? ?? ????? “???????????” ???? ???? ??? ??? ??? ???? ??? ???? ?? ??????? ???? ???? ?? ??? ??????? ?? ??????? ???????? ?? ??????????? ????? ?? ?????? ????? ??? ??? ????? ???? ?? ????? ???? ????? ??????? ?? ?????? ?????? ???????? ????? ??? ??? ?????? ??????? ??? ????? ?????? ?????? ???? ??? ????? ?????? ???? ????? ????? ??????? ??????? ???? ???? ??????? ?????? ???? ????? ?????? ?????? ???????? ???? ??????? ??????? ????? ??????.

December 21st, 2011, 9:50 pm

 

Uzair8 said:

Interview with Prof. Landis on BBC World Service. Came across it after 3 AM UK time. Listen from 2 minutes (0:02:00):

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/console/p00m7ynl

I’ve attempted a transcript. Please correct an forgive any errors. I’ve double checked it:

TRANSCRIPT:

Q:‘…what’s the likely outcome of this political conflict?’

JL: It’s likely that the regime will be in power a year from now. The Opposition is not organised. It’s gotten much more organised but for 40 years there’s been no politics in Syria so it’s hard tosee how it can become unified in a short period of time. It doesn’t have a military wing. It hasn’t liberated any part of the territory. We’re not anywhere near a Libya type situation yet. There haven’t been major defections at the top of the Syrian regime. The Syrian military remains fairly strong. There have been a lot of defections at the lower levels but the core, the Alawite, Baathist core, the Officer core has remained solid and is still in charge of tanks and heavy weaponry. How the Syrian Opposition is going to face this is unclear and the external powers europe and the United States don’t seem to be ready to intervene.

Q: So when we have the Obama administration saying yet again that Bashar al-Assad’s rule is past it’s sell by date they’re simply what, huffing and puffing and failing to blow the house down?

JL: That seems to be the situation right now. Everybody is trying to raise the rhetorical bar. The Arab League. We see this in the United Nations but of course the Security Council has not been able to to come to condemnation because Russia and China and even the BRIC countries are against it so we’ve reached the limits here.

We’ve got very severe economic sanctions on Syria. The economy is really spinning downwards. It’s shrunk by, in dollar terms, the syrian economy GDP has shrunk by 30% since the beginning of this uprising. The situation has gotten quite dire for many Syrians. There’s no heating oil. Cooking gas is hard to find. Electricity shortages all the time. Energy is really running out and the state institutions are not being able to provide. They cut salaries and lay off extra people. So the Syrians are going to go through a very difficult winter. It’s gonna be a cold and long winter.

Q: Does that undermine any support that Bashar al-Assad’s regime enjoyed at the beginning of this year within the country because we were told in previous months back in the beginning of the summer, say that there was a large number of people in Damascus and Aleppo especially who’d rather go with the status quo than see it upset. Have they had grounds to change their minds now with this deprivation?

JL:Why I think people are changing their minds but what can they really do? People are dissatisfied. It used to be that the upper classes and even the middle classes had , in a sense, an implicit deal with the Assad regime. They would get a piece of the pie. They would get stability and they sacrificed liberty and freedom. But they didn’t have Iraq and instability. Today there is no more piece of pie to go around and there is no more stability. The regime can offer very little and it looks like it will never regain its footing again so people are frightened. They dont know what the future is going to bring.

What is a middle class or a businessman supposed to do in this situation? They are caught in a terrible mind because a number of important businessmen in Aleppo have been assassinated and some have had their factories burned down. The opposition is trying to tell them ‘do not continue to co-operate with the regime’ but the regime at the same time has warned businessmen ‘you step over the line and we’ll put you into jail and close your businesses down’. So they’re paralyzed. They’re very anxious and can’t get their money out of the country. And so the whole country is sitting there in a sense shuddering between this growing opposition which is becoming more militarized and the syrian army which is still very lethal.

Q: You mentioned a moment ago the AL amongst what appeared to be a list of diplomatic initiatives going nowhere. Do you include in that pessimistic overview this observer mission. Will that come to anything?

JL: Well it’s hard to see. We’re in the middle of a revolution. What are a bunch of observers going to do? They may even make it worse in a sense that where ever they go they’re going to be a flashpoint for controversy because pro-Bashar people are going to demonstrate to try to show Syria is with him and the Opposition who’s going to be galvanized to demonstrate aswell in order to broadcast to the outside world ‘they need help’. So it’s not clear this is going to calm the situation. It may in fact only rile it up.

December 21st, 2011, 9:58 pm

 

majedkhaldoun said:

What we hear on SC by some commenters ,need to verify, many of them turned out to be pure lies, naive people quickly believe them most of us know they are lies.
Recep Erdogan in the hospital, it turn out it is a lie, today Saad Harriri met Erdogan in his office in Ankara, and he is very healthy, he passed the critical period, and capable of attending several meetings,
Waleed Muallem brought fake video it was filmed in Lebanon, but claims it is in Syria,
The story about Ryad Asaad that he was going to split Edlib area awy two days ago, is another lie, only naive believed it.
AL leaders are afraid of the syrian regime to expose them since they have videos of sexual encounters with syrian women,another lie,syrian regime has no video to prove this.
Five Iranian engineers working in Syria electric company, they proved to be spies.

I guess we have here on SC sharif Shahadeh,,,,taleb Ibrahim and butheinah Shaaban, along with Dunia channel feeding their lies to SC

December 21st, 2011, 9:59 pm

 

Ghufran said:

It looks like Ghalioun will not step down ,as promised, after his term expires.

December 21st, 2011, 10:08 pm

 

Norman said:

Things are not as they say,

Stratfor Challenges Narratives on Syria

Sharmine Narwani| Dec 19, 2011 3:47 PM EST

Since the first public protests broke out in Syria last March, the narratives about the Syrian crisis have stayed fairly true to the theme of all the Arab Revolts. An authoritarian ruler out to crush peaceful opposition to his regime opens fire on civilians and the number of protestors skyrockets as the body count mounts…

But we are now entering the tenth month of this particular violent revolt – even Libya with its full-fledged civil war didn’t take so long. So what gives?

According to the Texas-based geopolitical risk analysis group Stratfor which released an eyebrow-raising piece on Syrian opposition propaganda efforts last week, “most of the opposition’s more serious claims have turned out to be grossly exaggerated or simply untrue, thereby revealing more about the opposition’s weaknesses than the level of instability inside the Syrian regime.”

This is important for two reasons. Firstly, it may be the first time a mainstream US-based intelligence-gathering firm openly questions the existing narrative on Syria. Secondly, Stratfor’s findings begs the question: what are we basing our policy initiatives on if our underlying assumptions are inaccurate?

How unstable is Syria, really? How widespread is opposition to the regime of Bashar al-Assad? The death-toll that has us riveted with disgust – today, the highest daily death rate yet – how accurate are those numbers? Who do they include and are they verifiable? Are local activists even capable of distinguishing between a dead pro-regime civilian and a dead anti-regime civilian – especially now that both sides are armed and firing?

I cannot begin to dispute those numbers and details, so I will not try. But I will ask the question: where are all the “facts” coming from?

Inherent Bias in Syrian Data?

The problem with information that originates from opposition groups is that there is a clear interest in disseminating “beneficial” data and underplaying “damaging” statistics. And that dynamic applies to the government too – which is why we take Syrian regime pronouncements with a grain of salt.

You don’t see the Syrian opposition taking an active role in publicizing the slaughter of rank-and-file soldiers, for instance – except to claim these forces are being shot for deserting the army. Twitter is abuzz right now with news that more than 70 of today’s 100+ dead are “deserters.”

Nor do you hear about the numbers of pro-regime civilians killed by the armed opposition – some of them allegedly while “demonstrating” in support of the Syrian regime.

Now, this does not mean that the Syrian opposition lies outright to gain sympathy and foreign support – mostly because the “opposition” is not homogenous and comes in different shapes, sizes and flavors.

But Strafor clearly questions the intent of some of these groups based on very recent evidence of disinformation campaigns:

The Stratfor article focuses primarily on opposition efforts to create the impression in the past few weeks that there is a significant split within President Assad’s own clan and within his Alawite minority sect, members of which man the top jobs in the country’s armed forces and key government positions.

Among these high-profile gaffs are a December 10 report alleging that “Syrian Deputy Defense Minister and former chief of military intelligence Asef Shawkat had been killed by his aide and former General Security Directorate chief, Gen. Ali Mamlouk.”

Stratfor posits that the unfounded “image of two senior-ranking Sunni members of the regime drawing guns on each other” helps to create ” a compelling narrative” for groups that wish “to undermine the perception that al Assad’s inner circle is united in the effort to suppress the opposition and save the regime.”

In yet another example, a December 9 statement published in the Saudi-owned Asharq al Awsat by the previously-unknown “Alawite League of Coordinating Committees” which claims to represent the Alawite community in Syria, “rejected any attempt to hold the Alawite sect responsible for the ‘barbarism’ of the al Assad regime.” Stratfor says the planted story gives “the impression that the Alawite community is fracturing and that the al Assad regime is facing a serious loss of support within its own minority sect.”

The US-based analysts then cite their own Syrian opposition source who “acknowledged that this group was in fact an invention of the Sunni opposition in Syria.”

On the same day, more mainstream opposition groups including the Syrian National Council (SNC), the Free Syrian Army (FSA) and the London-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights began disseminating “claims that regime forces besieged Homs and imposed a 72-hour deadline for Syrian defectors to surrender themselves and their weapons or face a potential massacre.”

That news made international headlines – Homs has been the raging center of anti-regime dissent after all, with death tolls that appear to be well above those of other hotspots. Stratfor’s investigation, however, found “no signs of a massacre,” and warns that “opposition forces have an interest in portraying an impending massacre, hoping to mimic the conditions that propelled a foreign military intervention in Libya.”

The article then goes on to suggest that any suggestions of massacres are unlikely because the Syrian “regime has calibrated its crackdowns to avoid just such a scenario. Regime forces,” Stratfor argues, “have been careful to avoid the high casualty numbers that could lead to an intervention based on humanitarian grounds.”

And so on and so forth.

Wrongful Narratives Muddy The Waters

Stratfor identifies some clear objectives that drive propaganda efforts by Syrian opposition groups:

– Convincing Syrians inside Syria (going beyond the Sunni majority to include the minorities that have so far largely backed the regime) that the regime is splitting and therefore no longer worth supporting.

– Convincing external stakeholders, such as the United States, Turkey and France, that the regime is splitting and is prepared to commit massacres to put down the unrest, along the lines of what the regime carried out in 1982 in Hama.

– Convincing both Syrians and external stakeholders that the collapse of the al Assad regime will not result in the level of instability that has plagued Iraq for nearly a decade, or in the rise of Islamist militias, as appears to be happening in Libya. To this end, the FSA has emphasized its defensive operations and the defense of civilians to avoid being branded as militants. Meanwhile, the political opposition has stressed that it wants to keep state structures intact, so as to avoid the Iraq scenario of having to rebuild the state from scratch amid a sectarian war.

Stratfor points out that opposition groups have made headway in getting their messages out to the mainstream western media, and that these outlets regularly “quote casualty totals provided by the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, without the ability to verify the information.” But the article also warns that “the lack of coordination among various opposition outlets and the unreliability of the reports threaten to undermine the credibility of the opposition as a whole.”

Syria today signed the Arab League protocol that will make way for a fact-finding mission. Provided that this important process does not get hijacked by regional politics – an unlikely scenario even with the best of intentions – we may start to see verifiable information about what is taking place inside the country.

Without facts, the Syrian story does not stand a chance in overcoming the enmity and rancor felt by both sides. False narratives, even heartfelt ones, will only keep conflict buzzing. Kudos to Stratfor for underlining the importance of information transparency.

December 21st, 2011, 10:10 pm

 

Norman said:

Ghufran,

Typical Arab leader, why should he be different.

December 21st, 2011, 10:14 pm

 

jad said:

Amazing how media works, the news of the killing of the defected soldiers came from the oppositions media itself, in the first statement they where going on and on about killing more than 70 defected, then it went up to 100 then 150, then they changed the statement to include the 6 civilians into the 250 as ‘civilians and defected soldiers’ not mentioning the 93 Syrian soldiers in the statement and when it didn’t work as planned they changed the whole statement to read that 111 ‘people’ were killed in the massacre.
(“It was an organized massacre. The troops surrounded people, then killed them,” said Rami Abdul-Rahman, head of the organization.)
I wont be surprised if tomorrow news will be 250 ‘CIVILIANS’ were killed…and they want people to believe all the crap they say.

December 21st, 2011, 10:16 pm

 

Ghufran said:

iPhone app that was behind a temporary ban on iPhone: souria wa bas
I hope this piece of news is not true:
?? ??? ??????? , ?????? ??????? ???? ??? ?????? , ? ???? ???? ??? ??? ????? ????? ? ??????? ??????? , ? ?? ???? ???? ??? ???? ????? ???? ???????? ?? ??????? ???? , ??? ??? ??? ??????? ,,

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

? ?? ??????? ?? ( ?? ?? ) ??? ??????? , ????? ???? ????? ?? ?????? ? ???????? , ???? ????? ???????? ??????? – ????? –  ?? ??? ??????? ?? ?????? ????? ?? ????????? , ?? ????? ?????? ,,

December 21st, 2011, 10:20 pm

 

irritated said:

I hope soon we will get “The AL observers on site reported” instead “the London Observatory reported”
We will finally see who is exaggerating or inventing or lying.

Surprisingly the opposition does not seem very eager to have independent observers on site.

December 21st, 2011, 10:20 pm

 

Ghufran said:

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

????? ???? ? ?????? ?? ???? 6 ????? ? ??? ????? ???? ??????? ? ?? ??????? ?????? ????? “???????” ?? ????? ?????? ????? ??????? “??? ??????? ?????  ????? ?????? ?? ???? ????? ?????? ????? ?????? ????? ?? ???? ????? ??? ????? ????? ??? ????? ?? ?????? ????? ???? ???? ???? ?? ???? ???????  ???? ????? ??? ???? ??? ?????? ??????”.

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

December 21st, 2011, 10:36 pm

 

jad said:

Ghufran
He wasn’t accused in Darfour crimes, he was working as a negotiator between the Sudanese government and the rebels, the take against him is that he is a Qatari agent.

??????? ???? ????? ???? “?????????” ??? ????? ?????? ?? ????????? ??? ?????:?????? ,22/12/2011
???????? ???? – “??????”:

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

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

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

???? ??? ?????? ?????? ???? ??????? ??????? ?????? ?? ???? ??????? ????? ???? “?????” ??????? ???????? ?? ????????? ?? ?????? ??? “?? ???? ?????? ???????? ????????? ?????? ???? ?????? ??? ???? ????? ??????? ?????? ??????? ?????????? ????? ???????? ??????? ???? ?????? ????? ?? ????????? ???? ???? ?? ??????” .
http://www.alkhaleej.ae/portal/ee0ea2f4-5f72-4b07-8123-f632f722cbb6.aspx

December 21st, 2011, 10:41 pm

 

ann said:

Sanctioning Syria: Who Is Rhe Real Loser? – December 22, 2011

Economic sanctions are arrogant open acts of war against other nations. Their goal is to devastate the lower and middle classes and to weaken the country. The regime of the imposing country believes that its economy is superior and is so influential that other countries are so dependent on it and could not survive without it.

Economic sanctions are deceitfully justified as punishing a ruthless political regime and protecting human rights of an oppressed people. Such people are the most devastated when their economy is hurt while the ruling regime may become more oppressive in its reaction in order to protect and to preserve itself. Case in point is the hundreds of thousands of Iraqi children who died due to lack of medicine during the economic embargo after the Gulf War while the Iraqi regime had its own reserve of all kinds of medications stored for itself.

The sanctioning regime hopes that the sanctioned population would hurt so bad that, with some external encouragement and hope for economic relief; they would rise up and topple their own regime. The other scenario is that the military industry of the sanctioned regime becomes so weak and ineffective that the regime would not stand a chance in any military confrontation, similar to what happened in Iraq.

Such scenarios take place in a country that is faced with sanctions by the majority of the international community. On the other hand countries facing partial sanctions rise up to the challenge and become more self-sufficient and more independent. Cuba, with the longest economic embargo, North Korea and Iran are examples of such countries. Due to its large size and important natural resources, Iran had advanced its industry even to achieve nuclear technology.

Due to its leadership in resisting the Zionist expansionist plans in the Middle East, and for supporting the national resistance and liberation groups of Lebanese Hezbollah and Palestinian Hamas, and due to its alliance with Iran, Syria was subjected to many Western schemes of regime change. The whole Arab Spring movement has been primarily orchestrated and geared towards regime change in Syria, that is meant eventually to lead to a regime change in Iran; a frontier for Russia and China. Under the justification of protecting the lives of Syrian civilians rebelling against their government and protecting their humanitarian rights, Syria is subjected to economic sanctions imposed first by Western countries then by the Arab League.

Economic sanctions are not new to Syria, who was subjected to such sanctions since mid 1970’s imposed by the US. Since then Syria had risen to this challenge and had developed immunity against sanctions. What is new today is that the Arab League, with many of its member countries, joined by Turkey, had also imposed economic sanctions against Syria. The Arab League, with the leadership of Qatar, has been manipulated and used as a Trojan horse by an American/British/French triad to topple Syrian regime and to inflict the country with a civil war, similar to Libya, in the service of terrorist Israel and the expansionist Zionist plan in the Middle East.

Syrian economy is not dependent nor tied to any Western economy, thus these sanctions have no real effect on Syria. Syria is mainly an agricultural country and thus is mostly self-sufficient except in the technological sector which is filled mainly by Asian countries such as China, India, Russia and Iran. Also Syria has good economic trade with some Latin American countries.

Many neighboring Arab countries such as the Gulf States, Jordan, Iraq, and Lebanon import and are dependent on Syrian agricultural products. Lebanon and Iraq rejected the Arab League sanction and continue trade with Syria. The mostly desert Jordan shares borders with Syria and is heavily dependent on Syrian food products and water resources. Many Jordanian students study in Syrian universities. Jordan will hurt greatly by the sanctions. So the Jordanian king requested the Arab League to relief Jordan and to be treated as an exception in the sanctions.

Expecting the sanction Syria had withdrawn its money from the rest of the Arab central banks, especially the Jordanian Central Bank, causing a shortage and crises in these banks. Gulf States, especially Qatar and Saudi Arabia, have to compensate these shortages. Food prices in Syrian neighboring countries may double to cover the extra expenses of importing food from other resources. Tourism industry will also suffer greatly. Tourists, who used to travel to neighboring Syria, have now to pay extra for travelling to farther countries.

Some energy companies, who are invested in Syria and now withdrawing, will also suffer greatly for abiding with the sanction. French companies are the largest losers in these sanctions. French Total Oil Company, Lafarge Construction Company, and Airbus Company will lost millions of dollars worth of investment in Syria.

Royal Dutch Shell had also announced its withdrawal from Syria with a loss of 40% shares of oil production; a huge investment in the industry.

Canadian Suncor Energy, the second largest Canadian oil company, had announced cessation of its oil, gas and electricity production in Syria. Suncor had big investments that include 50-50 joint venture with the Syrian General Petroleum Corporation producing about 80 million cubic feet of natural gas per day, and roughly 1,000 barrels of oil per day. Suncor’s cessation will cost the company a lot of money and privileges.

Syria used to export about 150,000 oil barrel per day to European countries, whose revenue comprised roughly 30% of Syria total revenue. The withdrawal of these energy companies and the ban on oil imports from Syria are planned to have a great impact on Syria’s ability to produce and export oil and gas, and thus devastate the country’s economy. Fortunately this is far away from reality and the real loss was to these energy companies and to European consumers, who have now to pay more money to compensate for these losses and to cover the cost of importing oil from more expensive sources.

The withdrawal of these European energy companies had created a golden opportunity for other eager energy companies to fill this vacancy. State-owned companies of countries, who rejected the sanctions, including the China National Petroleum Corporation and India’s Oil and Natural Gas Corporation, had made significant investments in Syrian energy industry offering Syria better deals than their European counterparts. Russia and Iran are expected soon to follow. Iran had already signed an all inclusive trade agreement with Syria last Tuesday December 13th.

Turkey’s role in the Syrian crisis draws a special attention. In the recent past Turkey has improved its trade dealing with Syria tremendously. Now-a-days Turkey had turned its face complete 180 degrees and started criticizing and even directly attacking the Syrian regime. It also seemed that Turkey, a non-Arab country, had occupied the Syrian seat in the Arab League. Turkey had played a great role with Qatar in persuading the Arab League to declare the sanctions against Syria. Turkey was the first to adopt the sanctions by freezing $110 million of Syrian money in its banks, by imposing high taxes on imported Syrian products, and by declaring a safe zone on its Syrian borders to protect what is called Free Syrian Army (FSA).

Turkey’s slap had returned to its face. Turkey has more than $250 million worth of investment in Syria that will be lost. Syria had countered with banning Turkish goods. Turkish sanction came as blessings in disguise to the Syria, whose industry, comprising 27% of its economy, had suffered by the past Turkish/Syrian trade agreement due to the cheap Turkish goods that were favored over the local Syrian goods. After the Turkish sanction the local Syrian industries got revived. Recep Tayyip Ordogan, the Turkish Prime Minister, is faced now with huge criticism from oppositional parties as well as his own accusing him of harboring FSA in Turkey.

The economic sanctions have important political awakening in the Arab nation in general and the Syrians in particular. The decisions of the Arab League in dealing with the Syrian crisis in particular and with the Arab Spring movement in general, particularly in Libya, Yemen, and Bahrain, had shown the League without any further doubt as a political tool manipulated by the West to oppress Arabs, keep their land divided, and to open their natural resources for theft. It had never served any of the Arab’s national causes. In the primary Arab cause; the Israeli occupation of Palestine, the League had given Israel 10 long years, so far, to respond to the 2002 Arab Peace Initiative while not giving Syria more than just one week to deal with its rebels before imposing sanctions. For rebuffing their Peace Initiative major Arab leaders had welcomed Israel to open embassies in the capitals rather than fighting Israel’s ethnic cleansing of Palestinians.

While aggressively and hastily supporting the alleged popular Syrian revolution against the ruling regime the League refuse to accept support petition letters from leaders of genuine popular revolution against very oppressive regimes of Yemen and Bahrain.

When Syrian citizens rallied behind their leadership, the president of the supposed Syrian National Council, Burhan Ghalioun, hurried back to his Western handlers licking their hands begging for more support. He declared that once receiving Syrian leadership he would cut ties with Iran, end arms supplies to Lebanese Hezbollah and Palestinian Hamas, and would negotiate with Israel over Golan Heights.

Economic sanctions against Syria are blessings in disguise. Economically they challenged Syrians to become more independent and look for other avenues for trade. The sanctions rather than splitting Syrian from Iran have really pushed Syria deeper into Iran’s arms. They have also awakened Syrian national pride and loyalty to their country and leadership. The realities of many Arab leaders and the Arab League have been clearly exposed as Western puppets.

December 21st, 2011, 10:43 pm

 

Ghufran said:

???? ???? ??????? ??????? ???? ?????????, ?????? ?????? ????????? ??? ??????? ???????? ???? ???????? ?????? ????? ?????? ??????? ?????? ???? ????? ????? ??? ?????? ?? ??????? ??? ????? ????? ??????? ?????????? ???????? ??? ??? ?????? ??????? ??? 8 ????.
?????? ???? ????? ????? ????????? ??? 2305 ? ???? ??? ?????? ??? 3570? ????? 7/11/2010 ??? ???? ?????? ???????? ??????? ???????? ??? 6/7429/7/4 ?.?.? ??????? ?????? ????? ???? ?????? ??? ??? ??????? ??????? ?????? ???? ??? ????? ????? ????????? ???????? ??? ??? ?????? ??????? ?????? ??? 8 ????.
?????? ???? ??????? ?????? ?? 5/12/2011 ?? ????? ?????? ????? ????? ????????? ??? ??????? ???????? ???? ???????? ??????? ?????? ????????? ?????? ?????? ??? ???? ?????? ??? 250 ?????.
????? ??? ???? ????? «???? ??? ?????? ???????» ?????? ???????? ???????? ?? ????? ????????? ?????? ????? ????? ???? ?73 ??????? ?984 ??? ???? ?????.

December 21st, 2011, 10:47 pm

 

Norman said:

Irritated,
The AL observers are not independent, they are just an excuse to call for Foreign intervention, I hope that i am wrong.

December 21st, 2011, 10:47 pm

 

Bill said:

228. DALE ANDERSEN
For your own good, Get mental health. This is the last time ever reply to you. YOU ARE MENTALLY TROUBLED. PLEASE GET MENTAL HEALTH.
THIS IS THE LAST TIME I WILL WAST A SECOND WRITING YOU A REPLY.

Mental treatment for Dale Andersen (whom I don’t believe is using his real name, unless he really, really, really needs URGENT mental care)! AND
FREEDOM FOR OCCUPIED PALESTINE!

http://www.vanityfair.com/politics/features/2008/04/gaza200804
http://www.palestineremembered.com/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M3dfRtwbJRM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VlHeawIccio

December 21st, 2011, 10:49 pm

 

Ghufran said:

Jad
Is this guy lying?

??? ??? ?????? ???????? ???? ??????? ??????? ?????? ?? ???? ??????? ????? ???? “?????” ??????? ???????? ?? ????????? ?? ????? ?? ?????? ??? ????? “???? ???? ??????” ???? ?????? ???????? ????????? ????? ???? ?????? ????? ???? ??????? ?????? ??????? ????????? ????? ???????? ???? ??????? ???????? ??????? ???? ?????? “????? ?? ?????????” ???? ???? ?? ??????.
????? ???????? ?? ????? ???? “?????? ???????? ?????? ???????”: ?? ??????? ???? ?????? “??????” ????????? ????? ??????? ????? ?? ????????? ???????? ?????? ???? ??????? ??????? ??? ???? ??????? ??? ?????? ?? ?? ???????? ?? ????? ????????!
???? ?? ???? ???????? ?? ???? ?? ?????? ?? ?????? ?????? ??????? ????? ??????? ????? ?? ???????????? ???? ?????? ?? ?????.
???? ???????? ??? ??? ??????? ??????? ?????? ?????? ?????? ?????? ???????? ????????? ????? ????? ?????? ???? ???? ????? ?????? ?? ???? ?????? ???? ??????? ????? ??? ?? ??? ??? ????? ?????? ???? ???? ???? ?????? ?????? ???????? ?????? ???? ???? ?????? ???????
??????? ????? ??? ????

December 21st, 2011, 10:53 pm

 

jad said:

Ghufran
I bet that Durgham will go on YouTube and ‘defect’ to become another clean ‘patriot’ of the revolution. It’s a trend lately.
Besides, the amount of money he stole can cover any cost he need to live as a ‘hero’ anywhere he wants in the gulf or the west.

Regarding Ri7awi, I wont call his statement a lie as yet since the Sudanese denial I linked state ?????? which makes it a bit vague..but even if he is a war criminal nobody will mention anything at the moment since everybody want his to do the job, which is to claim that Syria didn’t comply..

December 21st, 2011, 10:55 pm

 

ann said:

Russian Navy In Syria: Thorn In US Side – December 22, 2011

http://www.eurasiareview.com/22122011-russian-navy-in-syria-thorn-in-us-side/

The US-based intelligence-gathering firm Stratfor says most of the claims by the Syrian opposition about the seriousness of the country’s crisis are untrue. The company insists protesters are exaggerating, to win support from powers like the US.

­Dr. Paul Craig Roberts, a former Reagan administration official, told RT he believes Washington is doing more than simply backing the rebels diplomatically.

“The United States is bold in stirring up the opposition and in arming it. They used the cover of the Arab Spring and Arab protests as they did in Libya,” he said. “These are not spontaneous protests, and certainly in an authoritarian state like Syria you wouldn’t find people in opposition able to readily supply themselves with arms, with military weapons.”

Besides, Roberts continued, it makes no sense for ordinary Syrians to create an opportunity for the country to be destroyed like Libya, Iraq, or Afghanistan.

“What’s involved here is that the Russians have a naval base in Syria, and the Americans don’t want a Russian naval presence in the Mediterranean. And, just as in Libya, the problem was the Chinese oil investments. If Syria goes, Iran is in the target sites, and Lebanon,” he concluded.

December 21st, 2011, 11:03 pm

 

Norman said:

This is what this revolution brought Syria, Chaos,

a childhood friend of mine was shot in the head and the chest in Homs, he is in the intensive care unit, his brother is a cardiologist in the US, he elected to stay in Syria, that was his reward, it is sad ,

http://www.alquds.co.uk

????? ?????? ???? ??????? ???????? ??????? ?????? ?? ??? ????? ???????
?????? ????? ??? ??? ?’????????’ ???? ?????

???? ? ‘????? ??????’ ? ?? ???? ???: ??? ?? ??? ????? ??? ??? ???? ???? ????? ???? ???? ???? ????? ?? ???? ????? ?? ??? ?????? ??????? ?????? ???????? ?? ???? ?????? ??? ???? ??????? ???? ????? ?? ??? ?? ???? ?? ??? ??? ???? ???? ?? ??? ?????? ??????? ??? ??? ????????? ?????? ????.
???? ?????? ???????? ?????????? ?? ???? ????? ???? ?????? ?? ????? ??????? ???????? ?? ??? ?? ?????? ??? ??? ????? ??? ??????? ?? ????? ?????? ????? ???? ?????? ???? ???? ????? ??????? ??????? ?????? ???? ??????? ??????? ??????.
???? ????? ????? ?? ????? ??? ??’????? ??????’ ?? ?????? ????? ????????? ????? ?????? (???? ??????????) ????? ?? ???? ??????? ???????? ??????? ???????? ???? ??? ??????? ???????? ???????? ?????? ?????? ?? ‘???’ ????? ??? ??????? ?????????? ?????? ??????? ????? ?? ???? ?? ???? ?????? ??? ??????? ?????? ???? ???? ?? ?????????? ???? ?????? ??????? ??????? ??????? ?? ????? ‘???’ ????? ??????? ???????? ?????? ?????? ?????? ????? ??????.
????? ??????? ?? ???????? ?? ????? ????? ‘????’ ??? ???? ??? ???? ??????? ??? ?????? ??????? ???? ??? ????? ?????? ??????? ????? ????? ???????? ???? ???? ??? ?????? ???? ??? ????? ?????? ?????? ??? ??????.
?????? ?? ???? ??? ??????? ??????? ??? ??? ???? ????? ????? ??????? ???? ???? ??? ???? ??????? ??? ??????? ?? ???? ??? ???? ?????? ????? ?????? ??? ??? ?? ?????? ??????? ?? ?? ???? ???????? ?? ?? ??? ???????? ?????????? ???? ??? ????????? ???? ??? ????? ?????? ?????? ?? ??????? ??? ???? ???? ??????? ????? ?????? ?????? ??? ??????? ??????? ?????? ?? ?? ???? ????? ????? ?????? ????? ?????? ??? ????? ??????? ??????? ??????? ?? ???.
?????? ??????? ?????? ?? ???? ????? ??????????? ?????? ?? ?????? ??????? ???? ??? ???? ???????? ???? ??? ?????? ?????????? ????? ??? ?????? ?? ???????? ????? ????? ?????? ?????? ?????? ??????? ?????????? ??????? ?????? ??????? ???? ????? ??? ??? ??? ??? ?????? ??? ???? ?????? (100 ??? ?????) ??? ???? ????? ??????? ???????? ????? ??? ????? ??? ??????.
????? ??? ??????? ?? ???????? ???? ?????? ????? ???????????? ?? ????? ?????? ????? ??? ‘???????’? ?? ??? ??????? ????? ??? ???? ?????? ????? ??? ?????? ???????? ??? ???????? ???? ?????? ????????.
?????? ????? ?????? ?? ??? ???? ?? ????? ????? ????? ????????? ???? ???? ?????? ?? ????? ?????? ?? ??????? ???? ?????? ??????? ?? ?????? ?????? ??? ??? ????? ??????: ??? ???? ?? ??? ??? ???? ????? ???? ???? ???? ?? ????? ??????? ??? ??????.

December 21st, 2011, 11:08 pm

 

Darryl said:

Merry Christmas to all and Happy 2012. I am away for the next 3 weeks.

To my friend Khalid, I will check on you from time to time, to get a needed dose of amusement. Do not let your personal devil get the best of you and I hope your fate is not that of Charlie the salesman.

December 21st, 2011, 11:08 pm

 

ann said:

259. Norman said:

“””This is what this revolution brought Syria, Chaos,

a childhood friend of mine was shot in the head and the chest in Homs, he is in the intensive care unit, his brother is a cardiologist in the US, he elected to stay in Syria, that was his reward, it is sad. “””

I’m sorry to hear about your friend Norman

December 21st, 2011, 11:12 pm

 

Bill said:

261. ann

Although you and I have different views about the ongoing Syrian Revolt, I am really sorry for your friend and any Syrian loss of life (loyalist and opposition).

http://www.vanityfair.com/politics/features/2008/04/gaza200804
http://www.palestineremembered.com/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M3dfRtwbJRM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VlHeawIccio

December 21st, 2011, 11:17 pm

 

Norman said:

Darryl,

So it is true that your wife will not let you Blog when on vacation, and i thought i am the only one.

December 21st, 2011, 11:18 pm

 

jad said:

Norman,
I’m sorry to hear that, hopefully he will get better soon.
Syrians and Syria are the victims of this ugly chaos.

December 21st, 2011, 11:23 pm

 

ann said:

262. Bill said:

“””261. ann
Although you and I have different views about the ongoing Syrian Revolt, I am really sorry for your friend and any Syrian loss of life (loyalist and opposition). “””

Bill, that was not my friend. It’s Norman’s friend. I was just conveying my sorry feelings about what happened to his childhood friend

December 21st, 2011, 11:23 pm

 

Bill said:

265. ann

Thanks Ann. I am sorry for Norman’s friend and all innocent Syrian loss of life

December 21st, 2011, 11:27 pm

 

jad said:

This report claims that they have information about some plans to assassinate some of the Arab observers to escalate the situation further.
The american ‘Filthy-man’ in a very sneaky way is threatening the Syrians that if they don’t get rid of Assad then the civil war will start.
It feels like the politics in Lebanon in the 70s-80s

???? ????????? ????? ???? ????? ? ???????? ????? ??”???????” ?? ????????? ??????? ?????

“???????” ????? ???? ???????? ??????? ?? ????? ?????????? ???? ???? ????? ? ?????? ????? ?? ???? ????? ?? ?????? ?????? ??? ???? ?????

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???? ??????? ?? ????? ????? ??????? ???????? ?? «????? ?????? ????? ?????? ??? ???? ???? ?????? ??? ??????? ????? ??? ????? ????? ??????? ???? ?????? ??? (?????) ?? ???????»? ????? ??? ????? ?? ?????? ????????? ???????? ??????? ?????? ???? ??????.
????? ?? «???? ???????? ??????? ????? ??? ?????? ?? ?????? ????? ?????? ??? ?????? ??????? ??????? ?? ???? ????? ?????? ??????? ?? ???? ????? ??????? ?????? ??? ??????? ???????? ???? ???? ??????? ?????? ???? ?????? ??? ???? ??????? ??????».
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??? ??????? ?? ??? ??? ??????? ???? ?????? ??? ???? ????? ?????? ??? ????? ?????? ?????? ???? ???? ???? ?? ???? ????? ??????? ?????? ?????? ????? ??????? ??????? ?? ????????? ???????? ????? ????? ?????????? ?????????? ???????? ???? ????????? ????? .
?????? ?????? ?? ??? ?? ???????? ??????? ?????? ???????? ? ??????? ????? ?????? ??? ????? ??????? ???????? ????? ” ???????” ????? ?????? ?????? ??? ????? ” ???? ??????? ??????” ????? ?????? ???? ??????? ???????? ???????? ??? ?????? ???????? ????????? ????? ???? ??????? ???????.
???? ?? ??? ???? ??????? ??????? ?? ???? ????? ?????? ?????? ???????? ??? ????? ?? «?????? ????? ?????? ?? ?????? ??????? ??? ??????? ?????? ???????? ????? ?? ???? ????? ???? ?? ??? ?????? ??? ??????? ?? ?????? ???? ???? ?????? ???? ????? ??? ???? ????? ????? ???? ??? ?? ????? ????? ?? ???????? ??????? ?????? ??????? ??????? ?????????”.
???? ???? ?????? ????? ???? ?? ???? ?? ????? ?????? «???» ????????? ?? ?????? ????? ?? ????????? ????? ???? ????? ??????? ???? ?? ????. ????? «??? ??? ?? ?? ?? ??????? ??? ??? ??? ???? ??? ????? ?? ??? ?????? ????? ???? ?????? ??????? ??? ?????”.

??????? ??”???????” ?? ????????? ??????? ???????

??? ???? ????? ????”???????” ??? ??????? ????? ??? ????? ????? ??? ?? ????? ???????? ???????? ??? ????? (..) ???? ??? ???? “????????? ???? ?? ???? ??????? ????? ??? ????? ??????? ??? ?? ????????? ????? ? ??? ???? ???? ?????? “. ????? ??? ???????” ???? ???? ???? ?? ??? ??(..) ??????? ??? ????? ????????? ? ????? ????? ??? ???? ?????? ????? ???????? ? ???? ????? ???? ????????? ?????? ?????? ??? ???? ????? ??????” . ??? ?????”???????” ???????? ??????? ??????? ?? ???? ????? ??????? ????? ??? ????? ????????? ???? ????? ????? ? ??? ???? ??? ??????? ” ??? ??? ??? ??????? ??????? ???? ?????? ?? ??????? ??????? ?????? ???? ??????? ?????? ????????? ???????”. ??? ???? “???????” ??? ??? ??? ????????? ??????? ?? ????? ??? ??”????? ” ?????? ?????? ??? ??? ????????? ??? ?? ???? ????? ?????? ???? ?? ??? ?????? ??? ?? ????? ??????? ? ??? ????? ??? ???? ” ??? ????”.

?????? : ??????? ??????? ??????? ?? ????? .. ???? ?????

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

???? ??? ?? ?? ???????? ?? ???? ????? ???? ??????? ???????? ??? ?? ??? ??? ??? “???? ??????? ???????” ??????? ???! ???? ??? ???? ????? ????? ?? ?????? ????? ??? ?????? ???? ???? ????? ?????? ??? ??????? ??????? ?? ?????? ?? ?????? ??????? ?? ???? ????? ?????? ?????? ??? ????? ?????? ??? ???????????!?

??? ???? ?????? ?? ???????? ?????? ?????? ??? ????? ?? ??? ?????? ??? ?? ???? ???????? ???? ???? ????. ???? ????????? ??? ??? ????? ??? ” ????? ????? ?????? ???????? ? ?????? ?? ??? ?????? ??????? ???? ??? ??? ?????”.

December 21st, 2011, 11:34 pm

 

jad said:

This uprising should get into Guinness book of wonders for the unlimited fake and false stories and clips they produce…man..the lies they produce are endless.

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

??? ????? ? ??????? (???): ??? ???? ???? ?????? ???????? ? ????? ?????????? ? ????? ??????? ?????? ???? ????? ???? ???? ?? ” ?????? ??????? ???????” ?????? “???????” ??????? ??????? ??? ????? ???? ?????. ?? ?????? ???? ??? ??????? ???? ??? ???? ” ???? ?? ???? ??????”! ?? ?? ???? ??? ??? ???????? ? ??? ???? ????? ” ?????” ??????? ??????? ?? ????? ???????? ????????? ???? ???? ????? ?? ?? ??? ?????? ?????? ?? ????? ?????? ?????? 16 ?? ????? ?????? ??? ????? ” ???? ???? ???????? : ???? ?????? ???? ??? ?? ????”! ??? ??? ??? ??????? ????? ?????? ???? ??? ???? ?? ????? ???? ?? ???? ??? ??? ????? ??? ????? ????? ?? ?? ???? ?????? ? ???? ???????? ??? ???? ????? ? ??? ?? ??? ?????? “????” ???? ? ??? ???? ???? ????? ??????? ” ????? ?????? ???????” ???? ???? “????? ?????? ????”!?

??? ? ?? ???? ????? ?? ????. ??? ????? ??? ?????? ???? ??? ???? ?????? ???? ???? ??? ?????? ?? ????? ??????? ???? ???? ??? ?????? ?? ” ???? ?????? ???????? .. ??????? ? ???????? ?????????”!

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

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

??? ????? ???? ???? ??? ????? ??? ??????? ? ??? ?????? ??????? ???? ????? ??????? ?????????? ????? ???? ??? ?? ???? ???? ?? ??? ??? ???? ????!? ?? ??? ??????? ??? ???????!? ??? ???? ??? ??????? ??? ????? ??? ??? ????? ????? ????? ?????? ?? ???? ? ????? ?????? ??????? ???????? ????????. ??? ??? ????? ? ???? ???? ??? ????? ???? / ???? ??????? ??? ” ????” ??? ?????? ?????? ???? ?? 800 ???? ?????? ” ?????” ????? ???????? ?? ” ??? ?????” ??????? ??????? ??????? .. ??? . ?????? ?? ???? ??????? ????? ?? ????? ????? ??”???? ????? ??????” ? ??? ?? ????? ???? ?? ???? ??????? ? ??? ???? ???? ? ?? ???? ??? ??? ??????! ??? ???? ?? ???? ” ???? ?? ???? ??????? ??????” ??? ?? ???? ??????? ?? ????? “?????” ???? ? ?????? ????? ?? ??? ?????? ???????!!?

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

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

? ???? ????? ??????? ?????? ???? ????? ?? ?????? ???? ?????
http://youtu.be/JwNTH889k9A
? ????? ??? ???????? ??? ” ???? ????? ???????”!
http://youtu.be/bJrL75nHNKU

December 21st, 2011, 11:57 pm

 

Dale Andersen said:

Memo To: ANN

RE: Paul Craig Roberts

Typical of the garbage you post on here, girl. Paul Craig Roberts is one of those nutcases who’s convinced the Jews and/or the CIA orchestrated the World Trade Center attack. He’s a voice crying in the wilderness. For good reason.
He’s the type who finds plots and conspiracies where there are none. Perfect for your agenda, Ann…

December 22nd, 2011, 12:04 am

 

jad said:

Bill, Ann,
This may be of an interest to you:

Columbia U book on Iraq war suggests Wolfie, Feith, Wurmser and Perle had ‘Israeli interests, not just U.S. interests at heart’
Written by Philip Weiss

Mondoweiss – An important new book on the Iraq war published by Columbia University Press, written by a former longtime CIA official, contains a dual loyalty charge against the neoconservatives, saying that some of them had Israeli interests and not just American interests “at heart” in pushing the war. The charge concludes a section that names Douglas Feith, Richard Perle, David Wurmser and Paul Wolfowitz as former Bush officials who cared about Israel.

Author Paul Pillar has a stellar Establishment reputation. He held several senior positions at the CIA and National Intelligence Council, serving during the Iraq war. Now a professor at the Edmund Walsh School of Foreign Service at Georgetown, he has published a sharp critique of the war effort, titled Intelligence and US Foreign Policy: Iraq, 9/11, and Misguided Reform.

http://www.councilforthenationalinterest.org/news/the-cost-of-israel-to-the-us/item/1282-columbia-u-book-on-iraq-war-suggests-wolfie-feith-wurmser-and-perle-had-%E2%80%98israeli-interests-not-just-us-interests-at-heart%E2%80%99

December 22nd, 2011, 12:14 am

 

jad said:

Ghufran,
You linked Geneva meeting text between SNC and Clinton from Assafir newspaper but you didn’t tell us your opinion of it?

December 22nd, 2011, 12:36 am

 

Uzair8 said:

Interview with Prof. Landis on BBC World Service. Came across it after 3 AM UK time. Listen from 2 minutes (0:02:00):

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/console/p00m7ynl

I’ve attempted a transcript. Please correct an forgive any errors. I’ve double checked it:

TRANSCRIPT:

Q:‘…what’s the likely outcome of this political conflict?’

JL: It’s likely that the regime will be in power a year from now. The Opposition is not organised. It’s gotten much more organised but for 40 years there’s been no politics in Syria so it’s hard tosee how it can become unified in a short period of time. It doesn’t have a military wing. It hasn’t liberated any part of the territory. We’re not anywhere near a Libya type situation yet. There haven’t been major defections at the top of the Syrian regime. The Syrian military remains fairly strong. There have been a lot of defections at the lower levels but the core, the Alawite, Baathist core, the Officer core has remained solid and is still in charge of tanks and heavy weaponry. How the Syrian Opposition is going to face this is unclear and the external powers europe and the United States don’t seem to be ready to intervene.

Q: So when we have the Obama administration saying yet again that Bashar al-Assad’s rule is past it’s sell by date they’re simply what, huffing and puffing and failing to blow the house down?

JL: That seems to be the situation right now. Everybody is trying to raise the rhetorical bar. The Arab League. We see this in the United Nations but of course the Security Council has not been able to to come to condemnation because Russia and China and even the BRIC countries are against it so we’ve reached the limits here.

We’ve got very severe economic sanctions on Syria. The economy is really spinning downwards. It’s shrunk by, in dollar terms, the syrian economy GDP has shrunk by 30% since the beginning of this uprising. The situation has gotten quite dire for many Syrians. There’s no heating oil. Cooking gas is hard to find. Electricity shortages all the time. Energy is really running out and the state institutions are not being able to provide. They cut salaries and lay off extra people. So the Syrians are going to go through a very difficult winter. It’s gonna be a cold and long winter.

Q: Does that undermine any support that Bashar al-Assad’s regime enjoyed at the beginning of this year within the country because we were told in previous months back in the beginning of the summer, say that there was a large number of people in Damascus and Aleppo especially who’d rather go with the status quo than see it upset. Have they had grounds to change their minds now with this deprivation?

JL:Why I think people are changing their minds but what can they really do? People are dissatisfied. It used to be that the upper classes and even the middle classes had , in a sense, an implicit deal with the Assad regime. They would get a piece of the pie. They would get stability and they sacrificed liberty and freedom. But they didn’t have Iraq and instability. Today there is no more piece of pie to go around and there is no more stability. The regime can offer very little and it looks like it will never regain its footing again so people are frightened. They dont know what the future is going to bring.

What is a middle class or a businessman supposed to do in this situation? They are caught in a terrible mind because a number of important businessmen in Aleppo have been assassinated and some have had their factories burned down. The opposition is trying to tell them ‘do not continue to co-operate with the regime’ but the regime at the same time has warned businessmen ‘you step over the line and we’ll put you into jail and close your businesses down’. So they’re paralyzed. They’re very anxious and can’t get their money out of the country. And so the whole country is sitting there in a sense shuddering between this growing opposition which is becoming more militarized and the syrian army which is still very lethal.

Q: You mentioned a moment ago the AL amongst what appeared to be a list of diplomatic initiatives going nowhere. Do you include in that pessimistic overview this observer mission. Will that come to anything?

JL: Well it’s hard to see. We’re in the middle of a revolution. What are a bunch of observers going to do? They may even make it worse in a sense that where ever they go they’re going to be a flashpoint for controversy because pro-Bashar people are going to demonstrate to try to show Syria is with him and the Opposition who’s going to be galvanized to demonstrate aswell in order to broadcast to the outside world ‘they need help’. So it’s not clear this is going to calm the situation. It may in fact only rile it up.

December 22nd, 2011, 3:00 am

 

SYRIAN HAMSTER said:

of Naivety and ???? ?????

MAJEDKHALDOUN

243. MAJEDKHALDOUN said:

What we hear on SC by some commenters ,need to verify, many of them turned out to be pure lies, naive people quickly believe them most of us know they are lies.

………..

I guess we have here on SC sharif Shahadeh,,,,taleb Ibrahim and butheinah Shaaban, along with Dunia channel feeding their lies to SC

Partially correct. The stories are believed by naive people, but they are made by expert liars and propagated through cut and paste by disgusting army of few mostly volunteer anti-historical reactionaries imbeciles.

One minute, the Syrian army conducts maneuvers showing that betho’s henchmen are capable of defending the every centimeter of his kingdom of horror, the other minute, American planes, unopposed, drops supplies for the FSA. Then, victims of a massacre were purely FSA forces misled by Burhan Gahlyoun who told them to declare their own state, but wait a second, the FSA does not exist, it is a fake force as we are now told that one of its major battalions is a fake force,created for propaganda, and that its is led it is a fake organization led by a school teacher from a village near Diar-El-Zor.

Looks like the genius SCRATCHY is doing exactly what he is accusing KSA of doing, jumping from one ????? to another.


There has been no split in the army
Betho was elected in a pluralistic election
The regime is secular, everyone else is sectarian
Syria is the most democratic country on….
The Syrian press never lies
Bassam alqadi is a human being
and SCRATCHY is ……

December 22nd, 2011, 3:26 am

 

Mina said:

Well, don’t be so paranoid, it is your “certified opponent” Haytham Khouri who mentioned that the uprising was planned since last autumn and even provided a link to the Homsi involved! And of course, it sure have nothing to do with the Hariri tribunal!!

December 22nd, 2011, 3:44 am

 

Juergen said:

here is an mp3 of an new interview with Joshua Landis.

Arab League Intervenes as Syrian Uprising on Verge of Civil War

http://www.btlonline.org/2011/seg/111230af-btl-landis.html

December 22nd, 2011, 4:06 am

 

Mina said:

#233
I have a “humanitarian” idea for the defectors: just send them to Guantanamo as “unlawful combatants”.

December 22nd, 2011, 4:13 am

 

Mina said:

NZ
I don’t see a “regime”. I see the Baath vs the local governors and their militias who have their own interest vs Maher and the military guys and their mafias who have their own interest vs the exiled Islamists vs the progressive city-dwellers vs the mukhabaraat who don’t want to be ever judged.
The only way out is the one they are working out, I mean Bashar + Mu’allim + the Russians and a bunch of friendly states (even among those who voted the AL sanctions).
Observers if only AL will be freaked and useless, maybe UN peace corps and “truth and reconciliation committees”. It will take a while and I doubt you can plan elections during this period. I don’t know what is the solution against local mafias. Look at Italy, Mexico, Japan… Money rules. Sanctions target only the poor, everybody else can cross the border and go to Jordan or Turkey, catch a plane to whatever African remote country, enjoy exile in the Gulf, etc.

December 22nd, 2011, 5:36 am

 

Mina said:

Seems hard to find a lawyer in Lybia these days

http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5gFx2zQPzdbkXQarZtMUeB9-mk5mw?docId=CNG.adbf15c2e8cfb08d936a596a9b3d8939.2c1

Libya must let Seif have lawyer, says rights group

(AFP)

TRIPOLI — Human Rights Watch on Wednesday called on the Libyan authorities to grant Seif al-Islam, son of slain leader Moamer Kadhafi, immediate access to a lawyer, noting he appeared to be held in good conditions.

“Libyan authorities appear to be holding Seif al-Islam Kadhafi in good physical conditions but should allow him immediate access to a lawyer,” the New York-based watchdog said in a statement.

The rights group said it had visited Seif al-Islam on December 18 in Zintan, 180 kilometres (112 miles) southwest of Tripoli, after obtaining permission from general prosecutor Abdelaziz al-Hasadi, who is investigating the case.

“Seif al-Islam says he is getting good food and medical care — he had no complaints about the physical conditions of his detention,” said HRW special adviser Fred Abrahams, who saw him in private for 30 minutes.

“His main concern was the lack of access to family and to a lawyer who can help his case,” he said, urging the government to grant him legal access, a right mandated by Libya’s penal code.

The prosecutor general is investigating alleged corruption-related crimes committed by Seif al-Islam before this year?s conflict began, as well as crimes committed during the 2011 conflict, the rights group said.

Hasadi was quoted as saying that he would allow Seif access to a lawyer as soon as the government prepared a secure detention facility in Tripoli, where there would be no risk of attack by those wishing to free or harm him.

“The world is watching how Libya handles this case, and Libya should prove that it will grant Kadhafi all the rights that were too often denied in the past,” Abrahams said.

Seif, who was arrested on November 19 — almost a month to the day after his father was captured and killed — is now in the custody of the Zintan military council, which has forbidden family visits citing security concerns.

“Kadhafi said he had no complaints about his physical treatment by his captors, both those who apprehended him outside of Obari in southern Libya on November 19 and those holding him in Zintan,” HRW said.

But he complained of his “total isolation” from the outside world, it added.

Seif was also quoted as saying that he had not been tortured and was receiving regular medical attention, including an operation on his right hand which was wounded in a NATO air strike near Bani Walid.

He also reportedly gave details on the fate of other family members.

“Kadhafi also confirmed that a NATO strike in late April had killed his brother Seif al-Arabi, as well as one guard… and two grandchildren of Moamer Kadhafi were also killed… in another strike,” the statement read.

The International Criminal Court issued a warrant in June for Seif al-Islam on charges of crimes against humanity, but after his capture the National Transitional Council said it wanted to try him on Libyan soil.

December 22nd, 2011, 6:02 am

 

Observer said:

SC has degenerated lately into a reflection of the civil war that is Syria today.
I do not see one ounce of agreement between pro and anti regime commentators.
Meantime the Syrian people have moved beyond these petty tit for tat and even beyond the regime and the opposition.
Landis is in denial that the regime is finished, even if it survives for a year for it leaves it isolated, weakened, with a wrecked economy and a scarred population.
Some who advocate dialogue like JAD do not even concede that the army should be withdrawn especially after the suspension of the state of emergency whereby the legislative is reinforced at the expense of the executive.
This regime needs to be uprooted but that does not mean that all the institutions need to be destroyed.
The Security House of Cards created by the father is incompatible with life in Syria.
Get it in your head.

December 22nd, 2011, 7:26 am

 

SYRIAN HAMSTER said:

Moving ON
Observer
Meantime the Syrian people have moved beyond these petty tit for tat and even beyond the regime and the opposition.

As usual, you are correct.

Let us move one with the Syrian People. However, I still have one last tat.

257. GHUFRAN said:

Jad
Is this guy lying?

SCRATCHY the lie detector?

ROFL.
hahaha
haha ha hahaha haha hahaaaa hhahhhaa hhaa hahahahahahahahahahahaha
hahahaaaaa
haha
ha ha ha
cough
cough
cough
ha ha ha hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha
ha
ha
ha
hahhahahahahahahaha
cough
cough
cough
ha ha ha
dead

happy now Mr. Ghufran, you just killed my cousin by making the ultimate joke. Friend, you should have stuck with fine poetry. My solace, he died laughing

December 22nd, 2011, 7:37 am

 

SANDROLOEWE said:

Comrades crying for the death of JONG KIM-IL

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SKggTZIs43k

It reminds me of something very familiar.

December 22nd, 2011, 7:44 am

 

Bill said:

271. jad
???? ???

That neo-cons like Wolfitz, Feith, Wurmser, Perle, etc. had Israeli, rather than U.S., interests as their top priority prior to the invasion of Iraq; is no longer a surprise to anybody. Those of us who make a living teaching and researching foreign policy and the ME have known this for a long time.
Feith, Wurmser, et al. authored a well-known and disturbing policy paper in 1996 to advise the then-incoming PM Netanyahu. They basically advised him to keep Israeli occupation/colonization, attack Iraq, and undermine Syria through right-wing Christian Lebanese militias, etc.
You may remember that in 2003 after the fall of Baghdad, pro-Israeli agents and lobbyists wanted the United States to march to Damascus and occupy Syria. The first person to speak out and stop this madness wasn’t a Democrat (who were still cheering Bush). The late and former U.S. Secretary of State, Eagelburger courageously went on TV and newspapers and said that if GW Bush were to move on Syria, he should be impeached.
This argument refutes the argument of ANN (whom I like for her posts and pro-Palestinian principles) and others on this blog who say “THIS IS SYRIA COMMENT, NOT “PALESTINE COMMENT.” NO, we hardly can separate Syria and other Arab countries from Palestine.

ON the neo-cons’ Israeli bias and their 1996 paper, please see this article in Israel’s Haaretz newspaper:
“Ending the neoconservative nightmare”
http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/opinion/ending-the-neoconservative-nightmare-1.194473

FREEDOM FOR OCCUPIED PALESTINE!

http://www.vanityfair.com/politics/features/2008/04/gaza200804
http://www.palestineremembered.com/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M3dfRtwbJRM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VlHeawIccio

December 22nd, 2011, 8:17 am

 

Bill said:

Sorry, I meant to say TARA not ANN in my previous comment. I still like both, although I don’t agree with ANN all the time.

December 22nd, 2011, 8:22 am

 

Akbar Palace said:

Tara,

With respect to your call yesterday for posters to focus solely on the crisis going on in Syria, does that only apply to Amir in Tel Aviv and I, or does that include everyone?

Thanks.

December 22nd, 2011, 8:42 am

 

zoo said:

Egypt Downward spiral
December 22, 2011 01:39 AM
The Daily Star

The latest news coming out of Egypt reveals that the country is experiencing nothing short of a catastrophe.
….
The immediate euphoria which followed the ouster of President Hosni Mubarak in February has proven short-lived.

Read more: http://www.dailystar.com.lb/Opinion/Editorial/2011/Dec-22/157586-downward-spiral.ashx#ixzz1hGuWwPwL
(The Daily Star :: Lebanon News :: http://www.dailystar.com.lb)

December 22nd, 2011, 8:59 am

 

majedkhaldoun said:

Iraq is in big turmoil,Maliki arrogant and want to be dictator,did not learn the lesson, time for dictatorship is going away,57 dead

December 22nd, 2011, 9:08 am

 

zoo said:

??????? ???? ???? ???????? 21-12-2011

December 22nd, 2011, 9:16 am

 

norman said:

Thank you for your concern,please pray for him .

December 22nd, 2011, 9:20 am

 

Bill said:

287. MAJEDKHALDOUN

Thanks Majed for posting on Iraq. I guess I am not the only one posting on countries other than Syria!!!!!! Syria, Iraq, Egypt, Occupied Palestine are ALL part of the Arab nation! Only in the dream of Zionists, and mentally-disturbed (DALE), on this blog that I would ignore Israeli threats to Syria and Arabs in general!!!!!!!

That neo-cons like Wolfitz, Feith, Wurmser, Perle, etc. had Israeli, rather than U.S., interests as their top priority prior to the invasion of Iraq; is no longer a surprise to anybody. Those of us who make a living teaching and researching foreign policy and the ME have known this for a long time.
Feith, Wurmser, et al. authored a well-known and disturbing policy paper in 1996 to advise the then-incoming PM Netanyahu. They basically advised him to keep Israeli occupation/colonization, attack Iraq, and undermine Syria through right-wing Christian Lebanese militias, etc.
You may remember that in 2003 after the fall of Baghdad, pro-Israeli agents and lobbyists wanted the United States to march to Damascus and occupy Syria. The first person to speak out and stop this madness wasn’t a Democrat (who were still cheering Bush). The late and former U.S. Secretary of State, Eagelburger courageously went on TV and newspapers and said that if GW Bush were to move on Syria, he should be impeached.
This argument refutes the argument of ANN (whom I like for her posts and pro-Palestinian principles) and others on this blog who say “THIS IS SYRIA COMMENT, NOT “PALESTINE COMMENT.” NO, we hardly can separate Syria and other Arab countries from Palestine.

ON the neo-cons’ Israeli bias and their 1996 paper, please see this article in Israel’s Haaretz newspaper:
“Ending the neoconservative nightmare”
http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/opinion/ending-the-neoconservative-nightmare-1.194473

FREEDOM FOR OCCUPIED PALESTINE!

http://www.vanityfair.com/politics/features/2008/04/gaza200804
http://www.palestineremembered.com/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M3dfRtwbJRM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VlHeawIccio

December 22nd, 2011, 9:28 am

 

Halabi said:

Thank you UZAIR8 for the transcript. I really would love it if Landis could elaborate about this: “[businessmen] are caught in a terrible bind because a number of important businessmen in Aleppo have been assassinated and some have had their factories burnt down.”

First, what’s the number? One is a number, five is a number, so is zero. What are the name/names of the assassinated “important” businessmen in Aleppo? If they are important they surely have names.
Same with the factories. We all know of one factory that was burned twice. Are there any others?

No need to answer. I will just review Sana and Mou3alek’s video, I’m sure it’s all there.

To be fair, right after giving a bone to the menhebaks, Landis brings it back to reality.

“The opposition is trying to tell them ‘do not continue to co-operate with the regime,’ but the regime at the same time has warned businessmen ‘you step over the line and we’ll put you into jail and close your businesses down.’”

It’s true, we [the opposition] are trying to “tell” merchants, businessmen and all of Syrian society to stop working with the regime, because it’s authoritarian, corrupt and can never deliver a state that we all deserve. We ask everyone to join us in civil disobedience and protests, and not support the killers.

Win or lose, history will remember the beauty of this revolution, the bravery of Syrians who said no to humiliation and paid the ultimate price for freedom.

On the other hand, the regime threatens businessmen with jail and violence in order to keep them in line, so they can look forward to living in a weakened, isolated country with no freedom and no stability. But at least in that future we can still worship our great leader Bashar, so menhebaks would have all they need to be happy.

December 22nd, 2011, 9:41 am

 

Bill said:

286. ZOO

Thanks Zoo for posting on Egypt. I guess I am not the only one posting on countries other than Syria. Syria, Egypt, Occupied Palestine, etc. are ALL part of the Arab World. Zionists will always be a threat to Syria and Arabs.
That neo-cons like Wolfowitz, Feith, Wurmser, Perle, etc. had Israeli, rather than U.S., interests as their top priority prior to the invasion of Iraq; is no longer a surprise to anybody. Those of us who make a living teaching and researching foreign policy and the ME have known this for a long time.
Feith, Wurmser, et al. authored a well-known and disturbing policy paper in 1996 to advise the then-incoming PM Netanyahu. They basically advised him to keep Israeli occupation/colonization, attack Iraq, and undermine Syria through right-wing Christian Lebanese militias, etc.
You may remember that in 2003 after the fall of Baghdad, pro-Israeli agents and lobbyists wanted the United States to march to Damascus and occupy Syria. The first person to speak out and stop this madness wasn’t a Democrat (who were still cheering Bush). The late and former U.S. Secretary of State, Eagelburger courageously went on TV and newspapers and said that if GW Bush were to move on Syria, he should be impeached.
This argument refutes the argument of TARA (whom I like for her posts and pro-Palestinian principles) and others on this blog who say “THIS IS SYRIA COMMENT, NOT “PALESTINE COMMENT.” NO, we hardly can separate Syria and other Arab countries from Palestine.

ON the neo-cons’ Israeli bias and their 1996 paper, please see this article in Israel’s Haaretz newspaper:
“Ending the neoconservative nightmare”
http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/opinion/ending-the-neoconservative-nightmare-1.194473

FREEDOM FOR OCCUPIED PALESTINE!

http://www.vanityfair.com/politics/features/2008/04/gaza200804
http://www.palestineremembered.com/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M3dfRtwbJRM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VlHeawIccio

December 22nd, 2011, 9:45 am

 

N.Z. said:

Spammer, you know who you are. STOP!

December 22nd, 2011, 9:52 am

 

jad said:

Meer ? Nazel Ala Homs ???? ??? ???

December 22nd, 2011, 10:14 am

 

Syria no kandahar said:

????? ?????? ??????
???? ???????
Will be getting 70virgin female rats and one male rat,in the RATS HEAVEN,next to his godly rat masters Alaaroor and Karadawi:

December 22nd, 2011, 10:26 am

 

Revlon said:

Leaks on Regime’s plan to stage desired scenes wherever the AL commission goes, thanks to a forged agreement on 24hr advance notice for their movements.
http://www.facebook.com/TheSyrianNationalCouncil

Hamid Aldhary
????? ??????? ?? ???? ????? ????? ????????? ????? ??? ?????? ???? ???????? ??? 24 ???? ?? ????? ?? ???? ????? ???? ??????? ????? ????????
?? ??? ???? ???????? ???????? ?? ?????? ?????? ??????? , ?????? ?????? ????? ??? ???????? ,

?????? ?????? ?????????? ???? ??????? :

1- ?????? ???? ???? ???? ??????? ?????? ???? ??? ????? ??? ???? ??????? ????? ????? ???????? ?????? ?? ???? ??????? ?? ?? ????? ??????
????????? ???????? ?????? ?? ??? ??????? ????? ??????? ????? ???? ?? ????? ???? ?????? ???? ????? ?????? ?? ????? ????? ?????? ?????? ????? 200 ???? ??????
???? ???? ???????? ?????? ???? ??? ????? ????????? ?????? ??? ??? ?????? ????? ???????? ?????? ????? ?? ??? ?????? ????? ?????? ??????? ??????? ??????? ????? ???????
?????? ????? ?????? ??? ???? ?????? , ???? ????? ?????? ?? ????? ?????? ??????? ?????????? ???????? ????????? ?????????? ???????? ??????? .
1. Visits to restive neighbourhoods shall be staged as follows: streets shall be sealed for native residents. Shabbeha and their families will instead be bussed into the area to give a facad of normal life.

2- ???? ?????? ???? ??? ?????? ????? ????????? ??? ???????? ??????? ?????? ??????? ????????? ??????? ????? ?????? ???? ???? ?? ??????? ???? ???
???? ??????? ??????? ???? ?????? ??? ????? ??????? ??????? ??? ????????? ??????? ????? ???? ??????? ????? ???????? ??????? ??????? ?????? ?????? ?????? ??????? ??????
????????? ??? ??????? ?????? ???????? ????? ?????? ?????? ?? ??? ?? ????? ?????? ????? ????? ??? ???? ?? ???? ????? ????? ????? ??? ????? ???? ???? ???????? ?????? ??????
???? ????? ????? ??? ??? ??? ??????? ???????? , ???????? ?? ??? ????? ?? ????????? ????? , ????? ????? ?????? ?? ????? ?????? ??????? ??????? ?????? .
2. Visits to watch and interview people in anti-regime demonstration: The area is pre-sealed. Shabbeha demonstrators masqarading as real antiregime protestors scahnt ant-regime slogans. Upon questioning they would claim that army and security forces do not fire at them and that armed gangs do!

3- ????? ?????? ??????? ?????? ?? ???? ?????? ????? ???? ????? ???? , ??? ????? ?? ??????? ???? ?? ???? ???? ????? ?????? ?????? ?????? ????? ???? ??
???? ?? ????? ??????? ???????? ????????? ???????? ?????? , ?????? ??? ???? ??????? ??????? ???????? ??????? ???? ???? ??????? ?????? ????? ??? ????? ?????
????? ????? ??? ?? ??????? ??? ????? ????? ????? ???? ???????? ??? ???? ????? ?????? ??? ????? ?????? ????? ????? ??? ?? ??????? ???????? ??? ??? ?? ????? ?????
???? ???? ????? ?????? ???? , ????? ???? ????? ????????? ?????????? ???? ??????? ??????? ??? ????? ??????? , ???? ???? ??? ????? ??????
?????? ???????? ?? ??????? ??????? !!!
3. Stage shooting at police checkpoints by plain clothes security forces that infiltrate anti-regime demonstrators.

4- ??? ?????? ??????? ?? ??? ??? ?????? ??? ?????? ?????? ?????? ???? ????? ????? ???? ??? ???????? ?????? ????? ??? ????? ????????? ???? ??? ????
?????? ?????? ????? , ???? ??????? ???????? ??????? ?? ????? ??? ????? ?? ??????? ?????? ??????? ???? ?????? ???? ?? ?????? ????? ?? ???? ?? ?? ??? ???????? .
???? ???? ?????? ?? ????? ???? ?? ?????? ????? ??????? ???????? ???? ???? ???? ???????? ??? ?????? ?????? ?????? , ??? ???? ??????? ????? ????? ????? ???? ?????
?? ????? ?????? ?????? ?? ??????? ????? ?????? ????? ????????? ????? ??????? ???? ????? ?????? ?? ?????? .
4. Not allowing observers to mingle in real anti-regime demonstrations by asking Shabbeeha infiltrators to fire at police or even at the observers car to scare them off.

5- ?????? ????? ??????? ????????? , ??????? ???? ???? ???? ????? ?????? ????????? ??????? ??? ?????? ???? ???? ????? ??????? ????? ????? ?????? ???? ??????? ,
??????? ?????? ????????? ??? ?????? ???????? ???? ?????? ?? ?? ???? ???? ????????? ??????? ?? ????? ?? ??? ??????? ???? ?????? , ????? ????????? ??????? ???? ?????? ????
?????? ????? ??????? , ?????? ?????? ??????? ?? ????? ?????? ???? ?????? ??? ??? ?????? ?????? ??????? ????? ???????? ????? ?????? ????? ?????? ??????? ???????? ???????
????? ?????? ????? ????? ?????? ????? ????? ???????? ??? ????? ?? ????? ????? ?????? , ???? ????? ?????? ??????? ??????? ???????? ??? ?????? ???? ?? ???? ??????? ??
?????? ??????? ????? ??????? ?? ???? ???? ??????? ???? ?????? , ????? ????? ?????? ?? ????? ?????? ????????? ????? ???????? .
5.Arranging interviews with blackmailed prisoners who volunteer a script dictated by security forces in the hope of getting released.

6- ?????? ??????? ????? ?????? ????? ????? ?????? ?????? ???? ??????? ??????? ?? ????? ?? ??????? ???????? ?????? ????????? ??? ?????? ?????? ???????? ???????
6. stage acts of anarchy.

7- ?????? ?????? ?????? ????????? ????? ??? ???? ??? ??????? ??? ??? ?????? ?? ??? ???? ?????? ??? ???? ??? ( ????? ?????? ????????? ) ??????? ?????
???? ???? ??? ????? ?? ??? ????? ??? ???????????? ?????? ???? ????????? ?? ?? ?? ????? ?? ????? ???? ???? ???? ??? ?????? ?????? ??? ???????? , ???? ??????
???? ????????? ?? 700 ????? ??? 120 ????? ??? ???? ???????? ???? ??????? ?????? ??? ???? ????? ?????? ???? ????? ?????? ??? ??????? ???? ???? ????? ??????
??? ( ????? ??? ????????? ) .
The number of observers have been reduced from 700 to 120!

See Translation

6 hours ago.

December 22nd, 2011, 10:45 am

 

jad said:

-???? ????????? ?????? ??? ????? ???? ???????? ?????? ?? ????? ???????? ??? ????? ????? ????? ????? ??????? ???????? ???? ????? ?????? ????????? ????? ??????.

-???? ???? ??????? ?????? ??? ??? ??????? ?? ????? ???? ????? ???? ?????????? ???????? ??????????? ????????? ?? ?????? ???? ????????? ??????? ?????? ????????? ????????? ??? ????? ????? ????? ????? ??????? ???????? ??????.
???? ??????? ?? ?????? ????? ????? ?? ????? ???? ?? ?????? ?????? ??? ?? ??? ??? ???????? ????????.

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

Yesterday

?????: ??????? ??? ????? ??????? ?? ?????? ???? ????? ??????

??? ???? ???????? ?????? ???? ????? ????? ?? “?????? ??????? ?????? ???????? ??? ?? ??? ???? ??????? ?????? ??? ??? ??????? ??????? ?? ?????? ???? ????? ????? ??????? ???????? ???? ???? ??? ?????? ?? ????? 1915”.
????? ?????? ?? ???? ????? ????? “??????” ???????? ??? ?????? ??????????? “??? ????? ??? ??? ??????? ??? ?? ???? ??????? ?????? ??????????? ??? – ????? ????? ???? ?????? ??????? ?? ??? ????????”? ????? ?? “????? ????? ????? ??????? ??????? ??? ???????? ??????? ?????? ?????? ??? ????? ?????”? ????? ?? ????? ?? ?? ???? ????? ????? ????? ?????? ?????? ??? ????? ????”.
???? ???????? ???????? ????? “??? ??????? ?????? ????? ?????”? ????? ?????? “?? ?????? ?? ???? ??????? ?????? ????? ????? ????? ???? ????? ??? ???? ?? ????? ??????? ???? ??? ?? ?????? ?? ????? ??? ????? ?????? ??? ?????? ???? ?????”? ????? ??? ?? ????? ??????? ??????? ?? ???? ???? ??? ??? ?????? ??? ????? ???????? “???? ?? ??? ????? ?????? ?? ??? ??? ????? ??? ???????”? ????? ??? ?? “???????? ???????? “???? ??????” ??? ????? ???????”.
???? ???????? ???????? ??????? ??? ?????? ?????? ????? ???? ????? “?????” ?????? ????????? ??? ??????? ??? ????? ???? ???? ??? ????? ???? ?? ??? ??? ??? ???? ?????? ????????? ?????????.

December 22nd, 2011, 10:54 am

 
 

Mina said:

Zoo

Here about Egypt, a good analysis

http://www.mediapart.fr/print/162198 (with subscription)
Elections bâclées, répression, torture… L’armée égyptienne à visage découvert

19 décembre 2011 | Par Pierre Puchot – Mediapart.fr

C’était il y a deux semaines : la presse internationale se réjouissait du déroulement des élections, titrait à l’envi sur «le test de démocratie réussi», quelques jours seulement après avoir couvert abondamment les affrontements de la place Tahrir au Caire, mais aussi d’Alexandrie et de Suez, où les forces de l’ordre avaient tué plus de quarante manifestants.

Démocratie d’un côté, répression meurtrière de l’autre… L’improbable dichotomie pouvait encore se tenir si l’on entrait dans le jeu des autorités, stigmatisant la méchante police d’un côté (condamnant même un policier coupable de tir à balles réelles sur la foule), poussée à bout par les casseurs et «forces antirévolutionnaires»; et l’armée protectrice de la révolution et du peuple de l’autre.

Ce week-end, après la mort de dix manifestants, le doute n’est pourtant plus permis. Et à voir les agents de la police militaire prêter main forte aux policiers des forces anti-émeutes pour pourchasser et tabasser à mort les manifestants de la place Tahrir, le discours officiel a quelque peu perdu de sa force de persuasion.
Comment comprendre ce décalage entre d’un côté une impression de démocratie naissante et de l’autre la répression la plus sauvage, et ce en plein centre de la capitale ? Dans le détail, les résultats du scrutin sont fidèles aux prévisions, laissant penser qu’ils reflètent le paysage égyptien de la fin 2011. Les partis musulmans conservateurs et islamistes ont remporté le premier tour des élections législatives en Égypte. Selon les chiffres fournis par la Haute commission électorale, les listes des Frères musulmans, du parti salafiste An-Nour et du parti Wassat ont cumulé 65,25 % des voix pour cette première phase des législatives, organisée dans un tiers des gouvernorats, notamment les deux plus grandes villes, Le Caire et Alexandrie.

Pourtant, la désorganisation du scrutin – absence d’isoloirs, d’observateurs internationaux, confusions favorisées par la mixité d’un scrutin à la fois de liste et uninominal – ne devrait tromper personne : songeons que la Tunisie, aux ressources infiniment moins importantes que l’Egypte, est parvenue en un délai (huit mois) de temps équivalent à organiser un scrutin libre et transparent. Pourquoi la puissante Egypte n’en serait-elle pas capable ? Tout simplement parce que, aux yeux des militaires, ce n’est finalement pas cela qui compte. C’est davantage l’image superficielle d’un scrutin démocratique, porté par une majorité de la population égyptienne, qui intéresse le CSFA, qui a même délégué aux citoyens, dans plusieurs localités (dont Zamalek, au Caire), l’organisation du scrutin. En l’occurrence, une participation de 62% – chiffre qui apparaît somme toute assez faible si l’on se rappelle que les Egyptiens ont l’obligation de se rendre aux urnes, sous peine de subir une amende de 500 livres (pour beaucoup, l’équivalent d’un salaire mensuel).

Dans le même temps, l’utilisation de la police pour réprimer les éléments contestataires a permis de sauver les apparences et de préserver quelque peu l’image du CSFA sur le plan international, comme auprès de la population égyptienne, davantage inquiète de la situation économique que de la répression. «La police est sous l’autorité totale de l’armée», nous confiait fin novembre Mohamed, réalisateur qui consacre son premier long métrage, un documentaire de 90 minutes, à la police égyptienne. Le jeune cinéaste décrit une hiérarchie policière frustrée, soumise à l’armée. Comment imaginer que cette police soumise soit à l’origine du climat de chaos, de cette répression retransmise en direct par les caméras des télévisions internationales, qui menace les efforts d’une armée impuissante face aux dérives des policiers?

Cette double dichotomie – police contre armée, répression contre processus démocratique – a pourtant fonctionné à plein tout au long de l’année, pour justifier aux yeux des diplomaties internationales, comme de la population, la permanence du Conseil supérieur des forces armées au sommet de l’Etat. Un léger retour en arrière permet de prendre la mesure du travail effectué depuis un an par l’armée pour marquer de son empreinte le prochain régime égyptien.

Vers un scénario à l’algérienne?

Depuis le début du mois de février, l’armée égyptienne a fait sienne la thématique du double discours que l’on prête si souvent aux organisations musulmanes. D’un côté, l’armée promet d’être la garante du processus de transition vers la démocratie. De l’autre, elle fait tout pour rester maître le plus longtemps possible des affaires publiques, et négocie depuis des mois avec les représentations des institutions (dont le président de la Haute cour constitutionnelle, un juge réformateur arrivé à ce poste grâce à son ancienneté) et les représentants des partis politiques qui formeront le gouvernement issu des législatives. De là proviennent les gesticulations désordonnées des Frères musulmans, d’abord favorables aux manifestations place Tahrir, appelant ensuite leurs partisans à rester chez eux.

Pour tous, le message est clair : l’armée souhaite garder un pied en politique, échapper aux lois votées par le futur parlement, et conserver le pouvoir de déclarer ou non la guerre à un autre Etat. Pour le faire passer à la société civile, le Conseil supérieur des forces armées s’est employé, dès le lendemain de la révolution, à mater tout début d’opposition. Ce furent les tortures et «tests de virginité» pratiqués sur les militants de la place Tahrir à partir de la fin février, dénoncés en mars par les ONG de défense des droits de l’homme, quand le monde entier avait reporté son attention sur le conflit libyen. (Lire ici le premier communiqué d’Amnesty international sur ce thème.)

Ce fut ensuite le détournement – au profit d’une déclaration élaborée en son sein et promulgué selon sa volonté – du référendum populaire sur la réforme constitutionnelle, dont l’armée s’est affranchie en partie malgré une large victoire du «oui» en faveur des amendements proposés par le CSFA. Ainsi, après notre série de reportages sur cette Egypte en mutation, nous nous demandions dès le mois de mars si l’armée n’avait pas déjà trahi la révolution…

Avant le départ de l’ancien président Moubarak, l’armée contrôlait entre 15% et 20% de l’économie égyptienne selon les estimations. L’intérêt pour le CSFA de demeurer aux commandes du pays est donc essentiellement économique, pour construire un scénario à l’algérienne avec un président pour la façade, un processus électoral en trompe-l’œil, l’apparence d’une opposition politique et d’une presse libre et, surtout, des lignes rouges incertaines qui maintiennent la société civile constamment sous pression et sujette à l’autocensure.

Cette stratégie est déjà à l’œuvre : pour «insulte envers l’armée», plusieurs journalistes et blogueurs, dont l’emblématique Alaa Abdel Fattah, ont été condamnés à des peines supérieures à trois années de prison ferme. Ce sont en tout plus de 12.000 prisonniers qui ont été jugés de manière expéditive par les tribunaux militaires depuis la fin février. Perceptible au lendemain de la révolution, la reprise en main de l’armée égyptienne est aujourd’hui une certitude, qui laisse craindre que ne s’installe, comme en Algérie, une parodie de démocratie, où le gouvernement et le parlement ne sont que les caisses d’enregistrement des volontés d’une junte bien décidée à accroître peu à peu son emprise sur le pays.

December 22nd, 2011, 11:19 am

 

Mina said:

Photoshop works in Egypt too

The Ministry of Interior has issued an apology for publishing defamatory photos of the Egyptian women’s march on its official Facebook page.

The photoshopped images showed the female protesters holding posters of blue and pink bras, even though in the original images, the posters were holding posters with the slogan “down with military rule,” written on them.

The march, which included 10,000 women, took place on 20 December and was staged against military rule and in response to military brutality against women.(…)

for the picture: http://english.ahram.org.eg/~/NewsContent/1/64/29956/Egypt/Politics-/Egypt-Ministry-of-Interior-apologises-for-defamato.aspx

Problem: The military owns Egypt, and the US owns the military.

http://www.almasryalyoum.com/en/node/560936

Smoke from three Fayoum factories officially inaugurated last October by Egypt’s de-facto ruler Field Marshal Hussein Tantawi is creating an environmental disaster, not only ruining agricultural production but also killing scores of animals, according to residents of the area surrounding the factories.

The inauguration of the factories, which produce phosphoric acid, aluminum sulfate and fertilizers in the industrial region of Kum Osheem off the Cairo–Fayoum Road, was part of celebrations for the 38th anniversary of Egypt’s 6th of October military victory over Israel.

All three factories belong to the military-owned Nasr Company for Chemicals, which was established in 1975 to produce chemicals, fertilizers and household pesticides.

Tantawi’s visit was the the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF) chief’s first since the 25 January uprising.

However, residents of the area say that while the factories have actually been operating for the past three years, their disastrous environmental impact has only recently become apparent.

Egypt Independent’s reporter was not allowed inside the factories, and officials at the Environmental Affairs office in Fayoum denied that these factories are polluting the environment.

The pollution emitted by the factories is threatening nearby agricultural lands and has irrevocably damaged the harvests of nearly 15,000 feddans of land, according to Ibrahim Khaled Ammar, a livestock dealer who lives in the village of Asfar, located just 500 meters from the factories.

Farmers in five Kum Osheem villages have complained about the deterioration of their olive harvests, one of Fayoum’s leading agricultural products. Fayoum, an oasis governorate located 76km southwest of Cairo, has a population of over 2.5 million and relies on agriculture as its main source of income.

Badawy Gomaa Mohamed, a farmer from the village of Tahoon, summarizes the problem: “People have been suffering from the factories’ smoke for a year now. But following the Tantawi inauguration, the smoke has increased and my entire olive harvest is now lost.”

Mohamed Abdel Aty Sedawy, another farmer hailing from the village of Mofatesh, details the harm inflicted by the factories, explaining that all the branches on his olive trees have dried up.

“The olives should be green at this time of year, but due to the factories’ smoke, all the branches are dry. This means that this harvest is not going to be sold anywhere,” he laments.

Palm trees are another of Fayoum’s important crops that are regularly sold to other governorates. However, the production of hundreds of trees in villages near the industrial zone was also hindered by the smoke.

Gomaa Abdel Hady Ruby, a farmer from the village of Deeba, speaks about his ruined harvest of palm trees.

“My sole source of income is from palm trees. Recently, and for the first time ever, I don’t have a harvest to sell. All the dates are rotten; they have been cracked and damaged by the smoke from the factories. My village is 5km away from the factories but the smoke reaches us easily,” Ruby says.

When the farmers tried to obtain more pesticides to mitigate the negative effects of the smoke, they were disappointed.

“We’ve tried everything that was advised by the agricultural engineer that came to help, but the situation didn’t change,” says Mohamed, the farmer from Tahoon. “He eventually told us that no pesticide could reverse the effects of air pollution on our crops.”

The farmers say that they can deal with this year’s loss, “but we can’t afford it for two years. This is our main source of income and we can’t live without it,” complains Ruby.

Moreover, the smoke has had a negative impact on animals, which have repeatedly fainted in the area surrounding the factories. Scores of animals have also reportedly died because of the smoke.

Ammar, the livestock dealer, argues that the factories’ pollution has had a harsh impact on local animals.

Pointing to two of his cows that had fainted from smoke inhalation, Ammar says, “The price of each of these cows will not reach LE1000. A healthy cow costs around LE10,000.”

The problem is chronic, Ammar adds, as livestock are a major source for income for many families in the area. He also says that cows provide families with milk and cheese, which comprise almost all of local families’ meals.

Residents can also make extra money by selling fresh produce in the local village market, but their crops have been damaged. “That’s why the problem is threatening our lives here,” Ammar continues.

Farmers against the SCAF?

Ruby, the farmer from Deeba, says that Egypt’s military rulers are now turning against the people.

They are destroying us,” he angrily exclaims. “Their job is to protect us, not harm us with these factories.”

But Ammar, who has tried many times to gather the people and raise awareness about the pollution, feels constrained.

“We are poor people and most of us are not educated. People still fear the authorities. We are not in Damietta,” he says, referring to the massive demonstrations by residents of the Mediterranean governorate to protest a fertilizer plant they accuse of polluting the environment.

Fayoum residents seem unable to initiate such collective action.

“At first, some people suggested blocking the Cairo–Fayoum Road to send a message to the army. But we refused to do that because we are afraid of the consequences,” says Sedawy, the farmer from Mofatesh.

Fayoum is one of the poorest governorates in Egypt, ranking at low according to all human development indicators.

Farmers in the area recently contacted the local office of the Egyptian Environmental Affairs Agency (EEAA) but received no response. And after going directly to the office of the Fayoum governor, they were told that since the factories were military-owned, there was nothing the governor could do.

According to Sedawy, the farmers also tried to contact parliamentary candidates about the problem, but none took up the cause.

Ammar says that when Tantawi came to inaugurate the factories, some went to protest their construction.

“He promised us he would solve our problem,” Ammar recalls. “But nothing has been solved yet.”

He follows with a plea for help: “We don’t know what to do here. We are desperate and have no idea what else can be done.”

December 22nd, 2011, 11:31 am

 

mjabali said:

???? ??????? Majedkhaldoun

The 58 people who are killed in Baghdad today are killed by the Sunnis, do you have any doubts?

You want to twist the truth and say that al-Maliki killed them. WE both know that this is not true. The Sunni Takfiris (like you believe the world is divided to Kuffar and believers) are the ones who did these bombings.

It was, according to al-Arabiyah, 11 coordinated attacks that took place at rush hour to maximize the number of dead, who are Iraqis from all walks of life. al-Arabiyah said ” ????? ??????? ?? ??? ???? ??? ????? ??????? ??????? ?????????? ”

The Sunni Takfiri groups has done this for years and made a career into blowing churches, people going to visit shrines, and poor people waiting for work somewhere….of course, they all believe that they are blowing up Kuffar…

What is happening in Iraq today is dangerous for Syria and of course the whole area.

Only simple naive people think that events around Syria do not affect Syria proper.

What is threatening to happen in Iraq may spill over to Syria very soon.

The call for Jihad against the infidel Shia, Alawis and Christians is present and there are enough money and men power to wage that war ASAP. You could feel this in the air, although many are getting cold feet just when they start realizing the magnitude of this war that may take countries out of the map and replace it with something else. The Shia/Alawis also have weapons and money and the situation would gets way- out- of- control and war and destruction may come faster for all than they all expected.

December 22nd, 2011, 11:34 am

 

Revlon said:

SNC leadership has proven beyond reasonable doubt that they are out of touch with realities on the ground and out of their mind when it comes having vision and plans for saving civilians.

They first insisted on internal peeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeaceful solution; thousands died in the process while civilians were asking for No-fly zone.

Then they insisted on Arab peeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeaceful solution; thousands died, and more will while the AL commission gets duped watching enactments of regime scenarios.

Now! We are told that the SNC leadership want Arab Deterrent Forces!
Wow!
They are out of their mind!
Where is the historic precedent where such force barged in on an Arab state to protect demonstrators?
The only ones that I recall came upon request of states, not people or demonstrators!

It took months and thousands of lives to get the regime to receive 120 regime-friendly, Arab government officials to listen to and watch to their reality TV, staged events.

This SNC leadership has achieved many things for every body else but the revolution:
– They have accommodated the egos of hundreds of neo-politicians.
– They have given assurances to major powers on future policies
– They have given promises for future business deals with the obstinate ones
– They have given assurances to the handful of Assyrians who shall continue to find new reasons to moan about in order to immigrate for non-political reasons.
– They have given assurances to minorities while 80 to 100% of them are party to the ongoing carnage against the majority.

Oh ya! They have given things to the revolution; the SNC commandments:
– Meet violence with peace
– Do not abduct other’s children, even if they abduct your’s.
– Face death with peaceful creativity
– Go on strike even if Assad thugs loot the last penny your poverty stricken family is clinging on
– Go on civil disobedience and starve your family.
– To the FSA: do not fire on convoys of Shabbeeha or the brave Assad soldiers; it is just not nice.
Wait until they come to your doorstep and brandish the gun and threaten you they will shoot! Oh and make sure that they are not using blanks! Only then you are permitted to fire back!
– Would someone help me out here to make them 10 commandments!!

I invite the SNC leadership to lead by example or shut the hell up.
Come down to Homs, Idlib, Dar3a, Damascus, or any restive area and show the demonstrators how to do all that!

If they can’t and they won’t, then they should leave the action plan to the concerned party, the revolution and dedicate themselves to only promoting the revolution’s cause.

The SNC ought to announce their rejection of the farcical AL commission mandate and membership.

The SNC must revise their agenda, starting today!
– They should stop romanticising about the peaceful revolution. The revolution started peaceful and shall continue to be one, irrespective of their calls.
– They should start enacting ways to save people; The SNC has done nothing to save a single life!
– They should garner financial, logistical, and training support to the FSA, without interfering with their field decisions.
– They should make immediate contacts with Turkey, USA, and EU to implement plans for no fly zones, within 1 to 2 weeks.

December 22nd, 2011, 12:06 pm

 

majedkhaldoun said:

Mjabali
wouldn’t you like for Iraq and Syria to unite? I would, there is nothing better for the Arab than this, unless you hate Arab, Ya I remember ,you hate Arab.
Once we get rid of your Gods Bashar and Maliki, we will be able to unite,

December 22nd, 2011, 12:21 pm

 

Revlon said:

The first video of Kafr-3waid massacre by Assad forces
Most shot in the head from short range, execution style.

The crime was committed at the orders of Jabali commanders, against sunni civilians.

????- ??????? ????? ?????? ??????? ?? ??? ???????20/12

December 22nd, 2011, 12:31 pm

 

Bill said:

298. GHAT AL BIRD

Thanks so much for this excellent link regarding Zionists’ racism. Yes, there is discrimination against black Jews. in the early 1980s Israel brought to occupied Palestine black Jews from Ethiopia (Flasha), and no Jewish Israeli community wanted to accept them. Many of Jewish Zionists expressed their fear that their daughters would have relations with the new black comers and give birth to black babies!!! Disgusting Israeli Zionist racism!!! I was a child visiting my grandparents’ occupied/colonized homeland in the early 1980s, and I remember that they took us on a trip to Netanya, north of Tel Aviv (where the “IDF mukhabarat” Amir says he lives). I saw that the Israeli gov’t put rejected black African Jews from Ethiopia in a hotel near the sea because they couldn’t fight a Zionist colony to accept them!
Yes, Zionism is Racist!
Free Palestine: http://palestineremembered.com/

December 22nd, 2011, 12:34 pm

 

Revlon said:

A most fitting lable for upcomming Friday:
Friday of the-Protocol-of-Death

????? ??????? ?????? | ????? ???? ???????? ?????

December 22nd, 2011, 12:43 pm

 

mjabali said:

Majedkhaldoun:

I am Syrian and not an Arab. I want to know more about my Syrian roots and history and care less about the Arabs and their propaganda and fake historiography.

Unity is a romantic idea that has no merits on the ground, although many people believe in it. You can argue for years that there are similar people on both sides of the border, but, the realities of today makes one think about what can be done and what is just pure romantic.

You have to look at the reality: Rich do not want to unify with poor. Iraq (Rich) did not unify with Syria (poorer) even when both has the same ruling party (Baath).

There are many obstacles that arise anytime unity is mentioned: Tribalism is one..(Since you are a tribes’ man could you please enlighten us on why the Arab tribes never united? Is it in your DNA?)

As for unity with Iraq, it would be nice (If it will ever happen) because Syria and Iraq both are not Arabs and therefore would go ways up to scale of civilized nations as we did in the past.

Remember the Arabs became “civilized” when they invaded Syria, Iraq, and Egypt.

Syrians and Iraqis together could build a modern state that would probably civilize the Arabs who does not understand anything so far that is not based on religion, race, and MONEY.

The Arab mindset, from day one, mostly looks and measure things based on religion, race, and MONEY. You know how bad is that. You Mr. Majedkhaldoun is an example: you define people according to their religion, isn’t that the case?

The Arabs think they are the best race: we all know it is not true. They are way down on the scale of civilized nations based on their record and contributions to modern times.

December 22nd, 2011, 12:44 pm

 

Revlon said:

This little girl was just shot in the chest at the orders of a Jabali commander!
Baba Amr, Homs.
???? ????? ?? ?? ???????? 22-12-2011.MOD

December 22nd, 2011, 12:53 pm

 

Revlon said:

Abdul Ghaffar was just shot dead at the orders of Jabali commanders while fetching water for his family!
AlBayadah, Homs.
22/12/2011

AlFatiha upon his soul,
May God bless his family with solace and empowert hem with fortitude.

??? ??????? ?????? ??? ?????? ?????2011 22 12

December 22nd, 2011, 12:59 pm

 

N.Z. said:

Mjabali,

Calling names will not solve the issues. After ten months, civil war is wishful thinking, and you are absolutely right “there are enough money and men power to wage that war ASAP.” From all sides.

Who will benefit in Syria?

Rather than throwing accusations, let us find a way out.

I fully agree with Prof. Landis analysis. “..It’s likely that the regime will be in power a year from now. The Opposition is not organised. It’s gotten much more organised but for 40 years there’s been no politics in Syria …. It doesn’t have a military wing. It hasn’t liberated any part of the territory. ..The Syrian military remains fairly strong. There have been a lot of defections at the lower levels but the core, the Alawite, Baathist core, the Officer core has remained solid and is still in charge of tanks and heavy weaponry. How the Syrian Opposition is going to face this is unclear and the external powers europe and the United States don’t seem to be ready to intervene.

The economy is really spinning downwards… Energy is really running out and the state institutions are not being able to provide. They cut salaries and lay off extra people.

…I think people are changing their minds but what can they really do? People are dissatisfied. The regime can offer very little and it looks like it will never regain its footing again so people are frightened. They dont know what the future is going to bring.”

Here I disagree, I think ordinary people, caught in the middle can do a lot, on this blog and on the ground. The regime derive its power from people’s desperation, division, fear and uncertainty. They, unlike us, know what they want. To remain in control at any price. Syria and Syrians for them, is merely Assads and their close families. They, the regime divide Syrians to two camps, those who support them, they will use, and those against them, they will kill.

The protesters, are not militant, and not ideological driven. Take Midan in Damascus, started small and grew bigger after 10 month, one death and they are unstoppable.

People are fed up from being herded like sheep. People are ready to die for their freedom and dignity. They will not stop, but most importantly, they are not sectarian. You know it Mjabali. Do you hate the “other” Syrians, if your answer is no, so is the majority. Painting the protesters as sectarian will neither serve your community nor Syrians.

“It’s the economy, stupid” a phrase used during Clinton’s successful 1992 presidential campaign against George Bush strong foreign policy campaign. In our case, “It’s the Syrians, stupid” this repressive regime is benefiting from our discord.

December 22nd, 2011, 1:02 pm

 

Revlon said:

?????????? ????????? ????? ?? ????? ?????? ???????? ???? ????
Khaled AlMahameed: The Kidnapped “Engineers” are five Iranian Republican Guards and three Hizballah fighters.

2011/12/22??? ??: ????? ?????

?????? ???? ???????? : ??? ???
http://all4syria.info/web/archives/42937

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

???????? ?? ??? ????? ????????? ?????? ????? ????? ????? ?? ????? ????? ????? ???????? ?? ??????? ?????????? ???? ?? ???? ??? ??? ???????? 20/12/2011? ???? ?? ???? ???????… ???? ????? ???? ?????? ????? ??? ????? ??? ??????? ????????? ????????? ???????? ??????? ?????? ???? ???? ??? ?????? ?????

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

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

December 22nd, 2011, 1:11 pm

 

jad said:

Make up dude was celebrating the killing of Syrian soldiers just couple weeks ago, now he has ‘feeling’…..Why didn’t you stop those ‘angles’ from killing before they got killed?
Oh I forgot, you don’t believe in peaceful resolutions…your motto is ‘Violence and Sectarianism is the solution’.

BTW, you forgot to put the ‘dissolve’ statement of that militia:

????? ?????? ????/????? ?????? ??????/??? ?????
???? ???
???? ??????? ?? ???????? ??????? ???? ???? ????? ?????
??? ????? ????? ??????? ??? ????? ????? ????? ??????? ??? ?? ????? ?? ?????? ?? ?? ??? ?? ????? ?? ????? ????? ????? ????? ???? ???????? ????? ?? ??????? ??????? ??? ???? ?? ?????? ?????? ?? ??????? ??????? ????? ??????? ?????? ????? ???? ?????? ???????? ??? ???????????????? ?????? ????? ?? ?????? ??????? ???? ?????? ?????? ????? ??????? ?????? ?? ??? ????? ???????? ??? 117???? ????? ????? ????? ????????
?? ?? ?????? ???? ???? ????? ???? ?? ??? ????? ??
???? ?????? ?????? ??? ???? ???? ????? ???? ???????? ???????? ??? ?? ????
???????? ???? ???????? ?? ??? ??? ?? ?????
?????? ???? ???? ??????

December 22nd, 2011, 1:13 pm

 

Revlon said:

312
FSA communiques are posted on their website.
Your posted announcement is nowhere to be seen there.
Other websites are subject to be hacked!
Ah yes!
And your ward is as good as any regime’s!

December 22nd, 2011, 1:23 pm

 

norman said:

Most of us think that one of the problem in Syria is that some politicians are above the law and getting away with corruption and other crimes, what do you think with the warrant to arrest the VP in Iraq, is he above the law, why today after the arrest warrant we see 63 dead , four explosions, should we think that this is the response for his arrest, does that mean that the allegations against him are true, otherwise why would these explosions take place, these are questions and as long as politicians are not treated like everybody under the law,, i see no chance of improvement, if he is innocent then why not present his case and show that there is no case against him.

December 22nd, 2011, 1:37 pm

 

jad said:

The honest makeup dude is saying that the kidnapped Iranians working for the electric company are Iranian Republican Guards and Hizballah fighters! I so ‘believe’ you! your history and reputation are so bright!
Similar to the 14 ‘shabih’ your terrorist friends kidnapped and are killing one by one since last week where they end up being students? Or the shabiha girl? Or using the pictures of Syrian soldiers your terrorist killed as defected soldiers in Homs or killing and using kids or or or….
?? ??? ??? ???? ?? ??? ??? ?????…????? ????? ??? ?? ??????????????? ?? ????? ????? ??? ??????? ?????? ???? ?????? ????? ?????? ????? ????? ???? ??? ?? ??? ???..??? ?? ??????

Enjoy your friends peaceful works!
?????? ???????? ??????? ???????? ????? ??????????
http://youtu.be/e6x0ajzT8G0

December 22nd, 2011, 1:47 pm

 

majedkhaldoun said:

Mjabali
You are wrong on many issues you mentioned
you said Arab never united, that is not true .
you said Syria and Iraq are not Arab, you are wrong over 80 % they are Arab.you said Arab invaded syria and iraq, you are wrong ,Arab were present in Syria long before Islam and when Arab lived there Syria was not empty,Syrian are in majority are Arab. .
You said you are syrian, you are now but your ancestors came from different areas.
Now about unity between Syria and Iraq, it is good, economically, Iraq has 7 Km shore, if united with Syria they will have much longer shore, oil ,Iraq has enough oil to raise the standard of living in both countries, politically united Syria with Iraq will be the nucleous for more unity, Both Iraqi and Syrian people are highly intelligent, not dumm as you say, we were the heart of world civilization.
Further Unity between Iraq and Syria will influenceand cause changes in the whole Arab world.and will be hard to seperate.
We tried to unite before but both Hafez Assad and Saddam wanted to keep their power, they as dictators were the obstacle that prevented us from uniting,when democracy exist in both countries we will unite because our leaders do not care then, if they loose power.Democracy leads to unity.
Remember because we are not unitinted other countries colonized our country.

Some use the word Kafer in a way different than what I use it, to me it means non believer in Islam ,it is not an insult, please delete the word Kafer and replace it with unbeliever.

December 22nd, 2011, 1:47 pm

 

norman said:

Mjabali,

You might like this,
I was watching BBC the GCC meeting and they had an interview with a Jordanian, he made it clear that Jordon has nothing in association with the GCC and is closer to Syria, Lebanon and Iraq,

To my disappointment but apperently the Gulf states managed to push the people of the Levant away from Arab Nationalism and toward a greater Syrian Nationhood.

December 22nd, 2011, 1:49 pm

 

majedkhaldoun said:

Norman
You need to correct your statement Hashimi said he is willing to submit to court, he wants a fair court not one controlled by Maliki, he is willing to submit to court in Irbil.

December 22nd, 2011, 1:54 pm

 

jad said:

Ghufran,
About the meeting text you linked yesterday from Assafir
«??????» ???? ???? ???? ??????? ??«?????? ??????»:
????? ???? ????? ?????? ?????? ??? ?? ???????? ??? ???????
It’s getting a really bad reaction from many people in the opposition, read this:
——————
Louay Hussein
?? ??? ???? ?????? ??? ?????? ?????? ???? ???? ????? ????? ?????? ??? ??????? ??????? ???? ?????? ??? ?????? ??? ????? ?????? ?????????? ??????
——————

December 22nd, 2011, 2:15 pm

 

ann said:

Syria observer mission – beginning of the end? – 22 December, 2011

http://rt.com/news/syria-observers-opposition-battle-473/print/

A coordinating group has arrived in Syria to lay foundations for observers from the Arab League to visit the restless land. For Damascus, this long-expected visit may become its final diplomatic battle, RT’s Marianna Belenkaya reports from Syria.

­The observers – like foreign journalists – will be limited in their movements, traveling across the country with Syrian officials. They will see only what the government shows them, but that will only be half of the truth.

On the other hand, the observers have kept regular contacts with the Local Coordination Committees (LCC) of the opposition. So, they could either risk angering Damascus by demanding full freedom of movement, or meet with opposition members in secret. The latter option is a difficult one, though not unlikely, if they manage to win the LCC’s support. In that case, they will see what the opposition wants to show them – still only one half of the truth.

The outcome will still be the same if Damascus agrees to ensure transparency, allowing the observers to choose where to go on. Of course, this means the observers will go where the LLC tells them they should. This option is most likely off the table, though. But, no matter which decision the Syrian authorities take, they appear to be cornered – either the observers will not trust them and criticize them on the lack of transparency, or they will wrap up the mission with a long list of accusations.

In private conversations, some members of the opposition said they were sure that observers would leave Syria in a month with a list of high-ranking officials, including Bashar al-Assad’s brother, Maher. They said the list would be immediately handed over to the International Criminal Court, with further options as follows: a military coup; al-Assad’s murder; or a popular uprising driven, among other reasons, by mounting discontent with the effects of economic sanctions and a tense security situation.
­Opposition consolidating – Syrian regime catching up

Growing rates of inflation and unemployment, shortages of power supplies, and long lines for cooking gas and fuel have proven to be a heavy burden on the Syrian people. At first, those waiting to take their gas canister tell foreign journalists they are all right, and still loyal to al-Assad’s regime – and can get along only on flatbread and olive oil, but eventually the complaints come out.

“Go on, shoot! We die in the queue every day,” cries a young man dragging a gas canister. When another in the line was asked who he thought was responsible for their hardships, his reply was surprisingly vague – “everyone.” But the look on his face seemed to imply that “everybody” included the authorities. There are those, too, who are sincere in their belief that Syria has been through harder times and still managed to survive. These people are prepared to wait and put up with difficulties to avoid interference by the international community into their domestic affairs. The opposition is also divided over the need for international assistance.

The opposition here is not made up of officially-registered parties, but the out-of-system groups operating both inside Syria and abroad.

Some opposition members say economic sanctions and international observers will suffice, with the belief that foreign military intervention will result in national disaster. In contrast, others are certain that the “Libyan scenario” may become a necessity if al-Assad does not step down in the near future.

“It’s like surgery – the treatment would be painful, but there are no other options since a slow response could lead to gangrene,” they say. Despite the differing views on Syria’s future, the opposition is unanimous about one thing – Bashar al-Assad and his team must leave, which will happen sooner or later.

In late summer, some members of the LLC claimed that the Syrian National Council set up abroad and headed by Burhan Ghalioun did not represent their interests. Now, the situation has changed.

“The actions of Burhan Ghalioun and the Syrian National Council are in line with our interests in terms of regime change,” local activists told RT. They know what is happening in the country’s restive regions. Such unity is likely to linger until the fall of al-Assad’s regime, but after he is gone, the Syrian opposition is bound to split.

Over the past few months, the structure of the LLC, and the coordination of their actions, have been seriously streamlined. Initially, the LLC gave the impression of a spontaneous grassroots movement built around the following principle: I trust my neighbor, he trusts his neighbor – and we all go out for a rally. Now these committees are well-coordinated agencies with a director, a press service, a communication system, etc.

However, Syrian authorities have been quick to learn some lessons, too. They have learnt to communicate with the press: the Syrian Foreign Ministry now has an official spokesman, Jihad al-Makdisi, who is young, fluent in English and appears to be aware of modern realities. It is a huge step forward, but not enough to win the information war. The Syrian authorities cannot compete on this front either with the press or with the opposition, which could lead to catastrophic consequences.

Still, no one can make a plausible forecast for developments in the country. The opposition, the regime’s supporters, and the silent majority are mulling over the possible scenarios. And according to the latest statements from Washington, the West stands firm in the belief that Bashar al-Assad must go.

It is now up to the Arab countries to take their stance. Will they muster enough determination to go ahead with real action against Syria, or will they play diplomatic games trying to kill the clock? Of course, most of the Arab states have made up their minds that the Syrian regime will fall, but they are afraid to take that last step because it could open up doors to the unknown. And it is that fear of the unknown that might give the Syrian authorities a chance, and some much-needed time. Some Syrian circles are certain that in a couple of months the protests will be a thing of the past. They still believe that al-Assad controls everything and the situation in the country is going to calm down soon, a hope some Syrians do not buy into. Now it is the position of the international community that may play the decisive role. The last battle for Syria is on.

December 22nd, 2011, 2:21 pm

 

jad said:

Syrian government is saying that the number of the killed Syrian soldiers and security forces are now at 2000 high.

????? ?????? ????? ???????: ???? ?? 2000 ???? ?? ????? ?????? ??? ????
????? ???
???? ????? ?? ???????? ??????? ???? ?????? ????? ???? ??????? ????? ??????? ??????? ?????? ????? ???? ??????? ?? ????? ???? ???? ???? ???? ???????? ???? ?????? ????? ?????? ?? ?????? ??? ?????? ???? ????? ????? ??????? ??????? ???? ????? ????? ???????? ?? ????? ???? ?? ??? ????? ?????? ?? ???????? ???? ??????? ??????? ???????? ???? ???? ??? ????????? ????????? ??????? ????????? ???? ????? ????? ??? ??? ????? ?????? ???? ?????? ???????? ???? ????? ????? ???? ?????.

????? ????? ??? ?? ????? ?? ??????? ????? ???????? ??? ?? ?????? ??????? ???? ????? ????? ???? ?????? ?? ????? ????? ??????? ????? ???? ???????? ??????? ????? ?????? ????????? ???????? ?? ????? ???? ??? ??? ????? ???? ??????? ??????? ????? ??????? ?????? 22-6-2011 ????? ?? ???? ??? 260 ????? ?? ??? ????? ?????? ?? ???????? ????? ???? ????? ??? ??? ????? ?? ???? ?? ????? ??? ??? ?????? ????? ??? ?? ??? ????? ????? ??? 600 ???? ????? 20-8-2011 ?? 1100 ???? ?????? 19-10-2011 ??? ??????? ???? 2000 ???? ?? ????? ?????? ?????? ??? ?? ????? ???? ?? ???? ????? ???? ??? ???????? ?? ???????? ??? ???? ?????? ??????? ?? ????? ..???? ?????? ???? ?? ?????? ??????? ?????? ????? ????? ????? ???? ???????.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

December 22nd, 2011, 2:22 pm

 

N.Z. said:

“How many people would Syria regime need to kill to trigger serious consideration of military intervention?

The death toll in Syria is a lot worse than we thought. As many as 6200 killed, 400 of them children.”

Playing the “Blame Game” will only help the regime, putting the blame on others will lead to foreign intervention. Wisdom must prevail.

December 22nd, 2011, 2:23 pm

 

jad said:

The terrorists ‘angles’ at work.
After they captured this man and at the end, one guy said that ‘he will be executed’…criminals!
Those are terrorists that the usual idiots and liars are defending, freedom and democracy won’t come out of these terrorists’ acts, only war and violence will.

Raw Video: Syrian Free Army in Firefight
http://youtu.be/BdlR-0ki22c
The Associated Press has obtained exclusive video of a group of fighters who claim to belong to Free Syrian Army, apparently taking up positions against Syrian government troops. (Dec. 16)

December 22nd, 2011, 2:31 pm

 

Amir in Tel Aviv said:

“Friday of the-Protocol-of-Death” is very effective and a good theme.

The only ones who can make a change in Syria now, are the AL and the West. Russia is useless. Russia only cares about it’s selfish interests. China will have to join the rest, eventually.

If the AL refers the Syrian case to the UNSC, Russia will find it very difficult to ignore or to veto. This should be SNC and AL next move. The monitoring will not happen. It’s a waste of time, and more Syrians will lose their lives.
.

December 22nd, 2011, 2:38 pm

 

ann said:

Russia: Syria resolution “probably unrealistic” – Dec 22, 2011

http://www.monstersandcritics.com/news/europe/news/article_1682406.php/Russia-Syria-resolution-probably-unrealistic

New York – Russia said Thursday it may not be able to complete a new draft resolution on Syria’s violent unrest because amendments submitted by Western countries in the UN Security Council contradicted the contents of Russia’s original text.

Russian UN Ambassador Vitaly Churkin, president of the 15-nation council in December, was not optimistic when asked whether the Syria draft would be ready for a vote before the holidays.

He told reporters that amendments submitted by Britain, France, Germany and Portugal ‘crossed out everything we said (in the text), and we cannot discuss to produce a new text.’

He said prospects for completing the draft in coming days appeared ‘probably unrealistic.’ The council’s legal experts have been discussing the Russian text this week.

Despite the disagreement with Western ambassadors, Churkin said, ‘We are trying to get a better text. We are moving on to a united text.’

US Ambassador Susan Rice and her European counterparts have tried to amend the Russian text to include strong condemnation of the Syrian regime of President Bashir al-Assad for severe human rights abuses. The Russian text avoided singling out Damascus for the violations and killing of protesters, a death toll which the UN said has exceeded 5,000.

In October, Russia and China vetoed a draft resolution worked out by Britain, France, Germany and Portugal. The two countries last week called for a new Syrian resolution, which the four European countries welcomed, but wanted to heavily rewrite the language to condemn Damascus.

December 22nd, 2011, 2:57 pm

 

Son of Damascus said:

Jad,

I guess “terrorists” really like the Associated Press running around with their cameras pointing at them while they murder innocent civilians. How many embedded reporters are there with the Syrian Army or the roving Shabiha? If the army is fighting these mad “terrorist” is a GoPro camera mounted on Tank that hard of an accomplishment to do to prove their point?

December 22nd, 2011, 2:57 pm

 

Uzair8 said:

I also heard the following on the BBC World Service shortly after 4 AM this morning UK time. It was a good listen.

Firstly they talked to a deserter about the observer mission and the recent killing of deserters by the regime. This is followed by an interview with Radwan Ziadeh. I think it’s worth a listen. About 6 minutes total.

Radwan Ziadeh from 2 min 20 sec.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/console/p00m7ynp

December 22nd, 2011, 3:11 pm

 

ann said:

Syria says 2,000 military personnel killed during months-long unrest – 2011-12-23

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/world/2011-12/23/c_122469535.htm

DAMASCUS, Dec. 22 (Xinhua) — The Syrian government said Thursday that a total of 2,000 army and security personnel were killed during the nine-month-old unrest, accusing the United Nations of being bias by ignoring the existence of armed groups in the Middle East country.

In a letter sent to the U.N. Security Council and the Human Rights Council on Thursday, Damascus said the International Commission of Inquiry had handled the Syrian crisis ” unprofessionally, selectively and it was politically motivated.”

“Even though some 2,000 army members have been killed by armed groups, but some parties still unconvinced and determined not to believe in that fact,” it said, according to the state-run SANA news agency.

In the letter, Syria stressed that what is happening on its territories is not a peaceful movement.

It said that the U.N. reports came in line with some agendas of countries that aim to destroy Syria and intervene militarily under the pretext of protecting civilians.

It also charged that the United Nations is turning a blind eye to the violations of human rights by armed groups, which are receiving support and media cover to sabotage Syria and kill its people.

The Syrian government sent the message as a delegation from the Arab League arrived in Syria on Thursday to arrange the deployment of foreign monitors under a plan concluded lately between the two sides to help find an outlet to the current crisis. However, no official comments were released in that regard.

December 22nd, 2011, 3:15 pm

 

ann said:

Advance team of AL observer mission arrives in Syria – 2011-12-23

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/world/2011-12/23/c_122469537.htm

DAMASCUS, Dec. 22 (Xinhua) — An advance team of the Arab League (AL)’s observer mission arrived here on Thursday, kicking off the regional bloc’s field assessment of the situation in unrest-torn Syria.

The AL announced on Tuesday that a group of spearhead observers would be sent to Syria on Thursday to monitor the ground situation of the Arab country, which has seen over nine-months of domestic rift between pro- and anti-government forces.

Syria signed the AL observer protocol on Monday in the Egyptian capital of Cairo after the pan-Arab group threatened to submit the issue to the UN Security Council.

AL Secretary General Nabil al-Arabi said that the signing of the protocol does not mean an immediate suspension of the sanctions imposed on Syria for its earlier refusal to the observer mission.

He said the protocol is not the end but a mechanism to monitor the implementation of a peace initiative that Syria had earlier agreed on.

The suspension of the sanctions is up to an AL ministerial meeting that was initially scheduled on Wednesday but had been delayed, according to Arabi.

The Syrian government on Thursday sent a letter to the United Nations, accusing it of being bias by ignoring the existence of armed groups in the Middle East country.

In a letter sent to the U.N. Security Council and the Human Rights Council on Thursday, Damascus said the International Commission of Inquiry had handled the Syrian crisis ” unprofessionally, selectively and it was politically motivated.”

It said that the U.N. reports came in line with some agendas of countries that aim to destroy Syria and intervene militarily under the pretext of protecting civilians.

It also charged that the United Nations is turning a blind eye to the violations of human rights by armed groups, which are receiving support and media cover to sabotage Syria and kill its people.

December 22nd, 2011, 3:18 pm

 

Dale Andersen said:

What to do if you end up in Syria by accident:

It’s crazy in Damascus
It’s a parallel universe
Where all the cops are criminals.
And it only can get worse.

‘Cause the President’s a werewolf
And his brother’s a zombie queer.
His wife’s locked in a tower.
She stares into a mirror.

The Parliament’s a peep show.
The Prime Minister’s a chump.
The Grand Mufti’s a hunchback.
And the Mosque’s an ammo dump.

So if you ever go there,
And they ask, “Your passport, please.”
Just nod and keep on walking
And smile and talk Chinese.

http://www.scribd.com/doc/76114252/STUCK-INSIDE-DAMASCUS-with-the-memphis-blues-again

December 22nd, 2011, 3:27 pm

 

ann said:

Russia Urges UN Probe of NATO in Libya, ICC Loophole Raised, Ban “Misled” – Dec. 22, 2011

http://www.innercitypress.com/libya1iccban122211.html

UNITED NATIONS, December 22 — Russia on Wednesday asked for a UN investigation of the killing of civilians in Libya by NATO during its bombing campaign there. US Ambassador Susan Rice responded that this was “bombast and bogus claims” meant to distract from the situation in Syria.

A third Ambassador who spoke, Gerard Araud of France, said that the International Criminal Court can investigate and address the alleged killing of civilians by NATO.

Inner City Press asked Ambassador Rice if the exemption from prosecution of nationals of non-ICC members in the Security Council resolution (1970) referring the situation in Libya to the ICC didn’t now mean that the ICC cannot act on NATO members who are not ICC members: like the United States, and Qatar.

Rice said, “I’m not going to get into legal questions of jurisdiction or lack of jurisdiction,” saying again that it is a “distraction.” Video here from Minute 16:55, transcript below.

When Resolution 1970 was passed — France at the time pointed the press against fellow EU member Portugal as being “soft” of the ICC referral, while its Ambassador Araud blamed the exemption on Republicans in the US Congress — Inner City Press had asked Rice if it might have a bad effect. To some, it now has.

Inner City Press on Wednesday asked Russian Ambassador Vitaly Churkin, since he is asking for “UN” investigation, about the statement by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon that resolution 1973 was strictly complied with.

Churkin said this “doesn’t reflect well on the United Nations,” adding that Ban Ki-moon was “misled” by the Secretary General of NATO, and Ban “went public” with it. Video here, from Minute 8:20. So can Ban’s UN now investigate? Watch this site.

From the US Mission transcript:

Inner City Press …Ambassador Rice, on this question of the ICC having jurisdiction to look into this or prosecute it, it seems to some that there is a clause, there was a carve-out, for non-ICC members not being subject to the court for their operations in Libya. So, since there were some, including your own, countries in NATO that are not subject to the ICC, how does that-how does the ICC have jurisdiction over that?

Ambassador Rice: I’m not going to get into the legal question of jurisdiction, lack of jurisdiction, but let me just say this: the prosecutor has said in the open chamber that that is what he’s doing. But the point is that this is a distraction and a diversion. And it is a diversion from the fact that this Council’s actions and those of NATO and its partners saved tens of thousands-if not hundreds of thousands-of Libyan lives. That is something we should be celebrating. It is certainly something that the people of Libya are celebrating. And if the Libyans want to work with NATO to investigate any concerns they have, we’re more than willing to do that. I think it’s notable that we’ve not heard that call from the Libyan government. So let us-let us see this for what it is: it is duplicitous, it’s redundant, it’s superfluous and it’s a stunt. And if others want to go along with it, they can. But I did not hear a majority of the members of the Council indicate that they thought this was necessary. And we’re certainly looking forward to hearing from the commission of inquiry.

December 22nd, 2011, 4:20 pm

 

Ghufran said:

Jad
As we all know,in a democracy we will find people we disagree with and people we wish they never existed,what makes it possible for any democracy to work is the rule of law and the rejection of violence. My preferred candidate may not win but I have to accept the people’s will. Obviously,Syria has a long way to go before we get to this stage. Both parties must stop killing Syrians and murderers need to be held accountable.when we accept the fact that violence is not the answer,an end to this crisis may be possible.

December 22nd, 2011, 4:21 pm

 

Ghufran said:

Hamster
Where is your fine poetry? I will find some for you,I am better at posting poetry and publishing news than providing deep analysis since being shallow is good for my mental health.
Jad,
Ghalioun has to choose between changing his skin and lose support or leave the SNC to a bunch of psychos,either way,Ghalioun was a big disappointment.
The transcript of Ghalioun’s meeting with Clinton was not challenged by neither party so we may have to assume it is accurate,the meeting therefore was not productive and it confirmed what we heard about the US unwillingness to recognize the SNC.

December 22nd, 2011, 4:47 pm

 

Syria, Egypt and Middle East unrest – live updates | Indialens.in said:

[…] 10.48am: Syria watcher, Joshua Landis, accused by some of being too supportive of the Assad regime, claims the authority of the Syrian state is slowly crumbling. […]

December 22nd, 2011, 5:07 pm

 

jad said:

Ghufran
“Both parties must stop killing Syrians and murderers need to be held accountable.”
I agree with you.
We both know that nobody is happy to see Syrians get killed everyday from any side of this struggle and we can’t justify any killing when we know that a ‘third’ party is responsible for the escalation and is responsible for every victim when they give angry youth weapons along twisted ideology to make the hatred circle become more bloody and by adopting violence as the only solution at the expense of Syrians lives and stability.
It starts to sound so boring and stupid but I will keep repeating it, Mediation and Dialogue are our only cards and hope to get out of this bloody circle, otherwise, we will end up with too many dead Syrians to count, a civil war, a poor segregated country and probably occupied.

“when we accept the fact that violence is not the answer,an end to this crisis may be possible.”
Again, I agree, the problem is that nobody is even trying to accept this fact anymore, on the contrary, you have many who doesn’t want to see any solution for this tragedy, every element power in this struggle, locally and internationally, want to take advantage of our blood in a way to secure their win regardless of how much misery on Syrian individuals their action resulting.

“Ghalioun was a big disappointment”
I differ from your conclusion, I think Ghalyoun problem is as Bashar’s both have no freedom of choice anymore, both of them become the victims of politics and power struggle, they already lost their human nature and become nothing but the visual figures of the struggle, prisoner of their own people.

December 22nd, 2011, 5:23 pm

 

Tara said:

Ankara sees Iran hand in Iraq tensions
ANKARA – Hürriyet Daily News
http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/ankara-sees-iran-hand-in-iraq-tensions.aspx?pageID=238&nID=9833&NewsCatID=338

Turkey believes Tehran is behind the Iraqi PM’s recent challenge to Vice President al-Hashimi as it hopes to protect its regional hegemony in the wake of an international campaign against its closest regional ally, Syria.

An Iraqi political crisis stemming from the Shiite prime minister’s move against the Sunni vice president has rung alarm bells in Ankara, which believes Iran is orchestrating the events to protect its regional hegemony.

Although already deeply involved in the turmoil in Syria, Turkish diplomats have now placed Iraq at the top of their agenda out of fears that instability in its southeastern neighbor could endanger its political and security interests in the region. 

A day after the last U.S. soldier was withdrawn from Iraq earlier this week, Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki issued an arrest warrant for Vice President Tariq al-Hashemi, potentially igniting a fresh conflict between the country’s two largest sectarian groups. The move caused concerns in neighboring countries and the United States about regional stability in the Middle East, which has already been shaken by developments in Syria. 

“Iran has obviously taken its gloves off,” a senior government official told the Hürriyet Daily News yesterday in an obvious hint that Tehran was behind al-Maliki’s move. For Ankara, Tehran is trying to protect its Shiite hegemony in the region especially at a time when its closest ally, Syria is under intense international pressure. 

US was warned

“We told the Americans that this could happen. But they did not listen to us,” the official said. 
Al-Maliki formed a government after months of negotiations even though the Sunni Iraqiya bloc placed first in the 2010 elections. While Washington backed al-Maliki to form the government, Turkey called on the U.S. to permit a Sunni-led government. 

Al-Maliki openly targeted Turkey in a recent interview as the biggest potential danger to Iraq’s stability in the post-withdrawal period. 

“We openly backed al-Maliki in the 2009 local elections, showing we have no opposition to any Iraqi leader. We emphasized that all politicians in Iraq should avoid making politics based on their sects,” the official said. 

According to Ankara, al-Maliki’s move, which consolidated his power in the country, made it impossible for al-Hashemi to return to his previous job. Iraqi Kurdistan Regional Government leader Masoud Barzani’s protection of al-Hashemi, who fled to Arbil, coupled with al-Maliki’s challenge to the Iraqi Kurd leader, is another aspect fueling Ankara’s concerns for the stability of Iraq. 

The fact that al-Maliki fully controls the Iraqi army strengthens his position, according to some.
What happens next?

After al-Maliki’s move, Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davuto?lu called on several regional leaders, including Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi and al-Hashemi, to enter dialogue on the developments. 

Ankara believes it would be better for al-Hashemi to stay in Iraq, but could consider giving him refuge in Turkey if his safety becomes an issue.

Turkey has also called on Washington to impose more pressure on al-Maliki to prevent the emergence of a sectarian conflict in the country. “The Americans should be aware that if not stopped, this trend will lead to the partition of Iraq,” a government official said.
December/23/2011

December 22nd, 2011, 5:50 pm

 

majedkhaldoun said:

The above discussion is between Naive and one connected with security and mabaheth , he will lose his job money and more

December 22nd, 2011, 5:51 pm

 

Tara said:

Here is what was written about this “peace observer” General in a book describing the Darfur atrocities:

General Muhammad Ahmad Al-Dabi was sent to the region [Darfur-J.O] in February 1999, ostensibly to restore order, but in fact to put down Masalit [African tribe-J.O] resistance …his personal militia… trained local Arabs for the government’s “popular defense forces” in the west. Since non-Arabs were not allowed to enlist, these became in effect another local militia, which the Masalit called Janjawid… thousands of Masalit were killed and tens of thousands put to flight. [W.M Daly, Darfur’s Sorry, Cambridge University Press, p. 262.

Clearly a nice guy… and the question is whether he was elected because he has a proven experience in mass killings, or is it an indication that the Arab League effort is just a fig leaf, and not a serious attempt to force the Assad regime to stop the bloodbath, that has already assumed the proportions of a mass indiscriminate slaughter?
……
Time may be gained, but not goodwill. Too much blood was spilled and the evidence of large-scale war crimes cannot be washed away. The Syrian opposition smells victory and will not relent in its campaign. So they say, and their actions on the ground prove it. What’s left to watch is the role played by the Sudanese General Al-Dabi, the proven expert in mass killings.

The Arab League and Syria — It Won’t Work
Posted: 12/22/11 03:31 PM 
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dr-josef-olmert/arab-league-syria_b_1166011.html

December 22nd, 2011, 6:09 pm

 

mjabali said:

Mr. Hajji Revelon comment #304

Again you lie and twist the truth at the expense of dead Syrians. I wonder if you are Syrian! (Are you Syrian Revelon?)

How did you know they were shot execution style? You are sitting on your table in your Western country and know exactly what had happened?

The truth and all indication are pointing to a confrontation between the dissidents (Free Syrian Army, and local armed supporters) and the troops of al-Assad.

The dissidents are saying they are preparing and filling positions and ready to attack, so what is the surprise here?

It is a war zone mr. Develon: can’t you see this? Can’t you see the dead Syrians all around and on top of that you come wanting to inflame the situation by calling the Alawis solely responsible for this. There are many sects and tribes in the blood race now. Wasn’t this Majedkhaldoun caught when trying to put the dead Iraqis of today on al-Maliki?

Who send the suicide bomber today driving an ambulance in Baghdad? Was it al-Maliki? Please, Mr. Revelon, since you are in touch with the armed groups in the area, enlighten us with who send that suicide bomber? Would you also enlighten us about the decrees behind sending that suicide bomber to blow himself among civilians in rush hour?

How do we know what happened in Jabal al-Zawiyah? Who would tell us the truth if there is no independent reporters? Is it you mr. Revelon, who is sitting on his desk reporting to us what is taking place thousands of miles away?

At the end of the day, we need to know what had happened and call to stop this violence, they are all Syrians..

If you are a Syrian you would try to put this fire out, but, obviously you are not one, because you do not feel like one.

December 22nd, 2011, 6:13 pm

 

mjabali said:

Mr. NZ:

WE are in a civil war in Syria, there are many clashes all over the place and soon it will be like Lebanon in the 1970’s. People responsible should be called out because to avert a full on blood bath, we need to act fast. The whole area is ready to blow up: I said it before and I will say it again now:the solution is Political and please let us all try to call for peace. Idiots who call for war should be send to the criminally insane institutions for evaluation.

December 22nd, 2011, 6:22 pm

 

SANDRO LOEWE said:

MJABALI,

The solution it is now as easy as it was on 15th March. Just let people demonstrate peacefully so we can see who is against dictatorship. And let world press enter Syria to explain to us what is happening on the ground. These 2 facts where the 2 main things Assad tried to avoid by violence and these 2 facts could have resolved the crisis. Maybe war is not easy to stop now but at least let people know what happens, as you said, by letting enter foreign press (be chinese, canadian, libian or american)

December 22nd, 2011, 6:41 pm

 

SANDRO LOEWE said:

332 Ghufran

¨Both parties must stop killing Syrians and murderers need to be held accountable.when we accept the fact that violence is not the answer,an end to this crisis may be possible.¨

We always accepted that violence is not the way and that is why people took the streets to demonstrate. First, you must accept that any dictatorship is based on violence. Prison, torture, repression and fear are violent methods used by violent regimes who have no RULE OF LAW. So the violence of the syrian regime for the last 40 years is the cause of the problem in itself.

You defend all murderers need to be held accountable. Nice words indeed. But who is supossed to hold the murderers into trial? Maybe God? The regime murderers who maintain their power not under the rule of la but under the rule of the most powerfull?

December 22nd, 2011, 6:49 pm

 

majedkhaldoun said:

Mjabali
Sober a bit, it is not civil war yet, it is people revolting against brutal dictator who is killing his opponents.
A lot of Alawite are much smarter than you, they are against Bashar the booha.
I believe we should take advantage of the observers presence to do something, it is the best time.

December 22nd, 2011, 6:52 pm

 

SANDRO LEOWE said:

342,

I agree with you. Maybe this is the best time to do something that can show the AL the real crimianl nature of the regime. And maybe this is the last chance too. Assad is trying to buy time in order erase opposition from this world as it was alrerady done in Hama 1982. He knows opposition is not going to last much longer. The AL maybe cooperating with Assad behind the scenes. The final tour de force must be coming in the next or will never come.

December 22nd, 2011, 7:02 pm

 

SANDRO LOEWE said:

Next year on this forum, people, maybe not us, will keep on discussing how to leave the crisis. Nothing will have changed and Assad will remain in power against the world. Misery and poverty will have increased dramatically as the rates of mortality will be rising as happened in Irak before invasion by US troops as a result of the embargo. But oppositors will have been crushed and once the dictator falls there will be no real popular movement that can drive the country. Foreign interests will then enter and play with syrian interests as they like. Thanks to Assad. Amin.

December 22nd, 2011, 7:27 pm

 

mjabali said:

Mr. Sandro Lowe comment # 340

You have a point, but it also points to the political solution of the conflict. A political solution can end things really fast. War could last for a long time with no definite winner but a sure loser: Syria and its people who would bear the grunt of the war. Again, we really need foreign reporters to know what is going on for real.

December 22nd, 2011, 7:36 pm

 

Ghufran said:

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

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

December 22nd, 2011, 7:42 pm

 

mjabali said:

Majedkhaldoun the Mufti of Doom:

After I finish this reply to you I am going to pour myself a nice glass of wine and I would hope you would do the same. It is good for the heart.

As for a civil war: it is on ya ajdab. Yes there is a revolt against al-Assad, but also there are battles in east Syria (Bukamal, Deir al-Zur area), Jabal al-Zawiyah (Idlib, and al-Jisr area), Sometimes in Hama and its surroundings, Homs and its surrounding, Huran and around Dara’a. Average death around 50 for the last few months. All combatants and victims are Syrians. Death Toll is around 5000. Death of Army, police, and Security forces is around 2000.

So, ya ajdab, is this a civil war or not?

As for your lie in your previous comment about Arab unity: where and when did it happen other than in your dreams? The Arabs were tribes fighting over women and property till Islam came and made them conquer other nations also for women and material properties, while fighting amongst each other …Do you know this version of history, or you want to tell me that the Arabs are gods’ gift to humanity?

AS for you Arabs in Syria and Iraq: ya ajdab the Syrians and the Iraqis established empires the Arabs has nothing to do with thousands of years before Islam. You lie again and claim other people’s heritage and civilization as your own, why I am not surprised with that?

December 22nd, 2011, 7:49 pm

 

Dale Andersen said:

Memo To: MJABALI

RE: “…the grunt of the war…”

It’s brunt. Grunt is the sound pigs and cheap whores make…

http://www.scribd.com/doc/76114252/STUCK-INSIDE-DAMASCUS-with-the-memphis-blues-again

December 22nd, 2011, 7:51 pm

 

Ghufran said:

In Egypt,the MB and the military council are in the same bed with the blessing of the West which accepted the fact that the MB is acceptable as long as they do not oppose Israel and undermine western interests in Egypt,this is why the MB refused to join the demonstration and asked Egyptians to give the military council a chance.this also what is expected from the SNC and the Syrian MB except that the army is not on board.
The secret word in Syria is the army,that is what is behind the FSA and the call for more defection.like Egypt,when this is done,seculars and minorities will be left to either emigrate or lick their wounds and accept a second class status.
Those who oppose a political solution and power sharing are not interested in either,instead,they think that it is time to change Syria,their way ,once and for all.
Again,the biggest obstacle is the army and what happens to it will decide the future face of Syria.

December 22nd, 2011, 7:59 pm

 

Dale Andersen said:

Memo To: TARA

RE: “…US was warned…”

Of course we were, Tara. Obama’s not stupid. But we’re not like you Syrians. We don’t overstay our welcome, like you Syrians did in Lebanon. Sooner or later, the time comes to leave. And if, after the USA leaves, Iraqi politicians aren’t capable of putting their country’s interests ahead of their own tribe/clan/sect, well, that’s not America’s problem.

Speaking of Iraqi politicians, the most pathetic example of someone wrecking a country’s national interest is that fat little fuck, Moktada al-sadr. He spends most of his time hiding in Iran. Mark my words, if Iraq ends up breaking apart like the former Yugoslavia, it will be because of him…

http://www.scribd.com/doc/76114252/STUCK-INSIDE-DAMASCUS-with-the-memphis-blues-again

December 22nd, 2011, 8:12 pm

 

Ghufran said:

Mjabali,
Nobody here is ajdab,majed is entitled to his opinion,he is wrong but he is not alone,I met many educated people who are unable to overcome their bias and hatred.
In a free society,elections,not guns,determines who gets elected and who does not,however,do not expect Syria to come up with moderate politicians any time soon as long as Syrians refuse to compromise and accept their differences.
By drinking wine you just declared yourself unfit to govern according to ar’ourists.

December 22nd, 2011, 8:14 pm

 

Ghufran said:

Hamster and others who love poetry
Mahmoud Darweesh:

?? ??? ?????? ????? ???? ????
??? ????? ?? ???????:
????? ?? ????? ????
?? ???? ?? ??????? ?? ??????
??? ???????? ??????
???? ??????
??? ????? ?? ???? ????? ????
?? ??????? ??????? ????? ???????
?? ????????…
(?? ????????? ????? ??????? ????)
??? ????… ????? ??? ??? ????
???? ??? ?????? ?? ?????????
??????? ????? ??????? ??????? ??? ??????
?? ???? ??????? ???????? ?? ????
????? ????? ?? ?????????
???? ???? ??????? ?????? ????????
?????? ?????? ????? ????????
?? ?????? ???? ????? ?????? ????????
???: ?? ???? ??? ?? ???
???? ????? ?? ?????? ??? ???
???? ????? ?? ???? ?????? ??????
?? ???????? ?????????? ???????? ????????…
????? ???? ??????? ???? ??:
???? ??????…
????? ?? ??? ?????? ??? ???
?? ?? ????
?????? ?????? ????????

December 22nd, 2011, 8:21 pm

 

Revlon said:

323. jad,
((The terrorists ‘angles’ at work.
After they captured this man and at the end, one guy said that ‘he will be executed’…criminals!
Those are terrorists that the usual idiots and liars are defending, freedom and democracy won’t come out of these terrorists’ acts, only war and violence will
Raw Video: Syrian Free Army in Firefight
http://youtu.be/BdlR-0ki22c))

The well fed commander’s new leather jacket and his peculiar, obsence Jabali language betray his identity; they are a group of Shabbeeha!
“Execution” is a term used by officials or those in authority!
The video as posted on AP is raw. Its authenticity and story are nowhere to be verified.

December 22nd, 2011, 8:31 pm

 
 

Tara said:

Russia’s attempt to distract the UNSC from the killing in Syria is a cheap stunt!

http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2011/12/22/russia_and_us_clash_over_nato_bombing_probe/

UNITED NATIONS—Russia urged the U.N. Security Council on Thursday to investigate civilian deaths in Libya from NATO’s bombing campaign, a move the United States immediately dismissed as “a cheap stunt” to distract from Moscow’s failure to condemn the Syrian government’s ongoing killing of protesters.

The sharp exchange reflected the deep division in the council over the NATO campaign which the U.S., France, Germany and others hailed for saving hundreds of thousands of Libyan lives, but which Russia, China and the African Union have strongly criticized.

Russia and its supporters argue that NATO misused the limited council resolution imposing a no-fly zone and authorizing the protection of civilians as a pretext to promote regime change in Libya. Libya’s longtime dictator Moammar Gadhafi was ousted after 42 years, captured and killed in October.

Russia’s U.N. Ambassador Vitaly Churkin said a council-mandated investigation is essential “given the fact that initially we were led to believe by NATO leaders there are zero civilian casualties of their bombing campaign.”

U.S. Ambassador Susan Rice, who stepped to the microphone after Churkin, said: “Oh, the bombast and bogus claims.”

“Is everyone sufficiently distracted from Syria now and the killing that is happening before our very eyes?” she said.

“I think it’s not an exaggeration to say that this is something of a cheap stunt to divert attention from other issues and to obscure the success of NATO and its partners — and indeed the Security Council — in protecting the people of Libya,” Rice said.

December 22nd, 2011, 9:29 pm

 

Norman said:

With what is going on in Iraq, it is going to be a full scale war between Sunni and Shia, the only way to stop the violence in Iraq, is to attack the source, the KSA,

December 22nd, 2011, 10:05 pm

 

majedkhaldoun said:

Ghufran
Am I wrong that Arab were united before? Am I wrong That I love freedom and you have Assad as ypur Idole.
Am I wrong that Zenobia and Ghassasena are Arab.
Am I wrong that in Syria the people are revolting against Bashar the dictator

Mjabali
you are stupid lier and stubborn,You know nothing about history,you come from low level society and that hurt you so you feel inferior, you do not stand at the level of good people, I bet your mother was a prostitute and your sister was a maid in my house.

December 22nd, 2011, 10:08 pm

 

Norman said:

Tara,

It is all Syrian Cuisine, aren’t you sick of everybody and every other country claiming our food as their own, I am.

December 22nd, 2011, 10:10 pm

 

Norman said:

Majed,

I am surprised to see what you wrote, please control your emotions, you are better than that, at least to me.

December 22nd, 2011, 10:13 pm

 

Ghufran said:

Majed
Arabs were never united except for 3 years with only 2 countries involved,that unity brought more problems than benefits to Syria.
???? ??? ????? ????? ??? ????? ?????
Is a fantasy,islam,not Arabism was what united people of our region but that means today accepting Somalis,pakistanis,Albanians,etc as citizens of one nation.
My own opinion is that Arabs when free from corrupt regimes will be able to form an alliance similar to the EU or better,but that is a tall order,just look at the GCC for example.
The regime is mostly interested in staying in power and they will use any slogan to sell their message.
Most people love freedom and want to be free,many who are afraid of upcoming changes in Syria are afraid of losing their freedom,especially women and minorities,denying this fact does not make it disappear.
Alghassasinah were Arabs,I am not sure about Zanoubia,I find your take on history to be superficial,and I am being honest here not rude.
Not all Syrians are revolting,majed,we both know that,however,a significant percentage of Syrians in my judgement wantva regime change. If Syria was revolting in masses,Bashar would have been in Russia or the UAE by now,I see no use of refusing to accept the fact that many Syrians are either supportive of the regime or unsure whether they can trust the opposition,this is why I as a Syrian citizen prefers a unity government and not an SNC government.
I have more friends and relatives who are in the undecided camp than either the opposition or the pro regime ones,and that does not mean that those people are against a regime change ,but those people are against violence and are suspicious of islamists.
I will continue to be polite despite attempts by you and others to drag me into a name-calling match,I am not that type,people do not confuse me with dr abughassan for nothing.

December 22nd, 2011, 10:28 pm

 

Amir in Tel Aviv said:

If you’re not depressed enough, read this account on Egypt’s elections by a young secular man and a candidate for parliament.
http://www.sandmonkey.org/2011/12/20/underneath/
.

December 22nd, 2011, 10:31 pm

 

Son of Damascus said:

Dale,

“But we’re not like you Syrians. We don’t overstay our welcome”

What was the Vietnam war then? A stroll in the jungle?

Get off your high horse and smell the sh*t your country is in!

December 22nd, 2011, 10:41 pm

 

majedkhaldoun said:

Ghufran
Zennoubia was Arabic, so your take of history is deficient,Zennoubia was long before Islam, The Arab empire was one country from Iraq to Morroco, during Amawi and Abbasi rule.are you saying that this was Islamic unity? they speak Arabic,and those countries ,now they call themselves Arab,
Ghufran
What you call people are supportive of Assad, we will only know that if there is free election please do not claim things that is not proven.

December 22nd, 2011, 10:43 pm

 

Ghufran said:

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

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

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

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

December 22nd, 2011, 10:44 pm

 

Son of Damascus said:

Majed,

The Abbasid and Ummayad Caliphates were Muslim not Arab. Arabic was the language of the court and the Ulumaa not of the people, thats why Iranians/Afghan/Pakistan were able to retain their languages to this day.

December 22nd, 2011, 10:50 pm

 

Ghufran said:

I agree that the best way to judge a politician’s popularity is through election but I am against Bashar staying as a president or running again because he is a divisive figure now and did not ascend to power by legal means,he also bears responsibility for much of the suffering since March directly or indirectly,i am willing as a citizen to accept him as a transitional figure with a clear and short timetable for a regime change though peaceful means,my position is what earned me the title of ‘naive”,Bashar worshipper etc,nobody has called me a traitor yet but I know it is coming.

December 22nd, 2011, 11:03 pm

 

jad said:

Ghufran
(my position is what earned me the title of ‘naive”) Thanks buddy!!
And I thought that I’m the ‘naive one in Khaldoun’s comment, I end up being the ‘one connected with security and mabaheth , he will lose his job money and more’
Now I’ll lose my job and money and ‘more’….what a nice way to start the year with…
Thank you again Ghufran!

December 22nd, 2011, 11:31 pm

 

jad said:

???????: ?????? ?????? ?? ????? ??????? ???? ???? ????? ?? ?????

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

December 22nd, 2011, 11:37 pm

 

jad said:

Haytham Manna3 is calling to give the Arabic solution some time because the alternative of Internationale intervention is going to be bloodier.

???? ??”????? ??????”: ??? ????? ???? ???? ?????? ??? ??????? ??? ????

???? ???? ???? ??????? ?????? ?????? ??????? ?????????? ?? ?????? ???? ???? ??”????? ??????” ?? “???? ??? ????? ??????? ?? ???? ????? ?????? ?????? ???? ???? ?????? ???? ??????? ????? ????? ????? ???????? ??????? ?? ????? ??????? ??? ???? ??????? ????? ??? 52 ??? ???? ?? ?????”? ????? ??? ?? “??????? ??? ???? ?????”? ????? ??? “???????? ???????? ??????? ??? ?? ????? ?????? ?? ????????? ???????? ?????”.
?????? ???? ?? “???? ?????? ??????? ????? ?? ?? ???????? ?????? ???????”? ??????? “????? ?? ???? ???? ???? ???? ?????? ?????? ?????? ???????? ????? ????? ??????? ??????? ???? ?????? ?? ????? ????? ????? ????? ??????? ??? ???? ????? ???? ??????? ??????? ?????? ????????”? ????? “?????????? ??? ???? ?????? ???? ????????? ????? ????????? ??? ????? ??? ?????? ?????????”.
?????? ???? ????? ????? ??????? ???? ??? ??????? ????? ??? ?????? ?????? ?? “?????????? ???(??? ???) ????? ?????????? ??????”? ????? “???????? ?? ??? ??? ???? ?? ????? ????? ?????? ?? ???? ???? ???? ????? ????”.

December 22nd, 2011, 11:47 pm

 

Ghufran said:

Well,jad, I may be the one who is connected to the regime and about to lose my job, now I am worried.
????? ??????? ????? ????? ?????? ????? 2011 ???? ??? ???? ????? ?????? ??? ??? ????? ?????? ?? ????? 19 ????? ?????? ?18 ????? ????? ?? ?????? ?4 ????? ????? ??? ?????? ??? ?????.
????? ????? ??????? ??? ???????? ?? ??????? ??? ????? ?? ???? ??????? ???????? ??? ???? ??? ???? ????? ????? ??”2.70 ????? ?????”? ?????? ????? ????? ????? “2.60 ????? ?????”.
The list does not include arab rulers and i did not see rami in it since he donated most of his money to charity !!

December 22nd, 2011, 11:50 pm

 

Dale Andersen said:

Memo To: The Prodigal Son of Damascus (safe and snug in the land of the infidel)

RE: “…get off your high horse and smell the shit…”

Viet Nam was a long time ago, boy. And the fact that we leave when asked to leave shows that we learn from our mistakes. You Syrians, on the other hand, had no intention of exiting your colony until the WHOLE FUCKING WORLD told you to get the hell out. And your anger at my remark about your imperialist adventure in Lebanon proves that you feel no shame about it and you have no intention of ever apologizing or paying reparations. Which means to me you have no business calling any other country colonialist or imperialist. Pots don’t call kettle black, boy…

http://www.scribd.com/doc/76114252/STUCK-INSIDE-DAMASCUS-with-the-memphis-blues-again

December 22nd, 2011, 11:56 pm

 

jad said:

Ghufran,
After rechecking, I think the ‘one connected with security and mabaheth , he will lose his job money and more’ Khaldoun meant is the Dale ‘White Trash’ Andersen 😉

AL observers didn’t start their work yet and they are making deals with the oppositions in Cairo!
???? ??? ???? ???? ???? ?? ???? ??????? ??????? 21 12 2011 ????? ????
http://youtu.be/aacLderEmys

December 23rd, 2011, 12:06 am

 

mjabali said:

???? ???????? ??????? ?????Majedkhaldoun:

Ya Ajdab, when you curse at my mother and sister you showed what type of class you have.

Notice that I could curse at you but my mother taught me real manners and class.

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

December 23rd, 2011, 12:08 am

 

Ghufran said:

Haytham manna’ sensible position will make him a traitor in the eyes of some revolutionists.

December 23rd, 2011, 12:10 am

 

Ghufran said:

Our admin needs to watch the type of language used by some on this blog and take actions.
I expect more from educated people,nobody should be allowed to use filthy language on this blog.i will e-mail the admin and so should all of you who care about keeping this blog clean.

December 23rd, 2011, 12:17 am

 

jad said:

Ghufran
They are already leading a vicious smear campaign against him and calling him a traitor..
?.????? ????? ?? ???? ?????? ???? ????
http://youtu.be/ruqLoslms2w

Here is one of the latest interview with Haytham, very reasonable man and you can tell that he puts Syria’s best interest as his priority, not revenge nor hate even though he lost his brother in Daraa.
???? ??????: ??????? ???? ????
http://youtu.be/0loBB1tN_s0

December 23rd, 2011, 12:20 am

 

Juergen said:

“Fight until the last breath!”
By the Syrian society is a deep divide: In addition to the many people who remain silent, an open call for the overthrow of the president. Just as vehemently support the other Assad and his regime.

Bjorn Blaschke, ARD radio studio in Cairo, at this moment in Damascus

In the row of shops in the center of Damascus are the most expensive boutiques and tailor shops, watches and jewelry shops, restaurants and cafes. Between them is the subsidiary of an Italian coffee house chain. It is the meeting place of those which belong to the Syrian young crowd – and the followers of President Bashar al Assad. The restaurant belongs – next to some restaurants and night clubs – George Chawi.

Government supporters protest in Damascus against the sanctions imposed by the Arab League.
A short black beard frames the face of the 34-year-olds. Sent his slender finger on the screen of a tablet computer, the EU appears to a website – with a list. He reads aloud: “15 November 2011: Official Journal of the European Union … I’m number 8”

To all those who are here noted, and are next to George Chawi 17 other Syrians, forbids the EU to enter their Member States. If they have assets in European banks were to be frozen. In support stands literally in the accompanying paper on Chawi: “Member of the Syrian army involvement in the electronic violent crackdown and calling for violence against the civilian population in Syria..” He had “the worst criminals ever be,” quips Chawi on the list – and denies all the allegations: “My last name is spelled incorrectly, and then finally the accusations: I never had to do something with the Syrian army eletrotechnics..”

What is the Electronic Syrian army? The secret service would have established a special unit to combat the Internet dissidents. Supposedly, the Army e-pro-government comments on the websites of government opponents. In addition, they should have chopped oppositional Facebook pages.

He had nothing to do, says Chawi. Not without pride, but it shows his own website – with the name: “We are Syria”. “Of course there is a Cyber ??War”, he says: “Pro-regime people watching the Internet, we look at what makes the other side:.. For example, what videos the channel Al Jazeera and Al Arabiya set we look at these videos exactly – and we point out errors today as a video was released showing a child, it was shot in the Gaza Strip and it is now claimed that the child had been killed in Syria – were shot dead by the army “…

“Show me a proof!”

Part of the war on the Internet is also that of the opposition, which had been expressed in the net too critical, were arrested. This is sometimes the fault of the regime, as Chawi admits: “. There have been some arrests, for example by people who were active in the network.” He believed that it was “disproportionate to the arrest,” because these opponents could do nothing at the end. Otherwise it is when someone calls in the network to the murder of the pro-government people – and give it emphasizes Chawi. These people then have to “be arrested, of course.”

He himself had never – as the EU claims – called on his Internet site to violence against the civilian population in Syria. And he did not finance the so-called “Shabiha” – so that the supporters of the president is meant as a militia reportedly killed Assad’s opponents. “I’ve heard rumors indicating that I finance Shabihas, I’ve heard rumors, which I distribute to weapons.” The rumors were so Chawi, which are easy to bring into the world. “Show me a proof!” He says.

Pro-Assad rally in Damascus
He and his friends with whom he regularly meets in his Italian coffee-house claims that even “Shabihas” – and by that he means “peaceful followers of the President, to express their beliefs loud.” Whether he ever encountered armed militias? No, he replies. There are such stories, but he believes only what he sees. He was the victim of a smear campaign – the calumny and the Europeans have taken at face value, says Chawi, with his chest rises proudly in the cool unbuttoned shirt. “These are false accusations made by anti-regime forces.” Yes, he had an opinion, yes, he is for the regime, yes, he’s pro-Syria President Assad. “If I am thus punished for being for the regime, it is an honor.”

That people at the protests against President Assad died, that Syria is known as a police and torture state – that would not alter his attitude. “Every country torture But there were so many cases where people have been arrested, and then they have come out -… unhurt but what are they doing, is that they beat themselves and they take pictures but do you mean not to say that people do not get slapped once, so they come out with information. ”

“Fight to the last bullet”

Chawi has been brought to his coffee-house, its restaurants and night clubs under the regime of President Assad to prosperity. The secular system guarantees him – the Christians – some protection against militant Muslims, those from whom it is made official Syrian circles, they had – with support from abroad – Assad declared war.

Chawi may therefore also says that he’s president for the end, everything would be. He’ll never leave Syria. If necessary, he would “fight to the last breath. Up to the last bullet.”

December 23rd, 2011, 12:20 am

 

jad said:

Zibaleh is UN-happy…3mrak w abdak ma tkoun ‘happy’ ya…..

“Radwan Ziadeh
???? ??? ?? ???? ???? ????? ??????? ??? ????? ??? ???? ??? ?? ????? ????????? ????? ???????? ?????? ???????? ??????? ?????? ??? ????? ?????? ?????? ???? ??????? ??? ??? ?????? ??? ????? ?????? ??? ??????? ????? ?????? ??????? ???? ??? ?? ????? ?????? ??? ???? ??? ????? ?????? ???? ????? ???? ?????? ??? ?? ????? ?????? ?????? ?? ????? ???????? ???? ??? ?????? ?????? ??????? ?? ????????? ??? ????? ???????? ??????? ??? ?? ??? ??? ???? ?????? ??? ??? ???????? ??????? ?????? ?? ??? ???? ????? ?? ????? ??????? ????? ?? ??? ?????? ??? ????? ????? ????? ?? ????? ?????? ????? ???? ?? ??? ???? ???? ?? ??????? .. ?? ??? ??? ??? ??? ????? …”

December 23rd, 2011, 12:25 am

 

Son of Damascus said:

Dale Andersen (The General Douche of Syria Comment),

It was not “we” Syrians that were in Lebanon, it was the regime which was, a non-democratic regime. I have never voted for Bashar nor his father, while your comrades where bush whacking their way around the Jungles in Vietnam they were doing so by a democratically elected government. Your American arrogance “of the world should be like us” is foolish and idiotic, your country’s economy is in taters, your civil rights is being trampled on by corporation, and your society is growing fatter by the day eating McDonald’s and numbing their brains with stupid “reality” TV.

Do you troll this blog because radio is dying out, and your most likely out a job, or do you just get your kicks by trolling and being a general douche?

December 23rd, 2011, 12:29 am

 

jad said:

FINALLY SOMEONE IS READING THE NONVIOLENCE RESEARCHES AND USING THEM IN AN EASY WAY TO GET TO PEOPLE’S THICK BRAINS THROUGH SIMPLE METHODS:
VIOLENCE IS NEVER THE ANSWER LOGIC IS.

?????? ????? 6: ??????? ??????.. ?? ?????
http://youtu.be/aa-ezXLlbnE

December 23rd, 2011, 12:39 am

 

ann said:

*** THIS ONE IS FOR OUR ISLAMIST FANATICS AND THEIR ISRAELI MASTERS ***
*** heheheheheheheheheeeheee 😀

Turkey Freezes Relations With France Over Armenian Genocide Denial Measure – Dec 22, 2011

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-12-22/turkey-freezes-relations-with-france-over-armenian-genocide-denial-measure.html

Turkey froze political and military relations with France in retaliation for the approval by the French parliament’s lower chamber of a measure that makes it a crime to deny genocide against Armenians a century ago.

The government recalled its ambassador to Paris for consultations, canceled a joint meeting of economy and trade ministers in January and halted all programs for training and cultural affairs, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said yesterday in televised remarks in Ankara following the vote.

Turkey has been warning France for the past week that its fast-growing economy means it can hurt companies such as Airbus SAS and Electricite de France SA if the measure goes through. It was presented by a member from the party of President Nicolas Sarkozy, who is seeking re-election in April and trailing his socialist opponent in the polls.

The French legislation is “injust, inaccurate and Turkey condemns it vehemently,” Erdogan said. “People will not forgive those who distort history, or use history as a tool for political exploitation.”

The premier said Ottoman Turkey had not committed genocide against Armenians and his country is proud of its history. The measures are the first steps in a series of sanctions against France that will follow, depending on what course the French parliament and government take, he said.
Punishing Denial

The French parliament approved a law that would punish denial of any genocide recognized by French law with as long as a year in prison and a 45,000-euro ($59,000) fine. The motion was backed in a voice vote and now moves to the Senate, which hasn’t set a timetable to debate it.

Armenians say 1.5 million ethnic Armenians were killed from 1915 to 1923 in a deliberate campaign of genocide. About 20 countries including Greece, Canada and Russia, Turkey’s second- biggest trading partner behind Germany, recognize the events as genocide.

The Turkish government says mass killings of Armenians took place as part of clashes in which thousands of Turks and Armenians died after Armenian groups sided with the invading Russian army.
Little Progress

Turkey and its eastern neighbor Armenia have made little progress toward establishing relations as set out in protocols signed in 2009. Still, that agreement to set up joint commissions of historians to examine what took place showed that “Turkey has moved from complete negation toward a much greater awareness of what happened,” according to Hugh Pope, a project director in Turkey for the International Crisis Group.

“The French bill is counter-productive because the emotional reaction in Turkey can set back the cause for years,” Pope said by telephone. “That’s why France is so short-sighted to introduce this bill.”

After the French lower house approved similar legislation in 2006, Erdogan blocked Gaz de France SA’s participation in the 7.9 billion-euro Nabucco pipeline and suspended military relations. Turkey last year temporarily withdrew its ambassador from the U.S. after a House of Representatives committee approved a resolution recognizing the killings as genocide.

Electricite de France SA (EDF) is lobbying to build a nuclear plant on Turkey’s northern Black Sea coast, Istanbul-based Aksam newspaper reported in August. Turkey has also held talks with Japanese and Korean companies.

Turkey’s economy grew an annual 8.2 percent in the third quarter, a pace only exceeded by China among the Group of 20 major economies.

French carmakers including Renault SA control a fifth of Turkey’s auto market and French banks including BNP Paribas SA have assets in the country exceeding $20 billion. French direct investment in Turkey between 2002 and 2010 was $4.8 billion, the Turkish embassy in Paris says.

December 23rd, 2011, 1:06 am

 

ann said:

“”””The French legislation is “injust, inaccurate and Turkey condemns it vehemently,” Erdogan said. “People will not forgive those who distort history, or use history as a tool for political exploitation.”””””

No shit! 😀

December 23rd, 2011, 1:09 am

 

ann said:

Mutual frustration behind latest Israel-European Union row – 2011-12-23

Continued construction of Israeli settlements on the West Bank or attacks on mosques not only leads to negative reactions from the Palestinians, but also from the Europeans. The EU sees the events not only as a deterioration in Israeli – Palestinians relations, but also as a move contrary to their intentions for the peace process.

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/indepth/2011-12/23/c_122469691.htm

JERUSALEM, Dec. 22 (Xinhua) — Israel reacted strongly to comments made earlier this week by four European members of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) on Israeli settlement construction and so called “price tag” attacks.

It was during a meeting of the UNSC on Israeli-Palestinian developments that France, Portugal, Germany and Britain joined other members of the council in condemning a recent Israeli decision to build over 1,000 new housing units in East Jerusalem and the West Bank.

UN criticism of Israeli settlement construction is something that the Jewish state has gotten used to, and is usually met with a laconically-worded communique by Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman or other senior members of the ministry.

However, what set the latest statement apart from previous cases were the UNSC’s remarks on the “price tag” vandalism and arson attacks against mosques, allegedly by extremist settlers in retaliations over Israel’s court-ordered removal of illegal outposts on the West Bank.

In a response to the UNSC’s remarks, the Foreign Ministry urged the UNSC’s European Union members to stop interfering in Israel’s internal affairs, and concentrate on “peacemaking in bloodshed hotspots such as Syria, on instilling democracy and moderation in Arab countries aspiring to freedom, and on defusing the global danger embodied in the Iranian nuclear race.”

Israel’s reaction was based on its contention that it really has a strong case to argue, according to Dr. Jonathan Rynhold, of Bar-Ilan University.

STRONG CASE

“This type of thing really sends a message that the international community would rather do what is convenient than what is right,” Rynhold said.

With regard to the “price tag” attacks, Rynhold said that “it’s a serious problem and Israel is dealing with it seriously.”

Dr. Sharon Pardo, of the Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, told Xinhua that one reason for the harshened diplomatic language between the EU and Israel is that “both sides think they have the right to criticize the other based on the poor development of relations between them.”

He added that the language used in the latest round of verbal spar hasn’t been heard for a number of years, and that Israel-EU relations are at an all-time low.

“The situation on the ground currently doesn’t reflect the wishes of the EU, and that’s why the EU feels that it has a stronger case,” Pardo said, “It’s a different type of violence on the ground that we see right now.”

ECONOMIC FACTOR

Despite the fact that Europe is Israel’s second largest export market after the United States, diplomatic relations have remained frosty since Israel’s military foray into Gaza in December 2008. The incursion was meant to put a halt to incessant rocket fire by Palestinian groups at Israeli towns and cities.

While, from an Israeli perspective, the offensive was an issue that only directly affected them and the Palestinians, Pardo said that the EU sees all relations with Israel in a context of the Israeli-Palestinian peace process.

Hence, continued construction of Israeli housing units on the West Bank or attacks on mosques not only leads to negative reactions from the Palestinians, but also from the Europeans. The EU sees the events not only as a deterioration in Israeli- Palestinians relations, but also as a move contrary to their intentions for the peace process.

Prof. Alfred Tovias, of The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, believed the Israeli reaction was based on the perception that ” the Europeans are not in a position to tell Israel what to do and what not to do, because ‘the EU is totally absorbed with their own financial crisis and trying to save Euro.”

France and Germany – two largest economies within the EU that have adopted the Euro – are currently in the midst of trying to work out how to save the currency from collapsing, due to huge public debts of countries like Greece and Italy.

December 23rd, 2011, 1:17 am

 

ann said:

😀

Turks protest against French bill on Armenian genocide denial – 2011-12-23

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/video/2011-12/23/c_131323628.htm

BEIJING, Dec. 23 (Xinhuanet) — The passing of a bill in the French parliament outlawing denial of the Armenian genocide has provoked protests on the streets of Ankara and the recall of the Turkish ambassador. The bill, addressing the 1915 mass killing of Armenians in Ottoman Turkey, has triggered outrage in Turkey and led to tensions between Paris and Ankara.

Dozens of protesters gathered in front of the French consulate in Istanbul to denounce the approval of the bill. They carried banners and chanted slogans against France.

One protester said the bill was politically motivated ahead of the French elections.

Istanbul resident Ersin Kuruel said: “I think this is a typical electoral hoax of Sarkozy. He is doing this to get votes from Armenians but they have done worse.”

Another Istanbul resident went even further, saying Turkey should expel French immigrants.

Another Istanbul resident Coban Sahin said: “I believe that, in a retaliation to France’s arrogant act, the Turkish Republic should expel French citizens from Turkey”

A Turkish official said the country has recalled its ambassador to France following the approval of the bill by the lower house.

The bill is set to go before the French Senate, or upper house, for debate in 2012, with its backers hoping that it will be adopted before parliament takes a break at the end of February ahead of presidential elections.

December 23rd, 2011, 1:30 am

 

Dale Andersen said:

Memo To: THE BUSHWHACKER FORMERLY KNOWN AS SON OF DAMASCUS

RE: “…It was not we Syrians that were in Lebanon, it was the regime…”

You’re a fake and a charlatan and a poltroon, boy. You’re not going to be allowed to get away with a dodge as lame as “it wasn’t me, it was the regime.” Do you think the Assads took over Lebanon ALL BY THEMSELVES? They had help. Lots of Syrians like you helped the regime, because you were all too chickenshit to say, “No, we won’t go!”

By the way, boy, when Viet Nam happened, thousands of Americans said, “No! We won’t go!” And they didn’t.

I noticed in your screed that there was not one word of regret about your colonialist adventure in Lebanon. I hope you realize, after Besho’s gone, the Lebanese are going to want an accounting. And an apology. You dig, boy?

December 23rd, 2011, 2:06 am

 

Son of Damascus said:

Dale,

When I mentioned Vietnam I was not denying the horrific crimes the regime did in Lebanon not one bit, just showing how much of a hypocrite you are. Pointing fingers at other countries when your OWN country has done the same, and CONTINUES (remember the hell hole called Afghanistan) to do the same is rather ironic no? Iraqi’s and Afghani’s where really waiting for the US Marines with flowers and candy (not bombs and IED’s), because they asked to be invaded by your Country.

You want Syrians to pay reparations to Lebanon, sure no problem as long as you white folks pay reparations to the African American community that was enslaved and humiliated, and the Native Americans that to this day continue to encounter racism, or how about the Japanese Americans that were put in concentration camps by the US in their OWN country. All in the name of Democracy may I add. ‘MERICA F*CK YEAH!!!!!

For the record I apologize not just to the Lebanese, but to the Palestinians, jordanians, and Iraqis for every drop of blood that they lost because of the arrogant actions of the Syrian regime. And you are right about one thing I sat quietly by for far too long while this regime went about bullying its neighbours and most importantly Syrians, bullied me when they threatened me with the Doolab at the age 9, or when I received a falqa for saying a stupid joke about Havez at the age of 11, I should have done a lot of things but for too long I was too scared to (Or chickensh*t), and for that I will always be ashamed. Ashamed that it took the life of an innocent 13 year old that has more gumption and honour in his left pinky toe than I will ever be able to accomplish for me to finally raise my voice and say no, enough.

I am well aware of my sins, and I’m trying the best I can in the circumstances that I am in to fix them. However you live in the land of the free, yet your freedoms are being stripped away from you =while you sit idly by, you live in the land of opportunity yet pretty soon you will have to learn Mandarin because the Chinese own your economy, are you protesting the Patriot Act, or how about SOPA what are you doing about that!

December 23rd, 2011, 3:31 am

 

Son of Damascus said:

Dale,

By the way who uses the term “boy” these days, showing your racist colours Dale?

December 23rd, 2011, 3:38 am

 

NK said:

Only in Syria !!!

http://www.aliqtisadi.com/index.php?mode=article&id=18389

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

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

now if that’s not a creative way to rob people I don’t know what is.

December 23rd, 2011, 4:40 am

 

Uzair8 said:

Regarding Prof. Landis’ prediction that Assad may still be around this time next year, I think this is a possibility.

However what position would his regime be in?

In a years time the regime will have eaten up a portion of the foreign reserves.

The trickle of defections will have continued resulting in the further growth of the armed opposition.

The opposition will still be around. They won’t give up. They have nothing lose.

Will Assads forces become exhausted after another year of crackdown? Will they be able to recruit fresh Syrian thugs or clandestine foreign support in the form of Hezbollah/Sadr militants?

The longer the situation continues the more the likelihood of wrong actions being exposed (eg involvement of Hezbollah).

The biggest weakness for the regime is the economic aspect. How will it cope? Will Syria become a financial burden for its allies? Will they help financialy?

December 23rd, 2011, 4:49 am

 

Mina said:

“Allow people to demonstrate peacefully” !
Fine, but how? We haven’t seen (except when a guy bring 15 friends and film them on his cell phone) any peaceful demonstration in Western Syria. How do you explain people that they shouldn’t let kids run to any governmental building and burn it (with the little help of some adults who give them the proper igniting material)? And how do you prevent paid thugs from shooting from within the demo and provoke chaos?
At this stage the problem is not with protesting: al risala wasalat.
The problem is to get their voice heard: speak, write, accuse, pardon. Get ready the “cahiers de doléances”.

December 23rd, 2011, 4:49 am

 

Mina said:

Reuters reports two huge explosions in the centre of Damascus.

Ghalyoun’s Lybian friends?

Iraqi style?

December 23rd, 2011, 4:51 am

 

Juergen said:

strange how fast this regime knows that those bombs were placed by suicide atackers with al quaida background

December 23rd, 2011, 5:28 am

 

Mina said:

Jürgen
Don’t pretend you don’t know that “al Qaeda” is the keyword for “Sunni djihadists”. You think the 11 bombings in Baghdad yesterday, the weekly bombings in Afghanistan and Pakistan, are operations from the Syrian intelligence? You think these low tech hayawan are so smart?

December 23rd, 2011, 7:40 am

 

NK said:

Juergen

What’s strange is that AlQaeda waited for the AL to send their observers to start the bombings, how convenient! also what a coincidence AlJazeera, AlArabia and France24 all have their signals jammed in Syria. The amount of lies state tv have been broadcasting in the past few hours is unbelievable, the funniest is that “experts are analyzing the remains of the bombers to determine their nationality” CSI style.

December 23rd, 2011, 8:04 am

 

Syria no kandahar said:

Terrorgen
Strange how:
Alqaba Aljazera knows every time someone gets killed in Syria that it was kille by ???? ????? ??????
Harriri,junbulat and Feltman knew that Syria killed Rafeek after 5 min
How you keep your mouth shut when you should open it

December 23rd, 2011, 8:07 am

 

Juergen said:

Mina

The bombs went off and half an hour later the gruesome pictures were shown and the al quaida involvement was announced.How can one be so fast? I mean do they have already an statement from al quaida? I mean such fast announcements are not common for this regime, i remember bomb attacks some years ago, until now no word was published who was really behind those attacks, and now we have propably the worst bomb attack ever committed on syrian soil and this regime knows already who is behind those attacks.One question is turning in my head: Qui bono?

December 23rd, 2011, 8:09 am

 

NK said:

Juergen

You’re not paying attention, the cars involved had Bin Laden posters on them!

December 23rd, 2011, 8:15 am

 

Tara said:

Nk

The timing is very odd, unless it is Al-Qaeda, or Muqtada al Sadr’s operation sponsored and paid for by the Syrian government to instill chaos and fear the first day of the observers’ mission. If it was truly a suicide mission, It can’t be Syrian work. Suicide mission ideology is not a Syrian style.

December 23rd, 2011, 8:17 am

 

Bill said:

It’s really, really, really, hypocritical and funny when Zionists and Israeli colonialists give advice and opinions to Syrian demonstrators on what they they should call today’s, Friday’s, day of demonstrations.
In contrast, tens of thousands of courageous Palestinians who manage to bypass Israeli humiliation/intimidation checkpoints to pray today, Friday, in the Dome of the Rock and al-Haram Sharif in occupied Jerusalem, WILL ALL PRAY FOR THE PRESERVATION OF ALL SYRIAN BLOOD. SYRIA IS DEAR TO THEIR HART. The Ummayad Caliph who built the magnificent Dome was headquartered in Damascus. Salah al-Din, or Saladin-the liberator of Jerusalem from Crusaders-is buried in Damascus. Who knows!
???? ???? ??????? ????
?????? ?????? ?? ???

December 23rd, 2011, 8:19 am

 

Syria no kandahar said:

NK the funny
While 40syrians are dead and 100 injured this bastard is using the word funniest,tells much about him.

December 23rd, 2011, 8:23 am

 

Juergen said:

NK

I am always quite sceptical when it comes to fast allegations,a real insight investigation should take longer, either they are 100%percent sure and know who has done it or they are just telling their view who is most likely involved in this, of course there rests a third option as well.

Syria no Kandahar

My name is Juergen….

I am against any form of allegation which is done so fast, even with the Haririmurder. But one may always ask who would benefit most from such actions.

December 23rd, 2011, 8:25 am

 

Mina said:

“The timinig is odd”
For those who haven’t watched al-Aroor on Wesal TV, just watch him (with Youtube). You think these guys don’t succeed in brainwashing people? Since the AL has been demonized by the opposition itself (Friday of “the AL is killing us”, last friday), why should it be different? Oh yes, the Syrian expats in the US know only Four Season hotels in Syria, they never thought there was any Sunni djihadist around… The Salafis and al Qaeda have always been against the Gulf goat-kings, so why being surprised? How this alliance of the FB rich leftish kids with the Idleb and Homs Islamists and the US think-tanks opportunists was supposed to succeed anyway?

December 23rd, 2011, 8:26 am

 

Juergen said:

Bill

can i choose what i am ? Zionist or israeli colonist?if i could laugh today, that would be the laugh of the day…

December 23rd, 2011, 8:29 am

 

norman said:

They are showing their real face,

…………………….Syria: Twin suicide bombs shake capital, 40 dead
Syria says more than 40 killed in twin suicide car bombs in capital day after observers arrive

By Albert Aji, Associated Press | AP – 7 minutes ago
….
Share0EmailPrint……Related Content.
…In this image made from video broadcast by Syrian state television on Friday, Dec. 23, 2011, purports to show damage from a suicide bombing in Damascus, Syria. A Syrian military official says scores were killed in a twin suicide car bombing in Damascus. The military official says more than a hundred people were wounded in the explosions targeting security and intelligence headquarters in the Syrian capital. (AP Photo/Syrian state TV) TV OUT
….

DAMASCUS, Syria (AP) — Twin suicide car bomb blasts ripped through an upscale Damascus district Friday, targeting heavily guarded intelligence buildings and killing at least 40 people, Syrian authorities said.

The blasts came a day after an advance team of Arab League observers arrived in the country to monitor Syria’s promise to end its crackdown on protesters demanding the ouster of President Bashar Assad. Government officials took the observers to the scene of the explosions and said it backed their longtime claims that the turmoil is not a popular uprising but the work of terrorists.

The blasts were the first such suicide bombing in Syria since the uprising began in March.

“We said it from the beginning, this is terrorism. They are killing the army and civilians,” Deputy Foreign Minister Faysal Mekdad told reporters outside the headquarters of the General Intelligence Agency, where bodies still littered the ground. State TV said initial investigations indicated possible involvement by the al-Qaida terror network.

Alongside him, the head of the observer advance team Sameer Seif el-Yazal said, “We are here to see the facts on the ground… What we are seeing today is regretful, the important thing is for things to calm down.”

An opposition leader raised doubts over the authorities’ version of the events, suggesting the regime was trying to make its case to the observers.

Omar Idilbi, a member of the Syrian National Council, an umbrella group of regime opponents, called the explosions “very mysterious because they happened in heavily guarded areas that are difficult to be penetrated by a car.”

“The presence of the Arab League advance team of observers pushed the regime to give this story in order to scare the committee from moving around Syria,” he said, though he stopped short of accusing the regime in the blasts. “The second message is an attempt to make the Arab League and international public opinion believe that Syria is being subjected to acts of terrorism by members of al-Qaida.”

The blasts went off outside the main headquarters of the General Intelligence Agency and a branch of the military intelligence, two of the most powerful of Syria’s multiple intelligence bodies. Outside the two buildings, mutilated and torn bodies lay amid rubble, twisted debris and burned cars in Damascus’ upscale Kfar Sousa district. Bystanders and ambulance workers used blankets and stretchers to carry bloodstained bodies into vehicles. All the windows were shattered in the military intelligence building.

The two blasts went off within moments of each other in the morning Friday, a weekend day, echoing across the city.

“The explosions shook the house, it was frightful,” said Nidal Hamidi, 34, a Syrian journalist who lives in Kfar Sousa. He said gunfire was heard immediately following the explosion and said apartment windows in a 200-yard (meter) radius from the explosions were shattered.

A military official told reporters that more than 40 people were killed and more than 100 wounded. He spoke to reporters on condition of anonymity in accordance with military rules. Earlier, state TV said the dead were mostly civilians but included military and security personnel.

The blasts came as the Syrian government escalated its crackdown ahead of the arrival Thursday of the Arab League observers. More than 200 were killed in two days this week.

The United Nations says more than 5,000 people have been killed in the crackdown waged since March by the Syrian regime against protesters. With the arrival of Arab observers, the government has been eager to make its case, saying Thursday that 2,000 of its security personnel and soldiers have been killed in the turmoil.

The regime has said the observer team will vindicate its claims that terrorists are behind the violence. Earlier this week, Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem said it is in the interests of Syria for the observers to come and see what is really happening in the country.

Throughout the turmoil, Assad’s regime has insisted the uprising is the work of terrorists and armed gangs backed by foreign powers trying to topple the state. It has also warned that the upheaval will throw the country into chaos, religious extremism and sectarian divisions. Assad and his inner circle belong to Syria’s Alawite minority, and that community — a Shiite offshoot — and minority Christians particularly fear reprisals from the Sunni majority.

Haifa Nashar, a 45-year-old Alawite living in Kfar Sousa, was shocked and wailing and she stood taking in the scene outside the building.

“I’ve never seen anything like this in my life, may God curse their souls!” she cried. She denounced Qatar, the Arab Gulf nation that has been at the forefront of criticism of Syria and pushed for Arab League sanctions against it.

“This is what Hamad wants,” she said, referring to Qatar’s prime minister. “There was never any difference between Syrians, Sunnis, Christians and Alawites. But if this is what they want, then I say Alawites before anyone else.”

___

December 23rd, 2011, 8:30 am

 

Tara said:

#401

The regime that killed 5000 civilians including 400 children can easily stage a suicide bombing and kill it’s own security forces to stay in power. The timing gives it all. The motive is there. Don’t kid yourself.

December 23rd, 2011, 8:34 am

 

Syria no kandahar said:

Mehshi with garlic,PHD
You forgot that many of the spiritual leaders in Alqaeda are your MB friends,may be the garlic fumes are affecting your poor memory.

December 23rd, 2011, 8:38 am

 

jna said:

The parallel universe of the Syrian Human Rights League:

Al-Qaida Members among Syrian Refugees in Lebanon: Media
2011-12-22 01:24:46 Xinhua

The Lebanese army raised concerns at a security meeting that some “Syrian refugees” fleeing to Lebanon are actually al-Qaida members, the English-language The Daily Star reported on Wednesday.

At the meeting chaired by Prime Minister Najib Mikati, Lebanese Army Commander Jean Kahwagi said that illegal smuggling of weapons and fighters is taking place in the Lebanese border town of Arsal, The Daily Star said.

Kahwagi echoed comments made earlier by Defense Minister Fayez Ghosn that members of terrorist groups are entering Arsal under the guise of Syrian opposition to establish a base.

Syrian refugees have been fleeing to northern Lebanon’s Wadi Khaled since the anti-government protests broke out in March. But in the past few months, attention has been focused on Arsal in the northeast, where weapon smuggling is suspected through the mountains that mark the Syria-Lebanon border.

At the meeting, Kahwagi confirmed to sources close to the prime minister that some weapon smugglers who claim to be Syrian opposition are in fact al-Qaida members, The Daily Star said.

Kahwagi added that when the army attempted to confront these people, groups in Lebanon opposed such a move in defense of freedom.

According to The Daily Star, Kahwagi told those present at the meeting that the military needs the political support to carry out operations against the terrorists and cannot act in this alone.
http://english.cri.cn/6966/2011/12/22/189s672692.htm

………………………………………………….

LEBANON WARNED DAMASCUS TWO DAYS AGO OF AL QAEDA?

Chicago Tribune
Reuters

LEBANON WARNED DAMASCUS TWO DAYS AGO OF AL QAEDA INFILTRATION INTO SYRIA FROM ITS TERRITORY – SYRIA’S FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESMAN.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/sns-rt-lebanon-warned-damascus-two-days-ago-of-al-qaeda-20111223,0,4245848.story
………………………………………………….

Abdelkarim Al Rihawi, the head of the Syrian Human Rights League, called the attack “the work of the Assad regime and a message to the Arab League that the regime is fighting terrorists.” … “There is no al Qaeda in Syria”.
http://www.cnn.com/2011/12/23/world/meast/syria-bombings/index.html

December 23rd, 2011, 8:48 am

 

Bill said:

402. JUERGEN

“Zionism” was/is premised on the idea that Jews, and only Jews, had/have the right to have land in occupied Palestine. This is why the Jewish Agency is entrusted to own/give land only to the Jewish people. It is a racist idea.
As to Israeli colonialists, their views are racist because they think that it’s ok to colonize and build on Palestinians’ land. Thus, it’s not really much different to be “Zionist” or “Israeli colonialist” because in both ideas/ideals you rationalize stealing and occupying somebody else’s lands. You can see that all of Israeli colonies “cities,” “colonies,” etc. were built because of al-Nakbah and al-Naksa:http://palestineremembered.com/
P.S., I originally joined this blog to comment ONLY on Syria and its ongoing and tragic reality. I love Syria so much. My Father went from the United States to marry my mother in Jerusalem. Their honeymoon was in Syria and Damascus. I still have the black and white pictures of their Syrian vacation. I have strong opinions on Syria, which I earlier had expressed. However, after seeing Zionists and Israeli colonialists are here to hypocritically advice Syrians and get free information while stirring conflict among Syrians and Syria-lovers on this blog, I have decided not to give them any information and arguments; which they would utilize to stir ????
YES, YOU ZIONISTS AND ISRAELI COLONIALISTS DO HAVE THE RIGHT TO READ THIS BLOG AND COMMENT ON IT. I respect your right to do so. But, I will not assist you in stirring conflict and ???? among Syrians and Syria-lovers.

P.S. (Again): Edward Said wrote an excellent article, which you can also find in “The Edward Said Reader,” entitled: “Zionism from the Standpoint of its Victims.” Please read it to know how Palestinians truly feel about Zionism and what it has done to them. This link may give you information on where to find this article: http://www.jstor.org/pss/466405

December 23rd, 2011, 8:53 am

 

habib said:

:404

See, that line of thinking only works for people who even believe the regime “killed 5000 people”.

Please. Even the Americans are doubting opposition claims now. Is it really worth it?

It is really sad that so many news outlets are taking ridiculous opposition claims at face value. The government did it? Hell, if Bashar gets killed, they’ll probably claim it was suicide.

December 23rd, 2011, 9:04 am

 

Juergen said:

Bill

i always had my opinions about bloggers, and i would never had joined this blog if not for my love for Syria and for the Syrians. I think that there are a lot of folks out there who happen to have their live in such blogs, i prefer having an life as well.

The palestinian cause is crucial, and to name me Zionist is really an offence, i do believe that you share some obsession about this theme, you may have good reasons to do so. What others have said before, the palestinian cause is an other fight and not the major issue here on this blog, as i see it. Calling names to each other does not help anyone, nor any cause.

December 23rd, 2011, 9:19 am

 

N.Z. said:

The two cars had Usama Bin Laden posters on the windows, Bin Laden is taking full responsibility for the two suicide bombing, he was funded by Saudi Arabia, Ar’our and the whole world. He asserted that Syria is different, the latest to join the hate campaign waged against Assad, Qaida.

December 23rd, 2011, 9:26 am

 

habib said:

:410.

So who else but Islamists would blow themselves up for something like this?

How stupid are people? These were suicide attacks, not mere bombings, someone had to do it.

December 23rd, 2011, 9:32 am

 

Uzair8 said:

No comment.

Interested to know what Robert Fisk says about this.

December 23rd, 2011, 9:42 am

 

ann said:

Russia and US clash over NATO bombing probe – 14 hours ago

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5i6Zorr9lHp38IHi5GBx8AprhK5UQ?docId=73e69b04b2b5492dbb40bc70c9179abf

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — Russia urged the U.N. Security Council on Thursday to investigate civilian deaths in Libya from NATO’s bombing campaign, a move the United States immediately dismissed as “a cheap stunt” to distract from Moscow’s failure to condemn the Syrian government’s ongoing killing of protesters.

The sharp exchange reflected the deep division in the council over the NATO campaign which the U.S., France, Germany and others hailed for saving hundreds of thousands of Libyan lives, but which Russia, China and the African Union have strongly criticized.

Russia and its supporters argue that NATO misused the limited council resolution imposing a no-fly zone and authorizing the protection of civilians as a pretext to promote regime change in Libya. Libya’s longtime dictator Moammar Gadhafi was ousted after 42 years, captured and killed in October.

Russia’s U.N. Ambassador Vitaly Churkin said a council-mandated investigation is essential “given the fact that initially we were led to believe by NATO leaders there are zero civilian casualties of their bombing campaign.”

U.S. Ambassador Susan Rice, who stepped to the microphone after Churkin, said: “Oh, the bombast and bogus claims.”

“Is everyone sufficiently distracted from Syria now and the killing that is happening before our very eyes?” she said.

“I think it’s not an exaggeration to say that this is something of a cheap stunt to divert attention from other issues and to obscure the success of NATO and its partners — and indeed the Security Council — in protecting the people of Libya,” Rice said.

France’s U.N. Ambassador Gerard Araud, standing beside her, said there were two ongoing investigations of NATO’s actions in Libya, one by a U.N. Human Rights Council which is scheduled to report in March and the second by the International Criminal Court.

“We are not talking about years … and in the two cases they are absolutely competent to handle the NATO military operations,” he said. “So why ask for a third one while we don’t have any investigation committee in Syria, when in the last 3-4 days more than 250 people have been killed.”

Last month, NATO spokesperson Oana Lungescu in Brussels said NATO is confident its forces carried out the campaign “in full compliance with international law.”

NATO leaders have hailed the precision with which the mission was carried out, citing the small number of civilian deaths caused by the bombing as evidence of its success. Representatives of the military alliance based in Brussels have said that all NATO air strikes in Libya were aimed at military targets.

Churkin, this month’s council president, insisted that he was not diverting attention because Thursday’s council meeting was on Libya and heard a briefing by videolink from U.N. envoy Ian Martin in Tripoli.

Martin said “the past few weeks have witnessed a series of armed clashes of varying seriousness, giving rise to growing popular pressure, in particular in Tripoli, to put in place security arrangements which do not rely heavily on the armed brigades” who fought in the uprising against Gadhafi.

Martin warned that unless the security situation is addressed quickly and effectively, “the legitimate authority of the state” could be undermined.

In what many saw as a backlash against the council’s authorization of military action to protect civilians in Libya, Russia and China vetoed a European-backed resolution in October threatening sanctions against Syrian President Bashar Assad’s regime if it didn’t immediately halt its military crackdown against civilians.

Last week, Russia surprised fellow council members with a proposed new resolution calling for an end to the violence that the U.N. estimates has killed 5,000 people over nine months.

Western members welcomed the move, but said it didn’t go far enough because it didn’t mention sanctions and equated violence against civilians with violence against the government and its security forces.

Britain, France, Germany and the U.S. have proposed amendments to the Russian text and Churkin said he hopes to have a new version on Friday.

But he said the Western nations wanted to send “completely different messages” and diplomats were pessimistic about quick agreement on a Syria resolution.

December 23rd, 2011, 9:50 am

 

Mina said:

On the Guardian live blog, they seem to give a lot of credit to “opponents” who tweet and explain that the bodies have been “planted” and taken from other places; and that the streets were closed before the bombing, as a proof it was “staged”.

During the early years in Iraq, many said it was the US once, Iran once, the Gulf most other time, but in the end, there are still people blowing up themselves every month, and we are still waiting for condemnations from Aroor or Qardawi. Suicide is forbidden in Islam, but who cares? Not the brainwashers.

December 23rd, 2011, 9:55 am

 

Uzair8 said:

I break my silence.

On hearing this news I instinctively suspected the regime. A black operation. False-flag.

Nobody believes a word this regime says.

What the regime needs to do is immediately allow an independant UN investigation team to visit the scenes of the incidents and gather evidence. If need be they should be allowed to interview key figures such as Assef Shawkat, Ali Mamluk, Jamil Hassan etc and carry out lie detector tests.

December 23rd, 2011, 9:56 am

 

Juergen said:

some notes about the leader of the monitoring misson to Syria.

General Mohammed al-Dabi was named as head of the monitoring misson to Syria. His nickname is “the snake”. He is 63 years old and is an close advisor to the President of Sudan, Omar Bashir who the UN court in Den Haag has filled charges. He became director of the military secret service soon after Bashir came to power in 1989. He was responsible for the crackdown of the revolt in the Darfur region from 1996-1999. He was shortly ambassador to Katar before joining the negotiations team which worked with the UN about the Darfur genocide which took part in Darfur beginning in February 2003.

One can only guess why such man was selected by the AL to lead this crucial investigation.

December 23rd, 2011, 10:06 am

 

habib said:

415.

Bravo. No one would had expected you would come to that conclusion after hard thinking.

The Salafists are rubbing their hands. When the regime is gone, the liberals will be hunted down by their former Islamist allies. You reap what you sow.

December 23rd, 2011, 10:07 am

 

ann said:

Two suicide bombers blast security centers in Damascus, leaving 40 dead, 100s injured – 2011-12-23

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/world/2011-12/23/c_131324205.htm

DAMASCUS, Dec. 23 (Xinhua) — Two suicide bombers blasted two security centers in central Damascus Friday, leaving about 40 people dead and 100s injured, a senior local official told Xinhua.

This is the worst violence that hit the unrest-torn country since protests against President Bashar al-Assad erupted in mid- March.

The sound of explosions rattled Damascus Friday as wailing sirens could be heard at the nearby al-Mazzeh neighborhood. Ambulances were rushing towards the military hospital in al-Mazzeh.

A government official confirmed to Xinhua that there had been two explosions Friday.

Syria’s state TV said the attackers were driving two cars with bombs, adding that initial investigations show al-Qaida group behind the explosions.

The TV said the first attack was carried out against the headquarters of the State Security Department and the other hit one of the security branches, labeling the incidents as “terrorist act.”

The private-Sham FM said most of the centers’ guards were killed, adding that big material damages were caused.

The bombing came as the Arab League (AL) observers have arrived in Damascus to monitor the country’s unrest on ground.

Syria said Thursday that more than 2,000 army men have been killed by armed groups since the unrest began in March.

Two suicide bombers blasted two security centers in central Damascus Friday, causing many casualties, the Syrian state TV said, adding that preliminary investigations show al-Qaida group behind the explosions.

A government official confirmed to Xinhua that there had been two explosions Friday. The sound of explosions rattled Damascus as wailing sirens could be heard at the nearby al-Mazzeh neighborhood.

Syria’s state TV said the attackers were driving two cars with bombs.

The TV said the first attack was carried out against the headquarters of the State Security Department and the other hit one of the security branches.

A number of people were killed and some others were wounded ” due to this terrorist act,” the TV said, adding that initial investigations point out that al-Qaida groups was responsible for the two blasts.

The private-Sham FM said most of the centers’ guards were killed, adding that big material damages were caused.

Ambulances were rushing towards the military hospital in al- Mazzeh, according to Xinhua reporter.

The bombing came as the Arab League (AL) observers have arrived in Damascus to monitor the country’s unrest on ground.

Syria said Thursday that more than 2,000 army men have been killed by armed groups since the unrest began in March.

December 23rd, 2011, 10:10 am

 

Revlon said:

Recent defecftion, including Colonel, Adnan Hallaq.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XCir1WOhWRI&feature=player_embedded#!
??? ???? ?????? ?????? ????? ???? ???? ??????? ?? ?????? ????????? ??? ????? ????

December 23rd, 2011, 10:12 am

 

N.Z. said:

408,

For every 300 Syrian, one is either killed or tortured.

Will you blame the regime? of course not!

The observers will be taken to see the destruction, the two explosions left. They will be taken to hospitals to visit the injured.

My thoughts and prayers are with the injured and dead, and may this day bring the end of this despicable mafia. They will destroy what is left, we, the people.

By the way, the regime was told by the Lebanese intelligence 2 days ago, that few of Bin Laden men were able to cross to Syria from Lebanon. We were warned.

I hope they will find the two suicides’ ID, as the American were able to find Atta’s passport hours after the plane hit the world trade centre

December 23rd, 2011, 10:15 am

 

norman said:

For all of you who think that the Syrian government staged this attack,
Aren’t all,the same ones who said that the US staged 9/11/2001 to attack Islamic countries,

Give me a break.

December 23rd, 2011, 10:18 am

 

Observer said:

This news is another indication of the incredibly inept propaganda machine of the regime
1. The explosions were essentially fake, the smoke was white and not black.
2. The word from Lebanon is that there are Al Qaeda infiltrators coming two days ago
3. Within half an hour a “suicide” bomber was apprehended ( before or after he committed suicide is not clear )
4. There are 30 dead and more than a 100 wounded and yet knowing from my family that I called this morning who have several physicians there was no rush of wounded to the hospitals.
5. Al qaeda claimed responsibility immediately after the explosion

It really boggles my mind in what kind of world these people live.
The mantra like all dictatorial regimes with a propaganda tool is to lie and lie constantly and then the people will believe the lie to be true. Well they seem to have been the only ones affected by their own lies. This system works when there is complete blackout of the entire news by a single regime like the one in North Korea. In this day and age and with the regime refusing to deal with the reality except through its own prism and narrative they have fallen into their own trap. What a pitiful stupid retarded President boy Syria has now. Ghaddafi looks better than this twirp.

Now the important news: what is the central bank doing and is it true that the regime is not capable of having dollars and is buying on the black market? If so the economy is collapsing

December 23rd, 2011, 10:19 am

 
 

habib said:

421:

And yet they expect unconditional US support. These folks are loyal to no-one but themselves.

December 23rd, 2011, 10:22 am

 

habib said:

423.

No words? It’s about a thousand times milder than the way your friend Tantawi handles protesters.

December 23rd, 2011, 10:24 am

 

Uzair8 said:

If the competent regime refuses to agree to the suggestion in #415 (UN team) then the SNC should make a statement reassuring the public that after toppling the competent regime it will make it a top priority to get to the bottom of this incident.

Btw Russia. Don’t think we don’t know you might be advising the competent regime. We know how you staged the Moscow flat bombings to justify the second Chechen war. We even hear you may have taken charge of the Assadistan foreign ministry.

December 23rd, 2011, 10:31 am

 

habib said:

426.

The opposition has most to gain from such attack:

1: Weaken the security forces.

2: Punishing the Damascenes for not joining their cause.

3: Making ridiculous false-flag allegations.

That is far more powerful than any reason the regime might have.

December 23rd, 2011, 10:37 am

 

jad said:

40 Syrians dead, more than 100 Syrians injured, many in critical condition as a result of this coward terrorist attack.
May God/Allah have mercy on the souls of the Syrians we lost.
The criminals who did this terrorist act don’t belong to human, they are nothing but beasts.

Bronco, you were right, this season will be the saddest one Syria will go through.

December 23rd, 2011, 10:39 am

 

Revlon said:

This video clip shows Security Colonel Adnan Deeb, in casual jump suit, sitting atop a car giving thuggish briefing to his Shabbeeha zealots to kick start their daily routine in terrorising civilians.

At the end of the clip he lies in hospital bed, in vegetative state!

AlFatiha upon his victims
May God show him what he deserves!

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

December 23rd, 2011, 10:41 am

 

Uzair8 said:

@427 Habib

This has not helped the opposition. It has allowed the regime and it’s supporters to sieze the initiative and somewhat silenced (temporarily) the opposition (as on here). It allows the regime greater breathing space and room to manouver regarding the observer mission. It would be unreasonable of the observer mission to expect the Syrian forces to withdraw from the towns and cities after this incident.

The competent regime can now rally its forces and supporters around itself. This incident will have stunned even the opposition and made them weary of demonstrating so soon after this incident with the risk of facing an angry military/Shabeeha. However this would be the best time to protest in order to take advantage of the presence of observers.

December 23rd, 2011, 10:53 am

 

Revlon said:

Christmass of Freedom campaign

A promo featuring Mr Ziyadeh and other SNC members offering greetings to Syrians.
???? ????? ??????2011 12 24 – 31 ?????? ????? ?????

December 23rd, 2011, 10:55 am

 

habib said:

430.

The fact that the entire western media is parroting opposition claims about false-flag operations says it all.

December 23rd, 2011, 11:00 am

 

Revlon said:

??? ???? ?????? ??????
http://www.freesyrianarmy1.com/ar/node/146
???? ???? ?? ????? ?????? ???? ????? ????? ????
23 ??????. 2011
???? ???? ????? ?????? ?? ????? ????? ???? ?????? ????? ????? ????? ??? ?????? ??? ?????? ?????? ??? ??? ???? ???? ????? ???????? ??? ???????? ????????
?????? ?????? ???? ?????

An Assad army armored vehicle shooting at civilians was blown up by Hama Martyrs battalion of the FSA, killing all of its 6 crew members.
23/12/2011

December 23rd, 2011, 11:00 am

 

Uzair8 said:

The opposition was hoping to liberate the christian community from the regime by christmas but this seems very unlikely now. Instead lets hope that by Easter they will liberated.

December 23rd, 2011, 11:01 am

 

Revlon said:

Syrian National Council ?????? ?????? ??????
http://www.facebook.com/TheSyrianNationalCouncil
23/12/2011

?????? ????? ????????? ???????? ?? ????????? ????????? ?? ????
The regime is directly responsible for the criminal bombings in Damascus today.

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

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

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

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

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

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

December 23rd, 2011, 11:06 am

 

Juergen said:

Amir

This of course is a salafist who has killed dozen of military officers…. This regime has a sick mentality, i just hope noone thinks that Syrians are barbaric people in general, just this regime is barbaric.

December 23rd, 2011, 11:12 am

 

habib said:

435.

The only way they’re responsible is by not guarding the border to Salafist-infested Northern Lebanon well enough.

December 23rd, 2011, 11:12 am

 

Uzair8 said:

The regime will just ignore the opposition and western media. It will take advantage of this incident to reposition itself. It will claim the moral highground (as a victim) and justify a harsher crackdown in the name of fighting terrorism.

Before this the regime heads were dropping (eg Muallem fabricated video) and they were on shaky ground. Now, for the meantime they can pretend to hold their head up high, stand tall and build some momentum. The regime and its supporters have something to play with now. Even on SC the Menhabeks were hiding away to some extent. How quick the situation can turnaround.

If Al Qaeda did this then to what benefit?

Anyway. Lies and deception will not succeed in the face of truth and justice. If people sense something fish and unfair, they (protestors and volunteer counter propagandists etc) will redouble their efforts.

December 23rd, 2011, 11:14 am

 

jna said:

Syria’s Letter to UN, UNHRC: Reports on Syria Politicized, Non-Professional, Selective, Non-Objective and Agree with Agendas for Destroying Syria
Dec 23, 2011

DAMASCUS, (SANA) – Syria on Thursday depicted the misleading reports provided by the High Commissioner for Human Rights (HCHR) and so-called International Commission of Inquiry on Syria as ” politicized, non-professional, selective and non-objective”.

In a letter to the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) and to the Human Rights Council (HRC), in response to the misleading reports on the situation in Syria, Syria said these reports agree with the agendas of certain countries that want to destroy Syria and militarily intervene in it under the pretext of protecting civilians.

The letter added these reports turned a blind eye to the dangerous violations of the human rights perpetrated by the terrorist groups and the millions of dollars that flow to them in the form of money, weapons and as logistic and media support to sabotage Syria and kill people.

“Syria has cooperated with all UN bodies and provided them with many documents and documented information about the situation in Syria, but all that was ignored and called as allegations, ” the letter included.

The letter stressed that Syria has formed a neutral, honest and independent judicial committee to investigate all the crimes committed within the framework of the current events.

“The committee is working tirelessly to unveil the truth for the rest of the victims’ souls and to punish perpetrators.We repeatedly made clear that the work of this committee is continuous and the government does not want to anticipate the committee work and provide non-objective outcomes or results that serve political goals, as the International Commission of Inquiry did in its report, ” the letter said.

The letter added:” We have reiterated our readiness to cooperate with the International Commission of Inquiry once the Syrian investigation committee achieves tangible results, but some refused and listened to politicians, journalists and non-governmental organizations and some outlaws,”

The letter inquired whether the committee listened to the martyr Sari Saoud’s family members, to the testimony of the deceased Zainab, who was listed as a civilian killed by the security forces according to journalist information, who later proved to be alive, or to the testimony of a family member of Brigadier General Abdo Khudr al-Tallawy who, along with his three children, were killed and mutilated in cold blood.

The letter asked why all the documented information offered by Syria about the child Hamza al-Khatib were rejected, preferring to depend on some false and misleading media reports to throw out dangerous charges against Syria?

The letter said the misleading reports about Syria based on interviews with politicians, journalists, some foreign citizens abroad and the beneficiaries of the destruction of Syria who are involved in the events that daily kill the Syrians, Some of those are directly concerned with fabricating news against Syria and hands of the others are stained with the Syrian blood.

“Some have closed their ears to the voice of the real victims. How some claim neutrality and objectivity and they did not meet any of the victims previously mentioned and many others who have suffered from the terrorism woes.”

The letter said hundreds of terrorists confessed to killing demonstrators, looting, mutilating bodies, horrifying people, and fabricating news for money received by some neighboring countries as they confessed to killing those who refused to demonstrate with them or participate in destroying Syria, as they boasted by perpetrating that.

“Confirmations of Syria and a number of news agencies ,which led the campaign against Syria, regarding the presence of armed groups that kill innocents and target army, security forces and scientists were ignored,” the letter added.

“On May, 22nd, 2011, Syria informed the Office of HCHR that 260 army and security forces’ members were martyred in armed attacks as to hold the attention to the non-peaceful events taking place in Syria… since that time, the number of martyrs has increased to 600 by August 20th, 2011 and 1100 martyrs by October 19th, 2011… To date, the number has exceeded 2000 army and security forces’ martyrs at a time some parties insist on their rejection of listening or believing that there are terrorist operations in Syria. Is there any place for those in the resolutions taken by the UNGA, UNSC and HRC ?

“No indication has been made on destroying railways and oil transfer pipelines, burning schools, hospitals and official institutions, or destroying economy and infrastructures, do not their victims deserve attention?” The letter woundered.

“In a flagrant violations of the right to life and prevent extrajudicial executions, Syrian citizens have been terrified, forced to flee their houses and properties to sectarian areas, killed and mutilated to divide the country into sectarian regions. Don’t they deserve to get attention?” The letter went on to say.

“Some parties used the international investigation committee’s politicized, selective and systematic report which lacks professionality and accuracy to make recommendations regarding intensifying the campaign launched against Syria. According to this, the Office of HCHR report or statements cannot be separated from the campaign,”

The international investigation committee has failed to commit to one of the UN Charter main articles which bans the use of military force or the threat to use force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state,”

The letter stressed that the only solution for the crisis is the national dialogue, regretting the failure of the HCHR and the International Commission of Inquiry in calling for national dialogue but it preferred to violate the Syrian people’s right to life through calling for foreign intervention in Syria.

Syria stressed that “it chooses to make reforms, respond to the people’s demands and investigate current events. Syria chose dialogue and we expected cooperation to achieve it and move the country into better future peacefully rather than calls for foreign interference under the guise of ‘protecting civilians’.

In the conclusion of the letter, Syria called for listening to the voice of right, justice, objectivity and conveying the reality according to the people who lived it not according to allegations of people who live thousands of miles from Syria and they are involved in killing and terrifying the Syrians.

Syria also called for not to be drawn by calls for foreign interference in Syria and to restore the real role of the UNGA and UNSC in investigating violations of human rights and supporting reform and dialogue in Syria to come out of the crisis which shed the Syrian blood serving foreign schemes which don’t contribute to enhancing or protecting human rights.
http://sana.sy/eng/337/2011/12/23/390106.htm

December 23rd, 2011, 11:19 am

 

ann said:

Russian push to investigate Libyan civilian deaths “cheap stunt” – United States – 23 December, 2011

http://rt.com/politics/russia-us-syria-libya-nato-investigation-531/print/

As Russia submits a draft resolution on Syria to the UN Security Council, Washington’s response to a call by Moscow for an investigation into civilian deaths in Libya raises some eyebrows over the question of human rights.

The updated Russian draft resolution on Syria will be finally ready on Friday, according to Russian Ambassador to the United Nations Vitaly Churkin who said the draft is unlikely to satisfy particular members of the UN Security Council.

“Our intention and wish is to make the Council come out from a single position,” he told reporters.

Meanwhile, Churkin said a Security Council-mandated investigation is the only way to support NATO claims that it was not responsible for civilian deaths in Libya that occurred during a bombing campaign ostensibly designed under the aegis of the United Nations to protect civilians.

The United States dismissed Russia’s demand for an investigation as “a cheap stunt” to distract attention away from the Syrian government’s crackdown on protesters.

This is certainly not the first time a NATO aerial mission has gone awry. Last month, American fighter jets launched a deadly airstrike against Pakistani troops situated on the border with Afghanistan. Twenty-four Pakistani soldiers were killed in the incident, which has brought relations between Islamabad and Washington to all-time low.

Observers hope the heated rhetoric does not interfere with Russia’s revised draft, which urges opposing Syrian parties to immediately stop violence and calls for “a political process which is open for all and is governed by Syrians.”

Churkin said the draft is based on “the philosophy that was confirmed by recent positive events”, including Syrian agreement with the League of Arab States to let a mission of observers into the country.

“We hope they will begin the process as soon as possible and will display restraint,” he said.

The UN ambassador remained optimistic that the members of the Security Council will find a way out of the impasse despite the increased level of rhetoric in the ongoing debate.

“We believe there is the basis for discussion and we are set to continue stubbornly working on it,” he said.

December 23rd, 2011, 11:23 am

 

Amir in Tel Aviv said:

Juergen,

“…This of course is a salafist who has killed dozen of military officers”.

Yes, no doubt about this…

But what struck me about this video, is the absolute non-existing fear. What makes an adult man in his 60ies go in the street and shout in front of the security uniformed men, knowing that he’ll be arrested on the spot? Isn’t this insane?

This junta is bringing the Syrian people to a dangerous state of rageful insanity.
.

December 23rd, 2011, 11:26 am

 

ann said:

Syrians rally in anger after terrorist attacks in Damascus – 2011-12-23

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/world/2011-12/23/c_122476129.htm

DAMASCUS, Dec. 23 (Xinhua) — Crowds of people flocked Syrian main squares nationwide to express condemnation of the two terrorist attacks that have struck two security branches earlier in the day and killed at least 40 people and wounded a hundred others.

Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) said the demonstrators chanted pro-government slogans stressing adherence to national unity and the independence of Syria’s national decision.

Also Imams and preachers of mosques on Friday condemned the attacks and stressed in a statement carried by SANA that Islam has nothing to do with any terrorist attack that targets the security of the homeland and citizens and the unity and stability of the country.

Two suicide car bombers struck Friday the headquarters of the intelligence department building and the Region Security Branch in central Damascus, killing at least 40 people and wounding 150 others, Foreign Ministry spokesman Jihad Makdissi told Xinhua.

Maj. Gen Rustom Ghazali has reportedly said “this is a criminal and sinful act and confirms that there are agent tools that carry out the hostile foreign project.” But, he added, “this will not affect the morale of the security forces, the citizens and the army… Our morale will always remain high and we will resist this project till the last drop of our blood and will undermine the sedition.”

The state-TV said specialized authorities are examining the remains of a suicide bomber, adding that text messages were sent to the Syrians’ mobile phones to donate blood for the wounded.

The TV said security forces arrested a suspect, adding that terrorists have carried out the two blasts at sites with heavy traffic and near an orphanage.

It immediately apportioned blame on al-Qaida and said initial investigations point out that al-Qaida group is behind the two blasts.

The brazen bombing came as Arab League observers have arrived in Damascus to monitor the country’s unrest on ground.

Syrian Deputy Foreign Minister, Faisal Mekdad, who rushed to the scene along with an Arab League observers delegation, told reporters that “We have said since the start of unrest in the country that this is terrorism and a murder of army members.”

Seif al-Yazal, a member of the Arab League observers who have arrived in Damascus on Thursday to monitor an end to the government’s crackdown on protesters, said “this is regretful… we are here to see facts on ground.”

The blasts are the first deadly acts in the capital since the eruption of violence acts in mid March. Syria said Thursday that more than 2,000 army men were killed by armed groups since the unrest began in March.

December 23rd, 2011, 11:31 am

 

Revlon said:

Swizerland freezes 50 Million Franks of Jr and his mob.

??? ?????: ?????? 28 ???? 1433?? – 23 ?????? 2011? KSA 13:24 – GMT 10:24
http://www.alarabiya.net/articles/2011/12/23/184132.html

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

?????? ????? 53 ????? ????? ?? ????? ?????? ?????? ???????? ?????

????? – ??????
????? ??????? ????????? ?? ?????? ????? 50 ????? ???? ?????? (53 ????? ?????) ?? ????? ?????? ?????? ???? ????? ???????? ?????? ???? ?????.

??????? ??????? ????? 12 ???? ?54 ????. ????? ???????? ???? ????? ?????? ????????? ?????? ?????????? ?? ??????? ???? ?????? ????? ????? ????? ????? ??? ???? ???? ?? ????? ????? ???????? ?????? ??????? ??????

December 23rd, 2011, 11:39 am

 

habib said:

“If Al Qaeda did this then to what benefit?”

That question doesn’t even warrant an answer. The benefits are legion.

441.

I’m more impressed by the Palestinian children who throw rocks at Israeli soldiers well-knowing they can get shot and killed.

December 23rd, 2011, 11:44 am

 

Tara said:

Habib

I don’t think you really believe what you write.

December 23rd, 2011, 11:48 am

 

Revlon said:

After all, Iran and proxy Syria have might have a hidden soft spot for AlQaeda; they finance their operations!

10 Million dollars for information on whereabouts of Iranian agent, Yasin Al-Suri.
He is accused by US treasury in financing AlQaeda operations from Iran.

??? ?????: ?????? 28 ???? 1433?? – 23 ?????? 2011? KSA 07:40 – GMT 04:40
http://www.alarabiya.net/articles/2011/12/23/184082.html

???? 10 ?????? ????? ??????

?????? ???? ?????? ???? ??????? ???? ?? ????? ???? ????? ???????
???????.??
????? ???????? ??????? ???? ???? ?????? ??? ??? 10 ?????? ????? ??? ????? ???????? ???? ??????? ????? ??????? ???? ????? ?????? ?? ????? ??? ????? ????? ??????? ????????? ????? ?? ????? ????? “???????” ????? ??????.

???? ???? ???? ??????? ?? ????? ??????? ?????????? ?? ???????? ?? ?????? ???? ???? ????? ???? ???????? ??? ????? ????? ???? ????? ???? ?? ???? ?????? ????????? ??? ??? 2005.

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

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

December 23rd, 2011, 11:49 am

 

jad said:

Even the American statement has way better understanding and more morals than the Syrian oppositions disgusting ‘show’

???????? ?????????: ??? ?? ?? ????? ??????? ???? ??? ????????? ?????

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

December 23rd, 2011, 12:12 pm

 
 

Syria no kandahar said:

Akalb Alsoudi Revlon
Can you give some of your dirty Fatiha to the 40
People killed today,many innocent.If you read Fatiha on mother Teresa,god will put her straight
In Hell.

December 23rd, 2011, 12:16 pm

 

Revlon said:

449. Syria no kandahar
((If you read Fatiha on mother Teresa,god will put her straight
In Hell.))

AlFatiha upon you SNK!

December 23rd, 2011, 12:21 pm

 

jad said:

????? ????? ??? ???? ??????? ??????: ???? ?? ????? ??? ????!
?????? ???? ??????
23/ 12/ 2011

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

??? ?? ????? ?? ??? ??? ????? ???????? ????????? ?????? ????????! ??? ?? ??? ????? “???? ?????” ??? ???? ???? ????? ??????? ??? ????? ??????!

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

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

?????? ??? ??????? ?????? ??????? ?? ???? ?? ????? ??????? ?? ?????? ????????? ?? ??????????? ??????? ??? ??????! ?? ??? ????????? ?????? ???????? ?? ???????? ?????? ????? ????? ??????.

http://www.bassam-alkadi.com/content/view/660/44/

December 23rd, 2011, 12:23 pm

 

Revlon said:

Syria accused AlQaeda and now their proxy Hizballa accuses the US of being behaind the “staged-For-AL-Mission car bombings”of the Mukhabarat “fortresses”
23/12/2011
http://www.alquds.co.uk/index.asp?fname=latest\data\2011-12-23-13-54-32.htm&storytitle=??? ???? ???? ???????? ??????? ???????? ????

?????- (?? ?? ??): ???? ??? ???? ?? ????? ???????? ??????? ????????? “?? ???????” ?????????? “??????????” ?????? ???? ?????? ?? ??????? ??????? ???? ??? ??? ??? ???? ????? ?????? ???????.

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

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

December 23rd, 2011, 12:26 pm

 

Revlon said:

451.
????? ????? ??? ???? ??????? ??????: ???? ?? ????? ??? ????!
?????? ???? ??????

I was wrong about this AlQadi guy.
I now realise that He is not just a stoolpigeon, he is a top brass thug.
He has the gall to ask a in influential Shabbeeh of the stature of Minister of Information to get lost!

December 23rd, 2011, 12:30 pm

 

jad said:

???? ????
?? ?? ???? ??? ?????? ????? .. ?? ???? ?? ???? ??????? ?? ?? ??????? ???????
================================================
???????? ???? ?????? ???? ??????? ?? ??????? ????? ???????? ?? ???????? ???????? ?????? ??????? ?? ???? ?? ???? ?? ???? ?? ?? ??? ??????? ??? ?? ??? ???????? ????? ??? ??? ?????? ??? ???? ?????? ?????? ???????? ????? ??????? ???????.
???????? ????? ???????? ??????? ???? ??? ???? ????? ?? ?????????? (????????)? ??? ??????? ??????? ???? ??? ??? ???? ??? ?? ???? ???? ?????? ?????? ??? ??????? ????????? ?? ???? ??? ??????? ???? ????? ??????? ????????? ??????? ??? ?????? ???????? ???????. ??? ???? ??????? ??? ? ??? ??? ???????
???? ??????? ????? ?????? ?? ??????? ?????????? ???? ?????? ?? ??????? ??????? (??? ???? ?? ??????? ????? ???? ?? ???? ??????)? ?????? ??????? ????? ?? ???????? ???????? ?? ?????? ?????? ????? ??????? ?????????? ???? ??????? ?????? ???? ????? ?? ???? 14 ???? ?? ????? ???? ???? ???????? ??? ?????? ??????? ?? ?? ???? ????? ??? ????? ????????

December 23rd, 2011, 12:32 pm

 

jad said:

Is it Alazbakiyeh ‘moment’ allover again!

??????? ???? ?????: ???? ????? ?? ?????? ??????!
?????? ???? ??????

?? ??? ???? ?? ???? ???????? ?????? ???? ??????? ?? ???? ???? ??? ??????? ????? ??? ??????? ???? ?????? ??? ????? ??? ?????? ???? ?????? ???? ??? ??????? ???????? ???? ?? ?? ????? ?????? ??????? ??????? ??? ???????? ??????? ?????.. ?? ??? ?????? ??? ?????? ????? ?????? ???? ????? ???? ??????? ????? ??? ????? ??????? ?????????? ????????? ?????? ??? ?? ????.. ?????? ??????? ????? ??? ????? ???????? ???????? ????? ??? ???????? ???????? ????????.. ?? ??? ?????? ?? ??? ?????? ??? ??????? ???????? ??? ????? ???? ????? ?????? (23/12/2011) ???????? ?? ??? ???? ???????? ???? ?? ???? ???????? ?????? ?????? ?? ???????? ?????????.

????? ???? “???????” ?? ??? ????? ?? ??? ??? ????? ???? ?? ???? ?? ????? ?? ??? ??????? ?? ????? ?????? ?? ??? ????? ???? ????? ??????? ??????? “??????” ??????? (???? ????? ?? ??????? ??????? ??”?????? ?? ?????” ???? ???..).

??? ????? ??? ????? ???????? ????? ?????? ?? ??? “??????” (????????)? ??? ?? ??? ????????? ??? ??????? ???????? ????? ?????? ??????? ???? ??? ?????? ??? ??? ???? ???? ?? ????. ???? ???? ?????? ?? ??? ??? “??? ??????” ????? ????????? ???? ??????? ????? ?????????? ???? ??? ????? ?????? ?????? ????? (????? ????????? ??????- ??? ??????).

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

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

??? ???? ??????? ??????? ??????? ?????? ??? ????? ??? ??????? ?? ??? ???????? ??? ?????????? ?????? ??? ?? ?? ?????? ??? ?? ????? ?? ?? ????? ?????? ??????? ????? ?????????? ??? ?????? ?? ?????. ????????: ??????? ???????? ?????????? ??? ?? ?????? ?????? ??? ????? ?????? ??? ???? ????? ??????? ?????? ???? ????????? ???? ?????. ?????? ?? ??? ??? ????? ????? ?? ?? ?? ???? ??????? ???????? ????? ??????? ?? ???? ???? ??????? ?? ???????? ?? ???? ?????? ????????.

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

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

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

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

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

?????? ?????? ????? ????????? ???? ???????? ?? ???? ???? ???? ?? ????? ??? ???? ???? ?? ???? ?? ???? ?? ???????…

http://www.bassam-alkadi.com/content/view/661/44/

December 23rd, 2011, 12:37 pm

 

majedkhaldoun said:

Revlon
Thank you for exposing the thugs, there are many stool pigeions here on SC.
Today crime is the work of this regime, any one with fair mind will know that, except the thugs and the naives.

December 23rd, 2011, 12:55 pm

 

syria no kandahar said:

The SC terroris gangs are all trying hard to support conspiracy theory today.Alkalb Alsoudi,Tara bin Jasem.and Majedkarion all are sure who did this:Alassad.I don’t know what is the differnce between what the terrorists did today and what they have been doing all alongL:Same Terrorism in different forms.
Idiots and Criminals game is almost over.Saudi Kalb Revlon does not need any one to read Fatiha on himbecause he is just behind the screen terroris enjoying infidel protection without pay Jazia.
Tara bin Jassem keep her Niqab cocering her face and whatever is inside her skull.

December 23rd, 2011, 1:03 pm

 

habib said:

445. Tara

Which part? That I admire young people risking their lives more than old people who do the same? Are you kidding?

On the other hand, I’m concerned about whether you believe what you write yourself. You must know deep down inside that Muslim Brotherhood control won’t exactly be good for women’s rights in Syria, and whatever we have now is better than anything they’ll bring.

December 23rd, 2011, 1:08 pm

 

Revlon said:

FSA communique on the staged, car bombings of Mukhabarat Buildings in Damascus

??? ??? “???? ?????” ????? ?? “????? ?????? ????”? ???? ????? ??? ?????? ????? ????? ??? ???? ????? ???? ?? ????? ?????? ?? ??? ???????:

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

???? ????? ?????? ???? ?? ????????? ???? ??? ???? ???? ?????:
1-???????????? ??? ???? ???? ?????? ???????? ????? ??????? ????????? ???? ?????? ?? ???? ????? ?????? ?????? ??????? ?????
??? ?????? ????????? ??? ????? ???? ????? ????? ?? ????????
1. Lebanese defense Minister provided the preamble to the staged show by announcing intelligence information on AlQaeda infiltration of Syrian border the day before.

2-?? ???? ??? ?????? ????? ??? ??????? ??????????? ?? ?????? ???? ?????? ????? ????? ?? ???? ????? ????? ???? ?????? ?????? ???? ????? ???? ?????? ???? ??????? ???? ????? ???? ????? ????? ?? ??? ????? ???? ??? ???? ??? ?????? ??????? ???? ???? ?? ?? ????? ?????? ???? ??????? ???? ??? ???? ?? ??? ????? ????? ?????? ???? ???? ?????
2. Our speaker broke intelligence information about a month ago of regime plans for staging a major explosion in Sabe3 Bahrat Square in Daamscus.

3-??? ?? ???? ?? ?? ????? ????????? ?? ????? ???? ??? ????? ??? ??????? ????? ?????? ????? ??????? ??? ??? ?????? ??????
???? ?? ??? ??? ????? ?????? ???? ??? ??? ???????? ???????? ?? ??? ???? ???? ???????? ????? ??????? ???????
4. The only beneficiary of the explosion is the regime.

4- ?? ?????? ???? ?? ??????? ?? ???? ???? ??? ?????? ???????? ???? ???? ??? ????? ????? ?? ???? ????? ????? ??????? ???? ??? ??????? ??????? ?????
4. The targeted intelligence buildings are forbidden fortresses; Even looking at them while passing by is risky for being heavily encircled by mean-looking, and heavily armed security thugs.

5-??? ?????? ??????? ?? ???? ??????? ??? ????? ????????????? ????? ???????? ??? ??? ??? ?? ??????? ???? ?? ??? ????? ???? ??????? ????? ????????? ???(c4)??(tnt)????? ?? ????? ??? ??????? ????????? ?? ??? ?????????? ??? ???? ?? ????? ?????? ?? ?????? ??? ?????? ??? ????? ?? ???? ???? ??? ?????? ???????? ??? ???? ?????? ???? ?? ?? ????? ???? ??? ??????.
5. If you noticed from the photos and video, the explosion appears to have taken place inside the buildings.
The extent of damage would indicate that the explosives were planted in several areas of the buildings to maximise the damage. No body enters the building except security thugs (Al Qaeda imposters).

6-?? ???? ???? ??????? ?????? ???? ????? ???????? ?????? ??? ?????????? ??? ?????? ??? ??????? ??? ???? ???? ???? ????? ?????? ?????? ?????? ????????? ?????? ????? ??????? ??? ???? ??????
6. Nine months has elapsed and the regime has not proven the existance of a single armed terrorist. This time they could tell who the perpetrators were in minutes.

7-?????? ??? ????? ??????? ???????? ?????? ????? ?? ?? ???? ??? ????? ?????????? ?? ???? ???? ??? ??????? ??? ??? ??? ?????? ????
?? ???????? ?? ??? ?????????
7. Media thugs were quick to declare that all who demonstrate from now on shall be dubbed traitors and treated accordingly!

8-?? ????? ???? ?? ?????? ???? ????? ?????? ??????? ?? ????? ???????? ?????? ?? ???? ????????? ????????? ?????? ??? ???? ?????? (??? ??? ????? ???? ??? 1982??? ??? ??? ??????? ??????? 50 ??? ??? ??? ?????? ???? ?????? ??????? ?????? ???????? ????? ?????? ???? ??? ??? ?????????? ?????? ????? ??? ???? ??? ????? ?? ???? ???? ??????
A regime who massacred 50,000 civilians in Hama,thousands of prisoners all over the country, andthousands of civilians during this revolution in order to stay in power shall not have a problem in sacrificing hundreds more of civilians, and even soldiers.

10-?????? ???????? ?????? ?????? ?? ???????? ???????? ????? ?? ?? ???? ?? ???? ?? ?????? ?? ?? ?????? ?? ???????????(?????? ????? ?????? ????)??? ????? ??? ???? ?????? ??????? ?? ?? ??????? ???? ???????? ?? ???? ??????? ????? ?????? ????? ????(??? ???? ??? ?? ?????? ???? ??????? ????? ?????? ???? ?? ??? ??????? ???????? ???? ????? ??? ????? ????? ????? ????? ?? ??? ????? ???? ??? ????? ??????)
??? ??? ???? ?????? ??? ??????? ?????? ??? ????? ????? ?? ??? ?????? ?????? ?????? ????? ??????? ?? ??? ????? ?????? ?????? ????? ?????? ?? ??? ?????? ???? ???? ?? ????? ????? ?????
?????? ????? ?????? ???????
???? ????? ??? ????
We hereby condemn this criminal act against our people by the criminal regime.
May God bestow mercy upon the Syrian revolution’s martyrs.

???? ?????

December 23rd, 2011, 1:20 pm

 

jad said:

As long as the Syrians are united nothing can change the political situation inside Syria.
The opposition propaganda has its limit and apparently it already reached it. No wonder the MBs council doesn’t stop calling for the western military intervention, they know that they can’t win as they promised.
Through many opposition figures’ shortsighted, political immaturity and some of them vocal support of violence, they lost lots of the support they could’ve had, unfortunately, they missed the moment of being smart and reasonable, especially in today’s reaction and statement of many of them including Michel Kilo on Alarabiya, what they said today won them the despise of many many Syrians who won’t forget this position any time soon.
Today, any opposition figure who didn’t clearly condemn the terrorist attack before accusing the regime and trying to cover Alqaeda has lost his/her patriotic moment. They had a great chance to shine yet they choose to stay in the shadow of stupidity.

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

??????? ???? : ??? ????? ???????

December 23rd, 2011, 1:21 pm

 

Revlon said:

Statement on the bombings of public buildings
during the Friday of “The Protocol of Death”
?????? ?????? ?????? ??????? Syrian Revolution General Commission
23/12/2011

http://www.facebook.com/ShaamNewsNetwork#!/photo.php?fbid=294192840616579&set=a.236384236397440.51555.236339873068543&type=1&theater

December 23rd, 2011, 1:37 pm

 

jad said:

The prayers for the Syrians who killed today by the terrorist coward act will be held in the great Ommayad Mosque of Damascus tomorrow noon
“??? ?? ?????? ?????? ??? ???? ????? ?? ????
??? ???? ?????? ????????? ?????? ?????? ??????? ???????? ????? ???????? ?? ??????? ???? ?????”

December 23rd, 2011, 1:43 pm

 

jad said:

The same meaningless crap they’ve been writing the whole day, not a word about those Syrians who killed, just accusation. What a pathetic statement similar to the coward who link it.

December 23rd, 2011, 1:47 pm

 

habib said:

No one should be surprised that the Salafist-apologists are blaming the government, on Qifa Nabki someone even hinted that Assad is the only one who benefits from the attacks against Copts in Egypt!

The attacks today are clearly linked to the attacks on Shias in Iraq yesterday. Or well, maybe Bashar and Maliki were behind those too?

One thing is certain, this is not about freedom versus dictatorship. This conflict is sectarian through and through.

December 23rd, 2011, 1:51 pm

 

Revlon said:

Ugarit News | ??????? ?????????
Announcement by Representative of Old Homs City Local coordination committee, Activist Omar Tellawi, on the staged Mukhabarat buildings bombings in Damascus.

http://www.facebook.com/UgaritNEWS
23 12 2011 Homs ??????? ??? , ????? ?? ?????? ??? ????? ???? ???????? ?????

7 minutes ago

December 23rd, 2011, 1:53 pm

 

N.Z. said:

This Tweet says it all,

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

Oh yes.. Qaida, Muslim Brotherhood, Salafis, perpetrators, Arours, infiltrators… regardless, we want to pluck you and your cronies

December 23rd, 2011, 2:07 pm

 

habib said:

465.

Lol, as if opposition groups parroting each other’s lies really meant anything.

They did so with the murdered (Egyptian) babies, Amina Arraf, Zeinab al Hosni, the murdered Christian kid, the Shawkat assassination, the number of defectors (20.000? 1000?) and so on and so on.

When will they run out of creativity? Or more importantly, when will their lies be ignored by the rest of the world? You can’t cry wolf forever.

December 23rd, 2011, 2:15 pm

 

jad said:

Another idiot to support AlQaeda…
??? ?????? ?? ???? ?? ?????? ???? ??????? ?? ????!

December 23rd, 2011, 2:15 pm

 

MM said:

My house in Damascus is nearby the blast site. It is impossible to enter that street during peacetime, let alone now. Syrian security is too strong to allow anyone not authorized or has no business to enter. There are gates, other road blocks, etc. Impossible. Are you saying, SNK, JAD, other mukhabarat agents, that Syrian security is that weak now? I know Syrian security, lak hada shighelna, mo shatreen bi shi gheir hayk.

It’s time to join us guys… I have many friends sitting right next to you.

December 23rd, 2011, 2:19 pm

 

jna said:

….
It’s a new phase. We’re getting militarised here,” said Joshua Landis, a Syria expert at the University of Oklahoma who felt Friday’s bombs were a “small premonition” of what may come in a country that some analysts see slipping towards civil war.

“This is when the Syrian opposition is beginning to realise they are on their own,” he added, referring to Western reluctance to intervene militarily in Syria. “We’re getting into a cycle of revenge. An eye for an eye.” ….

…Hilal Khashan, a political scientist at the American University in Beirut, said neither the government nor al Qaeda were likely to have been responsible for Friday’s attack.

“When it comes to security in Damascus…the government does not play games,” he said. “I think this is the symptom of desperation after so many Syrians have seen blood and death in the crushing
of protests.”
http://uk.reuters.com/article/2011/12/23/uk-syria-idUKTRE7BM0EC20111223

December 23rd, 2011, 2:19 pm

 

habib said:

469.

So why couldn’t they simply had been unknown defectors inside the security perimeter who chose to go out with a bang instead of joining the FSA and end up dead anyway?

December 23rd, 2011, 2:24 pm

 

ann said:

U.S. condemns twin bombings in Damascus – 2011-12-24

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/world/2011-12/24/c_122476233.htm

WASHINGTON, Dec. 23 (Xinhua) — The United States on Friday denounced the bombings in Damascus, the capital of Syria, saying there is no justification for terrorism of any kind.

“The United States condemns in the strongest terms the bombings today in Damascus,” State Department spokesman Mark Toner said in a statement.

“There is no justification for terrorism of any kind and we condemn these acts wherever they occur,” he added.

Two suicide bombs rocked two security centers in central Damascus on Friday, leaving at least 40 people dead and over 150 others injured. The worst violence since protests erupted against President Bashar al-Assad in mid-March came as the Arab League observers arrived in Damascus to monitor the country’s unrest on ground.

“It is crucial that today’s attack not impede the critical work of the Arab League monitoring mission to document and deter human rights abuses with the goal of protecting civilians,” Toner said. “We hope that this mission will proceed unfettered in an atmosphere of non-violence. The burden is on the regime to cooperate fully and quickly with the monitoring mission.”

December 23rd, 2011, 2:24 pm

 

N.Z. said:

464,

This is not a conflict, this is a revolution. To say that this “conflict is sectarian through and through”, Is to bare false witness in these glorious days. Remember 1)Thou shall not kill, 2)Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor.

Go to, http://qunfuz.com/, Now The Bombs

and to http://7ee6an.wordpress.com/ read the comment section.

December 23rd, 2011, 2:31 pm

 

ghufran said:

I do not know who committed that barbaric act in Damascus but it is going to be very hard to convince people that security forces killed its own,destroyed a major headquarter and looked helpless and incompetent to win sympathy. Most of my contacts are saying that people are angry at the regime but they are almost united in accusing an imported terrorist for this massacre.Those who were quick to blame the regime are very uncomfortable now because they know,regardless of who is behind that act,that the claim of a peaceful revolution is now for the birds,nobody believes it any more,very few are surprised by this attack but most are just angry and depressed as the loss of lives continue.

December 23rd, 2011, 2:34 pm

 

jna said:

@SleimanMichelMichel Sleiman
President Sleiman condemned the terrorist attack that targeted #Damascus & viewed that it targets the arab plan to resolve the #Syria crisis
http://twitter.com/#!/SleimanMichel

23/12/2011
?The President of the Republic General Michel Sleiman held a phone call with Syrian President Bashar Assad during which the former condemned the terrorist explosion that took place in the Syrian Capital today and considered that its timing with the arrival of the observers’ team to Syria aims at tampering with the Arab solution which has been agreed upon between Syria and the Arab League.
http://www.presidency.gov.lb/English/News/Pages/Details.aspx?nid=12247

December 23rd, 2011, 2:35 pm

 

ann said:

Dozens killed in Damascus bombings blamed on al-Qaeda – Dec 23, 2011

http://www.monstersandcritics.com/news/middleeast/news/article_1682554.php/Dozens-killed-in-Damascus-bombings-blamed-on-al-Qaeda

Beirut – Dozens of people were killed in the Syrian capital Damascus on Friday in two suicide bombings blamed by the regime of President Bashar al-Assad on al-Qaeda militants.

It was the first major attack against the government since the start of the 10-month uprising against the rule of al-Assad, whose regime has sent tanks and troops to the streets to crush the protests.

‘Most of the casualties were civilians and military personnel,’ a Syrian medical official told dpa, adding that some 50 people were killed in the attacks by suicide car bombers near offices belonging to the Syrian intelligence. State media put the number of casualties at 40.

The medical official said a further 100 people were wounded in the blasts. Syrian state television aired footage showing medics wrapping bodies in blankets, smoke rising from the damaged buildings and charred cars.

The uprising has become more violent in recent weeks, with army deserters staging more sophisticated attacks on regime targets.

Residents of the Damascus neighbourhood of Kfar Sousa, which houses buildings of the Syrian intelligence, said that their apartments shook and windows were shattered when the cars exploded.

‘I was sitting in my living room when the whole glass fell on me and my daughter. Luckily we escaped with minor wounds,’ a resident of Kfar Sousa, who asked not to be named, told dpa by phone. ‘The area is covered with burnt cars, blood and human flesh,’ she said.

Syrian Deputy Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad told state television the twin blasts were carried out by ‘terrorist gangs.’

The attacks occurred a day after an advance Arab League team arrived in Syria to monitor the implementation of a peace deal to end the violence. After weeks of stalling, Syria this week accepted the deal, which calls for pulling the army from residential areas, talks with the opposition and the release of political prisoners.

Security forces closed major roads leading to the area and arrested several people, sources in Damascus told dpa.

Sherif Shadeh, a Syrian analyst close to the regime, was quoted as saying that Damascus had been warned on Tuesday by Lebanon that al-Qaeda militants had sneaked into Syria through the Bekaa valley in eastern Lebanon.

Lebanese Defence Minister Fayez Ghosn on Wednesday told a cabinet session in Beirut that al-Qaeda members had entered Lebanon in recent weeks and might be planning terrorist attacks.

The Free Syrian Army (FSA), a group of army defectors who joined the opposition, condemned the attack.

‘We have no links with such brutal attacks in which mainly civilians were killed,’ said FSA commander Riad al-Asaad.

Syrian opposition groups suggested the attacks might have been carried out by the regime to justify and intensify its crackdown.

‘We have our doubts about these explosion. The area is a highly secured region and anyone who enters is monitored by the regime’s security forces,’ said activist Omar Idlibi.

Pro-democracy activists also accused the government of being behind the blasts in comments posted on social networking websites. They said the regime wants to sabotage the Arab League observer mission. Some 100 observers are due to arrive in Syria by the end of the month.

‘It is crucial that today’s attack not impede the critical work of the Arab League monitoring mission to document and deter human rights abuses with the goal of protecting civilians,’ US State Department spokesman Mark Toner said in a statement.

‘We hope that this mission will proceed unfettered in an atmosphere of non-violence,’ he added.

United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said he was concerned by the escalating violence in Syria, which he said was ‘unacceptable and must stop immediately.’ He called for a ‘credible, inclusive and legitimate Syrian-led process of comprehensive political change that will address the democratic aspirations of the Syrian people.’

Lebanese Shiite group Hezbollah, an ally of Damascus, claimed that the United States was behind the two bombings.

‘This terrorist crime in Damascus came one day after the coordinated bombings in Baghdad. This suggests that powers harmed by the major defeat suffered by the US (in Iraq) have begun a cowardly, bloody revenge operation,’ the powerful group said in a statement.

Syrian intelligence chief General Rustom Ghazaleh said the attacks were part of a foreign conspiracy against Syria.

‘We will fight this project until the last drop of blood,’ he said.

December 23rd, 2011, 2:37 pm

 

jad said:

MM
What I’m saying is that before you blame anybody have some moral to condemn the killing by anybody and any act of violence, either by the regime or by the terrorist, is that moukhabarat kaman…please don’t use this stupid accusations it’s not good for your intelligent reputation.

Second, if the country is as safe as you claim, how come the smuggling of weapons and the ‘free’ fighters never stopped? Isn’t there any possible that those terrorists are for real?! Why being so sure of something you actually don’t know?

Finally, there is no gates at the beginning of the road leading there, the gates are at each of those building. Not before.

Now Sherlock Holmes, let me go back to my job as moukhabarat. And they ask why people avoid exchanging any comment with them!

A valuable comment from the Link NZ put by no other than Qunfuz himself:

“from Muhammad al-Abdullah’s facebook page: ???? ????? : ??? ??? ???? ??????? ???? ????????? : ????? ???? ????? ????? ???? ?? ????? ????? ????? ????????? ??????? ?? ?? ????????? ???????? ????? ?? ????? ?? ?????? ?????? ???????? ??? ??????? ???????? ???????????? ?????????? ?????? ?????? ????????? ???? ?????? ????? ???? ?????? ??????? ??? ????? ??????? ????? ????? ??????? ???. ?????? ?????? ?? ?????? ??????? ?? ???? ????????”

Now they are saying that the regime brought the detainee to the location of the explosion to kill them!? Seriously!? Who believe such story!

December 23rd, 2011, 2:38 pm

 

jad said:

Are those buildings behind gates too!? Is an orphanage also filled with Moukhabarat too?
The casualties would be much higher if the day wasn’t Friday.

????? ???? ???????? ??????? ?????? ????????
http://youtu.be/rq6UyFsCis4

December 23rd, 2011, 2:54 pm

 

Amir in Tel Aviv said:

Beirut, February 2005, 21 Arabs killed.
Damascus, December 2011, 40 Arabs killed.

The junta doesn’t spare Arab lives to gain political aims.
.

December 23rd, 2011, 2:57 pm

 

N.Z. said:

These bombing will not stop Damascenes from protesting in larger numbers. Peaceful protesters will not be deterred by the regime stupidity. This mafia will be extracted in the same manner a hair gets extracted from a dough.

Damascus have witnessed an increase in the numbers of demonstrators and demonstrations. They know that, neither turning a blind eye or using force is an option in Damascus. They resulted to a third trick, only perverts can come up with.

Their END is eminent, the people will pay the price.

To thos who are blaming everyone but the regime, change course, the people on the streets vowed not to stop until those who control the Baath flushed one way or the other.

December 23rd, 2011, 3:01 pm

 

Tara said:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/syria/8976327/Syria-sides-point-finger-of-blame-at-each-other-for-Damascus-bombs.html

Omar Khani, of the Syrian Revolution General Commission, said: “This came from inside the regime. We have two eye witnesses, who are still working in the regime, that are ready to name the officers who planned the operation.
“They will speak in court and give their real names as soon as we can grant them and their families full protection.
“The regime brought dead bodies from Idlib yesterday morning to Damascus, and bodies from Homs. They dumped them in the explosion area, and then made the bomb.”
Similar claims were made by Libyans when Col Gaddafi held mass funerals of those allegedly killed by Nato air strikes earlier this year.
The attacks are likely to exacerbate a conflict that has spiralled out of control since the peace deal was first discussed eight weeks ago.

—-
Waleed Almoualem has the sixth sense.  He predicted the bombing and much more to come.

From Heetan:
Dear SYR.EXPAT

Here is the actual quote
???? ?????? ?? ??? ????? ????

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

Walid Muallem in his most recent press conference (the day of signing the protocol of death)

“Any armed terrorist act in the presence of the international observers will not cause us embarrassment. To the contrary, it will enhance our credibility about the presence of armed gangs”

OTW

December 23rd, 2011, 3:02 pm

 

defender said:

http://rt.com/news/russian-syria-opposition-usa-319/
Russian navy in Syria: Thorn in US side
The US-based intelligence-gathering firm Stratfor says most of the claims by the Syrian opposition about the seriousness of the country’s crisis are untrue. The company insists protesters are exaggerating, to win support from powers like the US.
Dr. Paul Craig Roberts, a former Reagan administration official, told RT he believes Washington is doing more than simply backing the rebels diplomatically.
“The United States is bold in stirring up the opposition and in arming it. They used the cover of the Arab Spring and Arab protests as they did in Libya,” he said. “These are not spontaneous protests, and certainly in an authoritarian state like Syria you wouldn’t find people in opposition able to readily supply themselves with arms, with military weapons.”
Besides, Roberts continued, it makes no sense for ordinary Syrians to create an opportunity for the country to be destroyed like Libya, Iraq, or Afghanistan.
“What’s involved here is that the Russians have a naval base in Syria, and the Americans don’t want a Russian naval presence in the Mediterranean. And, just as in Libya, the problem was the Chinese oil investments. If Syria goes, Iran is in the target sites, and Lebanon,” he concluded.

December 23rd, 2011, 3:11 pm

 

Amir in Tel Aviv said:

So now the Syrians are being expected to ask the junta to protect them from those evil al Qaedas? to ratify the old agreement between the people and the junta? Protection for freedom?

No f***en way. Not this time. The people is way way beyond this perverted reality.
.

December 23rd, 2011, 3:35 pm

 

N.Z. said:

#464 Habib,

Between brackets, the author said (For believers in the sectarian narrative, most of the people here happen to be Druze, not Sunnis) what do you think?

Qunfuz’s newest post: The Liberation of the Golan

http://qunfuz.com/2011/12/23/the-liberation-of-the-golan/

December 23rd, 2011, 3:44 pm

 

ghufran said:

I understand the need by some to separate the opposition from this barbaric act but the accusations are just too big to swallow,I expected a clear condemnation and a call to halt violence,but what I got instead was a sci fi story from m.abdullah and a miserable statement from Omar Idlibi.
Terrorists who killed scores of Syrians in the 1980s never claimed responsibility,and those who are killing civilians in Iraq are not always known but they have one thing in common: they hate life,hate everybody who is different and are the Satan messengers,not God fighters.
I am not in the business of pointing fingers,but this escalation will prolong the life of security forces and the regime as a whole and it will scare more people away from the opposition,so in that sense,this crime can not hurt the regime politically,it is disgusting that Syrian lives have become so cheap and insignificant.Those animals want another Iraq in Syria.

December 23rd, 2011, 3:53 pm

 

Khalid Tlass said:

GHUFRAN,

The security forces and mukhabarat that are based in Kafr Souseh are pretty competent. Do not confuse them with the Iraqi Police or Afghan Police. Its not easy for orfinary terrorists to fool them. This was a total false flag operation to discredit the opposition. By the way, who is your hero Haytham Manna blaming ?.

December 23rd, 2011, 3:57 pm

 

Khalid Tlass said:

GHUFRAN

Why do you think the terrorists would choose the first day of the Arab League mission for such a strike ? What do you think ?

December 23rd, 2011, 3:59 pm

 

Khalid Tlass said:

GHUFRAN this is for you and your doubts –

FSA communique on the staged, car bombings of Mukhabarat Buildings in Damascus

??? ??? “???? ?????” ????? ?? “????? ?????? ????”? ???? ????? ??? ?????? ????? ????? ??? ???? ????? ???? ?? ????? ?????? ?? ??? ???????:

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

???? ????? ?????? ???? ?? ????????? ???? ??? ???? ???? ?????:
1-???????????? ??? ???? ???? ?????? ???????? ????? ??????? ????????? ???? ?????? ?? ???? ????? ?????? ?????? ??????? ?????
??? ?????? ????????? ??? ????? ???? ????? ????? ?? ????????
1. Lebanese defense Minister provided the preamble to the staged show by announcing intelligence information on AlQaeda infiltration of Syrian border the day before.

2-?? ???? ??? ?????? ????? ??? ??????? ??????????? ?? ?????? ???? ?????? ????? ????? ?? ???? ????? ????? ???? ?????? ?????? ???? ????? ???? ?????? ???? ??????? ???? ????? ???? ????? ????? ?? ??? ????? ???? ??? ???? ??? ?????? ??????? ???? ???? ?? ?? ????? ?????? ???? ??????? ???? ??? ???? ?? ??? ????? ????? ?????? ???? ???? ?????
2. Our speaker broke intelligence information about a month ago of regime plans for staging a major explosion in Sabe3 Bahrat Square in Daamscus.

3-??? ?? ???? ?? ?? ????? ????????? ?? ????? ???? ??? ????? ??? ??????? ????? ?????? ????? ??????? ??? ??? ?????? ??????
???? ?? ??? ??? ????? ?????? ???? ??? ??? ???????? ???????? ?? ??? ???? ???? ???????? ????? ??????? ???????
4. The only beneficiary of the explosion is the regime.

4- ?? ?????? ???? ?? ??????? ?? ???? ???? ??? ?????? ???????? ???? ???? ??? ????? ????? ?? ???? ????? ????? ??????? ???? ??? ??????? ??????? ?????
4. The targeted intelligence buildings are forbidden fortresses; Even looking at them while passing by is risky for being heavily encircled by mean-looking, and heavily armed security thugs.

5-??? ?????? ??????? ?? ???? ??????? ??? ????? ????????????? ????? ???????? ??? ??? ??? ?? ??????? ???? ?? ??? ????? ???? ??????? ????? ????????? ???(c4)??(tnt)????? ?? ????? ??? ??????? ????????? ?? ??? ?????????? ??? ???? ?? ????? ?????? ?? ?????? ??? ?????? ??? ????? ?? ???? ???? ??? ?????? ???????? ??? ???? ?????? ???? ?? ?? ????? ???? ??? ??????.
5. If you noticed from the photos and video, the explosion appears to have taken place inside the buildings.
The extent of damage would indicate that the explosives were planted in several areas of the buildings to maximise the damage. No body enters the building except security thugs (Al Qaeda imposters).

6-?? ???? ???? ??????? ?????? ???? ????? ???????? ?????? ??? ?????????? ??? ?????? ??? ??????? ??? ???? ???? ???? ????? ?????? ?????? ?????? ????????? ?????? ????? ??????? ??? ???? ??????
6. Nine months has elapsed and the regime has not proven the existance of a single armed terrorist. This time they could tell who the perpetrators were in minutes.

7-?????? ??? ????? ??????? ???????? ?????? ????? ?? ?? ???? ??? ????? ?????????? ?? ???? ???? ??? ??????? ??? ??? ??? ?????? ????
?? ???????? ?? ??? ?????????
7. Media thugs were quick to declare that all who demonstrate from now on shall be dubbed traitors and treated accordingly!

8-?? ????? ???? ?? ?????? ???? ????? ?????? ??????? ?? ????? ???????? ?????? ?? ???? ????????? ????????? ?????? ??? ???? ?????? (??? ??? ????? ???? ??? 1982??? ??? ??? ??????? ??????? 50 ??? ??? ??? ?????? ???? ?????? ??????? ?????? ???????? ????? ?????? ???? ??? ??? ?????????? ?????? ????? ??? ???? ??? ????? ?? ???? ???? ??????
A regime who massacred 50,000 civilians in Hama,thousands of prisoners all over the country, andthousands of civilians during this revolution in order to stay in power shall not have a problem in sacrificing hundreds more of civilians, and even soldiers.

10-?????? ???????? ?????? ?????? ?? ???????? ???????? ????? ?? ?? ???? ?? ???? ?? ?????? ?? ?? ?????? ?? ???????????(?????? ????? ?????? ????)??? ????? ??? ???? ?????? ??????? ?? ?? ??????? ???? ???????? ?? ???? ??????? ????? ?????? ????? ????(??? ???? ??? ?? ?????? ???? ??????? ????? ?????? ???? ?? ??? ??????? ???????? ???? ????? ??? ????? ????? ????? ????? ?? ??? ????? ???? ??? ????? ??????)
??? ??? ???? ?????? ??? ??????? ?????? ??? ????? ????? ?? ??? ?????? ?????? ?????? ????? ??????? ?? ??? ????? ?????? ?????? ????? ?????? ?? ??? ?????? ???? ???? ?? ????? ????? ?????
?????? ????? ?????? ???????
???? ????? ??? ????
We hereby condemn this criminal act against our people by the criminal regime.,.
May God bestow mercy upon the Syrian revolution’s martyrs

December 23rd, 2011, 4:02 pm

 

Ghat Al Bird said:

According to Alexander Solzhenitsyn…”No one can compare with the “selective amnesia” of Jews.”

In Alexander Solzhenitsyn’s 2002 book Two Centuries Together, the Nobel Laureate and 11-year veteran of the Bolshevik gulag expresses outrage that Jewish intellectuals were still refusing to recognize their ethnic responsibility in the slaughter of over 30 million Christians.

Solzhenitsyn also denounces modern Jews who claim that they were victims of an “antisemitic” Bolshevik government when that government was in fact heavily Jewish and Jews were among the worst perpetrators.

December 23rd, 2011, 4:02 pm

 

N.Z. said:

Silmiyah silmiyah people of Majdal Shams are chanting. They are Syrian Druze. Can they be Salifi and Druze at the same time. Syria is not sectarian,period.

Loyalists trying to attack protesters.

December 23rd, 2011, 4:02 pm

 

Khalid Tlass said:

Today, for the first time, the DRUZE of occupied Golan came out in large numbers in support of the Uprising and against the regime –

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1n5TUWG_A6Y&feature=youtube_gdata_player

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

I always predicted Druze brothers and sisters will soon join the revolution. occupied Golan is on fire, Suwayda3 can’t be far behind.

The regime sent its Shabiha to attack the Druze protestors, but they got beaten black and blue instead ( video clearly shows anti-regime people are the majority in Druze areas of Majdal Shams, Occupied Golan)

December 23rd, 2011, 4:21 pm

 

Khalid Tlass said:

Today, for the first time, the DRUZE of occupied Golan came out in large numbers in support of the Uprising and against the regime –

HUGE protests in Druze areas in occupied Golan, you could be mistaken that this was Hama or Idlib !!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1n5TUWG_A6Y&feature=youtube_gdata_player

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

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7D3QvlVLG7Y&list=UUSEaqd9bP5phCXeFcSxtpfw&index=3&feature=plcp

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5NLEjNQ0o3o&list=UUSEaqd9bP5phCXeFcSxtpfw&index=3&feature=plcp

I always predicted Druze brothers and sisters will soon join the revolution. occupied Golan is on fire, Suwayda3 can’t be far behind

December 23rd, 2011, 4:28 pm

 

Amir in Tel Aviv said:

So they are your ‘Druze brothers and sisters” when you need them, and Kufar when you don’t?

How lucky is Israel to have such hypocrites as neighbors. Hypocrisy leads to disunity. You can never trust a hypocrite. Hypocrites can never unite.

So many hypocrisies are being exposed during this so called Arab Spring. It’s delightful to watch.
.

December 23rd, 2011, 4:45 pm

 

Khalid Tlass said:

Amir, shut up. If tomorrow all the Christians and Druze start supporting the uprising, all my hate for the Kuffar will be gone. It is the conduct of the Kuffar which make us hate them.

If they behave in a civilzed and brotherly manner then they are as good as Muslims.

( Shias are still unpardonable though they have committed too many crimes)

December 23rd, 2011, 4:48 pm

 

Majed97 said:

Our revolutionary colleagues on this board seem to believe “de-nile ain’t just a river in Egypt”, but rather a prelude to the justification of their misguided cause. Their inability to even acknowledge the remote possibility that their “peaceful revolution” may include some savages reflects their “taqiyyah” ideology in justifying concealing any evil act that serves their cause well. In their fantasy, having a multiple personality disorder has its usefulness, and need no cure.

December 23rd, 2011, 4:53 pm

 

ghufran said:

Khaled,
The regime will try to benefit from the massacre in Damascus,that does not mean it was the regime that did it,one should always consider an inside job including defectors from within. There is no security establishment that is 100% immune against a determined terrorist who is willing to die to kill his targets,if you want to be objective you have to say you are not sure who did it but I personally find it hard to believe that the regime is behind this self-inflicted wound.I like Manna’ but he is not my hero,he is just better than less thoughtful opposition leaders,he kept his calm even after his own brother was killed,compare that to the some of the clowns we have in the regime and the opposition !!

December 23rd, 2011, 4:58 pm

 

Khalid Tlass said:

GHUFRAN,

Have u seen the videos of protests in the Golan today ? Pls note that they were Druze, and the shabbiha tried to attack them.

And don’t argue they were Zionists, cz they were carrying Syrian flags and chanting pro-Syrian slogans.

So how can u argye that Islamists are the driving force in this revolution ?

December 23rd, 2011, 5:03 pm

 

Khalid Tlass said:

Ghufran, it was not a suicide attack. It was a car bomb, and the body was placed inside the car after the blast.

Also, the compound is always sealed off by strong metal barriers and barbed wire and is manned by guards with mahcine-gun bunkers.

As for it being an inside job, highly unlikely, State Security and Intelligence personell are highly loyal to the regime, deeply motivated, usually they are the types that will die with Basgar than betray him.

Gufran, clearly you think that the regime is not evil enough to do this. There is a defect in ur convictions.

December 23rd, 2011, 5:09 pm

 

Khalid Tlass said:

AMIR,

Nowhere in SC have I ever attacked the Druze. My attacks have mainly been concentrated on the Alaiws, Shias and a few racist Islamophobic Christians.

December 23rd, 2011, 5:14 pm

 

Juergen said:

I just got off the phone with a friend from Damascus. He said that Damascus is filled now with villagers, they feel unsafe in the villages and keep coming to the city to seek shelter.
He said prices are getting high now as well.

December 23rd, 2011, 5:15 pm

 

Khalid Tlass said:

AMIR,

Kuffar is not a dirty word, nor even a swear word. It means someone who don’t believe like we do. get over it.

December 23rd, 2011, 5:21 pm

 

habib said:

“Unbeliever” is not a negative word? Hahaha!

And about the timing of the bombings, is it a coincidence it came just after the anti-Shia bombings in Iraq?

December 23rd, 2011, 8:32 pm

 

Juergen said:

I dont believe that there is such a thing as an syrian Al Quaida, why havent we heard from them before? Given the nature of this security apparatus i can not imagine that this regime would nuture something like that inmidst syrian society. If for one sec i would believe it, then the consequence would be that bascharboy should worry about his sleep now. If they could enter this highly secured area, then Melke is not much safer. Its like the overrun of the embassies,no one believed that the state was not capable of stopping those thugs to enter VAE and saudi property, at any given day the area is filled with security and informants. The speed of this regime to declare this crime to be ralated to Al Quaida is crazy, not even the US did that after 9/11. You may all proove me wrong, i think this was the worst attack and the first suicide attack on syrian soil. I remember that there was a bomb near the airport almost 2 years ago, people got killed and i never heard anything again why and what happend. I heard that this too was heard throughout Damascus as well.

December 23rd, 2011, 11:40 pm

 

Syrialover said:

The Arab League is a tragic joke and insult to every normal decent human being in the Arab world – nothing but a stale junkyard of elderly cronies of dictators.

Its appointment of a dumb thug Sudanese “General” to strut into Syria was a lazy, inept and very stupid decision. How can he judge Assad for doing what he and his fellow war criminals back home in Sudan regard as normal?

Read: http://news.nationalpost.com/2011/12/27/syrian-activists-alarmed-by-sudanese-general-heading-arab-league-peace-mission/

The leadership and secretariat of the AL clearly saw the job to be done in Syria as so low status and meaningless it could be shoved onto a black African they personally look down on.

The AL is shaming and betraying the Arab world the same way as Mubarak, Ben Ali, Gaddafi, Saleh and Assad have done.

December 27th, 2011, 11:24 pm

 

Syria's protesters are on their own | Brian Whitaker - ScrollPost.com said:

[…] is in deepening financial trouble and its authority is crumbling. As Syria watcher Joshua Landis noted on his blog:“What we are witnessing … is not the clash of two titanic and centralised […]

January 9th, 2012, 9:21 am

 

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